Chapter 2
The storm
"Cap'n! Cap'n!"
Aye, Gibbs?"
"Those clouds at the horizon."
"Looks like rain; hard and much. Should be here in about an hour. Rose the crew, mr. Gibbs! We're gonna need every soul we got."
Jack stood at the helm of his ship. The past few nights he had had many dreams of his home; the Mirkwoods. There had been memories and things he didn't recognise.
The memories had been very pleasant, most of them were about his little brother, Legolas. He had been only a little elfling when Jack or rather Oropher had left. Not more then 50 years old.
The things he didn't recognise weren't pleasant at all: war, a quest, a ring, danger and misery. And like last night: a threat, shadow and flames. And that girl, that girl with fiery eyes.
The captain was quickly brought back to reality by the sight of lightning and the sound of thunder. Mere seconds later the first drops began to fall. In about half an hour they were in the middle of a huge storm.
The whole crew did their best to keep the ship from sinking and themselves from drowning. The waves were over 20 metres high and battered against the keel and flashed over the entire deck. For hours an end The Black Pearl and those on board fought against the caprices of nature.
By the first light of dawn the next day, everything was over again. The ship was badly damaged and 3 members of the crew had been swallowed by the grey sea.
Anamaria hurried her way to the helm to untie Jack from the rudder. He hung weakly in the ropes, muttering something like : "…did it again…" The female crewmember smiled inwardly.
"That pirate always wins from the biggest storm!" she thought.
When the ropes were removed, Jack fell exhausted on the deck with his eyes closed, still soaking wet.
"Mr. Cotton! Help me a moment here would you?"
Together mr. Cotton and Anamaria brought their captain to his cabin so he could rest.