Pirate Gold

By Romania Black and Auzzie K

Welcome Back! Hope your Christmas Break was Fantastic! Anyway, now on to Chapter Twelve! When we left off, the Atlas crew is battling the Mordor pirate crew, Brandy's unconscious in the Captain's Quarters, and Danny had just gone to help Vardahir, who was in a tight spot indeed! Hope you enjoy this installment! Happy Trails!

Auzzie K and Romania Black

P.S. We own nothing of J.R.R. Tolkien! sobs

"Danny!" Vardahir breathed with relief, as a shot rang out and the pirate in front of her dropped to the ground. She rushed up to Danny and grabbed his shoulder, "What took you so long?"

Danny gave her a slightly crooked smile, "Had to take care of things," He looked over Vardahir's shoulder. "How are we holdin'?"

The Princess shook her head, "Not so good as far as I know." She saw out of the corner of her eye that Audyaveil was shooting her bow faster than the pirates could come at her, and Eldarion was fighting off three pirates at once with his long sword, Audumielen, but the other crew members seemed to barely have control of the situation. She suddenly remembered that he'd left them to go to the other ship. "Where's Brandy? Is she alright?"

Danny smiled grimly and walked past her, his voice faint, "She will be."

Vardahir was going to ask him what that meant, but another pirate lunged at her and she had to make swift of that situation first. By the time the attacker had fell to the ship's deck, Danny was nowhere to be seen.

Now where did he go now?

Audyaveil had noticed the pirate named 'Danny' climb back aboard the ship with Brandy. She was an elf afterall and had an astonishing gift of foresight, which she tried her hardest not to let on. Now she saw Danny again, but this time without the Rohan woman.

If he has harmed her... Audyaveil thought, and the vivid picture of Brandybuck's prone body lying on the deck filled her mind until with a twang of an arrow and the howl of a pirate, it was silenced it from her mind.

She was drawing another arrow when a cold hand reached out and grabbed her wrist. Too busy focusing on Brandy's whereabouts, she had not been prepared for this and let out a dry cry and he started to tug her away from her bow. She reached out to grab his face when a the man collapsed onto her, causing her to loose her balance and fall to the ground. The smell of blood filled her nostrils and she saw the gunshot wound in the pirate's back, followed by a pair of old, tattered leather boots standing in front of her. A warm hand reached out an lifted her up off the floor (and the pirate) and to her feet.

Danny gave her a cocky smile, "Need a hand?"

"I can honestly say this is the first time a pirate has assisted me off the ground," the elf stammered as she dusted herself off and reached for her bow.

"Well, there's always a first time for everything, isn't there?" Danny said as he reloaded his pistol.

"Perhaps," Audyaveil said bluntly, checking her bow for any cracks or scratches to the string. She found none. "Where is Brandy?"

"She's safe," Danny muttered as he closed to loading hatch on the gun.

"But where?" The elf insisted.

"In the captain's cabin," Danny raised an eyebrow to the elf, "What's it to you?"

"Being as I am a close personal friend of Brandy's, I make it my business to know, thank you," Audyaveil frowned, firing an arrow at one of the Mordor pirates.

Danny grabbed onto the handle of Audyaveil's bow and lowered it so that was nothing in between his face and hers. "Alright, listen to me. I know you haven't trusted me or my crew from the very start and you've had this thought in your head the entire time that it would be a mistake following us back to Minas Tirith."

"And it hasn't?" The elf said with slight disgust. "We probably would not be in this situation if we hadn't."

"Here me out, Audyaveil. I also know that Brandy is dear to you and in your opinion she deserves someone better than me--"

Audyaveil let out a sound similar to a snort, "Well, she is an heir of Rohan--"

"And I agree with you." There was a small silence between them.

"What?" The elf said softly.

"If it were me, I'd have Brandy off with someone else. Someone more dignified, someone who could keep her out of trouble, because that's obviously not me! But I can't. She loves me, and by the stars, I love her! So it doesn't look like that's going to happen anytime soon."

"What's your point?" Audyaveil sighed impatiently.

"My point is that you have to trust me. You have to trust me that I'm doing what I think is right for not only my crew but for Brandy and you all as well. Do you think you can just trust me or at least humor me until we're out of harm's way?"

Audyaveil studied him for a moment, as the gunshots rang out all around them and swords were clanking and the wind was howling, yet she made no sound for a long while. Finally, she gave a heavy sigh and looked straight into Danny's eyes.

"In all my years, I do not think I have ever heard a pirate say anything that intelligent or honest. I still do not trust your crew," she reached out her hand and took Danny's hand, "but I think I can trust you, Captain Daniel." Then she shook his hand.

Danny smiled, "Glad to hear it, Audyaveil, but please, my name is Danny."

"As you--GET DOWN!" The two of them ducked just in time, as gunshots beat against the side of the ship they were just at. The two were hiding behind a large cargo crate as the elf fired arrows at the Mordor Pirates. "This is getting ridiculous," Audyaveil murmured.

"You're telling me."

In all his years in battle, Eldarion had never seen anything as uncivilized as pirate sea battles. The sheer rawness, the uncontrolled energy, the insanity of it all was almost maddening to a man who had lived his entire life training under the mannerly and formal art of sword play. But these pirates were far from mannerly; they were gritty, grimy, dirty, and did not have any strategy of attack except to "kill all you can." This method of course, simply drove Eldarion insane, because pirates started to fight so fast and wildly that in many instances, they forgot who their own crew members were. More than once, the prince of Gondor had to weild off one of his own, or remind them that it was their side he was fighting on.

If only father could see this, Eldarion smiled inwardly. I can't imagine what he'd think.

Eldarion, his sword bloody and his fine, regal clothing tattered and filthy, suddenly realized that this battle had to come to a close soon. There were not too many pirates left to fight, and soon, someone would have to win. However, the idea that they battle until all of one side was conquered mildly disgusted him. It was too barbaric, and why should his side loose more men than necessary?

The formal way to end a battle was to take the leader out. Once that was accomplished, usually the followers would surrender. Eldarion had assumed that the captain had been Bernin. But since Danny had shot Bernin, who did that leave in charge?

No sooner than he had thought this, he saw a large, dark figure moving from behind some crates and into the midst of the battle. He was dressed in a dark suit with dull brass buttons and a large clunky belt over his waist. He threw his pistol down onto the ground; obviously he had ran out of ammo. He pulled out a large thick metal sword and walked into the Captain's Quarters. A surge of energy flooded his body and he ran to catch up with the mysterious figure.

The door was left with a small gap open; Eldarion leaned against the door and looked inside. The man took off his black large hat that was covered in black feathers and started opening drawers on the cabinet next to him frantically. He pulled out boxes of ammo, but shook them only to find no bullet left in them. The large man grunted and raised his head into the light. The heir of Gondor held his breath.

He was rightfully the ugliest man Eldarion had ever seen; his face mangled with scars and scrapes, and he had an odd mixture of reddish black hair. His beard was tied in knots and his eyes were a fire red, almost devilish. He had no front teeth, only molars and bottom teeth that were rotting and decaying, as was the gums those teeth were sitting in. His lips were so chaffed that they were bleeding and scabs formed around his nose.

The nasty looking man seemed to frantically go through more of his dressar drawers, when his eyes suddenly focused on something on the floor. A greedy, hungry look came onto his face and he bent down to seemingly study this object on the floor.

Eldarion had no clue what his problem was until he caught sight of what was on the floor.

Lying, her hair still wet and her skin pale, was BrandyBuck. She looked unconscious, and her breathing seemed labored. The pirate ran his hand up and down her side and prodded an area that looked bloodsoaked. He grunted with delight and ran his grimy hand through her delicate blonde hair. Eldarion shook with fury. Suddenly, without a thought or care, he rushed into the cabin. The pirate swerved his head to see what had entered and let out a low growl as he rose to his feet, and thrusted his sword out just in time to parry Eldarion's.

"You get away from her!" Eldarion snapped, his eyes full of anger. "She needs not your filth!"

"Aye," the nasty pirate chuckled, his voice was harsh and deep, "And who you be to tell me otherwise?"

"I am Eldarion, Prince of Gondor, son of the King!" Eldarion spoke with his head held high and regally. A small tingle ran up the base of his neck.

The pirate snorted, "Oh really? Well, don't that beat all! A prince, on my ship? Har har, what a surprise," the pirate lowered his head slightly, "Greetin's your majesty. Allow me to introduce me-self. You may call me Captain in Command, Rupus Clavehorn."

"You are in charge of these pirates?"

"I take credit for them," Rupus sneered.

"Then I am forced to kill you then, to end this conflict," Eldarion said forcefully.

"Why so formal, boy? Is that how yer daddy taught ye?" And Rupus let out a sinister laugh and lunged at Eldarion, but he rushed to the other side of him and the pirate missed.

"As a matter of fact," Eldarion smiled as he unsheathed his shimmering silver sword, Audumielen, "it is." He swung his sword and with a thrust, sliced through the man's black and red beard, nearly shaving the pirate's neck.

The captain cried out in surprise and rage and, sword slicing through the air, charged at Eldarion. The two parried back and forth, their swords clanging against each other with loud raps. There was sweat, blood, along with red and black hairs swirling in the air around them. One of the red hairs gently fell onto Brandbuck's nose and one happened to go up into it.

Though the reason has never been fully able to explain, Brandy's allergies mixed with a force no one currently understand's caused Brandy to sneeze heavily and for lack of better words, wake up from her consciousness.

"Wha...Danny?" Brandy asked groggily. Suddenly her vision became unblurred and she saw Eldarion fighting neck and neck with an ugly man who was scarred and bruised beyond anything she had ever seen. Completely disoriented and not sure of where she was or if she was even alive, Brandy screamed and backed into a table. "OW!" She cried out as a candle fell from the table and caught fire on the quarters' window curtains. Brandy didn't realize what she had done until the flame was already to hot for her clothes to put out. The flame rose higher.

Well, Brandy thought miserably, Just my luck. Out of the frying pan and into the fire!

And that's that for now! Tune in next time to see what happens to our heroes! Chapter Thirteen is on the way! Have a Happy 2006!

Romania Black and Auzzie K