"Haul in the line! What do ye think y'are, flatfooted landwalkers? Haul, boys, haul!"  Oros bellowed his crew as we departed the harbor. It wasn't long before we had sailed out of sight of it, with nothing but the sea surrounding us on all sides. Soon one sailor burst out into song from atop the mast, and several more voices joined in, their clear voices ringing out in the salty sea air:

   What will we do with a drunken sailor?
    What will we do with a drunken sailor?
    What will we do with a drunken sailor?
    Early in the morning

   Way hay and up she rises
    Way hay and up she rises
    Way hay and up she rises
    Early in the morning

   Shave his belly with a rusty razor
    Shave his belly with a rusty razor
    Shave his belly with a rusty razor!
    Early in the morning

   Way hay and up she rises
    Way hay and up she rises
    Way hay and up she rises
    Early in the morning

   Put him in the longboat until he's sober
    Put him in the longboat until he's sober
    Put him in the longboat until he's sober!
    Early in the morning

   Way hay and up she rises
    Way hay and up she rises
    Way hay and up she rises
    Early in the morning

   Throw 'im to the orcs, that'll make him sober
    Throw 'im to the orcs, that'll make him sober
    Throw 'im to the orcs, that'll make him sober!
    Early in the morning

   Despite the silliness of the song itself, the tune fit the mood of the day, and that mood was adventure. Even I was able to escape my thoughts of war and think only of being a pirate, sailing the seas without a care in the world. Perhaps life would have been better that way... But I would never know. It was the curse of being royalty to never lead a common life.

   I noticed that Hadar had joined in the song, along with some of his men. They all seemed at home on a ship, and I guessed that most of them must've been corsairs themselves some time in the past. Nadow's knights seemed almost comically uncomfortable, looking around awkwardly and frowning at the sailors' antics. Pallando was sitting near the rear of the ship, reading a book and seeming to altogether ignore his surroundings. Caledorn was perched atop one of the masts, talking with the sailor who occupied the crow's nest and keeping his keen eyes ahead.

  Taryi must've been belowdecks with the rest of the men, for I did not see her on deck. I had been down there myself earlier, and I had left because it was so crowded. It was clear that even a ship of this size wasn't meant to carry as many men as it was now.

   "So then, princeling, are ye liking the accommodations?" Oros said as he leaned on the rail next to me.

   I turned to look at him. "I must say, you have quite a boat here."

   Oros let out a sound that was something between a growl and a laugh. "A boat??? A blinkin' boat? This is no boat!! It's a ship! And the best one in the Sorrowing Seas at that!"

   "Indeed..." I said, smirking. "Well it's a fine ship then, master dwarf."

   "Five sails, bearing upon us from the west!" Caledorn shouted from the mast.

   Oros peered into the distance, attempting to see them. "Ye must be goin' barmy matey! There aren't any ships out there!"

   "Trust me, if Caledorn says there are, there are," I said, looking toward the horizon myself.

   Oros turned to look at Hadar, who also nodded. "Elf's got eyes like an eagle."

    Oros scratched his head. "Ey pointy ears! Want a spot on my crew?" He shouted up to Caledorn.

   "No. But you might want to turn east, that fleet bears the banner of Mordor."

   "How many did ye say there were, lad?"

   "Five. And the ships are far larger than ours."

   "We can take em!" Oros cried. "Alright ye lubbers! Turn to meet em!"

   "I wouldn't," Caledorn said a moment later. "There are four more coming from the east, with Khandish flags."

   "Agh... Turn north me boys! Set the wind to our sails!" Oros shouted, frantically running from bow to stern. His men hurried to carry out his orders, surprisingly disciplined in their actions.

   "Those are the fleets then... If only we could get them both to come together," I said.

   Pallando hurried over to look at the oncoming fleet. "My power is not in destruction, but perhaps I can at least slow them!"

   Oros frowned at him. "I don't trust ye, greybeard, but if Hadar vouches for ye ye can do whatever sorcery ye find suitable."

  "I trust him," Hadar asserted.

   "Very well then, blast em out of the water! Fry their feet and turn em into sea cows!" Oros said, waving his arms around and grinning madly.

   "Fry... turn into sea cows...? How barbaric, typical of dwarves," Pallando muttered under his breath. "Velenima, Sol sodun!"

   His cry caused a massive wave to rise up behind us, which made its way toward the two converging fleets.

   "It will have diminished by the time it reaches them, I fear..." He said. "But it will cause them to approach more cautiously at the least."

   "Is that all you've got up that wizard sleeve of yers?? A blinkin' wave??" Oros exclaimed.

   "I don't see you doing any better," I quipped.

   "Well yes, but I'm not a wizard!"

   "Storm ahead captain! Looks right nasty!" A sailor yelled down from the crow's nest. Oros hurried to the bow of the ship to get a better look.

   "Lead em into the storm!" He said, getting a devilish look on his face.

   "But captain, that's the Dragon's Teeth! We'll get dashed upon the rocks!"

   "Forget the rocks, that fleet will destroy us anyway!"

   "I agree," I said. "Perhaps they won't follow us in."

   "And if they do they'll die! We at least have a chance of making it through, I've gone through a few times now," Oros said.

   "Then do it! They're gaining on us quickly!" I shouted from where I stood at the back of the ship.

   Oros ran to the wheel, shoving his first mate out of the way. The stocky dwarf turned the wheel with all his might, sending the ship right on course with the storm. I could now clearly see both enemy fleets, and they were quickly closing the gap between us.

   "I thought you said this was the best ship on the sea!" I yelled.

   "It was before you put a thousand men in her belly!" Oros growled, gripping the wheel so tight that it looked as though he'd break it.

   "Can you make her go any fast-" I trailed off, horrified by what was in front of us. Ahead were hundreds of jagged rocks, protruding from the water in a way quite reminiscent of their namesake.

   "That's the Dragon's Teeth?? We're going through that?" I asked, astounded that the dwarf was crazy enough, or stupid enough, to attempt taking the ship through.

   "Aye princey! Right on through! I'll be a dobber if the scum follow us through here!" Oros laughed in a way that made it clear that he was at least half-mad, if not completely.

   The enemy were now close enough that I could see their faces. The Mordor ships were crowded with foul orcs, growling and laughing as they taunted us from a distance. The Khandish ships had lines of disciplined soldiers on the decks, silently waiting to board us.

   "What're ya, so afraid of us that you'd rather die on the Dragon's teeth, tark?" An orc bellowed from the foremost ship.

   "Are ye daft? I'm a dwarf ye bugger!" Oros shouted, letting out another laugh that was quickly silenced by an arrow flying past and narrowly missing him. He suddenly grew serious as we approached the rocks, determined to get through. When the Khandings realized we were seriously attempting it they pulled back, but the orcs continued on, oblivious to the danger.

   "Oh right, Khanding scum! Leave us to do the dirty work! Wouldn't want to inconvenience you!" The captain of the foremost Orc ship yelled, shaking his fist at them.

   Despite having to continue alone, the orcs showed no signs of slowing, and were nearly upon us. Several of them had pulled out their bows, and were now shooting arrows wildly at us. Most flew wide, striking the rocks on either side, but one or two lodged themselves in the side of the ship.

"Submerged rock ahead!" Caledorn cried. Oros turned the ship just in time, narrowly avoiding the jagged rock hidden just under the surface. The orc ship just behind us wasn't as lucky, and the bottom of the ship hit the rock with a loud scraping sound. The orcs began to shout and wail in despair, some flinging themselves off into the water as the ship began to sink.

   "I like this elf!" Oros shouted, resuming his previous demeanor with a loud chuckle. "Ye sure ye don't want ta join the crew lad?"

   Instead of responding, Caledorn pointed ahead. "Sail between those two rocks! Their sails are wider than ours, they won't make it through!"

   As Oros changed course, the storm suddenly came upon us. Rain began to pour down from the heavens, drenching the entire crew and covering the deck. Lightning struck a rock to our left, illuminating the area with white light. I could hear the orcs behind us crying out in fear, at both the storm and their comrades' ship being sunk.

   The two rocks we were approaching loomed large just ahead of us, like the gates of oblivion itself. I could tell that even Oros, as unhinged as he was, was fearful of passing between them. But despite that he continued on, until we were passing through. There seemed to be barely a foot of space between the masts and the rocks, and at one point the largest mast even scraped against them.

  After what seemed like an eternity, we made it through. The entire crew let out a cheer as the stern passed the rocks, barely clearing them. The orcs, on the other hand, weren't so lucky, nor did they have as skilled a captain.

   The leading ship crashed headlong into the side of the left rock, running around on a shallow submerged rock and blocking passage for the other ships. The orcs howled in anger at having lost their prize, but we all let out a cry of triumph at having succeeded.

   "Oi, that was somethin'! We did it!" Oros shouted, thumping me on the back with joy.

   "You're quite the captain!" I replied, grinning at the red-bearded dwarf.

   "I am, aren't I?!" He said, jumping around the deck and laughing hysterically.

   "We are not yet in the clear," Caledorn said as he descended the mast and came to my side. "The storm will not let up for a while, and we have yet to navigate this death trap."

   "With yer eyes, elf, we'll have no trouble at all! Lay anchor, we'll wait for the storm to pass!"

=================================================

    When the storm finally did let up, it was nighttime. A thick fog had descended over us, and it was difficult to see much more than a few yards away from the ship in any direction.

   "You don't plan on traveling through the fog, do you?" I asked Oros, who was sitting by the wheel with a bottle of ale. He laughed slightly, and looked out into the fog.

   "I do. But slowly. We can make it through if we take it a few yards at a time."

   "You're mad!" I exclaimed. It would be utter foolishness to travel in this fog, or so I thought.

   "Aye, that I am! But that's beside the point! Me and me crew are used to fog like this, the sea has a habit of conjuring fog at nighttime. But it isn't the fog you should fear." The dwarf put a finger to his nose and tapped it.

   "What do you mean?" I asked, curious.

  "I'm talking about the devils of the sea... Sirens. They'll call ye to yer death if yer not careful in these waters," He said, standing up and gazing into the fog.

   "Those aren't real... Are they?" I said. I wasn't willing to think they were. I had heard stories, but they sounded far-fetched and not at all convincing. Tales of beautiful women in the water, singing until sailors got close, only to turn into evil beasts and drag the sailors below to a watery grave.

  "Aye, they're real. Nothing like the legends though. 'Taint nothin' beautiful or womanly about em. Monsters they are." The dwarf narrowed his eyes and began to steer, avoiding the rocks but traveling slowly.

   "Best we avoid them then," I replied, turning away and going to the back of the ship. Caledorn sat against the rear mast, staring aimlessly out into the mist.

   "Do you hear them?" He asked.

   "Hear who?"

   "I know not, but an enchanting voice is singing. Singing to us, if I am not mistaken."

   "I don't hear..." I trailed off. For suddenly I too heard it. A fair voice, traveling faintly on the wind. Though it was coming from behind us, it seemed to come closer. Soon I could hear the song clearly, and I began to make out its words:

   Oh lonely sailor, hear my voice,

   I bring safety from the rocks, so rejoice

   Follow my song, and all will be well,

   Or else meet your end in a watery hell,

   Sailor, sailor come to me

   I will shelter you from the sea

   You'll be embraced, by my loving arms,

   While you're with me you'll come to no harm

   So come, sailor, come to me

   And we'll lead you to the depths of the sea

   Listen, listen to the siren's song

   And you will be with me before long

   Fear no waves, or storms, or wind

   And fear not the siren that will take you in

   Follow our voices and all will be well

   Or else meet your end in a watery hell

   Car not caurë i airë

   Tye nira ea varna ya tye as me

   I suddenly felt a desire to do as the voice said, to follow it wherever it would lead me. I barely noticed anyone else around, focusing only on the voice and what it said. I climbed atop the rail, preparing to leap into the water. The voice was surely there, somewhere...

   As I looked I saw a pale hand reach out of the water, and a beautiful woman followed it. She looked familiar somehow... Layala. It was her. Yet different in a way I couldn't describe. She seemed to be beckoning me, calling to me...

   "Khila amin, nia mela," She said, warmly smiling at me.

   "Melinyel," I said, though the voice was not mine. It was disconnected somehow, and it spoke in a tongue that I did not understand. But I understood the feeling behind it. I longed to reach out and take her hand, to follow her. Yet somewhere, in the back of my mind, a voice resisted. It said that something was wrong.

   But that voice soon faded, and I slowly reached down...

   "Kela! Dina raug aear!" A deep voice shouted, followed by a loud boom which pulled me from the illusion almost immediately. I felt an arm wrap itself around my waist, and at the same time what had appeared to be Layala turned into a monstrosity, and its scaly clawed hand gripped my own. I drew my sword and swung, cutting the creature's hand in half and freeing myself. The creature screeched and dove back below the water, disappearing into the murky depths.

   Caledorn pulled me back onto the deck, and we both sat for a moment attempting to catch our breaths.

   "What was that??" I said after a moment.

   "A demon of the sea. I have not seen a creature of that sort in my lifetime, but I know its origins."

   "It wasn't a siren then?" I asked.

   "They may call it that around here, yes. But they are much worse and more evil than the locals make them sound."

   Oros had evidently seen what had happened, and ran quickly to our side.

   "Told ye, sirens are in these waters!" He exclaimed.

   "How long have they been here?" Caledorn asked.

   "As long as I can remember... Wait, no. Perhaps fifty or sixty years past was when reports of them started. When I had just begun to sail," The dwarf said.

   "When Sauron returned," Caledorn murmured. "It makes sense to me now. But it matters not, we're safe now. It shan't return, now that it knows I'm aboard."

   "Why's that?" I asked.

   "I can fight its spells, keep it from doing harm. It would rather find weaker prey I think."

   "Ah. Well I am once more in your debt, friend." I smiled and embraced him. The elf returned the embrace and shook his head.

   "Think nothing of it. I also have a stake in your journey, keeping you safe is my duty," He said. His eyes began to twinkle and the hints of a smile formed at the ends of his mouth. "Just next time, don't listen to singing voices in the water. Good can't come from them."

Notes:

The Siren said "Follow me, my love" in Quenya.

Rukil replied with "I love you," also in Quenya.

Caledorn said "Go away, be silent Sea demon" in Sindarin.