Kings and Pirates Chapter 3

Sparrow was not having a good day. Not only had he been forced to remove all of his clothes and get into a tub of hot water – something he claimed was unnatural, he was also closely supervised performing a number of menial and arduous tasks. He had cleaned out some stables (before his bath) to give him a taste for what could happen to him if he didn't behave and was then engaged in helping to haul large slabs of stone into place for craftsmen to make repairs to the city walls and buildings.

Now he was again in the company of the elf who he suspected was enjoying his discomfort rather more than was seemly.

"You know matey" Jack remarked "I was paying you a bit of a compliment when we were alone, I didn't think you'd hold it against me."

"I seem to remember you suggesting that as well" Legolas reminded him.

He tossed the man a sword. "Let's see if you can fight or if you are all hot air" the elf challenged.

Jack held the sword between his thumb and forefinger as if it was some sort of poisonous snake.

"You do know how to use a sword don't you? Legolas asked

"Of course I do, I hold on to the blunt bit and the pointy bit goes into the enemy right?"

Legolas sighed.

"Let's start with a few basic moves"

"Lead on mate!" Jack acknowledged.

After spending some time showing Jack how to hold the weapon, Legolas took a seemingly reluctant Jack through a few parries.

Sparrow danced around waving the sword about until he had his back to the door then he suddenly lunged and sent the elf's sword flying to the other end of the room. As Legolas went to retrieve it Jack headed out of the door at full pelt only to reverse slowly back into the room at axe point. Gimli had been stationed outside in case the prisoner tried something of the sort.

"Not a good move Laddie" Gimli said reprovingly.

"Thought you were on my side" Jack muttered.

"If I weren't, you wouldn't be standing there with all your body parts intact" the dwarf informed him cheerfully.

"Enough!" Legolas snapped, "Defend yourself."

He lunged at Jack forcing the pirate to use his sword properly. The fight went on for about half an hour till Legolas knocked the sword from Jack's hand and pressed his blade against the captain's throat.

"Do you concede?"

"Whatever you say mate" Jack acknowledged.

"Well now that that's settled Gimli harrumphed "Are we going for a drink?"

"Great idea!" Jack enthused.

"He didn't mean you" Legolas explained coldly.

Sparrow turned to Gimli with his best pleading expression.

"Have a heart mate, I might die on our little trip and I would hate to go to me grave a sober man."

"Oh let the laddie come along" Gimli pleaded, he was still feeling rather guilty at his failure to speak up for Jack at his trial.

"Very well." Legolas nodded, had Gimli looked closer he might have seen the wicked gleam in his friend's eye.

Much to Jack's disappointment the tavern was not down at the docks, but then he could hardly expect his escape plans to go that smoothly.

The next few hours went well and enjoyably enough particularly when Jack won some money at gaming dice after borrowing his stake from Gimli. Sparrow insisted on buying his two "mates" large quantities of a strong local brew of fortified wine which seemed to be the closest they had to rum in these parts.

Gimli and Jack were getting more and more intoxicated as the night wore on. When the dwarf slumped into a drunken slumber and began snoring loudly, Jack turned his attention to the elf.

"All the more for us then eh?" Jack slurred, filling up the glasses yet again

When Sparrow awoke the next morning he had the mother and father of all hangovers. It took him quite a while to work out where he was, (back in the cells) and how he got there, (still couldn't remember).

Someone had thoughtfully placed an extra bucket in his cell in addition to the one that was necessary for hygienic reasons. There was also a large pitcher of water. Jack made use of both buckets before rinsing his mouth with some of the water. He then realised he was being watched.

"Feeling better?" Legolas enquired, wrinkling his perfect nose slightly at the stench.

Legolas looked as fresh as a daisy and Jack vaguely recalled being elf-handled back to the cells by his drinking companion who seemed totally unaffected by alcohol.

"You wouldn't have some hair of dog about your person would you?" Jack enquired.

Legolas looked thoroughly confused.

"Why would I have dog's hair?" He inquired.

The captain rolled his eyes heavenwards in despair, this lad seemed even more innocent than young Will Turner.

"Rum, Brandy, Grog – strong drink of any description Savvy?"

"That's what made you ill in the first place!"

"But it also makes you better as well, a little more cancels out the effects so to speak."

"You would be better off eating something"

"Oh so you're a doctor now are you?"

"No but I thought…"

"Look Lad," Jack interrupted, "don't try to think, it overheats your brain, just find me some rum."

"No!"

"Why, 'no'?"

"You didn't say please." Legolas said petulantly before stalking off.