DRIFTWOOD

DRIFTWOOD

BY

JOXIE


Title : Driftwood

Author : Joxie

Pairing : Thranduil/Will, Legolas/Elrond, Aze/Arwen

Rating : NC17 Swearing AU

Authors Notes : LOTR/POTC Crossover, third story in the Sparks Universe follows ASFU and PTTL

Summary : A stranger in a strange land can he help a fading King and what of the Kings family?

Feedback : Yes please, please be tactful and patient.

Disclaimer : Complete Cobblers I Own Nothing!


CHAPTER FOUR

This Earth was quite similar to his original time period, Will couldn’t help thinking. All travel was either by foot, horse or ship. The taverns and smithies were the same as were the social classes, even if the races were so different.

It was the races that took his interest Dwarves, Hobbits and Elves. The Elves were so skinny it looked as if a good feed would kill them. The few Hobbits they met on the road were friendly and cooked wonderful food. The Dwarves were curt and tough.

They all had there own languages but also spoke a common tongue as well. Which to Will’s relief was English in all but name.

He couldn’t help wondering how they all would fare in the era he had just come from, where metal birds flew in the sky and diving ships carried death in there bellies. Man stilll trying his best to destroy instead of create.

Gandalf was a good travel companion; he knew when to talk and when to be silent. His eyes saw everything and Will was sure the old man hid many a secret. They slept mainly in the open the nights were pleasant and warm so it was no hard ship. When Will could not sleep they would talk into the night.

Gandalf had asked what became of Jones, so Will had told him the short version of how he became captain of The Flying Dutchman. Skating over the betrayal of Elizabeth and when it came to Jack he claimed, “I chose the wrong one” and left it at that.

Will was not at all surprised Gandalf knew of his world and it was a comfort to him. The tales did say Merlin could travel not only into the future but also the past. So why shouldn’t he also visit other worlds and be known by other names as well.

Middle of the third week a troop of blonde elfin warriors came upon them, “Mithrandir, we have searched far and wide for you. Our King is fading, we beg your help.” Its captain beseeched.

“How has he come to this?” Snapped the wizard.

“His consort Aranel is in the Valar’s keeping” the captain told him.

“Explain, captain?” Gandalf demanded.

“Erusen” he quickly identified himself before going on, “The consort was kidnaped eight months ago, week before last his body was found dumped in the palace courtyard.” Erusen waited for a reaction.

“Aranel’s kidnap was kept quiet in the hope of making it easier to track him down.” Gandalf commented at last.

“It worked when Prince Legolas went missing only this time no trace could be found. Our King nearly drove himself to madness looking for his mate and now he fades it is terrible to see.” Captain Erusen waited once again.

“I will do what I can good captain take us to your King.” Gandalf looked old and weary.

Will said nothing filing away that these elves knew the wizard by yet another name. The warriors barely took notice of him, just glad that the Mithrandir had consented and would see there King.

After two days in the company of the warrior troop Will was sick of being ignored by the skinny ones. What got to him most was the way they would speak elfish whenever he was near them. Making it clear he was not trusted and they had no wish to interact with him if possible.

That evening as he sat by the fire with Gandalf he asked, “Are all elves this ill mannered?”

“They are the dominate race of this world and this has made them arrogant. A position of power does this and no not all are rude have you forgotten Cirdan?” The wizard puffed on his pipe.

“The exception to the rule maybe” grunted Will.

“Wait a little longer before you judge them so harshly” advised Gandalf.

Will changed the subject, “This King why is he so important?”

“Thranduil is a good King and his people love him. Elves are not supposed to die the Lord and Lady made them that way.” Gandalf told him patiently.

“Really, immortal” Will was interested “Won’t the resources of this world be depleted by them eventually?”

“Elves are usually slow to breed and immortality does not mean that they cannot die. Violence, grief, lack of sunlight and child birth can all take them from Middle Earth.” Gandalf took a deep draw on his pipe.

“So they are immortal as long as nothing happens to them” Will cocked an eyebrow.

“That is one way of looking at it” Gandalf replied.

“Whatever happens to me I always heal” Will confessed.

“You to have your weakness Dutchman” Gandalf commented softly.

“First you have to find it and then be fool enough to take the consequences” declared Will.

“Do you want to die?” The wizard was curious.

“Sometimes, I am tired” Will said truthfully.

“Maybe that is why you are here” Gandalf concluded.

“Capricious whim is more likely” was Will’s opinion.

“Why do you speak of her so?” There was reproof in the wizard’s voice.

“She and I have an understanding; after all I am her loyal and obedient servant.” Will told him with a completely straight face.

“As you were always meant to be” Gandalf rose from the ground and left Will looking into the heart of the fire.

A short distance away Gandalf found captain Erusen he smiled warmly, “Captain it is ill mannered to eavesdrop.”

The captain ignored this and asked, “Is he like you Mithrandir?”

“No he is an oddity and a guest in this land” there was mild rebuke in the wizard’s tone.

Erusen nodded, “If you say so Mithrandir.”

Early the next morning while the camp was still at rest. Will removed his shirt and began washing himself down. When a fine boned hand touched his shoulder, he spun around only just pulling his punch in time.

Captain Erusen didn’t even flinch, “Apologies I didn’t mean to startle you, I only wished to ask about the whip scars.”

“A pirate, talented wasn’t he?” Will continued washing.

“You are a warrior and carry them with honour” Erusen reasoned to his own satisfaction.

“Something like that” Will began to shave.

“You are unlike any man I have ever met” Erusen informed him.

“And you have met so many?” Will asked.

“Enough to know you are a different breed to them.” The captain asserted.

After shaving Will dried himself off on his spare shirt. Then put everything back into his pack and dressed. He noticed the camp was now fully awake and getting ready to move on. It seemed they would eat mid morning as usual which was fine by him.

Will went to join Gandalf setting his mind and strength to the day ahead.