Strangers No More

I do not own the rights to Lord of the Rings

Chapter Twenty

Upon hearing my cousin's words every man in our group drew their swords and, before my uncle could stop them, they rushed into the small street. The only two who didn't rush to see what had happened was my uncle and Father Harold. I rushed in with the others and I drew Alaric, seeing only the smallest flicker of light on it. Eventually I came to a stop when the man in front of me did. Too many of us were crowded into a narrow street.

'Out of the way!' my uncle shouted we all shifted to the walls and, for the first time I saw that terrible sight.

Sitting with her back against the wall was a young woman, no more than twenty three. She had blonde hair and the top of her dress was torn. Her neck and dress were stained badly. In the next to no light the stain was black but I knew it was really red. Blood was still pouring from the thin cut straight across her neck. My uncle shook his head at the sorry sight and crouched down next to her before touching her cheek with his hand.

'Still warm,' he said and stood up. 'It means the killer couldn't have gone too far,' he announced to us, suddenly becoming the commander of soldiers again. 'Edmund, take Charles and alert the guards!'

'Understood,' the merchant said and they ran off to do as they were commanded.

'Robert, take two men and go to the Citadel and inform the guards what's happened.'

'Right away.'

Robert chose his two men before they hurried off to follow their orders.

'Markus, find Hannastog and his family. Make sure they get home safely and tell them what's happened.'

'Yes father,' my cousin responded before turning and hurrying off.

'Jason, you will escort the woman who told us about this to the Houses of Healing and tell them what's happened. I want her able to talk as soon as possible.'

'Yes sir,' he agreed and went to get the woman.

'The rest of you,' he said louder than before, 'get into pairs and spread out through the streets. If you find a man with blood or a knife bring him here!'

I looked at Alaric again and I saw the flicker vanish. I and Rickard at once grouped together and we hurried off through the streets as fast as we could. I nearly fell over a box but I still kept running.

Back in the alley my uncle had once again kneeled down by the body. Regretfully he slowly closed the young woman's eyes so she almost looked as if she was asleep.

'What do you wish for me to do?' the priest asked my uncle.

'You know your duty Father.'

My uncle moved away and Father Harold began to give the last rights.

...

'This is the first murder Minas Tirith has seen in two years.'

'Then we need to catch the swine as soon as possible.'

Gathered in the throne room of the citadel stood many people. There was the king sitting on his throne with a pained and saddened look on his face with his queen by his side; Faramir who was looking deeply troubled; Beregond, Captain of the Guard of the Citadel, King Eomer and with him was Eowyn. The Council stood there also and many of the officers in charge of the city garrison and a few officers of the Watchmen. The Royal Council of Gondor was also there and one of them was Cyllcoth. Prince Imrahil wasn't present as he was busy checking the Watchmen patrols.

'What do we know about the woman who died?' Aragorn asked Faramir.

'Nothing but ill news sadly,' he answered. 'It turns out that her name was Laegwan and she was twenty and years old.'

'Did she have any children?' Arwen asked Faramir.

'No. Sadly she miscarried after her husband died.'

'Do we have any idea what she was doing out on a street in the middle of the night?' Beregond asked Faramir. 'It might help us find out the truth of why she died.'

'I'm afraid her story just gets worse,' Faramir told him. 'It appears that to support herself she resorted to, well, sadly she resorted to selling herself.'

At that there were many sighs of grief at a young woman having to go to such tragic lengths to help herself.

'What about the woman who alerted you to the crime?' Aragorn asked my uncle.

'I understand that she's still unable to speak.'

'So we have nothing.'

'I'm afraid so your majesty.

'In that case we must do all we can to stop this monster from killing anyone else,' Aragorn told them. 'I want the patrols around the city doubled and I will not allow the killer to leave.'

'This couldn't have happened at a worse time,' said Robert. 'Nearly every nobleman of worth and their men are in the city now.'

'Then we'll need to stop all of them leaving the city,' said Aragorn.

'Does that include the nobles from Rohan?' Eomer asked him.

'I'm afraid so my friend. You and Eowyn may go if you wish. We all know that you didn't do it.'

'We'll stay,' Eowyn said quickly. 'It should stop our people from complaining.'

'I agree with my sister,' Eomer at once supported Eowyn.

'Thank you,' he said and then looked at the City Watch commanders. 'Double the patrols, especially at night.' The commanders nodded before Aragorn looked at some members of his council. 'There is another matter which must be dealt with now.'

'And that is, sire?' Lord Cyllcoth asked him as politely as he could.

'Why did this woman have to resort to selling herself in the first place?'

'Well she wanted money and couldn't find work.'

'There must be better ways,' Arwen told him.

'I will not allow this in my city.'

'Your Majesty this has always existed. In the end there is no point in trying to stop it as it will happen anyway.'

'I will make sure that the poor of this city are able to live without putting themselves in danger. We must organise places for the poor to receive food.'

'If I may say so,' Father Harold spoke up, 'at my old parish I would often organise food for the extremely poor.'

'Can you organise one here?'

'I always required the donations from my local lord to carry it out. With enough funds I can do it.'

'You'll have enough money for it.'

After that they discussed in detail the new patrol plans. As there was a shortage of men in the City Watch, a small volunteer force which guarded the city streets, and in the garrison of soldiers, my uncle volunteered the Order to assist in the patrols.

...

'Just promise me you won't go anywhere alone.'

'John you don't need to worry.'

Sunniva and I were sitting in The Long Sword having a drink. Like all of the others from Rohan she wasn't allowed to leave the city.

'I do worry. You haven't seen what this monster has done.'

'I know but I don't see any reason to be afraid of a man that hides in the night.'

I shook my head at that but she just locked me with a stern gaze.

'John I'm being serious,' she assured me. 'If it keeps you happy I'll not do anything stupid.'

'I never said you would.'

'But that's what you suggested.'

'Has anyone ever told you that you're remarkably stubborn?'

'A few times.'

I finished the last of my ale and put the mug down again.

'John I'll be fine,' she promised me.

'I know you'll be safe but I'm still worried.'

'Don't be.'

'I can't help it. That bastard was only a stone's throw away from us when we were drinking and we missed him.'

'With any luck the patrols will catch him soon.'

'I hope for his sake I don't get him first.'

...

Father Harold was in the Barracks kitchens, talking with the cook, a stocky man named Laron.

'No offence Father but its hard enough cooking for the Order every day. I don't have enough staff to cook for who knows how many more people.'

'Sir James disagrees,' Father Harold reminded him as Laron walked over to the large table where a large number of chickens were being plucked. 'And we've been given enough money to hire extra staff for it.'

'It's not just staff,' Laron told him and pulled out some feathers before throwing them into a bucket. 'I don't have enough space.'

'I might be able to persuade Sir James to let us set up some temporary facilities in the training yard. It can't be too hard to make some soup there.'

Laron shook his head and sighed.

'Alright then. I'll do it if you can get Sir James to let me use the yard.'

'Thank you very much Laron.'

AN: And the games afoot. Here's the latest chapter and I hope you liked it. So, what are your theories? What do you thinks happened? Find out soon. Also, sorry I've taken so long to update but a combination of revision, actually deciding to read the Hobbit and binge watching Game of Thrones held me back.

Review Response Time:

KiyaNamiel: Yep, murder.

ATP: I believed that was a part of the sequel Grand Master Tolkien started but then gave up on. Also, interesting idea.

gginsc: Sunniva is safe...for now *evil grin*