Disclaimer: I don't own any of this! Lord of the Rings and everything it contains was originally the idea of J.R.R. Tolkien. Credits for Narnia and everything associated with it go to C.S. Lewis. This was based on the video 'The king, the girl and the lion – Trailer' by Nonokun24 on YouTube. Quotes you may recognize are from 'Power Rangers Jungle Fury', episode 7 ('Pizza Slice of Life'). There's also a little reference to 'The Wife of Bath's Tale' ('The Canterbury Tales', Geoffrey Chaucer; do tell if you found it :)), and one to 'Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl'.

Author's note: Hello! I'm delighted to welcome all of you back, and of course, I'd like to thank those who reviewed.

One more part in Minas Tirith! Traitors? In Gondor? Surely, with one King, and their beloved Princess in peril, they stand together, right? Or don't they? Let's find out. And you all will soon enough

Hope you'll enjoy! Please read and review!

Back to Minas Tirith

"I ride for Minas Tirith… and I won't be going alone."

Gandalf the White, Lord of the Rings: 'Return of the King'

Treachery

"Backstabber!

You liar!

Betrayer!"

Disciple: 'Backstabber'

Arwen walked through the almost abandoned Palace, on her way to the private quarters of the Royal family. Suddenly she felt a hard hand on her shoulder and someone said softly: "I need to speak with someone."

Arwen sighed in irritation. She never liked her husband's bodyguards.

The Queen answered: "Well, make it snappy. With my husband gone, I'll have to take charge."

"All the more important that we talk now. You may be the only one not blinded by the illusion we're making progress in achieving our goals," the soldier said softly, his 3 companions waiting patiently, but Arwen knew they were now guilty of lese-majesty. To commit such a crime in the presence of the Queen herself, was likely to imply a much larger plan.

Sharply she answered: "I knew you were venomous, but apparently that's not the only way you are like snakes."

The soldiers didn't seem impressed by her hostile response. The one who spoke - he seemed to be in charge - now said gently: "No, if your husband the King was to stand triumphant he would have done so by now. If we are to defeat the Narnians, if we are to defend the Kingdom, if we are to save your daughter, Lord Aragorn must be killed!"

He had spoken ever louder, but Arwen surpassed him easily; in fury, she yelled: "Over your dead bodies!"

Their plan had failed miserably; they had hoped striking her where it hurt the most, in her mother heart, would turn the scale to their advantage. But she didn't fall for the low trick. She refused to betray Lucy like that, certainly based on lies, by taking the father she already saw by far not enough away from her.

She drew her scimitar, which she kept with her, according to an old habit, and struck fiercely at the one who had spoken. He almost lost his arm, but managed to withdraw quickly enough. The three others struck at the Queen with their spears.

They were trained, fierce warriors, and Arwen hadn't fought for a long time. She couldn't defeat 4 warriors of their level on her own.

They easily drove her back to a courtyard. A spear came for her shoulder; her scimitar deflected it.

The one out of the four who did most of the talking for them said: "You've cost us a great deal of effort. For that you must pay. Unless you join us."

"Never! I will not betray my family!" she snarled at him.

Then the lifeguard started playing even lower: "Aragorn cares nothing for you, and yet you risk everything to protect him. Why can't you see this madness? You can rule. With your daughter, your father and your brothers by your side. Those that do love you. And we will keep you on the throne. To the King, saving those he claims to love doesn't seem to be that much of a priority."

To that, Arwen answered, her voice quivering in anger: "That's called loyalty. And again, you lie. Aragorn cares more for me than all of you together for anyone else – and more for Lucy than you for riches and power, which means even more. Apart from that, I say this: he'll reward me for all I put at stake in tenfold when this is over."

After which she struck fiercely and unexpectedly.

The bodyguards started to retreat. The speaker among them said: "As you wish. For you it will be over sooner than you can imagine."

The Queen engaged in the pursuit. "We'll see about that."

Sparks came off from the wall as Arwen missed her aim. The bodyguards of her husband really had to join His Majesty soon, or they were really in trouble.

"Traitors!" she shouted after them. "Cowards!"

The four men turned around and battled her. Arwen was at serious disadvantage: keeping four Goblins at bay on her own she could manage, but facing four well-trained Gondorian soldiers was quite something else. They struck coordinately and even mere deflecting started tiring her.

The 'leader' of the little group said after a short while: "I'll give you this: you're quite a warrior. With a little more training you would have been great. You're giving us a better fight than I expected."

"You're more traitorous than I expected," Arwen snapped at him.

"You have a sharp tongue," the man stated, showing some real anger for the first time since she had rejected their plans.

The traitors drove her back to one of the Palace gardens, near the exit.

But then, suddenly, a loud, angry voice called: "And IF those bodyguards of mine DO show their face, they'll wish they hadn't!"

"Damn," the leader hissed. "We have to go now. Otherwise it's called desertion and we'll be executed forthwith."

Even as they ran for the army, one of the guards couldn't resist shouting backwards: "You are in luck, Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty!"

Arwen felt immense relief as she heard the worried voice of the Captain of the Evenstar Guard. She was helped up by the kind man who guarded and protected her daughter so loyally; two of his soldiers immediately offered her to lean on them. She quickly thanked them.

Before she could explain anything, the Captain said: "The story can wait. You need to rest. Come along, you men! Take the Queen to the throne room!"

High Queen Arwen of Gondor was still reclaiming her breath after the fierce battle she had fought.

The Captain of the Evenstar Guard reported: "His Majesty the King has already left the City. However, if you write a letter, a single horseman can easily catch up with the army. Then His Majesty will take care of the traitors himself."

A Guard came running at them: "Your Majesty!"

The Captain said irritated: "Her Majesty the Queen is – quite obviously – not feeling too well, soldier. Wait for a while."

The soldier shook his head. "Captain, however serious the situation may be, truly you shan't find a mother in ten score who waits longer than the time absolutely necessary to hear news concerning her child," the man answered wisely.

Arwen immediately sat up straighter. "Lucy?" she asked.

The Guard bowed and reported: "Your daughter is no longer to be found in the Palace, Milady. The City Guards have been informed, but knowing her, I'd say – as would most of us – it should be a little late for that."

Immediately the Queen spoke: "Captain, gather your men and bring her back!"

"Obviously I will, Your Majesty," the Captain replied far more calm. "We are charged with the safety of Her Highness the Princess. But until tomorrow, we stay here. Who knows if the traitors still have followers here?"

As Arwen wanted to protest loudly, he quickly continued: "I do believe we can afford to give her a one day's start. Last night she was here. Many of us are experienced riders. If we keep horses in reserve, we should be able to cover 100 miles in 5 days. Soldier, do check if we miss any horses, will you?"

"Oh, my apologies, I already have," the man excused himself. "No horses, only some provisions, plenty for days, actually, and four military cloaks. She obviously doesn't intend to starve or freeze to death," he added with some kind of pride; he was charged with protecting someone with the mind to think of such practical stuff, and he quite liked that idea.

The Captain quite liked another idea: "Perfect. Shame it never snows around here. All the same, surely we'll have caught up with her soon enough. We can do this."

Author's note: Well, I hope for them they can

So, Aragorn's personal protectors want him killed… Not exactly the most convenient people to be enemies with, I imagine.

How will it turn out? Is it really possible Aragorn doesn't die by Narnian swords or the powers of Mordor, but by traitors in his own midst? We'll just have to wait :) Though it may take quite a while…

Also, WOW! This is about 3 times as long as two chapters ago, and two and a half times longer than the previous one.

Coming up next on 'The king, the girl and the lion' (if that wording starts to annoy you, just say and sure I'll find something else): a young Narnian King comes to Rohan, searching for the girl his Faun Governor let escape. But what happens when it's not the daughter he meets?

So, that should be enough spoilers for now :)

Hope you liked it!

And, of course, I'd very much like you to read Supreme Arcanite Magician's 'YuGiOh: European Duel Academy'. And please to watch the trailers for this story on YouTube by Nonokun24 and EdwardElricGirl200 respectively!