Above the surface a lonely corsair was pacing around tersely on deck of his ship, at times gazing into the depths while biting at his thumb nail. What should he do now? Clearly the push of the waves had been a sign by Osse to not interfere with what was happening down below. But could he just sail away? Leave his master to His fate?
Oh it would have been the perfect opportunity to retrieve his freedom once and for all. But Ji Indur could not. Not only because he had given Sauron his word but also because the pirate did have a certain amount of honor to keep said word. Even if these circumstances were special he knew he would lose face if he just abandoned the dark lord. It would feel cowardly even. Nay, it was not possible.
His head and back were still aching from the impact with the sturdy wood of the railing so the wraith decided he could blame it on this if Osse would approach him with anger for his intrusion. Because, all things considered, there was only one option left for him, was there not?
With a heavy sigh Ji Indur went to drop anchor -hoping it wouldn’t knock out anybody below- before he started to remove some of his clothes until all he was wearing were his breeches and his broad sash, carrying nothing but his kukri even though he felt he should not bring any weapons along at all. But he’d simply claim it’d be to cut Sauron free would he find Him entangled in sea weed or the like.
Signaling to the rowboats to return to the ship he then stepped on the railing, staring into the spray topped waves for an endless moment. Was he afraid? He could not tell but he felt how tense his body was with growing anxiety as to what he’d find once he had reached his goal. In the end he knew he could not prevent to draw the anger of either Maia towards himself as he finally took the dive, leaping into the water and piercing the surface before swimming into the depths…
A second splash, a second ripple of unease; if Ainur were capable of headaches, Ossë believed he would be experiencing one then. First Sauron felt the need to harass him in his home, and then the pirate king proved incapable of understanding blatant orders such as shoving his ship full speed towards the shore. No, instead Ji Indur apparently decided he should refuse the offer of safety and swim out to meet two warring Ainur.
Nowë would never have been such an idiot.
Ossë growled low as he reversed direction and swiftly darted through the waters to meet the pirate in a collision course. It was unlikely he could cause any harm, but with his cousin here as well, he would take no risks. If this was some sort of trick, some sort of trap, he would not give them a chance to enact it. In his chase, he swapped fanar, trading his foreign and frightful deep sea face for his fairer mer-form that mimicked his usual shape.
In a blur, he swept past the corsair and stopped his swimming with a bruising swipe of his tail as it curled around him like a snake ensnaring its prey. “Really?” he hissed, his upper body swaying to rest behind the wraith. “I pushed you away to protect you, and your response is to dive into my home armed with a tiny splinter of a knife? What was your plan, pirate king?” he demanded as his torso floated around to face him, gills flaring along his ribs in anger.
His hair billowed out around him as he narrowed his glowing eyes. “I am insulted at the insinuation that I could be so easily bested. But as I do not know Sauron’s intention with you here, you stay with me,” he warned, releasing the wraith from his grasp. But he was not satisfied with leaving Ji Indur free from his sight and hold, so there was only one thing to do as he continued his tasks…
After their note rang out there was stillness and silence. They looked to one another, to their prisoner, and then craned their heads up towards the surface curiously. No response came, either visible or audible or any other form. The two clicked rapidly back and forth in their throats.
“You will come with us,” the smaller one said, motioning with his trident towards Sauron. “Our lord is expecting you.” Which, he realized then, might not have been the choice of words that his lord would have approved. “Well, he is expecting all of us. He is awaiting your exit,” he hastened to add, and he seemed ready to continue if his partner had not swatted his tentacles with the flat side of her spear in warning.
Together the three swam, the escort keeping their pace steady with their charge, until the light of the surface speckled gently onto their flesh from the surface. Up ahead, moving leisurely against the currents, was the massive form of Ossë. And clutched in one webbed hand was the back of the waistband of Ji Indur, who was effortlessly dragged along beneath the Ainu.
@misbehavingmaiar @ji-indur
………………..
“You–!!” The maia let loose a frustrated dual-pitched chatter that made the Oarni around him wince. “WHAT do you THINK you are DOING?!?” Sauron cut short a strangling gesture and recomposed himself.
“I apologize, Cousin, for the wraith. No doubt Ji was simply being overzealous in his duty to provide me safe passage.” He growled, looking pointedly at the submerged pirate being towed along like a soggy pillow. “I would have informed him that such services were not required, had my means of communication with him not been severely damped by water.”
He dipped his body in deference. “Terror of the Seas, Master of Tides, might you find it within your beneficence to conduct me, and my servant, back to shore where we belong? I would not wish to strain your hospitality, especially, dear Cousin, since I have had a most rewarding and by all accounts unforgettable experience by visiting you…”
Sauron pulsed through the water gracefully, slowing as he came level to Ossë’s eyes. “From my heart, Ošošai… I will remember this occasion until time furls and shuts. I wish that my Master could have seen what I have seen today… Your realm is beautiful beyond measure, and so art thou. Thank you.”
…for the delight in violence has never wholly departed from him, and at times he will rage in his willfulness without any command from Ulmo his lord. Therefore those who dwell by the sea or go up in ships may love him, but they do not trust him.
MisbehavingMaiar: Tumblr Archive 