A/N

Another song rec, one I didn't actually write to but one I was recommend in relation to Spark and I really love it (already being a big Kate Bush fan, it wasn't too hard a thing to do) and I have been listening to it the whole time I edited this chapter today, so for this chapter I am shouting out 'Running Up That Hill' covered by Rachel Hardy and a thank you to Laura. It does match the overall feeling so...

Enjoy the chapter :)

/

Erin found Uncas sitting enjoying his meal alone, the rest of the tables were mostly empty, only a scattered few men still lingered upon their food. She paused a moment in the shadows of the doorway, dithering between decisions.

She took the chance to watch him from her secret lair, knowing he couldn't see her from where he sat, noticing his gaze shift to the room every so often, a casual glance, but she understood from their travels, it was much more than that. It was the same constant observations he gave to every environment. Erin supposed that was just how life was here, he and his family lived what appeared to be a semi-nomadic life, never quite belonging to any village or town. Being watchful of one's surroundings, and more importantly the people in those surroundings, would surely take a lot of attention and training. She felt she understood why he came across as so stoic and unapproachable to those that didn't know him, it was a front he wanted believed.

"Excuse me, Miss, do you need some assistance?"

Erin started, her heart leaping into her throat at the sudden interruption of her covert thoughts. Before her stood a young English private, and he was giving her a rather odd look. He was very neatly polished and looked proud of his uniform in the way he held his shoulders. He didn't sound like Duncan, Cora or Alice. He had an accent that sounded earthy and, somehow, wholesome.

"No. I'm fine, thank you." Erin gave him a tight smile. "Just on my way to eat." She pointed towards the large room.

"I think all the best food is already gone. It's late you see, you need to come when cook rings the bell to get the best bits," he explained, as if she was rather simple. "But there may be bread and some cheese." He smiled, blue eyes twinkling with inherent kindness. Then his expression slackened as if he'd just had a terrible realisation. He hesitated, a little flustered, before continuing, "Excuse me for being so forward, but are you alone Miss?"

"Yes," Erin said, fighting back the bristling feeling his words brought, it felt like an accusation.

"Have you recently arrived at Fort Edward?" He didn't give her time to reply, her answer seemed inconsequential to him. "I'd be happy t' guide you to the kitchens."

"The kitchens?" Erin questioned, with a sceptical raise of her brow, not understanding what he was trying to tell her.

"The women don't tend to come to the mess hall alone you see, they eat in a room just off the kitchens." He motioned back the way she'd come. "Unless your husband is in..." He gestured back towards the mess hall.

"Yep, he is. In there, I mean," Erin lied, forcing a smile upon her face, suddenly wanting to be as contradictory and difficult as she could possibly be. "I was just on my way to meet him."

The young officer frowned. "Well, I'm glad t' hear that, but you should tell him plain, it's best he accompanies you Miss, in future. Or you can go to the kitchens with the other women. You get the best choice of food before it gets brought out too." Apparently to him, this seemed like a win-win situation. "You shouldn't go wandering these parts of the barracks alone."

Erin felt suddenly attacked by his words, like he was scolding her. "Oh? Am I in danger?" she goaded, wanting him to tell her exactly why she wasn't welcome, knowing her gender was at the forefront of all this. That riled her. Even knowing this was a different time didn't dampen her need to fight back against chauvinistic dispositions. She'd needed, and felt urged, to fight against it her whole life, she wasn't going to stop now. Even if this young solider meant no real offense, he was still telling her to go back to the kitchen, where he clearly thought she belonged.

"I wouldn't go so far as t' say danger, Miss." He hesitated again, hand rubbing the back of his neck as he laughed nervously, feeling her becoming irate with him. "But a lady, alone, 't isn't safe. Soldiers aren't permitted in the kitchens, or the laundry, nor the infirmary, or the buildings meant for officers without express permission. Everyone knows it and sticks to the rules, so it would be only fair if you..." His words trailed off as his eyes caught the displeased look upon her face.

"Stayed in my lane?" Erin said, crossing her arms across her chest, his accent pricking at her memories. Dammit, he sounded like Sam Gamgee from Lord of the Rings. Sam Gamgee had just told her to stay in the kitchen! Somehow that made this all worse.

"I'm sure you understand. It's safer if you have an escort in these parts."

"Yes, I see." Erin felt unreasonably disgruntled with being told where she was and wasn't permitted, as if her merely existing was an invite for trouble. "I'll keep that in mind, and... and I'll tell my husband off... or whatever... to mind me better." Erin couldn't help the sarcastic edge to her voice, even though she knew this man was only trying to be helpful.

He heard the hostility in her tone and looked a little confused, not understanding what he had said to offend her. "I'll let you be on your way to your husband then." He looked very uncertain for a moment, as if he really shouldn't allow her to do such a thing at all. "Miss." He bowed, gave her another odd glance over, and went on his way.

Erin allowed herself a small moment for her pulse to calm, now understanding she couldn't stand here like some weirdo, drawing any further unwanted attention. She had a choice to make in that split second, march in there as if she belonged or scuttle off to the kitchens in retreat.

Well, most of the men close by in here had already seen her after that exchange anyway, what did it matter? She squared her shoulders and entered the large room, her steps certain and her gaze set upon Uncas, but instantly she felt more eyes upon her as she walked. Erin tried to bite back the unpleasant feeling of knowing she'd probably just made the wrong decision.

It took a lot of effort not to turn and look at those unwelcoming faces. She gritted her teeth, wishing Cora had warned her about this potential situation, but understanding in the same moment why she hadn't. To Cora this was just the way things were, there were unspoken rules and regulations that people just knew here. Cora perceived Erin had knowledge about the future, but she certainly didn't know Erin was from the future. As far as Cora was concerned her friend had just spent a non-conforming life at sea, by all estimates Erin should know some basic protocol of what being a woman in this time meant. Like perhaps the protocol of knowing exactly where women were and were not meant to venture alone in polite society. A soldiers' mess hall seemed to be firmly in the 'no' category.

Now Erin pondered it, perhaps Cora had really meant she should wait for Uncas to finish and catch him in the corridor, or to have caught his attention discreetly and beckoned him into a more hospitable area of the fort. No matter what path Erin should have taken, her choice was made now and nothing could be done, she'd have to bear those unwanted eyes.

Uncas saw her approaching and placed down his spoon, abandoning his meal of a rather unappetizing mud coloured stew, in silent welcome to her presence. At least he didn't seem to want to scold her presumed boldness. Erin slid onto the wooden bench next to him, begrudgingly having to admit she felt suddenly safer in his presence. The feeling of being watched relented and she sighed in relief.

Uncas looked well, cleaned and fed, and from all current appearances he seemed to have fallen back into his quiet yet observant ways. She found no words to speak so did the only other thing she could think of and greeted him with a light touch upon his shoulder, allowing her palm to slide down his arm in a lingering familiar way. Her fingers came to brush the back of his hand, which was casually placed upon the table, with an affectionate caress. Selfishly, Erin needed the direct contact and her gaze met his in an open act of amused flirtation.

He watched her with reserved enigmatic eyes, his expression giving nothing away as to his own emotions. Erin had expected him to have something witty to say, or at least a smile in return for her attentions, but she couldn't read him at all and so, she placed her hands upon her lap, unsure how to proceed. She felt a blush rush across her face, burning against her cheekbones. Had she been too forward? Her tongue felt too dry to speak and so she sat, hoping he would begin the conversation, but he seemed to be in no hurry.

Finally she gulped down the compulsion to remain silent. "That looks..." she motioned to his stew, but found her next word sorely lacking, "...good."

"Not bad," he said, turning to her with an agreeable look.

"Did you sleep?"

He nodded with a whisper of a smile upon his lips. "I did." His gaze connected to hers, asking the same.

"Like the dead!" She cleared her throat, her clumsy answer feeling somehow highly inappropriate after all they'd just been through. "Sorry." She reached out a hand to his shoulder in apology and felt his muscles abruptly stiffen under her fingers. Suddenly, she felt he was asking her not to touch him. Dejected, but trying to understand, Erin moved her hands back to her lap.

'See! Too forward!' her mind reprimanded like an old matron.

Erin tried to relax back into her seat and play the situation as coolly as she could, but she felt uneasy. This place didn't feel like Fort William Henry, where no one had time for anything but their own troubles. The constant fact of potential death being only a hair's breadth away had given an atmosphere that made people easy going and unconcerned with the affairs of others. Fort Edward suddenly felt like being thrust into a society that Erin had no understanding of.

It was hard to try and change every simple action and gesture to fit into a place you didn't really belong. This all rapidly felt like she was wading into water far too deep for her.

They sat for a moment in a rather uncomfortable silence. He returned his attention back to his food, slowly and methodically finishing what he had left, scraping up the leftover juices with a slightly stale looking piece of bread. Erin thought crisply, that he was being rather precious about it, taking much longer than any normal person would. He'd clearly been eating at quite a pace when she'd first observed him from the doorway, now his speed was painfully slow, and because he'd returned his attention back to his meal, Erin felt she had no choice but to wait before trying to start any further attempts at conversation.

He looked up again, eyes scanning, lingering, then his gaze dropped back to his bowl, intent on catching every last tasty morsel. Erin apathetically followed where his eye line had hesitated and abruptly felt all her hackles rise as a direct and rather unfriendly stare met her own. A large looking burly man, with messy hair and a lower face shadowed in at least a week's worth of dark stubble, was glaring at them from his seat a few tables away. He was a solider, that was quite obvious, but his red coat lay on the bench next to him and Erin couldn't tell what his rank was. The only thing Erin felt certain of in that moment, was her grandma would have referred to this man as a 'ruffian'.

His stare was so confronting, so full of venom, that Erin found she couldn't bear it and looked away, her eyes focusing upon her hands fidgeting within her lap. She waited a moment, trying to decide if she should look up again, say or do something, anything at all, as alarm pricked at all her nerves, making her squirm in clear discomfort.

Then a warm hand was upon her arm, making her start. Uncas had discreetly reached under the table into the concealment of shadows. He tugged her wrist very gently, her eyes went to him but his gaze remained nonchalantly upon his meal. He gave a very subtle sway of his head that told her plainly not to look over at that man again. His thumb grazed the side of her palm, a touch of secret comfort that said he knew and understood what was happening.

Despite the act of consoling, Erin felt her heart jump a little in nervous agitation. She understood; without meaning to, she had been the catalyst to this unwanted and hostile attention. She'd just sauntered in without a care in the world and plonked herself right down beside someone that unshaven ass of a man clearly thought she had no business associating with. Then she'd proceeded to fawn and touch Uncas familiarly, making that English solider outraged.

Understanding the situation didn't mean she had to like it or accept it, but she knew she had to bear it and that galled her.

"What a dick," she breathed, unable to help herself, and she felt Uncas' hand tighten on her skin again just for a moment, while his face remained unconcerned and quite engrossed in his meal. But Erin thought she saw the barest twitch of a smile at the side of his lips.

After an uncomfortable period of time, Uncas' grip relaxed and slipped away, his hand coming to rest upon the table as he pushed his bowl aside, finally finished. Erin looked up as casually as she could and saw that the seat the staring man had been sat in was empty. She let out a breath and allowed her gaze to roam freely, searching for a moment before she understood what Uncas already knew, the man had left.

"What was his problem?" Erin mumbled, feeling a rush of heat flood her face in both embarrassment and anger.

"Me," Uncas said rather bluntly.

"Me too by the looks of it." Erin crossed her arms. "We weren't even doing anything!" she huffed, a little sulkily.

Uncas raised an eyebrow at her in a silent but thoroughly amused question of just what they should have been doing to gain such hostile attention, in her mind.

"Well we weren't," Erin deflected, torn between nervous humour and disgruntlement.

He let out a low laugh and shook his head.

"I didn't know I shouldn't... come in here by myself, I didn't think it'd cause trouble. Sorry."

He cocked an eyebrow at her in surprise, but then his expression smoothed and he nodded in understanding. "Not like your home?" he asked, already knowing what her answer would be, but Erin thought he seemed to want to allow her the emotional outlet, which she was suddenly grateful for.

"No. Not like my home. I'm not used to this sort of thing. Being told where I can and can't go, who I can and can't sit with." She paused, her eyes flicking to his face. "It's very strange to me. Hard to adjust to."

He nodded again, his eyes shifting with all the thoughts Erin knew must be going through his mind. "That man, all men like him, all they give is ill looks," he said, with his normal calm manner, his head moving in a nod towards where the man had been sat. "I am not worried, such men bluster but never strike unless you provoke them." He paused, a small smile quirking at one side of his mouth. "Snakes with no teeth," he said in his own tongue. He turned back to her, seeing she was still anxious. "My brother or I will walk with you, if the other women cannot. You don't need to fear. We are safe. The Colonel is in our debt, he will honour that."

Erin's eyes flicked back to where the angry solider had been sat. She wasn't sure if Uncas' words made her feel any better about someone like that, but she supposed she'd just have to be more mindful of where she wandered from now on. That young solider had said some places were presumed 'safe', the kitchens, the laundry, the infirmary, and the officer's quarters. She wouldn't venture past those places without a companion.

"Thank you," she murmured, disliking the feel of needing a guardian. "I'll be more careful too."

This seemed to please Uncas as he sent a gladdened smile her way, but he still offered her more comfort. "Not your fault," he said, his tone very level. "Not your world, I don't expect you to understand it."

Even though the words were reassuring Erin felt them as an unintentional sting.

She allowed her arms to relax, her hands resting in her lap again as she gathered up her thoughts, not wanting to dwell on what had just happened but unsure how to move the situation forward.

Silence then, Erin felt uncomfortable, what could she say or do to make any of this feel right? She'd been dreading this since waking, dreading addressing the elephant in the room, their parting. That damn bigoted asshole hadn't made any of this feel easier!

His hand reached into the shadows and enclosed her fingers in a tender grasp, bringing her out of the little inner panic and turmoil she had been fighting against.

"All is well," he said simply, in his own tongue, and Erin wanted to baulk against those words, argue the very use of them. Nothing about this felt 'well', but she didn't have a right to feel any bitterness, she was the one who was leaving.

"I don't know what to say," Erin said hopelessly, guilt pulling her in two ways, the part that still wanted to be with him, and the part that knew home was the place she belonged.

Uncas pondered upon this for a moment before he smiled his disarmingly astute smile. "Sometimes words are too small," he said, and squeezed her hand reassuringly.

They spent the rest of the day together and in the presence of Nathaniel and Chingachgook, the extra company giving Erin the feeling of comfort, knowing in a group they would all avoid any unfriendly attention. They spoke little, enjoying their time in simple tasks. There was not much to do in the fort so Erin helped the men prepare for the next day's journey, the last they would take together.

They were provided with food and powder, blades were sharpened and water gathered. Colonel Munro seemed to be keeping his word, as just one mention of who the men were was enough to open any door to free goods. They had even been gifted with a rusty brown coloured pack mule. It meant they would have to stick to the roads mostly, but it was adept at covering some uneven ground and would make the journey generally a little easier. Chingachgook took great enjoyment picking out some rather fine herbs and spices for cooking, and took a large bag of salt with a very satisfied look.

Uncas walked Erin back to her quarters, so she could have supper with Alice and Cora. Cora had urged them all to meet by the open fireside after their meals were done, where she had been told many people met socially in the evenings, knowing it would be the last time they would all be together. Chingachgook had declined, saying he felt such things were for the young, and a good hearty meal then his bed called to him.

As the sun set the fort came alive from daily regulated drudgery, becoming a completely different atmosphere. People gathered to tell stories, perform and listen to music, dance and play games. The ale and laughter flowed freely.

They all sat in each others company and talked well into the night. Cora and Nathaniel even danced a little and Alice spent her time studying all about her, discussing in excited snippets of conversation with Erin about just what she thought would make a wonderful composition for her next planned artwork.

There was a moment that could have turned the whole evening sour. Erin watched as Duncan bantered and drank with the men around him, his gaze straying often to their little gathering, a longing within his eyes. She wasn't sure if that look was one of wanting to be with them all in companionable merriment, or a look of wounded defeat that he knew Cora was no longer within his reach.

As his eyes followed the dips and curves of Nathaniel and Cora's dancing figures, his look darkened and Erin knew which emotion fuelled him. It was not a look of anger or hatred, but a look of grief. He downed another mug of ale, wiped his mouth unceremoniously upon his sleeve and, with a glower, turned and stalked off into the shadows. Erin felt pity for him, he had survived it all only to come out of everything still the underdog in Cora's affections, but Erin also couldn't help feeling anxious. It was Duncan's jealousy that had fuelled Nathaniel's imprisonment, would he now try and cause trouble? Erin thought she had felt him outgrow that pettiness during their capture, but she wasn't in his head, she couldn't truly know what he was thinking, or what he would do.

To cover all her bases, Erin mentioned Duncan's abrupt departure to Cora when she took a moment to catch her breath from Nathaniel's company, but she seemed little worried by Erin's words, convinced Duncan wouldn't make any fuss.

"How can you be so sure?" Erin asked, still nervous after all that had happened that day.

"He came to me, this morning. He apologized for his behaviour at Fort William Henry and I accepted his words. And his deeds spoke much more," Cora said, pushing her hair away from damp skin.

"Deeds?" Erin questioned.

"He spoke to my father upon Nathaniel's behalf as soon as we arrived, and told the truth about the war party raids and... that Nathaniel had no part in the men deserting." Cora glanced at Erin, they both knew that was not strictly true. "I am proud of him. My father had no choice but to drop the charges of sedition laid upon Nathaniel. If Duncan had wanted to cause trouble all he needed to do was keep silent, my father would have been more than happy to throw Nathaniel back into the cells."

"Oh," Erin said, feeling rather ashamed, she hadn't even given Nathaniel's fate more than a single passing thought, she'd just assumed Cora and Alice being returned to Colonel Munro would be enough goodwill to undo all that had happened at Fort William Henry. She had been very naïve in her assumptions. Munro had only dropped her 'charges' because she hadn't been formally charged with anything, just filed away in the cells to be dealt with later.

"Duncan is hurt, but he is also an honourable man. His emotions were clouding that, and now he is the man I know again. I trust him."

Erin's gaze returned to the shadows, hoping Cora was indeed right.

Erin was distracted from her sombre thoughts as Uncas passed indiscreet looks across the firelight. Her mood lifted, enjoying the attention and the nearness of him in a somewhat sheltered environment, surrounded by family and friends. She thought perhaps they could slip away to find somewhere quiet to be alone together, she wanted to be with him, to express what she felt she never could with words alone.

Erin reigned back her thoughts with a sharp inner tug, having to remind herself, once again, this was a different time. The desperation of Fort William Henry was not here to excuse illicit liaisons in cupboards, her selfish indiscretion could land them both in trouble. That point had been glaringly brought into focus by that one man's disapproval of them merely existing in the same space in the mess hall. Unfriendly eyes may linger just out of sight, she had to be careful. So, when she rose to take her leave, with caution, she touched Uncas' arm in a soft lingering discreet caress, in a silent goodnight, but he caught her hand gently, pulling her back to him.

"Come find me?" It was a declaration of direct intent and Erin froze, shocked by his undiplomatic attitude. She noticed Alice, who was close enough to overhear, stifle a giggle, and felt her own face flush despite her modern sensibilities.

Erin thawed herself with effort and pulled her wrist out of his grip, suddenly very acutely aware of their public place. She couldn't help looking around, her attention set on finding any of those unfriendly eyes. Her first instinct in that moment was to refuse his request, but when she looked back at Uncas' face there was something serious and compelling within his eyes that pulled at all her inner workings, and she relented without any fight. "Sure. Where we met last night? In about an hour?" she whispered, understanding he wouldn't ask this without a good reason, he was surely aware of the danger more than she.

He nodded and turned back to watch the dancing. Erin felt as if she couldn't move and stood there in awkward silence, a quiver of unease scaling up her back, using her spine as a climbing frame with cold little fingers.

Alice was once again the hero of the hour and came to Erin's side, linking Erin's arm with hers, and gently pulled her companion away, giving relief to the uncomfortable situation. They began to slowly walk back to the main building.

"My..." Alice said, still giggling, a little too much brandy having been imbibed. "He is quite the forthright fellow, is he not?"

Erin was unsure of what answer to give, she suddenly didn't feel especially merry. "It isn't like him." She felt unreasonably defensive. "He's normally very... reserved and careful." She paused, glancing back to Uncas' dark silhouette against the firelight. "I'm sure he will tell me what it's all about when we meet," she mumbled, and Alice tugged her arm in surprise, snapping Erin out of her thoughts and into the present.

"But surely you are not thinking of going, Erin? Being alone with him?" Alice said, a look of shocked delight upon her face.

Erin sighed, it seemed all were against her today. "I've been alone with him many times," Erin said, with a shrug of her shoulders.

"Yes, yes," Alice flapped her hand in a dismissive wave that reminded Erin vividly of Colonel Munro, "but not alone with him, at this late an hour, in polite company... At Fort William Henry, it was uncivilized, here it is different!"

Erin didn't reply. All her worst fears were becoming reinforced by this conversation. This world was a minefield. Just how much trouble would she and Uncas be in if they were caught together? She shook her head, she was taking this all a little too seriously. If Uncas thought it was safe...

"The scandal!" Alice was again giggling, seemingly finding the situation both outrageous and thrilling.

Erin gave a strained smile. "He's never going to see me again after I go home," she offered in a hopeful explanation. "I think Fort Edward can bear one scandalous meeting of us just talking." She paused, her breath catching a little, part of her knowing that look in his eyes wasn't truly asking her for only words. That red alarm of danger was creeping up her nerves again. Was this all a terrible idea? She assured herself again that Uncas knew exactly what he was doing, he wasn't some naïve fool. Her paranoia after today was besting her.

"How can you be so sure you will not see each other again?" Alice said, still grinning, seemingly oblivious to Erin's dour demeanour. "Love makes people do all kinds of outrageous things, just look at my sister!"

Erin patted Alice's hand tenderly, hating her answer, but knowing it must be true. "Because we aren't in love."

/

A/N

Not a cliff hanger but perhaps a emotional hanger :))

Welcome back to another Friday with me. This chapter was a fun one to go back over. I hope I'm making you all feel some of what Erin is going through, there really does seem to be walls at every turn to her ever finding a way to stay in this time. Maybe if she wasn't so damn stubborn about everything, but then she'd be changing herself for someone else... so double edged I suppose.

In my head I was likening it to a fast relationship where you had to go and live in a completely different country, with a different culture, perhaps somewhere not so nice to women. It's not quite as romantic without the period drama in that version :)))

It's been so much fun hearing your thoughts and opinions, to know what I may be getting right and what you are enjoying. I'm most thankful for any time you feel this story deserves. Heartfelt thanks to MohawkWoman and Flowangelic for being my cheerleaders through all this... let's see what happens next time. Can I promise a candle lit meeting between a certain couple? Yes, but that is all I can say ;)