It has been a few days of simple bliss with Tala's Mohican village that she belonged to. She was currently playing with some of the village children while taking a break from watching over Ben.
Tala's ebony hair was unbound and sailing in the wind as she wrestled with the children of the Mohican village.
The children were gaining up on her and tackling her all at once, making Tala laugh hard.
"Alright children its time for Tala to go, she is needed at the moment." Uncas said with a smile as he walked up to them.
The children got off of Tala revealing her to be laughing still.
"You got me this time, but next you wont be so lucky." Tala said joyously as she got up from the ground.
"I have some news for you sister." Uncas said to his sister as she dusted the dirt off herself.
"Do tell brother. I hope it is good news." Tala said as she finished dusting herself off.
"He is awake sister, he was asking for you." Uncas said with a smile.
"Thank you brother, it is indeed good news." Tala said before leaving her brother in a rush.
"He still needs rest but you can see him." The healer told Tala outside.
"I understand healer, thank you for your hard work and for helping him." Tala said with sincerity.
"It is my duty, now go on. He has been saying your name. Though I am not sure what else he has been saying. I do not speak their tongue like you and Uncas can." The healer said before leaving Tala.
When Tala entered, she saw Ben resting on a bed of soft furs and was wrapped gently in a fur blanket.
Tala sat on the ground next to him, she could tell if he had fallen asleep or not until those stormy blue eyes of his opened and looked at her.
"Thank god you're here." Ben said with a sigh.
"That's the first thing you tell after almost getting yourself killed?" Tala said in English with raised eyebrows.
"I didn't mean in a bad way. I can not speak your native language so I have no idea what is going on." Ben said as he winced in pain when he tried to sit up.
"Take it easy and rest. I will tell you everything as along as you stay laying down." Tala said as gently got him to lay done.
"How long have I been out cold?" Ben asked as Tala adjust the blanket that was on him.
"It is hard to say. When Uncas and I found you, you were unconscious. The war party did a number on you. The Healer said you were lucky to be able to survive for not many can survive capture by the Mohawk War Party." Tala said as she crossed her legs in Indian style.
"I was on my way back to Valley Forge when I was knocked from my horse. The rest is a blur." Ben said as he kept his eyes on Tala.
"When we received word of your capture, I convinced Washington to let me and Uncas track you down and rescue you. You were in pretty bad shape when found you. We snuck into the camp that you were held and left as if we were never there. We brought you here to heal enough so we can take you Valley Forge. " Tala explained, "Its not safe for you to be here at the moment with the Iroquois so divided. But for you, you are under my father's protection. The Sachem of this tribe."
"Sachem?" Ben questioned.
"Sachem means Chief or as you would say the leader of the Mohican tribe. The Sachem here is my father, or rather my adoptive father but I still consider my father no matter what." Tala said with a smile.
"Mohican?"
"I keep forgetting that me and my brother never told you where we came from. I'm sorry to confuse you." Tala said as looked away.
"Its okay, don't feel shameful. I still have a lot to learn from you and your brother." Ben said as he gently reached for her hand and grasped it.
Tala faced him with a small smile.
"And I have a lot to learn from you as will. So stop trying to get yourself killed. First Robert Rogers and now this? Come one Ben, if same thing happened to what am I going to do?" Tala asked with a sad smile as she stared at his hand that was clasped to hers.
"Then you will just have to get me out of trouble then like you always do." Ben said with a weak grin.
"Yes, for now you must rest. You need it to recover your strength for the travel to Valley Forge." Tala said to him.
"That's all I have been doing. It eludes me right now." Ben said as he kept his eyes on Tala.
"Shall I tell you a story then? Maybe one from my people?"
"I would like that." Ben said giving her his attention.
When Tala was done with her story, Ben had fallen asleep still clutching her hand.
"I shall watch over you like the Great Spirit does to all his children." Tala said with a smile as she continued her vigilance over Ben.
1 year prior
Tala and Uncas were inside a house waiting for the General Scott to arrive. As Uncas stood in the dinning room calmly, Tala was growing increasing anxious.
"Calm yourself little sister." Uncas said in Mohican as he watched his sister pace back and forth.
"I cannot calm down like you want me to. Yes I know we are suppose to deliver that message to this so called General Scott but I do not like being around men like him. I have heard stories from other soldier about how cold hearted Scott is." Tala said back in Mohican as she stopped pacing.
Before her brother could reply to her, the door opened to reveal General Scott and Captain Tallmadge.
"When I heard two visitors waiting I was hoping it was someone else." The General
said rudely.
"I am sorry to disappoint you but we were asked by Washington to give you a message." Tala said, carefully choosing her words.
"Are you the only one who speaks English?" Scott asked.
"Yes," Tala replied as Uncas handed her the letter, " This is for you General. If you would like we can stay if you would to send a reply."
"That wont be necessary. I don't need red people to help." Scott said.
Captain Tallmadge looked at Scott incredulously at the rude remark he made about the two Indians.
"If that is all then we shall take our leave." Tala said signaling her brother to follow.
Once Tala and Uncas were outside, she heard someone telling them to wait. Tala and Uncas turned to see that it was the captain that was calling after them.
"I'm sorry for the treatment you just received. Please let me at least express my gratitude to you both for bring the message." Tallmadge said to them.
"We are used to white people not understanding us so we try not to understand them. We accept your gratitude and only yours Captain Tallmadge." Tala said to him as Uncas watched and listened to his sister.
"Please call me Ben." Ben Tallmadge said to them.
"My name is Tala and this here is my brother, Uncas. Have a nice day Ben." Tala said with a smile before leaving with her brother.
"Will we meet again?" Ben called out to them as the made their leave.
"Someday Ben Tallmadge, someday but for now stay safe. I shall pray to the great spirits for your protection." Tala said as they left.
9 months prior
Tala was running through the forest looking for the Dragoons that Tallmadge commanded. There was no word and Tala was sent to find them while her brother went home to deal with some family issues.
Tala ran through the tries like a wolf did, silent and fast. After few more minutes, she spotted a figure leaning against a tree.
Tala quickly ducked behind a tree and waited a moment to make sure she was going to be attacked. She peered around to tree to see the figure still there leaning heavily against the tree.
Tala removed her tomahawk from her belt and carefully walked toward the figure. The figure never moved until she recognized the person.
"Ben!" Tala gasped as she quickly put her weapon away and ran to him.
"Tala?" he asked as he tried to look up to her face but failed and collapsed.
"I've got you." Tala said in English.
The sun was starting to set and Tala knew that they were in danger still.
Tala quickly carried Ben to a homestead not too far away that was home to Patriots that would help them.
"I told you we would meet again someday." Tala said with a smirk.
Present day
It was the following day and Tala had just finished her chores. She went see how Ben was when the healer that was taking care of him came running to her.
"Tala I need your help." The Healer said.
"Is something wrong?" Tala had asked.
"He keeps staring like something in the wigwam. Just staring and he did not respond to me when I redressed his injury." The Healer said.
"Will go see him and see what is wrong. I was just on my way." Tala said.
When Tala made it inside the Wigwam, she saw Ben sitting up and just staring at the other end of the wigwam.
Tala silently sat down next to him set her hand on his gently.
"Ben? What is wrong?" Tala asked in English as she watched his every move.
"I saw him Tala." Ben said as he turned his face to her, a sad expression on his face.
"Who did you see?"
"I was dreaming last night and I saw my brother." Ben said simply.
Tala had heard from Caleb about the fate of Ben's brother, Samuel. The grief was still fresh for Ben had only heard of his brother's fate a week ago and never had time to grieve.
" Did he tell you anything in your dream?" Tala asked.
"No, he just stood there and when I ran to meet up with him, would disappear and I would be looking for him." Ben said trying to keep his emotions in check.
Tala took her hand that was on his hand and cupped the side of his face gently to get him to look her in the eye.
"I'm so sorry about your brother Ben. I truly am. Maybe this dream was a sign he is at peace." Tala said trying to comfort him.
"I miss him." Ben said as he laid his head on Tala's shoulder.
She could feel the fabric start to become moist and new right away Ben was grieving but pretended she did not notice.
"Sometimes those who we are close to are taken away from us far too early and we miss them truly. My father would tell me that those were have parted from us are never truly gone for they are looking after us." Tala said as she wrapped her arms around him.
"I never knew my true mother and father. My father was a Mohican who fell in love with my mother, a white woman who was managing a homestead by herself. They fell in love and they had a Mohican union. My father was a best friend with my adoptive father. When I came to this world, my mother died after bringing me to this world. Soon afterwards my father was killed by a sickness soon after. He had asked my adoptive father to look after me. I never knew my real parents and sometimes I catch myself shedding tears because I miss them even though I know not of what they looked like. But my adoptive father would always tell me that they are looking after no matter where I go." Tala said, comforting Ben as he grieved for his brother for the first time.
Author's Notes:
Poor Ben, so this chapter was merely to explain some of their history and to give you a timeline of where I am starting at in the series. There is a reason why Tala hadn't told Ben what tribe she belonged to and the reason will be explained later.