The Fairy and Her Captain - Chapter 5

"That is enough for today, Hazel." Killian spoke as he sheathed his sword at his side, using his hook to press his sheath against his leg. He looked up to the fae with a smile on his lips, a faint proud one. Hazel had made great progress in one days time. He could only imagine the leaps and bounds she would make given more time. She would prove to be an asset to his crew more than he realized when he first took her from Pixie Hollow to join his crew on the Jolly Roger.

Hazel panted softly as she returned the sword to the crew member who lent it to her for the training session. She gave them a small smile before turning her attention to the captain. Her smile curled high on her cheeks while she neatly placed her hands behind her back. "What adventure will we be going on next, captain?"

The captain took a few moments pause before answering the fae's question. "We will be heading off towards Neverland using the magic beans your procured in the Enchanted Forest. Once we are in Neverland, we will be biding our time until I...we are able to retrieve the dagger that will kill the Dark One. ...With your specialized skill set, I am assured that we will be able to find and retrieve the dagger without any trouble at all."

He was confident that Hazel would be able to get the dagger that he needed to exact his revenge upon the Dark One, his crocodile, also known as Rumplestiltskin. This was only solidified by the fact that the fae was able to gather the magic beans they required for a journey across the realms onto Neverland.

"Neverland? I've only read about it briefly in the libraries on Pixie Hollow...Isn't it the island where the inhabitants never grow old?" Her brow raised gently while her fingers fiddled with one another behind her back.

Killian nodded, "Yes. The very same. Except the tale of never growing old stems to all who set foot on Neverland. Not just the inhabitants that live on the island." He had been there once before. Quite some time ago. Back when he was still in the Royal Navy and before he became a pirate captain.

"It sounds like the perfect place to practice my swordsmanship in the meantime before we devise a plan to retrieve this dagger you speak of from the Dark One." The fae was aware of the tales of the Dark One. There was hardly a soul in all the realms that hadn't heard of the mighty Dark One. Her mind did wander a bit as to why Killian held such a disdain for the Dark One. Of course there were many reasons why someone would want revenge against the Dark One. She simply wished to figure out what it was for her captain.

Her feet lightly danced around Killian in a circle, spinning on her heels. She couldn't deny her passion for wanting to spar against the captain once again. She could hardly wait for the next morning where they would certainly spare again as he promised.

A chuckle rumbled in Killian's throat while he watched as the fae danced about on her feet around him. "You will certainly get your training in on Neverland." That was when something hit him. The real danger that Hazel could be in if she encountered the boy none other than Peter Pan.

His last encounter had been while he was with his older brother Liam on a quest for the plant known as dreamshade. A plant that they had been told would cure all ails. In truth, however, this plant was a deadly poison and there is no known cure for it. His brother had fallen victim to this very poison moments after leaving Neverland.

Killian took Hazel's arm, forcibly stopping her in her tracks. A soft concerned look washed over his face. "...Listen, Hazel. Neverland isn't as carefree as the legends would have you to believe. There are dangers that those books do not speak of."

Her eyes widened slightly upon seeing the concerned looked on his features. She couldn't help, but listen to his warning and hang on every word. She nodded her head slowly as she opened her mouth to speak, "I'm sure that there are dangers within any new land that we venture to...around every corner could be something dangerous. I--"

"No." Killian snapped. "You don't understand." He pulled her closer by her arm. "There is a boy in Neverland. His name is Peter Pan and he is one of most deceptive and unashamed person you will come across on Neverland. He may just appear to be a child, but he is certainly centuries older then even you. He will not hesitant to kill you as soon as he is done playing with you."

Mr. Smee, from his spot only a few feet away from the captain and the scout, could see the concerned look that clearly wracked on Killian's face. He didn't think that he would see the day where he would see that look on his face towards another woman. Certainly not after his love's passing, Milah.

This, however, brought a smile to Mr. Smee's lips. Just knowing that it could be possible for him to love again and perhaps give up his revenge, made him the smallest bit happy.

Hazel nodded her head slowly, catching herself staring into Killian's ocean blue eyes while explaining the dangers of Neverland and the only known inhabitant known as Pan. It wasn't until Killian's grip tightened on her arm, did she say anything. "That hurts..." She winced, attempting to take her arm back from him. His grip was far too strong for her to escape from.

"I'm sorry..." Killian mumbled, his fingers releasing her arm and he dropped his hand to his side. He dropped his head down to the floorboards for a moment before looking up, barely making any eye contact with Hazel. He cleared his throat and turned his back to her. "I'll be in my quarters...we will set off to Neverland tomorrow morning." With that, he walked to the captain's quarters and opened the door, closing it behind him as he entered.

Hazel gently rubbed her arm where Killian had been holding so tightly moments before. She tried to move, but her legs were frozen in place. He had never grabbed her like that and the concerned look that sat in his eyes surprised her a great deal. He had never seen that look directed towards her before. It was strange and unfamiliar.

She jumped slightly when she felt a hand on hers and gasped, smiling a bit when she saw that it was just Mr. Smee. "You startled me..."

"I deeply apologize for startling you Miss Hazel. I was just going to say that I will check up on the captain in his quarters. I believe that I should ease his mind if only a little." He stated as he took his hand away from her arm and rubbed his hands together anxiously. His eyes shifted momentarily between his fingerless gloves to Hazel.

"Could you check up on him? I'm a little worried that I did something wrong, but I'm sure that he wouldn't confide in me. I'm just the scout and you're his first mate." Hazel remarked, her brows stitching together in the middle and her own worried look washing over her face. She couldn't help, but be concerned over her captain after the stunt he just pulled with grabbing her arm like he had. With the warnings he gave her about Neverland and Pan.

"Certainly. I'll be right back." Mr. Smee commented with a small nod before he walked over to the door to the captain's quarters, giving it a firm few knocks. "Captain, may I come in?" He asked, his voice trembling a little.

"Come in, Mr. Smee."

Mr. Smee opened the door and disappeared into the captain's quarters, shutting the door behind him.

Killian looked up from the small leather journal he had been reading on his lap while his legs were propped up on the table. His chair leaned back on two legs. "What is it you need?"

"You see, captain," Mr. Smee rubbed his hands together nervously as he walked further into the room. "I wanted to ask you about Hazel. You seemed to gaze at her with the same care in your eyes as you once did with Milah... I was curious if you had feelings for the fae. Do you have feelings for Hazel, captain?"

This was certainly the last question he expected from his first mate. His feelings towards their most recent crew member and the way that he mentioned Milah as he had. "I only care for her as a member of my crew, nothing more. ...You know that no one will ever be able to replace Milah in my heart. My love is to my ship and I would rather not lose a valuable member of the crew aboard the ship such as Hazel. After all, she did just learn how to fight."

As much as Killian tried to hide his feelings for Hazel through words and his silver tongue, there was no mistaking the glances he noticed between them. Hazel had feelings toward the captain and Killian had feelings for the fae. From his choice of words, Mr. Smee knew that Killian wouldn't so easily admit his true feelings.

"Very well captain." An idea popped into his mind to assist the captain in admitting his budding love for Hazel. "...Actually, one more question if you don't mind. Would it be alright if I...court miss Hazel?" He rubbed his hands together nervous over the answer he might get.

Killian gave him a questioning look, his brow raising ever so curiously. He waved his hand dismissively in the air. "Do as you wish, Mr. Smee. If it my permission you are after, you have it." He remarked, lowering his hand to rest it on the journal on his lap.

"...Thank you captain," Mr. Smee gave a quick nod before he walked over to the door, putting his hands at his sides. He gave the captain a small wave goodbye before he left the room onto the deck of the Jolly Roger.

The sun was beginning to set in the horizon. Orange and red ribbons of light flowed like magnificent curtains around the sun. Hazel leaned her arms against the railing of the ship. Her eyes were set to the sky, losing herself in her thoughts of the new land they were going to embark on the next morning once everyone was rested for their journey.

Mr. Smee found his way over to Hazel and leaned against the railing next to her. "I have a plan."

"A plan? To do what exactly?" The fae slowly took her eyes off of the setting sun and turned her head towards the shorter stalker man in his red beanie.

"To get Killian to admit his feelings for you. It is clear that he does and he is unwilling to admit those feelings. I believe that he is scared to love again. ...As I said, I have a plan if you are willing to follow along." Mr. Smee clarified, his fingers tapping against the wood of the railing awaiting her answer.

Needless to say, Hazel was intrigued by the notion of tricking the captain into admitting his feelings for her. "I doubt that he has feelings for me more than just his scout." She denied. It seemed a bit ridiculous to deceive the captain over something so trivial such as his feelings for her which were minimal at best. At least that was what Hazel kept telling herself in order to shove her budding love for the captain. Often she hid it behind her admiration for the man. He was a great captain. One that any woman would be proud of to have, regardless of his pirate life.

"You are in denial. I see the way that you look at him when he isn't looking. You have more than just admiration in your eyes for the captain. I've...seen it before with Milah." He insisted, turning to his side in order to bring his full attention to the fae.

"Who is this Milah that everyone seems to be talking about?" Hazel turned to her side, facing Mr. Smee. She gave a gentle roll of her eyes and swiped her finger upward towards the sky. "Well everyone meaning Black Beard and you."

Mr. Smee let out a gentle sigh. "Milah... Milah was Killian's love. He met her in a tavern on one of his many adventures. She was a wife and a mother to a little boy, but she longed to venture to new lands. Her husband was unwilling to complile with her wishes for a new land and a new life for her family. So...she joined the crew to leave her family behind so she could have this new life she yearned for."

Hazel felt a pang in her chest and her heart sank. Milah was rather similar to how she had been, wanting to leave her familiar life for one of adventure and freedom from her binds of her former life. Her eyes drifted to the water they sailed on.

"...eventually, after an encounter with Milah's husband, Rumplestiltskin, on the Jolly Roger before she left. Killian...left an impression and it was years later that Rumplestiltskin returned as the Dark One to take his revenge on the captain taking his wife. When he had, the Dark One killed Milah by ripping her heart out using magic and crushed it in his head, killing her instantly. Killian lost his hand when he fought against the Dark One and he took up his hook, seeking his revenge for all Rumplestiltskin took from him."

Hazel closed her eyes as she listened to the story, a lump in her throat growing. She swallowed it down and opened her eyes to turn her attention to Mr. Smee.

"It wasn't until you came along and became apart of the crew in an official capacity did I see those eyes that he held for Milah be directed towards you, Hazel. Even if he won't admit it," He set his hand on top of hers. "He does care deeply about you. I've seen it...so...will you join me in a plan to get him to admit those feelings by letting me pretend to court you? I truly think that he will be better off when he is able to admit his feelings for you."

Hazel mulled over the plan Mr. Smee suggested and something in her heart told her that she should go for it. To let go of all the worries and walls she had been setting up for weeks to cover up her growing feelings for the captain ever since he rescued her and treated her wounds, officially giving her a room below deck on the Jolly Roger. She nodded slowly, a smile creasing on her lips. "Let's do it."