FOURTH INSTALLMENT FOR QUEST FOR THE RINGS
4. A TIMELY ARRIVAL
For a full two weeks our diminished fellowship remained closely united aboard the dreary, wave-battered ship. Suspicions began to arise among the crew about the nature of the attack. Many claimed the strangers were to blame, that everyone aboard the ship was in danger because of them. The situation between the mariners and ourselves slowly drew to a head, and if not for the siting of land at a felicitous moment, we all would have been killed.
Breathing deeply, I took in the salty scent of the sea. I stood alone at the helm of the ship, allowing the billowing wind to throw my wildly curly, auburn hair about my face. My fingers icily clung to the railing while my feet swayed with the roiling deck beneath me. I was thinking of Legolas again, about those blue eyes, so clear and bright, his long, flowing, golden mane, and his high cheekbones so common of the Elvin race, his strong shoulders, and nicely toned body...oh, just the thought of him sent shivers through my body. What was he doing right now?
A strong gust of wind buffeted me and brought me crashing back into reality. I glanced sideways at a menacing-looking sailor with a jagged, red scar running from his left eye, across his crooked nose, and all the way down his neck to disappear into his dirty shirt. He eyed me warily and half drew his cutlass. His eyes dropped from me to the blade as he caressed the edge with a skilled thumb. A hand rested on my shoulder and I jumped guiltily. Spinning around, I confronted my assailant.
"A bit jumpy are we?" the kindly face of Gandalf greeted my mad whirl. "The mood of this ship lends itself to wariness," he smiled kindly at me, unknowingly hitting right on the cause of my unease.
"When will we hit land?" I asked him imploringly. "I don't know how much longer we can last under this stress. Things are bound to reach a climax soon."
"As a matter of fact, we should have reached the Isle of Geldrion several days ago."
"What?!" I exclaimed. "Why haven't you said anything?"
"I wasn't going to burden all of you any more than necessary. Besides, if we were to get terribly off our course, you know I would...well...do something about it," he said the last confidentially. If the mariners were haughtily cold with the rest of us after the fight, they were openly hostile with Gandalf. The very thought of magic made their blood turn to ice. The fact that Gandalf had used the abhorred ancient weapon on their ship, even in their defense, had nearly caused an uprising.
Gandalf and I stood at the helm a few minutes longer before he escorted me back to my cabin. He seemed a little preoccupied as we descended the steps leading below deck. "What are you contemplating, old man?" I asked him lightly, attempting to ease the stressed mood. A slight frown creased his brow for an instant and then was gone.
"Simply, my dear, whether or not I can get a good nap in here before they pass out the grub," he smiled back and then quickened his pace to walk with his back towards me.
Leaving me at my door, he said a hasty goodbye and turned. I noticed, as I entered my room that Gandalf had not gone in the direction of his own cabin, but to that of Rorimac. My curiosity piqued, I followed him silently, my soft leather boots making no noise on the weathered floorboards. A swift knock on Rorimac's door gained him admittance and he slipped quickly inside. I tiptoed slowly up to the door, so as not to step on any creaking boards, and pressed my ear against the wood.
"You were right, Rorimac," I could hear Gandalf say. "We won't last much longer. They're up to something, and I'll be damned if I know what!"
"If they intended to just heave us all overboard, don't you think they would have done it already?" Rorimac's deep, bass voice rumbled with puzzlement from behind the door.
"Maybe, and maybe not. They could be waiting for something-"
"Like what? We're in the dead center of nowhere, we can't get much more isolated from land than if we were sittin' blindfolded on the moon!" Rorimac interjected exasperatedly.
"Perhaps you're right, my friend," Gandalf mused a moment. "But I can just feel the hate mounting every minute. You and I both know what kind of trouble we could be in if…" he started mumbling and I could no longer understand his words. Then, the room went absolutely silent.
Suddenly, I could hear the tread of large feet, Rorimac's for sure, heading in my direction. I frantically scrambled away from the door as if burnt, and fled as quietly as possible back to my cabin. I had just clicked my door silently closed when Rorimac's banged open. I could picture his broad frame completely filling the doorway, as his razor-sharp eyes piercingly searching the corridor. I stood against the wood, holding my breath, until I heard the unmistakable sound of Rorimac returning to his room. I breathed a sigh of relief and headed to bed. I wasn't afraid of being caught, really, I just didn't want to be seen as an eavesdropper, or it would get much harder to do later.
Late morning the following day, Legolas sat at the small writing desk in his cabin, oiling up his bow. The strong, yet bendable, ebony wood had silver chasing along the entire length. His quiver of arrows sat within easy reach of his elegant, lithe arms, and the ever-present wide-bladed knife, so carefully and precisely crafted, hung at his side. There was something in the air today that made him wary. He couldn't say what, but his Elvin instincts told him something was awry.
Just as he finished restringing his bow, a cry from the deck swung his head aloft, his eyes intently searching the ceiling for a moment as if to will them to see straight through the wood. His first thought was of Tarrodwen, "Where is she?" He hesitated only that one second before he sprang to his feet, and grabbing his gear, leaped out the door. Legolas fairly flew up the steps to the deck. The moment he stepped above, however, he brought himself to an abrupt, yet surprisingly graceful stop, keenly surveying the scene laid out before him.
Gandalf, Tarrodwen, and Rorimac were all backed up against the rail of the deck, completely encircled by seamen with drawn blades. Rorimac had his broadsword bared and his protective stance almost completely shielded Tarrodwen from view. Gandalf stood erect and proud beside him, an infuriated glint in his eyes. Luckily, with all the commotion, no one had noticed Legolas' arrival. He silently backed up against the railing of the stairs leading to the upper deck. Stealthily, he hurried up the steps and hid behind an overly large, ringed barrel where he would have a bird's eye view of the situation-- as well as a clean shot.
"You gotten us lost, wizard!" the captain spat at us. "It's you an' your cursed magik that dun it. You plagued our ship with attention from the Lady o' Ill Fortune, you did. All them orcs and such, we ain't never b'fore seen none of their like, til you come. Well, I ain't gunna let you stay here til ya get us all lost and kil't o' starvin'. Yous all gunna get the hell off my ship NOW if I have to help ya meeself!" he growled.
"Calm down, Captain. We're not lost, we-" Gandalf began.
"We be lost! I know bloody well when we be lost! Don't you be spinnin' lies to mysitikfy us, wizard. I knows your eeevil tricks, I do." The captain advanced upon Gandalf menacingly with a slightly rusty saber. Before he could take a full step, Rorimac began to slide in front of him. But he wasn't as fast as Tarrodwen. She was in front of Gandalf in an instant, staff held ready in her expert hands. She wore a look of pure determination that, for some reason, stirred a feeling of pride in Legolas' breast.
"Take one step closer, you impudent oaf, and I'll knock you so hard your forefathers are going to wonder why they've got a headache," I threatened the irate captain. His face went utterly scarlet and his eyes bulged until I thought they would pop from his head. Never had he expected to be threatened by this slight woman with a stick.
"If you live long enough," a solid voice said from above. Using my peripheral vision, and never taking my eyes from the captain, I spotted Legolas standing tall near the tiller, bow drawn, muscles tensed, awaiting one wrong move.
The situation was explosive. Everyone remained utterly still for what seemed like an hour. Eyes swung from our small group on the deck, to Legolas above, and back again, trying to assess the greatest danger. Not a breath of wind stirred, the whole world seemed to be frozen in an instant of anticipation.
Then, the most unexpected event occurred. As I tensely watched the captain with bated breath, I suddenly heard an excited cry from the forgotten lookout perched high atop the crow's nest.
"Land ho! Land ho!" he cried. All heads swung unanimously in the direction in which the lookout was frantically pointing. Sure enough, there on the horizon was a small speck of land, almost indistinguishable in the distance.
"The Isle of Geldrion!" shouted one of the mates.
"We've made it!" called another.
A deafening cry rang up from the seamen, as they all but forgot about their controversial passengers in wild displays of exuberance. The captain shot one last accusative glare in our direction before he too sheathed his saber and stalked off.
Ok guys, I can't write anymore until I get some reviews to go off of, so please R/R! I mean it, I refuse to go on without feedback! I need it!
4. A TIMELY ARRIVAL
For a full two weeks our diminished fellowship remained closely united aboard the dreary, wave-battered ship. Suspicions began to arise among the crew about the nature of the attack. Many claimed the strangers were to blame, that everyone aboard the ship was in danger because of them. The situation between the mariners and ourselves slowly drew to a head, and if not for the siting of land at a felicitous moment, we all would have been killed.
Breathing deeply, I took in the salty scent of the sea. I stood alone at the helm of the ship, allowing the billowing wind to throw my wildly curly, auburn hair about my face. My fingers icily clung to the railing while my feet swayed with the roiling deck beneath me. I was thinking of Legolas again, about those blue eyes, so clear and bright, his long, flowing, golden mane, and his high cheekbones so common of the Elvin race, his strong shoulders, and nicely toned body...oh, just the thought of him sent shivers through my body. What was he doing right now?
A strong gust of wind buffeted me and brought me crashing back into reality. I glanced sideways at a menacing-looking sailor with a jagged, red scar running from his left eye, across his crooked nose, and all the way down his neck to disappear into his dirty shirt. He eyed me warily and half drew his cutlass. His eyes dropped from me to the blade as he caressed the edge with a skilled thumb. A hand rested on my shoulder and I jumped guiltily. Spinning around, I confronted my assailant.
"A bit jumpy are we?" the kindly face of Gandalf greeted my mad whirl. "The mood of this ship lends itself to wariness," he smiled kindly at me, unknowingly hitting right on the cause of my unease.
"When will we hit land?" I asked him imploringly. "I don't know how much longer we can last under this stress. Things are bound to reach a climax soon."
"As a matter of fact, we should have reached the Isle of Geldrion several days ago."
"What?!" I exclaimed. "Why haven't you said anything?"
"I wasn't going to burden all of you any more than necessary. Besides, if we were to get terribly off our course, you know I would...well...do something about it," he said the last confidentially. If the mariners were haughtily cold with the rest of us after the fight, they were openly hostile with Gandalf. The very thought of magic made their blood turn to ice. The fact that Gandalf had used the abhorred ancient weapon on their ship, even in their defense, had nearly caused an uprising.
Gandalf and I stood at the helm a few minutes longer before he escorted me back to my cabin. He seemed a little preoccupied as we descended the steps leading below deck. "What are you contemplating, old man?" I asked him lightly, attempting to ease the stressed mood. A slight frown creased his brow for an instant and then was gone.
"Simply, my dear, whether or not I can get a good nap in here before they pass out the grub," he smiled back and then quickened his pace to walk with his back towards me.
Leaving me at my door, he said a hasty goodbye and turned. I noticed, as I entered my room that Gandalf had not gone in the direction of his own cabin, but to that of Rorimac. My curiosity piqued, I followed him silently, my soft leather boots making no noise on the weathered floorboards. A swift knock on Rorimac's door gained him admittance and he slipped quickly inside. I tiptoed slowly up to the door, so as not to step on any creaking boards, and pressed my ear against the wood.
"You were right, Rorimac," I could hear Gandalf say. "We won't last much longer. They're up to something, and I'll be damned if I know what!"
"If they intended to just heave us all overboard, don't you think they would have done it already?" Rorimac's deep, bass voice rumbled with puzzlement from behind the door.
"Maybe, and maybe not. They could be waiting for something-"
"Like what? We're in the dead center of nowhere, we can't get much more isolated from land than if we were sittin' blindfolded on the moon!" Rorimac interjected exasperatedly.
"Perhaps you're right, my friend," Gandalf mused a moment. "But I can just feel the hate mounting every minute. You and I both know what kind of trouble we could be in if…" he started mumbling and I could no longer understand his words. Then, the room went absolutely silent.
Suddenly, I could hear the tread of large feet, Rorimac's for sure, heading in my direction. I frantically scrambled away from the door as if burnt, and fled as quietly as possible back to my cabin. I had just clicked my door silently closed when Rorimac's banged open. I could picture his broad frame completely filling the doorway, as his razor-sharp eyes piercingly searching the corridor. I stood against the wood, holding my breath, until I heard the unmistakable sound of Rorimac returning to his room. I breathed a sigh of relief and headed to bed. I wasn't afraid of being caught, really, I just didn't want to be seen as an eavesdropper, or it would get much harder to do later.
Late morning the following day, Legolas sat at the small writing desk in his cabin, oiling up his bow. The strong, yet bendable, ebony wood had silver chasing along the entire length. His quiver of arrows sat within easy reach of his elegant, lithe arms, and the ever-present wide-bladed knife, so carefully and precisely crafted, hung at his side. There was something in the air today that made him wary. He couldn't say what, but his Elvin instincts told him something was awry.
Just as he finished restringing his bow, a cry from the deck swung his head aloft, his eyes intently searching the ceiling for a moment as if to will them to see straight through the wood. His first thought was of Tarrodwen, "Where is she?" He hesitated only that one second before he sprang to his feet, and grabbing his gear, leaped out the door. Legolas fairly flew up the steps to the deck. The moment he stepped above, however, he brought himself to an abrupt, yet surprisingly graceful stop, keenly surveying the scene laid out before him.
Gandalf, Tarrodwen, and Rorimac were all backed up against the rail of the deck, completely encircled by seamen with drawn blades. Rorimac had his broadsword bared and his protective stance almost completely shielded Tarrodwen from view. Gandalf stood erect and proud beside him, an infuriated glint in his eyes. Luckily, with all the commotion, no one had noticed Legolas' arrival. He silently backed up against the railing of the stairs leading to the upper deck. Stealthily, he hurried up the steps and hid behind an overly large, ringed barrel where he would have a bird's eye view of the situation-- as well as a clean shot.
"You gotten us lost, wizard!" the captain spat at us. "It's you an' your cursed magik that dun it. You plagued our ship with attention from the Lady o' Ill Fortune, you did. All them orcs and such, we ain't never b'fore seen none of their like, til you come. Well, I ain't gunna let you stay here til ya get us all lost and kil't o' starvin'. Yous all gunna get the hell off my ship NOW if I have to help ya meeself!" he growled.
"Calm down, Captain. We're not lost, we-" Gandalf began.
"We be lost! I know bloody well when we be lost! Don't you be spinnin' lies to mysitikfy us, wizard. I knows your eeevil tricks, I do." The captain advanced upon Gandalf menacingly with a slightly rusty saber. Before he could take a full step, Rorimac began to slide in front of him. But he wasn't as fast as Tarrodwen. She was in front of Gandalf in an instant, staff held ready in her expert hands. She wore a look of pure determination that, for some reason, stirred a feeling of pride in Legolas' breast.
"Take one step closer, you impudent oaf, and I'll knock you so hard your forefathers are going to wonder why they've got a headache," I threatened the irate captain. His face went utterly scarlet and his eyes bulged until I thought they would pop from his head. Never had he expected to be threatened by this slight woman with a stick.
"If you live long enough," a solid voice said from above. Using my peripheral vision, and never taking my eyes from the captain, I spotted Legolas standing tall near the tiller, bow drawn, muscles tensed, awaiting one wrong move.
The situation was explosive. Everyone remained utterly still for what seemed like an hour. Eyes swung from our small group on the deck, to Legolas above, and back again, trying to assess the greatest danger. Not a breath of wind stirred, the whole world seemed to be frozen in an instant of anticipation.
Then, the most unexpected event occurred. As I tensely watched the captain with bated breath, I suddenly heard an excited cry from the forgotten lookout perched high atop the crow's nest.
"Land ho! Land ho!" he cried. All heads swung unanimously in the direction in which the lookout was frantically pointing. Sure enough, there on the horizon was a small speck of land, almost indistinguishable in the distance.
"The Isle of Geldrion!" shouted one of the mates.
"We've made it!" called another.
A deafening cry rang up from the seamen, as they all but forgot about their controversial passengers in wild displays of exuberance. The captain shot one last accusative glare in our direction before he too sheathed his saber and stalked off.
Ok guys, I can't write anymore until I get some reviews to go off of, so please R/R! I mean it, I refuse to go on without feedback! I need it!