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Pirates in the Fellowship Chapter 7
Aragorn jumped and spun around in the direction that the exclamation had come from, only to spot Will's head peering around the doorframe at him. Aragorn frowned as he placed a finger over his lips. "Shhh! I need Jack asleep for this!"
Will slowly exited his room and made his way over to where Aragorn was crouched on the floor in front of Jack's door. He eyed the items surrounding the ranger with a mixed combination of suspicion and curiosity. There were four bowls in total, two of which held brightly colored mixtures with the texture of thick, sticky mud. The third bowl held a mixture of dark-colored berries, most of which were blueberries. Aragorn was measuring careful mixtures of herbs into the fourth. Will stood and watched the ranger for a few moments, before an acrid smell that he recognized reached his nose. He winkled his nose in distaste.
"And why are you drugging Jack this time?" Will asked, rather dryly as Aragorn soaked a folded piece of cloth in the mixture and stuck it in his coat pocket, avoiding taking any deep breaths as he did so. The blacksmith crossed his arms over his chest and arched an eyebrow as he waited for the ranger's reply.
"I have my reasons Will." Aragorn replied as he rose to his feet. Will didn't move, and continued to stare at Aragorn until the ranger finally sighed. "Fine. Jack is getting a little payback for spying on me the other night. Happy now?" Aragorn rolled his eyes.
Will smirked ever so slightly, "I would think that you'd be paying Legolas back for telling everyone about your little mishap with the skunk earlier."
Aragorn's eyes darkened as he eyed Will suspiciously. "How did you find out about that? You weren't even there!"
Will shrugged, "Boromir told me. Honestly, I've never seen anyone laugh so hard in my life."
Aragorn just grumbled and made a mental note to KILL Boromir later on. Right now it was Jack's turn for payback. One by one. Aragorn grabbed Will by the shoulders and gently moved him away from the door so he could begin the task of picking Jack's lock.
"Where did you learn to pick locks?" Will asked.
Aragorn glanced back at him. "My father. He said it might come in handy sometime."
"Lord Elrond taught you to pick locks?!" Will asked in surprise.
Aragorn nodded. "Yes. And he was right. That knowledge has been invaluable for playing pranks on my brothers and Legolas."
Will just shook his head as Aragorn fiddled with the doorknob and again looked at the brightly colored substances, "What are these for?""What are what for?""Those bowls of...colored mud." Aragorn smiled broadly, "Those, my friend, are herbal mixtures as well. It's a prank my brothers pulled on Legolas long before I was even born."
After a few more minutes of picking the lock to the door was thrown with a satisfying click. Will worried his lower lip for a moment contemplating his thoughts. Oh, hell this opportunity may never come again! Besides I owe Jack as well.
"May I help?" Aragorn turned around and fixed a surprised look on Will who was grinning evilly.
"Are you sure you want a part in this?" Aragorn began grinning as well when Will nodded his head vigorously. "Very well, grab those bowls and follow me.
"Will took a step back and examined his work the way an artist would examine his finest piece. "I think I'm missing something here...oh! Should I do his beard?"Aragorn took a step back as well to try and get a look at the whole picture and then nodded in agreement, "Go for it, but remember to try and go lightly with it. I don't know if I made these mixtures right."Will shook his head, "You are truly evil Strider."
"Hey if you grew up with my brothers, you'd have a slightly evil side as well." Aragorn jokingly pointed out. THE NEXT MORNING...Aragorn woke the next morning to the satisfying shrieks of a very freaked out pirate captain. Oh revenge is sweet. Cheerfully tossing the covers off him, the ranger nearly skipped his way to the door which he flung open eagerly, and there standing in the middle of the hall way was Jack screaming God only knows what and hopping around like Barbossa's monkey. So that's why they named the monkey Jack!
After a few moments others began emerging from their rooms as well to see what the commotion was. Several of them, Elladan and Elrohir in particular, were having trouble hiding smiles and laughter. Jack stood shaking with fury at his current state. Thanks to Aragorn's handy work, along with the aid of the blueberries, the ranger had dyed the pirate's exposed skin a deep purple and Will had added his own touches by using the brightly colored herbal mixtures to dye the pirate's dreadlocks and beard extremely bright shades of orange and green. As entertaining as it was Aragorn prayed he had made the mixtures right. If not then Jack was doomed to be sporting his rainbow hair color for a LONG time.
"You little bastard!" Jack screamed suddenly causing Aragorn to jump. Looking in the direction his friend was he spotted Will, who apparently hadn't cleaned himself off very well, as his hands and sleeping tunic were still orange and green. As Jack went flying by, swearing to God that he was going to kill him, Aragorn became very happy at the fact that he and his partner in crime had decided that if they were caught it was going to be every man for himself.
"I wonder where Will got the idea or help for that one from Estel." Aragorn narrowed his eyes jokingly as he looked at Legolas who was staring at him accusingly.
"I don't know. Maybe he got the idea from one of my brothers. After all they were the ones who made your hair red and blue, right? Wait, was pink in that color category as well?"
Legolas shook his head and groaned, "Don't remind me. I finally lived down that nightmare."
"Like how I had that little story you told everyone yesterday!"Legolas couldn't help smiling ever so slightly, "I'm sorry, but you must admit if it were about me you would have enjoyed every minute of it."Aragorn smiled as well. Oh if Legolas only knew the dirt he had on him courtesy of Elrond.
"Just keep telling yourself that when I tell everyone about..."
Legolas fidgeted a little uncomfortably as Aragorn looked him up and down obviously holding back his laughter, "Tell everyone what?"
"Oh nothing, mellon nin." Aragorn replied as he made his way back into his room. Just wait and see.CRAP! Aragorn looked around and then quickly tucked his hands inside his pockets. Apparently he hadn't done too good a job of getting rid of all the evidence of his involvement with the prank on Jack either, seeing as his hands were still slightly purple. And having discovered this while waiting for the rest of the members of the Fellowship to arrive so they could depart, he wouldn't have a chance to go and remove the incriminating evidence. Aragorn nonchalantly began looking to the other members of the fellowship also gathered to see who would be able to help. Merry and Pippin...no they'll slip and blab; I don't think Legolas has anything useful...
"Boromir may I speak with you?" Aragorn asked cheerfully. Boromir made his way over to Aragorn slowly, occasionally sniffing the air as if the skunk smell still lingered about the Ranger.
Aragorn rolled his eyes highly annoyed "Ha-ha, very funny Boromir. You wouldn't happen to have an extra pair of gloves on you would you?"
"No, only the ones I am wearing now, why?" Boromir asked as he eyed Aragorn, who was looking a little devastated by the fact that he didn't have an extra set of gloves, suspiciously.Aragorn gave Boromir his best pleading face he asked the man if he could borrow the ones he was wearing now.
"I swear I'll get them back to you soon."
Boromir continued to eye Aragorn as he slipped his black leather gloves off and held them out to the ranger, who graciously accepted them and then quickly slipped them on. But not quickly enough.Leaning in Boromir whispered, "I'll take it that I'll be getting them back when the blueberry stains wear off?"
Aragorn's eyes went wide. The last thing he needed was for him to tell Jack that he was also involved. Especially now that Jack was in an almighty pissed off mood. And no one could blame him since the mixtures' measurements were indeed wrong and had permanently dyed the pirate Captain's hair. So the only option that was left was to cut off the dyed dreadlocks and shave off Jack's beard.
"You aren't going to tell him are you?"
"Fear not Aragon, I won't say a word..." Boromir smirked evilly and patted Aragorn on the shoulder before he moved off to resume his spot next to Legolas, "...at least not yet anyways."
Aragorn rolled his eyes again and cursed under his breath, Just great. They only waited a few moments longer before Gandalf, accompanied by a very guilty looking Will, emerged along with Sam, Frodo and after some coaxing, a clean shaven Jack who was lacking some of his raven-colored locks but you never would have noticed since he had so much hair to begin with. Aragorn then noticed that Elrond had finally talked Jack into removing the beads and leather from his hair as well.
Aragorn smiled at his friend as he came up next him. "It's not as bad as you think mellon nin. Your beard will grow back soon enough and you can't even notice your hair."
Elrond cleared his throat breaking up the conversations and studied the group as he began, "The Ring-bearer is setting out on the Quest of Mount Doom. On you who travel with him no oath nor bond is laid to go further than you will. Farewell. Hold to your purpose. May the blessings of Elves and Men and all free folk go with you…"A few of the other members looked at Legolas and Aragorn strangely as they placed their hands over their hearts and bowed their heads when Elrond spread his arms.
"The Fellowship awaits the Ring-bearer," Gandalf said. Frodo took one last quick glance at his surroundings before he turned and began to lead the group out of Rivendell.
"Mordor, Gandalf, is it left or right?"
"Left," Gandalf replied as he placed a weathered hand on the young hobbit's shoulder and guided him to the left followed by the others, all except for one. Aragorn hung back from the others and took one last look at his father, who smiled at him reassuringly along with his brothers who were standing off to the left with Figwit and a few of their other friends. Lastly his gaze rested on Arwen who looked at him sadly. He smiled and nodded slightly to her before he let his eyes scan his home, his true home, one last time.
Legolas shook his head as watched Aragorn sadly trudge along. Something then came to him that he thought may lighten both he and the sulking pirate's moods. Everyone listened intently as the elf broke into song.
"We pillage, we plunder, we riffle and loot. Drink up me 'earties yo ho! We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot. Drink up me 'earties yo ho! Yo ho yo ho a pirate's life for me!"
Aragorn chuckled and then joined in with the part he remembered, "We're devils and black sheep and really bad eggs. Drink up me 'earties yo ho! Yo ho yo ho a pirate's life for me!"
"You both sang that completely out of order." Jack announced.
Aragorn shrugged his shoulders, "Well we were kind of drunk when you taught us that song, Jack."
"Ah but as pirates you are meant to remember the song, savvy. Oh, and the Code, right Will?"
Will, who was walking with Merry and Boromir, who had lost interest in the conversation long ago, shook his head, his face turning to one of disgust. "Jack, that Code should be banned from use."
"Ah, this talk about pirates has reminded me about something I need to talk to Will and Jack about." Gandalf said as he stopped and turned around to look at the group.
"Actually I believe this would be a good time for a break. Samwise, why don't you prepare some food while I talk to Will and Jack."
Sam smiled and removed his heavy pack from his shoulders. "As you wish Gandalf."
"What is it you need to talk to us about mate?" Jack asked curiously.
"Well Master Sparrow the subject of pirates is never a good one and I believe it would be best if you kept that to yourself. In fact it may be of greater benefit for you both to take on different names and introduce yourselves as Rangers from now on." Gandalf said with a smile as he looked both of the outworlders over. Elrond had been generous in providing clothing for the blacksmith and pirate, and now both of them looked a great deal like Aragorn in the way they were dressed.
Will frowned a little, "Why Rangers?"
Gandalf just smiled kindly at the young man. "Because we just happen to be traveling with the chieftain of the Rangers of the North and it would be easier to pass you off as two of his kin, than say perhaps, as elves."
"Well just how do we get ranger names mate?" Jack asked the smiling wizard.
Aragorn stepped closer, "That's where I come in mellon nin."
"Have you decided on two names yet Aragorn?" Gandalf asked the Ranger cocking an eyebrow in his direction.
"Yes I have. Jack your new name shall be Elendur, which was the name of the eldest son of Isildur, and Will yours is Ciryon the name of the younger son of Isildur."
"Why the names of two such important people?" Will asked Aragorn, who just shrugged.
"Do not question my judgment Ciryon nor you Elendur." Aragorn stated before Jack could protest.
Jack frowned a little. "Why are you using these names now, mate?"
"Because you are going to have to get used to answering to them Jack." answered Aragorn.
"He should know Jack; after all as Elizabeth told me, he is the man of a thousand names." Will said mockingly.
Aragorn rolled his eyes as he headed back over to where Sam was cooking up some sausages followed by Gandalf, leaving the two where they were. Jack sighed, "Well Ciryon I guess we should go and rest while we can, savvy?"
Will chuckled as he got up from the rock he was seated on and followed Jack.
"I'm never going to get used to these new names Jack, I mean, Elendur."
"See you're catching on already Elendur."
"Jack that's your name, mine is Ciryon."
"Dammit! Aragorn, couldn't you have picked easier names to remember?!"
Aragorn just continued to chew his food as Jack continued to complain. This is going to be a LONG trip.
