Death of Sikkim Root

Several months passed and Sikkim Root's pregnancy was beginning to show. There had been no sign of Oak Leaf and the only other to accompany them on their daily walks was Lilly. Often, Nicolas rested his hand on Sikkim Root's enlarging abdomen to see if he could feel the baby move.

"Quid infans nomene vis?" (What do you want to name the child?) Nicolas asked.

"Si puella est, Tulipa Petalo. Si puer est, Shalim. Sunt nomene cordi es?" (If it's a girl, Tulip Petal. If it's a boy, Shalim. Are there names you like?)

"Pueres, cordi Andrew. Puellae, Katie." (For a boy, Andrew. For a girl, Katie)

"Katie," Sikkim Root said. "Me contentus." (I like it)

Oak Leaf returned days before Sikkim Root was due. He had been kept in camp to stop his insanity of chasing after Sikkim Root's lost soul and pay penitence to the chief since he once was soon to be the chief's son-in-law. Now that he was able to leave, he rode Courage to the edge of the valley then let him go. He knew Lilly died in this valley. She would not have done that if Sikkim Root had not been there. He moved quickly though the trees, searching for any sign of Sikkim Root.

He saw something move down by the brook. Moving silently through the trees, he watched. A man dressed in brown was fishing in the brook. A few fish were tossed up on the land then killed and cleaned. The rustle of brush behind Oak Leaf made him turn, drawing a blade from his waist. A little chipmunk rustled the small branches of the bush as it scurried about for berries. Oak Leaf looked back to the brook, but the man was gone. Stepping from the trees he looked for footprints, but the only disturbance was where the fish had landed. Who was it? Was it a spirit?

Casting aside that possibility, Oak Leaf continued his search. He spent several days searching. He thought he saw someone a few times, but was never able to follow since no footprints were left behind. Not once had he seen Lilly, which was odd since spirits who die in peace often manifest themselves no matter who comes to their final resting place.

The day Oak Leaf arrived, Sikkim Root had taken their old clothes and fashioned them into a skirt. The child she carried moved in anticipation as the first of the contractions began. Nicolas had her remain in the cave, or close to it, with Lilly's supervision. Three days later, the contractions became more intense and more frequent. Nicolas woke to Sikkim Root moving into a squatting position. She had been wearing the skirt lately instead of the pants.

"Picea Spinulosa Radix?" he asked.

"Infans venit, Nicolas." (The baby is coming, Nicolas) she said as she tried to breathe through the contractions.

Lilly supported Sikkim Root as her water broke and the contractions came quicker. Her breathing changed with a soft whine. Nicolas was up now and his hands ready to catch the child. The child fell into his hands and let out a loud wail.

"Puella est," he said, cutting the cord then wrapping the child in a blanket before handing her to Sikkim Root. (It's a girl)

Sikkim Root leaned against the wall of the cave and let the child nurse. Her eyes closed and tears ran down her cheeks. Nicolas wiped them away and kissed her gently before sitting next to her.

"Quid eam appellare vis?" (What do you want to call her?) he asked.

"Katie," Sikkim Root replied.

"Id amo; aeque ac te amo. (I love it; just like I love you.)

"Te amo, enim, Nicolas." (I love you, too)

Nicolas stayed by her side until both of them were asleep. Lilly stayed by her side while he went out for food. He had picked a few mountain apples and several ripe blackberries before he returned to the cave. Lilly was gone when he returned and Sikkim Root and Katie were still sleeping. He cut one of the apples and ate it while running his fingers through her hair. It had lengthened considerably since it had been cut short. Soon she would need something to tie it back with. A growling brought his attention to the cave entrance. Wrapping the cloth in place, Nicolas could see Lilly was ready to attack something in the trees.

"Lilly?" Nicolas asked.

'Get back!' she yelled.

Nicolas stepped back as something sharp was thrown into the entrance of the cave. He moved to where Sikkim Root and Katie were sleeping and woke Sikkim Root enough so she could keep a tight hold of Katie while he moved them further into the cave. Katie whimpered in Sikkim Root's arms which echoed throughout the cave. Sikkim Root was able to get her to be silent until they could be placed in a safer location. Near the secondary entrance, Nicolas set them down before turning back to check on Lilly.

Oak Leaf had seen the man in brown appear in the cave entrance. So they were here. He had woken that morning to a child's cry. Had Sikkim Root been pregnant from the beginning? Was that why she had accepted the death punishment so easily? Did that mean that all her sorrow was an act?

'Get back,' Lilly yelled, when he threw his knife.

He missed the man and heard the child whimper. Then everything was silent, but Lilly didn't move.

Oak Leaf came out of the trees and held out a friendly hand towards Lilly.

Her growling didn't cease and her stance remained crouched, ready to pounce if necessary.

"Why do you protect her so, Lilly? If she's alive, she should return to her people."

'She's with her people,' Lilly replied. 'Return to your own and let her be.'

"If she lives, I want her to return to me. The living cannot love the dead."

'Sikkim Root is dead! Haven't you grasped that yet?!'

"Then why did she not remain in Dead Man's Valley? Her spirit was supposed to be lost; forever to haunt the valley and now she's here!"

'They are not the same.'

"Liar!"

"Lilly?" Nicolas asked softly, standing where he could not be seen.

Lilly stopped growling and sat. Her eyes seemed to pierce Oak Leaf to the core. Slowly, he stepped around her to the cave entrance. Shreds of death wrap and burial clothes lay scattered about the cave. Old blood stained the ground and bones too were scattered about. Many of them were broken rib bones, a few sections of back bone. Oak Leaf could not tell if they were human or not, but then he found the bloody torn remnant of Sikkim Root's burial dress. The grief he was wont to feel when the council had ordered he remain filled him now.

"No!" he cried. "It has to be a set up. Has to be..." He sank to his knees and buried his face in the dirty, bloody cloth.

From the shadows, Nicolas watched him weep. He felt no pity for him. Sikkim Root had been dead to her people for nearly a year and it had taken him this long to realize it, though in his words doubt remained. Oak Leaf cried for a few minutes before he ventured further into the cave. Nicolas followed at a distance before he turned down the hidden passage so he could return to Sikkim Root and Katie. When he reached the place where he had left them, they were nowhere in sight.

"Picea Spinulosa Radix?" he asked, softy.

She didn't respond.

"Picea Spinulosa Radix?" he asked again, stepping out of the cave.

She was leaning against a tree with Katie sleeping peacefully on her chest. Her eyes stared blankly into the surrounding trees as he approached. Kneeling next to her, he lightly caressed her cheek.

"Nicolas," she said, closing her eyes then turning them to him.

"Te et Katie Salve?" (Are you and Katie alright?)

"Salvemus. Alius vir?" (Yes. The other man?)

"Cavernas explorans. Hic non remanemus." (Searching the caves. We can't stay here)

Sikkim Root nodded then carefully passed Katie to him so she could stand. They moved further into the trees where the bushes grew thick. There he allowed Sikkim Root to eat and rest. Lilly joined them a short time later and lie down, just above Sikkim Root's head.

"Quercus Folium?" (Oak Leaf?) Nicolas asked.

'Still in the caves. He will continue to search in case you return.'

"No est via eum impetrat abire perpetua? (Is there no way to get him to leave for good?)

'Not until he's convinced that Sikkim Root is dead or returned to the Mountain Forest Tribe.'

"Nomene mihi non longus diuturnus me uti," (That name no longer applies to me) Sikkim Root said. "Praeteritus non habeo. Hic solam sum cum Nicolas et Katie." (I have no past. My only existence is here with Nicolas and Katie)

'Oak Leaf will not accept that,' Lilly said

"Picea Spinulosa Radix obat et Lockheartia in locum sucundere." (Then let Sikkim Root die and Orchid take her place)

"Lockheartia?" (Orchid?) Nicolas asked.

"Nomenum matrarum matrarum matrarum." (My great grandmother's name)

"Id amo." (I like it)

Orchid smiled and Nicolas kissed her. "Nunc requlesce." (Rest now)