. : Laura of Neverland : .

Laura stood on the rickety dock, staring at the boat. Merlin had transported her and Sebastian to the edge of the Eastern Sea; it was the closest he could get them to Neverland due to the magic that surrounded it.

Sebastian had entered the boat with ease, his demeanour rippling with confidence as he moved over the small wooden deck to tie the sail up.

"It is safe to board, you know?"

Laura glanced up at him. He stood near the helm, watching her. His hand was held up to block the brilliant sun from streaming into his eyes. Instead, the sun bounced off his tanned skin. He had stripped himself of the jacket and wore only a loose white top with the sleeves rolled up and breeches and boots. A sword hung from his waist.

"I'm aware," She knew perfectly well she could board the boat. But once she was on it, there was nothing left but wood between her and the water. Her magic didn't like it. "Are we leaving?"

Sebastian hummed and stepped down from the helm. Laura linked her fingers behind her. She had changed into travelling clothes-- forest green pants and a matching tunic. She had found a dark grey cloak stowed in a chest. It was tucked over her arm now. She could feel sweat dripping beneath her braids and down her neck. The clothes would be handy in Neverland, but she was regretting them in the heat.

Sebastian stood across from her on the boat. They were the same height, she realized, with no small amount of satisfaction. Between them-- the dock and the boat-- was a metre of water. 

"Come on, let's get going before it gets much hotter."

Laura nodded but didn't move, gripping her cloak close to her chest. The ship's tall yellow sails rippled threateningly.

Laura watched as Sebastian eyed her before a slow smile spread across his face. "You're scared of water."

Laura huffed but still refused to move. "I am not scared of water."

Sebastian laughed, and Laura turned her gaze away from his grin, her face warm. "You are so!"

Laura ignored him and took a step away from the edge of the dock.

"Come on," Sebastian beckoned, holding his hand out. "I won't let the water hurt you, Prince's and Sage's promise."

Laura hesitated, before stepping forward and taking his hand. It was rough and callused from years of sailing and sword fighting. He gripped her hand tight and pulled her aboard. 

Laura stopped in place as Sebastian failed to remove his hand from hers. Her magic rioted at the rocking of the boat beneath her. It screamed at her, protesting her proximity to the water. Sebastian's magic leaked through his cold hand, persuading her magic to calm. 

Sebastian grinned at her, his freckled face gleaming in the sunshine. "See, nothing will harm you."

Laura nodded once, squeezing Sebastian's hand tight. She didn't want to let go-- both out of fear and maybe something else.

"Come on, you can stay in the centre." 

He tugged her towards him, and Laura should've seen it coming. The deck was damp from Sebastian moving around, and she hadn't noticed. 

The instant her foot moved into the water, she slipped, capsizing like a boat below the surface. Her body crashed to the deck, but she managed to keep her head off the ground. She would've been fine-- she had fallen out of trees before-- had it not been for the fact she was still attached to Sebastian. The prince came tumbling after her, falling straight on top.

He caught himself a millisecond before they smashed heads. Laura froze once again, watching him. He was remarkably close and she could feel every inch of his well-toned body pressing against her. 

Sebastian smiled at her, and Laura was convinced she could smell coconut and sea salt radiating off of her. Gods, what was she doing?

"Nice necklace," He spoke at last, his breath brushing against her lips. He tugged at it with one finger, the necklace pulling taut around her neck before he pushed himself up. 

Laura's heart was pounding and her magic was racing. She could still feel the chill of his body lingering where he had pressed against her. The trace of his fingers over her neck where her nearly empty bottle of pixie dust laid. She needed to remember to refill that while they were in Neverland.

Sebastian offered her a hand and she took it, letting him help her up before pulling away from his grasp. Her stomach was fluttering.

She avoided eye contact with him as she moved to the centre of the small ship, seating herself in the middle to avoid the intense rocking. 

Sebastian busied himself again and loosened the knots on the dock, before pushing off with his foot and they were moving.

Laura crossed her legs and dug her fingers into the fabric of her pants. The sun was gleaming as they headed across the sea. 

They were silent for a few hours, content with each other's magic. Laura watched Sebastian work, the thin white fabric of his shirt stretched across his broad back as he moved. He was using both the light wind and his magic to propel them forward. She eyed him as his arms moved and the water responded, shifting fluidly over the boat. 

Sweat gleamed on his brow, and Laura swallowed, turning her gaze to the crystal blue expanse that stretched to the horizon around them.

Sebastian sat across from her, leaning his back against the mast. He pulled one leg up, his other stretched towards her. His auburn hair had grown longer than when they first met and now dangled in front of his eyes.

"How do you how to do all this on your own?" Laura found herself asking, to break the silence and keep her thoughts off of Neverland. 

Sebastian shrugged and Laura watched his face heat up in embarrassment. "My dad, Melody, and I went sailing a lot when I was young. We would sneak out of the castle early in the morning and take one of the ships out of the harbour. We always got in trouble with my Grandpa when we got back, but it was worth it."

"My dad became king when I was pretty young, and soon he was too busy to go sailing, so Melody and I would go, and although we still got in trouble for it, my father was never as serious as my grandfather was."

"When I was 12, my sister vanished. She was presumed dead after weeks of searching couldn't find her. I was the one who found her bed empty," His voice had gone quiet, and Laura had to strain slightly to listen. "I would take the boat out in the mornings by myself to go looking for her. There was one day I stayed out so long that I didn't realize that night had fallen."

"I was fine, spring is always the calm season, and I've always felt more confident and safe on the water than I ever did on land, but when I finally managed to return in the early morning, my father was furious." 

Sebastian let out a dark chuckle. "Since then my personal guard kept a closer eye on me. I haven't sailed on my own in a while, but it's easier with the magic. I'm more aware of everything and can better control the ship because I can control the water. Does that make sense?"

Laura paused to consider his words. He was still referring to the magic as separate from him. "You've seen me walking through fire with no marks on my skin. My magic and I are one and the same, that's why it doesn't harm me, because fire recognizes me as one of its own. It's the same as your ability to breathe underwater. The magic and you are one."

Laura watched Sebastian shift slightly. He avoided her gaze, his eyes focused on the wooden deck.  She watched his fingers twirl once, and the boat shifted until they were facing the rising stars. 

"I don't know what you mean." His voice was slow, purposeful. She was right then. He had been avoiding addressing his magic. 

Laura straightened her back, scanning his face. He was uncomfortable. 

"It's your parents," Laura spoke tentatively. "You feel that fully embracing the magic means giving up your family."

Sebastian didn't respond, seemingly content to study his large hands. 

"It doesn't," Laura kept her voice gentle, unable to truly understand how he felt. "You won't know until you tell your parents, but until then, you cannot truly embrace the magic. It'll always feel uncomfortable."

Sebastian spoke at last. "There truly is no way to transfer it, is there?"

Laura shook her head, no doubt confirming his fears. "In times of great need, a Sage who still has access to enough magic can transfer some of the energy they have left to a Sage who is out. It's used rarely, and only when absolutely needed, usually when a Sage is close to death. There is no getting rid of your magic, except for death." 

Sebastian nodded once, he was scanning her face, appearing to be incredibly focused. "I'll consider speaking to my parents."

"If it's any consultation, there is always the council." 

Laura watched Sebastian as he opened his mouth to respond, but froze, his eyes drifting behind her. Laura twisted to look over her shoulder.

In the distance, Neverland rose out of the water, reflecting like a mirage in the dimming sky. The two stars of Neverland gleamed high above.

Return to Neverland at last.

~~~

Hello lovelies,

I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and let me know if you have any thoughts

Until next time,

~ Indigo