If she had ever hesitated to splurge Declan’s money before then she didn’t today. After all it was their child, and she was excited. Still, she didn’t buy more than what was necessary despite the insistence of the ladies in the shop.
By the end of the flurry of conversations and searching through the piles on show for her, she went for pastel blues, yellows, and greens more so than the darker colours but non that were gender specific. It was bibs, small cardigans, and onesies that she opted for. She had a feeling they’d get more of the ‘cutesy’ outfits from Merlin and Nimue when the baby was born. “Thank you!” She waved, closing the door and setting the bags into the boot of Winston’s car.
“Right we should head up to the Blackmall.“ Oriana glanced around breathing in the cold air and watched a car skid past on the ice. “Honestly!” When they got to that side of the town Oriana could see the troubled look on Declan’s face.
For the past few months, Declan had avoided this portion of town, more so because some of the people blamed him for the havoc caused by Horvath, but of course they had it wrong, despite Oriana stating these people did not deserve Declan, even stating it to mayor herself. All mayor White had done for their efforts was erect a mural honouring Declan and Oriana. Still, he could sense something was off about the way this part of town was behaving, as if something was brewing that no one wanted to talk about.
Declan’s answer came in a flying tackle from someone he knew all too well, skidding them both through the snow and slush. Peter. The crowing was unmistakable, so was the arrogance, which hadn’t subsided since their last encounter when Oriana gave Peter something to remember her by. It was the death of Tinkerbell at her hands.
Declan got up from the snow drift that the Three Little Pigs, construction company had plowed, and Peter thinking he had the advantage since Declan wasn’t carrying Excalibur, rushed him with speed in an attempt to impale Declan on the edge of the golden colored sword he wielded.
This trick Declan had seen countless times and it always ended badly for both of them due to Peter’s speed, still he humored Peter, by sidestepping then bringing up one of his magical shields to parry Peter’s follow up blow. The people now who had been milling about were told by Declan to scatter, which many did, but of course certain on lookers lingered. Declan taking what Oriana had told him to heart about these people not deserving him, hesitated for a split second before rolling out of another blow Peter tried to make and instead severed a light post.
It was here the sorcerer was caught off guard, Peter hadn’t come alone…the searing pain of a slice down his back from a hook, told him this was a classic ambush. James Hook, his gang called the Pirates, and Peter’s own Lost Boys, had joined the fray.
Declan had promised Oriana he’d wear his trench coat that was protected from magic and some of the weapon attacks, and not remove it if he’d been attacked. He would keep his word, she was really mad at him the last time it happened with William Tell, Declan took a crossbow bolt to the left shoulder and she’d spent the night healing him and making him promise to take better care. Hook’s swipe didn’t draw blood or even mark up the trench coat, but like a bullet proof vest, the impact was still felt.
The downside was Declan could not use his mark wearing this coat, but he’d promised Oriana, so he planned to stay to that promise. Hook was sent flying back with Mr. Smee quickly following via a blast of air element, following up by using a bit of lightning to back off the Lost Boys to allow recovery. Before having to parry a low blow attempted by Peter.
“Dirty pool Pan…”
“Oh and here you thought I was going to fight fair…Peter Pan always wins!”
Declan shook his head again dodging a combined effort by Hook and Peter, content to watch Hook fall in the snow while Peter took a chunk out of the building with his sword, Peter was by now getting angry, this wasn’t going how he wanted it to. It went even worse when the Lost Boys and Pirates attempted to all attack Declan at once and he batted them back using an earth wall trick. But he’d not accounted for Mr. Smee.
The chains that Mr. Smee had wrapped around Declan, magical chains stolen from the famed Genie of the lamp, held the sorcerer in place and at Peter’s command brought Declan to his knees, though the sorcerer wasn’t out of tricks, but his expression never betrayed anything to Peter, who by now was gloating and getting ready to cut off Declan’s head.
“What no spiffy comeback, no insults? No begging for your life?”
“Oh I am just stalling Peter.”
“Don’t give me that Declan, you just can’t stand that I am about to make your lovely red head single”
“Funny you should mention her Peter.”
Before Peter could react, a familiar object in flames came sailing through the air, Mjolnir, and smacked Peter square in the back, sending him forward in an embarrassing position.
Declan by now had started laughing as he removed the chains with a command word, tossing them helplessly to the side, before blocking an attempted strike Hook was attempting to make on Oriana.
“(Laughs) What kept you?”
“I’d forgotten to get the baby some shoes – priorities Declan.”
Declan had to laugh. The odds had been evened he indicated for her to go after Peter while he dealt with Hook, pushing Hook back from his shield.
Oriana still clearly annoyed about their shopping trip being interrupted, was in no mood for this more so now they had attacked her fiance, she was not feeling very generous to Peter. While Declan used a blast to send Hook and his Pirates flying backwards he went further still, using the surroundings to include the light post Peter had severed, he wrapped Hook up and then went one further with the illusions, creating the famed Tick-Tock, the crocodile. This sent Hook panicking off in the opposite direction screaming Mr. Smee’s name, who followed him off.
Declan then turned his attention to the Lost Boys, using a massive blast of artic wind, sent them flying into the wall of the government building and sticking them to it.
Oriana meanwhile parried every single attempt Peter had made on her, before summoning the now blue flamed Mjolnir, back to her hand, Peter still not willing to admit he lost looked to Declan and tried to add insult to injury.
“Getting your woman to fight your battles Emrys?”
Declan didn’t respond, only taking time to wipe the blood from his nose and mouth. He couldn’t believe Peter wasn’t focused on Oriana, who nailed him clean under the jaw knocking Peter down in a flaming heap. She was about to cave his skull in when Wendy rushed to the scene with a get away car, dragging the unconscious Peter in and speeding off, Oriana was ready to throw Mjolnir after them when Declan stopped her, by grabbing her wrist.
“Another time.”
“Look, I could have stopped Peter if it wasn’t for that damned Wendy!”
“Ori, you did more than that, you embarrassed Peter, take the victory in that!”
“Yeah, yeah, can we get something to eat? I am starving.”
He didn’t comment further, merely nodded in agreement, he was soaked, bruised, and only slightly bloodied. He could see her relief in that.
Still later back at the Arcana Cabana they’d been sleeping, but Oriana had gotten up in the middle of the night, Declan had gotten up to use the restroom when he’d noticed she wasn’t there, and the lights were on downstairs. He went down to see what was wrong, only to find the brooms and mops working overtime and Oriana eating.
“Is everything okay Ori?”
“No. We have no mangos.”
Declan was surprised, he hadn’t expected her cravings to start so soon.
“I-er…”
“Should go get some. Yeap.” Oriana crossed her legs on the carpeted floor and turned the tv on. “Then come back quickly so I can heal your injuries.”