The Journey

Alice came back to herself; she had been lost in thought for over an hour as she recalled the past. She lifted the hood upon her blue cloak trying to warm her face a little against the harsh sea air.

She sighed, the past made her heart feel heavy. But now she was on her last journey. She would not see him again.

Her heart ached a little at the thought of him… he had loved her and she could not give him the same in return. She looked back at where the land had been the last time she had looked. She remembered his proud stance, always proud and stubborn.

Their marriage had failed because she did not love him… and Edward had always known this.

It was on the journey to England she had known, they had been a week away from British shores and she had found the will to fight to find the strength she needed so badly.

If only she had known she had that strength before she boarded the ship that day… she thought things would have been very different…

Once in England she had refused to marry Edward, but he didn't abandon her, he stood by her through everything. She had intended to return to the New World the next year when she had gathered enough money.

After many months in England she had fallen dangerously ill and could not travel for first months and then years.

She had sent many letters to Cora and even to Uncas… begging them to forgive her, of her life and the relative happiness she had found. She knew full well none had reached their destinations; Edward had disposed of them thinking he was doing right by her.

Her hope began to fade that she would ever return to her beloved husband who waited for her and finally, her will broken a little, she had resigned herself to the fact that it was too late...but evens still Uncas was in her dreams all too often. She never remembered them fully apart from that he smiled a lot, being joy to her soul until she awoke cold and alone with a heavy heart.

Edward had persuaded her to marry him but for her it had been for security and reputation… nothing else. It had been unconsummated and a few months ago it had been annulled.

As her strength had grown and she again found her feet she felt spurred on to try again, if Uncas still waited for her or not… she must return.

Edward became a broken man after their annulment but still he loved her in his own way and that is why he had come with her, back to the New World and stood waving sadly to her as she boarded the ship to her last destination… home.

Finally Alice had been well enough for travel and with the help of her good friend John White Bear, or Bear as she affectionately called him, she had planned the journey and sent a letter to Cora, this time taking charge of sending the letter herself.

John appeared by her side, his beads clacking as he walked across the boards.

She looked up into his weather beaten face and smiled.

"Feeling better?" he asked

Alice nodded.

He looked out over the sea.

John was a good man, despised back in London for being half savage but Alice thought this had brought them closer together, she too did not belong among them.

Alice knew that the life she had left behind her all those years ago would never come back to her. She had accepted that Uncas had probably remarried; it was his duty to his people.

But her life too had changed. She was no longer alone and had a wonderful person in her life, her beloved… even though Uncas would always own her heart she was happy she could give a large part of it to another.

She came out of her thoughts…

"Bear," she said turning to the man, "I'm going to sleep for the rest of the way; I will try anyway," she smiled, "the thought of seeing my sister again will make it hard."

He smiled and nodded.

She thought of her dear sister often and had wanted to see her face for so long, she hoped with all her heart that her letter had reached her intact.

She walked into her cabin and got under the covers, hugging the form already asleep close to her.

"I love you" she whispered.

He awoke and looked at her, his beautiful dark eyes searching her face.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing" she smiled and kissed him upon his cheek "I was just saying goodbye to the past"

"It will be a new life" he whispered placing his tanned hand tenderly upon her arm.

She nodded and embraced him.

The days passed without incident and soon they had reached their port. She remembered the village so well, the place they had stayed at before taking the ship to London still stood.

With John's help they purchased three horses.

They mounted them and began their long ride. They had to stop every few hours, Alice was unused to the travel and her body was still a little weak.

John left them before their last rest stop promising to come and see them both soon at the village.

Alice watched him go and turned her gaze meeting his beautiful dark eyes once again. She sat beside him.

"We'll be there soon and all this… will be over" she ran her hands through his long hair.

He smiled at her touch and nodded certainly.

"It is as it should be" he said.

She stroked his cheek lovingly.

"I hope Cora got my letter" she squinted up into the blue sky.

"I'm sure she did, I'm eager to meet her" he lay back and stretched against the fallen log he leant on.

He looked back at her grinning "Do you love me"

She smiled back at him and wrapped her arms around his form "Until the ends of time, until the stars fall and I can no longer sing Moonlit Lullaby"

He laughed "and I the same"

When Alice felt rested enough to continue she rose, dusted her pink cotton dress down and checked her hair was still plaited tightly in a circlet upon her head. He then helped her back onto her horse even though she protested she was fine.

Soon she knew her surroundings all too well. The narrow path climbed up into the steep cliffs the rock walls seeming to frown down on them. The last time she had been here she had been lead by a Huron warrior who was going to kill her. The memory sent shivers up her spine. She had been so young, but 16 and she had been so unsure of herself.

They began their ride up, Alice leading the way.

They would be at the top in mere minutes and her heart hammered within her chest.

She looked over at the horse and its rider who rode behind her and smiled as he grinned back at her.

This was their new start and her second chance at happiness, she hoped Cora would be there and still... part of her longed for him to be there too she could not help the ache she felt so harshly within her heart, she loved Uncas still… but she knew it could not be so.

The horse's hoofs clacked upon the stone, sending echoes into the silence. She saw the plateau ahead and closed her eyes almost afraid to see what lay ahead. What if Cora could not forgive her foolishness and was not there waiting for her…

When she opened her eyes, knowing she must, she could clearly see a woman's form waiting.

Alice felt her heart soar, her sister was here.

She spurred her horse into a trot and when she was near enough she dismounted and flung herself into her sister's waiting arms, her tears of joy came easily and soon both the sisters were crying and embracing each other tightly.

Cora pulled away and placed her palms upon Alice's cheeks.

"I thought I'd never see you again Alice" she studied her younger sister's face, aged some but still full of youth.

Alice nodded "I wanted to come back, Oh Cora I knew in my heart I had chosen the wrong path" she wiped a tear from her sister's cheek "please forgive me"

"Of course" Cora said embracing her again. "I'm glad you have finally found yourself"

Cora's eye caught the movement of the other horse and she looked questioningly at Alice.

"Is this him?"

Alice nodded and grinned "he is my life" she whispered "Does he know? Did you…"

Alice had sensed him before he walked into view, the feeling cutting off all words. It was as if she had experienced the feeling many times over like a strange shiver that radiated through her whole being.

The figure came forward from the shadows where he had been standing, watching, waiting.

Her eyes grew wide as his face caught the light. Her breath caught within her throat. He was beautiful, her memory had served her well, and she had forgotten nothing… his beautiful eyes, his long dark hair, his mouth, his hands, the way he moved...

She stared at him as if frozen for many seconds and finally she spoke "You came" she whispered.

He studied her face for a moment and then his arms were around her pulling her to him.

He kissed her cheeks, her eyelids, and her mouth as the tears spilled afresh from her eyes.

"You came" she repeated looking up at him.

"I said I would wait" he breathed.

He smiled down at her.

"I was so lost" she said "forgive me"

Uncas gazed into her clear blue eyes and carefully placed a bracelet upon her wrist. It was her wedding ring, lovingly restored.

"Nachgochema anetaha anachemowagan" he said and they both smiled at the memory. Their eyes drank in each other after the many years of being apart. It was as if the whole world stopped for them and there was just this moment…

Finally Alice felt a sharp tug upon her sleeve and was brought back to the world.

She looked at the dismounted figure, his eyes shining with tears. She looked back at Uncas her eyes searching his "Do you know?" she managed.

Uncas looked over at the figure clinging to Alice and tears welled within his eyes, he could not stop them spilling down his cheeks.

She smiled and wiped away his tears "He was the reason I fought" she said gesturing to him "he gave me the strength to come back"

"His name is Tristan" she said as new tears brimmed within her own eyes "your son"

Uncas looked down at the child and without any word a grin spread across his face and he wrapped the boy into his arms, lifting him from the ground "my son" he repeated.

"Tell me" Uncas said turning his attention again to Alice.

Alice fully retold her tale to her beloved husband, how she had been with child when she was taken by the British, she had not known this to be so until she had been near English shores. How she had tired to find the money to return though she was heavy with child and that when Tristan was born she had fallen ill, so ill for so long that she could not return.

It had taken Alice eight long years to return, but she now knew the truth of their love, nothing would break it or come between it, their souls were forever entwined and they would always return to each other no matter how long and heartbreaking the journey.

Alice leant against Uncas' shoulder "when I knew I was going to bear your child I knew, my path lay with you and I had been so blind" she looked up at him.

Uncas set the boy upon his feet and took Alice back into his arms; finally the Great Spirit had blessed them both to live their lives together.

Alice pulled away a little "I taught him as best I could, I told him all the tales of our people that you taught me and the ways of our lives" she smiled down at her son.

"Your mother has taught you well" Uncas said

The boy smiled up "Yes father and she talked of you often, I feel I have known you all my life"

Uncas smiled.

He turned to Alice "I did not doubt you, my spirit was with you always" he brought her to him and kissed her tenderly.

She kissed him back knowing his words to be the truth.

"Let us go home" Uncas said brushing Alice's cheek with his thumb.

"Wunneet" Tristan called grinning up at them.

Uncas' brow rose in surprise and he laughed.

"It's the only word I remembered how to say" Alice said smiling.

Uncas nodded at her…

"Yes" Uncas said smiling at his family "It is good"

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Well that brings us to the end.

I hope I kept most of you guessing until near the very end and I hope you are happy with the happy ending.

I know many of you thought I was going to part them for good, so I'm glad I could prove you wrong!

I decided on this ending just before Alice was taken by the British ;)

I hope everyone enjoyed it and you'll let me know if you liked it.

I would really like to express all my thanks to Karen (aka Winglo), without her this tale may never have been told!

Also big thanks to everyone that left reviews! It really helped me finish it quickly.

I'm sad it's over but if I do come up with a new Alice & Uncas story I'll be sure to post it.

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A little update.

I've taken in to account some of the reviews and have decided that once I finish my new story (or when I get a moment) I will write an alt ending that will not keep them apart for so long.

Please do let me know if it's something you'd like to read to spur me into writing it :)