![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Flutter
Title: Flutter
Fandom: Last of the Mohicans
Claim: None
Status: In Progress
Rating: PG-13 (may progress to R in later chapters)
Summary: A retelling of the movie from Alice's perspective
Warnings: Mild war violence.
.
The party came to another rest in the late afternoon sun, the air starting to chill Alice as her sodden skirts clung to her legs. With the sun going down, the warmth the sun had afforded them was quickly disappearing, and Alice had no idea what they would do for the night. She didn’t pay attention to the discussion, Cora was arguing once again, but looked out over the river, towards the setting sun. Closing her eyes, she tried to soak the last bit of warmth into her face, not realizing the picture she made, her face and hair lit in gold.
With a sigh, she turned back to Cora’s argument, missing the look of admiration on Uncas’ face. She and Duncan were arguing with Nathaniel over stopping. Duncan wanted to stop immediately, citing that the ladies could not go any further, which Cora was hotly disputing. She also took umbrage with Nathaniel, finding his idea of trying to go throughout the night unacceptable. It was clear to Alice that both men were not fighting over traveling, but Cora herself, and that her sister was not helping the situation. Unsure whether she should interfere, she looked to Uncas and Chingachgook, but received no clue; their faces were blank as they observed the argument.
Because of this, she was surprised when Uncas’ spoke. “I think we should go as far as the Northern stretch of caves, and stop there for the night. We will be under cover for the coming rain, and it will not be excessively tiring for the women.”
It diffused the situation immediately, leaving Alice relieved, though Cora seemed to be a bit put out. Even if Cora felt that she could walk all night, Alice knew that she herself could not, especially if it would be in the rain. She had been having enough troubles before. Giving Uncas a grateful smile, she dutifully followed Cora in the silence that followed. Duncan still looked angry, though Nathaniel’s face had smoothed itself into the calm lines that his brother and father held. His anger was like a summer storm, full of thunder and lightning, but clearing the air once it was done. Duncan, well, Duncan’s anger was like a pond full of algae, eventually being taken over by his grudges and prejudices. The men had helped them, shouldn’t that be enough for him?
The sun quickly slipped below the tops of the trees, and Alice shivered, hoping they would make it to the caves before it started to rain. Her skirt was soaking wet along the bottom, with the water slowly creeping it’s way up the brocade. He petticoats were drenched. With a stab of fear, she wondered if this would bring that fever back. She had spent an evening out of doors once when she was fourteen, letting her skirts get wet with dew and had paid dearly. She was laid up with a fever for two weeks, and pitiably weak afterwards. Only two years later did she have most of her strength back, which was not much to begin with.
Trying not to worry, Alice took to scanning the edges of the forest, looking for any hint of danger in the dim light. It was another worry, yes, but one she felt she could do something about, even if it was keeping watch. However, her concentration was noticed, as Uncas had kept close to her ever since her slip by the river.
“I am watching, do not worry,” Uncas said, his voice reassuring. “There is nothing out there.”
Alice looked at him, his brown eyes earnest. They were truly the most extraordinary eyes. “Yes,” she agreed, then paused. “I cannot help but worry though.” Her voice held a tinge of weariness, something that Uncas seemed to pick up on, as his eyes brightened. They had a hypnotic quality to them, more reassuring to Alice than anything he could say. It was as if, in their own way, they were saying that he would protect her.
“We are almost to the caves. It should be easier for you then, and much more dry,” he said, another small smile on his face.
Alice returned it, knowing that she was being brazen, and that her behavior with this man would be frowned upon for many reasons. “Yes,” she said again, this time much lighter. He was unlike any other man she had ever met, and he had saved her life. She was indebted to him, and in this way, she chose to disregard what society would say. Cora had said nothing, so Alice knew that she was not being too bold, for her sister was much more unrestrained than most women.
They were silent after that, though it was hardly uncomfortable. It was not a far walk, and they reached the caves about the same time that it became impossible to see far in the dusk. Tucked back, far from the mouth of the cave, Alice sat near her sister as Nathaniel and Uncas went to gather firewood. Duncan had given Cora his jacket, and though he was apologetic that he did not have another for her, Alice could see that she was upset. Cora was protective of her, to be sure, but Duncan’s jacket would do little to keep her warm. It was her skirts that were wet, and they would not dry quickly, not in the damp chill of the caves.
Chancing that they might be seen, Uncas and Nathaniel started a fire at the mouth of the cave, Chingachgook moving towards the front with the two men. After much conference in another language, they beckoned them forward, though Alice still felt tentative about being seen. After locking eyes once again with Uncas, she stepped forward tentatively, following in her sister’s wake. Cora didn’t seem to be afraid of anything, and while she could see Nathaniel’s admiration for that, Duncan seemed frustrated by it. Alice did not understand, for she expected Duncan to admire her sister’s strength as well. It was something she greatly admired and envied. She always felt weak in comparison, especially since the fever, since she was now physically incapable of keeping up with her.
Keeping out of the flow of air that whistled into the mouth of the cave, Alice took a step nearer the fire, not noticing Uncas take a step closer to herself. Though she could not see anything, she peered out into the darkness of the forest and wondered what would happen if they were found. Unable to supress a shudder, her face blanched, unable to get the images of before out of her mind. The sights, sounds were coming back into her mind, try as she might to keep them out of her head. Weakly, she sank to the ground, her legs unable to support her, head bowed in weariness. She felt helpless. A warm hand rested at the crown of her head and she jerked, looking up to see Uncas looking down at her once again.
“Go to sleep, I will watch over you.” He spoke quietly, his voice somehow not echoing in the cavern.
Something in Alice throbbed at his mild voice, the promise of safety. “Thank you,” she whispered, too weary to see the look of concern Cora was directing her way. Leaning back against the stone wall, she closed her eyes, the only sound the crackling of the fire.
She did not see Cora eventually move beside her and cover her with Duncan’s jacket, did not feel her sister curl up beside her as the men took shifts sleeping. She did not see Uncas stay awake through the other shifts, his only rest to sit on her other side, watching her breath rise and fall through pink lips. She did not see his look of admiration for her, despite her tangled hair, her soaked skirts, and mud smeared arms. All she saw, was when she awoke, him standing in the same place he had been when she went to sleep, scanning the forest that was being touched with light. He had watched over her all night.
Fandom: Last of the Mohicans
Claim: None
Status: In Progress
Rating: PG-13 (may progress to R in later chapters)
Summary: A retelling of the movie from Alice's perspective
Warnings: Mild war violence.
.
The party came to another rest in the late afternoon sun, the air starting to chill Alice as her sodden skirts clung to her legs. With the sun going down, the warmth the sun had afforded them was quickly disappearing, and Alice had no idea what they would do for the night. She didn’t pay attention to the discussion, Cora was arguing once again, but looked out over the river, towards the setting sun. Closing her eyes, she tried to soak the last bit of warmth into her face, not realizing the picture she made, her face and hair lit in gold.
With a sigh, she turned back to Cora’s argument, missing the look of admiration on Uncas’ face. She and Duncan were arguing with Nathaniel over stopping. Duncan wanted to stop immediately, citing that the ladies could not go any further, which Cora was hotly disputing. She also took umbrage with Nathaniel, finding his idea of trying to go throughout the night unacceptable. It was clear to Alice that both men were not fighting over traveling, but Cora herself, and that her sister was not helping the situation. Unsure whether she should interfere, she looked to Uncas and Chingachgook, but received no clue; their faces were blank as they observed the argument.
Because of this, she was surprised when Uncas’ spoke. “I think we should go as far as the Northern stretch of caves, and stop there for the night. We will be under cover for the coming rain, and it will not be excessively tiring for the women.”
It diffused the situation immediately, leaving Alice relieved, though Cora seemed to be a bit put out. Even if Cora felt that she could walk all night, Alice knew that she herself could not, especially if it would be in the rain. She had been having enough troubles before. Giving Uncas a grateful smile, she dutifully followed Cora in the silence that followed. Duncan still looked angry, though Nathaniel’s face had smoothed itself into the calm lines that his brother and father held. His anger was like a summer storm, full of thunder and lightning, but clearing the air once it was done. Duncan, well, Duncan’s anger was like a pond full of algae, eventually being taken over by his grudges and prejudices. The men had helped them, shouldn’t that be enough for him?
The sun quickly slipped below the tops of the trees, and Alice shivered, hoping they would make it to the caves before it started to rain. Her skirt was soaking wet along the bottom, with the water slowly creeping it’s way up the brocade. He petticoats were drenched. With a stab of fear, she wondered if this would bring that fever back. She had spent an evening out of doors once when she was fourteen, letting her skirts get wet with dew and had paid dearly. She was laid up with a fever for two weeks, and pitiably weak afterwards. Only two years later did she have most of her strength back, which was not much to begin with.
Trying not to worry, Alice took to scanning the edges of the forest, looking for any hint of danger in the dim light. It was another worry, yes, but one she felt she could do something about, even if it was keeping watch. However, her concentration was noticed, as Uncas had kept close to her ever since her slip by the river.
“I am watching, do not worry,” Uncas said, his voice reassuring. “There is nothing out there.”
Alice looked at him, his brown eyes earnest. They were truly the most extraordinary eyes. “Yes,” she agreed, then paused. “I cannot help but worry though.” Her voice held a tinge of weariness, something that Uncas seemed to pick up on, as his eyes brightened. They had a hypnotic quality to them, more reassuring to Alice than anything he could say. It was as if, in their own way, they were saying that he would protect her.
“We are almost to the caves. It should be easier for you then, and much more dry,” he said, another small smile on his face.
Alice returned it, knowing that she was being brazen, and that her behavior with this man would be frowned upon for many reasons. “Yes,” she said again, this time much lighter. He was unlike any other man she had ever met, and he had saved her life. She was indebted to him, and in this way, she chose to disregard what society would say. Cora had said nothing, so Alice knew that she was not being too bold, for her sister was much more unrestrained than most women.
They were silent after that, though it was hardly uncomfortable. It was not a far walk, and they reached the caves about the same time that it became impossible to see far in the dusk. Tucked back, far from the mouth of the cave, Alice sat near her sister as Nathaniel and Uncas went to gather firewood. Duncan had given Cora his jacket, and though he was apologetic that he did not have another for her, Alice could see that she was upset. Cora was protective of her, to be sure, but Duncan’s jacket would do little to keep her warm. It was her skirts that were wet, and they would not dry quickly, not in the damp chill of the caves.
Chancing that they might be seen, Uncas and Nathaniel started a fire at the mouth of the cave, Chingachgook moving towards the front with the two men. After much conference in another language, they beckoned them forward, though Alice still felt tentative about being seen. After locking eyes once again with Uncas, she stepped forward tentatively, following in her sister’s wake. Cora didn’t seem to be afraid of anything, and while she could see Nathaniel’s admiration for that, Duncan seemed frustrated by it. Alice did not understand, for she expected Duncan to admire her sister’s strength as well. It was something she greatly admired and envied. She always felt weak in comparison, especially since the fever, since she was now physically incapable of keeping up with her.
Keeping out of the flow of air that whistled into the mouth of the cave, Alice took a step nearer the fire, not noticing Uncas take a step closer to herself. Though she could not see anything, she peered out into the darkness of the forest and wondered what would happen if they were found. Unable to supress a shudder, her face blanched, unable to get the images of before out of her mind. The sights, sounds were coming back into her mind, try as she might to keep them out of her head. Weakly, she sank to the ground, her legs unable to support her, head bowed in weariness. She felt helpless. A warm hand rested at the crown of her head and she jerked, looking up to see Uncas looking down at her once again.
“Go to sleep, I will watch over you.” He spoke quietly, his voice somehow not echoing in the cavern.
Something in Alice throbbed at his mild voice, the promise of safety. “Thank you,” she whispered, too weary to see the look of concern Cora was directing her way. Leaning back against the stone wall, she closed her eyes, the only sound the crackling of the fire.
She did not see Cora eventually move beside her and cover her with Duncan’s jacket, did not feel her sister curl up beside her as the men took shifts sleeping. She did not see Uncas stay awake through the other shifts, his only rest to sit on her other side, watching her breath rise and fall through pink lips. She did not see his look of admiration for her, despite her tangled hair, her soaked skirts, and mud smeared arms. All she saw, was when she awoke, him standing in the same place he had been when she went to sleep, scanning the forest that was being touched with light. He had watched over her all night.