I do not own The Last of The Mohicans.
Showed my son the movie. He liked it as much as a GenZ boy can. ;)
The Dragonfly Woman and the TurtleMan
Awake
The songs of the flittering birds in the trees are glorious to hear, so much so she smiles and laughs with joy at their twittering.
Leaves crunching under her feet as she moves from here to there, so crisp, so loud.
The knives in her throat have gone, she is blissfully unaware of each and every movement her throat makes.
The autumn sun shines clear and bright, its light fills the sky but does not blur and hurt as it has so ruthlessly done.
All is goodness and joy and relief and life.
Alicia Elizabeth Munroe is blissfully, gaily awake now as she has not been for a time.
She laughs more, talks more, sings to her daughter. . .
"-do you suppose? A bee sat on my nose . . ."
. . . and the little nephew that . . .
"-think? He gave to me a wink . . ."
. . . grows and grows so marvelous much bigger every day.
It is noticed by those about her.
"The Master of Life is good, is he not, Wënichana?"
"That he is, Wètuxëmùksit, most certainly is."
And she lays a grateful hand upon his, feeling the strength and gentleness that emanates from him always.
"Thank you for caring for me as I was ill."
Sees him gently smile.
"You are most welcome, daughter."
Her adopted father.
"Is that my previously so silent Alice again? Surely you are revisiting the girl who used to keep me wakeful at night to talk of handsome boys and future travels to the Americas."
Kindly teasing sister.
"Ha, the boys."
And Alice feels so much is different of her than the girl she once was.
"They would not survive one moment alone as we do now."
"So true, my sister, so very true."
And they laugh together.
"Ah, dear sister in law, the honey and whiskey seem to have healed you. Are you in mind of another draught?"
And she scoffs at the mere notion.
"Never come near me with that concoction again, dear Nathaniel, I will die and be borne away before I imbibe that poison again."
The one her sister loves later making his oh so innocent offer of helpful aid.
"But thank you all the same."
And, most noticeably of all, . . .
"Uncas, my love."
. . . the spirit of her spirit.
The smile is in his eyes and upon his lips as she approaches, broadens as she speaks to him for the first time in near seven days.
A warmth spreads through her that he would respond so to naught but the sound of her voice.
And then he speaks.
"You are well once more?"
"I am."
She is glad of the privacy of the hidden glade.
"I have missed you."
"I have missed you."
. . . for the spirit of her spirit and she . . .
"Alice . . . ktaholël . . ."
. . . . are celebrating the revival of her physical and mental spirit . . .
"Uncas . . . ktaholël . . ."
. . . in a way that is only for them.
Ktaholël . . . I love you . . .
And them alone.
"I have missed your voice."
They lay together in the afterglow.
Uncas on his side, Alice on her belly, chin comfortably atop folded arms.
Not as they were.
But as they are now.
And . . .
"I have you missed you."
. . . smiling.
Hers fading a bit with regretful thought.
"I am sorry I was gone from you. I would not have you feel unloved by me. You are my spirit."
His hand reaches out, strong, gentle fingers caressing her cheek as she nuzzles into it, stroking tendrils of her now leaf-laced hair.
"And you are mine. And so you know there is no necessity to apologize. Illness steals the soul's light, makes it weary and thin. I am happy you are well so that you may find joy in life once again."
Alice feel overcome by grace, acceptance, love.
"I find joy in you."
"And I you."
And she reaches for him.
"Ktaholël, Nëwitaemàk."
I love you, my husband.
"Ktaholël, Nëwicheyok."
I love you, my wife.
Once over again.
"What would you have us do? Winter fast approaches."
The chill breeze wafts through the autumn grass, lifting Alice's blond tresses to flick themselves over her lover's gently smiling features.
He does not reply straightaway to her query. This does not bother her.
It is his way.
"Our father would see a new grandchild born. You would see your sister through the birthing."
She nods, heart warm. He knows her well. He cares for her.
"I would."
But there are other considerations than her and her lingering spirit.
"We will be missed at the village, will we not? They will wonder of us, worry?"
Uncas seems to consider this.
"We will relieve them of their worry in the spring. They know the journey takes us along unintended paths."
Alice thinks then again.
"We may discuss this with my sister. Your brother."
He nods, begins to rise.
And Alice pulls him back down.
"No. Not yet. You belong to me."
And he lets her.
"You were gone awhile."
Her sister's voice is light, without the reproach or judment Aunt Eugenia had been so well known.
Alice smiles to herself, says nothing.
Cora continues to stir the pot upon the fire as Alice bends and picks up her babbling daughter.
"All went well?"
A simple question from a caring older sister.
Another smile, a nod.
Cora Poe, nee-Munroe picks a leaf from her younger sister's hair.
"You are disheveled. Did you encounter misadventure?"
Alice smiles again, believing the twice with child woman to be jesting her.
"No. No misadventure."
Cora nods, hands a crust of bread to her reaching boy-child.
Who immediately crams it onto his mouth.
Wipes her hands on her apron and turns nonchantly to the brass pot at her elbow.
"Shall we make some tea then?"
Alice smiles.
"Thank you. We shall."
And they . . .
"You know, Alice, it is easy at times to forget that you are a grown woman of your own accord."
Alice does not speak.
"And then again I am put in a reminder."
Listens.
"And do you know what I am then put into an understanding of?"
Shakes her head.
Sees her sister smile.
And hears her reply.
"That I am so very proud of you."
And feels her gratitude.
"Thank you, my sister."
"You are quite welcome, my sister. But you will have to steep the tea. I am forgetful of the proper portions."
Thank you for coming back, Gentle Readers! You are so very gracious. :)
In particular, thank you to BlueSaffire, DinahRay, MedicineGal815, MohawkWoman, and bcawriter01 for so kindly coming back and reviewing the previous chapter.
Thank you also to Jessbahny and ElizatheOdd for adding your support to this tale.
Next up, old men.
And pets.