9/6/2004
Title: Necromancer
Author: Squeezynz
Chapter: Eight - Heaven is a state of Mind.
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Author's Note: Dear, patient readers....sorry for the delay, my muse got sidetracked (I think she went on holiday and forgot to take me) but as you see, I'm back with another thrilling, angst ridden instalment of this tale. As someone mentioned, Hook is a bit player in this story, well he is also quite unlike my previous incarnations of this character, hopefully he's not "out" of character, if he is....well, nobody's perfect. Now read on......and enjoy.
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Wendy awoke to find the snow melting quickly in the morning sun. The clouds that had hidden its heat the previous day were gone, the sky clear and blue. The ground was quickly being churned into a bog by the passage of feet within the palisade, so she borrowed some old moccasins from Little Star as she helped shake out the bedding and prepare for the new day. Little Star also lent her a new dress, hers considered too thin for the still cool morning.
Wendy was impatient to get back to the Lost Boys and find out what had happened to Peter. Little Star had approached her father and a guide was arranged to take Wendy back to Peter's hideout. Wendy wanted to go right away but Little Star explained that it would take several hours to walk and Wendy needed something to eat before going. Fretting, Wendy choked down some flat bread and fruit before begging to be taken back to the underground. She couldn't explain why she needed to hurry, but a dread was starting to twist her stomach into knots and she needed to get back to the underground as soon as possible.
Little Star was sorry to see her go, but understood her need to hurry, the shaman also urging her to make haste, his dark eyes gleaming as he watched the slender girl leave the village with her Indian guide.
The sun was rapidly drying out the ground, making the trek easier as the morning wore on. The brave chosen to take her back was young and eager to please, his long legs covering the ground in easy strides, Wendy having to jog sometimes to keep up, the feeling inside her growing stronger the closer they came to Peter's hidden home. Despite their haste it was nearly midday when they approached the glade, the brave halting some distance away, the tree barely visible, still screened by thick vegetation. Wendy tried to go forward, but the brave waved her back, pointing to the ground, then to his eyes and ears. Wendy nodded, not at all sure why he suddenly wanted them to be cautious, but trusting his senses over her own if danger threatened. While she hid, the brave crept closer, low to the ground, his head turning all the time to search the undergrowth and listen for any signs of movement. After long, agonisingly fraught minutes, the brave waved Wendy forward. Together they stepped from the screening vegetation and Wendy ran to the tree. The brave was staring at the ground, crouching down to touch the disturbed leaf litter before calling Wendy over.
He pointed to the imprint of a shoe in the soft ground, the heel dug deep into the mud. None of the children wore shoes, neither did Peter or herself.
"Hook!" Announced the brave, looking up at Wendy with a frown.
"Hook?" Turning, Wendy ran to one of the hidden entrances, horrified to see the cleverly concealed door lying canted to one side, almost torn off its hinges, obviously battered from the outside. The brave came to stand beside her, his hand reaching out to detain her when she moved to go inside. Wendy shook him off and entered the underground, her feet dragging, dreading what she might find.
There was evidence of a struggle everywhere, furniture overturned, broken crockery, bedding furs strewn everywhere. Desperately, Wendy called each of the children's names, Peter's last of all, her breath catching in her throat as the room echoed each and every one back to her, unanswered.
Sobbing, she ran from room to room, checking every corner, but there was no-one there. The brave had been kicking at the stuff thrown on the floor when he gave a cry, pulling her back to the main room to find him pointing to the floor.
In the dirt, someone had scratched a message with the point of a knife. Wendy scrubbed at her eyes to clear them, then read the message out loud.
"Peter frozen, Hook, JR."
She read it too herself again, the brave looking at her expectantly.
"It must mean that Hook has them all, including Peter......JR must be the Jolly Roger..."
"Not long," the brave said haltingly, "not long," he pointed to the doorway, "Hook take Pan, not long.....one, two...ago."
"Are you saying that this happened only a little while ago?"
"Yes......Hook close."
"Then maybe we can still save them......but there's only two of us.....we can't take on all the pirates...."
"We follow.....watch Hook....get help..."
"Yes, but help from who?"
The brave stared back at her helplessly.
"We'll try and catch up with them....can you track them ?"
The brave nodded vigorously. Wendy darted to the dress up box and started to rummage, pulling out a shirt and breaches.
"Find me something I can use as a weapon, a sword, knife, anything......I'll only be a minute."
As the brave hunted through the debris, Wendy changed into the shirt, her finger shakily buttoning it up before donning the trousers, finding them a snug fit on the leg but needing some rope to hold them together around her slender waist.
As she plaited her hair, she swung around and walked to the table which the brave had righted. He was hurriedly placing all the weapons he could find on its surface.
"What's your name?" She asked, picking up a dagger and pushing it into the rope belt.
"Tepa."
"Tepa?"
"After moon at birth," Tepa drew the shape of a half moon in the dirt.
Wendy slotted a long sword into her belt then another before turning to leave. Tepa chose several knives and a bow and quiver before loping after her. Outside, he scanned the ground before setting off at a run, Wendy close behind him.
They hadn't gone far when Tepa held up his fist for Wendy to remain silent before darting off the well trodden track and into the undergrowth at the side.
Shadowing the path, they crept forward, careful not to step on any twigs. Soon they heard voices and saw movement up ahead.
"Bloody hell, you were supposed to be watching the brat, how could she escape you all!" Hook's angry voice sounded very close and Wendy ducked behind a tree, Tepa crouched behind the next tree on, his hand reaching for his knife as Wendy drew her sword.
"I don't know Capt'n. She was trussed up with t'others. She must have got loose....she won't have got far, I can go after 'er."
"No......we don't have time....we have to get back to the ship. We've wasted enough time on these scurvy brats.....lets get moving."
Wendy saw the men move off down the track, Tepa gesturing for her to follow him as they continued their secretive surveillance. Wendy assumed it was Bane they were talking about having escaped and she was glad the girl had got away. Hook and the crewman had returned to the main body of the raiding party, Wendy able to see the gagged and bound figures of Briggs and Topper standing in the centre of a circle of pirates. She couldn't see Twig or the littlies but assumed they were there too. She strained to see any sign of Peter but had to duck down when one of the pirates looked her way briefly. Tepa signalled for her to join him at his tree, his face grim.
"You want I kill pirates?"
"If we do that, they'll come looking for us, and there's too many."
"What we do?"
"We'll follow them to the beach, I can't see Peter...we have to free all of them..."
"What about the one they say escaped?"
"Bane....we can only hope she's safe. She'll probably go back to the underground, or maybe even to your village."
The pirates were moving again and Wendy and Tepa followed. After an hour the trees thinned and their cover started to become sparse as they approached the coast.
"Get them into the boats......don't dawdle you scum!" Hook's command rang out, his crew calling out their relief at sighting the sea again.
"We have to attack now!" Tepa hissed, notching an arrow to his bow.
"Alright....take out as many as you can.....I'll circle around and try and free the boys...don't get caught yourself!"
Dodging from tree to tree, Wendy reached the edge of the forest and stood looking out over the beach, two boats drawn up half out of the water. Hook was standing staring out at sea with his back towards her, two men guarding the boats, his crew only just starting to appear from the jungle behind him.
To her right a shout and the twang of an arrow finding its target split the air, the pirates shouting and calling to each other as another arrow found it's victim. Pandemonium ensued. Hook immediately turned and started to march back up the beach. From her position crouched by the tree she could see the huddle of Lost Boys in front of where Hook had been standing. Darting forward, Wendy threw herself on the sand and started to saw at the ropes holding them. Briggs was free first and grabbed a sword from Wendy's belt, turning at once to fend off one of the pirates from the boats who approached up the beach, yelling curses. While Briggs fought the man, Topper grabbed the second sword, turning to defend their flank while Wendy frantically freed Twig and the others. Pushing Pip and Pebble behind her, Wendy pulled out her long knife and prepared to defend them. Backing away slowly, she faced the beach, her back to the forest, the Littlies crowded behind her.
"Look out Wendy!" Twigs warning gave her only a seconds warning, her blade coming up to block the downward swing of the man behind her, Twig instantly leaping on his back, Pip and Pebble grabbing his shirt and pants to trip him up. As he fell, Wendy grabbed his dropped sword giving her a weapon in each hand. By now the beach was filling up with pirates, Hook striding towards her, his face twisted with fury.
Briggs and Topper ran to her side, breathing heavily, their foes stretched out on the sand in their wake.
"Give it up.......you're surrounded!" Hook yelled, a cry behind him coming from a man dropping from another arrow shot by Tepa.
"Get behind me, all of you....Briggs get Twig and the others to safety, I'll hold them off!"
"You can't hold this lot off......for God's sake, there's too many!"
"Don't argue Briggs.....get them away.....you'll only have seconds...."
Hook was advancing, his sword at the ready, eyeing Wendy appreciatively.
"My, my.....haven't we grown some.....I can see why dear Peter was so enamoured....now let's be sensible...you can't hope to survive against all of my men......surrender my dear....you'll only make it harder for yourselves......"
"Never......."
Another figure joined the beleaguered Lost Boys, Tepa emerging out of the trees, his long knife held at the ready. Hook saw the Indian brave and smiled grimly.
"So you are to blame for the loss of my men......you'll pay for that, heathen dog....."
"Hoka hey!" Tepa spat, his teeth bared in a grin.
"Whatever you say savage......take them men!"
One her left, Wendy saw Briggs step forward, Toppers sword held in his other hand. As the pirates advanced, Wendy, Briggs and Tepa held their ground. Behind their protective wall, Topper ran with the younger children, darting into the woods to be quickly swallowed up in the shadows.
Hook saw them leave and cursed. A couple of pirates made to follow but Hook waved them back.
"Leave the accursed brats......we have more than enough in front of us......I want these three alive, men......have at thee!"
At his cry he swung at Wendy, finding her sword blocking his, her dagger jabbing at his face, making him jibe back to avoid losing an eye. Beside her Briggs and Tepa fought the circling pirates, the three making a back to back triangle of bristling weapons, the pirates keeping well back, looking for a weakness.
One came too close and Briggs spitted him on one of his sword, the slight delay in freeing his blade enough to allow another to lash out and catch the youth across his upper arm, Briggs crying out as blood spurted. Tepa had launched himself at another man, the two grappling fiercely for possession of the knife, a blow to the back of the Indian boys head rendering him unconscious, the man he'd been fighting kicking the boy as he lay insensible on the sand.
Wendy found herself facing Hook alone, the other pirates waved back as she circled and feinted with the Captain, her breath hissing through her teeth as she parried and swung, his hook and sword blocking every attempt to slip under his guard.
She over-reached on one lunge and felt the blade wrenched out of her hands, Hook expertly flinging the blade to fall in the sand, leaving her only with her dagger.
"A brave fight, dear Wendy.....but you have lost.....concede and you will be treated honourably."
"You know nothing of honour.....you're a pirate!"
Throwing herself forward, Wendy made to plunge the knife in Hook's chest but instead found that he had discarded his sword and used his good hand to grab her wrist, twisting her arm around and up behind her back, his other arm coming around her neck as she found herself suddenly with her back against his embroidered frock coat, his hook poised against her jugular as she struggled to free herself.
"Your cause if lost......you are now......my prisoner!"
"NO......" Looking down, Wendy saw Tepa laid out on the sand, a pirate binding his arms behind his back. To the side sat Briggs, his face pale as he clutched his arm, blood still flowing freely, his eyes dull with pain.
"Bind the boys wound, I don't want him dead yet......."
Hook continued to hold Wendy's arm twisted behind her back, the knife still held in her hand. With a savage jerk, he pulled her arm higher, making her drop the knife and cry out, arching against him in an effort to relieve the pressure on her arm. Withdrawing his arm from around her throat, Hook pushed her away, into the arms of a crewman, who imprisoned her arms, laughing as she tried to free herself.
"Secure the wench....make sure she can't get away like the other one did. To the boats men.......hurry, time is pressing."
Wendy helplessly watched as Briggs and Tepa were loaded into one of the boats, the crew pushing the craft into the surf before rowing strongly for the Jolly Roger moored in the bay. Wendy had her hands bound behind her and was pushed roughly forward, nearly falling at Hook's feet as she lost her balance. Putting out his arm, Hook caught her, steadying her before spinning her around and grabbing hold of her upper arm and dragging her towards the second boat.
"Come m'dear.....there's someone I want you to see....."
With a shove, he pushed Wendy against the side of the boat.
"If you were thinking that your Peter Pan was about to fly to your rescue, think again.....he is of no use to you now."
In the bilge lay a still figure, the body curled in on itself, the legs drawn up in a foetal position.
"What have you done to him!" Wendy cried out, staring back at Hook, only to see him smile.
"Why nothing at all........it would appear the ice sprites were too enthusiastic in their carrying out of the Necromancer's orders and froze the dear boy to death. Such a shame....I was looking forward to taking my revenge on him.....now it's too late."
"No......no.....Peter!"
Wendy stared down at the still body, his face grey, fingers and lips quite blue. Only his hair retained its natural colour, the slight sea breeze ruffling the curls in a ghastly parody of animation.
Wendy stared down at Peter's frozen body, tears welling and spilling over her lashes, her body slumping against the side of the boat still in Hook's grip.
The other crewmen clambered into the boat, waiting for Hook to climb aboard. Impatiently he dragged Wendy along the side of the boat, handing her over to his men who lifted her onto a bench where she huddled, her eyes still fixed on the still figure a few feet away. Hook sat in the prow as the boat was rowed to his ship, the first boat already emptied of its captives and crew. The small craft was quickly brought to the hull of the Jolly Roger, Wendy manhandled to the deck and Peter's body hefted over the rail and left to lie against a coil of rope. As soon as they stepped away from Peter, Wendy threw herself on him, bursting into noisy sobs, the crew backing away to give her room. Hook climbed over the railing and stood for a long moment while his crew shuffled nervously. Briggs and Tepa had been taken to the hold, helpless to aid either of their friends.
With her hands tied behind her back, she could only lay her face against Peter's frozen cheek, her tears soaking his hair as she whispered his name.
Hook gestured to a crewman and Wendy was hauled to her feet, crying out piteously for Peter. Hook stepped forward and stared down at the body on the deck, his lips twisting in a bitter smile.
"Have them both taken to the chartroom......secure the girl and let her mourn the passing of Peter Pan."
Turning his back he waited until Wendy was taken forward and shut in the forecastle with Peter's body, then he ordered the anchor raised and the ship out to sea, his stomach roiling with the ashes of defeat, Peter Pan having cheated Hook of his revenge.
As he stood on the poopdeck watching his crew ready the ship, he felt the call of the Necromancer, his mind resisting the black chill for a few seconds before his feet started to move him towards the stairs and down to his former cabin. The door swung open on silent hinges and he found himself facing the dark shadow.
"You have what you want.....now give me the children."
"There are only two....the rest escaped."
"Only two?......surely there are three aboard.....three plus your much sought after Pan....am I not right?"
"There are only two that you are having.....the girl and the Pan are mine."
"Rebellion at this late stage is rather futile Captain Hook.....and tell me......why is she special to you?"
"She isn't special....she's just a girl.....but I can use her...."
"Yes......I expect you can.......but my need is greater....bring her to me......I have need of another victim to weave my next enchantment."
"No."
"No? You will do as I say........or perhaps you offer yourself in her place?"
"Use one of the others....our deal is finished, I wanted Peter Pan, but your sprites froze him into a block of ice, now I cannot take my revenge on him.....so our deal if void. "
The Necromancer hissed loudly, his face invisible within his cowl, his robes moving as if whipped by a strong wind as he approached the door. Hook stood unflinching, his lips curled in a sneer as the ghostly apparition drifted to within a foot of the door.
"I will forgive this transgression, but only this once Hook....bring me the girl or your ship and your men will be the victims of my next display of power."
For a long minute Hook glared at the darkness mere inches from him, the cowl too dark to discern the features of the abomination, his own face white and strained as he faced down the sorcerer. To his surprise it was the Necromancer who backed down first, the creature swirling away and retreating to his shadows. Hook released a long held breath as he turned on his heel and left his cabin, the door shutting slowly behind him. As the door snicked shut, Hook slumped as if held by strings, his shoulders hitting the wall as he panted shallowly, the strain of fighting the sorcerers power draining his strength. His bargain with the creature had been a mistake, one which he felt he was about to pay dearly for.
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Wendy stroked the blond curls away from his face, her fingers brushing his icy skin as tears trickled down her own face in ceaseless streams.
"Why Peter....you said this was my heaven.....how can it have become my hell.....why is this happening?"
Leaning down she kissed his cold forehead, her lips lingering against his skin, a tear dripping off her chin to land on his eyelid. She had been secured by a steel hobble and long chain, after she'd begged to have her hands freed. Her tearful face and obvious grief had moved the pirates charged with her imprisonment and they agreed to release her hands but hobble her instead, locking her in the small chart room with Peter's body. As soon as they left she went to him and gathered him awkwardly into her arms, his body stiff and unyielding against her softness.
"Oh Peter..why is this happening......why did you leave me.....why did you go outside......why?"
Inconsolable, Wendy rocked Peter in her arms.
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Hook stood on the deck looking out to sea, his forget-me-not blue eyes staring at the stormy waves, the sky darkening over his head.
He hadn't given the girl to the mage, his thoughts for the moment his own. That Peter Pan was dead gave Hook no comfort, he'd expected to feel exhilaration that his enemy of so many years was vanquished, but instead he felt only emptiness, as if his purpose in life had been removed. He had briefly looked in on the girl, his heart, usually stony and unmoved by pity, felt something stir at the sight of her rocking the frozen corpse in her arms, her long hair creating a curtain as she bent to kiss the dead boys face. Unaccountably, Hook felt grief as well, and this he couldn't reconcile with his usual feelings towards his nemesis.
He felt for the first time that he had made a huge mistake, and he wanted almost desperately to turn the clock back. Regret came to James Hook, swamping him and making him see recent events in quite a different light. Turning away from the depressing view of the turbulent sea, Hook descended the stairs and marched to the forecastle.
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Wendy didn't look up when Hook entered the room, her eyes remaining shut even when the Captain pulled over a chair and sat down.
"Why are you here, Wendy Darling?"
"What?"
"I asked, why are you here....its been years, obviously you've grown up, so why are you here......in Neverland?"
"Because I died."
"What?" This time its was Hooks turn to be surprised.
"Because I died, and this was supposed to be my heaven....but its not...."
"Heaven......Neverland?"
"Peter said that....I created Neverland.....with my stories, I created my own heaven.....that it was waiting here, he was waiting here for me when I died....."
"But how can you.......never mind......how can you believe this is your heaven?.....That's supposed to be angels and harps and all that twaddle."
"This was heaven......until the snow came......Peter and I.....we...it was everything I wanted...everything I hoped for...."
Hook stared at the girl's head as she bent once more over Peter's body.
"How do you know you're dead?"
"I caught influenza from my dear friend Emily, she's dead now too...I wonder where she is?.....Peter came to me, he got me out of bed.....when I looked back I could see myself still in bed....then my mother came in.....she didn't see me, or Peter....I was already dead...."
"But you look as real.....as real......" Hook gestured to himself, "as me..."
"You're a ghost......a memory of someone sent here, we're all ghosts...the pirates, the Lost Boys....even the Indians I suppose....all long dead......."
"You're mad...I'm not a ghost.....I'm not......I eat, sleep, bleed....ghosts don't bleed."
Wendy lifted her head, her eyes red with crying. She stared at Hook scornfully, as if he was beneath her notice. "Heaven can be whatever you want it to be.......this was my heaven.....not yours....maybe this is your hell, James Hook.....have you ever thought of that?"
Stunned, Hook opened his mouth to refute her, the chair falling to the floor behind him as he leap to his feet.
"Hell!!....Yes this is a living hell......to have that brat taunting me, fighting me........losing my hand to that infernal beast....forever circling this accursed island....!" Hook abruptly stopped his rant, his words echoing in his head. "Forever circling this island!"
In horror, he stared wide eyed at Wendy as she crouched on the floor.
"This is hell.....my hell.....and now, thanks to me, it has become everybody's....."
White faced, Hook kicked the chair out of the way before pacing over to the small window facing out the port side, the light outside painting shadows over his harsh features.
"I thought I would be given the power to break my bonds and leave this place.......I've been here so many years.....I've forgotten more than I can remember....it's been so long."
Swinging around, he came over to where Wendy huddled over Peter's body. Crouching down, he jerked the chain before fishing in his pocket for the key to release the hobbles. Wendy stared at him as he loosened the manacles and tossed them to the corner of the room.
"What are you doing?"
"Freeing you of course........there's a creature in my cabin that we have to dispose of......he caused this," Hook pointed to Peter, "but I think he may be able to reverse it."
Wendy stared at Hook then started to laugh, the sound jarring and hysterical. "What, the great and menacing James Hook wants help to get rid of.....what is that thing that wants to destroy Neverland?"
"The Necromancer.....he's a magister, uses the souls of the dead to give him access to dark magic."
"Is that how he blasted the other side of the island?"
"Yes...and produced the snow, and the ice-sprites."
"How do you propose we get rid of him?"
"He said something......I didn't realise its significance before...he didn't want you to get back to Peter before I did....he seemed to think that both of you together would be able to defeat me, as ludicrous as that sounds."
"How would Peter and I together.......unless....there's a way I can reverse what's been happening.....put right what's gone wrong......"
Hook watched Wendy as she absently stroked Peter's hair again, her eyes staring blankly as she retreated into her thoughts.
"Peter said this was my heaven....created by me, peopled by the characters in my stories....those characters inhabited by real spirits of people who died.......that I was reborn, and like me they were given another chance" Wendy suddenly swung her blue eyes to Hook's, "he said I could shape it, change it.....sweep it away......"
"That's alot of power for one little girl......"
"I'm not a little girl......but I've forgotten......."
"Forgotten?" Hook queried, watching her expressive face intently.
"I've forgotten how to be a little girl....that was what Peter was trying to tell me......to leave my old life behind and believe in my new life.....I know what to do!"
Her lips set in a thin line, Wendy looked down at the frozen body across her lap, her hands almost numb with holding his icy limbs.
"I just have to believe..." She whispered. "I have to believe.."
Scrubbing the tears from her face, she drew Peter's body up until his head was next to her heart, her arms holding him close.
"I do believe in you Peter......I do..I do....I believe in you.....I do.....I do...." Hook had to strain to hear her voice, her mantra repeated over and over as she rocked the boy in her arms, Hook's lips moving almost imperceptibly as he echoed her words. In the gloom of the cabin a stray beam of sunshine found its way across the floor and illuminated Wendy as she sat on the rough planking, her face lifting to the warmth of the sunlight, turning her closed eyes towards the light while still whispering the words. Hook stood in shadow, his eyes fixed on the girl and her grisly companion, his heart beating rapidly as he watched and listened.
As Wendy continued her chant the sunbeam widened, encompassing not just her but Peter as well. By contrast Hook saw the rest of the shadows deepen, as it all the light was concentrated on the girl and boy in the centre of the room. As the seconds passed he saw the sunlight start to swirl, tiny white specks floating in the light, circling Wendy's head like miniature stars, her face still uplifted, her eyes still closed. It got so bright that he had to lift his hand to shield his eyes, his head turned away from the scene as the beam of light intensified, Wendy and Peter rimmed with gold, the bright specks dancing in the air above and around them like sparks above a bonfire. Eventually the light became too bright for him to look at all, his head turned away completely, his arms covering his face as Wendy's voice, a mere thread of sound, continued its chant unwaveringly.
All of a sudden the light was gone and Hook blinked rapidly to dispel the spots in front of his eyes. As he readjusted to the gloom of the chart room, he saw that Wendy was still sitting on the floor, Peter still clasped in her arms. Tentatively he stepped forward only to inhale sharply and freeze.
Wendy sat with her head bowed, her hair cloaking her shoulders, her eyes still closed, her voice silent. In her arms Peter lay as before, but now his arms and legs were relaxed and their normal colour of honey gold, not the ghastly blue-grey of before. His head was still cradled in Wendy's arms, but his face was no longer frozen, his skin once more sun-kissed and healthy. Almost fearfully, Hook crouched down and reached out to touch Peter's hand where it lay on the wooden floor, his fingers curled into the palm as if he was only asleep. As Hook touched the palm, he jumped in fright when the lax hand twitched, the fingers flexing as its owner stirred.
As if awakening from a deep sleep, Peter opened his eyes and blinked up at Wendy, his lips parting on a breath as his lungs filled, his first word, her name, leaving his mouth on a sigh.
Wendy heard her name and looked down at the young man in her arms, his tousled head nestled against her breast, his body relaxed and boneless in her lap.
"Peter......oh Peter....."
Hook slowly backed away, his throat working as he tried to rationalise what he'd just witnessed, his mind presenting and discarding a number of theories to explain how Peter Pan had been brought back from oblivion by a slip of a girl.
Wendy stroked Peter's hair back from his forehead, her lips curved in a smile of smug satisfaction, an expression that Peter recognised as one of his own. He grinned back at her, not understanding why she was smiling at him, just glad that she was.
"Wendy?"
"Yes Peter..?"
"Where are we.....and why am I lying on the floor?"
"We're onboard the Jolly Roger.....and I just brought you back from the dead!"
Looking up at her quizzically, Peter smirked and let his eyes half close, his bright gaze full of mischief. "Oh the cleverness of you......how long was I dead?"
"Too long....you were frozen by the ice-sprites.....the Necromancer had sent them.....you and the Lost Boys were all captured by Hook.....then I tried to rescue you...and I got caught as well, along with Briggs and Tepa......now we're here aboard ship.....and I should mention that Hook is in here with us."
For a second Peter didn't react, then his eyes blazed and he pushed himself upright, his eyes searching for Hook who had retreated once more to stand in the shadows. Peter stood, with Wendy's help and they faced the pirate Captain side by side.
"Don't glare at me boy......I mean neither you nor Wendy any harm.....I've called a truce so that we can fight a common enemy." Pushing away from the wall, Hook stook a step forward, his face no longer in shadow.
"A truce....what's he talking about Wendy?" Peter turned his head briefly to question the girl standing beside him, his eyes flicking back to his foe, strength starting to flow back into his limbs.
"Peter....he thinks that together we can defeat the Necromancer.....
that we can reverse what's happened and send this...this creature back where it came from."
"Do you believe him ?" Peter asked her.
"I believe that we are stronger together than apart....and it seems this Necromancer believes it too."
"If what I've seen in this room is any indication.....I'd say you can do whatever you want.....after all, this is your heaven...if what you say is to be believed." Hook interjected, his arms folded over his chest.
Peter turned his attention back to Wendy. "But do you believe it ?"
"I do Peter......what you said is true.....this is my world....my heaven.....and I won't let this Necromancer destroy what I've created....or the people who are a part of it." She glanced at Hook. "Even the less savoury of my creations..."
"Then lets go and send this think back to wherever it sprung from..." Peter announced, reaching for and taking her hand, his eyes alight with life and enthusiasm for the battle ahead.
"Oh Peter....it is good to have you back....."
"Well as touching as this reunion is.......I think we need to make a plan.....unless you are just going to march right in there and tell him to go.....he might listen, I suppose.....but its more likely he'll blast you to kingdom come!"
Peter and Wendy, still holding hands, turned to face Hook.
"You had something else in mind?" Wendy asked, her eyebrow raised.
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(hah.......avast ye lubbards......hoist the main brace...and prepare for........goodness, I don't know......a nice cup of tea?? Me thinks no.....more like a big bang....fear not, all will be revealed.....
Title: Necromancer
Author: Squeezynz
Chapter: Eight - Heaven is a state of Mind.
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Author's Note: Dear, patient readers....sorry for the delay, my muse got sidetracked (I think she went on holiday and forgot to take me) but as you see, I'm back with another thrilling, angst ridden instalment of this tale. As someone mentioned, Hook is a bit player in this story, well he is also quite unlike my previous incarnations of this character, hopefully he's not "out" of character, if he is....well, nobody's perfect. Now read on......and enjoy.
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Wendy awoke to find the snow melting quickly in the morning sun. The clouds that had hidden its heat the previous day were gone, the sky clear and blue. The ground was quickly being churned into a bog by the passage of feet within the palisade, so she borrowed some old moccasins from Little Star as she helped shake out the bedding and prepare for the new day. Little Star also lent her a new dress, hers considered too thin for the still cool morning.
Wendy was impatient to get back to the Lost Boys and find out what had happened to Peter. Little Star had approached her father and a guide was arranged to take Wendy back to Peter's hideout. Wendy wanted to go right away but Little Star explained that it would take several hours to walk and Wendy needed something to eat before going. Fretting, Wendy choked down some flat bread and fruit before begging to be taken back to the underground. She couldn't explain why she needed to hurry, but a dread was starting to twist her stomach into knots and she needed to get back to the underground as soon as possible.
Little Star was sorry to see her go, but understood her need to hurry, the shaman also urging her to make haste, his dark eyes gleaming as he watched the slender girl leave the village with her Indian guide.
The sun was rapidly drying out the ground, making the trek easier as the morning wore on. The brave chosen to take her back was young and eager to please, his long legs covering the ground in easy strides, Wendy having to jog sometimes to keep up, the feeling inside her growing stronger the closer they came to Peter's hidden home. Despite their haste it was nearly midday when they approached the glade, the brave halting some distance away, the tree barely visible, still screened by thick vegetation. Wendy tried to go forward, but the brave waved her back, pointing to the ground, then to his eyes and ears. Wendy nodded, not at all sure why he suddenly wanted them to be cautious, but trusting his senses over her own if danger threatened. While she hid, the brave crept closer, low to the ground, his head turning all the time to search the undergrowth and listen for any signs of movement. After long, agonisingly fraught minutes, the brave waved Wendy forward. Together they stepped from the screening vegetation and Wendy ran to the tree. The brave was staring at the ground, crouching down to touch the disturbed leaf litter before calling Wendy over.
He pointed to the imprint of a shoe in the soft ground, the heel dug deep into the mud. None of the children wore shoes, neither did Peter or herself.
"Hook!" Announced the brave, looking up at Wendy with a frown.
"Hook?" Turning, Wendy ran to one of the hidden entrances, horrified to see the cleverly concealed door lying canted to one side, almost torn off its hinges, obviously battered from the outside. The brave came to stand beside her, his hand reaching out to detain her when she moved to go inside. Wendy shook him off and entered the underground, her feet dragging, dreading what she might find.
There was evidence of a struggle everywhere, furniture overturned, broken crockery, bedding furs strewn everywhere. Desperately, Wendy called each of the children's names, Peter's last of all, her breath catching in her throat as the room echoed each and every one back to her, unanswered.
Sobbing, she ran from room to room, checking every corner, but there was no-one there. The brave had been kicking at the stuff thrown on the floor when he gave a cry, pulling her back to the main room to find him pointing to the floor.
In the dirt, someone had scratched a message with the point of a knife. Wendy scrubbed at her eyes to clear them, then read the message out loud.
"Peter frozen, Hook, JR."
She read it too herself again, the brave looking at her expectantly.
"It must mean that Hook has them all, including Peter......JR must be the Jolly Roger..."
"Not long," the brave said haltingly, "not long," he pointed to the doorway, "Hook take Pan, not long.....one, two...ago."
"Are you saying that this happened only a little while ago?"
"Yes......Hook close."
"Then maybe we can still save them......but there's only two of us.....we can't take on all the pirates...."
"We follow.....watch Hook....get help..."
"Yes, but help from who?"
The brave stared back at her helplessly.
"We'll try and catch up with them....can you track them ?"
The brave nodded vigorously. Wendy darted to the dress up box and started to rummage, pulling out a shirt and breaches.
"Find me something I can use as a weapon, a sword, knife, anything......I'll only be a minute."
As the brave hunted through the debris, Wendy changed into the shirt, her finger shakily buttoning it up before donning the trousers, finding them a snug fit on the leg but needing some rope to hold them together around her slender waist.
As she plaited her hair, she swung around and walked to the table which the brave had righted. He was hurriedly placing all the weapons he could find on its surface.
"What's your name?" She asked, picking up a dagger and pushing it into the rope belt.
"Tepa."
"Tepa?"
"After moon at birth," Tepa drew the shape of a half moon in the dirt.
Wendy slotted a long sword into her belt then another before turning to leave. Tepa chose several knives and a bow and quiver before loping after her. Outside, he scanned the ground before setting off at a run, Wendy close behind him.
They hadn't gone far when Tepa held up his fist for Wendy to remain silent before darting off the well trodden track and into the undergrowth at the side.
Shadowing the path, they crept forward, careful not to step on any twigs. Soon they heard voices and saw movement up ahead.
"Bloody hell, you were supposed to be watching the brat, how could she escape you all!" Hook's angry voice sounded very close and Wendy ducked behind a tree, Tepa crouched behind the next tree on, his hand reaching for his knife as Wendy drew her sword.
"I don't know Capt'n. She was trussed up with t'others. She must have got loose....she won't have got far, I can go after 'er."
"No......we don't have time....we have to get back to the ship. We've wasted enough time on these scurvy brats.....lets get moving."
Wendy saw the men move off down the track, Tepa gesturing for her to follow him as they continued their secretive surveillance. Wendy assumed it was Bane they were talking about having escaped and she was glad the girl had got away. Hook and the crewman had returned to the main body of the raiding party, Wendy able to see the gagged and bound figures of Briggs and Topper standing in the centre of a circle of pirates. She couldn't see Twig or the littlies but assumed they were there too. She strained to see any sign of Peter but had to duck down when one of the pirates looked her way briefly. Tepa signalled for her to join him at his tree, his face grim.
"You want I kill pirates?"
"If we do that, they'll come looking for us, and there's too many."
"What we do?"
"We'll follow them to the beach, I can't see Peter...we have to free all of them..."
"What about the one they say escaped?"
"Bane....we can only hope she's safe. She'll probably go back to the underground, or maybe even to your village."
The pirates were moving again and Wendy and Tepa followed. After an hour the trees thinned and their cover started to become sparse as they approached the coast.
"Get them into the boats......don't dawdle you scum!" Hook's command rang out, his crew calling out their relief at sighting the sea again.
"We have to attack now!" Tepa hissed, notching an arrow to his bow.
"Alright....take out as many as you can.....I'll circle around and try and free the boys...don't get caught yourself!"
Dodging from tree to tree, Wendy reached the edge of the forest and stood looking out over the beach, two boats drawn up half out of the water. Hook was standing staring out at sea with his back towards her, two men guarding the boats, his crew only just starting to appear from the jungle behind him.
To her right a shout and the twang of an arrow finding its target split the air, the pirates shouting and calling to each other as another arrow found it's victim. Pandemonium ensued. Hook immediately turned and started to march back up the beach. From her position crouched by the tree she could see the huddle of Lost Boys in front of where Hook had been standing. Darting forward, Wendy threw herself on the sand and started to saw at the ropes holding them. Briggs was free first and grabbed a sword from Wendy's belt, turning at once to fend off one of the pirates from the boats who approached up the beach, yelling curses. While Briggs fought the man, Topper grabbed the second sword, turning to defend their flank while Wendy frantically freed Twig and the others. Pushing Pip and Pebble behind her, Wendy pulled out her long knife and prepared to defend them. Backing away slowly, she faced the beach, her back to the forest, the Littlies crowded behind her.
"Look out Wendy!" Twigs warning gave her only a seconds warning, her blade coming up to block the downward swing of the man behind her, Twig instantly leaping on his back, Pip and Pebble grabbing his shirt and pants to trip him up. As he fell, Wendy grabbed his dropped sword giving her a weapon in each hand. By now the beach was filling up with pirates, Hook striding towards her, his face twisted with fury.
Briggs and Topper ran to her side, breathing heavily, their foes stretched out on the sand in their wake.
"Give it up.......you're surrounded!" Hook yelled, a cry behind him coming from a man dropping from another arrow shot by Tepa.
"Get behind me, all of you....Briggs get Twig and the others to safety, I'll hold them off!"
"You can't hold this lot off......for God's sake, there's too many!"
"Don't argue Briggs.....get them away.....you'll only have seconds...."
Hook was advancing, his sword at the ready, eyeing Wendy appreciatively.
"My, my.....haven't we grown some.....I can see why dear Peter was so enamoured....now let's be sensible...you can't hope to survive against all of my men......surrender my dear....you'll only make it harder for yourselves......"
"Never......."
Another figure joined the beleaguered Lost Boys, Tepa emerging out of the trees, his long knife held at the ready. Hook saw the Indian brave and smiled grimly.
"So you are to blame for the loss of my men......you'll pay for that, heathen dog....."
"Hoka hey!" Tepa spat, his teeth bared in a grin.
"Whatever you say savage......take them men!"
One her left, Wendy saw Briggs step forward, Toppers sword held in his other hand. As the pirates advanced, Wendy, Briggs and Tepa held their ground. Behind their protective wall, Topper ran with the younger children, darting into the woods to be quickly swallowed up in the shadows.
Hook saw them leave and cursed. A couple of pirates made to follow but Hook waved them back.
"Leave the accursed brats......we have more than enough in front of us......I want these three alive, men......have at thee!"
At his cry he swung at Wendy, finding her sword blocking his, her dagger jabbing at his face, making him jibe back to avoid losing an eye. Beside her Briggs and Tepa fought the circling pirates, the three making a back to back triangle of bristling weapons, the pirates keeping well back, looking for a weakness.
One came too close and Briggs spitted him on one of his sword, the slight delay in freeing his blade enough to allow another to lash out and catch the youth across his upper arm, Briggs crying out as blood spurted. Tepa had launched himself at another man, the two grappling fiercely for possession of the knife, a blow to the back of the Indian boys head rendering him unconscious, the man he'd been fighting kicking the boy as he lay insensible on the sand.
Wendy found herself facing Hook alone, the other pirates waved back as she circled and feinted with the Captain, her breath hissing through her teeth as she parried and swung, his hook and sword blocking every attempt to slip under his guard.
She over-reached on one lunge and felt the blade wrenched out of her hands, Hook expertly flinging the blade to fall in the sand, leaving her only with her dagger.
"A brave fight, dear Wendy.....but you have lost.....concede and you will be treated honourably."
"You know nothing of honour.....you're a pirate!"
Throwing herself forward, Wendy made to plunge the knife in Hook's chest but instead found that he had discarded his sword and used his good hand to grab her wrist, twisting her arm around and up behind her back, his other arm coming around her neck as she found herself suddenly with her back against his embroidered frock coat, his hook poised against her jugular as she struggled to free herself.
"Your cause if lost......you are now......my prisoner!"
"NO......" Looking down, Wendy saw Tepa laid out on the sand, a pirate binding his arms behind his back. To the side sat Briggs, his face pale as he clutched his arm, blood still flowing freely, his eyes dull with pain.
"Bind the boys wound, I don't want him dead yet......."
Hook continued to hold Wendy's arm twisted behind her back, the knife still held in her hand. With a savage jerk, he pulled her arm higher, making her drop the knife and cry out, arching against him in an effort to relieve the pressure on her arm. Withdrawing his arm from around her throat, Hook pushed her away, into the arms of a crewman, who imprisoned her arms, laughing as she tried to free herself.
"Secure the wench....make sure she can't get away like the other one did. To the boats men.......hurry, time is pressing."
Wendy helplessly watched as Briggs and Tepa were loaded into one of the boats, the crew pushing the craft into the surf before rowing strongly for the Jolly Roger moored in the bay. Wendy had her hands bound behind her and was pushed roughly forward, nearly falling at Hook's feet as she lost her balance. Putting out his arm, Hook caught her, steadying her before spinning her around and grabbing hold of her upper arm and dragging her towards the second boat.
"Come m'dear.....there's someone I want you to see....."
With a shove, he pushed Wendy against the side of the boat.
"If you were thinking that your Peter Pan was about to fly to your rescue, think again.....he is of no use to you now."
In the bilge lay a still figure, the body curled in on itself, the legs drawn up in a foetal position.
"What have you done to him!" Wendy cried out, staring back at Hook, only to see him smile.
"Why nothing at all........it would appear the ice sprites were too enthusiastic in their carrying out of the Necromancer's orders and froze the dear boy to death. Such a shame....I was looking forward to taking my revenge on him.....now it's too late."
"No......no.....Peter!"
Wendy stared down at the still body, his face grey, fingers and lips quite blue. Only his hair retained its natural colour, the slight sea breeze ruffling the curls in a ghastly parody of animation.
Wendy stared down at Peter's frozen body, tears welling and spilling over her lashes, her body slumping against the side of the boat still in Hook's grip.
The other crewmen clambered into the boat, waiting for Hook to climb aboard. Impatiently he dragged Wendy along the side of the boat, handing her over to his men who lifted her onto a bench where she huddled, her eyes still fixed on the still figure a few feet away. Hook sat in the prow as the boat was rowed to his ship, the first boat already emptied of its captives and crew. The small craft was quickly brought to the hull of the Jolly Roger, Wendy manhandled to the deck and Peter's body hefted over the rail and left to lie against a coil of rope. As soon as they stepped away from Peter, Wendy threw herself on him, bursting into noisy sobs, the crew backing away to give her room. Hook climbed over the railing and stood for a long moment while his crew shuffled nervously. Briggs and Tepa had been taken to the hold, helpless to aid either of their friends.
With her hands tied behind her back, she could only lay her face against Peter's frozen cheek, her tears soaking his hair as she whispered his name.
Hook gestured to a crewman and Wendy was hauled to her feet, crying out piteously for Peter. Hook stepped forward and stared down at the body on the deck, his lips twisting in a bitter smile.
"Have them both taken to the chartroom......secure the girl and let her mourn the passing of Peter Pan."
Turning his back he waited until Wendy was taken forward and shut in the forecastle with Peter's body, then he ordered the anchor raised and the ship out to sea, his stomach roiling with the ashes of defeat, Peter Pan having cheated Hook of his revenge.
As he stood on the poopdeck watching his crew ready the ship, he felt the call of the Necromancer, his mind resisting the black chill for a few seconds before his feet started to move him towards the stairs and down to his former cabin. The door swung open on silent hinges and he found himself facing the dark shadow.
"You have what you want.....now give me the children."
"There are only two....the rest escaped."
"Only two?......surely there are three aboard.....three plus your much sought after Pan....am I not right?"
"There are only two that you are having.....the girl and the Pan are mine."
"Rebellion at this late stage is rather futile Captain Hook.....and tell me......why is she special to you?"
"She isn't special....she's just a girl.....but I can use her...."
"Yes......I expect you can.......but my need is greater....bring her to me......I have need of another victim to weave my next enchantment."
"No."
"No? You will do as I say........or perhaps you offer yourself in her place?"
"Use one of the others....our deal is finished, I wanted Peter Pan, but your sprites froze him into a block of ice, now I cannot take my revenge on him.....so our deal if void. "
The Necromancer hissed loudly, his face invisible within his cowl, his robes moving as if whipped by a strong wind as he approached the door. Hook stood unflinching, his lips curled in a sneer as the ghostly apparition drifted to within a foot of the door.
"I will forgive this transgression, but only this once Hook....bring me the girl or your ship and your men will be the victims of my next display of power."
For a long minute Hook glared at the darkness mere inches from him, the cowl too dark to discern the features of the abomination, his own face white and strained as he faced down the sorcerer. To his surprise it was the Necromancer who backed down first, the creature swirling away and retreating to his shadows. Hook released a long held breath as he turned on his heel and left his cabin, the door shutting slowly behind him. As the door snicked shut, Hook slumped as if held by strings, his shoulders hitting the wall as he panted shallowly, the strain of fighting the sorcerers power draining his strength. His bargain with the creature had been a mistake, one which he felt he was about to pay dearly for.
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Wendy stroked the blond curls away from his face, her fingers brushing his icy skin as tears trickled down her own face in ceaseless streams.
"Why Peter....you said this was my heaven.....how can it have become my hell.....why is this happening?"
Leaning down she kissed his cold forehead, her lips lingering against his skin, a tear dripping off her chin to land on his eyelid. She had been secured by a steel hobble and long chain, after she'd begged to have her hands freed. Her tearful face and obvious grief had moved the pirates charged with her imprisonment and they agreed to release her hands but hobble her instead, locking her in the small chart room with Peter's body. As soon as they left she went to him and gathered him awkwardly into her arms, his body stiff and unyielding against her softness.
"Oh Peter..why is this happening......why did you leave me.....why did you go outside......why?"
Inconsolable, Wendy rocked Peter in her arms.
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Hook stood on the deck looking out to sea, his forget-me-not blue eyes staring at the stormy waves, the sky darkening over his head.
He hadn't given the girl to the mage, his thoughts for the moment his own. That Peter Pan was dead gave Hook no comfort, he'd expected to feel exhilaration that his enemy of so many years was vanquished, but instead he felt only emptiness, as if his purpose in life had been removed. He had briefly looked in on the girl, his heart, usually stony and unmoved by pity, felt something stir at the sight of her rocking the frozen corpse in her arms, her long hair creating a curtain as she bent to kiss the dead boys face. Unaccountably, Hook felt grief as well, and this he couldn't reconcile with his usual feelings towards his nemesis.
He felt for the first time that he had made a huge mistake, and he wanted almost desperately to turn the clock back. Regret came to James Hook, swamping him and making him see recent events in quite a different light. Turning away from the depressing view of the turbulent sea, Hook descended the stairs and marched to the forecastle.
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Wendy didn't look up when Hook entered the room, her eyes remaining shut even when the Captain pulled over a chair and sat down.
"Why are you here, Wendy Darling?"
"What?"
"I asked, why are you here....its been years, obviously you've grown up, so why are you here......in Neverland?"
"Because I died."
"What?" This time its was Hooks turn to be surprised.
"Because I died, and this was supposed to be my heaven....but its not...."
"Heaven......Neverland?"
"Peter said that....I created Neverland.....with my stories, I created my own heaven.....that it was waiting here, he was waiting here for me when I died....."
"But how can you.......never mind......how can you believe this is your heaven?.....That's supposed to be angels and harps and all that twaddle."
"This was heaven......until the snow came......Peter and I.....we...it was everything I wanted...everything I hoped for...."
Hook stared at the girl's head as she bent once more over Peter's body.
"How do you know you're dead?"
"I caught influenza from my dear friend Emily, she's dead now too...I wonder where she is?.....Peter came to me, he got me out of bed.....when I looked back I could see myself still in bed....then my mother came in.....she didn't see me, or Peter....I was already dead...."
"But you look as real.....as real......" Hook gestured to himself, "as me..."
"You're a ghost......a memory of someone sent here, we're all ghosts...the pirates, the Lost Boys....even the Indians I suppose....all long dead......."
"You're mad...I'm not a ghost.....I'm not......I eat, sleep, bleed....ghosts don't bleed."
Wendy lifted her head, her eyes red with crying. She stared at Hook scornfully, as if he was beneath her notice. "Heaven can be whatever you want it to be.......this was my heaven.....not yours....maybe this is your hell, James Hook.....have you ever thought of that?"
Stunned, Hook opened his mouth to refute her, the chair falling to the floor behind him as he leap to his feet.
"Hell!!....Yes this is a living hell......to have that brat taunting me, fighting me........losing my hand to that infernal beast....forever circling this accursed island....!" Hook abruptly stopped his rant, his words echoing in his head. "Forever circling this island!"
In horror, he stared wide eyed at Wendy as she crouched on the floor.
"This is hell.....my hell.....and now, thanks to me, it has become everybody's....."
White faced, Hook kicked the chair out of the way before pacing over to the small window facing out the port side, the light outside painting shadows over his harsh features.
"I thought I would be given the power to break my bonds and leave this place.......I've been here so many years.....I've forgotten more than I can remember....it's been so long."
Swinging around, he came over to where Wendy huddled over Peter's body. Crouching down, he jerked the chain before fishing in his pocket for the key to release the hobbles. Wendy stared at him as he loosened the manacles and tossed them to the corner of the room.
"What are you doing?"
"Freeing you of course........there's a creature in my cabin that we have to dispose of......he caused this," Hook pointed to Peter, "but I think he may be able to reverse it."
Wendy stared at Hook then started to laugh, the sound jarring and hysterical. "What, the great and menacing James Hook wants help to get rid of.....what is that thing that wants to destroy Neverland?"
"The Necromancer.....he's a magister, uses the souls of the dead to give him access to dark magic."
"Is that how he blasted the other side of the island?"
"Yes...and produced the snow, and the ice-sprites."
"How do you propose we get rid of him?"
"He said something......I didn't realise its significance before...he didn't want you to get back to Peter before I did....he seemed to think that both of you together would be able to defeat me, as ludicrous as that sounds."
"How would Peter and I together.......unless....there's a way I can reverse what's been happening.....put right what's gone wrong......"
Hook watched Wendy as she absently stroked Peter's hair again, her eyes staring blankly as she retreated into her thoughts.
"Peter said this was my heaven....created by me, peopled by the characters in my stories....those characters inhabited by real spirits of people who died.......that I was reborn, and like me they were given another chance" Wendy suddenly swung her blue eyes to Hook's, "he said I could shape it, change it.....sweep it away......"
"That's alot of power for one little girl......"
"I'm not a little girl......but I've forgotten......."
"Forgotten?" Hook queried, watching her expressive face intently.
"I've forgotten how to be a little girl....that was what Peter was trying to tell me......to leave my old life behind and believe in my new life.....I know what to do!"
Her lips set in a thin line, Wendy looked down at the frozen body across her lap, her hands almost numb with holding his icy limbs.
"I just have to believe..." She whispered. "I have to believe.."
Scrubbing the tears from her face, she drew Peter's body up until his head was next to her heart, her arms holding him close.
"I do believe in you Peter......I do..I do....I believe in you.....I do.....I do...." Hook had to strain to hear her voice, her mantra repeated over and over as she rocked the boy in her arms, Hook's lips moving almost imperceptibly as he echoed her words. In the gloom of the cabin a stray beam of sunshine found its way across the floor and illuminated Wendy as she sat on the rough planking, her face lifting to the warmth of the sunlight, turning her closed eyes towards the light while still whispering the words. Hook stood in shadow, his eyes fixed on the girl and her grisly companion, his heart beating rapidly as he watched and listened.
As Wendy continued her chant the sunbeam widened, encompassing not just her but Peter as well. By contrast Hook saw the rest of the shadows deepen, as it all the light was concentrated on the girl and boy in the centre of the room. As the seconds passed he saw the sunlight start to swirl, tiny white specks floating in the light, circling Wendy's head like miniature stars, her face still uplifted, her eyes still closed. It got so bright that he had to lift his hand to shield his eyes, his head turned away from the scene as the beam of light intensified, Wendy and Peter rimmed with gold, the bright specks dancing in the air above and around them like sparks above a bonfire. Eventually the light became too bright for him to look at all, his head turned away completely, his arms covering his face as Wendy's voice, a mere thread of sound, continued its chant unwaveringly.
All of a sudden the light was gone and Hook blinked rapidly to dispel the spots in front of his eyes. As he readjusted to the gloom of the chart room, he saw that Wendy was still sitting on the floor, Peter still clasped in her arms. Tentatively he stepped forward only to inhale sharply and freeze.
Wendy sat with her head bowed, her hair cloaking her shoulders, her eyes still closed, her voice silent. In her arms Peter lay as before, but now his arms and legs were relaxed and their normal colour of honey gold, not the ghastly blue-grey of before. His head was still cradled in Wendy's arms, but his face was no longer frozen, his skin once more sun-kissed and healthy. Almost fearfully, Hook crouched down and reached out to touch Peter's hand where it lay on the wooden floor, his fingers curled into the palm as if he was only asleep. As Hook touched the palm, he jumped in fright when the lax hand twitched, the fingers flexing as its owner stirred.
As if awakening from a deep sleep, Peter opened his eyes and blinked up at Wendy, his lips parting on a breath as his lungs filled, his first word, her name, leaving his mouth on a sigh.
Wendy heard her name and looked down at the young man in her arms, his tousled head nestled against her breast, his body relaxed and boneless in her lap.
"Peter......oh Peter....."
Hook slowly backed away, his throat working as he tried to rationalise what he'd just witnessed, his mind presenting and discarding a number of theories to explain how Peter Pan had been brought back from oblivion by a slip of a girl.
Wendy stroked Peter's hair back from his forehead, her lips curved in a smile of smug satisfaction, an expression that Peter recognised as one of his own. He grinned back at her, not understanding why she was smiling at him, just glad that she was.
"Wendy?"
"Yes Peter..?"
"Where are we.....and why am I lying on the floor?"
"We're onboard the Jolly Roger.....and I just brought you back from the dead!"
Looking up at her quizzically, Peter smirked and let his eyes half close, his bright gaze full of mischief. "Oh the cleverness of you......how long was I dead?"
"Too long....you were frozen by the ice-sprites.....the Necromancer had sent them.....you and the Lost Boys were all captured by Hook.....then I tried to rescue you...and I got caught as well, along with Briggs and Tepa......now we're here aboard ship.....and I should mention that Hook is in here with us."
For a second Peter didn't react, then his eyes blazed and he pushed himself upright, his eyes searching for Hook who had retreated once more to stand in the shadows. Peter stood, with Wendy's help and they faced the pirate Captain side by side.
"Don't glare at me boy......I mean neither you nor Wendy any harm.....I've called a truce so that we can fight a common enemy." Pushing away from the wall, Hook stook a step forward, his face no longer in shadow.
"A truce....what's he talking about Wendy?" Peter turned his head briefly to question the girl standing beside him, his eyes flicking back to his foe, strength starting to flow back into his limbs.
"Peter....he thinks that together we can defeat the Necromancer.....
that we can reverse what's happened and send this...this creature back where it came from."
"Do you believe him ?" Peter asked her.
"I believe that we are stronger together than apart....and it seems this Necromancer believes it too."
"If what I've seen in this room is any indication.....I'd say you can do whatever you want.....after all, this is your heaven...if what you say is to be believed." Hook interjected, his arms folded over his chest.
Peter turned his attention back to Wendy. "But do you believe it ?"
"I do Peter......what you said is true.....this is my world....my heaven.....and I won't let this Necromancer destroy what I've created....or the people who are a part of it." She glanced at Hook. "Even the less savoury of my creations..."
"Then lets go and send this think back to wherever it sprung from..." Peter announced, reaching for and taking her hand, his eyes alight with life and enthusiasm for the battle ahead.
"Oh Peter....it is good to have you back....."
"Well as touching as this reunion is.......I think we need to make a plan.....unless you are just going to march right in there and tell him to go.....he might listen, I suppose.....but its more likely he'll blast you to kingdom come!"
Peter and Wendy, still holding hands, turned to face Hook.
"You had something else in mind?" Wendy asked, her eyebrow raised.
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(hah.......avast ye lubbards......hoist the main brace...and prepare for........goodness, I don't know......a nice cup of tea?? Me thinks no.....more like a big bang....fear not, all will be revealed.....