A/N: There are now links on my profile to my Facebook and Twitter where you can keep up to date on my novel =)

Christoph sat alone in the Lion's Den, Denethor was having dinner with Boromir, the Captain of Gondor desperately had been trying to maintain a strained relationship with his father. Ternyo was with some of the other knights sharing a drink in the soldier's tavern on the fourth level. The lord was not surprised to see three Rangers enter the tavern on this quiet night, it was becoming common for a few of the Dunedain to come in after their duties and enjoy a drink.

Christoph, Denethor and Ternyo had all been eaves dropping on them for weeks but could discover nothing from them, they just refused to speak of the King or their duties. When they did talk, they spoke of home or held the other patrons captive as they retold great tales from the North. Tonight though the tavern was all but empty save for seven other patrons scattered through out, it startled Christoph when one of the Ranger's spoke in a low disgruntled voice.

"I swear if I have to spend one more month in this city I will kill the King myself and be done with it," the first growled, "The Steward and the Captain have found nothing and neither has Halbarad who has been skulking around Minas Tirith since we arrived. I do not even think they are trying to find the culprit anymore. Aragorn is quite content to keep us as his guards for the rest of his days."

"Now, now, Thaion," the second scolded lightly, "You should not speak so lowly of Aragorn. Have you already forgotten his great victory on Pelennor fields and at the Black Gate."

"Harno," Thaion shook his head, "You can not give him all the credit for those victories. Rohan kept the forces at bay before he arrived on the fields. And the Black Gate was a victory because the Hobbit destroyed the ring. Aragorn merely played decoy. Aragorn is a good leader in many respects, but he is no god."

The third Ranger nodded in agreement, "I love our Lord, do not mistake me, but I think he belongs with us in the North. Not in this city of stone. This world of politics and treachery."

Harno nodded, "All the same the people adore him."

"The people do not wait on him hand and foot," Thaion pointed out coldly, "It was not too long ago that Aragorn would not have feared the assassin's blade, now he cowers behind us. Our chieftain is not the man he was."

The Third Ranger, Tryston bowed his head, "There I must agree with you. He has lost his nerve of late. Oh what the Lord Elrond would say, to see a man he thinks of as a son, the husband of his daughter…" he took a deep drink from his tankard, he shook his head, "Come, come, I do not wish to speak of this anymore," the conversation quickly turned in other directions.

Nearby Christoph had been unable to believe what he had heard, surely the Rangers had not spoken so treacherously of the King? Surely the Dunedain may not yet prove to be allies to them. The Dunedain had appeared as such a threat when they arrived but now they looked as if they may be the greatest allies of this rebellion.

Unable to contain himself Christoph sort out Denethor the very next day and in a hushed voice told him everything while they stood together watching people pass back and forward on the Sixth level of the city.

"You are sure of this?" Denethor asked softly, "Are you certain that you heard them correctly?"

"Every word," Christoph said, "They are not content with being kept in the city and Aragorn's behaviour is starting to frustrate them. If we leave them perhaps they will do the work for us or we can always recruit them…"

"Recruiting them at this time may be too risky," Denethor said shaking his head, "We will see what happens at this time. They may do the work for us as you hope or they may have merely had a bad day," his dark eyes however were alight with hope at the thought of Aragorn dying on the blade of one of his most trusted men.

However, Denethor was proven wrong when two days later the same three Rangers sat once again in the tavern complaining in hushed voices about their liege who was growing more paranoid by the day. This happened several times over the following weeks the Dunedain getting more and more frustrated with the situation as it went on. Faramir and Boromir were working hard to find the traitors but to no avail, everyone appeared loyal to the new King. Although in times like these that was the wisest move as all feared what the King would do to those who had attempted to kill his wife and unborn child.

It was November now and winter was coming swiftly, the days were growing shorter and much colder, and the Lion's Den was becoming crowded more often. This made talks of treachery risky for Christoph, Ternyo and Denethor, but it did not seem to stop the three Dunedain who would meet once a week and often complain about their liege. The tavern was emptying for the night of November the sixth, the three traitors were going to go back to Denethor's to discuss their plans, but the former Steward paused his eyes falling upon the Rangers, all three of whom had seemed especially irritated that night.

"My friends," he said conversationally walking onto the street with them as the Lion's Den closed its doors for the night, "I could not help but hearing how tense you sounded tonight. Perhaps you would be interested in coming back with my friends and I to my own house and having a few more drinks? That is of course if you do not need to be up early to serve the King tomorrow."

Harno frowned at Denethor squinting at him, "Are you not the lord father of Boromir and Faramir?"

"Aye," Thaion nodded, "He is Denethor, former Steward of Gonodor."

Denethor smiled at the Dunedain and gave a bow of his head, "That I am," he agreed, "Shall we go to my house and enjoy a drink?"

Tryston smiled, "Of course! How could we refuse such an offer from one such as yourself?"

The three Dunedain went with Denethor, Ternyo and Christoph to the former Steward's home. At first the talk was little as both sides seemed to be trying to figure the other out, eventually one of the Dunedain turned the conversation cautiously towards the politics of Minas Tirith and from there towards Aragorn.

"The King is getting paranoid," Thaion said sipping Denethor's fine wine, "Just the other day he refused to speak to the delegates from Harad without Halbarad stuck to his side to defend him."

Denethor nodded, "I suppose despite always been wanted by the Dark Lord he has never faced betrayal from those he trusts?"

"That is correct," Harno agreed, "I have known Aragorn since he came to us from the safety of Rivendell. Among us he found only loyalty, traitors among our kin died out hundreds of years ago. The Dunedain stood united, always standing by Aragorn despite his habits of wondering off and leaving us for years at a time."

"You speak of when he served here under a fake name?" Denethor encouraged the Dunedain to continue.

Harno nodded, "Aye, many long years we went without him. No word was ever sent directly to us, we only ever heard news of his deeds and occasionally Gandalf would bring word to one of us. At times we did not even know where Aragorn was or if he was alive."

Thaion put his wine down, "Do not misunderstand, Aragorn was a fine leader in war and he is a good man. However the time of war and blood is over, the finer arts of treachery and assassination are beyond him, not to mention the politics of Gondor…." He leant forward on Denethor's cushioned chair, "To be honest," he said in a low voice, "I think Aragorn and Gondor would be better if he was not the King."

"Thaion!" Tryston cried, "Do not say such things, that is treachery. Watch your tongue around others. We, your kin may allow such harsh things to be said, however…" he gave a nervous glance at the other three.

Denethor glanced at Christoph neither of them yet willing to voice their own honest thoughts, "And who would you have ruling Gondor if that were to happen?" Christoph inquired in what he hoped was an innocently curious voice.

"The Stewards of course," Thaion looked Denethor in the eyes, "Your family has reigned for a very long time, true Gondorians. We folk from the North have no love of stone walls. Now, more then ever Aragorn feels caged."

"What would you do to set him free?" Denethor pressed.

The three Dunedain looked at one another, finally it was Harno who spoke, "I do not think Aragorn will ever know freedom again in life. He has bound himself to this city and its people. I think, even if he lost Arwen and their unborn child he would remain here to the end of his days. Perhaps even, in the name of duty take a new wife and have an heir to carry on after him…"

"You are edging dangerously close to treachery," Ternyo said, he himself been extra cautious of his own words after what had happened in Rohan, there was no doubt in his mind that his loyalties had been bought into question even if he had not been personally questioned, "Words like those, in times like these…"

Thaion lowered his eyes, "The truth is. I think it would be best, in the long term, if our Lord were to…perish and the Stewards were to return to ruling…"

Denethor's eyes were alight now, the greed could almost be seen, he was close now to achieving what he desired, "And would you take his life, if it were for the best? Would any of you have the nerve?"

The Dunedain all looked at each other, they seemed to silently communicate before Harno spoke, "Yes, for my Lord, for what is best. I would take his life," a look of shame came over his face, "And may the gods forgive me for doing so. For he does not deserve to lose his life."

"Would you help me restore the Steward's to rule Gondor as well? Would you tell the people you had committed the deed?" Denethor was practically vibrating with eagerness, this could be easier then he had ever hoped.

Once again the Dunedain looked at one another again, this time Thaion spoke, "We are not the traitors who tried to slay Arwen, nor would we wish any harm upon her. But, in the current situation, to end all this darkness… I would do what was needed. Arwen would die of grief, I know this, and the child would be taken to Rivendell, hopefully Elrond would take his grandson to Valinor."

Denethor's lips curled, "Good. Now all you must do is prove your commitment and we can get these plans underway," if the Dunedain killed Aragorn it would be all too easy to get rid of Arwen and the heir.

"Plans?" Tryston looked confused, "Y-you really mean to do this?"

Denethor became cautious once again, "For the good of my country," he said firmly.

Tryston looked to Harno and Thaion and the despair on his face spoke volumes, Thaion looked compassionately upon his kinsman, "Trust us," he said softly, "We only do what must be done."