Disclaimers: See the Prologue for more information.

*.*.*

12:

A Mending Family

Livia studied the navigation charts once more. She couldn't read this. There were a bunch of squiggly lines and dots. Nothing on the map made sense… but then, it would to someone who knew how to read navigation charts. She looked at Samson and Felicity. They seemed to be getting along, as if they were already familiar with a load of information that she, Livia, did not understand.

"Are we ready to set sail?" Aslan asked the group.

"Wait. This map doesn't make any sense. How are we supposed to find Frodo and his family if they're just…" Livia cut herself off. No. It wasn't wise to talk back to royalty. But then she was with royalty, wasn't she? "Look, if we find Frodo and his family, can we at least go home."

"Your time is not up yet in this world." Aslan explained to the group, "With our coming here, I'm afraid the villains and pirates have also discovered our location."

"Then we have to leave, before they show up," Felicity said.

"Yes. Do you have a plan?" Aslan asked her.

"Couldn't you give us a plan?" Livia asked in return.

"I can only do so much for you and this group," the Lion answered.

"That's helpful," Livia said.

"Listen, I've been discussing this with your friend." Felicity approached the map, pressing a button to make it lifelike. "Let me see… there they are!" She pointed out two ships, moving parallel to each other. "I know where they're heading: Tortuga. It's a few days' journey, but we can make it."

"Do we have a ship?" Livia and Aslan asked.

"Not yet. The next shipment is to arrive, but I haven't seen any navy ships in this part of the world," Felicity answered.

"Then how are we getting to Frodo and his family?" Livia asked, curious and confused. Now what were they to do? They couldn't be trapped here… even though she enjoyed spending time at the university.

Let the next adventure come their way. She hoped there wouldn't be any of Hook and Sparrow's friends waiting for them on the other side. But maybe meeting Sparrow would be a good idea… or not. She was hardly beside herself on the notion that Frodo and his family were with pirates, and she was stuck here. Well, she needed to trust her friends now. It was time to find Frodo and his family.

-.-.-

Rose stood up, watching the cell door open up, revealing Captain Hook on the other side. Rose stared at the hand extended to her. How could she trust the pirate captain, after what he and Sparrow did to her family? But then, there was something familiar about Hook… some memory that wouldn't abate, but grew.

"Come on, lass. I need to show you something," Hook said.

"What about me?" Bane asked, grasping at the cell wall.

"Yes. You. We'll discuss your culinary diet later," Hook said. Rose followed without question, even after the cell door was closed once again.

"Captain, what is this about?" Rose asked, confused.

"Yes, you probably don't remember. You were so small when we boarded for Tortuga." Hook shrugged. "You tell me how you escaped my ship when you were five years old. Picked up by the Blains, weren't you?"

"How do you know so much about me, captain?" Rose said.

"Because you were on this ship twice. Once when you were five. The second time when you were nine and very good at directing the stars. Your last voyage ended up with you in the modern times," Hook explained. "You say you have no memories up until you were nine years old."

"My family is decent. There's only one family I know with the name Blain," she said, confused.

"My darling Rose. There's two Blain families that I know of, which you were present in. One of them is in Tortuga," Hook said. "You really have Frodo to thank for your upbringing. While your mother gave birth to you, your father stowed you away aboard my ship. Ask him yourself when you see him. He's bound to come up with one or two truth-telling tales."

"My dad wouldn't… he couldn't…" Even Rose had to admit the truth was starting to sink in.

"Pleased with your parents now? Yes, they love you. But in their hearts, and I don't know why, they gave you up," Hook added last, "If I were you, I'd continue this tour. Shall we?"

"Sure, captain," Rose said, following him into a mini museum. As she stared at the various art pieces, one thought drove into her head: why would her parents give her away? Didn't they love her enough to keep her? Or was there more to this tale that had yet been unraveled. Her parents did want to keep her, but she was grown up. Couldn't they understand that? She hardly knew them either way.

Hopefully, when the voyage was over, she'd meet them again. But when or how remained to be seen. Only the destination lay before them.

-.-.-

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.

"Ebony," Frodo called to her. However, Ebony only met his gaze briefly. Frodo tried again, "Ebony, I'm sorry I didn't tell you what happened."

"Frodo," Ebony answered. "I'll admit I was hoping to hear an answer from you. But… how could you leave our daughter with pirates? Anything could have happened to her."

"You don't trust what happened. And now we're both stuck on a pirate ship," Frodo said.

"Don't change the subject," she said, serious.

"The subject's already on pirates. Ebony, I had hoped we would come to an understanding," he said.

"Well, I wouldn't put my daughter with pirates." She asked him, "Frodo, why would you leave our daughter with Captain Hook?"

"I didn't have a choice." Frodo admitted, "I cared for her, but our daughter was taken. And I did nothing."

"This isn't your fault, is it?" Ebony asked him.

"It is. I should have taken better care of her. I did nothing," Frodo added, "And now our daughter's back with Captain Hook." Ebony placed her hand over his.

"We'll find our daughter." She answered with, "I knew you were a good hobbit."

"We've been lousy parents, trying to make it up to Rosemary." He spoke in reassurance, "We will find her. We'll get our Rose back."

"How?" Ebony asked.

"I don't know, but we'll find a way." Frodo pulled out a necklace around his neck. Around the chain was a tiny seashell. "I found this. If there was a way to find Rosemary again by sea, this seashell will help us find her."

"Do you think it will work?" Ebony asked.

"Land ho!" cried one of the crew in the crow's nest.

"Come on, Ebony," Frodo said, taking her hand and leading her up the stairs. Before them, on deck, was an island in the shape of a horseshoe.

*.*.*

Thanks for reading. :)