38A/N: Hi all!
Here is chapter 7. A nice long one for my faithful and patient readers. You all most definitely deserve it!
I take any reviews, comments and suggestions. I really appreciate all of them. I'm also going to start replying, if there is contact information to the readers that leave reviews. I think I really should start doing that as many of the authors seem to reply to the people that comment.
I hope you will enjoy and thank you for your reviews they are so greatly appreciated!
P.S. I did do some research on how men would punish their wives if they had done something wrong. Unfortunately, the only facts came from the Native Americans from the western part of the United States. Not the eastern part where this story takes place.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything of Pocahontas. Disney and history have the rights to everything lol…
-…-…-
Chapter 7:
The walk back to the village seemed to take hours as the trio spoke no words to one another. Pocahontas's stride easily matched Hassun's for she refused to walk behind the future leader. The woman feeling very incensed that innocent men along with her husband were treated like prisoners of war instead of the peaceful party announcing Powhatan's arrival.
Children ran and played across the wide fields that surrounded the village as the three people finally stepped into its borders. Pocahontas and Nakoma followed Hassun as he made his way towards the hut that housed his father, Chief Powhatan and the other men that accompanied him.
"Be sure to lower your eyes when you are around my father. After all, you are a visitor."
"I thought you said I am Nakoma's best friend?" Pocahontas sarcastically retorted her not being able to hide the satisfied smirk on her face as the man turned away and hurriedly moved into the longhouse.
It was merely in the interest of peace that Pocahontas lowered her eyes when the two women followed the future leader into the structure. Nakoma silently watched her husband take his place among the men while Pocahontas discreetly caught John's eye.
"I believe that concludes the meeting for now," Otaktay said, "Would any of you care to do some fishing with me and my warriors? We could make it a friendly contest if you like."
"As long as it is friendly," Powhatan replied with a slight chuckle while a somewhat fixed smile crossed his face, "Who would like to join me?"
Several murmurs of agreement went through the crowd as Otaktay's gaze fell on John Smith who sat leaning against a wall, "You are not coming?"
"With all due respect chief Otaktay I feel I have other matters that I must attend to."
"Ah," he said as he glanced over at Pocahontas and then back at John giving the younger man a knowing look before exiting the hut. It did not take long for the others to follow leaving Nakoma, Hassun, Pocahontas and John alone. As the captain made to stand the sudden shift of movement caused his clothing to rub on the fresh wound on his chest. A dark stain began to spread across the shirt he was wearing as his hand quickly covered the spot.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes," he replied moving a few steps forward, "Could I see Nakoma for a moment? The wound seems to have reopened and…-"
"You are bleeding!" Pocahontas inhaled sharply as she approached her husband. The stain had started spreading farther across his chest as the shirt could no longer hide what was beneath his hand.
"I am fine," John began as his eyes met Nakoma's gaze, "If you could get the herbs and quickly treat it I will be alright."
"I will do it," Pocahontas emphatically stated as she turned towards her friend, "Tell me where they are located so as I can fetch them."
"No," John firmly spoke as he placed his free hand on Pocahontas's shoulder, "Nakoma can do it and besides she…-"
His wife quickly interjected, "Where are they?"
"They are in my hut. I will go and get them."
"Alright," John said as he nodded and Nakoma swiftly left. An uncomfortable silence followed as Pocahontas placed one of her hands securely over the stain on John's shirt.
"Oh, spirits," she softly murmured while John gently touched her hair.
"I am alright. I have been through much worse. I will have Nakoma fix it and it will be fine."
Pocahontas shook her head, "You are my husband. I will treat you."
"No," the captain firmly shook his head, "Nakoma has seen the wounds. She knows what she is doing."
The native woman let out an irritated breath, "Are you insinuating that I do not know what I am doing?"
"Well, Nakoma has training in this sort of matter."
A moment of silence fell between the couple as Pocahontas gave a sigh of exasperation, "My father is best friends with Kekata as I have previously stated. I know some heeling and how Nakoma will fix the wound on your chest. I can just as easily do it. What are you smirking at?!"
The man could not help the slight chuckle that left his lips as her glaring gaze fixed on his face, "When did you say that Kekata is best friends with your father and that you knew some of his remedies?"
"I said it a few moments ago," Pocahontas slowly spoke as if she were talking to a small child instead of her husband.
"No," John replied, "You did not say anything about that."
"Yes, well, I meant to point it out but you started bleeding and… I do not understand why you are not taking this injury.-"
Uncaring of Hassun's presence just a few feet away, John leaned his head down pressing his mouth against his wife's. This action made her gasp in surprise as the captain grinned taking the advantage to deepen the kiss.
Though it had only been a few days since they had kissed like this the man did not realize how much he had missed her. The warmth and willingness of her mouth to the softness of her cheek as he cupped it in his free hand. Though the pain of his wound was feeling worse, the captain knew he would forgo anything in the world for a moment like this. Especially when she started to faintly respond to his touch and a soft sigh that was meant for his ears only left her lips.
As the need for air became apparent John pulled away saying in a breathless tone, "Oh, darling, I love you, I have missed you so."
He did not give her a chance to respond as his mouth claimed her in a searing kiss his free hand moving to caress the strands of hair that framed her face. As she said his name the man took in a sharp breath and as if cold water had been thrown on the couple they were thrust back in to the present time.
A period of time that found them standing in an enemy's longhouse with that said enemy's possible leader staring at them. Though the look was fleeting the captain could not help but smirk at the shocked expression on the warrior's face.
"Well," Hassun cleared his throat, "Pocahontas you should listen to your husband and allow Nakoma to take care of him. I think you are completely overstepping your boundaries as a wife."
"My boundaries as a wife?" Pocahontas required her eyes narrowed.
"Hassun," John quickly interjected before the situation got out of hand, "She is just concerned for my well-being."
"Yes," she replied, "If it were not for you I would not have to overstep my boundaries."
Hassun scoffed, "I doubt it is the first time and I am certain it will not be the last."
"We take care of one another," John explained.
"Let Nakoma look after your wounds since she is trained in medicine."
"Exactly," John agreed as his face slowly widened in to a smile, "We agree on something. I think peace talks can begin."
A grunt of pain was heard as Pocahontas slightly shoved him, "Why are you not taking this more seriously? You could have been killed!"
"I am darling It is just…"
Before John could finish his statement the native woman rounded on the warrior her eyes blazing, "This is your fault! Look what you have done to him! You had no reason!"
"It was not my idea to attack those men," Hassun said as Nakoma slipped in to the longhouse, "Besides, these people are not like us! You and your father might be stupid enough to believe that they are keeping peace however…-"
"Oh, please allow me to say whose idea it was," Pocahontas angrily began as she moved towards Hassun.
"Pocahontas! Hassun! Stop it!" Nakoma yelled startling the two as she walked forward her arms carrying the bundle of needed supplies.
"My marriage," Pocahontas continued slowly as she took a deep breath in order to control her emotions, "John and I got married in order to maintain the peace between the white settlers and my people. The same exact reason you and her got married. Why is that so difficult for you to understand? Why can you not implement the same with the settlers?"
"Here," Nakoma interrupted as she shoved the supplies in to her friend's arms, "This is everything."
A sigh left Pocahontas's lips as she walked towards the door until Hassun's voice halted her movement.
"You can do it here. I need to speak with Nakoma in our hut. You will have privacy."
A tense expression crossed the woman's face while her friend nodded her head. Nakoma's dark eyes seemingly trying to implore her to not argue.
"Very well," the native princess replied as she set the bundle onto the ground and went over where a stack of soft furs were piled. It did not take long to organize them in to a comfortable spot for John to recline as she straightened from her task and eyed the three people that were watching her.
"What are you gazing at?" she inquired as John shook his head and the other couple left the spacious dwelling. As Pocahontas gazed at her friend while the other secured the structure her eyes drifted towards her husband's figure.
"Come here," she began as she situated the bandages and herbs.
"Can you say it like that once I am heeled?" John chuckled as he carefully lay on the furs.
An infuriated sound left Pocahontas's lips as she slammed down the basket that she had been holding and knelt by John's side.
"You think all of this is a joke?" she inquired through gritted teeth as she withdrew a knife and promptly cut the shirt's fabric.
"W-What?" John stammered in pain as she none to gently pulled the shirt away from the open wound.
"Here you are laughing and smiling like this is no big deal! Laughing and grinning like I expected to find you like this and…"
Her hands trembled as her eyes filled with tears. Tears for her people, her injured husband and the loveless marriage of her best friend. Irate tears for John did not seem to care of the ramifications of the situation.
"It is merely…-"
"Oh, love," John breathed as he reached in order to wipe the droplets off of her cheek, "I am so sorry."
The woman didn't answer as she looked at her hands now sticky with his blood. She quickly washed them on a clean cloth before bringing out the first herb and soaking the bandage in the mixture.
"Look at me," John softly commanded.
There was no reply as she placed the first bandage on the wound and took in a sharp breath as John flinched.
"Look at me," he ordered with a bit more authority in his voice as her dark eyes finally met his blue before she gathered more of the medicine.
"Stop," the man tried again as a second dressing was securely placed over the large wound. After the shock of the pain subsided John grabbed her wrists before she could fix up another bandage.
"I, I am sorry Pocahontas. I just, well, this is not easy for me to say… I did not want you to see me like this."
"See you like this? This is not your fault," Pocahontas quietly responded as she looked in to his eyes.
All mirth was gone as a deep sigh left him while he gazed at her, "I, I didn't make the announcement of our arrival on time. Powhatan said as soon as you set foot on their land let them know you are there by a horn blast. It wasn't until a half a mile in to the boarders that I remembered and signaled our arrival. Not a minute went by until these warriors flew out of the bushes and dropped from the trees and we were surrounded. I tried to explain… All of us did try to tell them and whenever I could get a word in I… Well, I was hit."
"It doesn't matter. You came in peace and they should have listened to you."
The captain's body seemed to sag under the weight of his guilt, shame and pride as he gradually spoke, "When I was bound to the torturing post I thought of you and how I was so glad you didn't have to witness it. I made a mistake and we all are paying for it. I should have known better seeing as I have been in more dangerous situations than that and…-"
"You are here," Pocahontas said as she freed her hands, "You are here and will be alright. We all make mistakes. You tried to apologize and they didn't hear it."
Another bandage was placed on his abdomen as she continued, "I will always love you. The men respect you and my father thinks the world of you. I am certain even my father has made bad judgment calls."
"I love you," the captain softly said as the last dressing was placed and Pocahontas cleaned the area.
"Have you slept at all?" she inquired as a yawn escaped his lips.
"A little," he mumbled as the native woman lovingly smiled at him. It did not take her long to move onto the furs next to him as she snuggled up to his uninjured side.
"Are you alright? How are the cuts on your back?"
John raised an eyebrow at her query, "How did you know about that?"
"Nakoma told me everything," Pocahontas answered as she kissed him, "How are they?"
"They are sore but not horribly so," he replied as she kissed him again, "Please don't stop doing that."
"What am I doing?" Pocahontas innocently asked trying to abate some of the tension in the room as she pillowed her head on his shoulder. The man could not help but burry his face in her hair and breathe in the scent that still drove him mad.
"I am suddenly feeling better," he whispered as Pocahontas chuckled.
"I disagree," she replied as she cleared her throat, "I will see in a few weeks time how you are doing and then…"
"You are mine for the entire evening. I do not care if I have to take you to grandmother willow in order for us to be alone."
"Do you promise?" Pocahontas asked as she lifted her head to look at him.
A searing kiss was his answer as they relaxed against the comfortable furs. As the kiss gradually ebbed they rested with their foreheads pressed together.
"I take that as a yes. You must get some sleep now."
The woman lightly brushed her lips over his forehead as she felt him relax against her. It was not long until his breathing was even and Pocahontas took to staring out of the hole in the top of the hut.
She should have known that her husband's earlier words and actions were just a veneer in order to hide the guilt, pride and self loathing he was currently feeling. However, his story also made her even more furious than before for her people would never have treated a mistake like that. The sad thing was that the cycle of violence would not be unbroken with Hassun's father being the leader. A bad feeling began to settle in to her heart as her husband slept next to her he softly moaning as he had shifted.
"Hush," Pocahontas soothed as she caressed his face and he relaxed once again.
-…-..-
Things were not as peaceful as Nakoma stoked the fire in her and Hassun's longhouse as he stood against a wall with his arms folded.
"Well," Nakoma looked up at the slight uncertainty in his voice, "I have to punish you. I cannot afford to have a wife who just does whatever she wants regardless of her people's and husband's wishes."
Though she did not doubt he meant every word, the coldness and anger that she would expect to be in his tone was not there. His voice almost sounded flat, as if he was resigned to his task of punishing her.
"Turn around," Hassun said while Nakoma sighed and wiped a hand across her eyes before doing so, "Let down your hair."
Nakoma thickly swallowed as her hands reached to untie the braid that she had done earlier that morning. The young woman did not even bother to plead her case. She knew it would not do any good to argue with her husband. She also suspected that he was going to cut her hair in such a way that the entire village would know she had displeased him. On the other hand Nakoma knew he could do a lot worse such as beat or scar her in a way that she and no one would forget what she had done in disobeying Hassun.
The woman tried not to tense as she heard him approach her from behind and felt his hand grasp the loose strands of her hair. She felt his hand trace around her neck gathering any pieces that escaped his initial grab. The silence was broken as Hassun's knife slid out from the protective sheath that he always wore.
The stillness was not broken however as Nakoma felt the tug on her hair. Yet the sound of a knife cutting did not happen. If he was trying to make her nervous Nakoma knew it was working as she tried hard not to fidget.
"Hassun?" Nakoma ventured after a few moments.
"Did you really mean what you said?"
"What are you talking about?" Nakoma tentatively asked.
"When you said that I do not make any choices unless I consult my father first."
A sigh left her lips as she carefully contemplated her words, "I just meant that as a future leader you have to make decisions on your own."
The air was heavy with the tension that her comment undoubtedly brought. However, Nakoma tried to always speak honestly when it came to the people around her.
"I see," Hassun replied as he tugged on her tresses once more.
Still Nakoma waited as the seconds felt like hours and the anxiety built. The woman took in a breath wishing she could see her husband's expression as he played with her hair. A nearly imperceptible sigh left his lips as she heard the knife fall to the ground and Hassun slowly turned her so that they now stood face to face.
"I," he began as he cleared his throat and his dark eyes moved to a point that was behind them before returning to meet Nakoma's pensive gaze, "I… well…"
"What is it?" Nakoma gently encouraged as he tightened his hold on her small frame.
"I do not want to be like my father in all things. Although I do not like the whites, I tolerate Pocahontas for your happiness I am starting to see that perhaps our interactions could be slightly different. I will not treat you harshly when it comes to your disobedience in this matter. Like I previously said I understand why you did what you did for you are a kind woman. However, do not disobey me again. Do not get involved with things that are not your business."
A moment of silence followed as Nakoma expected him to release her and go about his day. Yet when he did not she hesitantly placed an arm around him.
"Thank you," she whispered as a wave of relief washed over her. She leaned against him as he drew her even closer and brushed his lips against her forehead.
"May I ask you something?"
"Go on," Hassun replied.
"Will you at least think of a possible peace agreement between the whites?"
"Nakoma," he began a warning edge to his voice, "We have been through this."
"Do you really want to go to war? Do you enjoy killing that much?"
"I would do anything to protect you, my family and my people," he said a determined look on his countenance.
"I understand that," Nakoma continued as he nodded, "However, if there is another way… Something other than war to protect our land would you consider it?"
"I am not the chief."
"You will be. I am only asking that whenever you are will you consider another way."
"I cannot make that final decision as of yet," Hassun explained, "I could try to bring it up with my father however I do not think that would do any good."
A smile lit Nakoma's face as she hugged him, "Thank you. That is all I wanted to know."
The husband and wife stood holding one another in the middle of their longhouse as calmness seemed to surround them. The tension and anxiety seem to have flown out of the room as the native woman felt she was able to properly breathe.
"What changed your mind?"
Hassun sighed again, "I started realizing some things."
"What do you mean?"
"Perhaps," Hassun chose his words carefully, "The whites are not as different as you and I."
-.-..-End of Chapter 7..-.-.-