Tiger Lily

Chapter 2- Sweet Freedom

1645

I slowly put down the hatchet. My father stood over me drunker than usual, probably from the cerimonial wine. I grabbed his wrist laying him down on his pallet slowly. " You're to be married soon.," he murmered. I poured some water in his long black hair and some on his face. He immediately sobered up and sat up to speak to me. " Did you hear me girl, I told you you're getting married. To the peddler of the tribe." I gasped.

" Father, you were obviously drunk when you made this deal. You need to speak to the elders and get the proposal revoked." i begged.

"No. I know what I'm doing." I sat down and started to cry, begging him that I wouldn't have too. Peter spoke in my mind.

"Relax, Tiger Lily. You can get out of this." I looked up and saw a shape of a boy floating above me. I nodded and sat down in the doorway to my tent. " I know what I must do," I whispered.

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1646

Six months after her wedding, I was due to get married. Well my father called it off with the pedlar but now he wanted me to just get married, and soon. I hated him for making me do this stupid courting system. Every night I met with Pan and his Lost Boys, learned better English and fought. Pan taught me what to do about my father.

"Just say , 'I Believe,' and I'll take you away from all this. You can be truly free." I would always stare at him in disbelief.

"I can't leave my family." He always laughed condisendingly at this, shaking his head and pulling one of my braids. The Lost Boys would mock me, calling me a silly little shit. Then I would throw a stick or a weapon in their general direction.

One cold spring night, a pale face came. He wore all black. Black vest, black pants, black coat. His hair and beard were all black as well. He looked angry and sad like he lost his true love. I saw him and felt a deep remorse for this handsome man. " Hou, pale face. What is your name?" I said in English, thanking Pan for the lessons.

" Captain James Killian Hook, sent here by Peter Pan. At your service, Love." He responded bowing his head slightly. The tribe stayed away from him mostly, I spoke to him daily. I brought him food, gave him shelter, and gave him tours.

"Love," he said one afternoon," why don't you want to stay in Neverland? It's a good place, safe." I rolled my eyes.

"Because if I left, I know I couldn't return," I said looking into his eyes. They were blue as a new sky. But surrounded by shadows and darkness. I tugged on the tassles on my pants. The wind played with my long undone hair. The sunlight streamed into the teepee. Hook stood and left wobbling slightly.

My father came storming in not an hour later. "You, you little bitch!" He screamed at me, slapping my face. I flew backwards screaming for help. He kicked my ribcage making me start to cry.

"Father, please stop," I begged. He landed a punch into my stomach doubling me over. "What did I do?!" I weapt.

"It's all your fault," he whispered in my ear right before he bit it harshly.

"HELP ME," I screamed crying as his teeth peirced through the flesh. I saw his dagger in the back of his pants. Desprately I grabbed it and ran it into his back. He relased my ear and fell back stammaring in shock. I pulled my tomahawk from my pallet and brought it down on his paralized body three times. Blood coated my outfit and face.

"You-- you.." he whispered. I heard his heart slowing down.

"You can't die yet old man," I whispered darkly. I grabbed his long hair and pulled up sharply listening to his groans of pain. I swung once and the scalp came off cleanly, he whispered four words.

"I'm proud of you..." the he fell down dead. I dropped the scalp, and bent over his body crying.

"I'm so sorry father. You made me, I defended myself like you taught me.. Father please wake up." The blood was pooling out onto my pants. My exposed middriff was brused from the punch, my hair falling out of its braids.

Warriors came in cheering me on. Then I was brought before the cheif. " You are officially Princess of the tribe. You will be married to my son tommorow at sundown. Be ready." I didn't want to be rewarded for killing my father, I wanted to be punished. My things were moved to the Prince's teepee. I did the only thing I could, I ran. I ran so long that all the pain turned vile numbness, the tears just involintarily slid down my face. I ran into the ocean, detrmined to drown myself.

 I shoved my face underneath in its depths. Choking on sea water, I was pulled up by a sharp hand. Hook turned me around glaring at me, " What the Hell do you think your doing? Pan will bury me alive if I let you die." I sniffed and choked out the salty seawater.

 "I deserve to die, Hook! I'm a disgrace, I killed my father, I scalped him. And now I am forced to be their princess, a slave to them and the chief. What hell have I put myself in?" Hook pulled me into a warm leather clad hug. His cold silver hook pushed against my lower back. I sobbed emptly into his coller.

 "Let go," Pan's voice hissed in my brain. Hook must have heard it too because he tensed and took two steps away from me. I splashed my face with the cold water and followed Hook back to the woods.

 " Take me away from all this... please, I can't do this anymore... I can't live here anymore."

 Hook stopped and turned sharply and grabbed my slumped shoulders halting me. " Now love," he said cautiously," Your angry right now, lets think calmly and not lose our heads."

 "I know what I'm doing. Hook, I can't live here. I feel like a villian, yet the people revere me as a hero. I'm a legend, I'm the greatest warrior now, but I don't want to be." I knew I couldn't stay, they would tell the tales of me for generations. I didn't want to have fame, or to be married, or to lead the soliders into battle on my black horse. I wanted to be with Pan and his Lost Boys, and be forever young and beautiful, and make my own destiny. Not to be forced to have children with a man I don't love and get old and die, or not live long enough and die in battle. I want to live.

 " I can take you after your wedding ceremony, that will be the only time it won't be suspicious that I'm leaving. But you will have to create a diversion. I will notify Pan and he will be expecting you." I nodded and we went seperate ways.

 The tribe was in a frenzy preparing for the wedding. My prince came to me and kissed me on the cheek. He was insanly tall and he had smooth black hair with rare blue eyes. His muscles were rippling and his pants hung low on his hips. " You are so beautiful. Especially in that exposing outfit, Blood really suits you." I gently pushed him away and walked off in the oppisite direction.