The Land Beyond | Peter Pan 2003

Chapter 7: Marion

Blood trickles down my cheek and along the length of my neck. A burning sensation comes from the cut. Poison. It won't affect me, it's mostly used on animals. I lean back against the rocky wall in hopes that the waterfall will disrupt the sight of me. The only thing I can think about is that the arrow belongs to another tribe. Surely, no one from my city would try to harm me. Peter flashes in my mind. If the elves spot him, they'll kill him. I have to lead them somewhere else - somewhere the boys won't find me.

Taking a deep breath, I dart out from behind the waterfall and into the forest at the water's edge. The whizzing sound of arrows being shot at me flies by my head but they miss. I zigzag around trees and bushes, leaping over fallen logs and roots. I don't dare look back to see if anyone is nearby. The world around me blurs to greens and browns as I race towards an unknown destination.

I glance down at my feet for a second and slam into something hard the moment I do. I land back first onto the dirt ground, the air leaving my lungs. I choke out and try to suck in a breath but nothing goes through.

Up above me stands a tall man with straight blonde hair. He's an elf. Lean and lanky with a bow in one hand and an arrow in the other. His pale blue eyes stare down at me, reading my expression. Finally, my lungs give in and air flows through me.

"Why are you doing this?" I hiss.

The blonde raises a brow. "You're her, aren't you?"

He lifts the hand with the arrow and looks off behind me. Rolling onto my side, I notice a group of elven men running up to us with bows pointed at me.

"It's Lahona," the blonde man says.

"How do you know me?"

"I'm Marion. The man you're supposed to be marrying before you ran off."

Marion. My fiance. The man, yes man, my father is forcing me to marry. Or was?

"Or did you run off?" He questions.

I hesitate, thinking about Peter and if he's okay, but also giving him an answer I didn't mean to give.

"Someone took you," his eyes widen in realization. "Who?" He asks, kneeling in front of me. He puts the arrow away and hooks the bow around his shoulder.

I look away and remain silent.

"You're protecting them," he ends the distance between us and grabs my hands from the ground. He tugs me up to stand and frowns down at me.

I'm not a pretty sight right now. My back and hair are covered with dirt and leaves and I am soaked to the bone. He doesn't let go of my hands. I try to pry them away from his but his grip only gets stronger.

"Let me go," I demand.

"No, we're taking you home."

"Get your hands off of her!" Orders a familiar voice. Marion and the others look around to see who the voice is coming from but unlike them, I look up and see Peter flying down at us at top speed with his sword ready to strike.

I try to step back but to no avail. Peter slips between us anyhow, and kicks Marion in the chest, sending the elven man flying to the ground. He doesn't let go of my hands at first, slamming me into Peter's back before he releases me.

Peter is unphased. He steps between Marion's spread legs and points his sword down at his chest. The group of archers behind us prep their bows.

"No!" I shout.

I step between the archers and Peter, flinging my arms out to block any sight of Peter from their view.

"You're just a boy," Marion says.