CHAPTER 11

Aragorn had left Brandy Hall to ride back east, planning to get as far as the Misty Mountains. Agandaûr was already at the spot waiting for him. The two locked eyes before engaging in a swordfight. Both were quite on par in terms of skill. But in power, Agandaûr would have the upper hand. The fight continued for sometime.

"Not bad. For a Mortal..." Agandaûr remarked with a smirk as swords crossed. "I knew this day would come."

"You slay me, sorceror, and I'll become more powerful than you could possibly imagine," Aragorn shot back. It was a lie, of course, but it wouldn't hurt to use that bit of sarcasm. Gandalf had gone through the same thing, after all. Then again, the Wizard is of the Istari.

"So smug, Ranger," Agandaûr said. Maybe he was seeing through his lie? "But for how long?"

Meanwhile...

"Wondering why we're here, Little Pimple?"

Lotho turned away from a bar in the Prancing Pony where he was drinking a pint and looked at the four Hobbits he had a run-in with the other day.

"Back to give me another beating?" Lotho said. "Or do you boys all developed a good sense to include me in your little group?"

"So you can take Bag End for your own? Forget it." Frodo said coldly. "Now give us back the knife or we'll force it out of you."

"In what army?" Lotho laughed at that thought.

"Army!" Sam echoed. "What kind of game is this?"

"You see? I made a deal that will-"

"You told us that already!" Merry pointed out.

"Did I now?" Lotho said in a mocking tone.

"Come on, Lotho! You know full well you want that hole more than anything!" Frodo raised his voice but enough not to disturb the bystanders in the bar.

"And you know full well I am not alone in that position!" Lotho yelled back. "My parents have always talked about owning much of your uncle's riches after he got back from his little trip sixty-four years ago. But with the Men who come from Isengard helping me, I am close to achieving my goals."

"Dealing with Saruman is a bad bet," Pippin pointed out.

"Saruman? I don't even know who the guy is!" Lotho protested.

"Once you take power, then what? In the end, you'd only end up betrayed," Merry said. "Believe me, you don't really want to know who this Sharkey guy really is. He's ransacked two kingdoms already."

Back at the Misty Mountains...

"Kidnapping an Elf and a Dwarf together for different methods of torment?" Aragorn angrily spat at Agandaûr as the fighting continued. "Bet your papa would've been real proud!"

"It was Wulfrun who made that mistake," Agandaûr pointed out. "I sent them to capture you!"

"Then maybe you should try giving them better directions!" Aragorn spatted. "Or did you forget their capture was the means to draw me out?"

"Hmph. I must admit, Ranger. You're good," Agandaûr remarked at that comment. "I should have admended my sorcerors instead."

"I'm not exactly helping you, just so you know!"

"According to my master, Beren of Old would've done the same thing."

"What about Beren? What are you trying to pull, Agandaûr?"

"Just wanted to see if you want the truth or not."

"I know quite enough of the truth! He was the one who stood up to what he believed in and died for it!"

"But do you know the whole truth?"

"The whole truth?"

"Beren wasn't exactly the steely type like you're trying to be now."

All the while, the swords kept clashing.