A/N
Halloo!
Friday and I am here with another chapter.
I have been blown away by the reviews, thank you! They honestly made my crappy week so much brighter :)
I have enjoyed reading them and all your opinions. It's so much fun to hear other fans ideas!
I have been guilty in the past of writing Alice as a petite girl, I think it's because Uncas is so tall maybe? I also wrote her as having blue eyes in my older fics. I was watching the movie, several years ago, for the 1000 time, when I finally realised she does not have blue eyes! I had to laugh at myself. I'm sure I'll make further historical mistakes and character missteps in this, but it has been a fun write.
It's really quite fascinating how we make up these head canons and hopefully all these ideas will keep the fandom running for many years.
Thank you for the shout outs to writers I should check out, I now have a fair few stories to wade through, and thank you again for giving this daft story a go :)
I hope you enjoy and have a wonderful weekend everyone.
/
The three men had begun to help John carry some items out of the house, large trunks that needed to be gone through in the open, not in the dangerous confines of the fragile burnt log walls. Good chatter and companionship was all around for some time.
Major Heywood fussed endlessly, asking John a barrage of questions that all sounded a little patronizing to anyone listening.
Cora was soon helping Alexandra, while Alice sat upon a nearby log, her gaze a little detached, eyes glazed, as she stared at the enclosing wilderness encroaching upon the edge of the meadow.
Erin watched it all, feeling a similar detachment herself. She heard Cora and Alexandra talking; affable talk, Alexandra was praising Nathaniel and his family for their kindness and discussing her daily toil upon this land, the hard work, the sorrow and the freedom. Cora listened with fascination.
"Well, Miss Erin will accompany us, and then we'll see what can be done about contacting her father," John said, shaking Erin from her plans and scheming.
"No!" Erin said, suddenly drawing everyone's eyes to her. Uncas and Nathaniel raised an eyebrow and she understood why; in all this time she had said nothing, even Alice had spoken and interacted more with her surroundings. Erin seemed, to all there, to have had a hasty violent outburst after acting as a mute. "I mean, I don't mean to sound rude or ungrateful John, but I want to go to my Father. I have no one left."
"I think you should come with us," Alexandra tried.
But Erin shook her head. "If these ladies can go to the Fort, why can't I?" She hesitated, and her nervous gaze shifted to Chingachgook. "If that's alright with you, sir?" She resisted the ridiculous urge to curtsy.
"We would be willing to take one more," the older man nodded.
"But it could be dangerous." Alexandra looked unconvinced.
"It'll be fine," Erin said, waving her hands lightly. "It's not like it's under siege, or... it'll be fine." She sounded far too farcical to her own ears.
"I suppose, if it's what you really want." Alexandra plunged a hand into her pocket and pulled out a linen frilled cap, a little grey from ash. "It's not much, but it did survive the fire." She reached up and placed the cap tenderly upon Erin's head, securing it carefully with the ties. "It'll keep the sun off a little."
Feeling the act of kind affection clutch at her heart, Erin flung herself into the older woman's arms and hugged her close. "Thank you," she breathed into her shoulder, "for being so kind and helping me."
"You helped us too." Alexandra sounded like she was holding back tears. "You come find us, I'm sure your father can when you are reunited. Our home, wherever that is, will always be open to you and yours."
"Thank you." A tear slid down Erin's cheek, she was unsure why she was crying, and when they parted they both laughed at their emotional state. Alexandra tried with little success to remove the streaks of ash upon Erin's face. "Keep that hand clean and dry. I know these men will look after you well, I trust them. Don't be afraid."
"I'm not." Erin smiled and there was a small pull somewhere within that told her this answer was foolhardy.
"No, I believe you aren't." Alexandra brushed her cheek tenderly. "You are brave, I see that."
"I will try to be."
"Come." Nathaniel's voice broke the moment, and with a last grasp of hands the two women parted. "We must be on our way before the day gets any later." He turned to John, "I hope you make it untroubled to where you need to be."
"You too," John said, with a tip of his hat.
Without waiting, Nathaniel and the others turned, and they began to make for the trees.
Grabbing the small sack of supplies Alexandra handed her, with thanks, Erin walked to join the party she was now part of. Before she had taken a few steps Lizzie was clutching at her thigh in reluctance of her leaving. Erin patted her head tenderly, understanding the attachment; they had, after all, spent a harrowing night huddled together.
She bent to her haunches and held her at arm's length, examining her with an overly dramatic air. "I think you are the bravest girl I ever saw," Erin whispered, and saw Lizzie's face form into a pleased, lopsided smile. "You have to protect your Mama and make sure your Father has help." She indicated to the warriors behind them, their forms just dark shapes now. "Just like those great gentleman, family needs family." She brushed the blond hair out of her eyes, chubby face upturned as if listening to a fairytale. "Thank you for protecting me." Lizzie grinned again and hugged her clumsily before running back to her waiting parents and beginning to wave furiously. Erin held up a hand in farewell and the Camerons answered it with their own, and then she turned and made her way at a quick trot to the people who awaited her.
When she reached them, they had begun to disappear into the dark leafy foliage. She was a little breathless from the pinch of her stays, but smiled warmly as she saw Uncas had patiently waited for her to catch up. He nodded, his expression stoic and cool, with no friendly gesture or word of greeting in return to her own. He waited tolerantly for Erin to find her footing and be in eye line of the others, before he followed after.
/
The walk through the mulch laden, forest floor was quiet and uneventful. Erin was lost in her thoughts, trying to decide what she would do to help these two people to live. In the book it was such a sad and bittersweet love story between Alice and Uncas. Perhaps no one would have even known they felt anything for each other if they hadn't ended up on those fateful cliffs; although her own mind had often filled in the blanks - secret liaisons, stolen kisses, and words of undying love that were never recorded.
She chewed thoughtfully on a piece of dried meat she'd found in her bag.
"Miss ...?" The sound drew her to the form of Duncan, who had lagged behind a little to walk with her. His words were a question.
"Oh, er, Cooper." She drew the name out of her brain and cringed. "Erin Cooper." It was fairly common she assumed, far more historical sounding than her own last name. It could be believed there were many Coopers in the British army, as well as yet to be born authors.
"Miss Cooper." He suddenly seemed more at ease now the ritual of formal introductions had been made.
"I am Major Duncan Heywood. My apologies for my lack of manners at the homestead. It was quite chaotic."
"Not at all," Erin said, trying not to fall into the tonal cadence of all the period dramas she'd watched; it was hard, he was so very British, and so very prim. "It's been a hard few days for all of us, Major Heywood." She extended her hand to him, and he took it graciously.
"Your father is at Fort William Henry?"
"He is."
"What rank is he? I may know him."
"I am unsure. I have not seen him for many years." She felt him probing her story with unwelcome eyes and disliked it greatly, annoyance growing within her, causing her to clench her hands slightly. She already had enough to deal with, plotting her own plans of saving people, she didn't need some uptight British solider prying into her flimsy lies.
"He will be most glad of your arrival I am sure. But how is it you were going there, I know of no other party journeying to the fort?"
Erin knew she had to get this man to leave her alone. She feigned a small faint stumble as if his words had pained her.
"Oh Miss, are you quite alright?" His hands came to steady her, and his startled voice drew all eyes to them.
She held her brow over dramatically, her acting stunk and she knew it, but he didn't. "I'm sorry Major." She let out a choked pretend sob. "It's just all too much to discuss, after the attack and the fire..." she said, giving him a quick glance and seeing his face crumple in nervous worry, his eyes shift away in shame, she knew she'd got him.
"I am very sorry Miss Cooper, I can only imagine your hardships." They continued walking for a few seconds in silence, the only sound her made up sniffs of distress, his discomfort quite apparent at upsetting her. He rummaged around in one of his pockets and produced a white linen handkerchief, he studied it for a brief moment and seeming to decide it would do, he passed it over to her with a flick of his wrist, silently telling her to take it. Erin did, dabbing at her eyes and sniffing a little too loudly and often, in a way that was sure to drive anyone to distraction.
"I must go and see if Miss Munro is enduring this blasted long trek," he said, and dipped a bow to her. She wasn't sure which Munro he meant and she didn't think he knew either. "At your service," he said, and with a hurried walk, was away and towards the other two women who walked arm in arm together.
"Go on. That's right. Off you go," Erin whispered, watching his flustered form dart away. "Piss off, Major." Her attempt at a British accent made her sound like a chimney sweep from Mary Poppins. She smiled a smug little smile and then near jumped out of her skin, the self-satisfied expression falling from her lips as if she were a naughty child discovered doing something she shouldn't.
Uncas, his steps near silent, walked but a few feet to her right, his eyes once again upon her, boring into her and studying her, like she was a rather interesting insect. The dropping realization that he'd heard the whole conversation made her feel a little sick.
Her wide eyes met his for the briefest of moments before she cleared her throat lowly. "Well," she said, not really directly addressing him, "onward bound." She picked up her skirts a little and trotted forward, determined not to look back or have her cover blown by an overly curious man with, perhaps, a small growing suspicion of her.
/
Erin guessed they had walked about four or five miles, but it could have been more, now it was well into mid afternoon. It had been a long day, rising at dawn and working through most of the morning at the cabin, she felt bone weary.
She heard the three men that led them talking quietly together, their words were of the war party. They were still picking up traces of them every now and again but seemed mostly unconcerned, feeling they were a good way behind them.
Now and again Erin noticed one of the men studying a scuffed bit of moss upon a rock, or a mark in the mud that may have been a man's footprint. The main concern seemed to be that the war party would circle back; if there were any signs of this, they would have to head further into the forest, which none of them wanted to do, so every sign and track was scrutinized.
Duncan, surprisingly, seemed oblivious to these conversations, ignoring the talk and seeing to his two charges like a fussing mother hen.
"Wait!" Nathaniel held up his hand and Chingachgook and Uncas stilled, bodies tense and poised.
"What is it my son?"
"Up ahead."
"Men?" Uncas asked, his face serious and grim.
"No, worse."
Erin felt her skin prickle, that didn't sound good at all.
Duncan blustered forward. "Why have we stopped?"
Erin glanced at him, her mouth pulling down in dislike, was he being wilfully ignorant to these men or just not listening?
"Up ahead," Nathaniel said, lowly, the cadence of his voice changing slightly. "Something's not right."
"What? Why?" Duncan had no patience for any of this.
Nathaniel raised a hand, the gesture calling for quiet.
Uncas took in a long slow, deep inhale of air through his nose, his eyes closing briefly. His brow furrowed as if he was grasping at the merest hint of something. "Smoke?"
Nathaniel nodded.
"What is going on?" Duncan burst in again, but his voice was a whisper, and again Erin gave him a withering look, why didn't he listen?
"Smoke?" Erin said, drawing all eyes to her, a flicker of surprise rippling through Uncas' and Nathaniel's features.
Nathaniel again nodded, "Distant, but it's there. You have a good nose Miss Cooper."
A soft rustling of leaves made them all turn, and Chingachgook was returning to them, Erin hadn't even noticed he'd left, he'd been so silent.
"Father?" Uncas' voice held a note in it, as though he dreaded and knew the coming answer.
"More homesteads destroyed. Couldn't see people. Abandoned maybe. Didn't get too close, they could still be near." He patted his closest son tenderly upon the shoulder and Nathaniel glanced down, his expression concerned.
"Is anyone going to tell me what's going on here?" Duncan had begun to turn a rather nasty shade of puce.
"More cabins burnt out. War party heading up the river." Chingachgook spoke casually, the words not addressing anyone, but obviously meant for them all in explanation.
Duncan looked appalled and his mouth opened and closed a moment as if he had no words.
"Sir?" Cora's voice sliced through the tension, the address directed at Nathaniel, the man she felt most comfortable talking to. "Back at the cabin... here, now, with these other attacks... what has happened?"
Nathaniel considered this for a moment. "Like my father said, war party."
"Would they have harmed the whole family, surely not the children?"
Nathaniel gave a firm nod.
"But why?"
"Dissent. English and French using the rest of us like fodder. They are raiding up and down the river."
Cora looked shocked.
Duncan seemed to have regained himself and started forward. "Let us go and see if we can help." He gave Nathaniel a set-jawed look of scorn, obviously disliking what had been said.
"Leave them." Chingachgook was already turning away.
"Though they are strangers, they are at least entitled to Christian aid!" Cora was standing her ground.
Nathaniel shook his head sadly. "Let's go Miss."
"I will not!" She was annoyed, rallying some part of herself to fight the injustice she saw so plainly before her. "I have seen the face of war before, Mr Poe, but never war made on women and children, and almost as cruel is your indifference!" It was a barbed blow, stating clearly just what she thought of him and his ways.
Nathaniel turned to her, taking a few rapid and anger filled steps towards her, Cora's hand went to Alice, her feet taking a stumbled step backwards.
His face was aloof yet calm, his next words very measured. "Miss Munro, these people, all these people along the river, they are not strangers."
Cora's face registered a ripple of shock.
"They either left or they are dead, and if so, they stay as they lay."
He turned and made his way after his father and brother, saying no more.
Erin could almost see the truth of what this all meant trickling into Cora's mind, revealing a whole world she didn't understand. She looked back at the way Chingachgook had come from earlier, where the slight smell of smoke had become stronger. Her bottom lip trembled for the briefest moment before she looked down at Alice, who stared up with a worried frown, trying to understand why her older sister looked so flustered. Cora's face found the composure it needed and she smiled and gestured they should continue onwards, her arm linking with Alice's.
Erin took her own moment to look back, her heart tugging painfully. All she could do was pray she had not traded one family's life for another, that the war party was indeed, just as Chingachgook and Nathaniel had said, raiding up and down the river without mercy.
