When Cora and Uncas finally returned, both seemed in high spirits, and Erin felt the weight of worry lift from her as if it had been a physical burden.

Uncas made his way to them as if he didn't have any concerns, while Cora remained stood a little away, waiting patiently. Erin felt a flurry of questions bubble up within her chest but found it almost impossible to find any words to express them, and he had reached them before she'd had time to gather herself.

"Where are my father and brother?" he asked, not seeing them on the parade ground.

"They have gone to the mess hall to eat," Alice explained, and Uncas' eyes went to the young woman, a little startled that she had spoken up so confidently. Alice's cheek pinked as their eyes met and then she directed a beautiful warm-hearted smile at the young Mohican. "My sister finds you well enough to travel, Sir?"

"Well enough, yes Miss." He smiled at her with a nod, and despite everything Erin could still feel the pull of their connection to each other. Fate or destiny, or whatever it was that had once willed these two people to reach out and find each other, still held a little part of them. The ease of how they spoke, perhaps even the draw of spirit to spirit, felt so strong to Erin's mind in that moment that doubts began to claw their way back into her mind.

Had she done a terrible thing parting them?

"Erin was quite distraught." The sound of her name being spoken broke the illusion. "She will need your comfort I fear." Alice looked down for a moment shyly, then returned a teasing gaze to Erin.

Uncas smirked, understanding the jest, seemingly enjoying this young woman's newly exposed sense of mischief. "I will do my best Miss."

"Yes, for my sake." Alice put on a dour expression for a moment before laughing again, making Uncas laugh in return.

He turned to Erin, hand grasping hers, and pulled her to her feet. He brushed a stray hair behind her ear, eyes studying her face for a moment. Erin felt a sudden intense flow of self conscious energy flicker through her at his intimate scrutiny within the open gaze of other people. "Are you content now?"

Erin shirked her shoulders, not quite used to being the butt of the joke in this group. "Once I speak to Cora, yes."

His brow flickered with a frown as if he was displeased, and then his look smoothed, taking on an almost impish intent. "You see how cruel she is?" He directed the words at Alice who again found great amusement in the jest, but Erin noticed the distinct intent of deflection in his actions.

"Yes, what a tyrant she can be!" Alice mused, eyes glittering with merriment. "You shall have to tame her ways, Sir, she is rather wild with her ideas."

"Never." Uncas was grinning and this just made Alice find even more enjoyment in the situation, and when he turned back to Erin all trace of uncertainty was gone, making her doubt she had seen anything at all.

"I am glad you are well, Sir," Alice said with a little nod, her earnestness clearly shining from her expressive eyes.

Her voice brought his own attention back to Alice's face and he smiled that sunshine smile, that seemed to radiate from every expression and action, a sudden bright flame. "Uncas," he corrected, bringing a hand to his chest as if making a formal introduction.

"I am glad you are well, Uncas," Alice said, his smile fuelling her own to become incandescent, somehow it seemed, she shined.

"I am glad we are all well." Uncas touched his brow in a sign of deep respect towards Alice and then spoke his own words. "Thanks to you alone, warrior with moon in her hair."

Alice's brows drew together but her smile didn't falter. "What does that mean?"

He too continued to smile, but it danced within his eyes more than upon his lips now. "It means, I am thankful to you."

Alice tried to keep her composure at such a compliment but the flush that rushed across her cheeks won out and she glanced away.

Erin resisted the urge to grin at them both despite her own complex feelings. She still loved them both as the characters she had once known, and perhaps a tiny part of her did want them to find a way to come together after everything, to complete the incomplete circle. The thought was like a thin blade within her chest, slicing past skin and organs to her raw heart, and she found she couldn't truly join them in the carefree joviality.

Uncas then gestured for Erin to go to Cora who stood nearby, clutching a variety of bottles and a little bundle of herbs, along with strips of cloth.

"She wishes to talk to you," he said.

Erin left him in the care of Alice who had begun to chat animatedly and rather boldly about art work from his own people, and what he thought of the depictions of other tribes he knew by English and French artists, a suddenly deep and complex conversation that Erin was a little glad to side step.

Cora smiled in greeting as she approached.

"Well, how is the patient?" Erin almost wanted to sound dismissive but she found a shiver of fear still present in her voice.

"He seems in fair spirits. The wound is swollen and he feels warm, but it is not a fever." She began, easily falling into her task of divulging medical knowledge and treatments. "I have packed you some herbs in case he does get a fever, there is some willow bark and lemon balm you can make into a tea. Make sure to boil the water before adding them. If he has pain the bark will help too. I also added some lavender oil to help him sleep and a bottle of vinegar to keep the wound clean." She made to hand the package over but then pulled back, remembering more. "And fresh bandages of course." She tried to smile but it flickered like a candle, never fully lighting upon her lips.

Cora glanced up, her gaze going to her sister and Uncas, and she watched them a moment, fingers brushing her chin in thought. He looked up as if sensing Cora's heavy gaze, caught her eye, and gave a little nod of thanks. Cora returned it, but then looked away as if she was suddenly uncomfortable.

"Thank you, Cora," Erin said, placing a hand upon Cora's elbow.

Cora started, finally allowing her care package to be taken. "He seems quite convinced there is northing to worry about."

"But you still are a little worried, aren't you?" The relief that had been on the brink of soothing Erin's nerves was held back by anxiety.

"Given my work, it is my nature to always be worried." Cora paused. "I hope he will be fine."

"Thanks for that shining ray of sunshine!" Erin said, suddenly ruffled by Cora's off hand demeanour, not sure how to take this frank news.

"He told me many men survive such wounds and I have no knowledge to speak otherwise, as I said, I have only heard of it in tales." She considered her next words before speaking them. "When men in my care were stabbed with weapons that were unclean, or I had to remove debris and fragments from the battlefield, it was a toss of the coin."

"What exactly are you telling me Cora?" Erin felt her defences bristling again but tried to dampen them down with a heavy dose of practicality.

"I'm telling you-" She hesitated again, some part of her seemingly battling with how to present these facts to a friend. "I don't know, and whatever the outcome, nothing can really be done." Cora shrugged a little hopelessly.

"Great," Erin said through gritted teeth. "That's just... peachy." She found she disliked Cora's forthright manner for once.

"I cannot ask him to stay in bed. I could bleed him, give him medicine that will really be no aid at all, while we wait to see what will happen and risk him being here at Fort Edward-" She cut herself off with a shake of her head. "He has told me he wishes to be out in the wilderness, and as his nurse... I agree the fresh air will aid him." She paused, hands on hips. "Sometimes we have to accept that things are not in our hands." Cora sighed heavily, her eyes searching Erin's for a brief moment. "I want you to be prepared Erin, for whatever comes, I want you..." She looked suddenly flustered and glanced away, a muscle in her jaw working a moment. "I have to respect his wishes above all else, can you understand what I am telling you?"

Erin gave her a decidedly unhappy look, she understood Cora had no pretty answer, only uncertain possibilities.

"Would you rather I gave you only pleasant untruths?" Cora lifted an eyebrow in understanding ridicule.

Erin relented with a little huff. "No, just the truth is... more than enough!"

Cora's expression rippled with something close to distress. "Then listen to me!" Cora stepped forward, her manner suddenly intense, then she dithered between words and her conscience, seeming unsure, and Erin realized she was still clutching a dark brown glass bottle in her hand.

"That's-" Erin began, her eyes lingering upon the familiar look of the bottle, but Cora cut her off.

"Yes, it is." Cora's body relaxed, Erin hadn't realized how tensely her friend had been holding herself until that moment. "I hope you shall not need it," she said softly.

"Why would I... need it?" Erin felt a tremor of uncertain fear run across all her muscles and wanted to suddenly recoil from this whole conversation.

"If he..." Cora's eyes connected with Erin's for a mere moment as if she wanted to say more but held herself back with great force. "You will know when... if... you need it."

"Wait... what are you saying?"

"If he needs it, if he does become sick, make him sleep. The whole bottle in some tea and have him swallow it quickly. It's better if he doesn't wake." Cora hurried all her words out in one stream, giving Erin no chance to interrupt.

"Cora!" Erin looked thoroughly aghast.

"As I said, I hope you will not need it."

"Christ, Cora!" Erin gave her friend a disillusioned look up and down, trying to understand and digest what was being said. "You need to work on that bedside manner!" She rolled her shoulders, not quite knowing how to take this information, and trying to deflect the feelings caused by all she had been told.

"A drop or two in his tea will aid him in pain and sleep, but be careful of more," Cora continued, as if Erin's outburst hadn't happened at all.

They stood a moment in uncomfortable silence, Erin's ears were ringing slightly as she tried to gather all her thoughts. "Do you really think... he's in danger?"

Cora's eyes connected with her own and held a moment too long for Erin's liking, she seemed as if she would speak more, but again came that uneasy hesitation. Then a determination came to her eyes, and something within Cora seemed to change, a will, a certainty, and a new confidence of self-possession.

Finally she nodded towards where Uncas now stood, greeting his returning family. "He seems in good health at the present, I am cautiously confident he will be fine on your journey. He is strong in body and will. If you are asking my opinion, I cannot give you one. I have thought one way or another before, and been wrong. It is up to him and whatever God he holds counsel with what comes next." She sniffed, and Erin watched her for a moment, Cora's cheeks were flushed , her eyes not quite meeting Erin's.

Erin supposed the threat of potential bad news, no matter how speculative was never an easy thing to divulge, especially to a friend.

Erin wanted to protest with some sniping sarcastic reprisal of disagreement that would build a little fort of defence against any of this, but instead she took in a deep breath and closed her eyes, trying her very best to see the wisdom in Cora's words and also the hope. It felt like Cora was leaning more towards Uncas being just fine, she reminded herself, that was good news, and that's all that really mattered. Cora just wanted her to be prepared, that wasn't unreasonable, to be prepared was to be ready for what came and whatever came next, she could deal with it all if she had that spark of hope.

When Erin reopened her eyes, she found him, his face, he was smiling, laughing with Nathaniel who had returned with their father. Uncas' skin gleamed in the warm morning light, he glowed, and Erin prayed... no, she knew... all would be well.

/

A/N

Hello all. Friday again.

I couldn't help myself writing a cute Alice and Uncas moment. Maybe it is meant to be? Maybe I am teasing you ;))))

I hope anyone reading finds enjoyment. No certain answer again, but I feel this is how most things are with life, you don't know outcomes until you know, if that makes sense. I did have a song I listened to while writing this chapter but I decided not to share it as the lyrics and title is a little give away for what may come next. If you really want to know what it is, I will share it once more of the plot is revealed for anyone wanting to re-read this chapter with music.

Mysterious right? :)))

I guess you'll have to come back next week to discover more ;)