Awakenings

Chapter 4: Among The Wild Roses

In England during this time (1900's), 18 was the age of consent, and so a 18-year-old girl or boy was considered old enough to make their own decisions about sex and marriage. In fact, 18 is still the age of consent in England today.

Enthusiastically affectionate thanks, as always, to everyone who has reviewed. Thank you thank you thank you! I love you all and want to take you to dinner! Well, okay, maybe not, because I'm poor. But, still, it's the thought that counts, right?

Drunk with the joy that Wendy shared his amorous feelings, Peter soared through the night air with her in his arms, turning spectacular loops and dives to make her cling to him more tightly, which brought an even bigger smile to his face.

As Peter flew so fast and so far that London's slate roofs were left behind them, Wendy became concerned, asking Peter, "Where are we going?"

But Peter only smiled at her and pressed his lips to hers in a quick kiss. "Trust me."

And despite his familiar bent toward mischief, Wendy found that she did trust Peter. She knew that he would not do anything to harm her, nor would he steal her away without her permission. Even when she had decided to leave Neverland, he had respected her wishes. And so she trusted him, nestling comfortably against his warm body as they flew Wendy knew not where.

Wendy saw a river shining silver beneath them, and wondered if it was the familiar Thames, broken free of smoky London to stretch and bend unfettered among the fields and hedgerows. Wendy liked to think that it was, for she too felt that she had been delivered from some invisible restraint, and so she laughed with delight as the wind blew her hair streaming behind her like a silken flag. She had quite forgotten how thrilling it was to fly!

Peter at last landed upon a grassy hillside overlooking the ocean, setting Wendy gently upon her bare feet once more. Turning her within his arms, he showed her the water that extended as far as the eye could see.

Wendy's only experience with the seaside had been during her visit to Neverland, and so she gazed out upon the moonlit water with awe. The sound of the waves crashing was strange and beautiful to her, and she found that she could even smell and taste the ocean's salt in the balmy breezes that touched her skin.

"Oh, Peter! It's lovely!" She smiled up at him, and his arms wrapped more securely around her waist, pulling her back against his front.

Resting his chin companionably on top of her head, Peter pointed to the water. "See there?"

Wendy looked where he indicated, and saw a mountain that rose high out of the ocean waves, and at the top of the mountain was a castle that gleamed in the moonlight, like something out of a fairy story. Wendy gasped with wonder.

Peter sat gracefully upon the ground, pulling Wendy with him so that she sat in the shelter of his crossed legs, her own legs hanging over his and her back leaning against his chest. Her long nightdress seemed almost to glow in the darkness, her toes barely peeking from beneath its hem.

The grass was tall around them, nearly as tall as Wendy's shoulder, and sown liberally with creeping wild roses that permeated the salty air with their own musky sweet scent. Peter leaned his chin upon Wendy's shoulder, looking out at the water and the mysterious castle, holding her closely to him. The fear excitement had tightened in his belly again, seeming to anticipate something Peter could not identify. He did not know what might happen between them in this beautiful moonlit place, and so he had pulled Wendy into his lap such that she could not see his uncertain expression.

Wendy tilted her head slightly to the side, so that her cheek touched Peter's as they both looked out toward the ocean. The way Peter held her made her feel cherished, but it also stirred a nervous excitement within her. She watched the waves lapping at the base of the fairy tale mountain, and she listened to her heart beat loudly in her ears. She wondered if Peter could hear it.