Hello. It seems I broke my promise. This took a while to upload as well.
Sorry about that. I have punished myself by charging headlong into a pop
vending machine.
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The Navis Fugacis sliced cleanly through the seawater with the straightness of a flying arrow. It ploughed straight on towards Fell Strike. Jack was in trouble; they had to save him.
"Why don't we shoot it with the cannons?" asked Aragorn.
"There's too much risk it will sink the ship," said Elizabeth. "We don't want that, we just want him off safely."
"This is truly a time of technology, unless it is magic?" said Aragorn.
"No, no, no magic," said Will. "Magic does not exist. It is pure technology."
"Magic does not exist? You have truly forgotten?"
"This is not the time!"
They were now fifty yards away from the enemy ship.
"To arms!" commanded Will.
"Qualme na i kotumo!" roared Aragorn, meaning "Death to the ememy!"
"No quarter!" cried Elizabeth.
There was much clicking as Aragorn, Will, and the rest of the crew cocked their pistols and stuffed bullets and powder into them. They held them double-handed, ready to attack.
"Steady!" ordered Will. Then, "FIRE!"
Nine gunshots went off and nine pistol balls rocketed towards the Fell Strike. Six of the dozens of crewmen on the ship fell, but three bullets struck the hull. One of the six men that were hit was the grandad mentioned in the previous chapter. He now was slumped on the floor, leaning up against the railing. The bullet had punctured his midriff and pierced his only remaining kidney. He was bleeding heavily and clutched his wound in pain. Harry was bent beside him, choking back tears to defend his honour.
"Grandad, don' die," he pleaded. "Let me get the bullet out."
"Leave it in, you plonker, an' let me die," he replied hoarsely. "Takin' it out will make it worse."
"Grandad, don't die!" said Harry.
"Just promise you won't rest until everyone on that there ship is dead," he said. "Kill them all, and let the devil take 'em!"
The effort he put into his last statement was too much for his body. He gagged, blood ran in a thin stream from the right side of his mouth, and he fell limp. Harry's blood boiled with fury. The last of his family was dead. He swore then to have vengeance.
Meanwhile, the Navis Fugacis was drawing ominously nearer. The wind was on its side, giving it the extra speed needed for their plan. They were a mere twenty yards away.
"Draw swords!" shouted Will, and the crewmen hastened to brandish their rapiers and or cutlasses. Will's shining, handsome rapier came whistling through the air, and Aragorn's magical, Elven blade flew from the scabbard in his left hand. He grasped it with both hands and held it before his face.
"Show no mercy!" he commanded powerfully.
Countless shots rang out from the pirate ship, and bullets pounded into many places on the hull. One of their crewmen was hit in the breast and fell dead on the deck straightaway.
They were ten yards away.
"Ready!" cried Will.
Five yards. The bowsprit of the Navis Fugacis actually stroked the railing of the Fell Strike.
"Now!" shouted Elizabeth.
Then the Navis Fugacis' bow slammed headlong into the side of the Fell Strike, disturbing both ships with almost seismic force. Seawater careened onto the vessels, drenching most of the men on deck to the bone.
"Attack!" bellowed Will.
"Elendil!" roared Aragorn. He was the first to move, charging forward with such a great uproar of courage in his heart as had not been seen since the War of the Ring. Will and their squalid crew were not far behind, their swords raised high in the air and shrieking battle cries. The pirates on the enemy ship did the same.
Aragorn ran to the front and took a great leap onto the Fell Strike. He was filled with terror for a split second at the sight of so many horrid pirates rushing towards him at once. Then he imagined the teeming masses of Uruk-Hai at Helm's Deep, and the even greater masses of Orcs at the Siege of Gondor. Then into his head came Arwen's beautiful visage, and Eldarion's idolizing, admiring face, and he could not bear to let them down. All these came to him in a fraction of a second, before the flame in the heart of the Dúnedain was rekindled and he took to battle.
A vicious pirate with long, scraggly hair was bare feet away from him, swinging his sword like a lunatic. Aragorn drew back his much more powerful sword and swung it sideways, hitting the pirate in the side and slicing him in two. His rage carried him for the next few moments, as six more pirates assaulted him with their cutlasses swinging. He stabbed three in the stomach, split one's head down the middle, and slashed two in the side. Red blood was running down the groove in Andúril's centre like a river.
It was only when Will and the crew also leapt from the Navis Fugacis and onto the Fell Strike that Aragorn's sense returned to him. Instead of random attacking, he fought with precision and strategy. Will proved to be a brilliant fighter with rapiers. The crew was inexperienced and untalented, save in the field of charging forth and killing all in their path.
"Up above!" shouted on of their crewmen. Aragorn's head snapped upwards, to see pirates clinging to the ship's riggings or standing on the horizontal spars of the mast. The latter were taking ropes in hand and swinging down into battle. Three swooped down and raked the ground with their cutlasses. Only one man was killed, and that was fortunately one of the enemy's troops anyhow.
One of the pirates was swinging towards him. He gathered speed and let go of the rope. He flew forward, pointing his feeble sword at Aragorn. The King swung Andúril upwards and parried the pirate's sword away, and the pirate went with it. He soared over the railing, hit the hull of the Navis Fugacis and fell into the sea.
Aragorn charged towards the cabin. He had to get to Jack. He reached for the doorknob when the door swung open and hit him square in the nose. He stumbled, the bridge of his nose throbbing with pain, and looked to see who it was. It was Jack.
"What's going on?" he said thickly. "What's the bloody point of coming all the way over here?"
"I was coming to rescue you," answered Aragorn, nettled.
"I needed no rescuing, thank you," said Jack. "Bloody Hell, let's get out of here, and – WILLIAM!"
Aragorn looked around to see Will battling a pirate, unknowing that there was another swinging to him on a rope from behind. Without thinking, Aragorn whipped his pistol from his belt and fired. The pirate on the rope flew off ungracefully sideways, crumpling to the deck in a fetal position. Will stabbed his pirate in the chest and ran over to join Aragorn and Jack.
"Jack! You're alright!" he said.
"Apparently," replied Jack. "Quick, let's go! Where's the rest of the crew?"
"Dead," answered Will grimly. "These men have no regard for Parley."
"But you, of course, gave them a good share of it" said Jack fairly. "Let's get out of here quick, there's a mob of angry pirates coming towards us."
Jack and Will began running back to the spot where the Navis Fugacis could be reached. Aragorn ran as well, but instead of leaping straight on, stayed back and slew one last enemy.
At least, what he believed was to be one last enemy. He turned to board his ship, and saw that it had already started moving. It was out of his reach.
"Come back!" he shouted after them. He felt many pairs of pirate hands grasp his arms and shoulders and begin pulling him backwards. "Get off of me!" he raged, trying to free his sword arm.
"The captain will be pleased to see you," said one pirate nastily.
"Unfortunately, the captain is already dead," said another voice. It was not one of the pirates' – it was Jack's. Their ship had returned and Jack was back on the Fell Strike, his sword out. He leapt at the pirates holding Aragorn, and they instantly released him. Quickly, Aragorn shot to his ship and leapt over the railing onto the deck. Jack came running back also, and grasped the bowsprit with both hands.
"Go!" he commanded, and the ship began to move away. He was dangling over the water, but still the enemy pirates pursued him. One actually jumped to get him, but succeeded only in grabbing his belt for a second before slipping off into the water.
"Goodbye, goodbye!" said Jack. "Sorry we couldn't stay longer, but something's come up! Perhaps next time!"
And with that, the Navis Fugacis sailed away from the Fell Strike, leaving it in disarray.
TBC...
-----------
The Navis Fugacis sliced cleanly through the seawater with the straightness of a flying arrow. It ploughed straight on towards Fell Strike. Jack was in trouble; they had to save him.
"Why don't we shoot it with the cannons?" asked Aragorn.
"There's too much risk it will sink the ship," said Elizabeth. "We don't want that, we just want him off safely."
"This is truly a time of technology, unless it is magic?" said Aragorn.
"No, no, no magic," said Will. "Magic does not exist. It is pure technology."
"Magic does not exist? You have truly forgotten?"
"This is not the time!"
They were now fifty yards away from the enemy ship.
"To arms!" commanded Will.
"Qualme na i kotumo!" roared Aragorn, meaning "Death to the ememy!"
"No quarter!" cried Elizabeth.
There was much clicking as Aragorn, Will, and the rest of the crew cocked their pistols and stuffed bullets and powder into them. They held them double-handed, ready to attack.
"Steady!" ordered Will. Then, "FIRE!"
Nine gunshots went off and nine pistol balls rocketed towards the Fell Strike. Six of the dozens of crewmen on the ship fell, but three bullets struck the hull. One of the six men that were hit was the grandad mentioned in the previous chapter. He now was slumped on the floor, leaning up against the railing. The bullet had punctured his midriff and pierced his only remaining kidney. He was bleeding heavily and clutched his wound in pain. Harry was bent beside him, choking back tears to defend his honour.
"Grandad, don' die," he pleaded. "Let me get the bullet out."
"Leave it in, you plonker, an' let me die," he replied hoarsely. "Takin' it out will make it worse."
"Grandad, don't die!" said Harry.
"Just promise you won't rest until everyone on that there ship is dead," he said. "Kill them all, and let the devil take 'em!"
The effort he put into his last statement was too much for his body. He gagged, blood ran in a thin stream from the right side of his mouth, and he fell limp. Harry's blood boiled with fury. The last of his family was dead. He swore then to have vengeance.
Meanwhile, the Navis Fugacis was drawing ominously nearer. The wind was on its side, giving it the extra speed needed for their plan. They were a mere twenty yards away.
"Draw swords!" shouted Will, and the crewmen hastened to brandish their rapiers and or cutlasses. Will's shining, handsome rapier came whistling through the air, and Aragorn's magical, Elven blade flew from the scabbard in his left hand. He grasped it with both hands and held it before his face.
"Show no mercy!" he commanded powerfully.
Countless shots rang out from the pirate ship, and bullets pounded into many places on the hull. One of their crewmen was hit in the breast and fell dead on the deck straightaway.
They were ten yards away.
"Ready!" cried Will.
Five yards. The bowsprit of the Navis Fugacis actually stroked the railing of the Fell Strike.
"Now!" shouted Elizabeth.
Then the Navis Fugacis' bow slammed headlong into the side of the Fell Strike, disturbing both ships with almost seismic force. Seawater careened onto the vessels, drenching most of the men on deck to the bone.
"Attack!" bellowed Will.
"Elendil!" roared Aragorn. He was the first to move, charging forward with such a great uproar of courage in his heart as had not been seen since the War of the Ring. Will and their squalid crew were not far behind, their swords raised high in the air and shrieking battle cries. The pirates on the enemy ship did the same.
Aragorn ran to the front and took a great leap onto the Fell Strike. He was filled with terror for a split second at the sight of so many horrid pirates rushing towards him at once. Then he imagined the teeming masses of Uruk-Hai at Helm's Deep, and the even greater masses of Orcs at the Siege of Gondor. Then into his head came Arwen's beautiful visage, and Eldarion's idolizing, admiring face, and he could not bear to let them down. All these came to him in a fraction of a second, before the flame in the heart of the Dúnedain was rekindled and he took to battle.
A vicious pirate with long, scraggly hair was bare feet away from him, swinging his sword like a lunatic. Aragorn drew back his much more powerful sword and swung it sideways, hitting the pirate in the side and slicing him in two. His rage carried him for the next few moments, as six more pirates assaulted him with their cutlasses swinging. He stabbed three in the stomach, split one's head down the middle, and slashed two in the side. Red blood was running down the groove in Andúril's centre like a river.
It was only when Will and the crew also leapt from the Navis Fugacis and onto the Fell Strike that Aragorn's sense returned to him. Instead of random attacking, he fought with precision and strategy. Will proved to be a brilliant fighter with rapiers. The crew was inexperienced and untalented, save in the field of charging forth and killing all in their path.
"Up above!" shouted on of their crewmen. Aragorn's head snapped upwards, to see pirates clinging to the ship's riggings or standing on the horizontal spars of the mast. The latter were taking ropes in hand and swinging down into battle. Three swooped down and raked the ground with their cutlasses. Only one man was killed, and that was fortunately one of the enemy's troops anyhow.
One of the pirates was swinging towards him. He gathered speed and let go of the rope. He flew forward, pointing his feeble sword at Aragorn. The King swung Andúril upwards and parried the pirate's sword away, and the pirate went with it. He soared over the railing, hit the hull of the Navis Fugacis and fell into the sea.
Aragorn charged towards the cabin. He had to get to Jack. He reached for the doorknob when the door swung open and hit him square in the nose. He stumbled, the bridge of his nose throbbing with pain, and looked to see who it was. It was Jack.
"What's going on?" he said thickly. "What's the bloody point of coming all the way over here?"
"I was coming to rescue you," answered Aragorn, nettled.
"I needed no rescuing, thank you," said Jack. "Bloody Hell, let's get out of here, and – WILLIAM!"
Aragorn looked around to see Will battling a pirate, unknowing that there was another swinging to him on a rope from behind. Without thinking, Aragorn whipped his pistol from his belt and fired. The pirate on the rope flew off ungracefully sideways, crumpling to the deck in a fetal position. Will stabbed his pirate in the chest and ran over to join Aragorn and Jack.
"Jack! You're alright!" he said.
"Apparently," replied Jack. "Quick, let's go! Where's the rest of the crew?"
"Dead," answered Will grimly. "These men have no regard for Parley."
"But you, of course, gave them a good share of it" said Jack fairly. "Let's get out of here quick, there's a mob of angry pirates coming towards us."
Jack and Will began running back to the spot where the Navis Fugacis could be reached. Aragorn ran as well, but instead of leaping straight on, stayed back and slew one last enemy.
At least, what he believed was to be one last enemy. He turned to board his ship, and saw that it had already started moving. It was out of his reach.
"Come back!" he shouted after them. He felt many pairs of pirate hands grasp his arms and shoulders and begin pulling him backwards. "Get off of me!" he raged, trying to free his sword arm.
"The captain will be pleased to see you," said one pirate nastily.
"Unfortunately, the captain is already dead," said another voice. It was not one of the pirates' – it was Jack's. Their ship had returned and Jack was back on the Fell Strike, his sword out. He leapt at the pirates holding Aragorn, and they instantly released him. Quickly, Aragorn shot to his ship and leapt over the railing onto the deck. Jack came running back also, and grasped the bowsprit with both hands.
"Go!" he commanded, and the ship began to move away. He was dangling over the water, but still the enemy pirates pursued him. One actually jumped to get him, but succeeded only in grabbing his belt for a second before slipping off into the water.
"Goodbye, goodbye!" said Jack. "Sorry we couldn't stay longer, but something's come up! Perhaps next time!"
And with that, the Navis Fugacis sailed away from the Fell Strike, leaving it in disarray.
TBC...