To Erin's eyes, the lake's surface looked like glass, reflecting all the billowing smoke from muskets being fired and the steady licking flames that now consumed Fort William Henry in the distance. Her gaze settled on the burning wooden buildings she had so recently thought of as a safe haven, the eye in the middle of a vast storm, and was chilled by just how quickly time had flipped the status quo, nowhere was safe now.

They all hurried down an embankment as the world was engulfed in chaos all about them, men struggling in hand to hand combat, where only death would pronounce one the victor. A warrior suddenly emerged out of the nearby woodland, weapon held high, his trajectory set to collide with Alice's running form, but Chingachgook took up his musket and fired and the man fell, before he was even in range to do any harm.

Nathaniel shouted into the noise, his rasped words meant for his father and brother. "We have to make it onto the water, boats, there!" The two men changed course and all followed the silent direction, running along the embankments towards the waiting empty war canoes pushed up on muddy banks.

It seemed they had not been the only ones with the idea of escaping upon the lake, nearby were two men, an English solider and a Mohawk warrior. The Mohawk had his arm wrapped around the soldier's middle. The Englishman had been gravely injured, his leg having suffered a direct hit from a musket, most likely his bone was shattered and his ability to walk was greatly impeded. Yet his companion had refused to abandon him and was now hurriedly guiding them both towards the boats with all the strength he had.

It took only a moment for the enemy to notice them all fleeing, and callous eyes turned upon them, muskets aimed and shots fired, the noise making Erin start each time a sharp crack filled the air, fearing the feel of hot, cruel lead entering her flesh.

Uncas fired back and there was one less assailant to trouble them, but the shots still came, trying to bring them down, trying to stop their flight.

They didn't have time to falter, splashing into the freezing water to move themselves away from the attackers.

Nathaniel took aim and took out a warrior further up the bank, but it wasn't enough.

Erin heard a desperate intake of breath and glanced back over her shoulder, the Mohawk warrior had stopped, forced to let his friend go by the impact and pain of musket shot finding him, blood spreading like water on tissue paper across the material of his shirt. He turned and grasped for the first solid body, Nathaniel caught him in his arms, a desperate look of despair etched into every part of his face as the young brave quickly died in his arms. Nathaniel paused only a moment, his eyes flashing with a dark edge of deep sorrow, before allowing himself to reluctantly let the body go and float away into the depths of the lake.

There was no time to reload muskets and all shots had been fired so they rushed onwards, knowing they were now as vulnerable as they could be.

They waded deeper into the water, to the many canoes, Chingachgook targeting one as their destination. They pushed it into the shallows. The women were helped in first, the vessel bobbing unsteadily with each frantic movement. When Cora was seated she reached to aid the English solider who still followed in their wake. Erin's mind buzzed with the panicked objection of how they would all possibly fit, but was felt feeling shaken and guilty for the thought as another crack filled the air and the man's body stumbled backwards as if had been pushed off his feet. He fell into the shallows with a splash, his chest stained in the same shade of red that his Mohawk friend had been, eyes unfocused as he gazed unseeingly up into the bright blue sky. Erin let out a sob of distress and closed her eyes.

The canoe rocked as the three men heaved the boat forward and out onto the water and then they slid in with ease, reassuring all there that they knew what they were doing.

Paddles swished through the air, hitting the water with a soft blip and they were away, leaving the shore and moving out on to the lake. Mist hovered over its mirrored surface, offering them the promise of concealment if they could just move fast enough.

Everyone in the canoe was reticent for a moment, the sound of hard breathing from all the effort of moving them onwards the only sound. Nathaniel was at the front, Alice, then Uncas, and Erin sat behind him. Erin could sense the rigid form of Cora behind her and Chingachgook steered at the back, his voice now offering a few soft words of encouragement to his sons. Erin focused on Uncas' back, on his arms propelling them forwards, away from danger.

The canoe swayed threateningly under the six people it carried but after a few moments the men seemed to right it and they sailed forwards. Erin didn't dare to look back, she feared what she would see, knowing in the book it was only moments before the party was pursued. She glanced down at her wet skirts, her mind trying to push forward the comforting thoughts that perhaps Magua had not seen them, and no one would come after a few men and women fleeing the battle. Perhaps she had delayed Magua with their meeting and his deadly gaze never came upon Cora or Alice and they would be free and safe? Her dry lips mumbled the word 'please' over and over, a prayer to any deity that was willing to listen.

The mist listed lazily across the water surrounding the boat, hanging like the smoke found after fourth of July fireworks. Suddenly another canoe drifted out of the haze and was beside them, the red coats of two of its occupants making Erin's shoulders sag in defeated relief for a moment before her nerves pricked, alarmed. Duncan was in the boat and he was aiming his pistol at them, at Nathaniel. Surprise turned into anger in his eyes, Erin saw the thought ripple across his features, that he could just aim and pull the trigger.

Nathaniel seemed oblivious until Cora gave a cry.

"Duncan, no!"

Even then Nathaniel seemed unconcerned, barely giving the Major any attention, too focused upon his task. "You got nothing better to do today on Lake George than shoot me, Major, then go ahead." He shouted the words, his eyes not diverting from the water.

Erin felt her heart sink, her vain thought of escape becoming heavy, a balloon with little air, as she realized that if Duncan was here, just as he was in the book, that meant things were becoming closer and closer to the plot line she knew, which meant...

A rally of musket fire boomed behind them and Erin turned as her trepidation became a reality, they were being chased, three canoes gaining, and the occupants intent on stopping their escape. Magua had seen them.

The threat seemed to shake Duncan out of his anger and he lowered the pistol.

"When you fall into British hands again, Nathaniel Poe, I will have you hanged!" He sat back down with some difficulty, Erin noticed his leg was injured, tied with a scarf that seemed to be doing little to stem the slow spread of a growing dark patch. His white shirt was dirt streaked with mud or blood, his red officer's coat lost during the skirmish. He looked disarrayed and spent, Erin's heart sank even further.

Even with the extra warning, with Munro's knowledge of what was to come, with every man and woman given arms, it felt like it had all been for nothing. The attacking army had proved too much and the outcome remained the same, they were defeated and running for their lives. Erin could only hope the number counted as dead or missing was now a lesser amount than in the historical accounts, she prayed it had all had some effect, and that one among them that had survived was Colonel Munro.

Duncan and his two men paddled as much as they could, but one soldier was quite obviously injured and they began to fall behind, unable to keep pace.

"Head for the river!" Nathaniel shouted back to Uncas.

Without any hesitation Uncas dove into the water like a seal, making the canoe sway unnervingly in his wake. His body slipped through the lake with ease until he was at the side of Duncan's canoe, he pulled himself in and flicked his soaking wet hair from his eyes with one hand and without a word took up an oar and began to paddle furiously.

More shots came from behind them, the musket balls now whistling through the air far too close for comfort, one hit the side of Duncan's boat splintering some of the hide into pieces.

"What do we do?" Duncan called.

"Only chance we have." Nathaniel was panting out every word. "Gain distance on them."

Erin could see the sweat glistening off him and knew every man felt the same way, fear and apprehension propelling everyone to somehow get through this, to push themselves up to, and past their limits, the only other option was death. Cora had now taken up an oar and was trying to do her part. Erin looked around, there were no more, all she could do was trust in everyone around her.

The canoes seemed to have a new burst of speed and finally they began to pull away, creating some space between them and the pursuers. The muskets sounded further away, the shot falling a good way from them, harmlessly into the lake's surface.

They turned the vessel, steering it into the narrow path of the river, the winding course and current giving them more of an advantage as it took hold of the boats. Erin turned back, eyes wild and searching but she could not even see the pursuing canoes now.

"Head for... for the white water!" Nathaniel's gruff cry seemed suddenly startling in the quiet peace of nature they had drifted into. The trees abutted both sides, seeming to shield them, the water's pretty tinkling almost idyllic.

There was no slowing, but Duncan seemed to have regained some of his bravado after the frantic chase. "Do you hear me, Sir! If you ever fall into British hands-" He sounded spent and thoroughly exhausted. "Wait! What white water?"

As they rounded another gentle corner, the river widened, forking out into two ways, one smooth and glassy, the water hardly moving at all, the other splashing rapids.

Erin caught her breath and held it, knowing this was going to test everyone's nerve but it was the only way they could get far enough away from their pursuers to have a chance, to not be caught. She clutched onto the sides, informing Alice gently with a whisper to do the same, who graced her with only the slightest head movement that she understood.

Erin's eyes went to the other canoe to Uncas who sat at the back, ready to steer his boat through this danger, his face a mask of control.

Erin felt a strange anticipation she knew all too well rising in her stomach, it was the same feeling she got whenever she visited a theme park, waiting in line before she boarded the rollercoaster or water ride, fear and excitement. As the canoe was guided quickly towards the rushing water, the excitement seemed to suddenly plunge away, the boat was caught up in the violent current and it pulled them onwards, leaving nothing but fear. The men paddled and grunted with the effort of their labours and they all managed to stay upright and push against the jutting rocks that lay in their path with their oars, averting disaster.

The edge of a small waterfall lay ahead. Erin saw Alice's whole form tense as she caught sight of it too, her shoulders heaved with breaths of trepidation and she glanced back, her eyes searching for her sister who could only give a small weak smile of reassurance. The boats soared towards the edge and with tense apprehension they went over, the lunge felt in the very pit of Erin's stomach. They hit the bottom with a smack of water, the waves crashing over the sides and soaking everyone through, the canoe bobbing side to side, for a moment threatening to unseat them all. Duncan followed, faring little better.

The boats listed calmly away, leaving the noise of rushing falls behind, the water was calm now, the surface so glassy and still that for a moment all thought they were through the worst. The soldiers cheered a little, Cora was smiling and Alice looked pale, her mouth agape in relief that they were finally safe; but Erin could not join in, she knew what lay ahead and her eyes sought Uncas again. He met her gaze, he knew where they were too.

"Here's where it gets tricky" Nathaniel called back, and all happiness stilled, understanding quickly gained that it was not over yet.

"What, Sir?" Duncan's voice was scoffing, there was no danger he could see anywhere.

Then the sound reached them all, a low constant roar, water gushing in a great torrent and Duncan's face changed expression, from carefree to concerned. Now he understood.

Up ahead the river just ended like a thin line, the sky stretching beyond in a long unbroken expanse of blue that blended into the dense green scenery of the lush forested land beyond, as far as the eye could see. It looked like the very edge of the entire world.

Slowly they were drifting towards it.

Erin had been to these great falls in her own time, of course she had to make the pilgrimage once in her life at least. They were breath-taking, at least a hundred foot if not two hundred high, the water a constant violent flow, beating down in heavy spray to the rocks below. Beautiful when gazed up at in wonder, but frighteningly heart stopping when seeing the top of it in a little boat.

Nathaniel led the way, his hand found purchase on a rock and he jumped out of the canoe, steadying the boat like an anchor, with a turn of his head he silently gestured that they were all to get disembark, now. Chingachgook was out within a moment, helping his son. As Erin floundered in the water a moment she saw Duncan trying to do the same as Nathaniel, reaching his hand out for a hold, fighting against the growing rush of water. Uncas still sat at the back, waiting for the vessel to steady, his whole body a tense bundle of muscle.

Duncan fumbled, grabbing at the rock to secure the bow of the canoe, but it was slippery and his grip faltered, the boat suddenly caught the current and rocketed towards the edge. Nathaniel and Chingachgook watched in horror, still holding their own boat steady as the women made it finally to the shore. Erin heard a sound escape her lips, a high pitched whimper of distress and Alice and Cora let out gasps as they all watched on helpless, unable to do anything but watch.

Uncas' reflexes were fast, lurching sideways, he grabbed at a tree root, his fingers clutching for dear life, he was the only link between the canoe and the earth. The bow now hung a little over the edge of the falls, Duncan mere inches from the drop. Erin's heart strained in panic, waiting, holding her breath, a fist clenching at her breast.

Uncas strained, his muscles taut, and with great effort he pulled the canoe back towards the rock. Once he felt he had secured it, he gestured with a brusque turn of his head for all the men to go. Duncan crawled forward and made land with a final jump, wincing as his injured leg felt the judder of impact. Then it was the turn of the two English soldiers. Finally Uncas pulled himself to safety, with the two redcoats steadying the way for him. Once he was free of danger, they let go and the canoe shot over the falls, looking every bit like a terrible version of a river rapids ride. A low sigh of relief left Erin's lips and she tried valiantly to regain herself and not dwell on the deaths that could have been.

Once all were safe, Nathaniel let the last canoe go, allowing it to slide over the edge. He waited for Uncas to catch up and laid a hand gently upon his brother's shoulder, an act that spoke so clearly of his relief, Uncas returned the gesture with a small clutch of Nathaniel's arm.

Regaining themselves, Nathaniel led the way through a few thickets of bush and then a rock crevice lay ahead. Again Erin felt that stubborn reluctance to go any further, this was a dead end, once they entered there would be no way out.

She glanced back to where the canoes had disappeared over the falls, she could see in the distant sky the sun was lowering, soon it would set and in the dark there would be no other shelter to seek. As her eyes grazed across the landscape she understood with a forlorn certainty, that as soon as they'd gone onto the lake, there had been no going back.

/

A/N

Not a Friday, a day late, but hello to anyone coming by to read.

In the scene where they are running to the canoes in this chapter, I'm sure many of you have seen a similar scene in the movie, that of the English solider and the Mohawk warrior in the background. I always found this such a touching background detail, the two men, a friendship perhaps, at least an unwillingness to leave a fellow warrior behind, and suffering the worse fate for it. D.D Lewis' performance here as he holds the dying man, it always got to me because if the viewer isn't paying attention, you miss this very tender moment, this man's death, Nathaniel's look of grief, which I assume was Mann's intent, how petty all lives suddenly become in war.

It's a shame they did not keep the scene (which is in the script) of Uncas' heroically saving the men in the canoe, as well as leaving out a little rival banter between Nathaniel and Duncan, so I put them in Spark as a little homage.

I want to extend my thanks out to those reading and those that take the time to leave a review. MohawkWoman and Flowangelic, you really do keep me going :D

An extra thank you to Eilan21 for reviewing and giving the story a go. I understand your feelings completely, being an ardent A/U shipper myself, I would find a story with these themes difficult too. I take it as a lovely compliment that the story has kept you reading despite the parts you may not feel fully on board with. I hope you find some enjoyment in what is to come if you decide to keep reading, but if not that is fully okay, I thank you for your time spent with me :)

So... next week. Into the caves we go, a lot of emotions/issues to be confronted, some may be a surprise and some, Erin has been putting off for far too long. I hope to see you then.