Fairie Rings - Chapter 7a

Tinkerbell flew into the cave and into a cacophony of shouting boys.  She jingled excitedly in Peter’s ear.

“Everyone shut up!” Peter yelled.  “Tink is trying to tell me something. What is it, Tink?”

She quickly relayed what she had seen to Peter.  That the Indians were helping Hook, that Smee had tried to kill Edward and that was what cost him his life, and that she was very afraid that Captain Hook just might love Edward.

“I can’t believe it,” Peter sat down, stunned.  “You saw Tiger Lily and her grandmother?”

“Yes,” Tinkerbell explained.  “They were there to put medicine on Edward’s wounds.” She hesitated a moment, not sure how much to tell Peter.  “Mr. Smee tried to cut his throat.”

“And it didn’t kill him?” Peter asked, flabbergasted.

“No, but he’s very weak,” Tink continued.  “He can’t walk very well without help.”

“And you think that’s why Hook killed Mr. Smee?” Peter asked.

“Positive,” Tink jingled insistently. “Hook has a new bosun too.”

“Who?” Mohawk asked.

“Snickers,” Tink answered.  “Only now they call him Bloody Mike.”

“Bloody traitor is more like it,” Carrots scowled.

“Enough!” Peter demanded.  “Good work Tink.  Are you up for a riddle?”

“A riddle?” she jingled.

“Yeah,” Peter explained.  “When I went to the mermaids they wouldn’t give me a straight answer.  They only told me a stupid riddle and none of the boys can figure it out.”

“What is it?” the pixie inquired.

Peter thought hard for a moment to make sure he remembered correctly.  “Two armies meet to end a war… but the winner, no… the victor is attacked from within.” He scratched his head a moment. “Um… To protect what is not his, he slays those who are but who betray… Again he wins and blindly defeats the king.  Yeah, that’s it.”

Tinkerbell felt herself go cold.  Smee had helped in a mutiny against Hook -- from within. And Hook had killed his own men to protect Edward; that much she could figure out.  She did not want to be the one to tell Peter of the treaty the Indians had made with Hook, so she shook her head and shrugged.  “You know how mermaids are,” she jingled.  “They probably are playing a prank on you.”

“I don’t think so,” Peter replied.  “You don’t have any idea what it’s about?”

Tink shook her head.  “Not the foggiest,” she replied; she crossed her fingers behind her back.  “Maybe you should ask Tiger Lily.  Maybe she’ll know.”

“Good idea,” Peter sprang to his feet.  “Then she can explain why she was out on the Jolly Roger. Lost Boys, you stay here.”  He flew out and headed for the Indian encampment.

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Peter arrived at the Indian camp about the same time Tiger Lily and her grandmother returned in the canoe.  The chief gave him a stern look of unwelcome.

“I just want to talk to Tiger Lily,” Peter explained.  “If that’s o.k. with you.”

“Hmm,” Great Big Little Panther sighed.  “Talk short time only.”

Peter went into the wigwam after Tiger Lily and Shy Doe.  He saw the elderly woman hang up her medicine bag.  “Hi Tiger Lily,” he greeted, nodding towards Shy Doe.  “You want to go for a walk?”

Tiger Lily looked at her grandmother for approval and the old woman nodded.  “Back by sunset,” she instructed.

Tiger Lily led Peter out of the wigwam and across the camp to where the horses were picketed.  “How is Chief Flying Eagle?”  she asked.

“I’m o.k.,” Peter answered.  He patted one of the horses for a moment.  “How are you at solving riddles, Tiger Lily?”  He did not want to let on that he knew about the trip out to the Jolly Roger just yet.

“Not so bad,” the girl smiled.  “You have riddle?”

“A real stinker,” Peter sighed.  “I tried to get information from the mermaids about the dead pirates on the beach, but all they told me was this stupid riddle.”

“Yes,” Tiger Lily replied seriously. “Mr. Smee is dead.”

“I know,” Peter shook his head.  “I can’t believe Hook would kill old Smee like that -- ripped him to pieces.”

“Yes,” the young girl said.  “But tell me your riddle and I will try to help.”

Peter repeated the curious words for Tiger Lily and was disturbed by the grim expression she took on.  “What? You know what it means?”

“I cannot say.”

“You don’t know?”

“I know,” Tiger Lily answered.  “I cannot say.  Come, you talk with grandmother.  She explain.”

Befuddled, Peter followed the girl back to her wigwam, where Tiger Lily related the riddle for her grandmother.  Shy Doe crossed her arms and stared at Peter very hard.

“You sure you want to know?” she asked.  “May not like answer.”

“Tell me,” Peter begged.  “Please. I don’t care, I’ve just got to know what it means.”

The elderly woman nodded her head slowly.  “The two armies are the pirates and this tribe.  Yesterday Chief Great Big Little Panther make treaty with Captain Hook.  War ended.”

“He did what?” Peter sputtered.

“Quiet,” Shy Doe insisted. “You ask, now you listen.  Listen well.” She sat down by the fire and gestured for Peter to sit also.  “The victor is Captain Hook.  His men attack him and son. They attack from within.  Hook kill many men to protect son.  Not blood son, but still son.”

“But the postman isn’t really his son,” Peter insisted.

“No matter,” Shy Doe held up her hand to silence him.  “Captain Hook love like son.”

“Hook can’t love anyone,” Peter said firmly.  “He isn’t capable of love.”

“You wrong,” the old woman answered.

Peter snorted with disdain.  “What about the last line?” he asked. “Again he wins and blindly defeats the king. What does it mean?”

Tiger Lily looked at her grandmother, wondering what she would say to Peter.  Finally the old woman spoke.

“It mean Captain Hook stop men who want to kill him and son. He wins.”

“Well, what about the king? What king does he defeat?”

“I not know,” the old woman said,  “You must figure out for self.”

“But how?” Peter asked blankly.

“Use head, use eyes, not mouth,” Shy Doe instructed.

“Huh?” Peter was thoroughly confused now.  Why, he wondered, would the mermaids tell him what he already knew - that Hook had killed some of his own crew - in the form of a silly riddle.  It didn’t make sense.  “Why were you out at the ship today?” he probed.

“To help Hook’s son,” Tiger Lily began to explain.  “It is part of our agreement with…”

“Hush!” Grandmother Shy Doe reprimanded her. She turned back to Peter.  “It dark now.  You must leave.”

“But…” Peter started.  “Oh whatever.  Thanks anyway.”  He exited the wigwam and started back towards his cave, no wiser for his time.  At least Tinkerbell had brought him some useful information.  Edward was injured and weak, and Hook was distracted by him.  That might just provide him with the opportunity for a little fun.

In the wigwam, Tiger Lily pondered her grandmother’s behavior.  “Why you not tell Peter meaning of riddle?”

“Is best he finds out for himself,” Shy Doe replied.  “If we tell, he may try to harm Hook or son.  Start new war maybe.  It is his own doing.  He should not have kept pirates here so long. He should have let Captain Hook leave long ago, after escape crocodile.  But Peter keep here for amusement.  Very cruel. Plus he not tell Hook about children who care for him.  This also very cruel.  As I say, Peter bring on self.”

“But,” Tiger Lily was confused now.  “Is Captain Hook not wicked pirate?”

“Yes.”

“So why is it wrong for Peter to fight him?”

Grandmother Shy Doe smiled at her granddaughter.  “Child, even wicked pirate feel. Very bad man, but still man. Very lonely. Very angry.  Hurt much, many ways.  Is not right for Peter to hurt more. Hook wait long time for this man to come.  He need, he loves, will stop hurt.”

“But…” Tiger Lily began.

“No but,” Shy Doe interrupted.  “Let Captain Hook leave with son. Is better for him, is better for us.”