The next morning Peter was awoken by the sound of banging on the door. Since the hideout was pretty well hidden from most, he jumped out of bed and as soon as he was dressed, grabbed his sword and dagger. Wendy sat up and pulled the blankets up to her chest.
"Peter? What's the matter?"
"Stay here, Wendy. I'll check it out."
"But-"
Peter flew to the entrance of the hideout and frowned as he threw the door open. There were several Indian braves standing with their arms crossed over their chests, their dark eyes menacing and their jaws clenched tightly.
"Peter Pan," one said solemnly. Peter gripped his sword tightly.
"Can I help you lads with something," he said through clenched teeth.
"Chief wants a word. He summons you to the Village." Peter's eyes flashed.
"No one summons me."
"The Chief summons you. Come."
"What makes him think I'll agree to this after you nearly bang down my door at this god-forsaken hour?!"
"Chief must speak with Pan about princess. Pan must bring his new lady with him." Peter stopped and his head snapped up.
"What does he want with Wendy?"
"Chief wishes to speak to both Pan and Pan's lady. You both come. We wait."
"I'm not taking Wendy anywhere near Tiger Lily. You can forget it." The braves on either side adjusted their heavy weapons and all gave him a deadly glare. Peter tried to look as brave as he possibly could but four strong Indian braves with arrows and knives made his courage falter just a bit. Still, Peter wasn't one to back down. He crossed his arms over his chest and glared back.
"I'll come talk to the Chief. But I'm leaving Wendy out of it. She has nothing to do—"
"Pan's lady comes too," the brave said, running this thumb over his knife, "she walks with you or be carried by braves. Pan's lady comes." Peter shot them all a glare and turned to go back into the hideout when the braves started to follow. He held up his hand and gave them all a challenging look.
"You all wait here." He slammed the door in their faces and walked back into his room, where Wendy was sitting straight up on the bed, her face pale.
"Is everything alright?"
"I'm not sure. The Indian Chief has summoned both of us to the Village. Get dressed, I'm not letting you out of my sight."
"But…I don't understand…"
"Nor do I. But I won't let anything happen to you. Come on." He tossed her dress toward her and hurriedly tied the laces. He felt her trembling and his hand went to her cheek.
"You've come into my life and turned it upside down," he said gently, pushing a curl away from her eyes. "I'm not about to let you go." She closed and her eyes and smiled and felt him give her a gentle kiss before he quickly pulled away. His hand grasped hers and he pulled her from the room. Wendy froze when she saw the braves all glowering down at her. She backed into Peter and his hands rested on her shoulders.
"We shall follow you." One of the braves took Wendy's hands and began to wrap a thick rope around them. Peter made to smack him away but another stepped in between him and Wendy and he let out a cry of outrage.
"Why are you tying her up? We're coming with you willingly!"
"Just binding hands, on Chief's orders. Feet must be tied too," he said over his shoulder and the other brave grunted as he moved down to Wendy's feet, causing her to shriek and nearly fall over.
"What the hell is this all about," Peter said angrily. "Get away from her!" The braves shuffled away from Wendy, leaving her bound in the dirt. She glanced at her hands and feet, then gave the men a sour look.
"And how exactly am I supposed to follow you now, you arrogant pinheads?" Peter had to smile at Wendy's courage as well as her lame attempt at an insult. But the smile faded when he saw one of the braves stoop low to pick her up and Peter pushed him away.
"I'll be the one to carry her," he scowled. He knelt beside her and reached around her waist.
"Peter, I'm much too heavy for you to—"
"You weigh nothing. Lift your arms." She lifted them, allowing him to position them around his neck so that she wouldn't slip and he tenderly held her close to his chest. He smiled at her surprised look and pressed his forehead against hers before he straightened up and glared at the Indians.
"Lead the way."
Peter's hold on Wendy tightened as they approached the Village. Peter could see the Chief and his daughters sitting around the fire while several of the women remained several feet away and either stitched clothing or made soup. The braves stopped and bowed low and glanced at Peter. Peter scowled but gave the Chief a little bow.
"Peter Pan," he said in a booming voice that immediately frightened Wendy. "We thank you for coming this morning. Sit," he gestured beside him and the princesses both moved down a ways. Peter didn't move.
"Allow me to cut Wendy's bindings first?"
"Remove them from her feet but her hands remain bound until Crying Wolf sees her." Peter's eyes widened and Wendy felt his hands move tighter around her, daring anyone to try to pry her from his grasp. Crying Wolf was the Medicine Woman and a Healer. She was also an expert in all things magic. Many said she was the Speaker for the Fairies, who ruled over Neverland. It was on her command that many had been executed, as she claimed the fairies wanted it that way. Peter wasn't about to leave Wendy alone with the ancient woman. He swiftly cut the ropes from her feet and set her down gently, holding her hands. The Chief studied him.
"We have much to talk about, Peter Pan."
"I don't think we do, Chief. I think my message was pretty clear. I won't marry your daughter. Now, is there anything else?"
"This is not about a betrothal to my daughter. It is about your new lady. She brings magic to our lands." The Indians around them started to murmur and Peter frowned.
"What magic are you talking about? Wendy is a mortal girl."
"A mortal girl who has you under her spell," Tiger Lily hissed. Peter's eyes narrowed in hatred. Oh he could not wait to get his hands on that she-devil. His hands went around Wendy's waist and he pulled her close to him.
"She has cast no spell. This girl is unlike any other I have met. I'm smitten with her." As he said the words, he regretted them. The Chief looked satisfied.
"Unlike any you have met…which would explain why you all of a sudden want to keep her here with you."
"No! I just—"
"And you are smitten with her. Bewitched by her. She is a witch with magical powers." Wendy wanted to cry out in protest but she was too stunned. Peter had turned whiter than a sheet. The women of the Village had risen to their feet and were starting to cry out in their native language. Many screamed, "Burn her" quite clearly and Wendy buried her head in Peter's chest. His arms closed around her protectively, shielding her from view.
"If you want her, you'll have to get through me. And trust me, Chief, you will have a war on your hands. The Lost Boys and the mermaids answer to no one else. They trust no one else. The fairies are my friends too. If anything happens to me, you will have a full fledged war tearing Neverland apart."
"Be still," the Chief bellowed to his people. "Peter Pan, I do not want war. But it is obvious the girl is changing you. Changing our home."
"What the hell are you talking about? Nothing has changed!"
"Look at yourself. You have grown some." Peter glanced down at himself and shrugged.
"I get stronger everyday, so what-"
"Then look around you. Have you ever seen this flower, for instance?" He gestured toward a strange looking purple blossom that Peter had never seen before. He shrugged again.
"What does Wendy have to do with flowers? This whole thing is ridiculous, Chief-"
"Not ridiculous. Here comes Crying Wolf. She will examine the girl." The woman looked like she was wrapped in layers, she had so many wrinkles. She walked with a stick and she was hunched over, her face seemed to have permanent frown lines. Wendy cowered beside Peter as the woman approached them. The woman roughly cupped Wendy's chin and her eyes narrowed.
"adagąsh,"she spat, clutching Wendy's face. The women around them hissed and Peter's eyes narrowed.
"You won't hurt her, Crying Wolf."
"Silence Pan. You would betray us all for your own selfish desires. Bring the girl to my tent." She lead the way and Peter took Wendy's shaking hands into his own, following the healer. Wendy glanced at Peter but saw his face was stoney and faced straight ahead. Crying Wolf grabbed Wendy's bound hands and pulled her into the tent but threw a hand out to stop Peter from entering.
"You will wait here."
"Like hell I will! I'm not about to leave her alone with you!"
"Your woman is safe. Wait with the Chief. We won't be long." Without another word, she entered the tent and closed the flap behind her. Peter waited for a few moments, listening for screams or tears or any sign of struggle but there were none. Reluctantly, he returned to the Chief and sat Indian-style beside him. The Chief passed him a long wooden pipe adorned with feathers and beads. Peter glanced up at him and the Chief nodded his head.
"Peace pipe. A peace offering. You go first." Peter inhaled deeply and his eyes closed lazily. He missed the look between the Chief and his daughter. Someone removed the pipe from his hand but he hardly noticed. He felt as if he was dancing on air, which he had done often. A wide grin crossed over his face and his hand went to his hair.
"Wait…what were we talking about?"
"Never mind that, Peter. Let's go for a walk," Tiger Lily jumped to her feet and pulled Peter up. He stumbled into her and giggled, as she supported him and lead him away from her father and sister.
She pulled him into the forest and threw her arms around him, kissing his neck and cheek. He giggled and tried to pull her away.
"Stop Tiger Lily, we can't do this anymore."
"And why can't we," she purred in his ear, her tongue darting out and running along the soft flesh.
"Umm….shit, I can't remember," he said, laughing. Tiger Lily giggled.
"See? There's no reason. You still want me, don't you?" Her hand moved down to cup him through his trousers and he let out a little moan. She lowered to her knees and hastily undid his trousers, sliding them down toned legs. He glanced down at her and his hands went to her dark braids. Tiger Lily leaned forward and took him into her mouth, her hands gripping his hips as he started thrusting, his hands tugging at her braids.
"Ah! shit!" Tiger Lily had him at her mercy and right as he was about to come, she released him and jumped to her feet. His eyes snapped open.
"What the hell?"
"I want you to release inside of me. I want to take ALL of you. Now." Peter growled and spun her around, yanking her dress down and his hand diving between her legs. She screamed as he roughly thrust into her, slamming himself into her again and again. His fingers dug into her hips and his hand moved up and yanked on a braid, making her gasp and scream again. Her hands clawed the tree she was ramming against; she didn't even notice the splinters in her fingers for she was so lost in the pleasure.
"Fuck! Yes! Take it, Tiger Lily. You are such a dirty whore!"
"I'm your whore, Peter! Fuck me! AHH yes, fill me up, Peter!" Peter felt himself seize up and Tiger Lily was filled with Peter's essence. He backed away, panting, and wiped the sweat from his brow. Tiger Lily gently cleaned herself off before redressing and she turned to smile at something behind her.
"I told you he would betray you," she muttered. Peter frowned and turned to see who Tiger Lily was speaking to. Crying Wolf stood there, leaning on her walking stick for support, one of her gnarled hands clutching a rope that bound the hands of a lovely young woman.
Wendy's face had gone pale, her jaw slack and her eyes were popping. Angry tears started to stream down her cheeks and Peter's eyes widened as he realized what he had done.
"Wendy. I—"
"I loathe you, Peter Pan!" She yanked the rope from the old woman's hands and ran in the opposite direction as fast as she could. Peter yelled after her but she kept on running. He quickly yanked on his trousers and turned back to the Indian women.
"Mark my words, I will make you bitches pay for this. Our peace with the Indian tribe is over! You've just waged war on the Prince of Neverland." Ignoring the womens' gasps, he hastily flew away, praying Wendy couldn't run fast.
She ran through the forest using her bound hands to push aside trees and bushes. Branches and sharp thorns tore at her dress and her hands. She wasn't sure what she had tripped on but she tumbled to the ground and cried into the grass. Her face was scratched from the branches, her mangled hair was a mess of leaves and tangles, and tears streaked her dirty cheeks.
Peter caught up to her in no time and caught his breath at the sight of her. She might have been dirty, broken, and injured but she was still the most beautiful sight he had ever beheld. And he knew how much he had hurt her. Swallowing, he knelt beside her and lay his hand on her hair. She shot up and recoiled, giving him a cold glare.
"What the hell do you want?"
"Wendy, please let me explain. I am so sorry—"
"Explain? Explain what? Slightly was right. You just fuck any female you see because you can! You don't care about feelings and loyalty and—"
"STOP IT." Peter's hands clapped over her mouth and her eyes widened. He let out a heavy sigh.
"Please just…give me a chance to explain." He opened his mouth, searching for words, but his wide eyes traveled over her and anger replaced his explanation.
"What did that bitch do to you?" Wendy's long beautiful curls had been messily cut short and there were bruises with fingerprints around her pale throat. Peter reached out and gently touched one and she flinched.
"What did she say to you?"
"Nothing. She wanted a confession. I didn't give her one. So she tortured me." Wendy lifted her sleeve to show him her arm , which had several slices from a blade. Fuming, Peter gently took her hands and cut the rope from them.
"Let's get you home and cleaned up. I have some bandages and stuff too."
"The only reason I am going with you is because I have no other place to go," she said coldly. Peter nodded sadly and his head hung low.
"I…I have to carry you." Wendy nodded stiffly and allowed him to lift her in his arms but she did not press against him, she did not drape her arms around him as she usually did. Peter's heart was pounding as he flew them back to the hideout. Once inside, he showed tender care to her wounds, cleaning her thoroughly and spreading healing salve over the cuts and bruises. When he finished, he glanced up at her but she refused to meet his eyes. She tossed her dress aside and buried herself in the furs and blankets, pulling them over her face and blocking Peter out. Sighing, he put everything away and pushed the curtain aside to find the boys all waiting in the kitchen.
"What happened," Nibs said quietly. Peter glanced behind him, wishing he could see through cloth.
"Our peace with the Indians is over. They hurt Wendy. They want her dead. And they tricked me. Wendy saw me….with Tiger Lily." The boys gaped at their leader.
"I thought you said you were finished with others. That she was the only one—"
"I did and I am! The Chief gave me the peace pipe and something happened to me. It was like I was…drugged or something. The peace pipe has never done that to me before."
"So you think the Chief drugged you? Why?"
"Beats the hell out of me! Maybe to get me to agree to marrying his daughter?"
"But Tiger Lily seduced you?" Peter winced at the memory of it.
"I wouldn't have done it if I wasn't…." he trailed off and shook his head. "She'll never forgive me."
"I think it's you that needs to forgive her," Twins said bitterly. "Sounds like she took advantage of you!"
"I meant Wendy. Tiger Lily told her I would betray her and I did. But I didn't mean to! I just…I just hope I can explain that to her."
"Give her some time. Everything will work itself out."
"Why did they hurt her, Peter?" Peter's face darkened as he remembered what the old healer had said.
"They think she's a witch. And apparently they tortured her while I wasn't there. They wanted a confession. Wendy didn't give her one so the old hag just tortured her."
"A witch? That's fucking random." Peter shrugged sadly.
"The Chief says I'm bewitched by her, that Neverland and I are changing and that she's done something to us. It's complete bullshit, of course, but I can't really explain that. And by the way, she heard us talking last night," he nodded toward Slightly. "She heard what you said about me."
"I didn't mean it, Peter. I just—"
"I know. And yeah you did. You knew I would betray her and you were right." Slightly clapped his leader on the back; they hated seeing Peter looking this down.
"It wasn't by choice which makes all the difference in the world. Wait for her to wake up and then find a way to explain it. You have strong feelings for her, Peter, and that can't be said for any other girl you have brought here. She is obviously something special. Make sure she knows that." Peter nodded and trudged back to his room. Discarding his clothes, he walked naked to the window and closed it for a cold breeze had entered the room. He didn't want to wake the sleeping creature so he sat on the edge of the bed and watched her for a moment. Feeling exhaustion hit him like a ton of bricks, he gently pulled the furs back and slid into bed next to her. He wanted to hold her; he already missed the feeling of having her in his arms but he stayed still and distanced himself from her, knowing she would need some time. He silently cursed Tiger Lily and her people. He lay on his back, staring up at the ceiling until he felt her shift beside him and a pair of frail arms wrap around his waist. He gasped, his eyes flying down to her sleeping form and his arms frozen by his side. She moved closer and lay her head on his chest, her mangled curls tickling his arm. Very gently, he brought his hand up to stroke her hair and he felt her sigh contentedly. He bent and gave her the softest of kisses on her forehead before he settled down and curled up beside her, knowing full well that she would be livid when she woke to find him so close. At the moment, however, he didn't care. He pulled her close and wrapped her in his shielding embrace, daring anyone to come close enough to try to pry them apart.
