Title: To Have and To Hold
Author: Squeezynz
Chapter: Fourteen - Reunited
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"How the dang blast it did you know to anchor here?"
"I didn't..." Stubbs voice, so annoyingly calm, set Harry's teeth on edge.
"Then how the blue blazes is this going to help us find them?"
"Ask the Captain, he's the boss, not me."
"I did."
Stubbs cocked a bushy eyebrow and waited for the good Doctor to elucidate. Harry huffed and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Oh alright...he told me that the less I knew the better."
Stubbs chuckled. "And he's probably has the right of it."
"But it's been weeks..."
"Ten days to be exact."
"Pedantic bastard." Harry muttered.
"Eh?"
"Nothing."
The two friends leant casually on the rail, staring intently at the shore so tantalizingly close.
The Nymph was berthed in a cove with the unfortunate title, The Bone Yard because of the unusually high number of large ocean going mammals that washed up, leaving behind their huge bones to bleach on the rocks. The inlet was bordered by steep slopes covered in densely planted palms, their fronds waving in the stiff breeze currently raking all of Neverland, the balmy evening lightened by the full moon rising slowly into the heavens.
Both men stared at the sky above the island, noting the dark clouds scudding over the southern end near the base of the volcano. As they watched the clouds started to circle, forming a spiral and then a funnel, the sky now connected to the land by an unmistakable force of nature, a tornado.
"Will you look at that!" Harry exclaimed, pointing to the phenomenon forming in front of their eyes.
"I'll fetch the captain."
Harry remained by the rail while Stubbs hurried to the poop deck and dived through the door leading to the Captain's cabin.
Pushing open the door he spoke to the man leaning over the chart table.
"There's something you'll be wanting to see sir."
"I'll be right there, Mister Stubbs."
Back on the main deck the entire crew of the Nymph was gathered at the rail, all of them pointing and talking at once while the object of their attention grew in size and strength, the funnel now black beneath the clouds swirling at its head. Stubbs shouldered his way through the crowd to where Harry stood, clearing a space for the Captain to see what all the fuss was about.
"How long?" The Captain asked, extending his telescope and putting it up to his eye.
"Just minutes." Stubbs answered, wincing when a large flash of lightning lit up the clouds, another following closely as the sky continued to darken while the moon remained clear as it ascended above the horizon.
"I'd say our young friend is in a spot of bother Mister Stubbs."
"I'd have to agree sir."
As they watched the funnel of the tornado moved slowly along, debris flying up behind it as it cut a swathe through the jungle.
"Doesn't do things by halves does he?" The Captain observed, lowering the telescope and exchanging a rueful glance with his first mate.
"Always was impetuous, but it tells us that Hook has been busy and we must be on our guard when we get them back."
"You think he had help?"
"I'd bet my medallion he has...most likely Peter turned down the Keeper."
"I wouldn't be surprised." Stubbs remarked laconically. "We should have prepared him better."
"It wasn't allowed...you know the rules. He had to make the decision on his own."
"And now?"
"Now he's not alone, now he can be all he is destined to be."
Stubbs snorted. "Your as bad as the Oracle with your cryptic riddles."
"Sorry..." Grinning and unrepentant Captain Aramis, formerly known to Wendy as Arnold Bennett of Bennetts Bookshop, collapsed his telescope and handed it to his first mate. "I guess we can take that as Peter's signal that he needs our help."
"If Peter is creating that he must be in a rage. I almost pity Hook."
"I don't...Hook must have done something pretty bad to get Peter this worked up. We need to find them soon, tonight preferably."
"How do we know where to look?"
"Get a man up the mast to take a bearing on that." Aramis pointed to the tornado that was still tearing up a strip of Neverlands lush jungle. "And quickly, Peter won't be able to maintain a force that strong for long."
Aramis remained by the rail while Stubbs organized a man up the mast. As they watched from the rail the tornado started to lose its density, the clouds above starting to drift away until the funnel detached itself from the ground and drifted upwards, dissipating into the air until nothing existed to show where it had been.
Aramis shaded his eyes and stared up the mast. "Did you get the bearing?"
"Aye aye Captain."
"Good man. Organize the crew Mister Stubbs, we leave immediately."
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Hook stood and stared at the remnants of his crew slowly gathering amongst the tattered debris that was all that was left of their camp.
"Odd's wounds but I'll have his eyes for this!"
His first mate lifted a hand and swiped at a persistent trickle of blood that snaked it's way from a gory head wound.
"Do we search for him?"
"When the sun comes up...we'll never find him in the dark."
They surveyed the wreckage around them.
"Get the wounded seen to and settled for what's left of the night. I imagine that every creature and man on Neverland is aware of what just happened. His crew won't be far away and we don't stand a chance against them with all our supplies destroyed."
"Aye sir."
"I still have what he wants Grant...he'll have to face me again to get them back."
"Aye sir, that he will."
"Next time I won't be so lenient...with either of them."
"As you say sir."
Hook waved his henchman away, watching as he organized the men to take care of those injured by the storm.
"Next time, Peter Pan...next time." Hook muttered, turning to stalk away. Abruptly he pulled up short as a smoky apparition appeared in front of him, its outline quickly coalescing as the Keeper completed his journey from the Never Realm.
"You lost him." The Keeper rasped, his grey robes swirling around Hook like a damp mist.
"Hardly...the brat called up a storm that the Titan's themselves would not've been able to withstand."
"Lame excuses!" The Keeper hissed, sweeping his hand in the air dismissively. Hook scowled.
"Next time you can capture the brat and his wench and see how long you can keep them!"
"You have the amulet?"
"The acorn...yes...but as Pan rightly pointed out, both it and the book are useless without the Oracle and the thimble."
"Both will be within your reach very soon. His ship is berthed in the Bone Yard and lightly guarded."
"How do you know this?"
"They saw the storm and will be here soon to collect the Pan and his wench...you can take advantage of this and seize the Oracle and the other pendant."
"And then? They are useless without either Pan or the girl to bring the prophecy to fruition."
"One obstacle at a time...with all the artifacts in your grasp, the Pan will be forced to either face you or surrender the girl...all can still be yours!"
"And what do you get out of this black bargain? You led us to Bart, who led them to me...what reward is yours once the prophecy is fulfilled?"
"Unlike Black hearted Bart, I intend to enjoy what is to come...I was banished to the Never Realm for crimes I didn't commit and forced to bide my time until the future King of Neverland was ready to be invested. That time is now and I intend to take my rightful place as Prime Consul to the King, whether it be you or him."
"A true mercenary," Hook chuckled, "A creature after my own heart!"
"As you say...soon all the wealth of Neverland will be yours, all creatures your subjects and the power that comes from being King of this world and others."
"You almost convince me Keeper...almost." Hook sneered at the grey apparition, swiping the smoking robes with his hook to watch them part and reform.
"You have long wanted to revenge yourself on the Pan...this is your final opportunity...don't sneer at the one who would make it all possible."
"I wonder why you make it possible at all?" Hook asked, one dark eyebrow raised imperiously.
"He rejected his Kingship...he is not worthy to rule, either this realm or the next. You are strong and powerful in your own right, a worthy despot to rule the three worlds."
"What of the other inhabitants of this island?"
"They will have no choice but to give obeyance to your will once you are ruler."
"You make a pretty argument Keeper..."
"Rouse your men, you have a chance to take the Nymph by surprise."
"If I rouse them now I'll have a mutiny to contend with...we'll move in the morning."
"But..."
"Enough...I weary of talk. Take yourself back to wherever you come from, I need to sleep."
Turning his back Hook ignored the Keeper and watched his men rebuilding the fires and salvaging what they could find from the debris. When he glanced back over his shoulder the Keeper was gone.
"Ruler of the three worlds...King of Neverland...Hah!"
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Peter lay staring up at the roof of their shelter, his mind turning over what had happened the night before. Wendy slumbered at his side, her soft breathing washing over him, adding to the birds warming up to their dawn chorus outside the hut.
He felt different, as if something had been wrenched open inside him, a door that had been only opened a crack before, but was now busted wide open, never to be shut again. He remembered when he thought Tink had died, his despair and pain, his heart like a stone in his chest. Then it had snowed, his fear and loss plunging Neverland into a premature winter that echoed his frozen heart as he mourned Tink. The words had suddenly popped into his head as he wept, the word begging to be spoken aloud, echoing in his head until he started to speak, then they tumbled out over and over as he shouted them to the sky, pleading for the return of his fairy friend, a joy filling him as he chanted the words, a faint echo from far away heard above the roar of the wind and snow. Tink had revived and she'd told him of Hook's plans, instilling in him a fierce desire for revenge. During his fight above the Jolly Roger he had felt invulnerable, but Hook was too canny and had known exactly what would pierce Peter's confidence, erode his bravado and bring him down. It had worked even better than Hook could ever have known. Peter had had no defense against the unwanted truth of Hook's words, of his cruel premonitions of Wendy's life without Peter in it. Later, laying on the hard deck Peter had already given up, accepted that his life was about to end, his mind numb with Hook's hideous taunts and supreme confidence. It had taken Wendy's gift of love to restore his life to him, her kiss infusing him with hope and a bright energy that sent Hook flying into the rigging and his crew over the railing to the sea below. That same energy was what he'd called upon to raise the storm, but it had been much more than a single burst of exuberance followed by heart thumping bliss. This time he'd called on an energy that fed on his rage and pain, that needed him to maintain his rage to form and control the twisting force of nature to his bidding. It had been exhilarating and frightening and forced him to acknowledge that he was capable of something terrible if he ever let it loose. Afterwards the feeling had remained with him even into sleep, his body humming with currents of energy that made him twitch and jerk in the throws of his dreams. Now he lay calm but still felt something barely leashed inside him, an energy that longed to lash out and destroy, to break and crush, batter itself against an enemy and sweep them away, as he had done with Hook and his men.
It was terrifying and powerful and he knew he wanted to try it again. He almost wished Hook would attack them again, right now, just so he could summon the energy again, wiping Hook and his kind from the face of the world forever.
With such a power he could rule Neverland, could be ruler of everything and no-one could stand in his way.
It was a sobering and scary thought.
Wendy stirred against his side and he banished his disturbing musings to the back of him mind.
"Peter?" Her sleepy whisper made him smile.
"Good morning sweetness, sleep well?"
"Mmmmmmmmm." She snuggled into his side, content to doze.
"We still have a way to go today to reach safety."
"Safety?"
"Yes safety...the Nymph won't be far away and they'll be coming to get us soon, we can meet them on the trail."
Wendy lifted her head and blinked at him curiously.
"How can you know that?"
Peter gazed back at her steadily. "I'm not sure how, I just know."
"But..." Peter placed a finger on her lips, silencing her.
"I can't explain...something happened...something wonderful and now I can sense things."
"And this new...sense...it tells you the Nymph is near?"
"Yes."
"Oh. What else can you...sense?"
"That Hook and his men are long gone, they left at first light back to their ship. We won't be troubled by them."
"But he has the second book and now my acorn pendant as well...how are we to get those back?"
"Your supposing I want them back."
"Don't you?"
"As long as we keep the Oracle from him he can't do anything about the prophecy."
"I suppose so...but if we don't do anything, won't he just come after us? I don't really want to be forever looking over my shoulder to see if Hook is about to pounce."
"Neither do I...and I have the feeling you don't really want to make your home on board the Nymph either."
"I-I-I wouldn't really mind."
Peter shifted onto his side and propped his head on his hand, staring down at Wendy who was looking off to the side.
"You lie very badly."
Slowly Wendy lifted her eyes to his. "If that is our only choice, then I'll live aboard the Nymph. As long as you are there, what does it matter where?"
"It matters to you, and what matters to you, matters to me."
Wendy lifted her hand and trailed her fingers down his face, tracing the outline of his lips with one fingertip.
"You matter to me Peter." She lightly touched the scab covering the split marring his mouth. "I'd rather die than have you hurt again."
Smiling crookedly because of the painful tug of his split lip, Peter captured her fingers and pressed a kiss to their tips.
"Hook caught us by surprise...it won't happen again. I won't let it."
Responding to the teasing light in his eyes, Wendy smiled up at him. "You won't allow it? Is this one of your special senses telling you this? Maybe I should ask you what is to be our future, are you a fortune teller Peter?"
Like a chill breeze, the teasing light in his eyes died to be replaced by a flickering flame that made Wendy gasp. The flame was red.
"Peter?"
As quickly as it appeared, the flame was gone and Peter smiled ruefully. "No fortune teller, just a fool who wants to spend his days with you...forever."
"Oh Peter, you do say the loveliest things."
Banishing the spurt of fear as her imagination, Wendy pulled his head down to hers and bestowed a gentle kiss on his bruised lips, willing her love to heal him quickly. Peter wasn't so reticent, when she pulled back he followed, taking her mouth in a kiss that left her breathless and tingling all over, his lips moving over hers in total disregard for any discomfort to himself.
As the kiss deepened Peter felt the power inside him swell, urging him on, urging him to expend it someway. As he ravaged Wendy's mouth his hand roamed over her body and down her flank, stroking and smoothing as he bunched her skirts up her legs before positioning himself over her. Wendy felt him move, felt the coolness of air on her limbs but thought nothing of it, her need to get closer making her a willing accomplis to her own seduction, her body straining against his as he freed himself from his breeches and prepared to plunder her treasures. With little of no preparation he buried himself inside her heat, Wendy letting out a squeak of protest against his lips, the sound quickly changing to a moan as he moved against her, her legs wrapping around his hips to keep him close.
It was short, sweet and explosive, Peter reaching his peak quickly as the power inside him surged, his thrusts hard as he expended himself with a groan inside her. Wendy cried out as she held him close, absorbing his shaking body with murmured endearments and tender caresses, their mouths meeting again to exchange heated kisses and loving words until they lay panting, forehead to forehead in the aftermath.
Stroking her fingers through his disordered curls, Wendy licked her lips and tried to speak.
"Oh my...that was...unexpected."
Enjoying the feeling of her fingers raking over his head, Peter grunted and smiled. Seeing that smile, Wendy felt something bloom in the region of her heart, it made her feel desired and satisfied, loved and cherished, everything she'd ever wanted.
A shrill bird cry from outside intruded on the moment and made Peter suddenly pull away.
"There's someone outside!" He announced, rearranging his clothing and holding out a hand to help Wendy to her feet.
"Hook?"
"No...friends, not enemies."
He waited for her to sort out her rumpled dress, watching as she smoothed it in a attempt to make it less obvious she had just enjoyed a passionate tumble with her lover. She lifted her head and saw him watching her with a smirk plastered over his battered face.
"At least tell me if I have any leaves stuck in my hair." She reproved him, grimacing when he stepped forward and pulled several of the offending leaves from her tresses. "Better?" She asked.
"Better...but you still look well and truly loved."
"Oh I don't mind that...I am." She replied pertly and he laughed.
Together they walked out of the ramshackle hut and stood in the clearing. For a moment nothing moved and then a figure stepped out of the jungle followed by others.
"Mr.Bennett!"
"Captain Aramis!"
"Well met both of you, we got your message. Although a simple smoke signal would have sufficed." He grinned at the two young people, Wendy with her mouth inelegantly open and Peter staring at him with undisguised pleasure to see his old friend and mentor again.
Captain Aramis stepped forward and met Peter, both embracing the other with much shoulder patting and back thumping. Wendy stared in shocked surprise at the extravagantly attired man currently greeting Peter with as much joy as if Peter was his son. She had difficulty assimilating the kindly, bookish Mister Bennett of London with the rakishly handsome Captain before her. Their greetings over, both Peter and Aramis turned to face Wendy, similar wide grins plastered over both faces.
"Wendy let me introduce you..." Peter started but Wendy raised her hand and cut him off.
"I already know Captain Aramis...or is it Arnold Bennett? I hardly know what to call you."
"My dear Miss Darling...this must seem a little strange, I'm sure." Aramis gestured to himself but again Wendy halted any further comments by holding up both hands.
"This is not strange...what is strange is you said nothing about this, about Neverland, about Peter! Strange is finding out that what you thought was coincidence was in fact planned from the start...did I ever have a say in what my future would be? Did I ever have any power over my own destiny?"
"Wendy..." Peter started to say but Aramis laid a hand on his arm and stepped forward.
"You are right to feel angry with me. I should have said something, but it was not clear that you even remembered your experience as a girl, let alone wanted to hear anything about it when you were full grown."
"Were you ever planning on telling me about your association with all this?"
"Not unless you showed a desire to know." Aramis told her bluntly.
Wendy flushed, her angry gaze sweeping over the men standing before her. Stubbs and the Doctor stood at the edge of the clearing eyeing her warily. Peter and Aramis remained a foot or so away, also regarding her as if expecting her to explode at any moment.
"Has all I've been through, what we've been through just been a test of my loyalty? To find out if I'm suitable? A fitting mate for the once and future King of Neverland?"
Peter glanced at Aramis before stepping forward his hand outstretched.
"Wendy, it's not like that...was never like that..."
"How can I believe you..." she blinked to stop the tears forming in her eyes from falling. "What difference is there between you and Hook, except that he takes what he wants with honest force, while you get your way with trickery and lies...maybe he should be the one in the prophecy!"
"I say, that's a bit harsh m'dear..." Aramis replied, frowning at her.
"Wendy that's not the way I wanted it to be..." Peter tried to speak but Wendy was in no mood to listen.
"From the start you tried to trick me, not telling me your name, pretending to be someone else..what am I supposed to believe?"
"Believe that I love you..."
"Love won by deceit, by coercion..." Wendy retorted, too upset to temper her words. Peter flinched as if struck, his head turning to the side as he swallowed hard to bite back his anger.
Aramis stepped between them and held up his hands.
"Enough...we can sort out this muddle back at the Nymph..." As he turned his attention to the crew Wendy gathered her skirts and took off at a run, disappearing behind the hut and into the jungle beyond.
Peter made to follow her but found himself held firm by his first mate, Stubbs.
"Leave Harry to talk to her lad...she'll not be wanting to see your face for a little while."
Peter watched as the Doctor loped off after Wendy, two other crew following to provide aid if it was needed. When they disappeared from view he shook off Stubbs hand and turned away, his shoulder slumping as if under an enormous strain. Aramis and Stubbs exchanged a glance before the Captain approached Peter and laid an avuncular arm about his shoulders.
"Take heart lad...if she didn't love you so much she wouldn't be so upset."
"She's right though...we did trick her, did coerce her."
"But that doesn't change how you feel about her, or her about you? She'll come around and if not..." Aramis grinned wickedly. "We'll shut the pair of you in the Captain's cabin and let you sort it out between you, and won't let you out until you do."
Peter chuckled and elbowed the older man in the ribs.
"I'll have to hope you're right." Instantly he sobered. "Hook has the other book and Wendy's acorn pendant."
"I suspected as much...the Oracle has been more than reticent the last few days then indicated we needed to berth at the Bone Yard."
"You still have the thimble?"
"Of course..."
"Hook is being helped by someone...probably the Keeper. I turned down his offer of Kingship."
Aramis looked at Peter in surprise. "Why?"
"I don't know...because I didn't like the idea of that creature controlling my future."
"Your future has always been written Peter...you only needed to grow enough to be ready to accept the crown."
Peter appeared to be thinking, turning suddenly to face Aramis and fix him with an unblinking stare.
"Was Hook ever offered the crown? Were you?"
"If not before, I imagine it has been offered to him now...and me? I never aspired to be more than I was...Neverland was never truly mine, not as it has been yours...I was only a custodian, keeping it safe in trust until the true ruler arrived."
"Me?"
"You."
The sound of people approaching drew their attention back to the rickety hut, Harry leading Wendy from the jungle and back towards them, the two crewmen following behind. Harry had Wendy's hand in his and Peter felt a surge of possessive jealousy grip his innards, his fists clenching against his side.
Wendy kept her eyes downcast, gripping Harry's hand as if it were a lifeline. She didn't speak, leaving Harry to speak for her.
"I suggested to Miss Darling that the jungle wasn't the safest place to think things over, so she agreed to return to the Nymph until it could be arranged for her to go home."
Aramis placed a restraining hand on Peter's shoulder when he felt the young man tense. "A wise idea...let us go." Aramis agreed, holding on to Peter until Wendy passed by.
"Steady lad...you'll have your chance to set things right. In the meantime give her room."
With narrowed eyes Peter watched Harry lead Wendy to her place among the crewmen, only releasing her hand after lifting to his lips and kissing the tips, Wendy giving the young Doctor a smile in thanks. Immediately they moved off, leading the way back along the trail and back to the Nymph. Peter, Stubbs and Aramis brought up the rear, Harry waiting for them to catch up. As they drew level with the Doctor Peter suddenly lunged forward and punched Harry in the face, connecting with the man's jaw and knocking him to the ground. Instantly Stubbs grabbed Peter's arms and held him to prevent him from pummelling the young Doctor further. Harry accepted Aramis's hand to get up, his own dabbing gingerly at his mouth where a trickle of blood smeared his chin.
"What the hell was that for Peter?"
"Don't touch her again or I'll kill you!"
Harry scowled at Peter and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "I didn't do more that be courteous to her...I brought her back, didn't I?"
"It's been a difficult morning after a difficult night. We're all tired and on edge." He turned to Peter who was struggling to free himself from Stubbs ham sized fists. "Harry wasn't doing anything for you to get jealous over Peter...you look like hell, let Harry look at you and dress some of those bruises."
Abruptly freed by his first mate, Peter stared at the ground, chastened by his former mentor's words and ashamed of hitting his friend.
"I'm sorry Harry...I shouldn't have lashed out like that."
Glad that Peter wasn't about to thump him again, Harry smiled crookedly. "Sorry I overstepped the boundaries...I won't do that again. For what it's worth...she's never smiled at me the way she does you."
Peter looked up at the Doctor and suddenly grinned, the two shaking hands before turning to follow the rest of the crew. Stubbs and Aramis shared a look before following the younger men along the trail.
They reached the shore at midday, Wendy grateful for the rest as she sank onto the sun warmed sand in the shade of a palm tree. The crewmen spread out over the beach to ready the boats drawn up between the rocks. She hadn't looked over her shoulder once to see how Peter was doing, her shoulders burning with the effort of not turning. Now she watched as Captain Aramis and Peter emerged from the jungle, passing where she sat to go down the beach to the waterline, both staring out at the ship moored in the bay. Stubbs stood close to Wendy, her silent guardian while the two Captain's, young and old, conversed at the water's edge. Soon the three boats were ready for launching, Harry approaching to help Wendy up and into the first boat along with Stubbs. Peter climbed into the second, and Aramis the third. Pulling strongly, the crewmen rowed the boats between the jutting spines of dark rock and through the breakers to the sea beyond. The Nymph lay peacefully at anchor, her flag flying smartly at the top of the mast, her anchor chain stretched taut by the out going tide.
Stubbs was muttering something to the Doctor and Wendy strained to hear their words.
"I can't see the watchman, or the lookout, can you?"
"Nope...or anyone on the deck...what do you think...?" Harry didn't finish, his words cut off by a shout from Captain Aramis hailing the Nymph.
"Ahoy the Nymph...ahoy the watch!" Aramis' voice boomed out across the water, but apart from the answering screech of a gull there was no reply from the crew on board.
As they approached the ship, Wendy's boat was held back, Stubbs moving to the front and staring up at the side of the ship as the other two boats bumped alongside. Like monkeys the men swarmed up the ship using the boarding nets and ropes hanging over the rail. Peter was just behind Aramis to clamber over the rail and Wendy held her breath, her ears straining for any sign of trouble even as her eyes swept over the seemingly peaceful ship. A sailor leant over the rail and signaled for Wendy's boat to come alongside..
Stubbs held the boat as close to the ships wall as possible while Wendy scrambled slowly up the boarding net, her feet hampered by her skirts as she carefully placed each toe hold, inching her way up the steep side. Eager hands reached over to pull her aboard and then she was standing on the sun warmed planking and surveying a scene of carnage.
The men left behind had put up a fair defense, their hands still clasping their weapons where they fell, blood pooling beneath them. The worst was around the entrance to the Captain's cabin where several bodies lay heaped, heavily cut about with evidence that they extracted a high price for their lives. Several of the bodies were not of the Nymph's crew and already they were being dragged away from the remains of the ships company. Peter and Captain Aramis had already gone below to check the hold, appearing several minutes later with grim faces that told their own story. Wendy remained at the rail, too shocked to speak, her face pale and her skin cold despite the heat of the sun beating on her head. Stubbs and the crew were folding canvas shrouds around the dead crew members, leaving the dead pirates to lay in the sun, glassy eyes staring up into the rigging. Harry had checked them all for any signs of life but retreated when it became obvious there was none. Peter and the Captain were too far away for Wendy to overhear their conversation but quick glances her way were enough to alert her to what had happened. Swallowing hard she picked her way over the deck to where the two men stood, avoiding where possible stepping in any of the pools of blood smearing the deck.
"It's gone, isn't it?" Wendy asked, glancing Peter's way but not meeting his eyes.
Peter continued to stare over the side of the ship, ignoring her, but Aramis turned to face her and nodded grimly.
"I'm afraid so lass...Hook has the Oracle, it's only chance that he didn't find the thimble as well."
"Where is it?"
Aramis removed his hat and lifted a chain from around his neck. The medallion glinted in the sunlight as he dangled it from his fingers.
"But that's a coin, not a thimble." Wendy remarked, watching it spin as Aramis held it.
"Peter?" The Captain held it out and Peter took it in his hand, closing his fist over the coin and holding it, an expression of fierce concentration creasing his face for a few seconds before he relaxed and released his fingers. On his palm now lay a familiar object, the thimble she had given him so very long ago.
"How did you..." Wendy asked but Peter had turned away again, staring off across the sea to the horizon. Aramis clucked his tongue and gently took Wendy's arm, steering her away from Peter and back to the opposite rail.
"Peter thought it best to hide it with me until it came time for the prophecy to be fulfilled, one way or the other. He changed it into a coin to further confound his enemies. I took it to a jewelers and had the chain attached. It was kept out of sight and away from harm in my safe at the bookshop."
Wendy stared up at the kindly face of her employer Mister Bennett and wanted nothing so much as to burst into tears. As if sensing how close she was to breaking down, Aramis led her towards the forecastle and into a room used to store weapons and spare canvas. He sat her down on a pile of sail material and pulled over a barrel for himself to sit on.
"We'll leave the men about their grisly business."
Wendy stared down at her hand, then glanced up at Aramis, her eyes swimming."It's my fault isn't it...my fault those men died, my fault that Peter won't take what the Keeper offered...if it wasn't for me, none of this would have happened!" Overwrought, she burst into noisy tears, covering her face with her hands.
For a moment Aramis let her weep, his own eyes moist as he refrained from comforting her. After a minute he got up and sat beside her, putting his arm around her and drawing her down to his shoulder.
"It's all been a bit much for you lass...one shock after another, it's no wonder you're all done in."
"H-h-e-e...m-m-ust...h-h-ha-te m-e-e.."
"No lass, he loves you, just a much as you love him."
His quietly murmured avowal only made Wendy sob harder, soaking the Captains coat front and forcing him to pull out a large square of linen for her to mop her face and blow her nose. After a few more minutes she pulled away and tried to repair the damage done to her face.
"You must think me a fickle person." Wendy whispered, not lifting her eyes to his.
"Not fickle...just confused, young and in love." Giving her shoulder a final squeeze he got to his feet and sat down once more on the barrel. Wendy finally raised her eyes and gazed across at the Captain, noting the lines around his eyes and his grey hair.
"How is it you know Peter, know Neverland?"
"I was once a Pan myself...long, long ago, before you or your parents were even thought of."
"Are you Peter's father?"
"No lass...we're not blood related, but we are related by experience, by this place and our place within these worlds."
"Why were you in London?"
"Because Peter asked me to look after you, watch over you and make sure all was well in your life."
"So it wasn't a coincidence, us meeting."
"It was...in a way. Peter couldn't foresee that you would keep up with your storytelling, or keep your interest in books and the like."
"And your brother, the one overseas?"
"Actually a great, great, grand-nephew from my sister's line. As we are of an age it seemed more helpful to say that he was my younger brother."
"Good gracious...how old are you?"
"Old enough to know an impertinent question when I hear it."
"Oh..." Wendy glanced away, not seeing the twinkle in Aramis' eye.
After several minutes of silence he leant forward. "Aren't you going to ask me how I know Peter?"
"If you choose to tell me." Wendy feigned indifference which made Aramis smirk in a way that forcefully reminded her of Peter.
"As a Pan it came to pass that I succumbed, as we all do, to a pretty face and I wanted my life on Neverland to change. I wanted to grow up and be with the one I'd chosen. I had lived on Neverland for a very long time and seen many children arrive and leave, never one capturing my heart until she appeared. Like you she made me feel there was more out there, more for me to experience, so I made up my mind and decided then and there to grow up. But, like Peter, I had been destined to become Ruler of the Three Worlds and was offered this by the Keeper. I turned it down, just like Peter."
Wendy waited for him to continue but as the silence stretched she prompted him. "What happened then?"
"I grew too old to be the Pan anymore, so a new one was found, a boy with raven hair from the slums of Olde London, his life worse than nothing before I found him. I took him back to Neverland and there made him the new Pan. At first he was content with what his new life demanded, a carefree existence with new Lost Boys to care for and play with, no worries about food, or shelter or anyone abusing them. It was idyllic."
Again Aramis paused and Wendy waited for him to continue.
"Didn't he like it?" She prompted.
"Oh he did for awhile...he enjoyed lording it over the other children, playing at being ruler of Neverland like a proper little King. I watched it all from afar, watched over him and prayed that I'd made the right choice. Unfortunately I wasn't careful enough. I was too taken up in my new life and my new love to notice that James, my successor was not content to play at being ruler, he wanted to be ruler of all he surveyed and not just Neverland, but everywhere - your world included."
Wendy had an inkling of who Aramis was talking about but held her tongue.
"It became apparent that the boy was getting too cocky for his own, and Neverlands good. I returned to the island and tried to remonstrate with the child, but it was no use. He was too wild, too arrogant, too drunk of his supposed powers. He tried to kill me and destroy the Nymph, his rage when he could do neither almost unholy in its ferocity.
So I gathered the magical folk of Neverland together and we took the boys powers away from him. He was no longer the Pan, he was just an ordinary boy once more."
"Good heavens..."
"When that happened he stopped being a child and started to grow up, his thirst for revenge out weighing all his childish desires, his strength of purpose to avenge himself on me and mine becoming an obsession. Eventually he was old enough and strong enough to seek out the darker elements on Neverland, using them to secure himself a ship and crew and the means to fight me on equal terms. It was a terrible time for Neverland, the whole island in an uproar with the magical creatures battling to contain the darker forces released by James while I battled to keep the young man from blasting me from the sea. It was during this Titanic struggle that Peter appeared on the scene. You see the fairies had decided to take matters into their own hands and introduce a third player, Peter, to be the new Pan. Myself and James were too old in Neverland terms to be the Pan and we were locked in a mortal battle which ruled us out for the Kingship of Neverland, James because he was too wicked, and myself because I had already refused the offer. Before Peter arrived Neverland had become shrouded in a dark cloud, the air chill as our ships chased each other around the shores of this island, never able to outwit the other, always too far away or too awake to each trick to suffer a quick end to the battle. When Peter arrived spring arrived with him, the skies cleared and warmth flooding over the jungles making everything bloom. I immediately wanted to find this new child and protect him from James, but we were being hard pressed by the Jolly Roger and couldn't pause from our flight for a moment. As it was, our efforts were in vain. James caught up with us, and in a final showdown defeated me and my crew, slaying my wife in the battle and leaving me for dead. It was a miracle that the fairy folk found me and revived me, for I was already long gone with one foot in heaven."
"How terrible..." Wendy breathed, enthralled by his story.
"My ship and crew were lost, my love along with them, my life seemed to have no purpose, until I met up with Peter. He was so cocky and full of his own importance, flitting about the place like a demented dragon fly. I took it upon myself to teach the boy to fight, to be able at least to defend himself when James came to find him, as I was sure he would. Luckily it didn't happen at once and Peter was a quick learner. Eventually he overtook me in skill, much faster and more agile than I had ever been in my youth. By now I was a shadow of my former self, still full of grief for my wife and longing to return to the real world. Once I felt Peter was as ready as I could make him I left Neverland, with the aid of the fairies, and returned to London to find time had passed very quickly in my absence."
Aramis paused, his mind flooded with images from the past, a hand passing shakily over his eyes as he drew in a ragged breath.
"Of course James knew of Peter but hadn't been able to capture the boy, his frequent forays into the jungles usually ending up with Peter dancing rings around James and putting him in a rage which lasted for days. Peter considered it all the greatest fun and never let an occasion pass without taunting his enemy mercilessly. I was back in London by now but was kept up to date with events in Neverland by my friends among the fairy folk. They told me how James lost his hand to the crocodile, no thanks to Peter, and how James had taken the moniker of Captain Hook from that time on. From then on it was all out war between Peter and his band of Lost Boys and Captain Hook and the crew of the Jolly Roger, a battle without an end in sight for either side. It would have continued that way for centuries if you had not appeared on the scene...Peter would never have discovered that there is more to life than games and childish ways, he would never have discovered love and he needed it more than any child I have met before or since."
"Why did he need it so badly?"
"He was reaching a point where it was quite possible he would join with James and become his successor in all things. Before he discovered you and your stories he was becoming more cruel and more despotic with each passing day. Then he was led to you by his own fairy, Tinkerbell, who had heard your stories about pirates and mermaids and all the wonders of Neverland, having seeded your dreams to make sure you remembered them."
"She put those ideas in my head?"
"She was aware that Peter was drifting away from the gentler side of Neverland and she needed to find something to engage his interest away from the obsession of James Hook. Your stories were the perfect excuse to lure Peter away from Neverland and away from Hook. In fact it worked so well she had difficulty getting him to leave London at all and return to his home. The rest you know."
"He met me, brought me to Neverland, I kissed him and Hook was swallowed by the crocodile...but survived! Now Peter has grown up, there's a new Pan, Tomas, and Hook is alive as ever. Nothing has changed."
"You've changed...Peter has changed, even Neverland has changed since you last were here."
"Is Tomas to be the new Pan, the new King of Neverland now that Peter has rejected his destiny?"
"No...Tomas is just a boy playing boys games. He will stay for as long as he wants, but he is already starting to grow up, as all children do."
"And Peter?"
"He may say he has given up his Kingship...but I think he just says that to cover up the fact that he knows he's already the King Of Neverland, regardless of what any one says. He has the power inside him and has used it. He will even discover he still has the power to fly, if he chooses to try."
"He does? Why doesn't he use it?"
"Because he thinks it was left behind when he grew up. I spoke to Tink before she passed on to the High Host, she told me that Peter was the one, gifted with all the power a mortal could desire and that all he needed was someone to provide the final ingredient."
"Ingredient?" Wendy asked faintly.
"Love."
"Oh dear..."
Her head whirling with all that Aramis had told her, Wendy rose stiffly to her feet and walked over to the small porthole set in the side of the room. Outside the sun was sliding down to the horizon, the sea painted gold as it reflected the dying rays of the day. Wendy leant her head against her arm as she gazed at the sunset sending streaks of orange and pink across the sky, her emotions in turmoil. If Aramis was to be believed, and despite everything she had no reason not to believe him, Peter was indeed the true King of Neverland and she was his chosen Queen and everything that had happened both back when they first met and since had been leading to this moment in time. Closing her eyes she tried to imagine her life if Peter had not appeared in her room, enticed there by her stories. What she pictured was not pleasant and she quickly opened her eyes to banish the disturbing images. Turning away from the window she faced the room and the man patiently sitting upon the upturned barrel.
"I owe Peter an apology." She said, twisting her fingers together and biting her lip.
Aramis also rose to his feet and faced her in the darkening room.
"You just need some time together away from all this."
"Well that would be nice...is it possible with Hook breathing down our necks and everything bar the thimble in his possession?" The irony in her voice was not wasted on him.
Aramis shook his head ruefully. "Put like that I suppose a holiday is not exactly on the cards right now for anybody."
They shared a rueful smile before Aramis gestured for her to go ahead.
"Will he forgive me?" Wendy asked, her hand hovering over the door latch.
"Anything." Aramis answered without hesitating. "You are who he loves above all else, above me, above Neverland."
"I do love him...I always did."
"Then don't let anything stop you telling him."
"Thank you for letting me know how you met Peter...it explains so much."
"I thought it was time you knew." Aramis regarded her steadily for a moment. "Then you won't be asking me to take you back to London, back home?"
"Why would I ask you that? I am home."
Drawing in a deep breath Wendy twisted the latch and opened the door, stepping out onto the deck, her heart fluttering in her chest.
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
tbc...