Peter paced back and forth as the Queen hovered near his face.
"Something's gone wrong. She should have been back by now."
"Peter, you must remain calm. You are still too weak to go to Hook yourself."
"And what happens in the mean time? Hook violates my wife? Tortures her? Murders her? Every day that I wait for my strength to return, Wendy is left on that ship in the clutches of that devil. I can't wait much longer."
"Just have faith, Sire," the chief said softly. "You have almost gathered enough to fight by your side. Just a few more days and-"
"No. I won't wait any longer. We don't even know if Wendy is still alive. I'm going to see for myself."
"Peter! You can't! You'll be spotted."
"I don't care!" The Queen nodded to the Chief, who grabbed Peter's arm. Peter's eyes flashed.
"Let go of me."
"I am sorry, Majesty. But we can't allow you to put yourself in such danger." The Queen hovered right in front of his face.
"Peter, please, just listen to me. We will rescue your treasures. But you have to stay alive to do so. You cannot let anyone aboard know that you are alive. It will ruin everything." Peter took a deep breath and exhaled.
"Alright. Alright. I won't speak to her. But I have to see her. I have to make sure she's safe."
"I will send someone with you, to make sure you do not forget. Treelore," she called and a bright fairy appeared by her side, "You will accompany our prince to the Jolly Roger and make sure he does not give away his position. He is to check on his wife and that is all." Treelore nodded to show he understood and flew close to Peter. Peter glanced at the Queen uncomfortably.
"I, er, can't fly anymore, Your Majesty."
"It's quite alright, Peter. You may ride Beck, she can carry twice your weight." Beck was a lovely eagle who bowed her head to Peter.
"I will take you wherever you wish to go, My Prince."
"Fly me to the Jolly Roger, if you please." He hopped on the eagle's back and she flew off through the sky, Treelore right by their side.
Beck flew alongside the ship as Peter searched the windows in vain. He sighed.
"I don't even know if she is here! I don't even know if she's still alive."
"You would know it if she were not," Treelore said wisely. "You two are still connected by magic and by love. Try to sense her presence. Feel where she is." Peter closed his eyes and whispered her name. His eyes shot open and he stared straight ahead.
"That one up there. Straight ahead."
"That is the Captain's cabin," Beck whispered as she flew closer. As Peter neared the window, he tried to wipe the glass so that he could see better. His eyes traveled the cabin, searching for Wendy and widened when he found her. There she was, chained to the bed, lying underneath the pirate. He was stroking her face tenderly, running his hand down her body as he thrust himself in and out of her. Peter urged Beck closer so that he could hear through the open window.
"Shhh, no more tears, sweetheart. I'll take care of you. I will make you forget. No more tears." Peter's hands were balled into fists as he prepared to burst through the window and strangle Hook. Treelore lay a hand on Peter's shoulder.
"Sire, you cannot do anything."
"That is my wife in there!"
"I understand. Still, you promised to come and see her. That is all you can do at this point. We must return to the Queen."
"But-"
"We must leave this place. You will have her back soon, I promise." With one final tormented look at Wendy, Peter nodded and Beck flew away from the ship and back to the Indian village. The eagle bowed low when Peter slid off her back.
"Don't hesitate to call again if you ever need assistance. Farewell, Your Highness." She took off into the sky and Peter watched her with heavy eyes. Tiger Lily noticed Peter's pale complexion and bit her lip.
"Is she alive?" Peter glanced at her and could only nod.
"Then we must be thankful. You were successful, now we plan our battle strategy," the chief said, bowing his head slightly.
"We have to get him onto land. Get him away from his ship and crew."
"Hook will not leave his crew. We must be prepared for the entire fleet to be with him when we attack. And we cannot use you as bait, since he does not believe you are back. We must come up with a plan to lure him away from the ship."
Peter pondered, running his fingers through his messy curls.
"What about a coronation?" Tiger Lily spoke up. Peter and the chief both frowned at her.
"Who are we coronating? Hook?"
"No. The Queen of the Fairies must coronate the new Queen of Neverland. He must bring her ashore and conduct the ceremony." Peter looked angry but the chief shook his head.
"Before a coronation there must be a wedding. The King and Queen must be joined in matrimony before the Queen crowns them as rulers of Neverland."
"She won't go through with it. She'd never marry him," Peter said, crossing his arms.
"He can make her. He is a Captain, he can conduct the ceremony himself," Tiger Lily said hesitantly. Peter rose to his feet and his face was red.
"It would be null and void because she's already married. To me."
"Exactly. Hook doesn't know you're alive. He'll leave the ship to come conduct the ceremony. Once he finds out that you live, he will have to admit his marriage to Wendy is void. And by that time, we can attack and you may defeat him and take your queen by your side." Peter opened his mouth to speak but the chief nodded.
"It does make some sense. We shall suggest the idea to Hook to speed up the process." Peter's face was still red and Tiger Lily lay her hand on his shoulder.
"Peter, I know how difficult this is for you. But this is the only way to get him off the ship without suspecting anything. And he will bring her with him. We can get her away from him before you attack. This will work." Peter's eyes met hers.
"I hope you're right, Lily. I can't lose her."
"You won't. Now rest and think no more. You must believe things will work themselves out."
Hook glanced sideways at the naked girl beside him and grinned. She looked like an angel, sleeping there and she was all his. In truth he had considered Pan's death a great triumph for two reasons. One, because he had finally gotten his revenge against the wretched boy. But the other reason was his lovely wife. He had longed to caress that body since he had first laid eyes on her and now nothing would stop him. Oh she may hate him now but give it time. She would come to forget that brat and would respect him as her husband and King. He raised his hands behind his head and cast a smug smirk up at the ceiling. He heard a knock at the door and hissed, "what?"
"So sorry to bother you, Cap'n-"
"What do you want you fool?" Smee winced.
"There is a mermaid down below that be asking for ye."
"What are you talking about man?" Smee pointed to the window and Hook jumped up. Grabbing his clothes from the floor, he glanced outside and saw several mermaids circling the ship. He thrust the window open and leaned out.
"She-beasts! Begone! Bother me no more!"
"Prince of Neverland, we have a message from the Queen of the Fairies," the mermaids called out. Hook's brow raised.
"Let's have it then!"
"The Queen asks that you bring the Pan's wife ashore so that she may grant her blessing and name her as your wife."
"And why would the Queen worry about such things? I can name the girl as my wife myself." The mermaids flipped their fins and tossed their hair.
"You call yourself King in falsehood. Only when you have a Queen by your side may you call yourself King. To have a Queen, you must first have a wife." Hook glanced at the sleeping Wendy and pondered this. Force her to marry him and rule by his side. If he tired of her, he could kill her after they were crowned. He smiled at the idea. How ideal to take away what was most precious to Pan, his homeland and his wife, and make them his. He would make sure she would produce an heir, of course. The more Hook thought about it, the more he relished the idea.
"Tell the Queen to expect us this day! Spread the word around Neverland! A grand wedding it will be!" The mermaids disappeared beneath the waves and Hook slammed the window shut, making Wendy jump.
"My apologies for scaring you my dear. Hurry, make yourself ready. We haven't much time."
"Ready for what?" she said sleepily, wishing she could have stayed asleep forever.
"Why for our wedding of course." Her eyes shot open and he smiled down at her. "The Queen of the Fairies wants to give you her blessing and will then crown us as King and Queen of Neverland."
"Do you have sea water in your ears? I have already told you I will never marry you."
"Oh you'll marry me. Do you think I can harm you no longer? You still have living brothers. A mother and a father. I have not seen those filthy lost boys in far too long." Wendy's eyes widened.
"You won't touch them."
"Of course not, as long as you do what I wish." Her eyes filled with tears as she lowered her head in surrender. He unlocked her chains and cradled her head.
"Come, give your husband-to-be a kiss." His mustache tickled her lip as he pressed his lips against hers. She sobbed as she kissed him back and Hook threw her back, looking disgusted.
"Wipe away the tears. After today, you are forever mine and if I ever hear that brat's name again, I'll lodge my hook in you." He flounced past Smee and waved his hand.
"Make her ready. We go to shore in an hour."