Chapter 8 - The Happy Occasion
Now that Captain John Smith had returned to Virginia, the wedding of Pocahontas and Thomas was due to take place in the new town of Jamestown. It would be the first wedding conducted in the newly built mission church there. Her wedding would be much different than her friend Nakoma's had been, then, as it would be in the English custom.
Thomas had gained Chief Powhatan's permission and approval to marry the princess of the tribe. He had brought a gift basket for the bride. The chief later handed the basket to Pocahontas. She sat on the floor of the log-house and looked through the basket at the strange and lovely things - a silver hairbrush and haircomb with a hand mirror, a bottle of perfume from London. She squirted the perfume and smelled it. It smelled of some strange flower. She gazed at her reflection in the mirror, just like in the black river water. They had brought all these gifts on the ship for her.
The wedding was the next day. Pocahontas had never really dared to imagine this day, and it would be much different than how she had expected, to someone who she had only dreamed of for most of her life until meeting him.
Nakoma returned the favor of helping her sew her new dress, a long doeskin with lengthy fringe. She wore her mother's beaded blue necklace along with the silver charm bracelet from London that Thomas had gifted her. She also found a turkey feather to tie in her long black hair worn down, the feather nearly as long as her hair. She picked a bouquet of giant sunflowers that morning from the field where they grew.
At the newly finished mission church in Jamestown, Captain John Smith was in attendance as well as his friend John Rolfe, who had also arrived on the ship to help make peace alliances. Many were surprised that Chief Powhatan had come as well to see his daughter married to the young newcomer, Thomas. The medicine man Kekata sat by Powhatan's side in the pews. Nakoma and Kocoum were in attendance to represent the Indian village. Nakoma was maid of honor. Wiggins was best man. Meeko and Flit had come as well, sitting next to Wiggins' dog Percy. Thomas stood at the front of the assembly, wearing a white shirt and short pants, his red hair carefully combed in a middle part around his face.
One of the Englishmen started to play a fiddle, signaling that the bride had arrived. All in the church rose to their feet as Pocahontas entered the church, wearing her long-fringed dress and her long hair loose with a turkey feather.
She walked herself stoically down the aisle with a smile on her face, her chin held high. She had eyes only for the red-haired boy standing at the altar. She took her place beside him, standing up straight. She glanced over the assembly, Nakoma smiling, her father Chief Powhatan beaming with pride, Captain John Smith giving her a wink. Thomas took a glance at Wiggins who gave him a slight nod. Pocahontas clutched her bouquet of sunflowers.
Princess Pocahontas of the Powhatan Confederacy of Tribes was married to Thomas Deare of England.
He slid a gold ring on her finger. "It's gold," he whispered.
"No talking," the priest reminded him. "You may kiss the bride."
Both Pocahontas and Thomas leaned in and kissed.
Nakoma and Kocoum shouted in approval while Wiggins began the clapping.
Thomas took Pocahontas' hand in his, his pale skin against her light brown. He broke into a run down the aisle pulling the bride alongside him. Nakoma threw handfuls of sunflower petals at them. Kocoum gave a war whoop. Meeko and Percy scurried after them, Flit flying in the air through flying flower petals.
...
That evening was the dance, though the music was quite different than Pocahontas was used to. The Englishmen played a fiddle and a hornpipe. Thomas took Pocahontas' hand and showed her how they danced in England, touching only hands. Soon Nakoma and Kocoum joined the dance as well, then the others, circling around each other, dancing down a line, and changing partners.
She switched partners to dance briefly with John Smith. "If you think you've seen and done it all," he said to her as they circled holding hands, "wait 'til you see London."
"Or wait 'til London sees you," his friend John Rolfe said, taking her hand next.
"Yes, they're in for quite a shock," John Smith replied. "Take them by storm!"
John Rolfe handed Pocahontas back to Thomas.
The two leaned in closer and closer over their entwined hands as they danced. "You're in for a surprise once we get there," Thomas said.
"More surprises?" she said, her lips raising into a smile.
"You'll see," Thomas promised.
"Yes, quite a surprise," John Smith said under his breath.
Chief Powhatan even took a turn in the dance, walking about in a circle grasping Pocahontas' hand. "Daughter, you never cease to surprise me. You have taught us all a lesson we will not forget. You made your dream vision come true. I am fiercely proud of you. My little mischievous one."
He handed her back to Thomas.