PROLOGUE
Shadows crept over the forgotten ruins of Dol Guldur. They sneaked between patches of dead fog, snaked and slithered in the darkness.
"The patrol is dead, master."
An orkish voice rose among shapeless wraiths and broken walls. Darkness solidified. Anger flashed in the heart of Amon Lanc.
The shadow spoke.
"All of them?"
"Yes, master."
Whispers weaved in the dark. Wraiths passed through the fog. The ork waited for an answer.
"We can not defeat the elven king" the shadow spoke. "The forest is his domain. We can not wrestle it by force."
"What shall we do then?" whispered the Darkness. "Thranduil is not a foolish human. None of our spies will be able to gull him."
The ork waited patiently. The wights fell silent. Listening.
"He must die." the Darkness continued. "But none can approach the king. He is too well protected and never ventures into our lands."
"No" said the Shadow. "Death of the king will accomplish nothing. His heir will take the throne."
"Then we shall kill him as well."
"They will elect a new king. No. That is not the way."
Whispers rose again. The wights of Amon Lanc grew anxious.
The ork waited.
The shadow spoke again.
"We do not require the death of Thranduil. Neither do we need a spy. We must plant a seed in the house of the king. A weed that will suck the lifeblood from the very heart of the Forest Realm; wound it deeper than our blades ever can. We need a traitor that will wrestle the crown from Thranduil."
"They will overthrow him, as you said" stated the Darkness. "Elves do not kill their kings."
"No. That is why the traitor will use deception."
"And kill the heir?"
A cold laughter filled the halls of Dol Guldur.
"Wrong again. The heir shall be the traitor."
"How?" the Darkness whispered in astonishment. "It is true we can reach him; he joins his guard in hunting our servants often enough, but he is still an elf. Elves do not betray their rulers."
The wraiths fell silent. The fog laid still. Orkish lips parted in a wide, vicious smile. The shadow spoke.
"Then let us make him be no longer an elf."