Ships in the Sky Chapter Nine- In the Sky

Later that day Phlox and Legolas could be found making their way through the ship's corridors. Legolas, his hair neatly trimmed and tied back was dressed in a borrowed ship's suit, he moved with his normal grace and poise drawing many admiring glances as he strode along. He was full of questions of the many new and strange sights that he saw and Phlox was hard pressed to answer them all.

They soon arrived at the Mess hall and Archer rose to greet his guests, however Legolas eyes were drawn the stars shining through the windows.

'A! They are so bright, Never I have I seen them so.'

'Yes they always look brighter in orbit. The trouble is you lose the twinkle,' replied Archer.

Legolas looked puzzled, 'Where is orbit?'

'In orbit, that's were we are now. In orbit above the planet below.'

Legolas laughed, 'Lasta lalaithamin, you say we are in the sky?'

Archer nodded, 'Sure, if you look down that way,' he pointed, 'You can see Kronos, that's where we found you.'

Legolas suddenly realised that if what this man said was true then maybe he was not an ordinary human.

'If you live in the sky surely you must be of the Ainur?' He dropped to his knees and bowed his head, maybe he had died in the battle and was in Mandos, in the Halls of Awaiting. Maybe this man who called himself Archer was Vala Namo, judging him.

Archer was shocked by the young Elf's reaction, and stepped forward to pull him to his feet.

'Nobody kneels to anyone on this ship Legolas.'

Legolas still kept his face bowed in awe. 'Yes Lord.'

'Don't call me lord, Legolas. I'm just a man. I don't know who you think I am, but I can assure you we're all the same as you, just ordinary people.'

'But you live in the sky?'

'No we live on Earth, this is a ship, we're explorers.'

'A ship? Where are the sails, where is the wind?'

'We don't need wind, we've got warp engine to power us. The ship is called Enterprise, it- it sails through the air,'

'A ship that sails through the air?'

Archer nodded. Legolas looked towards Phlox who nodded an answer to the visitor.

'Then this isn't the Hall of Awaiting?'

Archer laughed, 'No, wherever that is.'

Legolas managed a small smile, he looked towards the window again.

'Come,' invited Archer, 'Look down to the planet below, that's where we found you. It's called Kronos, home world of the Klingon Empire. Is that where you live?'

'I don't know those words, I live in the Greenwood, with the rest of my kin.'

'But how did you get injured?' enquired Phlox.

'The story is long, but we were in a battle at Minas Tirith, I was attacked by the Uruk-hai.'

'Uruk-hai?'

'Foul creatures spawned by Saruman, they attacked me. Aragorn and Gimili came to my rescue. I remember that much. Then I was in a dark place with another Uruk-hai, I think I killed that one as well, then people kept talking in strange tongues. Then there was a beautiful Elven lady talking to me, then I slept and awoke on this…ship.'

'Beautiful Elven lady? Oh, yes T'Pol was in sick bay, She mind melded with you so that the Doctor could deal with your wounds.'

'I'm sorry…I don't understand some of those words. Doctor, what is Doctor?'

I'm the ship's Doctor, I think you would call me a Healer on your world,' interjected Phlox. 'Sick bay is were I treated you and mind meld, well I'm not sure myself what that is. T'Pol can maybe explain it to you.'

'What can I explain Doctor?' asked T'Pol as she entered the room.

'Ah, T'Pol we were trying to explain mind melding to Legolas here.' said Archer.

Then he remember what T'Pol had been doing. 'Any luck with the Klingons?'

'If by luck, you mean have they dropped their vendetta claim, the answer is no. The family of Vorlor is claiming vendetta against Legolas and demand reparation within the forty-eight hour period as laid down. They also said we now have thirty hours.'

Archer ran his hands through his hair, 'The Uruk-hai you thought you'd killed on the planet was a high ranking Klingon called Vorlor. His family are claiming that you murdered him, and want a duel with you to settle the matter of honour,' he explained to Legolas.

'What is Klingon? I killed an Uruk-hai and they do not duel, they destroy. I am an Elf- I do not duel. I am no kinslayer!'

'I'm afraid that you did in fact kill Vorlor, we all witnessed you killing him. The Klingons are the race who live on the world below, they will not let us leave until we hand you over to them. If we do not hand you over in the next thirty hours, they will storm the ship and take you. Then they will kill you for being a coward.' said T'Pol. She was finding his presence very perturbing, his aroma was so alluring and she was finding it difficult to concentrate.

'But I do not duel.'

Trying to control herself she stepped away from the Elf and sat down at the table. 'Captain, if Legolas does not fight, the ship will be virtually destroyed by the Klingon's attack, they will not care how many of the crew are hurt, and you will also be held responsible for failing to offer up the Ht'ph. They will also kill you.'

Archer looked shocked, 'I didn't realise it was that bad. Can't we buy them off, you know pay blood money or something?'

'The price they are asking is beyond our means of paying. They demand the Enterprise.'

'They want the Enterprise?' exclaimed Archer

'They want your ship just for my life?' Legolas said in disbelief. 'That is a strange sense of honour!' He glanced from Archer to T'Pol and back. 'If that is the only alternative then I will fight this Klingon. I owe you that much.'

'But you've only just out of Sick bay today. Is he fit enough Doc?'

'At the speed his arm is healing I would say possibly.' Phlox turned to T'Pol 'What is the longest we can wait?'

'I would suggest that we do not wait longer than twenty hours, protocol demands forty eight hours, however the family are within their rights before then.'

'Twenty hours, that's not long.'

'It is too long, if I am to fight I would fight now.'

'You need to ensure that you are fully recovered before you fight. Also you will need to train in the use of the bat'leth.' said T'Pol.

'What is a bat'leth?'

'The traditional Klingon weapon.'

'I will fight with my weapons! Where are they?'

'Malcolm has them safely in the armoury,' said Archer then turning to the intercom, 'Malcolm, will you come to the Captain's mess room?'

'Aye sir,' came the reply.

With a couple of minutes Malcolm entered the room and was surprised to see the Elf there.

'Good to see you up on your feet,' he said.

Legolas eyebrows queried the statement.

'Malcolm was with us on the planet when we found you.' explained Archer. 'Malcolm, Legolas needs his weapons back. He's got an appointment on Kronos with the Vorlor family in less then thirty hours.'

'Oh, yes the vendetta thing. Are you up to it?'

'I believe so.' Legolas replied.

Lasta lalaithamin – Listen to my laughter (You must be lying)