A Quiet Strength - Trial and Tribulation
by Anon Allsop

-Part Three-

-Six-

As morning dawned, the storm and fierce wind had abated and a clear blue sky was overhead. Etu pushed through the drift that had sealed them inside the boughs, and stepped out into a strange but beautiful landscape. Aponi passed the papoose with little Machk through the opening to Etu, as she stepped through to the outside she was forced to shield her eyes from the brilliant sun.

She quickly glanced toward Machk, making sure that the covering over his face had remained. Her breath hung in front of her like a fog, within moments a negligible breeze seemed to push it away.

Etu wore the papoose and was aiding Aponi as they walked, both being very careful to avoid falling with little Machk. "The snow is very deep in spots, but showing ground in others." Aponi commented as they picked their way through the trees.

"Such is the way with the great white death. In one area may be a drift only knee high to a child, in another it could be well above a brave's head." He replied, assisting her to a clear area where no snow was lying.

Aponi cringed as snow dropped into the moccasins that Etu's mother provided, leaning against her husband she dug out the offending snow with her finger. "I am still amazed that I was able to survive being out in that storm."

He glanced toward her, she appeared so out of her element with the vast backdrop of snow. Gently giving her hand a tender squeeze he replied, "You came close to not surviving, too close. Had I not spied you within the blanket of that snowy fog, you surely would have perished."

Aponi could see the emotion that he was holding back, she knew right there and then that he loved her. Why? That answer still baffled her even after they had shared their love. They paused beside a stream and drank, Aponi took the time to quickly nurse Machk beneath the pelts that she wore to keep warm. Etu was leaning against the bole of a tree looking up. "It grows warmer."

"Perhaps for you." Aponi said with a sarcastic laugh.

"No, I'm serious. The snow is falling off the trees, it is melting." He observed.

"You sure it isn't just melting because of the sunlight? It sure doesn't feel any warmer." She quipped.

"You are a female, your blood runs cold most of the time. Being a man, I notice these things." He attempted to reason.

She scowled at him, remembering that not too long ago she was once in that fraternity of men. Her expression softened though as she realized that he was probably right, even Parker noticed the difference between how men and women perceived temperatures... and it was true that she was cold... but his comment still infuriated her.

Etu smiled as he realized that Aponi had grown quieter, gently teasing her would always be a part of who he was. As they worked under a thick canopy of brown and rustling leaves, a great rush of snow fell upon Etu's head. Aponi's laughter broke the quiet that had only moments before enveloped them.

Using his fingers, he dug out what had been caught between the papoose and his back. While he was fidgeting, Aponi concerned herself with Machk, making sure that he did not get any snow on him.

Etu smiled as he brushed the snow from his shoulder, "I guess I deserved that."

"You did." She chimed in as she assisted her husband. "You should know better when teasing an Aponi spirit." Her teasing reply was the first time she had ever used her 'status' in a conversation with Etu. She chuckled as she removed the papoose and brushed the snow that had been caught between from his back.

"Sometimes, I just need to be reminded." He quipped as he place the papoose back upon his broad shoulders. Her giggle caused him to laugh himself. Reaching out he pulled her nearer. "I imagine you enjoyed that, little one."

"Oh I did." Aponi laughed as she kissed Etu upon his cheek.

-Seven-

For three days the little family continued toward the Oneida village. Thankfully, the weather had straightened up and became closer to normal. As the sun rose on the melting landscape she saw that they were just outside the village.

Aponi had grown very quiet, apprehension was tearing at her stomach. Etu pulled up and stood at the beginning of the long trail that led into their village. "I see the fear in your eyes. It is misplaced, you have nothing to fear, Aponi."

She made a wry face, "Tell that to my stomach." Etu laughed his response as she kept thinking of reasons to stall. "I should probably nurse Machk before we go into town."

"Town?" He gave her a puzzled look, for she used one of her own words. "What does 'town' mean?"

"Village... I'm sorry, I forgot." She replied sheepishly.

"No, no, don't be embarrassed. Town is a good word, it sounds powerful." He made a fist and flexed his arm as he continued to repeat her pronunciation.

As she was seated upon a log, she began to administer to Machk's needs. As he suckled, Etu had been watching her. "I sense your fear. You are afraid of what my people think of you?"

"You are right but it is only of your mother and father that I fear rejection from. They are the only ones I care to please aside from you and our son." He sat beside her and placed his arm around her.

"You will be surprised at just how welcoming my mother and father will be." He leaned over and kissed her, then tousled Machk's wild hair. "And this little one will steal their hearts right away!"

"I hope you are right." Aponi sighed as she switched him to the other side, quickly covering herself from the cold. "I know I am." He replied confidently. "You will see."

She felt a little better but there was always that niggling sliver of doubt that would always be there. Aponi had come so far since being deposited upon this planet, almost losing her life in the process more than once. She thought back to the culprits who left her this way... left her to die alone and in a strange body.

She looked downward at her son as he nursed, and suddenly the bitterness she had once felt for the Captain and his daughter began to ebb away. She had a right to be mad at them... and she should be furious, but somewhere deep within her she felt that she had somehow... been blessed.

Glancing beside her, Etu was slicing off a thin piece of dried meat for her. He carefully held it out and when she leaned forward, placed it into her mouth. She kissed his fingers, causing him to smile.

Etu was right, they had been placed together at the right time and space that day so long ago. Was her arrival the result of a traitorous act, or mayhap a direct link to a chain of events destined from the day Parker had first been conceived?

What truly was destiny? Weren't they, Etu and Machk forever linked with her destiny? Her head swam with questions, Aponi only could faithfully answer one, she was here with them right now... whether it was destiny or chance, she would make the best of it.

As she felt the cool air envelope her teat, she realized that Machk had drifted to sleep and lost contact. Forgoing the normal routine of cleaning him of his soiled waste, she decided she would hold off until she was finally within the lodge of Etu's parents.

She readjusted her clothing and returned her slumbering son to his papoose, "Are you ready?" Etu asked softly, not wanting to pressure his beloved into leaving before she was ready.

Aponi nodded, "As ready as I will ever be." Slowly standing she lifted the Papoose to her shoulders. She knew that carrying the child was something that women of the Oneida did, she would not have Etu enter his village doing something that could embarrass him. He helped her adjust it upon her shoulders, giving her a knowing look which spoke volumes.

They began the long walk toward the village, at first no one paid attention to them. Then a child began to walk beside them and quietly studied the color of Aponi's long braid. It was when she took Aponi's hand and began to examine her paleness that Etu scowled.

He tried to chase off the child but Aponi shook her head, "It may as well be now for the commotion to begin." She announced softly. Soon a second child began to walk along, then a third and fourth. One young boy quickly raced away, as he ran, Aponi heard Etu sigh.

"My shadow." Was all he said as their little entourage grew and grew. Everyone was very quiet as they continued
toward the center of the village. All the while, Aponi showed no fear, head held high and confident.

-Eight-

As they rounded a lodge, they were met by a withered old man with a great hide wrapped around him, Etu slowed to a stop. Aponi also waited beside her warrior, the man traded his steady gaze between the two of them. A great hush came over the entire group. The elderly man's dark brown eyes looked with awe at the woman who stood before him.

"Grandfather?" Aponi whispered aloud softly, to which Etu nodded. The old man tipped his slightly, somewhat surprised that she knew and could speak the Oneida language.

He slowly reached forward and took her small hands in his, he lowered his face toward the ground reverently. Aponi gently touched his cheek, guiding his face upward. Her smile caused the old man to smile, offering a display of his nearly toothless grin.

He turned his head toward the stalwart warrior beside the beauty, "You did not mislead your Grandfather, when you said her beauty was beyond compare, Etu."

The handsome young warrior smiled, "She is everything to me and more, Grandfather."

"We must talk to the Great Father, there should be a feast tonight for you and the Aponi Spirit."

As he spoke, those who surrounded them realized that there was spiritual royalty in their midst. A slow murmur began to permeate outward until everyone knew that Etu had found the Aponi Spirit.

A commotion from behind caused the old man to look beyond them, "Your Father and Mother come."

Etu turned toward where he had been looking, and began to smile. "Mother, Father!" He called out.

His father slowed and stopped his hand gently touched his son's broad shoulder, beside him wearing the fur of a coyote his mother stood. Etu bent down and hugged her, "Aponi, my love.. this is my mother and father."

Aponi nodded respectfully and realized that his mother had noticed the papoose on her back. Slowly removing it, she placed it down and gently removed Machk. The older woman's eyes brightened as she saw the child lifted out.

"You saw in a vision, Mother." Etu spoke softly to the older woman.

"Is it a male child?" She asked as Aponi held him close from the cold.

Aponi nodded, "He is called, Machk."

The older woman noticed the great black hide, then realized how the boy came across the name. As she gently touched the cheek of the infant, she realized too that Aponi knew the Oneida language. "Etu taught you to speak the language of our people?"

"He did." She replied and then hid Machk within the hide she was wearing.

The old woman noticed and gently held Aponi by the arm, leading her away from the crowd and toward several of the lodges.

"You must be cold." She observed. "We will take your son inside where it is warm."

Aponi followed her toward the opening and hesitated, glancing back she watched Etu still talking to Grandfather and his father. "The child is also Etu's."

The old woman smiled and glanced at the infant in Aponi's arms. "You are one now? Good."

Aponi smiled slowly, following her mother-in-law into the interior. As they settled beside the fire, she studied the woman with her, there was a look a worry in her eyes.

"What is it?" Aponi asked.

"It is good that you and Etu are one..." She hesitated, "Will you be taking him to the land where your people dwell?" Her eyes lowered to Machk as he was being cleaned, "Are you going to take our son from us?"

Aponi leaned back on her heels, she had spent so much time worrying about whether his parents would like her, and all the while, they were worried that she would take him away. "No, mother. Where Etu lives, Machk and I will live."

The look of relief passed over Etu's mother. Tears welled in her eyes as she gently reached out and patted Aponi on her leg. She watched a young man leave on his quest, and when he returned, he brought a wife and child to stay. Mother closed her eyes and smiled. Once again their family could be together again.