Captain's Captive

Set Sail

Gagged and tied, Wendy glared daggers at Hook as he unceremoniously dumped her to the wooden floor of the Jolly Roger before securing her bindings to the main mast. He was unbothered by her furious gaze, turning instead to bark orders at his crew as they scampered around the ship to obey.

Struggle as she might, Wendy quickly discovered that sailors were rather adept at tying knots and, despite his missing hand, Hook was no exception. Wendy finally gave up and instead turned her attention to the captain once more, watching as he oversaw the preparations of the ship. How on earth does he keep track of everything? Wendy pondered as she watched with fascination at the organized chaos around her.

Sails fluttered down into place, secured by the sailors as the wind filled them to their capacity. The ship groaned to life like some sort of sleeping giant, rocking and churning with the motion of the sea. It seemed like ages before Hook finally turned his attention back to his young captive, a triumphant smirk on his face as he knelt before her.

"Comfortable, lass?" he asked with a chuckle, his sharp metal hook slicing through the gag that had kept her silent before moving to the ropes that bound her, the metal cutting through them as if they were mere silk.

"I know who you are, Hook. And whatever your plan is, it won't work." Wendy retorted, fury blazing in her blue eyes. "Villains never win."

This seemed to amuse the handsome pirate captain, a twinkle of mischief glimmering in his eye. "A villain, am I? Aye, your stories. I'm afraid you'll find that the world is more complex than your fairytales, lass." he brushed the smooth side of his hook against her pale cheek, a flush creeping over Wendy's features in response as she jerked away.

"Oh? You kidnapped a woman and assaulted a young boy; I would say that is pretty obviously villainous." Wendy lifted her chin defiantly, tossing her blonde curls over her shoulder as she got to her feet.

"Shame...such a fiery temper for such a pretty girl." the captain chided, clearly trying to get a rise out of her. It was effective, and Wendy flared to life like a roaring flame.

"Girl?! I will have you know that I am not a girl. I am eighteen, a woman. And furthermore, I have every right to be upset after having been snatched away in the middle of the night by a criminal and his tattered band of minions." she fumed.

"Careful lass, you may wish to be more girl than woman by the time this adventure is done with." he warned her, his arm snaking around her waist for emphasis as he pulled her close. Wendy was startled by the implication and pressed her small hands to his chest, shoving him away from her.

"You wouldn't dare! Peter would kill you where you stand!" Wendy threatened, though she very much doubted Peter gave a hoot about her innocence, so long as she was still in one piece to do the cooking and storytelling.

Hook gave her a charming grin, bowing with a flourish. "Captain Henry Oliver Orion Killroy, at your service. I am nothing if not a gentleman...but I can't say the same for my men. Best you stay close, lass." the last sentence held none of his playful jesting, his expression as serious as his words. Wendy didn't doubt the honesty that rang in them, though she was skeptical at his claim of being a gentleman.

"A gentleman, are you? Very well...as a gentleman, will you give me your word that none of your schemes will harm any of the Lost boys? They are every bit as captive as I am." she pressed, thinking of the sweet-faced young boys she had grown close to.

Hook seemed to ponder her request a long moment, twirling the end of his mustache around the tip of the curved metal that had come to replace his hand. "Very well, but only if you agree to aide me in my endeavors."

Wendy couldn't help but scoff. "You are a pirate, what on earth could you possibly need from me?"

A deep chuckle rumbled in his chest as he turned to face her once more, his hook catching her arm and tugging her to him as he bent to kiss the back of her hand. "I'm sure you will have your uses lass."

Wendy pulled her hand away, not missing the mischief that gleamed in his eyes before he turned his back to her and made his way to the quarterdeck once more.

Smee appeared shortly thereafter, tugging his cap from his balding round head in a fumbled greeting. "Beg your pardon miss, but the captain has ordered me to escort you to his quarters. You'll be much more comfortable there."

"Somehow I doubt that." She replied, casting a glance to the dark haired pirate who stood at the helm, powerful arms draped languidly over the massive wheel. "Out of the pot and into the kettle." Wendy grumbled, obliging the nervous first mate as she followed behind him.

"Oh I don't know about that, miss. The Cap'n ain't so bad, once you get to know him." He swung the door of the captain's quarters wide, leaving Wendy to gape at the interior as he lit a lantern on the desk in the far corner of the room.

It was far from what she had expected of a mere pirate; beautiful paintings decorated the walls, each of some far off place she had never seen. Beautiful red silk clothed the large bed in the center of the room, the crimson contrasting nicely with the dark oak of the bed and surrounding furniture, what little there was. A gilded trunk lay at the foot of the bed, a hand-carved chiffarobe along the nearest wall the same dark wood as the bed, a sturdy weapons rack beside it boasting several elegant blades of different length and breadth, and a beautiful polished piano that occupied the corner opposite the captain's desk.

"I'll fetch ye some supper, miss. Make yourself comfortable." Smee's words brought her out of her reverie just in time to see him disappear out the door.