Chapter 3

Before you get too concerned about what happened to me at the end of chapter 1, well forgive me for digressing in the last chapter. You already know that Hook did me no harm while I was his prisoner in the cage, for how else would I have been able to lead him through the woods in search of Peter?

Morning had dawned, on the day of my doom, and Captain Hook had become much less agreeable.

"My dear Jinny," he began as he reached out and grabbed me from off the leaf on which I stood. "Morning has dawned and we seem no closer to finding Pan than when we left the ship." These words, spoken with exceeding calm, were accompanied by a smile as his hand tightened about me. A shiver ran up my spine. I had an idea what a fly caught in a spider's web must feel.

"I'm sorry, Captain. Really I am. It's just that–"

Our attentions were ripped aside as a cloud, sounding much like a million African bees, swarmed toward us. My hopes soared. At the head of the swarm, which upon closer inspection I discovered was the largest band of fairies I'd ever seen, flew my own sister. Tink, dressed normally but with her face painted with red marks, looked almost like a fairy warrior princess. The fairies surrounded the pirates, raining down fairy dust and making a regular mess of things. I felt Hook's fingers loosen around me. Before I could even react on my own, two fairies took hold of my arms and pulled me away.

My rescue complete, I glanced over my shoulder to the band of rough looking men. No one seemed to even notice I'd been slipped away, so busy were they with waving the air to clear it of all the fairy dust. Mr. Smee sneezed. Hook cursed and glanced all about, I could only suppose, looking for me.

I let out a small sigh, then looked forward, determined not to ever look back again. I'd been saved from a fate worse than death, and I had managed to keep Captain Hook from finding Peter. Feeling rather proud of myself, I smiled.

I turned to each of the fairies holding my arms. "Thank you for helping me, but I can fly on my own now."

"I don't know why you're smiling like you've just been crowned fairy queen." Tink flew up on my right. She glared over at me with a venom I'd never seen before, not even in her.

"Why not? My dear little sister has rescued me from that evil man. Thank you so much." I smiled again and tried to pull away from my two rescuers. "I said I can fly on my own. You may let go of me, now."

"No one is letting go of you." Tink snapped. "And no one rescued you, either. To be rescued, one must be in danger."

My mouth fell open, but nothing came out.

"Don't look at me like that, Jingle." Tink made a fist and shook it at me. "You know very well that I saw and heard what was going on between you and Hook."

"But-but–didn't you see my warning?"

"Oh, I saw it all right. I saw everything."

"Why are you so angry with me? I kept you out of danger and even led them away from Peter's hideout."

"Save it for the Grand Tribunal." And before I could say another word, Tink flew off.

The Grand Tribunal? I gulped. I had heard tales all my life of what happened to fairies who had to go before the Grand Tribunal. Punishments were harsh and no fairy ever wanted to go before one. In fact, that I could remember, no criminal court had been held in my life time.

As we neared the glen where The River parted, my apprehension grew. We reached a crevice in a huge rock of Neverland granite that led to the fairy underworld. Never had a fairy court been held where any otherspecies could watch. Such meetings were of the utmost secrecy, their results known only to fairies. Others could not know of our proceedings. Something to do with compromising our ways and our fairy magic.

As we entered the dark, dank cavern and began the descent, I was not so sure it had anything to do with keeping our ways to ourselves and preserving our magic. Rather, it was just one more way to make the victim ever more fearful.

The darkness suffocated me. Yet deeper and deeper we flew, it seemed, into the very Pit itself.

A point of light in the distance was our goal. And as it grew to a glimmer, then to brightness like that of a star in the black of night, I felt only a sense of impending doom.

We entered a spacious chamber, devoid of all darkness. In fact, the brightness was so great after the many leagues of darkness, that I squinted against it. In any other circumstances I might have reveled in the beauty of this place. The walls were, of course, of the same Neverland granite that made up the mountain above us. A deep grey, almost silver in its hew, with splashes of platinum that shone like ragged-cut gems. The brilliance, of course, came from the light of the fairies themselves, shining off the highly polished walls.

Seated in the center, in thrones cut of pure crystal, were thefairy high king and queen. I'd never seen either of them this close. The king wore snow-white robes that matched his hair and beard. And embroidered on the collar and sleeves were little swirls and stripes in gold and silver. The queen also wore white robes, but hers were adorned with jewels of every color of the rainbow. What a dazzling picture they presented, and for a split second, awe replaced my dread. The ten tribunal members sat in a semi circle at the front, five on each side of the king and queen.

The prime fairy stood and pointed his boney finger at me. "Is this the accused?"

"It is, Your Worship." Tink curtsied then stepped to the side.

My two guards pulled me down onto my knees.

"And what is the charge?" The prime fairy spoke with a note of impatience, and suddenly I longed for the darkness. All eyes were upon me, and in them I saw anger and disgust. My own parents stood to the side with a growing group of spectators. Theirs were the only eyes not filled with accusation. My mother looked about to burst into tears, and Father stood with astoicism in his face I knew had to be forced. He had his arm about Mother's shoulders as if she might fall if he did not hold her up.

They were my strength, and for them I would take whatever came next with dignity, head held high.

I was amazed at the list of my crimes.

Consorting with the enemy. Treason against one's kin. Deceitfulness. Just to name a few. After a long, boring speech by the prime fairy, Tink was given the floor to tell all she had seen.

"There is only one thing to say, Your Worship." She turned her angry eyes to me for a moment, then with a sniff, returned her gaze to the front. "I saw her with my own eyes, and heard her with my own ears. She was with Captain Hook and his band of pirates."

A wave of gasps rolled over the crowd.

"That's right. Hook!" Tink spat the captain's name, then with a dramatic flourish, she went on. "She was leading him right to Peter Pan. And the old brute would have gotten Peter had I not been there." Her voice turned the slightest bit warmer. "Jinny saw me, and I believe for the sake of our kinship, she did not go through with the evil deed."

"So it was at this point that Jingle began to lead the pirates away from Peter's hide out?" The prime fairy looked a little confused, and his voice held a note of doubt. Maybe I still had a chance, if they would allow me to give my version of the story.

Tink gave a few more details, then the focus was again turned on me.

"Have you anything to say for yourself, young lady?" The prime fairy took a step toward me.

"I-I do, Your Worship. Tink has spoken what she believes to be the truth. But she is mistaken on several points."

"Very well, do tell the court what exactly happened."

I drew in a deep breath and began to recount my story, hoping they would believe me and show mercy. I had truth on my side, but that was about it.