A Middle Earth Story: The Corsairs of Oros

Chapter Seven: Fickle Lady Luck /Part Two

     "Talf, we got off that island. We had a chance then to go home and we still do. Who is captain doesn't matter as long as we can get home."

     She was right. He owed no loyalty to specifically to Oros, who had promised that as soon as this mission he was on was complete, he would take them home. Now they would not have to go on a fruitless mission. They could finally be free. He stood and joined Lendethiel and the others.

     "You coward," Fendwall spat. Talf flinched. "All of you. Abandoning your captain because what? He promised you something? Gold? Drink? Fame?" Morien's heavy fist connected with Fendwall's face with a sickening crack. Calen, standing near the Losoth, flinched. Fendwall worked his jaw and spat blood. Had Morien looked back, the first mate's glare would have chilled his blood. Morien stalked away, shaking his hand.

     "Anyone else?"

     Adrahil groaned and rose to his feet. Brandt's eyes widened in disbelief.

     "Addy, no," he breathed. Adrahil looked away from his friend's pleading face.

     "I'm sorry, Brandt, but I'm not ready to die. Not yet." He couldn't meet Brandt's eyes. His longtime friend slumped over, fighting back anger and sadness.

     "How could you?" he whispered. Adrahil paused, shook his head, and walked away.

     "No one else? Or are you all still loyal to your pathetic captain?" Morien kicked Oros, who groaned but did not fight back. Fendwall struggled to stand but couldn't get his feet underneath him and fell back. The world spun while he sat in a pool of his own blood. Morien kicked at Oros again and continued to abuse him.

     Calen, seeing Morien suitably distracted with his hatred for Oros, knelt beside Dahari. She wiped the blood dripping into his eye from a gash above his eyebrow. He moved away.

     "Join us, Dahari, none of us want Morien to be captain, but he was the only one with a plan. Join us and help overthrow him. We need someone who knows the sea and her ways. You could be a captain again. Isn't that what you want?"

     His far away look made her think he was considering taking her offer, but his next words were anything but acceptance.

     "You misread me, Isildur's Blood." His voice held none of the former respect he had used when speaking with her. "Oros is my captain. I will never captain a ship again. Not in this lifetime. Besides," he glanced at the sea with ill humor, "I will have a better chance of surviving out there than here." Calen stood abruptly, disbelief and disappointment radiating off her in waves.

     "Then you will die, gripped in the arms of the sea and drowning in her waters."

     "Oh, I don't doubt that. I intend to die among the waves, it is merely a matter of when."

     A cold shiver ran down Calen's spine. Somehow, she knew they would see each other again and, when that time came, he would not be at her mercy. Shaking her head, she walked away.

     Morien finished beating Oros, hauling the dwarf up by the collar of his shirt and spitting in his face.

     "I will enjoy tossing you overboard, dwarf."

     Oros said nothing, staring forlornly at the battered mast of his beloved ship, feeling her soothing rock as she crested the growing waves. Her sails flapped, she was speaking, but now he didn't know what she was saying. She belonged to a new master, one that would never listen to her speak. A single tear rolled down his weathered cheek and lost itself in his beard. Morien scoffed.

     "Tears? You are weaker than I thought."

     A strangled grunt escaped Fendwall as he tried to defend his captain's honor. He fell back, dizzy from blood loss.

     "Toss them overboard," Morien said, dragging Oros toward the railing. With a heave and a grunt, he sent their former captain to the sea. Oros fell silently. Everyone on board, except Morien, flinched when he hit the water with a splash of finality. Livian and Calen each took Fendwall by an arm and dragged him over. Before they sent him over, he lifted his head and glared at Morien.

     "I will kill you for this."

     Morien merely laughed. "Adrahil, Qrow, throw Caston and Brandt over." Adrahil's face froze in horror. Qrow likewise stood, too shocked to move. "Come on, move, you lazy sea rats!" Morien's shout served to galvanize them into action. Caston had barely regained consciousness when Qrow seized his arm and began pulling him. With a yelp of surprise, Caston clawed at Qrow's arm.

     "No, stop!" he shouted, realizing what was happening. He got his feet under him and tried to break free, but Morien's hand around his arm stopped him and, before he knew it, Caston was falling through the air toward the dark, hungry sea.

     "Adrahil, please, don't do this, you don't have to."

     Fighting back tears, Adrahil led Brandt toward Morien, who waited with a smile.

     "I don't want to die, Brandt," Adrahil mumbled. Brandt stiffened and drew back. Anger, confusion, and sadness worked in quick succession across his face, but worst of all was the pity in his eyes.

     "I would rather die beside my captain than live alongside someone as fickle as you," Brandt said. They were words meant to cut deep, and they did. The air inside Adrahil's chest tightened. Morien grabbed Brandt and tossed him overboard. Estella was thrown after him. Es shrieked and ran past Morien. He deftly caught her and held the little Hobbit up.

     "Put me down, you filthy, mangy, worm-ridden-"

     She shrieked when suddenly there was nothing but air between her and the sea. Of the crew members who hadn't stood with Morien, only Dahari remained. Morien started toward the elf, but Calen stood in front of him.

     "Morien, wait. He could be of use. Who else would know the sea better than one who has been sailing it for thousands of years." Morien paused, a thoughtful look crossed his face.

     "Well, Sindarin? What say you?"

     "I will take my chances with the sea, Daedhel," Dahari said. He sprang to his feet and dove almost gracefully into the deceptively calm water. Morien's face turned ashen, then livid red.

     "Haul anchor," he commanded. "We make for the port of Mithlond."

****************

Well, I did it. I updated twice in a week. I told you I would have the next chapter out soon. It's not a very long one, but I guess is it part two of the previous chapter so, eh. Next one might also be short. 

As for when the next one will be up... well... I don't know. I won't promise that one will come within a week.