Chapter 7 - The Prize For Winning

Seasons turned. Pocahontas and Thomas continued to court in secret. Their friends, Kocoum, Nakoma, and Wiggins kept the secret.

It was Pocahontas' turn to visit Thomas at the English camp, she decided on her own. She told Meeko to stay put in the chief's log-house while she was gone for the day. She jogged lightly away from the village, not having cared to pack anything.

It wasn't long before she had made her way through the forest to the English fort, running along the wooden posts of the fence.

When she rounded the corner of the fence, a hand reached out from the shadows and grasped her by the wrist.

It was Thomas, his face framed by red hair with a one-sided smile. His hand encircling hers, he pulled her toward him.

"I've caught you now!" he said in their on-going came of catch.

Pocahontas gave a laugh in surprise and pushed her hands off his chest as he leaned his face in toward her. She lightly shoved him away from her, sprinting down the row of wooden fence posts. The boy fell in fast pursuit behind her, always up for playing a game. Pocahontas shrieked in laughter as Thomas grabbed her from behind with both arms, overtaking her. She spun around in his grasp, smiling widely, as she backed up against the fence. The flame-haired boy placed his hands to either side of her, pushing the flat of his palms against the wood. It took him a moment to catch his breath.

"I've won," he said. "Now do I get my prize?"

Pocahontas leaned back against the fence, long dark hair splayed around her, strands falling around her face. Thomas leaned in, oh so slowly, and kissed her cranberry-red lips. Pocahontas closed her eyes and let the kiss overtake her. He continued to kiss her, somewhat overheated as he felt the sun's warm beams hit the skin on his bare arms and face. His mouth felt fiery like he had eaten a red pepper. He pulled away and gazed into her sienna-brown eyes, seeing a crimson-hued blush dusted across her cheeks. As for him his face felt like he had been burned by the sun.

He stepped back from her, releasing her. She smiled at him, her eyes like two stars in a twilit sky.

Now he had his prize from winning the game.

...

As Pocahontas looked at Thomas, she happened to glance over his shoulder and finally spotted something - those familiar white cloud-shaped sails of a ship run ashore.

Her eyes widened in mingled hope and fear.

Suddenly a familiar voice called out to them from the opening in the fort wall, the entrance to the fort. "Hey!"

Pocahontas turned to see a tall, broad, familiar figure with blond hair and wearing blue English clothing, his hands on his hips. "And what kind of game are you two playing out here? Mind if I join?"

"John Smith!" Pocahontas shouted in joy, running quickly over to him and throwing her arms around his neck. The captain raised his arms up in the air a moment before embracing her. Thomas joined them and put a hand on John's shoulder, before throwing one arm around John and the other around Pocahontas and joining the hug.

"I knew you'd return!" Pocahontas cried.

"We're glad you're back, John," said Thomas. "It wouldn't be the same without you."

"England was a bit boring without you two," Captain Smith replied. "I came back as soon as I could. Thomas," he said, putting one hand on the boy's shoulder. "I have something to discuss with you. Both of you, follow me into the fort."

Pocahontas was overjoyed that the captain was alive and well, and had returned to see her again.

...

The settlers were busy with planting the crop seeds her people had sent to them in baskets, as Pocahontas and Thomas had agreed to, and also building the houses of Jamestown. One house was almost finished, the tallest one, with something at the top that looked like two arrows crossed.

Thomas showed Pocahontas to his tent as the houses were not finished yet. She waved in greeting at the broad-shouldered black-haired Englishman who had kept an eye on Thomas since Captain John Smith had been away. She then waited patiently in Thomas' tent in the cool shade for Thomas to return from his talk in John's tent. Meanwhile she found herself looking through his things, examining them one by one. A few extra clothes, some kind of flute similar to Kocoum's, a silver-handled knife, a bottle of black ink and a fountain pen, a book filled with words and pictures and another one empty except for his writing. There were also several drawings that resembled the woods, the ocean, the ship, the river, the fort, the Indian village, and among them were also everywhere angelic drawings of the long-haired Indian maiden, and an arrow pierced through a heart.

Thomas finally walked in to find her looking at the book's picture. "It's Romeo and Juliet, by a London playwright," he explained. "About two star-crossed lovers whose parents did not wish them to be together but married anyways. And that . . . is my log book," he added, when she pointed to the half-full, half-empty book. "And here's my hornpipe," he said, taking up the large flute-like instrument in his hands. He blew on it and played a short song. "Here, I'll show you that." He took several pieces of paper that looked like very thin white doeskin to her and sticks of charcoal, like from a fire. He sat down on his stool and started to sketch her portrait with the charcoal. Dark eyes, thin brows, full lips, and thick, strong-handed, very long lines for her hair. He handed her a piece of paper and she took the charcoal stick and began to draw him as well. It was a rough drawing with dark-lined eyes and light thin strokes for the hair to either side of his face, but it resembled him. Thomas took both drawings and put them away to keep them.

"Listen, John and I were discussing something, I wanted to discuss with you." He stood and took her hand excitedly. "Now that John has returned from England, he can attend our wedding like you wished. We can have the wedding without delay."

"My father will approve, I'm sure of it," said Pocahontas hopefully.

"I'll come back with you to the village and talk to him," he said assuredly. "But, there is something I wanted to ask you first." He sat down on his cot and Pocahontas sat beside him, her hand grasped in his.

"What is it?" she asked.

"Will you come with me to London?"

"What?" Pocahontas gasped in surprise.

"John saw the king and queen of England, and they have invited your father to come visit. I was wondering if you would come as well. I could take you to London. We'll introduce you as the princess of America."

Pocahontas was taken aback. She had never thought of going to London in her wildest dreams. He had meant it when he had a surprise to tell her, or other plans.

"I agree to this," she said after a moment's careful consideration. "I will go in my father's stead, if he approves. But Thomas, once we visit London, can we come back to Virginia?" she asked hesitantly.

"Of course we will, I promise. We'll get married lickety-split here in Jamestown. The church is almost finished. Then we'll go to London for a visit, then come back here to Virginia. Oh and one more thing."

"What is it?"

"You can call me Tom," he said with a grin.