Disclaimer: I don't own anything of Tolkien's. I'm just playing around with them a bit and will put them carefully away when I'm done. The Sea Hawk, however, is all mine and please ask before using in other fics.
Dedications: I wouldn't have had the nerve to even start this without Evendim and my darling AJ reassuring me that it was decent. This entire story is dedicated to them.
A/N: This piece is set in Evendim's wonderful AU. Any questions can be answered simply by reading her wonderful fics. Which should be done anyway because they are simply excellent!
A/N 2:This being an AU piece, there are several discrepancies from the Professor's works. Not the least of which that Boromir lives!
A/N 3: My thanks to all my reviewers! I try to answer reviews as they come in, but if you don't leave an email I can't answer them!
Please, if you like the story, leave a review! It would make my day, as well as telling me that it's worth continuing!
***She leaned against the wall outside the door, her fingers rubbing the painful bruising at her throat. The man had a grip like a bear! But her ruse had worked. She'd gotten Boromir's word that he'd behave himself.
Now, she had to give him the same courtesy. She'd already made him free of the ship and her camp, but she needed her crew to understand that he was to be left completely alone. She wouldn't tolerate anyone abusing him. It was enough that he was pliable. He didn't need to be broken.
"Arthond!" she bellowed as she strode along the corridor. "Gather the crew. We've things to discuss before we make landfall." She waited until his back was turned and he was headed away before adding the last little tidbit. "And see to it that Boromir's cabin remains unlocked from now on. He'll give us no more trouble."
***
Boromir swore vehemently under his breath. His one weakness was Faramir, and he knew it well. But this, this was more than just a threat. It was a promise. He had seen it so clearly in her eyes, the promise of disobedience being repaid with death. And that not even his own!
He let himself slide slowly down the wall to sit on the floor, his head in his hands. What had he been thinking? He should never have allowed her the upper hand. But what else could he do? He couldn't endanger his brother. That was just unacceptable.
He got up with a start when the door suddenly opened, and the first mate stepped inside, carrying Boromir's own weaponry!
"Hawk says you're to have these back," Arthond said quietly as he laid the blades carefully on the table. "None of us will bother you."
Boromir nodded back, inwardly stunned. The woman had lost her mind completely! She trusted him with his weapons when she knew without a doubt he wanted her dead. And the thoughtful little thing had even provided him with the perfect excuse!
He had sworn to commit no mayhem among her crew. He had said nothing about committing mayhem on her person! But he would have to go carefully, lull her into a false security so she would not be able to signal her agent. Faramir must not be harmed!
***
Aragorn sat waiting yet again. This time, however, he waited not upon the whims of fate, nor on a pirate. Faramir was to pay him a visit, to learn what had befallen his brother.
As if his thoughts had summoned his son, Faramir entered the room, bowed low to his King, and then came forward to give his father a gentle hug.
"You are troubled, father, I see it in your eyes. What has happened?" Faramir took the seat indicated, not without some surprise. It was seldom he and his father were able to converse privately, yet it was obvious this was to be a quite private meeting. "Boromir has not returned as expected?"
He bit his lip, knowing by the expression on Aragorn's face that he had hit the mark, and stilled the small voice screaming in his own heart. "That's it, then. He has cheated death before, I am certain he will this time as well."
Wordlessly, Aragorn held out the message that had come to him earlier in the day. He took it gingerly, as though afraid it would bite, and read it carefully.
To Elessar, King of Gondor, greetings.
We are holding your Captain-General. He is being well treated, and will be unharmed upon his return to you. However, there are several demands that must be met before we will consider releasing him.
The sum of five thousand pieces of gold is to be brought to the port at Cair Andros.
The King himself will be on hand for the transfer, and will guarantee Aergil safe passage away from Cair Andros as far as the open sea.
There will be no further attempts to capture or kill the Sea Hawk.
If these terms are not met, or any rescue attempt is made, the Captain-General's life shall be forfeit.
As a token of good faith, and a sign that we truly hold Boromir, please give to Faramir this message: That your brother loves you, and promises his Picklepuss honey upon his return.
We await your return message.
The parchment was unsigned, but Faramir had seen enough. He handed the parchment back to Aragorn, his expression thoughtful. "It seems as though they truly hold him, but I am still uncertain," he began. "All of Gondor knows of my fascination with honey, though not many have heard him call me 'Picklepuss.' It could still be a trap to capture you."
Aragorn nodded. "The messenger waits without. I am to send an answer immediately."
"If they truly have Boromir, I almost pity them," Faramir returned idly. "My brother is not one to take such an affront as being held for ransom lightly. They are probably already sporting bruises and various wounds from his foul temper." He laughed, softly.
"No doubt. But do we dare take the chance, and refuse? I have no doubt of their response should we do so." Aragorn was torn between the desire to hunt this pirate down and tear him limb from limb, or to set a different trap at Cair Andros and bring them all in. But honor demanded that if he agreed to their terms, he would agree to all of them, and be unable to set said trap.
"My first feeling is that we should agree, with some stipulations. You are not to be risked." Faramir's toned brooked no argument. "I will take the gold to Cair Andros, and will accept the other stipulations, on condition that Boromir is returned whole and unharmed." His expression boded ill for the pirates if anything had befallen his brother. "In the event he is not returned, or has been harmed in any way, the demands are void and I shall hunt them down myself."
"You shall have my aid, should the need arise," Aragorn swore to his Steward. "Very well, we will send the message as you suggest. Their answer will tell us all we need to know."