Esmeralda, the Ear'Quessir

Authoer's Note: I hope you enjoy this, I wrote this on a whim...so let me know what you think!

Chapter 1: The Meeting.

Aragorn's POV

Pirates were running everywhere, ravaging, looting, pilaging, and all I could do was watch. I was helpless. The were slowly destroying this town that I had held dear for the past ten years, and I was paralyzed. Of what, I do not know. Frantically I turned and run out into the courtyard to sound the alarm, hoping the Dunadan posted up out side of the city would hear and come.

"Just where do you think you're going kid?" I swiflty turned around pulling my sword out of it's sheath, only to have it quickly knocked out of my hand by the pirate standing in front of me. She was an elfmaiden, she had long dark hair hanging freely around her face, her eyes were a dark forest green, her skin was dark but still looked smooth as silk, and she wore clothing that no pirate should have been able to afford to buy. " I hope you weren't thinking of calling in the soldiers were you? That would only be more lives lost, just for your carelessness. Now, what should I do with a petty little thing such as yourself?" she asked while walking slowly aroud me. "You're the captain aren't you?" I asked hoping to delay my impending death. "Why yes I am...how could you tell? Was it my clothing, or my dashing good looks?" she asked smirking while leaning very close into my face. "I saw you directing orders earlier, and you were either a first mate or captain, and yes the clothing helped." I answered, I could feel the sweat dripping down my brow. She must have noticed because she started to chuckle and stepped back.

"Don't fret boy, I'm not going to kill you, you have elvish blood in you, I can tell. I do not kill my kindred, no matter how distant. Now I have two questions for you, what is your name young sire, and are you of the Dunadans?"she asked while tapping a delicate finger on her chin.

I wondered whether I should tell her the truth or not. All my mentors had told me not to trust strangers I did not know, especailly pirates of any race. But something told me that I should trust her, that I could hold her to her word, and that she wouldn't not betray it.

"I am Aragorn, son of Arathron, and yes m'lady, I am-"

"Now, now, none of that m'lady stuff, please call me Esmeralda, or Esme, whichever you chose."

"As you wish,but yes you are correct I am of the Dunadans, why do you ask?"

I peered at her closely trying to see what she was feeling, but she held her expression blank like that of of empty parchment. "No reason, I was just wondering when I would meet one of you in this town, they're usually posted up just about everywhere and you were the first I saw. Were you the only one here?" she asked still drumming her finger on her chin.

"No m'l- Esmeralda, I was part of a quite a large group. It is strange to hear that I was the only one you have met so far. Are you sure your commrades have not seen any?" It was indeed strange, Halbarad told me to keep watch in the city while he and the others camped around the outskirts. For the pirates not to have met any was quite disturning.

"Hmm...maybe they were pulled away to some other danger? All the same you are here now. And that is all. Tell me, why are you gaurding this town?" she asked looking intensly at me, "Is there some treasure worth imense value here that you do not want to go missing?" At this comment her gaze lit up almost to that up an ecstatic grin.

"No Esmeralda, we are on watch for the likes of you."

"Oh, thats hurts you know, we aren't that bad, really, I assure you." she said laughing at the mere thought of that.

"Oh yes, I can tell by how peacefully you came into the town like this." I said pointing ot all the distruction they had caused. Buildings were burning, people were running around, horses were lose and children were lost from their parents.

"Oh poo, this can be fixed in no time." she said flicking her wrists as if it were nothing. Well to her, it probably wasn't that catastrophic.

"Captain Esmeralda, we are awaiting your orders to return to the ship." shouted a pirate while running towards us.

"Very well Bartholemew, tell those bastards they may return aboard, WE FEAST TONIGHT!" she yelled while smiling, she turned towards me, " This is my first mate Bartolemew. Would you like to join us sir Aragorn? I'm sure you have never had the honour of enjoying a pirate's celebration?"

"Aye sir, it is quite a riot." replied the fellow Bartholemew.

"Well I don't know. I suppose I should find my comrades first." I replied looking around the town once more.

"Oh come, Aragorn! That can wait til the morning can it not? Why miss such an oppurtunity? I doubt you will recieve another fine offer such as this." she said slowly walking towards me.

"That is true young sire, especially one of Captain Esmeralda's feast, they're one of a kind." said Bartolemew excitidley, all the while watching Esmeralda to see how she would respond to his compliments. Yet she paid him no heed she only watched my expression.

"So what say you? Will you join us or not? For I must return to my ship before the ship rats tear it apart."

"I suposss I will join you."

"AHA! You have made a fine descision indeed!" She laughed and grabbed my arm dragging me towards her ship. "Welcome to me ship, the Daerochon." she smiled fondly up towards her ship, as we slowly ascended up the lader they threw down. The Shadow rider. It fit the ship in everyway. The wood used to build it was a dark almost black color, the sails were a deep maron color. And all the crew were wearing all black tunics, leggings, and boots. There was crew members everywhere. How can this elleth control all these ellon? There is no way? Surely she must not be the captain of this ship? How is it possible?

" Dina, lle ear nyani." (Be quiet you sea rats) she yelled to her crew members when we reached the top of the ship. Every ellon on the ship stopped moving and turned to face her, respect written on all their faces. They all loved her, I could tell by the way they regarded her as she walked towards the front of the ship. "Lle desiel a'herio i'gala?" (Are you ready to begin the celebration?)she asked grinning at all those that surrounded her. A loud chorus of "UMA!" (YES!) and "Ayes!' were heard all around. She laughed out loud, a beautiful sound almost like that of the ocean's waves breaking on the shores, before replying, "San' ikotane no ta!!" (Then so be it!) She thrust her arms into the air as the crew errupted in a loud unanimous cheer.

All during the party pirates were dancing, drinking, eating and having an amazing time. I sat in the corner wathcing all the festivites, not taking any part in them. Now I could understand why Bartholemew said no one could match a celebration held by Esmeralda, it was over the top, with food and wine for more than all of Middle Earth. And the games and music were nonstop, around the clock. I only caught a glimpse of Esmeralda every so often as she waltzed around the ship with different ellon. I believe it is time for me to go, so now I just need to sneak off this ship without letting her now, or any elves catching me for that matter. I walked slowly towards the side of the ship took one look down, checked to make sure the coast was clear and turned to jump into the ocean.

"I hope you aren't trying to leave before I've had a dance with you sir Aragorn?" I could hear the laughter in her voice.

"Of course not, I was mearly checking to see how beautiful the ocean looked tonight." There was that laugh again. I turned around to see that she was now dressed in a dark red dress that reached the floor. The sleeves covered her hands, which were posted on her hips, and the neckline of the dress swooped down just low enough, but not showing off too much of her cleavage. Her hair was braided to the side of her head. "Come," she said beckonning me towards her, 'I wish to play a prank on my first mate, and I hear from Elladan and Elohir you are quite the prankster." she smiled at me when I made a face that clearly showed me confusion. "Yes I know them. in fact, I saw them not too long ago. But come, we have no time to waste! And you may tell those scalewages that Esmeralda knows about what they did to her stash last time they wre aboard her ship the next time you see them." I quickly followed after her as she headed toward a room on the lower deck,vwondering why Elldana dn Elohir ahd never mentioned this to me and all the years I had known them.

"So, what did you have in mind?" I questioned, wondering why she had brought my down to the kitchen.

"Well, Bartholemew has fallen asleep upstairs and I believe it would be quite entertaining if he were to wake up with lobster down his tunic. Do you follow me?" She had a maniacal grin on her face while she watched for my expression.

"Aye, I suppose he wouldn't find that qutie enjoyable."

"Excellent." was all I heard as she dove into the barrel containing the lobster. She pulled out to particually nasty looking ones and gave me another crazy grin before she headed back up top. What a strange elf, I'm think I'm beginning to like her.

I soon followed her and found her standing over Bartholemew holding one of the lobters in each hand trying to figure out how to open his tunic with no available hand. "Here let me" I said walking towards her. I undid his tunic, she place the lobsters along his chest, and I slowly closed the tunic up again. As soon as I was done, she grabbed my arm and pulled my quite some distance away from the place Bartolemew was lying. Not very long after an unmistakable cry of pain was heard over the sounds of the celebration. Everything stopped, and in the distance we could clearly see Bartholemew tearing at his tunic trying to get the crustaceans that were trapped in there. I turned to see Esmeralda laughing maniacally while rolling around on the deck. I started laughing too as she pointed at how Bartholemew was attracting qutie a lot of attention. Soon I had joined her on the floor.

"Oh my, that was better than I thought it would be!" she said holding her ribs as if they were about to break. "Thank you for your help kind sir, but now I must bid you Goodnight before young master Bartholemew comes over and pounces on me. If you would like I can show you were you may stay for the night?" she asked mockingly.

"That would be lovely, but I am only going to stay until tomorrow morning, then I must return to land and find my fellow rangers." I said looking out at the shore we had driffted from.

"Aye, I wouldn't keep you another day" she said while rising off the floor. "Come, I won't make you stay with the fools. You can stay in the spare chambers." She led me to a room right across from hers. Inside it was colored a deep red, with dark wooden furniture. It had bed, a desk, and a chest of drawers. On the far side was a window facing out over the ocean.

"I hope this will do for the night."she said while slowly backing out of the room. "I will wake you in the morning before the crew wake so that you may slip off the ship silently." I thanked her and assured her that the room was perfect. I then closed the door and jumped into the bed, almost immediatly I was fast asleep.

The next morning I woke to the sound of some one banging on my door. I ran over the the door and pulled it open to see a very chipper Esmeralda. "Are you ready to return to the mainland Aragorn?"

"Aye, just let me gather my things." As soon as I returned she led me to the life boats. "Take one of these and return to land, just keep the boat, we don't need it. But, I want you to promise me something ok?"

"Of course, anything."

"Whenever you need help, just come and ask me. I'll be glad to help you, no matter what. " she gave me a heart stopping smile and a bear hug.

"I will. Aa' i'sul nora lanne'lle " (May the wind fill your sails.) I replied.

" Tenna' ento lye omenta" (Until we next meet) she replied, with that I got into the boat and she began to lower me to the water. As I rowed closer to the shore I turned to see Esmeralda waving from the crows nest. I eargerly returned the wave, and continued to row to shore.

Author's Note: So? What did you think? Let me know so I know whether ot write the other chapters or not! Plus, Legolas will make a debute in chapters to come! Yum.

Review please!