Captain of the Rings Chapter 3- Balanced Recklessness

Jack Sparrow stood upon the deck of the Xandiar and took in the breeze. Every sail was taught and the keel sliced a fine line through the swells as they sped West. The sea expanded in to an endless blur all around him. The sea was the one place that suited him perfectly. He was too versatile for solid ground; only the sea could match him. He usually felt at peace on the deck of his ship. But today his mind was restless. A growing fear had been gnawing at his heart. A darkness loomed in the East. He could feel it. He turned apprehensibly toward the shores of middle earth. At first all he saw was the same blue, but his sight did not stop there. His vision shot over the water until it halted before a black port. The ships were burning. A tower loomed in the background; green light cast horrid shadows. Cries could be heard from within the walls. A little girl was calling.
"Captain!" Imbalech said again. Jack started and then turned to her slowly, his mind still elsewhere. "I don't know why Frodo has granted you passage, it is not for me to question, but I must tell you this- grace or not- the Valar will not see Numenor remade!" Jack looked at her curiously for a moment and then a devious smile curled his lips.
"You shouldn't speak of things you know nothing about," he said. She looked at him her eye growing first with astonishment and then narrowing with anger.
"Now, don't take it so hard, love," Jack continued. "I didn't mean to hurt you," he said with a sway. "I just meant that I have been there, and you have not- so leave the worrying to me, savvy?" Imbalech couldn't speak. Jack, satisfied left her and walked down the deck. The uneasiness he had been feeling was growing. He suddenly looked down at where Mall'elen gleamed on his finger. He thought for a moment and then disappeared below deck.
Imbalech batted back a tear and then looked after the pirate, but he was gone. It was true, she had never seen the Undying land, she had been born in middle earth.
"You haven't seen it either, Captain Sparrow, oh no, you haven't seen it..." she tightened her fist. "And I'll die before I allow you to use Frodo for your dark purpose."
***
Frodo awoke with a strange feeling. He raised himself up from the pillow trying to recognize the feeling. He searched through his mind and body for the cause. Then he understood.
"I feel at peace," he laughed to himself. "I haven't felt...in so long." He looked down from his bunk at Sam sleeping soundly below and smiled.
Sam was dreaming but he was aware of it. He didn't dare disturb the dream- he wanted it to last forever- he wanted to look into her face forever.
"Sam..." Rosie said her face was angelic. Light filled her eyes and a warmth emmenated from her. Then all went dark. He couldn't see her face. He cried out and actually reached his hand out in his sleep. Her voice answered, it far away.
"Find her..." He stirred in his sleep, Frodo saw him thrash.
"You must find her," Rosie continued. Frodo climbed down from his bunk and laid his hand on Sam gently.
"Sam..." he whispered but Sam heard nothing but his dream and he began to shake.
"Sam!" Frodo cried and Sam sat up with a start. The two looked at each other, both with wild eyes.
"Beggin' your pardon...Frodo, did I wake you?" Sam said regaining his composure. Frodo studied him.
"No....but you cried out. Are you," He met his eyes "alright?"
"Yes, yes, I'm fine," Sam said wiping the sweat from his brow. Frodo put his hand on Sam's and looked into his eyes.
"You can tell me." Sam shifted uneasily from side to side and then looked down at the ground.
"I don't know if you'd understand," he said looking up to face Frodo's response. Frodo looked taken back.
"Not understand, Sam after everything I've been through- what could I not understand?" He said gently.
"Losing your child," he said, tears rushing down his cheeks. Frodo felt his own stream down his face.
"Sam, I've seen someone.... help very much... with something he didn't understand," he embraced his friend and held him close.

The moment was sweet but short. The door swung open violently as Imbalech stormed in. She caught the fearful glance of the hobbits and swallowed her anger. She stood stiffly at the door and smoothed her tunic.

"What is it, Imbalech?" Frodo said standing up "You look as though..." he met her eyes and trailed off. She was uneasy in his gaze and turned away. Something had been stirring in her heart. A creeping uneasiness had taken hold of her mind and had festered into anger.

"Something is moving, I know it," she said faintly. Frodo came toward her. Something snapped in her mind and the creeping hand of fear caused her to spring on Frodo, knocking him to the ground. She held a knife to his throat.

"You- it's you!" she cried. Sam leapt onto the elf but she threw him off.

"You brought it here. You brought it back!" She pressed the knife closely to his throat.

"Imbalech!" was all Frodo managed to say. The knife started to break the skin. Sam didn't even try to approach her again but instead he ran out the room. Without knowing where he was going he ran down the hall until he came to a door. Without thinking Sam threw open the door to Jack's cabin.

Jack Sparrow lay in bed with Lorna at his arm and a bottle of rum in his hand.

"Jack!" Sam cried. Jack sat up and raised an eyebrow. Sam ignored the woman under the sheets "Imbalech- she's gone mad!" Jack leapt out of bed revealing him to be fully clothed. Sam wondered for a moment and then Minya popped his head up from the arms of the woman. Apparently he had interrupted a tender moment. Minya's cheeks were stained with tears. Jack didn't look so good either. Jack followed the hobbit out the door still carrying his rum. They raced without another word to the cabin. When they reached Frodo he was sitting on a bunk his hand on his throat and a distant look in his eye. Imbalech was on the ground crying.

"I don't know what came over me...I-," Jack eyed the situation keenly and seemed to listen for some unheard sound. He then walked over to Frodo and turned up the hobbit's chin.

"Not deep," he said and then looked at the elf. He looked at the ground and then back at Imbalech saying
"You three have been much more trouble than I bargained for." a fresh tear streamed down her cheek. He smiled at the weeping elf and dropped the rum bottle into her lap.

"I really rather thought it would've been the short ones who'd do each other in- they spend way too much time together." Imbalech managed a smile. Jack wanted to leave but he sat down next to Frodo. Frodo looked at him.
"T'weren't Imbalech's fault," Jack said. Imbalech felt a flush of guilt for cursing him. He looked at her as if he knew what she was thinking.
"It's the Ring..." Frodo's eyes widened and he brought himself to speak
"But Mall'elen is not- the Ring!" Jack's face softened.
"No, It's worse," He grew solemn and scanned each of their faces "Mall'elen is the One Ring- transformed. That part of Sauron has transcended his hatred and is now...pure. Mall'elen is the end of evil. It will find what remains of Sauron's spirit in men's hearts, and it will transform it." Imbalech's face tensed with understanding.
"Mall'elen is his greatest foe...He will risk everything to destroy it," She whispered. Frodo touched his throat.
"Even reach across the ocean and turn us against each other." Jack nodded.
"I don't understand, the Ring was destroyed. I saw Sauron fall with my own two eyes!" Sam cried out.
"So did I, Sam," Jack said sternly "But i knew it was but a fleeting peace - the Ring would return." None of them had noticed that Sam's mind had been filling with horror.
"You're telling me that Ring, who almost destroyed Frodo is here?" he shouted and grabbed Jack's coat. Frodo grabbed Sam's arm but he flung him back.
"What have you done? Why have you led us out here- into the middle of nowhere- beyond help?"
"Sam!" Frodo cried "Jack's not the enemy." Sam turned.
"How do we know that? He's a thief for a livin' and now he's got the Ring on his finger!" Frodo had had enough, he ripped Sam off of Jack and grabbed his shoulders. He looked at Sam for a moment- seething in anger and then reached inside and got a hold of himself.
"Listen to me," He said intensely, not letting Sam look away from him. "Jack is our Captain!" he then added so only Sam could hear "but i'm keeping my eyes open this time." Sam seemed to release some of his fear at his friends caution, and his body relaxed. Jack stood up.
" I do wear the Ring," Jack said quietly ". But ask yourself this: why out of all of you, am I the only one who hasn't come under its effect?" Jack cocked a smile of balanced recklessness. Sam looked at his friends faces and understood. They had all been driven to anger by the influence of Ring. Jack was litteraly uneffected. Jack's expression changed and he went toward the door. He spun around.

"There's been a slight change in plans. I have to- -restock the galley before we can try the West passage, we'll be making port by tomorrow night at Himling," Jack said swaying and narrowing his eyes.

"Himling? That's a small island, what supplies could we get there?" Frodo spoke up. Jack smiled.

"Ah, one who knows the maps," Jack said and added " wonderful," under his breath.

"There's not much there- no. But-,"he hesitated and Frodo thought he looked sad.

"But that's where the sea's taking me." Frodo looked confused. Jack shifted from his melancholy to business.

"It's time for dinner. Vim will have it ready in the galley. I'll be there in while..." He said leaving the room.