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~Chapter XVII~
As the boy flew off toward the island, the pirates firing their flintlock pistols in his wake, Rumplestiltskin and Hook continued to stare at each other. When the crew finally calmed and silence fell over the deck, Hook averted his black gaze and leaned forward to haul himself to his feet. Smee stumbled forward and placed an arm beneath one of Hook's, sycophantically trying to help the captain rise into a standing position. Hook shrugged the pudgy man off, reaching a hand beneath his scarlet coat and breathing a sigh in relief when his fingers grazed the cold hilt of the dagger. He returned his gaze once more to his prisoner. He took in the man's soaked clothes, his eyes lingering a moment longer on the bleeding wound marring his chest.
Rumplestiltskin watched as Hook's forehead furrowed slightly, his lips curving downward in a frown. The captain's eyes suddenly snapped back to Rumplestiltskin's face, before darting to focus instead on the crowd of pirates surrounding them. His movements were quick, but not quick enough for his prisoner to miss the tiniest flicker of something almost remorseful in his onyx eyes.
Rumplestiltskin placed a hand atop the gunwale, using its support to also rise to his feet. His vision shifted slightly as the blood rushed to his head, thudding loudly in his ears. The saltwater he had managed to swallow enhanced his thirst to a painful degree and he flinched as he swallowed. Hook seemed to notice this, that foreign emotion sparking faintly once more in his gaze. He turned to face Smee, his expression stern.
"Find the prisoner a change of clothes and something to drink," he ordered, his lips curling back in a primal snarl when the man did not move. "Now," he practically growled.
The short, pudgy man jumped at his captain's tone, clumsily turning on his heel and hurriedly wobbling toward the ladder leading below deck. Hook glanced once more at the wound on Rumplestiltskin's chest, his lips pressed in a hard line.
"Smee!" He shouted suddenly, causing the pirate to nearly fall as he skidded to a halt and whirled around to face Hook.
"Find something to dress the man's wound," he added curtly, his eyes conspicuously avoiding his prisoner's and the other pirates' stunned expressions as he nonchalantly inspected his hook. Smee gawked at him for a long moment, before stuttering a frantic "A-aye-aye, Cap'n" and bustling back toward the ladder.
Rumplestiltskin's eyes shone a mosaic of different emotions as they met Hook's, before the captain quickly directed his gaze towards the sea for a moment, and then back to his silver hook. A wave of dizziness suddenly washed over Rumplestiltskin, and he clutched the polished wood of the gunwale as the world seemed to lurch before him. His ears rang as spots of white light flashed before his eyes. The space between each heartbeat seemed to grow longer and longer...
Hook looked up from his silver appendage then, his gaze darkening with annoyance as he took in his crew's raised eyebrows and gaping mouths.
"Now that you have all been so thoroughly entertained," Hook sneered, his glare snaking over each of his crew members, "Clean up this mess."
A loud thud punctuated the air then as Rumplestiltskin fell upon the deck, and did not stir. The captain whirled around, his eyes widening slightly as they took in the man's pale and unconscious form lying on his side. He tentatively stepped closer, brow furrowing as he leaned down to press two fingers against the man's neck. A pulse, though faint, beat beneath his fingertips.
Hook removed his hand, releasing a deep breath he had not realized he was holding. He let his gaze travel over the man he had held captive on his ship, taking in the deep lines on his forehead and beside his eyes, the chapped skin of his lips from lack of water, the shallow way his bleeding chest rose and fell. He was weathered and wan, but seemed uninjured from the sudden fall.
Noticing the distinct silence of his crew as they continued to stare, Hook quickly sraightened, turning to face them with hard eyes.
"You," he barked, pointing his gleaming hook at a burly man with beady eyes and a brown beard, "Carry him to my cabin."
The pirates' eyebrows shot up in shock. He stared at his captain for a moment, before releasing a booming laugh.
"Your cabin, Cap'n? Surely this scum-"
"I don't recall asking for your opinion," Hook snapped harshly, a muscle jumping in his temple when the pirate hesitated a moment longer before stepping over to Rumplestiltskin's unmoving form. He sighed in frustration as the pirate hauled the man into his arms and trudged toward his cabin.
The captain also never recalled having to repeat an order more than once before.
From behind her arms, Belle could see the green glow of Aibreann's light hovering before her. She did not lower her arms, her gaze remaining fixated on her lap.
"Belle?" Aibreann's soft voice prompted, floating closer.
"Why won't he believe me?" Belle asked, voicing her earlier thought. Aibreann sighed lightly as she watched her troubled friend's hands fist in her hair.
"Distrusting anyone associated with Hook is all Peter knows to do," she explained quietly, "Their enmity stretches back centuries."
"I know he is not staying aboard that ship by his own will," Belle insisted, her voice only
just louder than a whisper. She lifted her head to peer at the green fairy, slowly extracting her hands from her hair. Several curls unraveled themselves from her braids, tumbling down to frame her worried features.
"How can you be sure?" Aibreann asked gently, her gaze sympathetic but her tone harvesting a slight skepticism.
"Because..." Belle bit her lip, her eyes searching Aibreann's face. She had been nothing but kind and understanding; throughout the time they had spent together Belle had not detected a single ounce of malice in the pixies words or actions. With a deep breath, Belle nodded to herself, deciding that Aibreann was safe to trust with at least part of the truth of her love's situation. With her true love's fate at stake, Aibreann was her only hope.
"There's a dagger," Belle murmured, looking about as though to ensure they were completely alone. "It has his name on it. And whoever possesses it, controls him."
Aibreann's brown eyes widened at the revelation. She dazedly flew over to perch on Belle's bent knee, staring up at the woman.
"Your companion, he has magic?" She asked apprehensively, her brows knitting in consternation.
"Not much," Belle answered hurriedly, hoping she had not destroyed her chances at recruiting the kind fairy's help. "But, yes," she finished quietly, clasping her hands in her lap. "He says he needs it to find his son. That's why we came here. They were...separated, a long time ago, and we only learned recently that his son arrived in Neverland."
A frown bent Aibreann's lips at Belle's revelation; she sighed deeply, running a hand through her curls. The thought of Hook with magic at his disposal was daunting to say the least, and the thought of a father never finding his son was even more distressing.
"I have to go to him," Belle insisted, pulling Aibreann from her dark reverie. "I have to save him, before Hook hurts him or..." Belle shuddered, staring down at her clasped hands, "Or compels him to do something terrible."
They both stared at each other for a long moment, brown eyes meeting blue, as though imagining all of the horrible crimes someone as ruthless and cruel as the Jolly Roger's captain could commit with a store of magic at his disposal.
"I can send Hook a message, ask him to meet with me," Belle declared suddenly, her eyes glinting with determination, "If it's a slave he wants-"
"You're not honestly thinking of exchanging yourself for your friend?" Aibreann exclaimed, her face paling in shock as Belle merely averted her eyes. "Belle, you can't-"
"I just need to talk to him," Belle interrupted quietly, silently begging her tiny friend to understand. "Will you help me?"
Aibreann gazed at her, rendered momentarily speechless by the woman's dedication and love for Hook's mysterious prisoner. After a moment, she nodded shakily.
"I don't know how much good can come of this, but yes, I will help you," the fairy relented, the corners of her mouth twitching in a small smile at the way Belle's face brightened.
"Oh, if I could hug you, I would," Belle breathed, so overwhelmed by relief that she nearly laughed. "I think the boys have some parchment stored in the cabin above," Belle thought aloud, pulling herself to her feet and dusting off her deerskin dress. She shuffled toward the vine staircase, casting a quick glance out of the window to ensure they had not been overheard. As much as she had grown to care for Peter, she could not risk such information falling into his youthful hands.
Aibreann flew after her, the low hum of her transparent wings the only sound passing between them as they ascended the stairs to the boys' storage cabin.
Clambering through the small hatch, Belle strode over to the short makeshift desk, kneeling before it and pulling a sheet of yellow parchment with a deep crimson border toward her. A slightly tattered eagle's feather quill sat in a lone inkwell. Belle snatched it up, inhaling several steadying breaths to still her trembling hand.
Aibreann alighted on the desk's surface, watching closely as Belle's slanted script filled the page.
Captain Hook -
When two people have something the other wants, a deal can always be struck.
Meet me at the dock on the southeastern shore at dawn to discuss the fate of the man you currently hold prisoner.
On the honor of your title I expect you will not inflict further harm on your captive in the meantime.
No tricks.
- Belle
Reading over the letter once more, Belle folded it into a small square and handed it to the slightly frowning fairy. "Can you deliver it? Safely?" Belle asked, worry once more creasing her forehead.
"I've been to Hook's ship before," Aibreann explained, nodding. "I'll leave it in his chambers," she added, clutching the folded parchment to her chest. She shot Belle an assuring smile, soaring over to the open window.
"Aibreann?"
The fairy pivoted in the air, her eyebrows raised in invitation for the woman to continue.
"Thank you," Belle breathed, her eyes staring into Aibreann's.
Aibreann smiled softly, bowing her head before flying into the midmorning sunlight, the fates of her new friend and Hook's prisoner tucked beneath her arm.
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