Disclaimers: See the Prologue for more information.

*.*.*

11:

Frodo's Confession

Rosemary stepped onto the deck, half-expecting to see her parents aboard. But they weren't on Captain Hook's ship. The last she had seen of her parents were… oh no. How did they end up with Jack Sparrow?

"Right," Hook moved to the front of the group. "Welcome to the Jolly Roger. Until such a time when you'll be relieved of your weapons, you will be my personal cabin boys and girls. But the girls get to help the chef in the kitchen, below deck. Sounds easy? Be prepared to be swallowed by his vessel." He clicked his fingers. "William Smee, my hat."

"Aye captain," a portly man said, handing Hook his hat with a large brim.

"Right. Now I'm ready to go. Set sail, lads. It's a long journey to Tortuga," Hook said.

"Wait, Mr. Hook sir," Rosemary called, right as she was grabbed by one of the crew members.

"Take them below deck. Work starts at dawn," Hook said.

Rose was shocked. Why wasn't anyone listening to her? Of course, her gaze was met by that of Bane, but he was scared. What did this all mean?

"Please, don't send me into a cage. I can't… wolves can't…" Amidst his squirming, the crewman forced Bane inside a cell, right across from Rosemary. Rose watched the half-wolf man, as he whimpered to one of the cell guards. In that moment Bane stretched forth his hand towards her. "Come on. Reach."

"But my parents. They don't trust us together, Bane," Rose said.

"What about you?" Bane asked her.

"You're a wolf. The next thing you know, we'll be sailing into disaster or worse," Rose said.

"Do you trust me? I can get us off this ship," he responded.

"How? The guard has the keys," she admitted.

"That's nothing for me." He whispered. "When we get close to Tortuga, run and jump ship. I will follow."

"Bane, that's ridiculous," Rose said.

"Well, what was your plan then?" Bane asked her.

Even Rose had to admit, jumping ship was a good plan. The question that remained was how they were to reach shore? It would take all morning before they had a plan ready.

-.-.-

Livia, with help from Samson, managed to climb out of the rubble that remained of the authors' dormitory. It was now dawn and already they could see two ships leaving the harbor. Just then, Samson stopped Livia from moving on, for a family of ducks was heading onto the beach. And yet, Livia couldn't help looking back at the Heroes' University or what remained of it.

"What happened here?" Livia asked, curious and confused.

"There was a raid that occurred here," the Lion introduced himself, "My name is Aslan. As long as you're with me, we're safe."

"What about Frodo? Is he…"

"He's alive and well, but also by now a deckhand for Captain Jack Sparrow's armada," Aslan said.

"Frodo's a deckhand?" Livia was stunned. Surely Frodo would have made it out of the mess he was in.

"Well, wherever he and his family are now, we'd better hope they're safe," said an auburn-haired princess in a blue dress. She introduced herself right away, "Felicity, daughter of Cinderella and Prince Charming."

"So Prince Charming and Cinderella have a daughter," Livia said, trying to figure this out.

"Yes, and you need me in this instance." Felicity admitted, "I can navigate these waters. You see, while we were doing some schooling, I was looking through navigation charts. I can see us started in less than a month."

"We need at least a few days for traveling," Samson said.

"We don't have time for this. What if Frodo and his family are in danger?" Livia asked.

"They already are in danger." Aslan told the group, peering out at the bay. "They're heading for Tortuga, as we speak. And are in greater danger than we can imagine."

"I hope it isn't too late to save them," Livia said. "That's what I fear."

"It won't. Come on. We have a trip to arrange," Aslan said. Heeding the Lion's word, Livia followed the unexpected group over to a tent. It was here that Livia saw what Felicity meant about navigation charts. She just hoped that Frodo was okay and safely out of danger.

-.-.-

Frodo didn't know how long he scrubbed the deck. He went from being the Ring-bearer and Superintendent of the Heroes' University, to now being the deckhand and scrubbing the Black Pearl's deck. Was this punishment? It seemed like Ebony was sharing the same fate as him, for she was scrubbing the deck next to him, but also a short distance away.

He had to reach her, see if there was a way off this vessel and back onto land. What did they do to deserve such a fate?

"Aye, you're not through yet! Keep scrubbing, mates!" Jack Sparrow announced, coming Frodo's way. The pirate captain spoke to the gentle-hobbit now. "How's life treating you?"

"How is it, Jack?" Frodo spoke up. "You took me and Ebony away from our home."

"Your home is in the Shire. Is that not right?" Jack asked.

"It's a long story," Frodo admitted. "Not the prettiest story you'll want to hear."

"Frodo, what did happen to you?" Ebony asked aloud.

"Um…" Frodo hesitated. Should he really tell them the truth? I guess now was the appropriate time to tell them the truth. It was the story Ebony had been wanting to hear for a long time. And it began here with his tale. He explained as best he could the events that happened. "Shortly after Rose was in my care, I didn't quite send her to Middle-earth. Upon my flight, Rose was taken by Hook, where rumors spread that he had taken in a daughter – our daughter. What happened next is unknown. But as far as I know, Rose ended up back in Modern-day Earth, in the care of the Blain family. What her adventures with Captain Hook are, I do not know."

"So you trusted our daughter with Captain Hook?" Ebony was stunned.

"It's not exactly easier said than done. I lost our daughter that day. It's no wonder she doesn't trust us. She probably has memories of her time with Captain Hook." Frodo admitted. "I only hope we're not too late to save her."

"Why didn't you tell me about this?" Ebony asked him.

"Because I didn't know how you'd react. It was wrong of me to keep it hidden from you," Frodo said.

"Aye, we're heading for Tortuga, right?" Jack Sparrow called one of his crewmen.

"We should be there in a few moments," the crewman answered.

"Good. We've already got two ships about to flank us. Let's move out! Step lively men!" Jack shouted.

"Tortuga. Who would expect us to be there?" Frodo asked. However, when he looked at his wife, she returned to scrubbing the deck. He wanted to take care of her, but how could they handle the truth? With luck, maybe Captain Hook would be a well sorted fellow… no, he was a pirate. The gentle-hobbit couldn't expect anything less than that.

The question that did remain was how Frodo and his family would survive a night in Tortuga. Hopefully, Aslan kept watch over them. But… no, Frodo needed to fix his family. This was his and his wife's fault. They should have taken care of their daughter. But Ebony already apologized, and then there was him… oh, now what was he to do? Then it hit him: Frodo would find a way to get their daughter back, and then hope that nothing else happened to their family.

The gentle-hobbit would make it up to his family… someday soon.

*.*.*

Chapter 12 Teaser:

Frodo found Ebony below deck. Was she mad at him over what he just revealed to her? Maybe it was better that he left her alone… no, that was wrong of him. He needed to do better than this. Surely his own wife would understand… or maybe she wouldn't.

Either way, she still looked beautiful in his eyes. But what was her reaction to all of this? He wondered if he would find out… or maybe he should just talk to her.

And that's exactly what he did.

*.*.*

Thanks for reading. :)