A/N Sorry for the little wait. I just want to thank you all who have reviewed this story and who are still sticking with it! I'm sorry if this chapter seems a little rushed but I really wanted to get this out to you guys today.
I also want to answer a question one of you reviewers had. I know I mentioned in the last chapter that I found out that Nakoma was married in the second Pocahontas, well in this story she is not. How could she get with Thomas if she was? :)
Well, enjoy!
Chapter 6
Chief Powhatan barely had enough time to wipe a tear from his eye when Thomas walked by. He had been reading Pocahontas letter and the thought of her finally being happy had brought a tear to his eye.
"Hello, Thomas," he called out and Thomas stopped and headed towards him with a smile.
Noticing the letter in the chief's hand, he smiled. "Happy news, I assume?"
"Yes," Powhatan said. "Very happy news indeed. Where are you heading? It is almost dark and I was hoping you would join me for the evening meal."
"I'm honored, Chief, but I promised Nakoma that I would talk to her tonight. I'm afraid if I do not go tonight she will not let me meet her any time else."
Powhatan sadly shook his head. "I am sorry for the way Nakoma is treating you. The two years since you were last year have been hard for her. Pocahontas, her oldest and dearest friend-like sisters they are-, had left and she was all alone.
"Her parents had died when she was very young. Pocahontas and I are the only family she has left."
"I am very sorry to hear that."
"Do not worry, Nakoma is a very strong young woman and very stubborn."
"Don't I know it…" Thomas mumbled.
Chief Powhatan couldn't help but smile. "She's just like my daughter, imagine having two of them around." He chuckled to himself for a moment and then straightened himself up. "But Nakoma always wanted to stay around home and play it safe. She's comfortable here, she's less likely to get hurt here. She has people that love her here and she's always wanted to feel loved. That is another story that I have no right to tell."
He paused.
"It is getting late. I suggest you leave now because I know if Nakoma gets to where you two are supposed to meet before you do she won't hesitate to leave."
Thomas looked at the sky. "You are probably right." He smiled once more at him. "Thank you, Chief."
And then he was off.
He arrived at the planned meeting place and found that he was the only one there. Nakoma had not arrived yet or she had and left. He hoped it was the former and decided to sit down at the base of the old oak tree that stood tall by the river. He was going to wait for her.
He had found himself getting lost in the flow of the river and didn't see Nakoma approach him until her shadow fell on him. He looked up and smiled; she didn't return it and he hadn't expected her too.
Her arms crossed over her chest and she looked down at him. "You wish to speak to me, so speak."
"Um, well." He winced when he found he hadn't planned out what he was going to say. Well, he could start with saying he was sorry again. It was only the hundredth time he had so far. Maybe this time she would actually forgive him.
He had misgivings about that.
"I just wanted to say I was sorry. Again." He looked up at her, just as she finished rolling her eyes.
"I know you want nothing to do with me, but I came here to right the wrong that I did-"
"You can't." She hissed. "You killed someone; you can never right that wrong. Kocoum is dead."
"God dammit, don't you think I know that!" He hadn't meant to curse and she hadn't expected it either.
She jumped away from; looking almost afraid.
He couldn't stop though. "Not a day goes by where I don't think of what I did. Not ONE day! If I could go back to that day and stop myself from pulling that trigger I would." He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the tree; eyes downcast. "But then there are days I'm glad I did."
She gasped.
"He was going to kill my best friend. He's the only thing I have left in this world, Nakoma!" It was the first time he had said her name.
Her resolve began to weaken and she really looked at the man in front of her. He may have smiled and laughed with the chief, but that wasn't what he was feeling inside. He was sad and alone.
"I don't understand why you haven't forgiven me. Kocoum's family has even forgiven me; why can't you?" He glanced at her.
Were those tears on his cheeks?
"Did you love him, Nakoma?"
She could only shake her head.
"Then why-"
"For the past two years I have been having dreams with you in them." She interrupted. "I did not know why. If I forgive you, Thomas, I know I will find myself caring for you more than I should."
"What?" He pushed off the tree to look at her fully. What did she mean 'care for him more than she should'?
She didn't say anything else and with one look she fled.
A/n So how was it? Good? Bad? Ehhh? Let me know! The next chapter won;t be up for a little while because I have a couple other stories to work on and school starts for me soon(blahhhh).