Darn it…. I made you wait again…. I'm sorry. *Gets Ready To Duck Thrown Objects*…Well after this weekend I will be updating again on weekends…Ok? Good, onward!

Chapter 17--Lost At Sea

Legolas dodged a blow at his head and cut the pirate's throat in return. He could sense Qui behind him, guarding his back as usual. He was glad of it too.

Aragorn fought three of the attackers at once, yelling encouragement at his men. He winced as he saw another go down. "Push them back to their ship! Do not falter!" he shouted.

Legolas was out of the fighting for a moment and looked around. His eyes widened in horror when he saw a pirate sneaking up behind Aragorn, ready to plunge a knife into his back. "Nay!" he shouted and threw his own dagger at the man.

Just as the pirate's knife plunged downwards Legolas's dagger sank deep between his shoulder blades and into his heart. He yelled and the knife fell from his hand then he crumpled to the ground.

Aragorn heard the scream behind him and the thud of a falling body, but he was too busy to look. He managed at last to kill all three of his opponents and plunged deeper into the fight, still yelling encouragement.

Slowly the battle turned in their favor as more of the pirates went down and they were being forced back towards the railing.

It was then that it happened. A mortally wounded sailor twice Legolas's size stumbled into him. He was knocked backwards into the railing. Legolas slipped in a puddle of blood and he fell over the railing into the water.

Qui saw Legolas go over and he shouted for help as he hurried to the railing to locate the Elf, but there was no sign of him. He tied a rope around his waist and tossed it towards the sailors that had come to his aid then jumped overboard. He had to find him before the current pulled him away.

Legolas fought to reach the surface as he was dragged away from the ship by the strong current, but he couldn't. I am going to drown, he thought. His chest ached as it cried out for air and water began to seep into his mouth as everything started to go black. Suddenly his head broke above the surface. Legolas gasped for air then tried to get his bearings. He realized he had been swept to the other side of the pirate's ship.

Qui surfaced and took several desperate breaths before going under again. It was getting dark and hard to see. The sailors cheered as the pirates retreated to their ship and sailed away. Qui ignored it and kept searching.

Legolas was trying to swim towards the ship when the current caught him again and jerked him under. This time he lost consciousness.

Qui was finally forcibly hauled back onto the ship. "I have to go back! Legolas is out there!" he yelled at Aragorn.

"You cannot. Look at the water!" a sailor said, "and it is too dark. You will not be able to see him!"

Qui looked into the water and saw multiple fins…Sharks. "I must find him. I must," he said.

"He is right. You cannot go in. We will find him Qui. We will find him, somehow," Aragorn swore, laying his hand on Qui's shoulder. "We will not continue until we do." Even as Aragorn swore this to Qui he wondered how he would keep it. There were so many things that could have happened. He feared Legolas had drowned.

*Meanwhile*

It was just dawn when the waves deposited Legolas's limp body on a beach. Legolas was barely conscious, but he managed to drag himself away from the water. He laid on his side, coughing weakly. He was exhausted. I have to find a way to signal the ship before I am abandoned, he thought. He tried to stand up, but everything spun around dizzily. He collapsed and slipped back into unconsciousness.

Zonobi trotted along the beach, eager to check his nets and return to his tribe when he spotted the limp body on the beach. He moved over to look and stared in wonder. He had never seen such pale skin or hair that had captured the sun. He noticed the pointed ears and was curious. "What strange creature are you?" he said aloud in his tribe's tongue. The nets would have to wait. He picked up the limp body and slung him over his shoulder. He headed back to his tribe at a slow jog. The shaman would know what to do…

Heh, boy, let's hope they aren't cannibals, huh? R/R please…