Chapter 36: Heartbreak Serenade

FELIX'S POV

Felix was killing himself. Pan had to be going to kill him soon, Felix was breaking the rules. Felix was still thinking about his sister, and keeping secret that she had come back a year ago. Well, with that logic, Pan would need to kill off the entirety of the Lost Boys. Or just make Felix the example. Felix thought maybe he was too important to Pan for him to do that, but Felix knew her absence, her death, hurt him enough that Pan was irrational at the best of times.

She had to be dead now, as Pan was certain. They'd all thought she had left or died years ago, since Pan said she was gone and he was the ruler of Neverland. Then, she'd come to camp that day, stopped Felix from killing Colin, given them all hope, and then disappeared. Now, Felix was certain she really was dead. It hurt.

Colin stalked past him on the forest path, bow in hand, hunting. Felix watched him disappear into the trees again, and kept walking himself. Footsteps silent, he listened to the boys' faraway sounds of playing, supervising as always while Pan was away. He hoped the Truest Believer would show up soon, the island was dying and Pan was weakening. Maybe the Lost Boys couldn't see it, but Felix could.

COLIN'S POV

It was one year, and Colin barely kept his pace normal as he walked out of camp, past Felix, and out of Lost Boy territory. Yes, it did occur to him that she may not even still be in Neverland, or alive, but he had to try. He had to try to see her, she promised him. He broke into a sprint right outside territory, not caring that he didn't actually know where to go.

He didn't get far before he skidded to a stop. Elle appeared, standing right in front of him, a shaky smile on her lips and her ragged, pale dress draping her thin form. She looked no different than one year ago, but it still filled Colin with both sadness and happiness. She was alive, she was still here. None of the boys, not even Pan or Felix, knew this. Ice dripped down Colin's spine at the thought of having to keep this secret, but he would do it for her any day.

"Hi, Elle," he grinned, panting slightly. He didn't make a move to touch her, not quite sure what to do, in fact. He'd begun to believe what they all said, that she was gone, there had been nothing but a tony promise keeping him hopeful. Colin felt relief that his hope was right, fear that he went against Pan and fear that now he would have no more hope for her, and anger.

She started walking to the side and he fell into step beside her, and it felt right. They didn't say anything for a while, just wandered. He didn't really know what to say, but he didn't feel like he needed to say anything. Then he remembered he had something to break the silence with.

"We have a present for you, we all made it," he started, reaching into his pocket and pulling out the dagger. They had all really put effort into it, even curly and Slightly who hadn't known her long enough. The blade was metal, clean and glinting, gotten from Neverland by Felix. Apparently, someone could wish for anything and the island would present it, but that was only if the person had enough magic and Felix was the only one besides Pan who did. Carved along the blade was her name in fancy, curling letters. Colin would never have suspected that, given so much time, Robert could make letters so lovely. The hilt was wrapped in leather, and a string of beads and feathers was wrapped and tied around it to decorate the handle.

Her blue-grey eyes widened as she held it gingerly, as if it would shatter if she gripped it too hard. Her smile widened and she swallowed. "Thank you," she breathed, then frowned slightly. "How did you manage it?"

"Well, we make weapons all the time," Colin chuckled. "We just put a bit more time and thought into it. The boys all think," he paused, knowing this would probably hurt them both, but he had to say it. "The boys all think you're gone, or dead, whatever the difference is." Elle closed her eyes and her jaw tightened, but she nodded for him to go on. "I convinced them to make it anyway though, in case maybe one day you came back or your soul was still around or the Shadow brought it to you," he was rambling now, all in one breath, "or something," he finished, a bit desperately.

She just nodded, still frowning a small bit. "Pan didn't seem to care enough to notice, or to ask anyway," he shrugged. Then, silence fell again as they continued to walk.

Colin tried to think of something else to say, but he couldn't. What could he say? Her brothers all, except him, thought she was dead. Even he thought she was dead sometimes. The boy who so obviously—to Colin, anyway—loved her thought she was dead. Colin didn't even know how she felt, what she thought of them, anymore. She couldn't hate them all, not if she had come back that day.

"I used to read a lot when I lived in the tower," she mused aloud, breaking the quiet. He didn't mind. "I remember all the stories, I read them so many times over the years."

"Can I hear one?" he asked tentatively, wanting to continue listening to her voice like that. It sounded reminiscent, yet not entirely unhappy, and there was just a bit of peace in it. Just a tiny bit.

"There was a kingdom in the Enchanted Forest, long before my kingdom's time, and before Rumplestiltskin was even alive I daresay," she explained. "In it, all the women wore their heads and faces covered with beautiful, colored scarves and shawls. It was a tradition. I think by the time I was born they must have died out or been conquered, or something, because it was never mentioned in any books or maps aside from this one little story. It was a legend I read, about why the women covered their faces."

"The legend?" Colin prompted, nodding eagerly.

"A girl, Fallon, was born in the kingdom to a family of nobles," Elle began. "She was special, she was magical. Her face, even as an infant, was so beautiful that it cured any living thing that looked at it of any illness or defect. Her mother made her wear a veil, or always be hidden within their home, to protect her. The mother worried that people would try to kidnap, or harm, or threaten Fallon to give them her magic, or to use it for their desires.

"When she was seven years old, she went with her parents to a party for King Rhos. It was there that she met Prince Eneric, who was ten years old at the time, but did not understand how important he was. She just thought he was another child, and the two played together all throughout the party and became fast friends. Well, King Rhos saw this, and at the end of the ceremony when most guests were leaving or retiring to their rooms, asked about Fallon. Of course, he was the king, and her sad parents had no choice but to explain why she wore the veil and had not been publically presented often. They thought he would take her away and use her too, and they could nothing because he was the king and could have them all executed or locked away.

"Instead, King Rhos wanted to protect her, for the sake of his son, who had been a very quiet and rather lonely child before that night. He could protect her far better than her parents could, since he had armies and much stronger walls at the palace. And her parents could still visit anytime. So, the parents agreed, and King Rhos adopted her as his daughter and raised her as a princess.

"She stayed covered, but was the best of friends with Prince Eneric and was protected and loved by all in the castle, including staff. When she was nine, however, she became very upset one day. Another royal family from another kingdom had come to visit, with four daughters. The daughters had teased Fallon for always being covered, and praised Eneric for having such an odd sister and told them it was wrong and Fallon must be very ugly to always be covered. Eneric had never seen her without the veil, so he did not know better. King Rhos, when Fallon told him, declared it a custom for all women to cover their heads and faces with veils, so that she would not feel alone, and so that others would appreciate each woman's unique beauty.

"Then, when she was eleven, and Eneric was fourteen, Princess Endri, Eenric's little sister, died of poison. She was only ten years old. No one had ever explained to Fallon why her face had to be covered, or the true extent of her magic, and the poison was so fast that no one quite realized she was dying until she was already dead. The whole kingdom mourned.

"Four years later, Fallon was reading myths in the library one day when she realized her magic. She read about natural magic, those born with abilities, and many measures others took to keep them secret. Fallon had looked to the window and saw a squirrel lying on the sill, breathing heavily and obviously in pain. She pulled up her veil, and tapped the window. The squirrel glanced quickly, and its eyes widened, and it stood, breathing normally and not even quivering. Then, it turned and jumped form the window onto the nearest branch and scampered off. Fallon realized her healing powers, but also remembered little Endri. Fallon could have saved her, but she didn't. and her heart broke, and she never told anyone else about her magic.

"Eventually, she and Prince Eneric fell in love, and for years he asked to finally see her face, and for years she refused out of fear. Finally, on her eighteenth birthday, she did. Eneric was healthy, so nothing happened, and assumed that the swell of happiness he felt was due to his love for her. Fallon was so happy, for she finally loved someone who loved her for her, not her magic, and who she could not harm in any way."

"And they were married, and lived happily ever after?" Colin finished hopefully. The story seemed familiar to him, and he bit back the small smile he felt growing. Not breaking her stride, Elle shook her head.

"There was more to it, sadly," she continued. "When Eneric was twenty-five, King Rhos died of old age, something not even twenty-two year old Fallon could have cured. So, the prince had to be married and take the throne. Of course, he wanted Fallon immediately, but had to undergo the formalities of meeting other princesses and discussing with other kingdoms. Most of the princesses were sad when he rejected them, but he did so kindly so they did not hate him and no relations with other kingdoms were harmed. But one princess, Maria, realized he was in love with Fallon and grew jealous. She cornered Fallon and demanded that she give up her magic, or else she would reveal it to the entire Enchanted Forest and doom her to a life of constantly being threatened or kidnapped or used.

"Fallon did. The book did not tell how, but with magic there is always a way I suppose. She was still lovely, and Eneric still loved her with all his heart, and Maria got the magic and left. Of course, Maria soon learned that the magic was rather a burden, as she was constantly threatened and kidnapped and used for it," Elle laughed. "The two married, and Eneric became king. Fallon and the other women never had to wear veils anymore, although many still had them wrapped around their heads or hair because they were so beautiful.

"Unfortunately, a few years later, when they had two babies of their own, King Eneric was fatally wounded in battle. No one could save him, not even Fallon, for she had lost her magic," Elle's voice dropped, and she looked at the ground. Colin reached out and held her fingers, sensing that her mind was perhaps not entirely on the story. Well, this exact story, anyway.

"King Eneric died, and Queen Fallon was heartbroken and lived on to rule, but was lonely and felt horribly guilty all her life. She raised their two children and told them many wonderful stories, so they grew up still loving their father. And that was all the story told," Elle finished, shrugging slightly.

"That's a rather sad ending," Colin frowned. Elle shrugged again, smiling slightly.

"Depends on how you think of it," she reasoned. "If you only see that her love died and she was alone, yes, it is sad. Or, if you see that he died in battle protecting his kingdom—and her—and that their children and she all still loved him, then it isn't so sad."

Colin opened his mouth to reply, but looked forward and stopped, gasping. Elle looked up, first at him, then followed his gaze, and gasped as well. They stood on the edge of a cliff, looking out over the ocean and a small island made entirely of one rock. The rock was shaped like a skull, a large archway at its base open and spilling out a faint, bronze light. There were two large holes farther up, looking exactly like eyes, with brighter light glowing out of them.

"I've never seen this place before," she breathed, and Colin shook his head.

"Pan's never mentioned it, none of the boys have," his voice was as quiet and breathy as hers. It was scary, this island. Colin wasn't magical at all, but he could still feel it. Like there was no air, and too much at the same time. "I don't think we are supposed to know about it," he gulped.

"The magic," Elle trailed, eyes now dark blue, wide and glued to it. "It's just…overwhelming, whatever is there is so powerful," she gasped. Then, she tilted her head to the side and closed her eyes. "But…it's draining. It's growing weaker as we speak."

Colin just shook his head. "We should go, we aren't supposed to be here," he stumbled back nervously and tugged on her hand.

Her fingers slipped out of his. "Colin," she said. He stopped and looked at her, and had the urge to cry. Her eyes were sad, but hard, and her shoulders slumped as she faced him. "Goodbye," she nodded once. He just nodded, the air was yanked from his lungs and his throat was too tight to speak. But he understood. This was it, he wasn't seeing her again, not in another year or fifty.

"Goodbye," he said, but she had already disappeared from his eyes.