She felt something whoosh near her ear and ducked as a spear shot past her head and clattered a few feet away. Wendy lunged for it, falling to her knees and twisted around, weapon held tight in her hands. The fog was dense but so many people were yelling and running in pandemonium that it swirled and separated every so often. On her knees everything seemed to happen slowly, like time was covered in molasses. The Lost Boys charged forward, running low and screaming and the people that Wendy had been with were sluggish to react, their faces uncomprehending. If they did not move they would be killed, the boys would not care who they hurt so intense was their blood lust.
Wendy struggled to her feet, her legs stiff and unresponsive. She opened her mouth to scream, to warn them to run when someone suddenly grabbed her, covered her mouth and pulled her back roughly. She was stunned momentarily but then struggled, using her elbows and the spear in her hands to defend herself before she was slammed against a wall, winding her.
"Quiet," said a low voice as she was pulled down so she was kneeling. Wendy sucked in air and looked at her attacker – or maybe he was her rescuer – in surprise.
"Felix?"
"Stay low, don't shout," he warned, crouched down beside her. He had dragged her to the mouth of a narrow alley and was watching the misty street beyond like a hawk. She could hear the boys screaming and their feet pounding on the pavement.
"Wh – what's happening? Why did they attack me?"
He looked back at her, his long face now sharp and tense. He looked exhausted. "With Pan gone the boys started to grow...restless. It might have been a few weeks for you but for us it was considerably longer. Some wanted to go home while others wanted to stay. They – they started to think that Peter had abandoned them," he said and it was clear what he thought of that by the way his mouth thinned. "But some remained faithful but I knew something had to be done."
"What?" she asked, watching the street nervously, the spear slipping in her sweaty hands.
"Nothing brings people together like a mutual enemy," he answered simply, staring at her and Wendy's mouth fell open.
"They think that's me?!"
"They needed someone to blame. Peter disappeared, going after you and I know he had things under control here but after awhile that wasn't cutting it. It – it looked like he abandoned us for you."
"That's not true," she said but without much conviction. Felix glared at her.
"If you had never come to Neverland none of this would have happened!" he retorted angrily, his usual calm completely gone. He was frayed and while he could command respect he was not the leader, Peter was. Trying to keep everyone together had caused him great stress.
"I didn't ask for this!" she said loudly and he put a finger to her lips, eyes blazing.
"I don't care. Once we were united but now we're at war. There are two factions: those loyal to Pan and those against. The latter has the biggest numbers and they're coming for him," he said bitterly and then pressed himself against a wall, bringing Wendy up with him as someone stopped near to the alley.
"And these boys are for him?" she whispered.
"Yes, the traitors actually want to protect you," he said, back to his usual dry tone and Wendy gazed at him, trying not to show how fearful she was.
"And you?"
His lip curled as he stared down at her. "I do what Pan tells me. If he wants you dead you'll die, if he wants you safe then so be it," he answered and Wendy knew that she was just a means to an end. With Peter gone those loyal to him needed a reason to stay loyal without the pipes to sway them. Felix was right, there was nothing more unifying than a common enemy.
"We have to help those people I was with!" she said, about to run back into the street but the tall boy had a firm grip on her arm and would not let go.
"Wait, if you go out there they'll kill you. We need the pipes Wendy, where are they?" he stared at her intensely, fingers digging into her arm. Wendy shook her head.
"They're miles away from here, someone in Kensington Gardens has them." She could imagine what old George was doing with them, having a world of fun no doubt. She had given them to him after visiting the Ritz and after she convinced him that she was being serious he had saluted her and promised to keep them safe. It was his one piece of proof that he was right and the world was nothing but normal. Felix smirked.
"Well it's lucky for you that I have these," he said and withdrew a sack from under his cloak and opened it. Inside were numerous magical beans, glinting colourfully. Wendy looked up and for the first time since the Lost Boys appeared she smiled. She dipped her hand in and took a handful of beans.
"How did you get them?" she asked, being very careful. She removed her sash and used the length of fabric to carry the beans in.
"I didn't," Felix admitted darkly. "When the ones who wanted to go home realised that you had got a bean from the Dark Hollow they thought they could do it too. No one has ever entered that place and returned," he said and his jaw clenched. "I warned them that it was impossible but they wouldn't listen to me," he said and Wendy was surprised at how pained he sounded.
"But you called them traitors...?"
"They were my brothers first," he replied with feeling and Wendy was abashed.
"I'm sorry."
"Ten went in and only one came back. He had retrieved a lot of beans but he died before he could use them. The ones against Peter who were waiting used them, went back the their own lands but a few came here, looking for Peter. We – we fought and we managed to get some of the beans too. We went after them but I don't know where they are. My boys thought that Peter might be in danger so there was nothing I could say to stop them leaving Neverland."
"And I guess they thought the personification of evil was keeping him prisoner, I presume?" she asked, waving a hand at herself but then her ill humour was shot when someone on the street screamed in pain. She could not be sure if it was a Lost Boy or an innocent civilian.
"Wendy you have to get the pipes! I'll find Peter."
"All right. He – he's down in the tunnels. There's a door, oh I don't know where it is," she said desperately but Felix was already moving.
"Stay close, keep low," he whispered and Wendy nodded, keeping near as he darted out from the alley and onto the foggy street. Most of the Lost Boys had gone, either looking for her or Peter but a few remained. Wendy kept her head lowered and carefully took a bean from inside her makeshift bag. But as she did she heard something that turned her blood cold. A whistle was blowing and not just any whistle.
"POLICE!"
"Oh god," Wendy whispered, whipping around and tried to see what direction they were coming from.
"The Old Bill is 'ere," someone said with relief some distance away and she spotted the lady who had spent the night at her work place crouching behind a cattle trough. As more whistles blasted, Wendy could hear the boys roaring in retaliation, she looked for a place to throw the bean when someone banged into her from behind, making her sprawl to the ground. The beans in her velvet bag flew out and Wendy watched them soar, breath caught in her throat.
"WATCH OUT!" Felix shouted but it was too late. As the beans bounced and hit the cobbles portals appeared just as the Lost Boys and police clashed. Ground that was seconds ago under their feet disappeared and with a gasp they tumbled into spinning vortexes of many colours. There were so many of them that the winds they produced cleared the fog away and suddenly the street was visible. Wendy watched, horror struck, as Lost Boys, police and ordinary Londoners were sucked into different worlds, never to be seen again.
Everyone was still, shocked by what had happened but as the portals closed they started to stir. Wendy got to her feet and saw with dismay that the remaining Lost Boys were now looking at her like a quick death would not be enough. They drew back bows, cocking their arrows and Wendy knew that she did not have a second to spare. She drew her hand back and wished to be in Kensington Gardens.
"Stop!" Peter's voice rang out strong and clear and all turned in shock. At first Wendy thought that he was leading a crowd to them but as he got closer she saw the truth: the crowd was leading him. The Lost Boys who now saw Peter as the enemy had found him and were leading him on, pointing swords at him. Wendy was surprised to see little Curly in the crowd as he waved at her shyly.
"Peter!" his followers shouted triumphantly and Wendy could see that Slightly was the loudest of all. It seemed that his unease at being a Lost Boy was gone and when he suddenly grabbed her and put the point of his knife against her throat she gasped. He must have been the one to knock her over, causing so much unintentional chaos.
"Look! We have her!"
Peter looked from him, to Felix and then to Wendy. He smiled tightly at her, a swift glance and then fixed his eyes back on Slightly. "And why do you have her?" he asked politely but his eyes were steel. The ones that had him prisoner shifted uncomfortable as Wendy was shaken roughly.
"For all the trouble she's caused! The moment she got to Neverland she tried to pour poison in our ears, tried to turn us against you!"
"That's not true!" someone next to Peter shouted and she felt a flash of gratitude. The speaker, she though he was Tootles, glared at Slightly. "She was like us: a prisoner! She showed us that we did not have to live that way any longer!" They roared in agreement and shoved Peter forward until he fell to his knees. Felix, who had been retraining Slightly, came forward, more angry then she had ever seen him.
"Stop! I won't see any more of you die! You're no longer on the island, let it be!"
"We want revenge!" they shouted and a knife was placed against Peter's throat, drawing blood.
"STOP!" she screamed, hand reaching out plaintively and the ones who defended her blinked in shock. "Please, don't kill him. I – I don't want anyone else to die because of me," she said gutturally and the blade at Peter's throat lowered slightly.
"If anyone here wants to stay then I won't stop them," Peter said and even though he was on his knees there was nothing abased about him. "Those who have remained loyal to me lower your weapons," he demanded and after a long hesitation they did. Wendy gasped in relief and ran towards Peter before she could stop herself.
"Let him go!" she cried and her request was granted. Peter got to his feet and Wendy ran into his arms. Those gathered on both sides looked at the show of affection in deep confusion. Slightly was the one who realised what it meant first and his face flared red.
"You and her? You chose to stay here?" he asked, shaking with betrayal and Peter pinned him with a look.
"Of course I did! You think anyone could keep me prisoner?!" he boasted and then shook his head. "Why am I even defending myself to you? It's none of your concern," Peter said and Wendy laced her fingers through his. Slightly's eyes bugged out of his head and he glared at her, completely mad.
"I didn't think it was possible but she's warped you too! Nothing is more important then Neverland, that's what you told us! You said we were there for a reason, we had a purpose helping you restore magic! That only changed when she came! This is all her fault!" he shouted and the ones loyal to Peter who looked shocked raised their weapons and cried out in assent.
Wendy gasped as Slightly and the rest of them rushed forward and Peter shoved her behind him but it was too late. Someone grabbed her hair and roughly dragged her and she screamed. In the violence that followed she hit, kicked and bit; a vicious creature that attacked anything that touched her until she was stunned by a blow to the head. Before she lost consciousness she could see more police running through the mist, their whistles cutting through the air shrilly before the roar of angry voices drowned it out.
The first thing she heard was clapping and for a confused time she was transported back to the tunnels, surrounded by people wishing her happy birthday. But as she opened her eyes and groggily focused she realised her mistake. She was not in the tunnels surrounded by well wishers, she was swinging in a cage, back in Neverland. She got to her knees, groaning as her head pounded sickeningly and her hand came away sticky with blood. She blinked, still in a confused fog and leaned forward to peer out of the gaps in the wicker cage.
Below the Lost Boys were gathered around in a circle and were clapping as Peter took a bow. He was back in the attire she knew him best in and she saw with a blow that his shadow was floating above him. She had missed what the celebration was about but she could guess: they had escaped and captured her. She gripped the thin sticks of wood with her fingertips, staring at Peter desperately.
"Peter!"
"Ah, she lives!" someone below shouted in disappointment and the boys yelled and howled. It was an awful sound and in that moment she was glad to be in the cage and out of their grasp. Peter looked up at her and smiled sweetly.
"I'm glad you're awake," he said politely and the boys smirked. "I was just telling the boys about my time in London. It made for a thrilling tale," he said dramatically.
"So romantic!" one of them said and that produced cruel laughter. Peter's mouth quirked and Wendy could not take her eyes off him.
He's pretending, she thought, he's doing this to carry favour with the boys who now hate me. She closed her eyes, willing herself to believe it because the sound of their laughter and his smirk were like daggers in her heart. Peter looked at the scant followers who remained, Wendy now realising how few there were. He narrowed his eyes, mouth curling as he looked at each in turn until he focused on Slightly for a moment.
"I'm thankful for those of you who have remained loyal to me and to Neverland. I know it must have been hard to see your brothers turn against you but you prevailed. However I want to clear up one misconception," he said and looked up at her. "Some thought I had abandoned you for her and that's simply not true," he said softly and Wendy swayed on her knees, her head pounding.
"Peter," she started but he overrode her.
"Yes I chose to stay there. I chose to stay in a land where I was powerless and cut off from my home and my true family. But do you know me so little as to think I'd actually risk so much for something as mundane as love?" he finished with a scoff.
Wendy shook her head, not wanting to hear or believe. A few hours ago they were playfully imagining the way their life could be, how they both could not truly live without the other. This was a cruel nightmare and she could not accept it. The Lost Boys shifted on their feet, frowning.
"Then why stay there?" some of them asked in tandem and Peter smiled.
"Because she loved me. What fitting punishment is there than to convince her that it was returned, only to force her to come back here and see who I truly care for," he said and spread his arms wide. It was a movement meant to take in everything, everything baring her. Wendy could not stand it any longer and she banged her fists against the cage, teeth bared as angry tears fell from her eyes. Her head was pounding madly like a drum now.
"You don't mean it! You're lying!" she shouted and he looked up at her and laughed. The sound cut through her confusion and anger and she sat back weakly, pain threatening to crush her. Below Peter motioned for her cage to be lowered and she swayed, not seeing or really feeling anything as the bottom touched the floor. Peter crouched down by her but not too close. He smiled at her sympathetically.
"You should be the least surprised by this Wendy," he said quietly. "You've seen my heart and so you know that I can not give you what you want. I'm sorry but you'll never mean more to me than this place," he finished in a soft tone but then blinked at the almost feverish rage in her eyes and rose. He smirked at the boys and shrugged. "Seems she's not taking it graciously, she looks positively sick!"
The boys laughed and she could see Slightly smirk and she wanted to bite him again. He had been suspiciously quiet, compared to the emotion he had shown in London. Now he was leaning against a rock with his arms crossed over his chest, a view of Neverland stretched out before him. We must be up very high, she thought dazedly. Even Peter noticed Slightly's self satisfied expression and cocked an eyebrow.
"Someone is looking pleased with themselves. Have something to share?"
"Oh, I think you'll see in time," he answered mysteriously and stared at her with a horrible smirk.
Wendy looked away and tried hard not to cry in front of them but she could not stop the sobs that escaped her. The boys mocked her, imitating her stifled cries and she screamed at them, kicking the inside of her cage.
"YOU'RE ALL FOOLS! HE CARES NOTHING FOR YOU OR THIS PLACE! THE ONLY THING HE CARES ABOUT IS HIMSELF!" she screamed with all the hurt and anger she was feeling and it seemed to take something out of her, sap her strength because she collapsed, shaking in a heap. Sweat was trickling off her and she found it hard to swallow, her mouth dry.
"Listen to how she wants to turn us against our leader again!" Slightly said, leaning off the rock and the boys nodded, gazing at her dangerously.
"We shouldn't stand for it!"
"We should kill her!" someone shouted and cries of agreement went up, a throaty roar that made her head hurt. She gazed at them blearily, trying to focus but it was difficult. She raised a hand to her head but it was too heavy. Someone was kneeling next to her cage, peering in and she could just grasp that it was Felix before he moved away. He had been quiet, saying nothing but now he moved to Peter and whispered in his ear as Slightly spoke again.
"We won't have to kill her! We just have to wait," he said assuredly and Peter's head shot around to stare at him.
"Oh and why do you sound so sure?" he asked pleasantly but his eyes were trained on his face like a bird of prey.
Slightly pulled out his knife and they could see the angry red bite mark on his arm. "She bit me so I bit her back," he answered simply, turning the blade so it caught the light. The tip of it was black but she still could not grasp what it meant, the pain was too great, obliterating her ability to think. She moaned and called out Peter's name weakly.
"Dreamshade?" Peter said, eyes lifting from the poisoned blade to Slightly's smug smile. For a moment his face was blank, there was absolutely nothing discernible to read on it but then his eyes flickered to life and they blazed with something beyond fury. He smiled at Slightly, a strange, terrible thing that made the arrogance drip from Slightly's face.
"Yes. It was just a scratch but she deserves to die slowly. Look at her," he said but Peter did not turn. He approached Slightly slowly and began to clap, all the while with that odd smile contorting his face.
"Well done! Not that long ago you were weeping like a child for your mother but now look at you! You're a hero! But there's something you didn't consider," he said as if wanting to let him down lightly as he came to a stop a foot away. Slightly looked unnerved, his eyes flicking around but the Lost Boys did not move, sensing danger.
"W – what?"
"You really should be more careful where you stand," Peter said earnestly and then pushed him over the edge. Slightly stumbled back, arms thrown out and Wendy saw the surprise on his face before he tumbled out of sight. One shrill scream cut through the air before it stopped suddenly but it echoed long after.
The Lost Boys gasped, staring at the spot where Slightly had been and then stared at Peter's tense back as he stared over the cliff edge. His shoulders were hunched and his hands balled into fists but when he jumped around he was grinning. They all flinched back, stunned and not sure what to do. Peter pointed behind him, eyes trained on them.
"Are we clear? You even think about laying a finger on what is mine or look at her the wrong way and I'll tie you to Marooners' Rock myself and watch you drown. She's mine," he said through his teeth, threat offset by his giddy smile. Every single Lost Boy nodded profusely, not daring to meet his eye.
Wendy groaned, trying to sit up and she cried out in pain when her cage was jerked. It was only when someone touched her gently that she realised her cage was open.
"It's all right Wendy-bird, I've got you," Peter said gently and lifted her into his arms.
She did not remember how they came to the waterfall because one minute she was in his arms by the cage and the next a quiet roar of falling water was around them and she was being gently placed on the ground.
"Drink this," he said and she felt his fingers on her lips. Wendy turned her face away, trying to avoid his touch.
"You – you lied," she mumbled as he shifted against her. He lifted her up so she was resting against his chest.
"Yes, I do it frequently," he answered and then pushed his wet hand against her mouth. "You have to drink this otherwise you're going to die!"
But Wendy, delirious and heartbroken, did not believe him so he ruthlessly pushed his hand over her mouth and nose until she gasped for breath. She drank in the water cupped in his hand and the taste of it was like nothing she had ever experienced. She groaned, wanting more and he pulled his hand away and moved her closer to the waterfall where water fell over her face, washing away the blood. Wendy raised her tired and stiff arms and cupped her hands to catch the water and drank. It was like being reborn. Every part of her, every muscle and bone, every cell and atom was rejuvenated as her body was healed from the inside out. Over stimulated, Wendy sat back against Peter, her fingers resting against her lips as she stared at the falling water with a dreamy amazement.
"This is the source of the island, the heart. It's why everything remains young and never changes," he explained softly, arms around her and Wendy stiffened. She grabbed his hands and threw them off her as she jumped to her feet. She rounded on him and before he could react she slapped him.
"How could you say those things?! Do I really mean nothing to you?"
"What do you think?" he retorted heatedly. "I just killed for you!"
"Like you haven't before!" she scoffed, arms going around her chest as he shook his head, harsh lines around his mouth.
"No I haven't but I would do it again. Do you understand? I'd kill all of them if they hurt you!" he shouted and Wendy stared at him, appalled because he meant it. "I was trying to convince them that you didn't mean anything because my leadership was in jeopardy. It was a dishonourable thing to do but when I realised that they would dare undermine me, try to kill you, I saw my error," he admitted, coming to her and gazing deeply into her eyes.
She did not want to be sucked in, her sense of betrayal still too strong but she could not tear her gaze away. He reached down for her hands but she pulled away so he cupped her face instead. Not two hours ago she was on her way back home, she had made up her mind but now she was in Neverland like her decision meant nothing.
"I never had a chance, did I? You were always going to make sure I returned with you."
"I don't know what I would have done if they hadn't turned up. When I woke up and you were gone I was...well, I was hurt," he confessed, looking aside as if it was the first time he had admitted such a thing. "But more then that I felt...empty and I knew why."
"Because your toy had left?"
"Because my heart was gone," he said and Wendy looked down, surprised and touched despite herself. She blinked, realising that he was showing her something. When she had seen his heart before she had mistaken it for a lump of coal but now it was different. It was still dark, like something had trapped dark smoke in a glass but unmistakable rays of light shone through, casting them in a warm red light.
"It – it's healthier. The spinsters were right! Your heart was being healed back there," she said and this time she touched what he was offering her. It was not as warm as she thought it would be but at her touch it pulsed brightly. Wendy looked up and smiled but at the look on his face it faded. He looked scared and unsure.
"I don't want to be cursed," he said softly, returning his heart. "I know that I should be back in London with you, its the only sane thing to do but I can't now."
"Why?" she demanded, gripping his hands as he gazed at her sadly.
"Because you won't be there."
"What? Of course I will be! Lets go!" she said and pulled him with her but he stopped her, shaking his head.
"I'm sorry but you can't leave the island Wendy. You were poisoned with Dreamshade and you would have died. The water saved your life but at a price. You'll never be sick again, heal from any hurt but you can never leave, if you do you'll die," he broke it to her softly and Wendy stared at him, blinking as the full weight of what he was saying settled on her.
"Never leave? But – but I can't stay here forever," she denied, shaking her head.
"Not forever! Don't you see? I have to claim the Heart of the Truest Believer now because when I do you'll be free. I'll have all the magic and only then can I save you. I'll be doing it for all of us!" he said passionately and she was almost swayed. She closed her eyes, gripping his arms, trying to fight it.
"But my family..."
He inhaled, a sound that she had never heard before and it made her freeze. He sounded regretful. Wendy opened her eyes and saw that he was gazing at her with an honest sorrow.
"I'm so sorry Wendy."
"A – about what?" a leaden dread appeared in her stomach and she stared at his face with wide, innocent eyes. He seemed deeply pained.
"When I woke up and you weren't there I went back to your house. It was fine but there was a crowd outside and they told me what happened before the boys captured me. Your...your parents followed us out of the house when they realised we had gone. Maybe they suspected that we were eloping, I don't know. Your friend was with them, the one with the red hair and a few others. They were knocking on doors when the Zeppelins flew overhead."
"No," she uttered, pulling herself out of his arms. She shook her head in denial, not wanting to hear any more and or see his sad face. "No, they were at home. Father was going to bed! Mother was – mother was entertaining guests!"
"They were but -"
"NO!" she yelled, rounding on him. "No I don't believe it! This is a trick! Of course I'd conveniently get sick and be forced to stay here! Of course I – I'd have nothing left to go home to! It's the only way that you could win!" she raged at him while he stared at her with an insufferable patience, letting her storm at him. Seeing him, suddenly really seeing all the years that had accumulated behind his eyes struck her and she could not look away. He was so very old and the pain she was feeling now was something that he had experienced over and over again. She could see the weariness of it all that he hid behind a smile.
"Your brothers are safe, they're with your aunt," he told her softly as she shook slightly, eyes loosing focus and Peter went to her and pulled her into his arms.
"They were throwing me a party. We - we took a family picture together in the garden," she said, as if this was enough to stop death. "I didn't even say goodbye," she whispered in a small voice, resting limply in his embrace and she recalled what the sisters had said.
You have our condolences...
Wendy's knees went out from under her and she fell to the floor, Peter following her down. He pulled her close, brushing his hand over her hair and rubbed her back as she stared into the middle distance, eyes dry. She did not know how long she stayed like that, it could have been a thousand years. She focused on a swaying tree in the distance, the sound of the waterfall behind her and the rub of his hand against her back until finally she blinked as if waking from a dream.
"This is real, isn't it?" she asked in the voice of a child and he nodded soberly at her.
"You're safe here Wendy, I won't let anything happen to you. If you want John and Michael could stay too," he offered gently but Wendy jerked back, looking at him with something close to madness.
"Don't you dare! They must never stay here! Promise me!" she demanded, gripping him fiercely and he nodded.
"I promise, whatever you wish," he answered sincerely and Wendy calmed.
There was something like a whistle in her head, something faint but persistent that wanted to blare and stab through her but she clamped down on it because if she didn't she would crack. She stared intensely at Peter, as if drinking him in and she fisted his shirt, pulling him close as she became fearful.
"You won't go, will you?"
He shook his head, cupping her face again. "I will never, ever leave you. This is your home now. It's you and me, like it was always meant to be," he said and kissed her forehead. Wendy closed her eyes and rested her head against his chest, the sound of his heartbeat filling her ears and soon it was the only thing that seemed real.
The fire crackled and roared, heat beating at her face and she was lost in the flames. She leaned limply against Peter as he sat beside her, now back in the camp. She was not sure how long they remained by the waterfall but it was long enough so that she could stand and walk unaided, though he kept a hand at her back. She was still in a hazy half denial but a terrible pain was struggling to rise, to rage through her like a river and she knew that it was right, that it was natural but she fought against it. She kept it submerged, her mind numb and her movements slow, as if any quick thought or action would trigger it. But like someone sticking their hand in a bucket of water it only made the grief and anger threaten to spill over the sides with every attempt to keep it at bay. So she sat quietly, absorbed by the fire as the remaining Lost Boys went to bed. Peter and Felix talked quietly as Peter whittled himself a new set of panpipes.
"We could go back?" Felix suggested. After the vicious fight only a few of the Lost Boys had made it back to Neverland, the rest were still in London. Or dead.
Peter shook his head, eyeing his handy work carefully. "Leave them. Every now and then it's good to thin out the ranks and bring in new blood."
"Recruitment?" Felix said, shifting on his feet.
"Yes but not yet," Peter said and blew away the curls of wood from the now finished pipes. He gave one experimental blow and a soft, sweet note issued. Wendy stirred and leaned off him, staring at the pipes strangely.
"...May I?" she asked, hand out and after a moment's hesitation Peter handed them over. Maybe he was worried that she would cast them into the fire but she only ran her fingers over the small pipes, lost in thought.
"The wood is enchanted," he explained softly but she did not hear him, she did not care. When she lifted the pipes to her lips Peter straightened. "You know what they will do. Be sure," he said but Wendy had already started playing.
Eyes closed she puckered her lips and blew gently along the top, from one end of the instrument to the other and a beautiful melody sounded. It was sad, sadder then anything Peter had played. Wendy got to her feet and played a lullaby that she only had the faintest recollection of. It was something her mother must have hummed over her as a baby, something made up but filled with aching love and tenderness. Wendy swayed, the music making her dance slowly, eyes still closed and slowly the awful deep weight that had been steadily rising started to abate. Soon the sharp pain and guilt that cut through her daze withdrew until even the confusion and denial were little more substantial than smoke.
As the music faded the death of her parents away from her mind, along with her concern and grief Wendy danced quicker, her movements lighter and soon she was utterly devoid of grief but instead filled with a new startling sense of liberation and carelessness. She opened her eyes and saw Peter through the flames watching her hungrily. Spinning and twisting, the ragged tatters of her dress swaying around her shins Wendy stopped before him, panting and eyes burning fiercely and she held out her hand. The sadness that once plagued her was now like a faint dream, not completely gone but easily forgotten.
"Dance with me," she invited him and he cocked an eyebrow.
"What are we celebrating?"
"Us," she said and he smiled like he had just been handed the greatest victory. He took her hand and then bowed to her seriously and she curtsied, oblivious to the people watching in the shadows. What they thought did not matter, nothing mattered any more.
My brothers...the thought made her stiffen a little when he drew her into his arms but the worry and doubt was swept away like dust as he took the pipes from her and threw them onto a chair. They had worked their magic and as they turned in slow circles around the fire Wendy threw her head back, hair trailing behind her and for that time she was content to let make-believe become her reality for as long as she needed it to.
a.n:
Everyone okay? Eek...
For those asking I'm not going to end this story. There's an epilogue after this but I'm planning on doing a sequel. Stay tuned...