Hiraeth: Return to Neverland #1 (a darlinghook fanfic)

13 | sacrifice

    We are on the rock, Wendy, but it is growing smaller, soon the water will be over it.

Wendy groaned and moved slightly, but there was something restraining her arms and legs.

    We must go.

    Yes.

    Shall we swim or fly, Peter?

Her head throbbed and colours swam before her eyes when she opened them.

    Do you think that you could swim or fly as far as the island, Wendy, without my help?

    I am rather tired.

She was tired. Where was she? The rock. Peter had just told her. Wendy tried to clear her vision. Peter wasn't there.

But she could hear him, he just moaned, he's in pain.

    What is it?

    I can't help you, Wendy, I can neither fly nor swim.

    Do you mean we shall both be drowned?

    Look how the water is rising.

The water was rising, Wendy could feel it at her ankles. She managed to get the coloured spots out of her eyes and blearily looked around. It was getting dark over the lagoon, and the mermaids were gone, leaving the surface smooth.

Working her way up to a sitting position, she noticed that her arms and ankles were tied with what looked like seaweed. Her arms were tied behind her back and the seaweed reached high enough up her arms that she couldn't slip them in front of her. Those mermaids sure had done a thorough job.

The Jolly Roger lay anchored at the mouth of the bay that formed the lagoon. Tiger Lily had been right, as she always was.

Wendy thought about the memory that had surfaced as she regained consciousness. It had been about the last time she was on this rock. The first time that Peter had been truly selfless.

    Michael's kite, it lifted Michael off the ground, why should it not carry you?

    Both of us!

    It can't lift two; Michael and Curly tried.

    Let us draw lots.

    And you a lady; never.

For all his faults, Peter could be perfectly chivalrous at times. He had tied the tail around her and tried to push her off the rock. Wendy had held on to him, refusing to leave him behind to drown, but he was stronger than her and pushed her off.

    Goodbye, Wendy.

    No, Peter!

She had tried to go back, but there was no point. She floated steadily away as the moon rose over the lagoon, and she could see that the rock was very small now.

With the mermaids' melancholy song to the moon floating over the water, Wendy had seen Peter stand up and straighten his back. He squared his shoulders and raised his chin, facing the horizon with a smile on his face. She had first thought it was the dim light playing tricks on her eyes, but it wasn't. Even in the face of death, Peter Pan was grinning and not about to back down.

Wendy shook her head, pushing the memory away. However brave and selfless Peter had been on that night, he was no longer. Not for her.

And besides, there was no point dwelling on memories, especially not right now. She had to get off this rock before the water covered it and her and she drowned.