The Caribbean meets Middle Earth.

[Jack Sparrow]

Jack slowed his pace, but didn't stop until Cara grabbed his hand and questioned him about the ring.

"I found it in a cave in a place called Isle DeMurta......" He said flatly. "I don't know anything else....and if you think I'm going to prance off into the forest with a load of people I don't know then you've got a big surprise coming lass..." He frowned, then calmly removed his hand from her grasp.

"If you want this so badly though...then take it...." He pulled the ring off his finger and gave it to her. "I don't suppose it'll help me get back home anyway...." He frowned visibly and looked at her. "Well go on....go give it to the other pixies...or that overly fidgety twin of my friend Will......."

[Arayel Montclaire]

Cara looked down at the ring as he shoved it into her hand, then back up at him. All she had to do was give it to one of the fellowship and she'd be free. Suddenly she dropped the ring at her feet and shook her head. "No. No I won't take it, I won't give it to the others. You found it and it is your responsability." Her eyes took an angry turn. "You can't just leave me to clean up your mess. I refuse to. I will speak with Elrond, or gandalf. If my accompanyment is so intolerable then I shall find you another escort." She was near to tears again, though she had no clue why really, If the silly mortal wanted to go traipsing middle earth on his own let him. She had a duty and responsablity to Rivendell. that is all but dsestroyed now. she thought to herself. Shaking her head slightly she turned and strode away purposefully calling back over her shoulder. "If the nine take wind of this and their master should become interested in it, no power in middle earth will save you mortal." She said the last word bitingly as she stalked away from him.

[Emma Hawkins/Rick MacKinnon]

Jack stared at the retreating Elf."The nine?" he repeated,to himself.He didn't at all like the way that she had said that.It sounded...dark.Suspicious.He wondered who these "nine" were that she was talking about.After a few moment, he sighed,and followed her.

Cara ignored the sound of the man's footsteps.Let him follow her if he would.It didn't matter.Of course,it was all his fault...his fault for being here,his fault for having the stupid ring in the first place.She entered the citadel,determined not to talk to the himan.

[Captain Morgan Barbossa]

::Barbossa gulped hard as the door slammed behind him. He looked around, but he couldn’t see anything in the darkness. Suddenly, a row of torches along each wall flickered to life, and traveled up a steep, spiraling stairwell, disappearing as they stretched toward the top of the tower. Barbossa had no other choice. He began to climb::

::Finally, he came to a small, rickety black door, seemingly out of place in this strange, almost magical, world. He tightened his grip on his pistol, and took a deep breath. He didn’t know what to expect once he was on the other side. After a moment’s hesitation, he kicked open the unlocked door, and his jaw dropped::

::He had seen many disturbing things in his life. Hell, he’d even been an undead skeleton! But what greeted him in the small, candle-lit room was, well, shocking even to him. A man, or at least what was left of one, sat at a book-covered desk, bent over an open volume. His ragged robes draped over his thin frame, revealing only a small part of the pale, decaying skin on his neck and head. He didn’t move once the whole time Barbossa stood there watching him, and the Captain immediately assumed he was dead. He certainly looked the part::

::Barbossa walked cautiously toward the lifeless body, and reached out to touch its shoulder. Suddenly, an arm lashed out and caught his wrist in a death-lock, refusing to let go. Barbossa was paralyzed to the spot, unable to reach for his pistol. Slowly, the skeleton-like man turned his head, and stared straight into the eyes of the Captain::

::His dark eyes seemed to bore holes into Barbossa’s soul. He struggled to get away, but this man was extremely strong despite his appearance. When he spoke, his voice was deep, but eerily distant:: “You are not the White Wizard.”

::Barbossa stopped fighting and raised an eyebrow:: “The white what?! Sorry, ye got the wrong pirate, mate. I ne’er heard o’ a ship with a name like that...”

::The man’s lip curved slightly, in what could once have been considered a smile:: “Then how did you get here? Judging by your appearance, I would have to guess you were a mortal human....am I not right?”

“Yer...yer kiddin’, right? I mean, what else could I be?”

::Once again, the man smiled. Then he released Barbossa’s wrist, and stood up. His black cloak fell to the floor around his feet, completely hiding the decaying body underneath. He turned his skull-like face to Barbossa:: “Of course. However, you did not answer my first question. How did you get here? And how was it you were able to slay one of the Dark Lord’s orcs so easily? If you are not a wizard, then how is it you possess such power?”

::Barbossa knew of nothing else to do, so he simply pulled out his pistol and held it out for the man to see. To his surprise, the man seemed completely fascinated by it, as though he had never seen one before. After Barbossa somewhat reluctantly explained how it worked, the man’s eyes seemed alight with a new fire. He silently moved to the window, and faced a huge fortress in the side of the nearby mountain. He closed his eyes, and did not speak for a long while::

::Barbossa was just about to crack open the door when the man turned back around:: “We believe you may be very useful to us...if you are willing, of course...” ::He said the last part with such a dark tone that Barbossa had no other choice but to nod his head in silent agreement. He sat on the floor by his escape route waiting rather impatiently for another chance to get out of there::

“Good then. We would like you to show us more of your...designs. We find them quite interesting...”

::Barbossa shifeted uncomfortably on the hard floor, and looked around the room for a moment:: “Erm, we?”

::The man gave a hacking laugh, and gestured to a second chair at the table:: “Come...have a seat. We have much to discuss....”

[Arayel Montclaire]

Cara continued walking, she could still hear Jack following behind her. Good, let him follow for a change She thought to herself. Hopefully he had had enough sense to pick up the ring before taking off after her. Magic rings of any sort were best not left unguarded. She sighed as she entered the citadelShe was fairly certain she would not be welcome back to Rivvy should she survive this expedition. A voice broke through her thoughts, though not at all the vioce she had expected.

"M'lady." She looked up to see the visitor from Gondor.

"Lord Boromir." She nodded perfunctorily, there was something about this man she didn't trust. Though she couldn't exactly peg what it was. Just a vauge feeling actually. A shadow grows on my mind concerning that one My Lord. She had told Elrond when he arrived. Only to be passed off as being foolish, and overly cautious.

"I hear you shall be accompanying us?" He said stepping forward, close to her.

"Such are my orders." She said stepping back slightly while trying not to appear rude.

"I look forward to having such a charming travel companon as yourself." He stepped forward again.

"Is that so Lord?" Another step back, this one not quite so hesitant.

"Yes M'lady, it is indeed." Yet another step in her direction, would the man not comprehend her desire for space.

"I thank you kindly Lord Boromir." She said quickly. "but I have some last minute details to attend to. She turned hastily, intent on bidding a hasty retreat. The man unnerved her. There was no real explanation as to why, but she had always prided herself on being a good judge of character before. A soon as she turned and took one step, she ran full force into Jack, nearly knocking herself to the ground had he not steadied her. She looked up at him puzzledly, as if not realizing what had just happened and blinked owlishly at him, though she made no move to step away.

"M'lady, do you wish me to deal with the miscreant." Boromir said curtly. She cinged in a manner that spoke plainly as to her dislike of him as he spoke.

"No, that will not be necesssary, and he is not a miscreant." She snapped suddenly defensive. She still made no sign of moving away. She looked up once more at Jack, wondering if he had caught on to the unease she felt towards the other human.

[Emma Hawkins/Rick MacKinnon]

Jack was somewhat baffled.It was obvious that Cara harbored a certain distrust towards this new man,who,unlike all of the others so far,appeared to be a normal human.He did not look like a bad person,and yet somehow did not appear entirely trustworthy.Like many people Jack knew.He smiled at the man winningly,to no effect.With a slight shrug,he dismissed him as being boring but harmless.

What truly surprised him was when Cara spoke up in his defense.She must really hate this Boromir fellow...For some reason,he felt as if he ought to do something.Again,he smiled at this new arrival."Hello," he said."Pleasure to meet you,I'm sure.The name's Sparrow...Captain Jack Sparrow."

[Arayel Montclaire]

Cara relaxed somewhat when it became apparent Jack wasn't just going to walk off and leave her here. She doubted he would fully understand her behavior towards Boromir, but how did one explain dislliking someone based on a felling. Though Elvish intuition was often more than simple feelings. It wasn't even anything Boromir had done while in Rivendell. It was more a dreading of something he would do in a futrure date. She shook her head slightly trying to clear it of such thoughts. Sometimes elven foresight was more of a bother than it was worth. Especially when it chose to be vauge, such as now. She sighed heavily as Jack introduced himself and watched as Boromir nodded. Almost as if the Jack were beneath him. She narrowed her eyes but didn't say anything. bloody father's a steward and he acts as though he's the future King of Gondor. Well we elves know better than that at least. Her mind reeled.

"Boromir, of Gondor Mr Sparrow." Boromir said in return.

"It's Captain Sparrow." Cara said, even before Jack got the chance to. She could see Jack shift a surprised glance towards her but she made no sign of movement whatsoever. Boromir merely shrugged.

"Captain Sparrow then." He said bowing ever so slightly. "It was a pleasure speaking with you m'lady." He said to Cara. "If the two of you will excuse me..." With that he walked off. Cara kept a wary eye on him, and it was then she noticed his glance towards the halfling Frodo.

"He eyes the Ringbearer..." She said quietly, then spoke more loudly. "I feel I may have needs watch that one around the periannath..." She remembered then that Jack was behind her and turned to glare at him. "I'm still upset with you..." She said tartly, holding her head high, and squaring her shoulders, before turning and walking back to where Duinorwen was. Happily noting that Will, Elizabeth, and Commodore Norrington were at least managing to stay in one place. She seemed somewhat relaxed as she leaned up against the tree. "I trust they have behaved themselves at least?" Cara asked Duin. When she nodded nonchalantly Cara turned to Aragorn. "Lord Aragorn when dost thou believe we shall be ready to make way?

[Emma Hawkins/Rick MacKinnon]

Duinorwen smiled as Cara came back,noting that her friend seemed to be slightly ill tempered."Yes...these three don't seem to be troublemakers like that Sparrow man," she said,smirking slightly at Jack."Though the white-haired one keeps talking about this 'British Royal Navy' thing..."she shook her head at Norrington,then looked to Aragorn as Cara asked him a question.

The Ranger thought for a moment before answering."I cannot speak for the rest of the Fellowship,but I should think that we shall be ready for departure within a day."(Note:I know that it was several weeks before the Fellowship departed in the books,but I have a feeling we don't all want to hang around here that long.)

The humans seemed to be trying to think of a way to phrase a question,all but Jack,who didn't seem to care.Finally,Will spoke."Listen...please excuse us,but I'm afraid we don't know where we are...besides that it's called Rivendell,and is somewhere in a place called Middle-Earth...And now we're going to go somewhere else so soon?Could someone please explqin what's going on?"

[Captain Morgan Barbossa]

::Barbossa sat completely still in the uncomfortable chair, never taking his gaze from the skeleton-man's face as he spoke. He listened to his incredible tale without so much as blinking. When it was over, he was speechless for a few moments. Finally, he composed himself enough to talk::

"Lemme get this straight, mate....this 'Dark Lord' ye mentioned....is lookin' fer a...ring?"

"Not just a ring, my friend. THE Ring. The Ring with the power to enslave every being on Middle-Earth. The Ring He created thousands of years ago, but lost. The Ring that YOU are going to help us find."

::Barbossa eyed the man suspiciously, not sure whether to believe him or not. Personally, he thought the man had lost a few too many brain cells over the years. He was nuttier than Jack Sparrow! But he decided to play along, hoping that he could somehow discover a way back home::

"...An 'ow exactly am I supposed ta find this ring?"

::The man smiled:: "We've arranged for you to have....a tracker. Someone who knows his way around..and who knows exactly what we're looking for. He can find it for us, but we need you to get it."

"Aye, and where be this tracker o' yers?"

"He's right outside....why don't you go down and see for yourself?"

::Barbossa cast another suspicious glance at the man before making for the door. Suddenly, the man stopped him:: "I just realized, friend, that I have not learned your name." ::He flashed a broad grin, showing off his teeth...or lack thereof::

"Oh...er, Barbossa. Cap'n Barbossa. And ye?"

"I am simply known as the Mouth...." ::Barbossa raised an eyebrow, but didn't comment:: "I wish you luck, Captain. We're counting on you."

::Without another word, Barbossa closed the door and bolted down the stairs. As soon as he left the room, he began to feel as if a dark shadow had been lifted from him, and he even smiled a little. Then he stepped outside::

"AHHH!! What in the name o' Davy Jones is THAT? ! ?" ::He cried. Standing - or rather sitting - before him on the ground was a pale, boney, green-skinned little man, rocking back and forth on his heels. He had huge pale eyes that were constantly searching around for danger. His lip was quivering, and it was obvious that he was terrified::

::When he saw the Captain step out of the tower, he immediately cowered before him. Despite his ugly appearance, Barbossa was tempted to pity him, before he remembered he was a heartless evil pirate::

"Who, 'r WHAT, are ye?!" ::He demanded the wretched creature::

"D-d-don't hurt...p-poor Smeagol!"

"Ugh! ...YOU'RE my guide?!"

"Y-y-yesss...! P-please! D-don't - "

::Barbossa buried his face in his hand:: "I won't 'urt ye... Just...just try not ta get in me way..."

::Suddenly, JackMonkey scampered out of the fog and jumped onto Barbossa's shoulder. She hugged her master's face, but when she saw Gollum cowering on the ground, she hissed at him, and bared her teeth. Frightened, he jumped to his feet, and began running, with Barbossa trying hard to keep up::

[Jack Sparrow]

Jack just sort of watched, amused, but not entirely interested in all of what was going on. He spun the ring he'd picked up again and placed it around a leather cord on his neck. He didn't really like this Boromir character......seemed almost like Norrington on his most pompusly arrogant days. He frowned and listened a while.

"So....who says we're going on this little trip? Unless it leads to the sea I'm having no part in it...just want to comandeer a ship and sail home......much as I hate the British Navy I'd rather have a good battle with them then run errands for a pixie army....."

Jack turned and looked at Will and Elizabeth. "Yer welcome to come with me or with the Lady Cara here.......and her little party.....and Norrington seems ready to go home...you decide...but I'm getting out of here..." Jack's stubborness ran over and refusing to take orders from anyone...stomped off, heading off to find someone who was in charge of this mess. Who he found was Gandalf.....

[Arayel Montclaire]

Gandalf looked at this overly stubborn specimen of a human for a while before Saying softly. "You do realize you are nowhere near your home, Jack was it?" At Jack's nod he continued. "That ring you found. It is a ring of power. I suspect by it's similarities to the one it was a sort of trial effort by the dark Lord. His first attempt if you will. While nowhere near as powerful as the one, still potentialy dangerous. How it ended up in your realm is beyond me. But you must resign yourself to the fact that The Carribean that you keep reffering to does not exist in our world.... Should the Dark Lord catch wind of this ring of yours there is a possibilty he could combine it's power with that of the one. That would be a devastating thing for our world. Darkness would reign supreme and all that was good would quickly die under his dominion. I'm afraid your only hope of getting back to your World, is to destroy that which brought you here in the first place. And if this truly was the handiwork of the deciever, then the only place you can do that is where it and it's mate were made...." Gandalf looked to Jack quietly waiting for what he had said to register.

[Emma Hawkins/Rick MacKinnon]

It didn't seem to register at all,perhaps because Jack was still feeling the effects of some rum that he'd had before being flung into another world.He looked up at the old man,then gave a short,disbelieving laugh."What do you mean,there's no Carribean?I was there not an hour ago,before your pointy-eared friend over there started shoving me around!"

Gandalf shook his head wearily."This is not the world you have known,Jack.I am afraid that you shall have to get used to this...and you may as well forget your foolish plan to...commandeer...a ship,we're hundreds of miles from any such place."

[Captain Morgan Barbossa]

::The land beyond the mountains was just as bare and desolate as within. It was as though the life had been sucked right out of the earth, and a grim, depressing mood had been lain over it::

::Barbossa, having become bored with the montonous scenery, had begun contemplating a way out of this mess. He was lost in thought, when he suddenly tripped over something in his path, and fell face-first onto the sandy road. He jumped up, and spit the sand out of his mouth before he looked down at what he had tripped over::

::Gollum, the pitious creature that had been selected as his tracker, was down on all fours, scanning the sky nervously::

"What are ye doin'?! Ye can' just stop infront o' people like that! Don' ye kn - "

"Shhh! Lisssten!"

::Barbossa glared down at the creature, and was about to say something back, when he heard it too. A shrill, ear shattering scream ripped through the air, followed by a second, and a third. Whatever it was, it was close::

::Gollum threw himself to the ground, shrieking like a wounded animal, and JackMonkey clung to Barbossa's shoulder in fear. The Captain didn't know what to do, so he grabbed Gollum by the arm and dragged him behind a nearby boulder. He put his hand over Gollum's mouth to stop him from making noise, then cautiously peered over the top of the rock::

::Soaring high above them were three emmense, black birds, carrying cloaked riders on their backs. They were circling in the air like vultures searching for prey. Barbossa watched them with great interest, but Gollum suddenly tugged on his sleeve::

"We mussst go! We cannot stay here! Not safe!"

"What ARE these things...?"

"Black Ridersss....always following me, yes Preciousss...they want to take me back!"

::He resumed his shrieking, and Barbossa had to wrestle him to the ground before he was silent again. After a few moments, the Riders passed, and it was once again safe to step out into the open. They watched the black shapes fade into the distance, and Barbossa cursed under his breath::

"Bloody snake....he doesn' trust me ta keep me word. Not that he don' 'ave good reason, but....Arg, he'll regret the day 'e double-crossed Captain Barbossa!"

::JackMonkey screeched in agreement, causing Gollum to cringe. Barbossa looked down at him, and thought outloud for a moment::

"No sense in goin' back now. I don' 'ave enough bullets fer all those monsters. No, I'd need somethin' powerful ta use against 'em....somethin' that would make 'em fear me. Somethin' like...."

::He looked down at Gollum, who was gazing up at him quizically. After a moment, he understood, and his confusion quickly changed to anger::

"No! Not Preciousss! You're a bad, tricksey man! I won't help you."

::Barbossa grabbed Gollum by the arm and lifted him off the ground. He spoke slowly and dangerously, causing the poor creature to wince:: "Yes, ye will, unless ye want ta taste the barrel o' me pistol. I be in charge 'ere, and ye're gonna do what I say, er else. Got it?"

::Gollum could only nod his head in a nervous agreement. Barbossa set him back down not to gently, and kicked him forward. Muttering under his breath, Gollum inched forward, heading straight for Minas Tirith::

[Jack Sparrow]

Jack frowned, staring at Gandalf. finally he nodded.

"I'll go along with this whole little thing if you help me get home after this mess of a is saved, or whatever it is you plan to do...." he sat himself down in front of Gandalf, surveying the area with a mild interest.

"What are you anyway?" He asked. "You're not human...."

"I am a wizard..." Gandalf said plainly. Jack frowned again, not really willing yet to belive it. "And so those midgets and pixies...."

"Hobbits and elves..." Gandalf corrected.

"are real to?" Jack said going on as if he'd not heard him.

"They are." the pirate's eyes flickered a bit, but he was willing to listen.

"Right then....so...explain to me...where are we?"

[Captain Morgan Barbossa]

(Evil plan unfurling....bear with me on this one, k?)

::Barbossa gazed over the ridge at the huge city before them in the mountainside. Seven thick walls surrounded a tall white tower in the center::

"I know this place..." ::Gollum said softly:: "Many men here. Enemies of the Eye.... We should not be here."

"Grr, d'ye ever say anythin' helpful?? Look, we need supplies, right? Maybe we can get some 'ere. A town this size is bound ta have some food!"

::Before Gollum could protest, Barbossa swooped JackMonkey on to his shoulder and started walking toward the city gate. Gollum glanced around nervously, but had no other choice but to follow the pirate::

~~

::Beregond nervously climbed the stairs to the throne room, wishing this task had not been assigned to him. His Lord had been quite irratable of late, and the last he wanted to do was bring him this strange news::

::He reached the door, and nodded to one of the guards there. Then he took a deep breath, and walked in::

"What do you want now?" ::The Steward spat out::

"My Lord, there is an outsider demanding to see you at the Gate."

"What is his name? Have you ever seen him before?" ::Denethor seemed rather uninterested, and never turned his eyes from the window he was staring out of::

"He will not give his name, and none of the people know who he is." ::He cleared his throat nervously before continuing:: "....What's more, my Lord - he has this creature with him. It appears to be the same one our scouts have seen crossing the Marshes to the north...travelling to Mordor."

::At this, Denethor whipped around, a strange fire in his eyes:: "Get me my sword! Bring this man here to me! ...But hold the creature prisoner in the dungeons. He will not be so quick to decieve me if we have his companion in our net...."

::Beregond bowed before his lord, and rushed from the room, giving orders to the guards as he passed::

~~

"What be takin' so long in there?!" ::Barbossa yelled up to the top of the outermost wall. He was growing impatient with these people. All he wanted was to speak to their King about finding a way back to the Caribbean!::

"We apologize for your wait." ::Came a voice in response:: "You may enter now."

::The giant doors began to open, and Barbossa stolled into the city, Gollum crawling behind at his heels::