The two strolled silently along the beach for a little while. When Lilly saw the log where she had talked to Smee after the duel with the boy-Peter, wasn't it?- she asked Afreeda if they could stop there and talk for a little bit. There were so many questions running through her head. She wasn't even sure if the tiny fairy would be able to answer them all in one sitting. But Afreeda agreed, still trying to plan in her mind what parts of the island she would show to the human girl first, and which places she should avoid-such as the pirate's ship anchored in the harbor farther down the beach.
"There are so many questions that I have. I'm not even sure where to begin," Lilly admitted once she was seated on the sand in front of the old log and Afreeda was daintily perched on top of it.
"I've been told I'm a fairly good listener," Afreeda encouraged, "and I won't keep anything from you." The second she said that, Afreeda wondered if she should have. There are some things that Lilly shouldn't have to know... she thought nervously, but she knew she couldn't hide anything, for she did promise, and fairies place high stock in their word.
Lilly knew the fairy wouldn't have the slightest clue how she got here. No one seemed to know, including herself. When she thought about who might know, something nagged on the very back corners of her mind, but she couldn't place her finger on exactly what it was. Perhaps later it might come to her, but Lilly thought that she needed to remember now. Could it possibly be a clue to how she got here, or who could help her? But no, she would have no idea of that. Everything was so confusing!
"Wellllll?" Afreeda asked, scooting closer.
Lilly shook her head to try to clear the confusion. She thought of Smee, and of when she had asked him if the Captain was here. She didn't know if Afreeda would know anything about the men, but she felt like she should ask. "I. . . I don't suppose you would know anything about a Captain Hook, would you?"
Afreeda's eyes widened with surprise. How did she know about him? The glow around her glowed slightly pink as she got sort of embarrassed. "I-I know a little something, but...but not much at all. Mainly hearing from others."
"Do. . ." Lilly paused for a moment. She was about to ask the fairy if she knew where he might be found, but then again she wasn't sure if she wanted to see him so quickly, or if he would want to see her. Yes, he did say that he wished to 'call on her', but that was in her world, not this one. What if he didn't mean anything by it after all? He seemed kind enough, but something in his eyes made her wary. She didn't know what it was. Perhaps it was the lack of trust on her part. She shook her head and smiled at her friend. "Never mind, I don't know too much about him either."
Afreeda made a little noise of relief and suggested that they continue around to the Lagoon. She wondered what Lilly would think of the mermaids, and they of her. She certainly seemed older than the girls Peter had brought back, but then again, she couldn't be sure. She didn't want to ask Lilly how old she was for fear of being rude.
As the pair walked farther down the beach, giggling about trivial things, they never looked back and saw the man watching them from the side of a large tree.
Once the human and fairy were out of sight, the Captain came and sat on the log where they had been. Apparently the girls had not been aware of his presence: a good thing for the moment. He couldn't help but wonder why Lilly had asked after him. One would think with everything that had happened to her today, he would be the last person on her mind, and yet she seemed almost too shy to speak of him.
His own thoughts were not much less confused. He was constantly wondering how he should approach her, or even if he should in the first place. Yes, she had asked about him, but that didn't mean a thing. More than likely, her curious nature would make her ask him questions he really didn't care to answer, but then again, perhaps playing the mysterious hero could work to his advantage. Being in a strange place would cause any woman to be crying for home, right? If he could find the way she came in, he could return her to her own world, and be free to check on her at his own leisure. As it was, there was much danger on this island for a woman alone like her. The three little girls had been safe enough, most of the time kept in Pan's hideout—wherever it was—playing "mother" to them. But who knew where Lilly was staying? Even if she had befriended the fairies for the moment, the little being could turn on a person in an instant. If she were to anger even one of them. . .
Just the thought caused him to shudder just slightly. Until he got her back home, he would just have to keep an eye on her. As much as he disliked to admit it, he didn't want anything to happen to her. No, there was no time in his life for childish romances, but there was something so vulnerable about her; the Captain felt as if he needed to protect her. Plus, it fluffed his ego a little bit to feel that he was her sole protector, the only one who could save her from the terrible things this island could do to a person's mind.
Tonight, after dark, he would send scouters to find out where she was sleeping. Smee would lead the expedition; that is, if he accepted. He had been keeping to himself even more than usual lately below deck. Hook brushed the peculiar behavior off at Pan having pointed a knife at him. The other men also had been giving Smee a bit of a hard time, jesting with him about having to have a girl to save him. Little did they know this was no ordinary girl... which brought another question to mind: where did she learn to fence like that? So far, only Hook had been able to match Pan with a sword. In fact, if he hadn't flown away like a frightened bird. . .
The Captain chuckled at the thought of Pan almost being beaten by a woman. That will surely do wonders for his cocky attitude, the captain laughed to himself, but his countenance grew dark again at the thought of the boy and his airs. He quickly stood and hurried to his ship to make sure the anchor was firmly in place. Occasionally those pesky mermaids would try to have fun with his ship, and he wasn't in the mood for his world to be shaken yet again. It had already been shaken enough by the new girl...