COLORS OF THE WIND
Chapter Two
Spring, 1607
Virginia
Pocahontas awoke with the early morning sun
warming her face. She lay for a few moments and did her best to convince Nakoma
that she was still asleep.
"Pocahontas, I know you are awake. Now,
come out and help me," Nakoma said, poking her head into her friend's
longhouse.
"I'm coming," Pocahontas replied,
as she stood and walked out into the sunlight. Walking down to the river with
Nakoma had become Pocahontas' favorite part of the day. Ever since her father
had told her about the marriage arrangement, Pocahontas had tried to come up
with any excuse to leave the surroundings of the village.
"Pocahontas?" Nakoma questioned her
friend as she nearly slipped on a rock. "Be careful. That is the last
thing you want—to twist your ankle before your wedding."
"Would it get me out of it?"
Pocahontas retorted.
Nakoma, taken aback by her friend's words,
sighed. "Pocahontas, Kocoum will make a fine husband. He is loyal
and—"
"—strong and will build you a fine house
with sturdy walls—" she added, mocking the many people that had promised
her those things from the very beginning. "Nakoma, I don't want to marry
him!"
Pocahontas' voice was almost a whine, almost
a plea for her friend to get her out of her current predicament.
"If you do not wish to…" Both women
jumped at the male voice from behind.
Pocahontas slowly turned her dark eyes to Kocoum.
"Kocoum…I…please let me explain—"
He stepped out of the trees and closer to the
women. "Nakoma, please." He stopped, gesturing with his hand towards
the village. Nakoma hesitated, not knowing which way to go.
Pocahontas, finding her friend in distress,
said, "It's all right. Go on."
"Go on, Nakoma. Now!" The last word
the Indian man spoke made the young woman jump, hurrying her away.
"I hear you do not wish to marry
me," Kocoum said, his tone cold.
"I just don't feel like you are the
right path for me to follow our whole lives through," Pocahontas replied,
making sure her voice stayed calm.
He folded his arms across his chest. "I
do not love you," he stated matter-of-factly. "I…I am infatuated with
you."
"I did not think you even felt
that," she spat at him, before turning and walking away.
She felt his hands grab her shoulders and
whirl her around. "Let me go," she hissed, her heart pounding. No man
other than her father had dared to touch her.
"I'll marry you for our people," he
said. "You see, I know my place, Pocahontas. It is time that you learned
yours."
He let go of her then and left her standing
in the forest, his harsh words ringing in her ears.