Tiger Lily

Chapter 3- My grand Escape

1646

 I didn't sleep that night. The prince was a sound sleeper and a solid drinking habit. He was asleep within fifteen minutes of coming into the teepee. I shook the whole night, thinking on my sins. Pan spoke soothingly in my brain.

 " Go to sleep, Tiger Lily. We should speak face to face."

 " I can't go to sleep. I'm not tired." I almost felt his glare when I said this.

"Hook is bringing you tomorrow night. You'll stay here forever, young and beautiful just as you are now."

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The next morning, 1646

 I was forced to come out of the tent before dawn. My brain was foggy from exhaustion and fear. The women dunked me in the ice cold river. They washed my clothes, the short top with deer fur on the edges and my pants with tassels and beads on them. They washed and brushed my long hair. They braided small beads into the two long ones. By the time we said all the prayers and I was ready it was almost sunset. I glided in my boots over to the alter. Lightly colored beads were draped around me and two feathers were tucked into my braided headband, one white the other black. White for serenity, black for fierceness. Larks sang overhead whistling at me.

 The ceremony was beautiful, and traditional. Red poppies were tucked into my waistline and my hair. The chief decorated me with dark blue stripes on my face, cutting over my eye. The celebrations were about to begin when Hook came to me. "Princess, are you ready to leave?" He took my arm and began to guide me to his ship.

 "Hook," I said stopping," I can't leave. My people need me here, I can't abandon them all." Hook's face got darker, and he grabbed my wrists, pulling me in close so I could smell the rum on his breath.

" You don't have a choice. Pan will have my hide if your not there tomorrow morning. Smee," he called. Mr. Smee, a rather fat man in a red hat and short striped shirt toddled out of the woods with some of the big sailors. Hook pushed me into the two big sailors, and they wrapped their hands around my arms. Smee covered my face with a large bag that made me feel sleepy..... oh so sleepy. I screamed once then passed out. The last thing I heard was a small scuffle and the sound of a gunshot.