Hello all! Well, I hope you enjoy my Peter Pan fanfiction.
Disclaimer: I do not own Peter Pan or any of the characters from the book.
Dawn paced up and down that corridor nervously smoothing her laced apron constantly just so her hands could be occupied. She rubbed and tangled her fingers with the lace furiously, waiting. This was it. The most honorable Darling family had just given her a job her at their lavish new abode. It was still much of the old Darling house. In fact it was the old Darling house, with just a few new rooms added on along with a maid house. This never changed the mystical and magical happenings that came upon the Darling house. This never changed that fact that the old English house had been touched by the charm of a certain boy.
She watched the lamps on the hall flicker slightly as a door opened sending a draft their way. She eyed the exquisite silver tray that rested upon a wooden table next to her in the hall. The silver ware and glasses on the tray mocked her. She couldn't help but imagine all of the things that could go wrong. In her mind she pictured herself carrying that silver tray and tripping over her own feet, spilling a mess of red wine all over a woman's dress. She shook the thought away and again occupied her hands with her apron.
Suddenly she heard it, her cue. Quickly she glanced at a small mirror on the wall making sure her dark hair was in place just right. After all, a houses servants say much about the masters. Dawn drew in a shaky breath and slid her fingers carefully around the handles of the cold silver tray. Her maid shoes tapped on the dark wooden floor as she walked in counted rhythm. As she drew closer she could hear the soft buzz of voices as they trailed through the closed double doors. A single drop of sweat escaped through her hairline and trickled down her cheek. It was only natural for her to be so nervous. For Dawn, was only fifteen years of age. Born into a family of maids and servants, her family had lived and served in the Darling house ever since Mr. Darling became the president of his entirely wealthy bank.
It was Dawn's first event in which she would be serving. Slowly, she proceeded down the hall hoping desperately that the wine and glasses on her tray would somehow stay completely still. Dawn paused at the threshold of the great two doors taking in another breath. The doorman opened the door for her and a rush of voices and clattering dinnerware flooded toward her. She spotted Wendy and John Darling among the crowd of people at the grand table.
Lovely women sat in their sleek slender dresses and chattered among themselves with their hands folded neatly when they finished eating. Their long hair drawn up into tight designs and their mouths moving at a counted pace, only speaking when a lady should. Dawn's hazel eyes continued to peer around at the people searching for Mr. Darling.
He sat at the head of the grand mahogany table laughing loosely about something. He wore a black suit with an elegant sapphire blue tie, and golden cufflinks. His hair was smoothed back and he smiled, flashing a glace toward his wife, Mrs. Darling.
Dawn slowly made her way around the table headed toward Mr. Darling with his wine. She skirted around in her black maid dress and white laced apron trying to look as flawless as possible for a maid.
"Wine Master Darling?" she asked curtly standing before him.
"Why, yes thank you, Dawn." He responded. Dawn poured the red liquid into his glass carefully and bowed her head respectfully.
"Anything else gentlemen?" she inquired looking at each of the men sitting near Mr. Darling in their dark suits and elegant ties and cufflinks. Several men asked for white wine or a little brandy, when their wives looked away. Dawn just smiled and gave them each a "Right away sir," before heading toward the door.
Dawn passed by several people heading straight for the door. Everything was going excellent so far, she wanted to get out before she could mess any of it up. Suddenly she felt a hand touch her arm. Dawn stiffened instinctively trying to still her grip on the tray. She turned putting on a smile for the person.
"Yes, John- uh- Mr. Darling?" she stuttered correcting herself in the way she addressed John Darling. "Is there something you need?" she asked politely. John shook his head.
"No, Dawn. I just wanted to tell you that you are doing an excellent job. Do try to be less nervous." He whispered. Dawn blushed slightly, a pink settling on her cheeks. John looked so much more like a man with his suit and tie. He was nearing sixteen now, as well as Wendy who seemed to become more of a woman every day. John flourished at these events, seeming to have gained a natural talent for social interaction from his father. Wendy was not as social, but she always looked stunningly gorgeous.
"Oh, and Dawn? Would you mind getting my gloves from my dresser? I seem to have forgotten them, and I will need them for the dance." Wendy asked sweetly.
"Yes, of course Wen- uh- Ms. Darling." Dawn replied. She bowed and exited the dining room.
As soon as she exited the room, Dawn breathed a sigh of relief. She had done it. She now realized, however, that she had been completely over reacting.
The silver tray clattered as she set it down on the table in the hall. Dawn headed straight for Wendy's bedroom, now no longer shared with Michael and John. She entered the dark nursery and immediately lit a candle. It flickered as she walked swiftly and effortlessly to the dresser. Dawn had been in this room so many times before. She favored it above all the others, simply because she always felt a tingle inside of her when she entered. The room seemed to have the spirit of fun etched in its very walls.
Dawn sighed as she opened the dresser drawer. It was still there. The dust that no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't clean. Sometimes she wondered if it was actually dust at all, most of the time she figured that it had been glitter used for arts and crafts. She concluded that it had just been there so long that it was set into the wood. After all, that dresser had been in the nursery since Wendy was a child. The "dust" as Dawn called it, glittered slightly in a golden color. There had been an instance when Dawn had notified Wendy that it just simply wouldn't and couldn't be cleaned. Wendy had just looked at it and smiled. "It's a part of the nursery. I think it's a quite exquisite type of glittering dust. Don't you?" she had said.
Dawn fished in the drawer for Wendy's gloves, but instead found herself touching something hard. She drew he hand back in an instant wondering what on earth she had come upon. Daring to reach back inside the drawer, she pulled out a necklace.
In her hand lay a little silver chain with what seemed like an acorn hanging from it. She rubbed her finger over the little nut and felt a small dent in it. Other than that, though, it was just an ordinary acorn. Dawn shrugged and laid it atop the dresser while she continued to fish for Wendy's gloves. Finally she came upon the laced white gloves and headed out of the nursery and down the hall, forgetting all about the acorn necklace she had left resting on the dresser.
Scurrying back down the hall, Dawn halted abruptly to pick up her silver tray and head off to the kitchen to fetch the men's whiskey and wine. The kitchen was bustling with activity as maids cleaned plates, made food, and searched cabinets. Soap bubbles floated carelessly in the air as dishes were scrubbed off all trace of food. Cabinets were opened and shut, and shoes tapped nosily on the tile floor, scurrying to serve the diner's deserts. Dawn navigated and slid her way through the banging and clanging, traveling toward the wine cellar. She made it and immediately fetched the drinks, ready to leave the crowded area.
She hurried down the hall, again taking in a deep breath before nodding to the doorman to open the doors. Once again the clatter of voices and silverware came tumbling out of the large dining place. Dawn felt a shiver of slight nervousness as she entered the room carrying the wine. Again, the possibility of spilling it flashed through her mind. Wendy smiled as Dawn stepped into the room unnoticed by the others who were heavily engaged in conversation. Dawn scurried over to her.
"Here, you are Ms. Darling." She said, internally patting herself on the back for correctly addressing Wendy. Wendy took the delicate laced gloves from Dawn's tray, and slipped them into her lap.
"Thank you," she mouthed, before turning toward the woman in front of her and continuing a conversation about her dress. Dawn soon traveled away toward Mr. Darling to serve more wine.
Wendy absentmindedly listened to the woman sitting across from her, known as Mrs. Faintellon. Inside her mind, Wendy was in a completely different place. She only heard bits and pieces of phrases from Mrs. Faintellon.
"…I heard that… blue sapphires… the meal… maids… bank… the ball," were the only words that made it completely to Wendy's mind as the woman talked. She fiddled with her laced gloves in her lap, letting her mind wander. As she caressed the silk in her hands she felt something strange. It was not strange in the way the word is usually categorized. It was a pleasant kind of strange. Wendy stole a glance down at the gloves and immediately spotted the source.
A fine golden powder rested in the creases of the silk and lace, emitting a soft glow and warmth into Wendy's fingers. Her fingertips tingled as she realized what it was. Quickly, she looked back up at Mrs. Faintellon continuing to half-listen to her. A series of events flashed in front of Wendy's eyes as she remembered them vividly.
"Peter…" she whispered aloud. John, who sat next to her, heard the whisper. He flashed a glance at her.
"I'm sorry, what was that dear?" Mrs. Faintellon asked curiously.
"I-uh- nothing. I'm terribly sorry, but what is it you where saying about the ball?" Wendy asked, reaching over under the table and discreetly shoving the gloves onto John's leg.
"Well, I was just saying that the dance should start any minute now." Mrs. Faintellon explained. Meanwhile, John felt the gloves slip into his lap as he conversed with another boy. He fumbled with them, wondering what on earth Wendy had been thinking when she gave them to him. Suddenly, he felt it. He quickly gave Wendy a knowing nudge and slid the silk gloves into her hands.
Just then Mr. Darling stood up from his chair. Wendy just now realized that she had missed the announcement of the dance beginning. Chairs slid out from everywhere as the guests began to head to the ballroom.
Women glided elegantly around the ballroom floor. Swinging effortlessly in and out the arms of their partner, their dresses swept across the tile, flowing around them exquisitely. Wendy watched thoughtfully as her brother danced quite nervously with a young girl from the Sparrow family. Wendy glanced around at the windows of the ballroom that stood tall and long bringing in a view of the evening sky. She stared up at the ceiling and imagined flying. Her mind wandered into thoughts of Peter. She slipped her gloves on and her fingers tingled and she giggled girlishly with delight.
Some odd familiar feeling seized Wendy as she thought about Peter. Suddenly, she couldn't wait to see him again, even after she had waited so long, she knew he was coming soon.
Wendy entered the nursery, thoughts about being a lady flooding her mind. How would Peter react to seeing her? She had grown much over the years. She had done exactly what Peter had told her not to do. The nursery lamp flickered to life as she lit it, and illuminated most of the room with a soft glow. Wendy slid off her gloves and glided over to the dresser.
There lying atop the wooden dresser was a silver chained necklace, glittering in the dim lamp light. Wendy ran a finger over the acorn resting on the chain.
"Thimble…" she whispered. Wendy missed Peter. She missed him with so much of her whole soul that words cannot describe the feeling that rushed through her as she took that thimble in her hands. It had been long forgotten in a dresser drawer, waiting for the right moment to come out again and be worn by Wendy.
Without even considering letting it go again, Wendy slipped it around her neck. Peter would come… she could feel it.
Dawn skirted around the ball room cleaning the floors on her hands and knees. She scrubbed viciously hoping to get the job done as soon as possible. Soap covered the tile and water buckets lay empty and scattered about. Dawn rested for a bit sitting on her knees, as she wiped sweat from her forehead. Suddenly as she peered out into the dark of the night through one of the many grand windows of the ballroom, she spotted something. It was a flicker of glittering light that flashed and disappeared.
"Firefly," Dawn concluded aloud as she continued scrubbing. Suddenly there was a great gust of wind and cold night air brushed on Dawns face. She gasped from the sudden change and stood up, staring wide eyed at the window. The tall window was wide open inviting cool outside air into the vast room.
She turned around only to run right into a figure. Dawn screamed and fell back onto the soapy floor sliding slightly. The figure giggled childishly. Dawn just stared with her mouth wide open at the boy standing before her with his hands setting triumphantly on his hips.
"Hullo," Peter said.
Did you like it? I don't know if I should continue, so if you would like me to continue please leave a review or PM me from my profile. Thanks!
