Corsairs Calling Chapter: 1 ( Sequel to Reminders of Mirkwood)

Once above deck Legolas took in the cool air and began to gaze around to find what exciting wonders he would see before him this day. So many adventures had passed during their time on the water that he could hardly wait to tell his father at all he had done and seen. Sirens that had been said to but a myth, storms that were could only be called mystical, creatures and common folk from ports that he seems to learn something new each time and not to mention the other vessels from the glorious to what seemed to be nothiing more than a raft. Aye the bravery of some still amazed him.

This day he looked around to the well kept ship with the shiny brass and floors to the new sails but what caught his attention was a noise. He sighed, the noise was a low rumbling some might have mistaken for thunder but he looked directly upon it with a grin. There sat a dwarf with a coarse red beard to match his hair, stout, plump, and a nose that he would have to refer to big considering the noise he was making. Gimli sat on a chair on the deck with his feet upon the railing and his head fell back to let his resonating snore break the silence . It amazed him that he could still be so untidy considering they had been at sea for months now and he shook his head. Gimli was stubborn and insisted on the same garments he always wore but Legolas considered it might be to keep to his heritage. If that was his plan then it did work well considering how many people would see them in port and mumble the word dwarf.

He watched him sleep knowing if he woke him the snore would be replaced by his barrage of complaints and stubborn mumbling. Instead he let the salty air kiss his face and thought people and places he had began to miss. Looking at his own garments he thought perhaps he was just as stubborn. With his green and brown much like his home and the soft material he was accustomed to having made him wonder if he was spoiled or as stubborn as the dwarf. They stopped in many ports for supplies and he could not bear to wear the rough clothing most men would sell.

Nostalgia settled over him and his heart ached for many reasons. Thoughts of what he could have changed and what should have been different plagued him. A louder snore forced him to look at that noisy dwarf, his friend. He knew after the death of Arri they all feared he would grieve himself to death thus why it would seem Gimli had suggested the boat. He wondered how well it really worked because he thought of her life and death more than he would admit and of the elfing she would have born, the same he would never meet. Aye, in more than one way she had taken a part of him when she died.

"This would never do." he mused to himself and looked as the darker clouds began to roll in. The shade made it cooler and by Gimli's hard snore the cooler temperatures seem to aid his rest. He rolled his eyes and then shook his head at the sight How could his clothing still hold so much dirt when they lived on a boat. He had particles of dust, twigs and rubbish in his beard that poked out and wiggled when he snored. Across his tunic he could see splatters from the last evening's meal. His boots, if they could be called that, were bound around his feet with a leather cord that tied in the front but what caught anybody's attention was the top of his foot. Dirt had gathered in a mound to the point a plant had began to grown between the toes and foot. Aye, he was a better hue rather than the paler complexion he had before but now the sun had kissed the dwarf showing his tanned skin with more lines around his eyes and mouth. A reminder his friend's life span was much shorter than his.

Slowly a grand form began to swim closer and he found a smile as he began a whistle that was as clear as a bell but too high to be heard by most ears. He moved to the bow as the whale came closer to them and under Legolas' gentle nature seemed to be a trained puppy. He looked to the catch of fish Gimli had by the chair and stole a few of the larger ones then slide along the shiny rails until he stopped abruptly where the whale came to rest. With a brief whistle and quiet Elvish instructions he tossed the fish one at a time to the his new friend. He watched with a grin as the fish were devoured and then the black and white whale then it sank just below the surface quietly. Slowly water spouted as it resurfaced and suddenly the spout became a hard spray directly at the sleeping dwarf. He watched as the stubby arms and legs flailed about to grab the rail as the chair began to give away under his weight. The slippery deck made it quite easy for him to begin to slide across the wood and he pulled out his dagger stabbing the floor with a grunt.

The black whale sank back down slowly as he tossed it the remainder of the fish in Gimli's bucket and he whispered to it quietly. Nature always amazed him but nothing could prepare anybody for the grumbling dwarf that was looking for what caused this rude awakening.

Suddenly the peace was lost with a loud bellowing. "ELF!" He sputtered and slipped getting to his feet and knew he had been the cause when he noticed Legolas' grin. "how many times do I have to tell you that I take my own baths!" He stomped up to the rail where the elf still balanced effortlessly on the rail and noticed the whale retreating slowly. "A whale?" He scoffed, "what Elvish magic did you use to bewitch that poor creature?"

"None, it was merely an exchange," he said keeping his perfect posture as he landed noiselessly next to Gimli. He produced the now empty bucket and gestured to the creature, "fish to wake and bathe you."

"MY FISH!" He became redder than his tanned skin with the anger that grew, "that was my fish! Our dinner!" He thrust a short finger in his face, "You've no right!"

"I will prepare dinner when we stop at the next port," he said as he looked to the sky, "we should make way now. This will be a hard storm." He jumped over the dwarf and to the mast as he made his way up to find their nearest place to anchor. Jumping down he tugged the sail and pointed to the direction he had seen the small town. Gimli rushed to help and he wondered if his friend would have done as well on his own.

Suddenly he felt something different along the air and stare up to the clouds with a furrowed brow. Gimli knew this look and watched very curiously until suddenly a bird came flying from out of the clouds. Legolas moved his feet slowly to watch it circle with a smile. It finally flew down between to the boat and landed. Unlike normal birds it did not make a noise or pester but it sat there as if waiting for them.