Claimed

Chapter 27 - The past

That next morning I was ready for yet another day. I had slept like a baby and the morning just got better, when Felix accidentally said, that he had developed small feelings for Sierra, while she heard it. I got so happy on Sierras behalf. Unfortunately I had a bad feeling about her fight.

Sierras technique wasn't right for the next 2 fights. 

<<<<<

"Devin, get yourself inside this circle, so we can begin." Peter shouted. A minute later Devin arrived. Devin was quite good with weapons, I've fought him myself. He was a bit on the arrogant end and I made sure to tell Sierra this. I wanted her to win, so everything I knew, every single thing that could help, I had told her when we ate breakfast. 

Now they stood in front of each other in their fighting stances. Peter called that the fight had started and they started to circle each other. Devin attacked first and got a few blows in with the sword. Of course he only just hit her with the sword, not enough to make big injuries, but just enough to let everyone know that he hit her. She also got a few hits at him, but they seemed to be more luck than anything else. All in all things weren't going good for her. She got several cuts, while Devin seemed mostly unharmed. 

They continued the fight, but Sierra was clearly loosing. She needed a miracle to win this fight. Devin kept fighting, draining Sierra of energy. It wasn't long before she was on the ground, breathing heavily. She had lost. I was sad on her behalf, but I also knew, that this is the way it is supposed to happen.

"Sierra will take her final fight in two days, until then go back to your usual chores." Peter told everyone.

He then looked at me, 

"Wanna take a walk? I've got something to tell you or rather... I've got something to show you" He said. I simply nodded and we were on our way away from the camp. He took my hand and almost dragged me through the dense forest. I stopped in my tracks and let go of his hand, tired of walking so fast.

"Why walk so fast, no one is chasing us." I said. He sighed,

"Look, I have thought about telling you this for quite some time, but I just can't, so I'll show you instead. I gotta do it quick before I change my mind." He then grabbed my hand again and started dragging me through the forest again.

<<<<<

After a long walk (and when I say long, I mean really long, if was close to night) I finalle broke through some trees to a beach I had never been on before. Peter had walked a bit in front of me, so he was waiting for me on the beach. I walked to him. When I looked after what Peter seemed to be looking at, I was shocked to see a skull-shaped island.

"I don't understand, why is that island shaped like a skull and why is it so important" I said, still confused. 

"Let me show you." He held out his hand for me. Gentle as if I would break any moment. I took his hand and he silently led me to a row boat, I hadn't noticed. He placed himself to row the boat and I sat in front of him. I looked at him, he seemed to be deep in thought while transporting us to the little island. 

When we hit land he helped me of the boat and we walked up some stairs into a cave, where there was a huge hourglass decorated with several golden skulls. Around the big room there were also several lit torches. The hourglass was still plenty full. 

"What happens once it is empty?" I asked, fearing the answer. Peter looked at me as if he feared I would disappear.

"I'll die" He said. I was shocked, could it be? wasn't he immortal? 

"No, no, no, you are supposed to be immortal, there must be something we can do... you can't die, you just can't..." I ended my rambling, but he just looked at me. "Isn't there something we can do, there is always something, a loophole.... something" I almost screamed the last word, hoping  he would react. I then felt a tear roll down my cheek, then another and another. Soon it was a stream and I sank to the ground. He was going to leave me. I had to find a way around it, there just had to be something. 

"There is something we can do" He then said.

"Tell me, I wanna help, I can't just stand beside and wait until my true love dies" I said

"But before I tell you, I want you to know just who I am and how I ended up here." He said. I had stopped crying because of hope, hope for a future where Peter won't be dying. I kept silent, waiting for him to start telling his very own story. But once again he held out a hand for me, which I of course took. He led me outside, where the stars had started shinning. He sat down on the ground, with rock wall against his back. He spread his legs and patted the ground in front of him. I then sat down, my back against his chest. I sat down between his legs and cuddled closer and he started telling his story.

"Well it all started back in the enchanted forest. I had a son...

"A son?" I questioned, slightly shocked

"yes, now don't interrupt or i'll never get to finish," he said, with humor in his voice. He then continued. 

"His name was Rumpelstiltskin. We didn't have a good relationship, because he wanted a real father and I just...

<<<<< (You all know his story, so I don't want to write it all)

"Soon though, I got lonely and tired of only being able to talk to shadow. Whom by the way, you don't want to really meet. So I brought some boys here, with the help of the pipe, the way you saw. Having the boys here, brought the happiness back in my life, The rest of the story you know, you know, how I met you and such." He said ending the story.

"Wow, that is a lot to take in" I said. Him getting rid of Rumple was especially hard to take in, but everyone does stupid things and it is a long time ago. I still wouldn't trade what I have with Peter for the world.

"If you want some time to think or ..." He started, but I didn't let him finish

"Are you crazy! If I take the time to think, that is less time to save you. You said there was a way and I wanna help, because I can't loose you. This doesn't make me like you any less, it is you past, I will not let it destroy our future together." I said convincing him to tell me, how to save him. He sighed,

"Well, there is a spell to destroy the hourglass. I have all the ingredients except one..."

"Well then let's go get it!" I said, interrupting him. He smiled at me,

"First of all, it is in the enchanted forest and my son has it. He won't just give it away, especially not to me or anyone associated with me. Second, I can't just leave, the boys need me." He said, wiping the hopeful smile off my face. 

"Let's go back to camp" He said kissing my neck and getting up. We walked slowly hand in hand back to camp.