20A/N: Hi all!
This ended up different than expected, I hope you are all enjoying these! As always, I appreciate all comments!
-…-…-
A jingle bell dance.
That was all the young woman knew of the event that was to be held in the small building that sat in the center of Jamestown. To say that she was nervous was an understatement. Her stomach felt like she had hundreds of butterflies twirling inside of it and her heart felt like it was going to fly out of her chest. The native was not accustomed to being around the other settlers just yet and it seemed that fact was as obvious as ever.
"Pocahontas," Nakoma began as the two women dressed in the longhouse, "I am not sure about this. I know you have been to this kind of party; however I do not think it is for me."
"Nakoma," her friend gently said as she patted her on the shoulder, "It will be alright. John has invited me and Thomas has also requested that you come."
"What kind of party is this?"
The native inquired as she twisted her hair in to a tight bun at the back of her head.
Her friend answered with a shrug, "It is a dancing celebration where people place on bells and dance to fast songs. Nakoma it is so pretty to hear all the bells going at the same time!"
"I suppose," Nakoma replied as she sighed placing on her shoes, "Let us go and see how fun it may be."
Pocahontas chuckled as they headed out the door, "Try to have a little faith Nakoma. I know you are scared however some of the greatest things happen when we are uncertain."
-…-…-…-…-…-
"Would you care to dance?"
The native tried to remember her friend's words as Thomas shyly extended his hand to her. The full party had not yet begun, however many of the people were already twirling on the dance floor.
"I suppose," Nakoma answered, "I mean, yes, why not?"
The woman's eyes swept over the couples, noting how tender and loving her friend looked with her beau as they danced. It really did seem like everyone was having a good time.
Without saying another word, Nakoma timidly grasped Thomas's hand in to her own. The couple slowly made their way towards the others, Nakoma noting with some satisfaction that Thomas seemed as nervous as she felt. Sensing this, Nakoma slightly calmed down as a small smile lit her face.
A new song had just begun, the lute's fast tempo causing the crowd to cheer as the instrument played. It was then the young man had pulled her close, the two of them whirling around the room along with everyone else.
"I don't know the steps," Nakoma nervously said after a moment of dancing.
"Neither do I," Thomas replied as the two of them laughed, "I am just, I don't know what I am doing."
The woman chuckled at his statement as claps and the cheering from the people around them drowned out any other conversation that the two of them may have had. A comfortable feel was in the air as Nakoma danced, she almost feeling like she was back in the village twirling around the fire.
All to soon however, the song ended and dinner was announced. Laughs and pleasant conversation flowed through the assembled crowd, Nakoma's dark eyes roaming the room as she noticed a long table with all assorted food upon it.
The kind of food the woman had only heard about. She hadn't a clue as to what all the items were as Thomas ushered her over to the line.
"Are you having fun?"
The woman nearly sighed in relief as her best friend greeted her as Nakoma glanced over at the couple.
"Yes," she replied, "In a way."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know what anything is on the table," Nakoma replied as John and Thomas struck a conversation of their own.
The other native lifted a shoulder in reply, "I just copy what John gets. It is fortunate that you and Thomas were following us."
"We were following you? Who greeted me first?"
Nakoma laughed as Pocahontas grinned before turning her attention back to John.
-….-….-….-
"Time for the jingle bell dance!"
Nakoma winced as the man's loud voice rang out over the crowd. The clanging of the bells didn't help matters as people rushed to grab a few for themselves and their dance partners.
"We switch every couple minutes or so," Thomas explained, "It is kind of like everyone dances with everyone in an organized way."
Nakoma nodded like she understood, however inside the feeling from earlier was starting to resurface. Glancing out over the mass of people, she tried to relax as she watched her friend ring a metal bell with joy. The native could not help smiling as she gazed on.
"Here you are," Thomas said as he handed her a bell. The woman gazed at it curiously before shaking it in the way she had seen people do.
The girl glanced down as Thomas took her hand in to his own, "The music is about to start. Do you see how everyone is lined up? Every few minutes or so the man will call out to switch partners and that is what we will do."
As if on cue, the music started. Nakoma rang her bell just as she had seen everyone doing as eventually a rhythm was struck between the players and the dancing really took off. Nakoma gasped as Thomas pulled her forward, the look in his eyes intense as he swung her against him.
"Just relax and move," he said as the native tried to do just that. It didn't take long before she was moving in unison with everyone else, the bells making a jolly ring throughout the room.
"Switch!"
The man shouted and Nakoma nearly stumbled as Thomas let go of her hands. The woman gasped as she felt strong arms around her, glancing up her eyes met the blue ones of John Smith.
"Hmm," Nakoma mumbled, "This is not awkward at all…"
John chuckled as they watched Pocahontas start to dance with Thomas and John whirled Nakoma around so as she could face him.
"It is true that I am a better dancer than Thomas," John said as he smirked.
"Perhaps," Nakoma replied as the two of them grasped hands, Nakoma spinning under John's arm.
"You do not mind if Pocahontas dances with Thomas?"
John shrugged, "It is merely a dance. I trust Pocahontas. Besides, Thomas told me he is looking to court a lady here."
"Oh," Nakoma said as she unknowingly lowered her eyes, "That is wonderful."
"Yes," John said as he smiled, "He will be a smart man if he tells her tonight."
"Time to swap partners!"
John less awkwardly let her go, as the native woman found herself dancing with one of the young lads from the settlement. The youth could not have been a year over twelve and the native couldn't help but grin as he seemed just as confused by the dance steps as she.
The bells still rung and the dance continued until a full circle had been done around the room. Throughout the dance, Nakoma noticed that Thomas kept gazing at her and then he would quickly look away.
The action made her wonder about John's words to her earlier that evening.
-…-….-….-….-…-
The celebration lasted long in to the night. Since it was so dark, the two women had arranged for themselves a place to stay at Jamestown until the morning.
Tiredly, Nakoma crawled in to the bed, Pocahontas blowing out the candle as she entered the room a few moments later.
"What did you think?"
Pocahontas asked as she got in to the bed.
Nakoma sighed, "I, it was interesting. I had a nice time."
"What is it? What is wrong?"
"Nothing, I had a nice time."
"I'm proud of you," the native princess said a moment later, "You tried something different and it turned out very well for you so I have heard."
Nakoma could detect the smile in her friend's voice as she turned to face her, "What are you talking about?"
"You know what I mean-"
"No, I do not."
"I heard that Thomas was going to ask you to court him."
Silence was her only reply.
"Nakoma, did you hear me?"
"No, no he didn't ask."
"What? John said the man could not wait to ask you!"
-….-….-…-…-
"I lost it," Thomas said as he slumped in his chair, "I could not do it. I am a coward, this just proves it."
"Why couldn't you ask her?"
John inquired as he sipped his coffee before placing the cup back on the table.
"I just couldn't, you know how she can be, so aloof, so, she is just so…"
"She didn't look so aloof as you were holding her," John said after a moment.
"She is so beautiful; I just could not ask her. What if she says no? What if?-"
"You will not know until you ask," John interrupted as he sighed, "I feel for you my friend. I truly do."
"Tomorrow, I will ask her tomorrow."
Thomas got to his feet, "The morning after will be better."
John stared after him for a moment as he quickly left. The captain bowed his head, saying a prayer for his friend's fragile heart.
While not far off, the love of his life was doing the same for her friend. The couple knowing that the jingle bell dance had turned out to have an unexpected twist after all.
..-…..-….-End of, "Jingle Bell Rock."….-…-…-