Once A Lost Girl | Once Upon A Time Story | Peter Pan

03x04 - Fare Thee Well, Lass - Past

        "Right, then, lads!" Hook was standing amongst his men, "Blackbeard will be paying us back in due time but until then we have a mission."

        "Captain, why are we doing the Queen's bidding? Wouldn't it have been smarter to leave this... girl on Neverland?" The crewman seemed young compared to some of the pirates standing around him.

       "Smarter? Probably. But we're not doing it for the Queen." He glanced at me. "We're doing it for the Lass. Leaving her there--with that bloody demon--is bad form. So, until she is returned to the Queen, she is our responsibility. Am I clear?" The men relented, committed to following their Captain.

        After the crowd dispersed I walked up to Hook. I'm not a paper doll--I can handle myself. I don't need to be protected. We're sailing straight there anyway. What harm could I come to?

        "Uh, Hook?" I said, "I can handle myself. I've been doing it since I could walk."

        "I'm sure you can, love." Okay, is that a regional thing? "But that doesn't change the fact that it's my neck if you get hurt. I don't know what's worse--the Queen hunting me, or Pan making me pay for it for the rest of my life." I shrugged, sighing.

        "Probably Pete--Pan. The Queen doesn't actually care what happens to me. She just wants me to do her dirty work." I looked out over the ocean. "I'd much rather be like you--sailing the ocean. Doing whatever--seeing all I could see."

        Hook followed my gaze, "that's a very naive way of looking at it." I thought that comment was odd, but I didn't question it.

        It took another three days before we'd reached the next port. I'll be honest, I was not expecting pirates to be so jovial. They joked, and laughed, and sang sea shanties so catchy you just had to join in. They'd even given me a few jobs on board. It was all easy stuff; I wasn't particularly strong. We'd reached port at nightfall. Instead of everyone dispersing, I guess they'd made the decision to stop and give a little parting show.

        "Now, some men would say having a lady on board is bad luck," one of the crewmen I'd come to know as "Brandy Chris" started, "but I say to hell with those men!" A few shouted in agreement. "Boys, she's been a joy to 'ave around, wouldn't you say?"

        "A joy indeed! But what does this have to do with anything?" That was Allen. He's one of the younger ones.

        "It 'as to do with the fact that she's leaving. And now, we can't just send off someone so important to our crew on a simple goodbye, can we?"

        I turned to the Captain, brows furrowed, "what's he talking about?"

        "Just watch, lass," he said, smiling.

        "Lassie, this one's special just for you." Chris took a swig of some rum as two men joined him--Gregor and Ol' Rag Chris. I hadn't asked for the stories behind the names, but I imagine they're an absolute treat.

        "So long a-many night it's been, and hard a-many times," Gregor started. His deep voice seemed to fill all of the cracks between the floorboards. I could almost feel it resonating in my chest. "But ne'er has a lassie been as sof' an' so refined."

        "An' if yer e'er in town, do tell tha' lassie on yer way." Ol' Rag Chris addressed us all boldy, gesturing and exaggerating all of his movement. I giggled.

        "A crews been waiting up all night, jus' waitin' to say hey." Brandy Chris rounded the solo's out and handed me the flask he was holding. "Go on, lass. You've earned it."

        I turned to Hook. He only shrugged with a tiny smirk crossing his face. I could tell this entire crew was incredibly close. A quick glance around and I finally dared to take a sip. It burned. I couldn't taste much for the sheer fact that the back of my throat was screaming at me for something so stupid. Regardless, the men around me cheered. I passed the flask to Hook, who drank it like it was nothing; Like it was water.

"Little, land-legged lassie, goin' up the way

Little, land-legged lassie, don't forget the day

Of sailors runnin' lef' an' right to make sure you'd be safe

             But what'd she say back, Ol' Rag?

             Ah, that one's easy, Greg.

Hardened, sea-legged men, sailing from the bay

Hardened, sea-legged men, I promise from today..."

         All eyes were on me. I guess the song was open for me to conclude. I took a shot in the dark, "I won't forget the laughs and rum and wish that I could stay?" it came out more like a question. The three on stage considered it before finally agreeing.

"I won't forget the laughs and rum and wish that I could stay.

So long a-many nights it's been and hard a-many times

But ne'er has a lassie been so sof' an' so refined

An' if you're e'er in town, tell tha' lassie on yer way

A crews been waitin' up all night, jus' waitin' to say hey!"

        The applause was overwhelming. Everyone was shouting and cheering. The three took a bow and Ol' Rag Chris came up to me. He had a big smile on his face. Hook gave him back the rum flask. A quick swig and a bow later he passed the flask to me.

        "So, was that a proper send-off, Captain?" he asked.

        "Ah, well, it could've done with a few more verses," he chuckled, "Nah, mate. I enjoyed it. What do you think, then, Elyssa?"

        I was smiling stupid big, "I think it was wonderful! No one's ever come up with a sea-shanty for me before."

        "Well, I'm glad you enjoyed. There's plenty more where that came from. Next time give us a week and we'll have an entire epic of songs planned." Chris gave me a pat on the head before joining the rest of the crew. I watched him walk away solemnly.

        "Too bad this is the last time I'll see any of you," I muttered.

        "I don't know that that's true, love. We come into town every so often. Maybe even in a months time." Hook took the flask from my hands and drank some more out of it. "And I'm sure a band of noble pirates wouldn't be opposed to a visit from a 'little, land-legged lass'."

        "Really?" I asked. He nodded. "I just have one question." He gestured for me to continue. "Why risk everything just to get me off the island? You could have told the Queen no and warned Pan but you didn't."

        Hook sighed, "I've made many mistakes in my life, Elyssa. I'm a pirate, but that doesn't mean I have to always be bad. No one should be on that island with him--not a soul. If it were my choice, love, I'd stay as far away as possible."

        "Is he... really that bad?"

        The Captain went silent. I took that as a yes. I just couldn't see it. Peter has been nothing but nice to me. Is it really possible that he could be so bad? Is it possible that anyone could be worse than Rumplestilskin? None of this made sense to me, but I didn't ask any more questions. 

And another chapter bites the dust! I think it's nice having the more comical past chapters with the Pirates. They're so fun!

What'd you guys think of the little sea shanty I came up with? The real ones are so catchy I knew we had to have the Chris's and Gregor come up with one for her. 

If you guys enjoyed this chapter, maybe consider giving it a comment or a vote? Feedback is greatly appreciated.

Have a great day/night/week!

Yours truly,

                The Black Rose