This story takes place only a few years after Wendy's first visit to
Neverland with Peter Pan, so it is considered a follow-up to the 2003 P.J.
Hogan film Peter Pan (with some references to the original Barrie novel
[1911] and his own Peter Pan prequel, Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens
[1904]).
Again, I have no ownership of any of the characters or actors who portrayed them...Obviously.
Here's Chapter VIII .....Comments, comments, s'il vous plaît! :-)
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VIII. THE VIGIL
At Captain Hook's request, Wendy had been moved to his personal quarters where she could better heal in relative comfort. Hook thought it most imperative that Wendy should awaken to more pleasant surroundings than the dingy and impersonal infirmary. Matching the stateroom in both size and garishness, Hook's chambers offered his guest a suitable place for privacy and safety. Hook had not much use for it himself, as he hardly ever slept, and so he was little inconvenienced by Wendy's presence in his oft-vacant bed.
He left Wendy in the Doc's faithful care while he was away tending to his tasks at Mermaid Lagoon, having sternly warned him to keep the cabin doors latched tightly should any of his boorish dogs come sniffing round the precious cargo. Most would not have cared to anyhow, for they believed that any encounter with the young lady aboard their ship would surely bring them a score of ill luck.
And so, whence Hook returned only a short while later, he was pleased to see everything just as he had left it. He had found the doctor dozing at Wendy's bedside, but he was quick to his feet upon the Captain's imposing appearance. Hook wasted no time doling out orders.
"Doc, our young miss is going to need her dress mended," he had stated grimly. "You will ever-so cautiously remove it from her person, wrap her in one of my waistcoats in the meanwhile, and hand the tattered garments off to Smee for repair." His eyes narrowed. "I will be waiting outside the door, so I suggest you curtail any 'tempting distractions' that may present themselves to you."
He arched an insinuating eyebrow at the Doc, who dutifully nodded his compliance. So, whilst the Captain and his bosun stood beyond the door, Doc set to work hastily disrobing Wendy, careful enough not to disturb her and averting his eyes from upon that which would be inappropriate to gaze. In record time did he have the girl out of her nightdress and into the Captain's waistcoat, and when he emerged from the bedchamber, he quickly handed Smee the torn garments with a wipe of his brow.
This gesture had not been lost on Hook, as was not the doctor's foggy monocle. "She put up a good fight, Doc?"
His tone was dark and dripping with horrible sarcasm, and the hopeless doctor knew he had no satisfactory answer. But he tried anyhow.
"No, sir," he had staggered. "Just wanted the job done quick, like you asked."
The corner of Hook's mouth lifted in a dubious smirk. He'd suddenly felt little trust in even the Doc as he glanced from him to the soiled nightdress in Smee's hands.
"Off you go, Smee," Hook ordered. His bosun shuffled away dutifully. Hook turned his icy stare back to the Doc. "If it's all the same to you, I think I shall take over the vigil for our Wendy."
Hook had received no argument from the doctor, and in no time, Hook found himself alone in his bedchamber with the sleeping girl. He adjusted the overstuffed armchair at her bedside which Doc had previously occupied and took his place upon it with a largely bothered sigh.
For quite a long duration did Hook sit slumped and staring listlessly out the rectangular window on the opposite wall, growing ever more oblivious to Wendy's presence. He stroked his claw absent-mindedly and let his thoughts drift about in an aimless fashion whilst he watched the mocking Sun withdraw his countless arms over the horizon. Soon Pan would be making a visit to the Mermaid Lagoon. He pictured several scenarios in his head – of Pan's bitter disappointment at Wendy's apparent departure, or his elation that she was out of his way. He imagined what he would do if the mermaids disobeyed him and told Pan everything. He would surely infiltrate the ship and try to take her back.
Or would he? Perhaps he would just leave her as he had at Blind Man's Bluff. Well, if that happened, all the better for Hook.
The Sun had, at this point, disappeared completely for the night, and all was dark and indiscernible beyond the window in Hook's bedchamber. No longer finding this void worth looking at, he sighed once more and let his eyes wander toward the girl in his bed. Heavens, would she *ever* wake?
When needed, Captain Hook could display an insurmountable degree of patience, but he was fast becoming quite anxious for the Wendy girl to open her eyes and set off Hook's scheme for winning her over and turning her against the Boy. Hook knew this would take some time and cunning to accomplish, and he was urgent to get on with it as soon as possible.
He fought the temptation to simply grab the girl by the shoulders and rouse her awake himself. No, that would certainly not do. So, instead he occupied his idle mind with more troublesome things he must take into account once Wendy was alert and in his active company. He would have to work doggedly to gain her trust – or rather, RE-gain her trust.
To his great disadvantage was the unfortunate fact that he had betrayed her horribly the last time they met. Without flinching, he had reeled her in easier than that blasted mermaid and then cruelly threw her back with the lure still piercing into her flesh. What he had not counted on was actually taking a liking to the girl whence they first spoke. She was far more intelligent and charming than he had given her credit for, and he found that he greatly enjoyed her company (although it is true that just about anything was an improvement over the dimwitted bunch with whom Hook was cursed to spend his days). 'Twas a shame that he would have to crush Wendy's poor naïve ego later on, but he would have liked her to have forgiven him and joined his crew as he had suggested before. But the damage had been done, he knew it, and he was not wholly surprised when she spat upon his offer. It would have been lovely to at long last have someone of his equal intelligence around to converse with, but seeing Pan dead was as fine a trade-off as could be expected.
But alas, the Boy lived. And so did she, and together they set off Hook's gruesome defeat. No doubt had his deception remained bitter inside Wendy, and she would be no fool to him. Hook would have to count desperately on her bitterness toward Peter Pan's betrayal. Without this, Hook knew he had little chance of becoming her trusted confidant.
The question of her disposition following Pan's defeat would hopefully not be one of contention this time around. If Hook played his cards right, then Wendy would happily see the Boy done away with just as much as he. She would gladly stay with him aboard the ship thereafter, and Hook would finally have himself a worthy companion with whom he could pass his incessant existence upon this miserable island.
At the thought of this hopeful outcome, Hook had allowed a rare contented grin to creep onto his lips and his eyes to linger upon the quiet form within his bed. He had suddenly found himself growing eager for Wendy to awaken not just so that he could set his plans in motion, but because he longed to have an edifying conversation with the girl. She was a bit older and no doubt and many more wonderful stories and experiences of which to tell. He imagined himself lounging upon his fainting couch in the stateroom, after a long tiring day of pillaging and impiety, as sweet little Wendy sat nearby, regaling him with a story whilst she mended his stockings. What a charming little picture in his head!
Hook had found himself inching closer to the sleeping girl as he thought of this, staring at her still face and imagining a smile upon it. How wonderful to see her smile at him. And her eyes – how glad it should make the old pirate if she should gaze upon him without a hint of malice within them.
Oh, and what lovely hair did she have as well. It spread out all about her against the pillows. It almost did not look real; more like a silken blanket which taunted the satin quilt around her to dare and match its natural lushness. Without realizing it, Hook's one good hand had lifted from the arm of his chair and began to creep, as if of a mind all its own, toward this shroud sprouting from Wendy's head. His fingers had never the pleasure of entwining themselves within such luxuriance, and they would be happy to do so now, whilst Hook's mind was not of the wiser to it...
It was at this precise moment that the door to the bedchamber swung open, and Hook's hand hastily found its way back to its startled master's side.
"'E's done it, Cap'n!" came the bubbly half-whisper from Smee, grasping a telescope.
Hook sat upright immediately and gritted his teeth. "Smee, hast thou taken all leave of your decorum?"
Smee stood rigid. "Forgive me, Cap'n, but I thought ye'd like to know that Pan has just been to see the mermaids!"
Interested, Hook stood. "Has he? And?"
"'E wasn't there long. And when 'e left, he took the same direction which 'e came."
Hook smiled greedily. The mermaids must have come through. "Splendid."
Then suddenly, Hook frowned upon his bosun. "Should you not be attending to Miss Wendy's dress?"
"Oh, 'tis done, Cap'n! I had to give it a good scrubbin' though, and I'm waitin' for it to dry."
The Captain relaxed. "Aye. Well done, Smee."
The little man smiled broadly. Such words of encouragement from his boss were quite seldom. "Thank you, Cap'n! Ye supper is about ready as well. Shall I prepare the table for ye now?"
"Might as well," Hook responded with a lazy stretch. He tossed a last glance at the girl before he took his leave, but something made him stop.
"You know..." he blurted before Smee had gone, "On second thought, Smee, bring my supper to me in here. Set up my writing desk thusly."
His bosun hesitated a moment but dared not to ask a question. While Hook retained his place at Wendy's bedside, Smee toiled about, preparing the small desk near the window for use as an impromptu dinner table. When his supper was brought in, Hook sat before it, a full view of his bed and Wendy straight across from him. As always, Smee stayed close by for the duration of the Captain's meal, a jug of Muscat at the ready.
Hook ate in silence, his eyes never straying from the bed. Smee was very near dozing on his feet when a tiny sound suddenly emerged from the other side of the room. Smee jumped at it, and Hook plunked his chalice down upon the table and froze.
Wendy had sighed!
In the bleak dimness of the room, Hook could see her stir slightly, and he rose from his seat to make his way warily toward her. He stood at the side of her bed and watched as she languidly began to turn over on her side toward him. Was she...? Yes, she was awaking! Hook shot over his shoulder a glance to Smee that could only be described as giddy.
Hook adjusted his waistcoat and smoothed down his curls with his claw, readying himself for Wendy's appraisal. With a deep breath, Wendy's eyes finally creaked open. They blinked several times as they adjusted to the heavy and unfamiliar bed covers about her. Then, with a start, she hoisted herself up on one elbow, and her bleary eyes collided head-on with Captain Hook's.
Hook grinned gallantly down at her, his arms outstretched in a gentleman's greeting. But Wendy said and did nothing, and only continued to stare unblinkingly. And then, with only the slightest twitch of the eyebrows, Wendy's eyes rolled back and she collapsed once again upon the bed.
The Captain frowned and his arms dropped to his side. She was gone again! Highly troubled, he turned and looked to Smee, as if to ask what on Earth had just happened, and Smee could only shrug his shoulders. Hook fixated back upon Wendy, a deep frustration welling up inside of him.
Just then, as if a lightning bolt had struck, Hook realized what he had done. The last time Wendy Darling had set eyes upon him, he was being swallowed whole by a crocodile! Well, 'tis of no wonder why she should faint dead away at the sight of him once more! Not to mention the unhappy terms in which they had parted company. It quickly became apparent to Hook that Wendy must be reacquainted with his unsettling existence delicately, and that he should perhaps *not* be present when she fully awakened.
He would retain his vigil at her bedside, but at the first stirring, he would quietly slip out of the room. Just as he had done before, he would patiently let her come to him.
Again, I have no ownership of any of the characters or actors who portrayed them...Obviously.
Here's Chapter VIII .....Comments, comments, s'il vous plaît! :-)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
VIII. THE VIGIL
At Captain Hook's request, Wendy had been moved to his personal quarters where she could better heal in relative comfort. Hook thought it most imperative that Wendy should awaken to more pleasant surroundings than the dingy and impersonal infirmary. Matching the stateroom in both size and garishness, Hook's chambers offered his guest a suitable place for privacy and safety. Hook had not much use for it himself, as he hardly ever slept, and so he was little inconvenienced by Wendy's presence in his oft-vacant bed.
He left Wendy in the Doc's faithful care while he was away tending to his tasks at Mermaid Lagoon, having sternly warned him to keep the cabin doors latched tightly should any of his boorish dogs come sniffing round the precious cargo. Most would not have cared to anyhow, for they believed that any encounter with the young lady aboard their ship would surely bring them a score of ill luck.
And so, whence Hook returned only a short while later, he was pleased to see everything just as he had left it. He had found the doctor dozing at Wendy's bedside, but he was quick to his feet upon the Captain's imposing appearance. Hook wasted no time doling out orders.
"Doc, our young miss is going to need her dress mended," he had stated grimly. "You will ever-so cautiously remove it from her person, wrap her in one of my waistcoats in the meanwhile, and hand the tattered garments off to Smee for repair." His eyes narrowed. "I will be waiting outside the door, so I suggest you curtail any 'tempting distractions' that may present themselves to you."
He arched an insinuating eyebrow at the Doc, who dutifully nodded his compliance. So, whilst the Captain and his bosun stood beyond the door, Doc set to work hastily disrobing Wendy, careful enough not to disturb her and averting his eyes from upon that which would be inappropriate to gaze. In record time did he have the girl out of her nightdress and into the Captain's waistcoat, and when he emerged from the bedchamber, he quickly handed Smee the torn garments with a wipe of his brow.
This gesture had not been lost on Hook, as was not the doctor's foggy monocle. "She put up a good fight, Doc?"
His tone was dark and dripping with horrible sarcasm, and the hopeless doctor knew he had no satisfactory answer. But he tried anyhow.
"No, sir," he had staggered. "Just wanted the job done quick, like you asked."
The corner of Hook's mouth lifted in a dubious smirk. He'd suddenly felt little trust in even the Doc as he glanced from him to the soiled nightdress in Smee's hands.
"Off you go, Smee," Hook ordered. His bosun shuffled away dutifully. Hook turned his icy stare back to the Doc. "If it's all the same to you, I think I shall take over the vigil for our Wendy."
Hook had received no argument from the doctor, and in no time, Hook found himself alone in his bedchamber with the sleeping girl. He adjusted the overstuffed armchair at her bedside which Doc had previously occupied and took his place upon it with a largely bothered sigh.
For quite a long duration did Hook sit slumped and staring listlessly out the rectangular window on the opposite wall, growing ever more oblivious to Wendy's presence. He stroked his claw absent-mindedly and let his thoughts drift about in an aimless fashion whilst he watched the mocking Sun withdraw his countless arms over the horizon. Soon Pan would be making a visit to the Mermaid Lagoon. He pictured several scenarios in his head – of Pan's bitter disappointment at Wendy's apparent departure, or his elation that she was out of his way. He imagined what he would do if the mermaids disobeyed him and told Pan everything. He would surely infiltrate the ship and try to take her back.
Or would he? Perhaps he would just leave her as he had at Blind Man's Bluff. Well, if that happened, all the better for Hook.
The Sun had, at this point, disappeared completely for the night, and all was dark and indiscernible beyond the window in Hook's bedchamber. No longer finding this void worth looking at, he sighed once more and let his eyes wander toward the girl in his bed. Heavens, would she *ever* wake?
When needed, Captain Hook could display an insurmountable degree of patience, but he was fast becoming quite anxious for the Wendy girl to open her eyes and set off Hook's scheme for winning her over and turning her against the Boy. Hook knew this would take some time and cunning to accomplish, and he was urgent to get on with it as soon as possible.
He fought the temptation to simply grab the girl by the shoulders and rouse her awake himself. No, that would certainly not do. So, instead he occupied his idle mind with more troublesome things he must take into account once Wendy was alert and in his active company. He would have to work doggedly to gain her trust – or rather, RE-gain her trust.
To his great disadvantage was the unfortunate fact that he had betrayed her horribly the last time they met. Without flinching, he had reeled her in easier than that blasted mermaid and then cruelly threw her back with the lure still piercing into her flesh. What he had not counted on was actually taking a liking to the girl whence they first spoke. She was far more intelligent and charming than he had given her credit for, and he found that he greatly enjoyed her company (although it is true that just about anything was an improvement over the dimwitted bunch with whom Hook was cursed to spend his days). 'Twas a shame that he would have to crush Wendy's poor naïve ego later on, but he would have liked her to have forgiven him and joined his crew as he had suggested before. But the damage had been done, he knew it, and he was not wholly surprised when she spat upon his offer. It would have been lovely to at long last have someone of his equal intelligence around to converse with, but seeing Pan dead was as fine a trade-off as could be expected.
But alas, the Boy lived. And so did she, and together they set off Hook's gruesome defeat. No doubt had his deception remained bitter inside Wendy, and she would be no fool to him. Hook would have to count desperately on her bitterness toward Peter Pan's betrayal. Without this, Hook knew he had little chance of becoming her trusted confidant.
The question of her disposition following Pan's defeat would hopefully not be one of contention this time around. If Hook played his cards right, then Wendy would happily see the Boy done away with just as much as he. She would gladly stay with him aboard the ship thereafter, and Hook would finally have himself a worthy companion with whom he could pass his incessant existence upon this miserable island.
At the thought of this hopeful outcome, Hook had allowed a rare contented grin to creep onto his lips and his eyes to linger upon the quiet form within his bed. He had suddenly found himself growing eager for Wendy to awaken not just so that he could set his plans in motion, but because he longed to have an edifying conversation with the girl. She was a bit older and no doubt and many more wonderful stories and experiences of which to tell. He imagined himself lounging upon his fainting couch in the stateroom, after a long tiring day of pillaging and impiety, as sweet little Wendy sat nearby, regaling him with a story whilst she mended his stockings. What a charming little picture in his head!
Hook had found himself inching closer to the sleeping girl as he thought of this, staring at her still face and imagining a smile upon it. How wonderful to see her smile at him. And her eyes – how glad it should make the old pirate if she should gaze upon him without a hint of malice within them.
Oh, and what lovely hair did she have as well. It spread out all about her against the pillows. It almost did not look real; more like a silken blanket which taunted the satin quilt around her to dare and match its natural lushness. Without realizing it, Hook's one good hand had lifted from the arm of his chair and began to creep, as if of a mind all its own, toward this shroud sprouting from Wendy's head. His fingers had never the pleasure of entwining themselves within such luxuriance, and they would be happy to do so now, whilst Hook's mind was not of the wiser to it...
It was at this precise moment that the door to the bedchamber swung open, and Hook's hand hastily found its way back to its startled master's side.
"'E's done it, Cap'n!" came the bubbly half-whisper from Smee, grasping a telescope.
Hook sat upright immediately and gritted his teeth. "Smee, hast thou taken all leave of your decorum?"
Smee stood rigid. "Forgive me, Cap'n, but I thought ye'd like to know that Pan has just been to see the mermaids!"
Interested, Hook stood. "Has he? And?"
"'E wasn't there long. And when 'e left, he took the same direction which 'e came."
Hook smiled greedily. The mermaids must have come through. "Splendid."
Then suddenly, Hook frowned upon his bosun. "Should you not be attending to Miss Wendy's dress?"
"Oh, 'tis done, Cap'n! I had to give it a good scrubbin' though, and I'm waitin' for it to dry."
The Captain relaxed. "Aye. Well done, Smee."
The little man smiled broadly. Such words of encouragement from his boss were quite seldom. "Thank you, Cap'n! Ye supper is about ready as well. Shall I prepare the table for ye now?"
"Might as well," Hook responded with a lazy stretch. He tossed a last glance at the girl before he took his leave, but something made him stop.
"You know..." he blurted before Smee had gone, "On second thought, Smee, bring my supper to me in here. Set up my writing desk thusly."
His bosun hesitated a moment but dared not to ask a question. While Hook retained his place at Wendy's bedside, Smee toiled about, preparing the small desk near the window for use as an impromptu dinner table. When his supper was brought in, Hook sat before it, a full view of his bed and Wendy straight across from him. As always, Smee stayed close by for the duration of the Captain's meal, a jug of Muscat at the ready.
Hook ate in silence, his eyes never straying from the bed. Smee was very near dozing on his feet when a tiny sound suddenly emerged from the other side of the room. Smee jumped at it, and Hook plunked his chalice down upon the table and froze.
Wendy had sighed!
In the bleak dimness of the room, Hook could see her stir slightly, and he rose from his seat to make his way warily toward her. He stood at the side of her bed and watched as she languidly began to turn over on her side toward him. Was she...? Yes, she was awaking! Hook shot over his shoulder a glance to Smee that could only be described as giddy.
Hook adjusted his waistcoat and smoothed down his curls with his claw, readying himself for Wendy's appraisal. With a deep breath, Wendy's eyes finally creaked open. They blinked several times as they adjusted to the heavy and unfamiliar bed covers about her. Then, with a start, she hoisted herself up on one elbow, and her bleary eyes collided head-on with Captain Hook's.
Hook grinned gallantly down at her, his arms outstretched in a gentleman's greeting. But Wendy said and did nothing, and only continued to stare unblinkingly. And then, with only the slightest twitch of the eyebrows, Wendy's eyes rolled back and she collapsed once again upon the bed.
The Captain frowned and his arms dropped to his side. She was gone again! Highly troubled, he turned and looked to Smee, as if to ask what on Earth had just happened, and Smee could only shrug his shoulders. Hook fixated back upon Wendy, a deep frustration welling up inside of him.
Just then, as if a lightning bolt had struck, Hook realized what he had done. The last time Wendy Darling had set eyes upon him, he was being swallowed whole by a crocodile! Well, 'tis of no wonder why she should faint dead away at the sight of him once more! Not to mention the unhappy terms in which they had parted company. It quickly became apparent to Hook that Wendy must be reacquainted with his unsettling existence delicately, and that he should perhaps *not* be present when she fully awakened.
He would retain his vigil at her bedside, but at the first stirring, he would quietly slip out of the room. Just as he had done before, he would patiently let her come to him.