Magua's hand now enclosed her wrist; he pulled her after him as if she were nothing but baggage. Up and up they climbed, following the narrow path. Five warriors now walked in front of them, guiding the way.

She looked at the man leading her and wondered what his plan for her was, she wished she had the courage to twist away from him, to run, but all her mind and body wanted to do was to be led.

She'd followed all her life, never choosing her own path, and now seemed no different, her fate was in another's hands. She felt the braid in her hair gently touching her face as she walked and wondered if Uncas even cared what her fate would be.

Suddenly from up ahead came a cry and two gun shots cracked the silence. Magua stopped and looked ahead; Alice followed his eye line and saw the figure of Uncas barrelling towards them, his musket in his hands.

One of the men in front of her brought his musket up and fired in his direction, Alice gasped but the shot missed him.

The warrior started forward and, bringing his tomahawk out, leapt at Uncas. The blow caught Uncas' elbow and he dropped his musket to the ground. Before the Huron warrior had another chance to strike, Uncas had his tomahawk in hand and brought it forcefully down upon the warriors head. The warrior stumbled backwards and fell from the edge of the plateau. Another warrior ran out to meet him, and Uncas dispatched him in the same way. Magua removed his hand from Alice's wrist, pushing her backwards to another Huron who gripped her wrist tightly.

Alice's heart seemed to pound in her chest at the sight of Uncas, and a warmth spread through her. She knew she was safe, she had seen him fight and he was brave, he would defeat this man and take her back to her sister, to safety.

She started forward towards him but the Huron holding her roughly pulled her back.

Magua calmly walked towards Uncas, pulling a knife and his tomahawk from his belt. They circled each other for a moment, taking in each other then Uncas lunged towards him, swinging his tomahawk towards Magua three times, each one Magua dodged easily.

Then Magua struck, his silver knife flashed in the sun and sliced deeply into Uncas' shoulder and chest. The blood flowed freely and Uncas staggered backwards. For a moment his expression betrayed him, it showed he was shocked he had been struck; he had not expected the other man to be so skilled.

He regained himself and lunged once again at Magua, again Magua dodged and plunged his knife into Uncas' gut. Uncas grunted in pain and stumbled backwards, his back connecting with the rock face.

His hand went to the wound. He looked down and removed his hand, blood gushed from it, his hand covered in his own blood. He furrowed his brow in confusion at the red liquid.

Alice gasped, her breath quickening. "This isn't happening," her mind screamed, "after everything… it isn't happening."

Slowly he raised his head and found her eyes with his, he stared into her for what seemed like eternity, but still not long enough. Her breaths came in sorrowful gasps as she looked back at him. His dark eyes seemingly voicing what he could not… he was beaten. It was done, but it had been for her… no regrets.

A sob escaped her lips and he blinked, bringing his eyes to rest back on Magua, the moment over.

He lunged once more at Magua, pushing his hand hard against the older man's chest with the little strength he still possessed, so that he forced Magua backwards. Uncas went on the attack again but Magua caught him off guard and he fell to the floor, together the two men rolled towards the cliff edge, each trying to gain the upper hand.

Finally Magua plunged his knife into Uncas' shoulder and pushed himself from the ground as Uncas tried to regain his senses.

Alice let out another sob and pulled her arm free from the man who held her. Knowing it was over; she turned her face away from the scene before her, wishing it away, then, knowing she had no choice she looked back. Uncas had regained his feet, his arm hung useless by his side, the blood pouring from the fresh wound.

Uncas raised his tomahawk, the effort almost too much for him. Alice's breaths came in short gasps, Magua struck again, stabbing Uncas deeply in his side. Uncas cried out in pain and his body twisted, the tomahawk falling from his grasp. Alice involuntarily reached her hand out to him at his cry then brought it back clenched to her breast.

Magua caught Uncas by the arm and spun him around to face the edge of the cliff, pulling his head up so his neck was fully exposed.

Uncas, useless and dying, could do nothing to stop him as Magua slid the knife across his bare throat, his own blood spraying onto his cheeks. Alice cried out in dismay. Magua turned his head in disgust as the blood sprayed up, and with a rough push, he carelessly let Uncas' body fall over the cliff edge.

Alice watched his body fall, it seemed to fall for such a long time… then finally it hit the bottom. Her attention moved to Magua, his knife dripping with blood, she moved away from the warriors, towards the edge of the plateau, her eyes never leaving Magua, scared he would come at her and kill her in the same way.

He turned to her, his knife raised, and advanced a little towards her and looked into her eyes. He stopped; tears had begun to form in her beautiful blue eyes, like pools of sorrow.

She stared back at him, the terror filling her. Her body shuddered as she felt back with her feet for the edge. Feeling she was at the very edge she turned, looking over her shoulder to the scene behind her, the drop below her… at Uncas. He was dead, and her hope lay lifeless at his side

The fear filled her mind at the scene she had just seen, a man she knew who had cared for her, perhaps even loved her had died for her: because of her.

The image of the blood flowing from his throat seemed to fill her mind completely, her eyes grew wide and something broke within her. She felt a strange calmness take over her, she no longer felt the fear, it seemed to all drain away, what was left behind was a knowing sadness.

Small, soft droplets of rain began to fall around her as if softly weeping at the scene before it. She raised her face to the sky feeling the coolness of it.

The wind whipped her hair about her, moving the braid slightly; she felt it with her hand. "Your choice," a voice from deep within her spoke. She mused upon it for a moment as if she had all the time in the world.

She turned back towards Magua, the tears gone from her eyes, a cool calmness replacing them. He stared back at her intently and slowly lowered his knife, his expression softening as if looking upon a lost child, a soft glow of light from the sun outlined her body against the sky and she almost seemed to shine.

He raised his hand out to her and motioned twice for her to come away from the edge. The blood dripped red and wet from the hand he offered, she looked at it for a moment then her mind was set.

Slowly, calmly, she turned from him and looked out over the beauty before her. "My choice," she thought, and a small, weak smile touched the corners of her mouth.

"Uncas," she breathed letting his name fall from her lips, and elegantly she stepped from the cliff.

The wind whipped around her as she was pulled down, she felt no fear.

The End