Neverland's Key

by R. V. Bowman

  Chapter 20:

  When You Need a Little Advice

  Rommy landed back behind the cluster of homes at the small village. The problem was that they all looked so much alike she had a hard time telling them apart. For a moment, she wished she’d let Alice come along, but then she shook her head. No, she needed to talk to Little Owl on her own. Narrowing her eyes, she counted the round tents, trying to determine which one belonged to the older woman.

  While she didn’t think Chief Hawk Eye would mind her visiting, the last thing she wanted to do was run into Tiger Lily.

  “What are you doing here, lurking behind my grandmother’s home?”

  Rommy jumped. It was as if her thoughts had conjured the other girl.

  Tiger Lily stood tall, her thick black braid over one shoulder, and a long polished stick in her hand.

  “I want to talk to Little Owl,” said Rommy, straightening her shoulders.

  Tiger Lily tossed her braid over her shoulder. “You could come around the front, you know,” she said. “Father likes you. Why, I don’t know.”

  Rommy gritted her teeth but ignored the comment. “I didn’t want to disturb anyone,” she said.

  Tiger Lily lifted one shoulder. “Grandmother isn’t here. She’s out gathering plants.”

  “Well, do you know when she’ll be back?”

  Again, the girl lifted a shoulder. “When she goes off to gather plants, she can be gone a long time.”

  The air went out of Rommy, and her shoulders slumped. She had counted on Little Owl helping her decide what to do. She dreaded going back to Finn and the others with her mind still uneasy.

  “I don’t suppose it will bother anyone if you wait.” The words were spoken grudgingly.

  Tiger Lily turned away from Rommy and began making her way back around the tents. Rommy followed her, not sure what else to do.

  The older girl kept walking until she reached a small cleared space on one side of the encampment. Not a single green thing grew in the space and the dirt looked like many feet had trampled it. Circling the space were a series of wooden posts, and vines were strung among them, making a kind of fence with only a small opening through which to enter. Several sticks that looked like the one Tiger Lily held were leaning against one of the posts. Tiger Lily walked to the center of the circle, completely ignoring Rommy, who leaned against a post, watching.

  Tiger Lily stood tall in the center, her stick straight up and down in front of her. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Then she began to move. Holding the stick with both hands in the very middle, she twirled it this way and that, lunging out and up. It reminded Rommy of a combination of fencing and dancing. She walked over to where the other sticks were and ran a hand down one. It was completely smooth.

  “I will show you,” said Tiger Lily, startling Rommy. “I need someone to practice with.”

  Rommy hefted one of the sticks in her hands. It was heavier than her fencing sword, but she was intrigued.

  Tiger Lily motioned for Rommy to join her in the center of the circle. Rommy held the stick with both hands, like she’d hold a sword. Tiger Lily made a clicking noise.

  “No, you need to hold it in the middle, like this.” She demonstrated by putting her hands directly in the center of her own stick. Rommy copied her.

  “Now, you use the two ends to strike your opponent.” Tiger Lily whirled her stick and brought it down with a crack on Rommy’s. The reverberation ran up Rommy’s arms, making her step back.

  Tiger Lily nodded. “Now you try.”

  Rommy experimented with moving the stick the way she had seen Tiger Lily do it. It felt awkward. She wasn’t used to using two hands.

  For the first time since she had met her, Tiger Lily smiled at her. “You have the touch,” she said. “Now try to strike my stick.”

  Rommy brought her pole around and over and tapped Tiger Lily’s stick. The older girl chuckled. “You will not win any matches with a tap like that. Come, you can do better. I’ve seen you fight.”

  She started to circle Rommy, moving her stick as she did. She brought it over and around, and out of instinct, Rommy blocked the older girl’s strike, then swirled back and forward for her own strike which hit true.

  Tiger Lily nodded her head. “Good, good,” she said. “You can feel the rhythm in the wood.”

  Rommy wrinkled her nose. “Rhythm in the...” but before she could finish, Tiger Lily brought her pole down again, this time rapping one of Rommy’s hands.

  “Ouch!”

  Tiger Lily laughed. “You must concentrate,” she said.

  As they circled each other, striking and blocking each other, Tiger Lily asked, “Why did you come to see Grandmother? I did not think you would return here for your... quest.”

  Rommy eyed her warily. She wasn’t sure how much she should share with this girl who loved Peter Pan. “I... I think it is a good idea to make sure you are doing the right thing.”

  Tiger Lily lifted one eyebrow. “The right thing? I thought you had decided sealing Peter in Neverland was the right thing.” She twirled and did a series of strikes that had Rommy dancing to keep up.

  Once they were circling again, Rommy answered. “It seemed like it was, but...” she trailed off as she went into her own series of strikes, taking the other girl by surprise. The two danced back and forth, each trying to get in a good blow.

  Tiger Lily wasn’t even breathing hard. “Peter has been here a long time,” she said, backing away to give Rommy time to catch her breath. “He is more of this world than yours now.”

  Rommy felt a spurt of surprise. She had expected the other girl to tell her she shouldn’t seal Pan here. “What are you saying?” Rommy asked circling the other girl again.

  “I’m saying...” Tiger Lily went on a series of strikes that had Rommy busy, trying to block each blow. One landed on her hand, making her fingers numb, and she almost dropped her pole. “Peter doesn’t belong in your world anymore.”

  Rommy was so startled that when Tiger Lily struck again, she didn’t have time to block the other girl, and her stick clattered to the ground.

  “Don’t look so surprised,” said Tiger Lily, planting her stick in the ground next to her foot. “I have loved Peter for a long time, but he does not love me or anyone, not truly.” She made a face. “You were right about that, as much as I didn’t want to believe you.”

  Rommy jerked her head in astonishment. When she had rescued the older girl in the jungle from a killer plant, she hadn’t thought Tiger Lily had heard anything she said about Pan. Still, Tiger Lily’s change of heart didn’t fix Rommy’s dilemma.

  “But he told me about his father, about how he was abandoned,” said Rommy. “I just wonder if maybe we can help him instead of locking him away here forever. We all make mistakes. Shouldn’t he get a second chance, too?”

  Tiger Lily snorted. “Peter is not like me or you. He has become a creature of Neverland, and this is where he belongs. He doesn’t fit in your world anymore. You will not be hurting him by keeping him here, and you may save others.”

  Rommy just stared at the older girl.

  Tiger Lily shrugged. “I know you have to go into Mermaid Lagoon. There is a plant that can help you breathe underwater, and I know where to find it.”

  Rommy blinked at her. Tiger Lily was the last person she had expected to help her.

  The other girl tapped her stick on the ground. “Are you just going to stare at me, or do you want my help?”

  “Oh, yes,” said Rommy. “I...that would be...that is, I wasn’t sure how we were going to get past the mermaids.”

  “Even if you can breathe underwater, that still won’t be easy. And my help doesn’t come freely,” said Tiger Lily. She pressed her lips together, looking away. “If I help you, you have to let me leave with you when you go.”

  Rommy felt the air rush out of her in a big breath. If someone had told her that when she came to see Little Owl, it would be Tiger Lily who would help her see things clearly
and would offer to help them, Rommy would have laughed at the absurdity. Now the girl wanted to leave Neverland. Then, Rommy remembered Little Owl’s words.

  “Yes, you can come with us,” said Rommy. She hesitated. “But...”

  Tiger Lily narrowed her eyes. “I know I will be different from the other girls, but I do not care.” She flung a hand out. “There is nothing for me here. Our people are slowly dying out. I want more than to be stuck here for the rest of my life.”

  Rommy nodded. “It’s true,” she said. “You will be different, but I think...I know you can make a place for yourself.” She smirked. “I don’t think even Primrose would bother you more than once.”

  “I don’t know this Primrose, but she will be sorry she interferes with me any time,” Tiger Lily said, scowling.

  Rommy smothered a laugh. “Well, I guess now we both need to talk to your grandmother.”

  She leaned the pole back against the post, walked to where Tiger Lily stood, and held out her hand. Tiger Lily clasped it. The two girls’ eyes met and understanding flowed between them. Rommy thought, not for the first time since she had arrived at Neverland, that allies came in many shapes and sizes.

  Chapter 21:

  Every Beginning

  Starts With an Ending

  When the two girls approached Little Owl’s home, they heard voices. They looked at each other, and without a word both of them reached for the tent flap.

  Inside, they found Finn and Alice with Little Owl who was sorting plants on a wooden table.

  “But she said she was coming to talk to you.” Finn was speaking. He nudged Alice. “Isn’t that what she told you? It’s already dark. Something must have happened to her.”

  Rommy stepped into the tent. “I’m fine,” she said.

  Finn and Alice both spun in her direction.

  Little Owl smiled and nodded her head. “See, young Finn? Your worry was for nothing.” Little Owl looked between Tiger Lily and Rommy, and her smile widened even more.

  “I’m surprised you even noticed I hadn’t come back,” said Rommy, crossing her arms.

  Finn frowned. “Why wouldn’t I notice? Alice said you’d be back by sunset, and the sun has done set.”

  “I thought you might have been...distracted.”

  Alice rolled her eyes. “Don’t be a git,” she said. “We was all worried when you didn’t show up.” She looked at Tiger Lily and tipped her head in the older girl’s direction. “Why’s she here?”

  Alice had reason to be suspicious of Tiger Lily after the girl had kidnapped her to try to win Pan’s favor.

  Rommy let a smile spread over her face. “Tiger Lily is going to help us,” she said.

  “Since when is she on our side?” said Alice. She crossed her arms. “If she’s here, Pan ain’t far behind.”

  Tiger Lily’s eyes narrowed. “I am through with Peter,” she said. Her eyes suddenly looked sad. “No matter how much I wish it, I cannot change his shape.”

  Little Owl’s eyes were soft as she laid a hand on her granddaughter’s cheek. “Ah, Granddaughter, that is a difficult lesson to learn, that we cannot change others, no matter how much we wish it...or how much we love them.”

  Tiger Lily blinked her eyes several times before answering. “Yes, Grandmother, Peter won’t change, or rather he’s changed too much to go back to what he once was.” She lifted her chin a bit. “So, I have decided to leave Neverland.” She turned toward Alice. “Does this answer your question about why I am ‘on your side’?”

  Alice lifted one shoulder. “I’ll believe it when I see it,” she said.

  Rommy stepped forward and laid a hand on Alice’s shoulder. “Tiger Lily knows of a plant that will help us breathe underwater,” she said. She looked at Finn. “This is how we can get past the mermaids.”

  Finn lifted an eyebrow. “Get past the mermaids? So, now you’ve decided we’re doing this quest? Are you sure you ain’t gonna change your mind in another hour?”

  Rommy frowned. “I never said I had changed my mind. I said I wanted to be sure, and now I am.”

  Finn still looked skeptical, and his gaze shifted to Tiger Lily. “How do we know she’s telling the truth about this here plant?”

  Tiger Lily took a step forward, her hand going to the knife at her waist. “I do not lie,” she said. “Nobody questions my honor.”

  Little Owl laid a hand on her granddaughter’s arm. “Now, now, it is not easy for former enemies to learn trust. You must show some patience.”

  Tiger Lily glared at Finn. “Grandmother speaks wisdom.” Her eyes narrowed again. “But do not question my honor again.”

  Finn held up both hands. “Hey, I’m not the one who was pining after Pan,” he said.

  “But you did not hurry to leave him, either,” the older girl shot back and then her gaze slid to Rommy. “Not until your own heart started to speak, if I’m not mistaken.”

  Finn’s face flushed. “It wasn’t for Pan that I stayed,” he said stiffly. “It was for the Lost Boys.”

  Rommy stepped between the two and pushed them apart. “Look, when I came here, Tiger Lily was the last person I expected to help me.” She cast an apologetic look at the older girl. “But we need her. Without that plant, we don’t really have any chance of getting past those mermaids, and besides, she’s the one that helped me see things more clearly.”

  Finn seemed to deflate, but Tiger Lily did not relax her stance. Rommy raised an eyebrow at her. “Tiger Lily? I trust you,” she said. “That’s going to have to be enough until you prove yourself to everyone else, I think.”

  Tiger Lily let out a puff of air, and after a moment, her shoulders relaxed. She turned to her grandmother. “I am sorry, Grandmother, but I must leave this place.”

  Little Owl smoothed a gnarled hand over her granddaughter’s thick, black hair. Her eyes were wet. “Yes, yes you do,” she said. “I will miss you, Granddaughter, but it is for the best.”

  Tiger Lily wiped delicately at her eyes, and Rommy moved away. She felt like she was intruding on a very private moment.

  “Shouldn’t we be finding this here plant?” asked Alice.

  Rommy shook her head. “Give them some time,” she said.

  Tiger Lily straightened from her grandmother’s embrace. “I do not need more time,” she said. She turned to face the group. “It will take two of us. The plant grows on the cliffs at Mermaid Lagoon.”

  “Well, that’s convenient,” said Rommy. “I’ll come with you.”

  Finn shook his head. “No, I think I should be the one to go,” he said. “I know the cliffs better than you do.”

  Rommy crossed her arms. “Don’t be ridiculous,” she said. “The Lost Boys trust you, not me. It’s not going to help anything if I go back and you have disappeared.”

  Finn sighed. “I suppose you have a point,” he said.

  Rommy lips curved into a half smile. “Are you actually admitting that I’m right and you’re wrong for once?”

  An answering smiled tipped Finn’s mouth. “I wouldn’t go that far,” he said. He reached out and squeezed her hand.

  The knot that had seemed to take up permanent residence in Rommy’s stomach since their disagreement at Pan’s hideout started to unravel. Maybe things between them could be like before, even with her secret. Once they got back to London, maybe it wouldn’t matter as much. She shook the thought away. There were bigger things to worry about right now, but she couldn’t help the foolish smile that spread across her face.

  Chapter 22:

  Plans, Plans, and More Plans

  Little Owl moved to her rocking chair and gestured for all of them to gather around her. “You must make your plan now,” she said. “Once the key is turned in the lock, time will become your enemy.”

  Alice, Finn, Tiger Lily, and Rommy sat at the older woman’s feet. A deep sadness welled up in Rommy. She would miss Little Owl and her warmth and wisdom. While Neverland had proved both dangerous and disappointing in many ways, the woman sitting in front
of her had been one of the bright spots.

  “We should go at the next sunrise,” said Finn, interrupting her thoughts. “The longer we delay, the more chance there is for everything to blow up in our faces.”

  “We won’t get much sleep,” said Rommy.

  Finn paused, “You’re right, but if we don’t go at the next sunrise, that gives Pan a whole day more to recover. Not to mention, your father is still looking for you. If he finds you before you turn that key, I think we’re done.”

  Rommy sighed. Exhaustion weighed her down, but Finn was right. She nodded. “Tiger Lily and I will go to get the plant,” she said. “We can all meet on the beach right before sunrise. If...no when we turn that key, we’ll need to get to Papa to persuade him.”

  Alice cocked her head. “I don’t think them pirates is going to be happy about leaving here,” she said.

  Rommy shrugged. “Surely, some of them will want to go back,” she said. “The rest can stay here if they like. The one we have to worry about persuading is Papa.”

  Tiger Lily leaned forward. “Before we worry about your father, we must get around the mermaids.”

  Alice shook her head. “I don’t see no way around them fish girls,” she said.

  Tiger Lily rolled her eyes. “Then it is a good thing it is not up to you,” she said. “We must distract them while one of us finds the lock.”

  Little Owl nodded her head. “It is important that several of you work together.”

  “Francie is as good of a swimmer as I am, but she doesn’t really understand this place yet.” Rommy took in Alice’s pale face. “And Alice doesn’t swim, so that leaves me, Finn, and Tiger Lily.”

  “And we have to have enough of the plant,” said Tiger Lily. “It does not last very long.”

  “I think you and me can distract the three of them, don’t you?” Finn looked at Tiger Lily who nodded. Then he turned his gaze to Rommy. “That leaves you to swim with the key. Do you think you can do that and get back to the beach before your air runs out?”