Erin felt like she was losing all sense of time, the journey like a never-ending forced hike, where there was no pity or compassion if you fell behind. When the sun was almost at its highest point in the far horizon, the heat became near unbearable, and she knew some form of respite must be coming soon. Even the Huron warriors could only push themselves so far.
Duncan was struggling, Erin could see that truth clearly. He looked woozy, like the night she'd found him brooding after too much beer, his legs weaving in clumsy, heavy steps. She lingered uneasily upon the thought that he could, in fact, be concussed from the blow in the cave.
She moved her feet faster, her thigh muscles protesting, the long string of rawhide rope attached to her wrists permitting her some movement. The man leading her walked just a little ahead of where Duncan was at that moment, allowing her to gain ground without notice.
When she felt she was close enough she whispered his name. "Duncan?"
His head twitched as if he was hearing things.
"Duncan?!"
Finally he raised his face towards her, the blood now dry and crusted across his face like a ghastly mask, the result even more disturbing in the bright sunlight than when it had been fresh. She tried not to recoil away from his appearance too violently.
"Miss... Cooper," he said with effort.
"Are you alright?" Erin knew he certainly was not, none of them were.
A ghost of a smile touched his lips, genuinely grateful for her concern. "Of course," he said reassuringly, but Erin could tell it was a front.
"We are in big trouble," she hissed.
"Yes. We are," he confirmed, his protector façade slipping only a little as their eyes connected and the truth of the situation passed silently between them.
There was a loud shout from beside them and Duncan was pushed hard, nearly falling, and Erin yelped as she was jerked forwards. Before she could register what was happening a sharp slap crossed her cheek and she stumbled backwards, reeling from the sudden strike more than the pain, her wits rattled. Her eyes sought who had assaulted her, it was her keeper, who now wore a very angry frown, his eyes cold, and she understood without any words, she had been punished for speaking. The man with her bonds gave her a look that was full of warning, his hand raising again and Erin held up her arms in defence of her face, tears of shock coming to her eyes, nodding frantically that she understood.
When he deemed she had acknowledged his reprimand he tugged her harshly forward and upon shaky legs the walk continued.
/
They finally stopped for rest. Erin could feel the weariness in all the warriors about her, but she could sense that their pause would not last long. They would all have to take what respite they could.
Each of the women's bonds were tied to thin tree trunks close together. It seemed the Huron held little fear over Yengeese women being allowed to stay in each others company. Duncan, on the other hand, was secured a good way off. He slumped onto his knees as if his legs had given way and stayed in that position for some time.
Erin glanced over at Cora and Alice. Cora was holding her younger sister tenderly in her arms, rocking and shushing her frightened tears. Erin slowly sat down, her eyes warily on all the men around them, fearful of drawing any unwanted attention.
"Are you alright?" she finally asked, so low that she wondered for a moment if Cora had even heard her.
Cora looked up, nodding her head in reply, but her eyes were watery and Erin felt her own emotions rising in reply. Both women's eyes connected in understanding and with effort they pushed the compulsion to despair away. When they had the confidence to look at each other again, both of their eyes were dry.
"What can we do?" Cora whispered. "I fear they are taking us somewhere to... kill us..." She faltered, the emotions threatening to overwhelm again. "That man... his eyes... the way he looks at Alice and me... he hates us." She brushed with annoyance at her eyes, refusing to cry. "Erin." Her gaze sought Erin's face, a frantic needfulness gleaming from within. "Tell me what you know? What will happen to us?"
Erin looked around cautiously before reaching out and touching Cora gently upon the arm. "You are right. He does want you dead."
Cora took a sharp intake of breath.
Erin rushed on with her words, feeling she was not really explaining any of this very well. "They are taking us to a village, there is a chief Magua respects, and he will ask him to burn you both in the fires." Erin's fingers flexed in comfort as Cora's eyes widened. "The chief will refuse... in a fashion."
"In a fashion? What does that even mean?" Cora hissed, now becoming annoyed, and Erin couldn't blame her, she had no real comfort to give, only proclamations of doom. "I don't understand." Cora had lost the battle, and tracks of silent tears ran down her cheeks. "Will we live?"
Erin took a deep breath, knowing that this tack was helping no one. Her gaze caught sight of Alice's face, pale and terror stricken, as she listened to a garbled rendition of what their fate was to be. This wasn't the time for clumsy blatant honesty, it was the time for words of comfort, no matter how frail they felt. Erin could only hope they would withstand the heavy atmosphere.
"No, it will all be fine. I'm sorry. I'm not making sense. I'm tired and the journey has fried my brain." Erin brushed at her damp forehead, trying to gather her wits, now really wasn't the place to try and make Cora understand what was to come. They could do little to change the course of this path now, that challenge lay within the hands of the three men tracking them. The heroes were coming to their rescue, they just had to find the resolve to wait until that happened. They just had to wait...
Cora looked a little uncertain at the terminology Erin was using but seemed to gather the meaning.
"It has been a hard day," Cora finally said, returning a kind touch to Erin's own arm.
"It will be alright. Nathaniel will come and he will save us once we are in the village, everything will be fine." Erin reached out to both women and was a little gladdened to find Alice allowed her tender act of consoling. "We are all going to be okay." She smiled and saw a little relief ripple through Cora's features. Erin kept smiling, the action trying to reinforce her words, but her eyes were drawn to the crumpled form of Duncan and the warmth faded from her face, replaced by cold dread.
She knew Nathaniel would come, and it was possible that both Cora and Alice would be saved if everyone played their part in making that happen.
Erin was aware, from the novel, that the jump into the falls would have taken all three men further down the river. They would be a good hour or so behind the Huron party, even if they didn't rest, which seemed like an impossible ask after all the physical exhaustion they would have been through. Uncas knew from their conversations in the cells of Fort William Henry, that as long as Nathaniel arrived at the Huron village shortly after Magua, that was all they needed to start the chain of events she had 'foretold'. If it played out as Erin knew, she had a chance to use that information. She just had to think of a way to use her knowledge to change the outcome and save the two women and Duncan from each of their fates. She tried to console herself with the fact that things had changed. Colonel Munro still lived, by all accounts, and that just might be enough to sway things in their favour. How, Erin wasn't fully sure yet.
Could they perhaps offer to ransom them all back to the English in the same ruse of threats Cora and Duncan had attempted for Erin before, with her so-called General father? Could they wield the probable escape of Colonel Munro to cajole the Huron chieftain into releasing their prisoners? Was the Colonel's survival enough added weight to the bargain?
If the Sachem valued gold or heavy threats to his people... it may be possible, but how would they convince him?
Erin knew there was still one stark reality, it was just as possible that Cora would be condemned to the fires just as in the novel, and Duncan would offer his life for hers and die screaming in the flames.
Erin's eyes hovered over his form as her mind flipped itself back and forwards, as she tried to figure a way around this all happening. How could she stop his death without condemning Cora or Nathaniel to a similar fate? Was his death unavoidable, or could Erin really prevent it?
She had no answers, and more importantly, no ideas in this moment. Erin knew if she told Duncan their fates, he would only be too eager to give his life in exchange for Cora's, he'd proven that point today with his bungling attempts of bargaining. He'd made no calls for his own release or life, only the women's.
Erin's gaze drifted back to Cora and Alice's huddled figures. Alice's head was buried into her sister's arms, her crown of blond hair fluttering in the light breeze, and Erin's mind settled uneasily upon the thought that Magua could probably still take her too. He would drag her up, up high on those cliffs, and then Uncas...
No, Uncas knew better now, she had told him and he knew!
'I fear fate will catch me.' His words rang within her mind like the chiming of a death knell. Erin knew she had to do something, anything to prevent these people from meeting their fates on this day. But she didn't know how.
They were never meant to end up in the battle outside Fort William Henry at all, they should all be away and safe in Fort Edward right now! It was her only plan and it had ended in complete failure, and now, fate was laughing at Erin's attempts to pervert its course. There had been no time to even fathom back up plans and now it felt like so many choices lay within her hands, like puzzle pieces she had no knowledge how to assemble.
Her mind drifted back to her own family, her father and his often given advice to her, that in terrible situations all you could do was your best. It had bolstered her on the battlefield and she hoped it would do the same for her in this moment. Erin closed her eyes, giving herself a minute of time to gather her thoughts, knowing one wrong step now could mean her own death. She rose to her feet, a new course set and a foolhardy bravery tugging at her. She would do her best.
"Sir." Erin's voice was soft but held no note of fear. The young Huron brave passing by stilled at the sound, his eyes drawn to her and then to the colour of her hair, the strangeness enough to hold his attention just a little longer, long enough to allow her to be heard.
"Do you speak English?"
He didn't reply, but nodded.
"Please, can I attend the English Major's wounds?" She gestured to where Duncan sat. "Would you ask your leader?"
The man hesitated and Erin could feel a rebuttal forming.
"He will only slow us down if I do not. He is worth a lot of money to the French."
He considered her words and without any sound he gave another nod, and Erin watched him quickly make his way to where Magua sat resting, his back to them. She saw Magua lean in as the young man crouched down, listening to the words he spoke, and then Magua glanced over his shoulder, eyes seeking first Duncan then Erin, he spoke to the young brave and gave a brisk hand gesture.
The young warrior gathered a few items and returned. Erin was untied and she tried to give a quick reassuring smile to Cora before she was taken away, nearer to Duncan, a dampened rag and tattered strips of cloth pushed into her hands.
Erin slowly lowered herself to her knees beside Duncan's seemingly broken form. He didn't appear to notice her at all. His chin was resting upon his chest, face hidden by blood matted hair, his body so still as if asleep... or...
"Duncan?"
He didn't respond, and Erin felt her heart do an anxious flip flop within her chest.
"Duncan?!"
He flinched at the sound and mumbled a few incoherent words. Erin reached for his shoulder and softly shook him.
"Wake up! Don't fall asleep. Duncan!"
"I am... not... asleep," he replied with effort, and raised his head to look at her. Erin once again tried not to recoil at the sight of him, he was quite the fright. She clearly couldn't disguise the distress showing in her expression as Duncan read her easily and gave out more words of reassurance. "I am awake."
Their eyes met once again, and Erin knew it was pointless asking him if he was well.
"Here." Erin gently began to clean the blood from his face, it had run into one of his eyes, leaving him temporarily blinded, and he winced as she did her best to make him feel more comfortable.
"How are Cora and Alice? Are they hurt?" he asked, with some endeavour to sound like his normal self.
"No, they are fine. We are all just very tired," Erin said, still dabbing.
Duncan let out a small humourless laugh. "Yes, it has been quite a day."
"Duncan, listen to me." Erin abandoned her task for a short moment, leaning into him.
He glanced up at her, his unencumbered eye flicking to each of her own, understanding her serious tone.
"They are taking us to a Huron village."
"They mean to kill us," Duncan said with certainty.
"Yes. Cora and Alice, Magua's revenge, remember?"
"I... remember." He glanced around, his gaze taking in all the enemies surrounding them. "Did Colonel Munro get to safety? Did you see him?"
"I only saw the French lead his horse away towards the road to Fort Edward." Erin decided now really was not the time to confess what she had done to make that situation come to pass. "But, I believe so." Erin paused. "If he did, will he send people after us? To rescue us?"
A warrior had strayed a little too close for comfort and they stopped talking a moment, only starting again when he had moved away and they felt sure they were safe to do so, in more hushed tones.
"He will try." Duncan tried to shift his position but his wooden bonds made the movement difficult, so Erin helped him until he could settle again. He groaned a little in pain as his joints were forced to move. "But he will be at the mercy of General Webb... and Webb..." Duncan hesitated, his eye glancing to her in a quick flick of embarrassment.
"Is not an honourable man." Erin finished the rebellious thought for him. "Then we are truly on our own." It was just as Uncas had anticipated. There was no help coming.
"I'm afraid so, Miss," Duncan said, as gently as he could manage, seemingly more concerned with her despair than his own. "He will need time to petition for help, men, resources," Duncan continued, offering what felt to Erin like useless hope. "He will not be able to come to our aid quickly, but he will come."
"By then it will be too late!" It would all be over before Colonel Munro had any chance to send out rescue parties. She worried at her bottom lip for a moment before noticing Duncan's look of concern. "They will have taken us too far away, I mean," she deflected, with a lie she hoped felt enough of an explanation.
"Yes, it will be hard to locate us in these wilds," Duncan agreed with a small nod.
"Colonel Munro, his rank... who he is, I mean, in wealth or power... would it be enough to sway a chief into letting us go?" Erin pushed forth the only thing she could think of to help them.
Duncan glanced beyond Erin to where she knew Magua still sat. "Not to him, no. He cares not for any monetary gains or any threats, he is single bloody minded." Duncan's expression of anger dissolved into an abashed blush of pinked cheeks. "My pardon, Miss."
"No, not him." Erin tried to cover up the pleading she felt edging into her whispered voice. "The chief of the village they are taking us to, would Munro's rank be any sway?"
Duncan shook his head, looking bewildered. "I honestly don't know. Colonel Munro would be seen as a well respected war chief to many, the threat he may bring revenge or offer money may sway some... but not others." His eyes again flicked to Magua. "I cannot say what these men value, I am at a loss. I am sorry."
"But... there's a chance?"
"I suppose in such situations, anything could be called a chance, Miss."
"Duncan, I..." Erin began, but the words dried, hard and impassable upon her lips, the harsh thought that if she warned him now of what was to come, if she told him not to give up his life for Cora, then Cora's own life may be forfeit, or he may be even more resolute to die. Neither option made her want to speak at all.
She swallowed.
"Yes?" Duncan pushed, then his manner was suddenly alarmed. "Are you alright, Miss Cooper?"
Erin could only assume her air of despondency was visible upon her face. "I'm fine. I just wish I could help."
He gave her a look that may have come across condescending to Erin once, but now she understood the kind and affectionate intention behind it. "There is little you or I can do now except leave our fates in the gentle hands of God."
Erin smiled, sorrow washing over her, her fingers reached and she clutched Duncan's bound hand a moment. "I am sorry Duncan."
He smiled in return, a wan small thing with little conviction. "As am I, Miss. I could not protect you all. I failed."
"No!" Erin said a little too forcefully. "You were very brave."
"That is kind of you to say-"
"It's easy to speak the truth!"
This made him chuckle and he looked down at the ground shaking his head. "Even when you are being kind you are... very stubborn."
She couldn't help a small laugh too.
Erin finished her attentions of cleaning the dried blood from his face as best she could and then she tended to Duncan's leg, re-wrapping it as Cora had shown her on other patient's wounded limbs back at the infirmary. Her thoughts lingered a moment too long upon the memory of Mr Phelps and she was left blinking back tears.
They sat in silence for a long moment, Erin unsure what else to say in their current predicament. She glanced about them, her eyes going to where Magua was sat, his back was still to them and the young Huron who had heeded her plea was crouched beside him, hand up to his mouth as he spoke words into the older warrior's ear. Her brow creased with frustration, if only she was nearer she could hear their plans. Frustratingly, she knew there was nothing more she could do now, and she was so very tired.
Her body ached and she felt as though she hadn't seen a bed for a week, never mind lain in one. Erin looked away from Magua and gave Duncan a cursory glance, he was still awake, thankfully, but seemed lost in his own thoughts, his eyes holding a faraway look she loathed to interject upon. Within moments of the thought that she could do more, Erin felt her eyes beginning to drift closed in overwhelming exhaustion.
Maybe she would just rest her eyes for a short while. She felt her body slump a little in happy agreement.
Without warning Erin was suddenly pulled to her feet, a sharp cry falling from her lips at the shock of being jolted back into the world.
"I say!" she heard Duncan protest, but he was paid no heed.
The young Huron who had brought her here was pulling her along, but not back to the Munro sisters, but towards where Magua sat. She was pushed onto her knees before him, and for a long time all Erin could do was stare into the dirt and try and control her own shuddering heartbeat, too fearful to look up.
"You told Magua you were a spy." He spoke to her in French and Erin chanced a quick glance at him.
"Yes," she replied, knowing this would have to be the performance of her life, or the end of it.
"How is it you know so much about Magua and where we are going now?"
Erin swallowed hard and her gaze shifted to the young Huron brave, he'd been the one trying to overhear her conversation with Duncan and he looked rather smug about it too. She realized this was why she had been allowed to tend to Duncan at all, to Magua she was still a strange fluke that he hadn't quite mastered the understanding of yet. Erin could only thank fortune that she and Duncan had noticed the eavesdropper before he'd heard too much.
"Montcalm told me about you and what you have suffered at the hands of the English. The destination was a lucky guess. I read many maps. I know where the Huron lands are."
"Lucky?" he questioned, homing in on the word, a sharp smirk tugging at his mouth, but the expression was quickly defeated by his sombre features. "Are you lucky, red hair?"
"Some say so," Erin said, lapsing into English and finally looking up, not quite daring to meet his gaze directly.
"What of your father? This great Yengeese General. Your friends were willing to stay Magua's blade. Are you so valuable?"
"He is a English General, just as you were told. He is a Lord in England. He is very rich." Erin tried to sound confident and play her part as well as she could.
"Yet you work for the Francaise."
"I do. I hate the English, and my father!" Erin was committed to the lie now, her thoughts racing.
'Keep it simple, keep it easy, keep it on his side; relatable. Let him think he is winning,' her mind hurriedly advised.
"He is a cruel man who took everything from me. Montcalm was kind to me, like a real father should be. This is why I worked for him, he was happy to help in my revenge." It again, wasn't Erin's finest plan, but she hoped mirroring Magua's own story would give her some leeway.
His lip quirked again, but the smile never formed. His eyes gleamed with something Erin hoped was understanding, a shared goal. "But your father would pay Magua much for your return?"
"Yes. He will return me to a life of misery. Whatever you decide to do with me, my life is forfeit." It was a dangerous game but Erin felt she had no choice but to play it.
He jerked his chin towards where Cora and Alice were. "You know Munro children?"
Erin nodded. "It was Montcalm's orders that I become their friend. Find out information. Use them for the French's gain."
Even though he did not laugh Erin could see the delighted gleam in his eyes. "Magua sees you are a red snake," he said in Huron, and then turned to one of his men, making quick sharp motions with his hand and gesturing that Erin was to be taken back to her original place.
Erin pretended like she had not understood and got up without any attempts at resistance.
"Then Magua will send you back to your misery," he said a little smugly in English, and Erin understood he held no kinship to her, only delight in causing any he saw as his enemies harm. Erin could only hope she had made her presence none threatening to this man's mind and her ransom appealing.
Erin was escorted back to where Alice and Cora now softly dozed. She sat down with care, not wanting to disturb them from their fragile slumber. She allowed her eyes to wander across the scenery, the curl of brush and sway of branch, landscapes hidden in light and shadow. Out there, somewhere in this humid unrelenting day, three men were tirelessly tracking them, gaining a little with every minute that passed.
It gave her some comfort.
/
A/N
Hello, a good Friday to you. I missed the last Friday due to being suddenly called into work several shifts more than normal, but I am back now and things are back to normal. If I miss a chapter it's because something in life got in the way. I will not be abandoning the story, I want to assure everyone again it is already finished and just needs an hour of my time on a Friday of a spell check. So if I miss one Friday, I will most likely be back the next. Hope that helps with anyone being worried :)
This is also my longest chapter to date, so I hope that somewhat makes up for the delay.
So, Erin is in quite the pickle. How is she going to try and save everyone? Is it even possible? Tune in next time :)))
I know in the movie this journey to the Huron Village takes about two days but I shortened it to a one days (ish) journey for this stories connivance. I am not adept at North American geography at all and after MohawkWoman gave me some very interesting titbits recently about where she thought the party may have gone through or been going to, if I was re-writing this story now, I may have stretched it out over those two gruelling days of walking to make it more historically correct with her helpful knowledge.
But for now, I am setting it to around an 8 hours walk (when originally writing this, I quite liked the Cat and Thomas Mountains as a possible setting for the Huron Village/cliff, it is a stunning looking place and was in the journey time I wanted.) I know this is perhaps unlikely as it's not near Lake Huron where most of the Huron people lived, but since Magua says later on in the movie, he's going to take Alice to the 'Huron of the Lakes,' my stretched assumptions was maybe there was a small village nearer to Glenn Falls he would have made for. Mann made some big changes to what could be possible, so I have too. I hope it all makes some sense :)))
I am so glad to see love for Duncan from others in this community. Let's start a fan club for him, #Duncanistherealhero! :))))
So, to answer Flowangelic's question about why Magua was going to kill Erin. Magua had no use for her, she means nothing to him. This is why he doesn't even give her the attention of killing her himself, but leaves one of his men to do it. She is not a Munro and not valuable in the way Duncan is for selling to the French as a POW. She is a so called 'French spy' by her own admittance who had failed in her job. Magua had already condemned her to death on the battlefield in chapter 35, in his anger that Munro had gotten away (seemingly with General Montcalm's help.) Killing Erin was a small revenge for that French betrayal. But it still meant so little to him that he left her murder in the hands of one of his warriors, his goal set on finding the two Munro women.
Then here is this same, sneaky French spy, alive and seemingly 'friends' with the English. Making her, (just as he said before) a liar, in what form he doesn't care, he just knows he called it lol
So he'd have no issue ordering her death and lessening his load of prisoners. He's only stopped from doing so by Cora and Duncan, who say Erin is worth money. Therefore she suddenly becomes of some value and worth the 'effort' to keep around so he can assumedly sell her in the same way he plans to do with Duncan. I hope that explains things well, but do let me know if you think this wasn't clear earlier and I'll go back and try and tidy that section up to make it make more sense. Being the writer of this story, I often miss where I'm not being clear, because it's all clear in my head, so pointing out when things aren't clicking for a reader is very helpful. Thank you :)
As always your thoughts, feelings and observations are all most welcome.
Next week we step closer and closer to the cliffs...