Title: The Man of the Sea.

Author: Surreysmum

E-mail: surreysmum AT gmail DOT com

Type: SLASH AU: LOTR/POTC crossover

Pairing: A/L; eventually A/L/Jack

Rating: M

Beta: the inimitable namarie120

Summary: Jack Sparrow strays out of familiar waters

Chapter 4

Legolas pulled his hood over his bright hair before he entered the tavern. Though he was not likely to go unrecognized in this place frequented largely by elves, there was no point in attracting unnecessary attention. He paused inside the door, and scanned the busy tables, then, with a small sound of satisfaction, approached the bar. His quarry was here, in earnest conversation with a couple of rather disreputable looking characters in a dim corner of the room.

Sipping at his miruvor, Legolas took his time, making small talk with the barkeeper, who had indeed recognized him. The coastal Elf was full of questions about Gondor and the inland Elvish colonies, now sadly depleted as more and more Elves succumbed to the lure of the Undying Lands. With an ease he had learned from Aragorn, Legolas was more than happy to give the impression the barkeeper had his full attention, while keeping an eye on the far table. When two of the three rakish characters got up to leave, he excused himself politely, then silently approached the table's remaining occupant from behind.

"Well met, Captain Sparrow," he said. Jack jumped visibly, and turned.

"It's you," he muttered, and half rose to move away.

"Legolas," the Elf reminded him helpfully, and put out a hand in the Human fashion. Jack shook it as briefly as he could without outright rudeness.

"May I join you?" Legolas asked. "I have a business proposition for you."

Jack waved his hand at the opposite chair. "Business, is it?" he responded curtly.

"Yes, indeed. I have a commission I would like you to carry out. Here is my deposit on the payment." Legolas dropped a largish pouch on the table, the contents making a heavy jangle.

Jack reached over and pried open the mouth of it, his eyes widening at the sight of nothing but gold within. For a moment, he hesitated. "I don't think so," he said at last, and pushed the pouch back towards the Elf.

"I am disappointed," said Legolas, and retrieved the pouch. But instead of taking his leave, as he was so obviously desired to do, he leaned back in his chair, crossed one slender leg over the other, and asked casually, "Tell me, who is Will Turner?"

"Where in hell did you hear that name?" demanded Jack roughly.

"From you," responded Legolas, unperturbed. "Last night. Is that not the name you said?"

The noise that emerged from Jack could only be described as a growl. "I'm not obliged to discuss him with you, just because…" He bit off the sentence.

"Just because I'm 'Will Turner's fucking pointy-eared twin'?" The corner of Legolas' mouth twitched. "The pointy ears have their uses," he added. "Is he your lover, this Will Turner?"

"Dammit, you insolent whelp!" roared Jack, bringing his fist down on the table. "I'll not stand for this!" But Legolas was not intimidated, and he found it most interesting that Jack had made no move to leave, for all his anger. In his three millennia of life as an exceedingly attractive being, Legolas had learned to read Humans quite well, and he knew that look, however well it was disguised under the rage.

"Where on God's green earth would you get that notion?" asked Jack, his antagonism subsiding suddenly into sadness. He was looking off into the distance, past the Elf.

"Just an arrow at hazard," replied Legolas. "I was wrong, then?"

"Dead wrong," said Jack. "Will's a good lad, who's decided to make a decent life for himself. He lives ashore, plies an honest trade, and has a fine, spunky lass he intends to marry soon and make babies with. Could be married to her already, for all I know." He blinked hard once and brought his gaze back from the distance. "And spare me the pitying looks, young sir," he snapped irritably.

"Legolas," the Elf reminded him patiently. "And I am not here to pity or to taunt, but to ask you to do a favour - a well-paid favour - for the King of this land."

He had Jack's interest at last. "For the King, eh?" Jack drummed his fingers on the table. "And what might this well-paid favour be?"

Legolas grinned wickedly. "Kidnap him. Kidnap him and take him on your ship."

Jack barked a laugh. "You're as daft as the whelp." But Legolas merely challenged him with a glance. Jack rubbed his chin. "Me and whose army? Wouldn't his guards object just a wee bit?"

"These things can be arranged…" replied Legolas.

"And once I have your King in my clutches, why would you trust me to return him? He'd be worth a tidy ransom."

"Which I, as his Prince Consort, would be delighted to pay," Legolas assured him, dangling the pouch again. "This, as I said, is only a small deposit. We can haggle over the final sum if you desire. Just give him some solitude and sea air for a week or so."

Jack laughed again, half-delighted, half-incredulous. "It seems rather a complicated arrangement just for a sea-holiday, sir Elf," he said. "Why do you not just commandeer a ship from the King's Navy and take him yourself?"

"I wish I could," responded Legolas seriously. "Perhaps someday I will explain to you why not." The gulls were singing noisily in his head again just at the mention of the subject, and he forced them out of his thoughts. "And he will not go willingly without me. No, kidnapping is the only answer."

Jack shook his head with a grin.

"Besides," Legolas added, leaning forward conspiratorially, "I suspect he'd rather enjoy it."

Jack pounded the table again, this time in glee. "You," he crowed, "are a wicked Elf. Legolas."

Legolas acknowledged the name and the compliment with a grin of his own.

"No rough stuff, I take it," Jack went on happily.

"Give me your hand, Jack," replied Legolas, whose eyes had gone suddenly grim. The Elf's smooth slender fingers closed around the pirate's calloused hand - and squeezed. "You hurt him, and I will hurt you in double measure."

"Understood," gritted Jack through the pain.

"And Jack," added Legolas, releasing him, "you'll keep your pirate hands to yourself."

"The thought never crossed my mind," responded Jack airily, confirming Legolas' suspicions that it had. They eyed each other with great wariness for a moment.

"The amount," said Jack at last, returning to the most important question.

"Ah yes, the amount," said Legolas, relaxing.

And they settled in for a good old-fashioned haggle as Aragorn slumbered on, unsuspecting, at the inn.

tbc