Horns blared all over Minas Tirith as Legolas, Gimli, and Pippin rode inside the city gates, leading their party through. People stared at them while most cheered, relieved that the Elvin prince had brought more help. Legolas asked the army's lieutenant where he could find Faramir. He was told that Faramir was sitting at the White Tree so they advanced there.

Thranduil glanced over at Alasse. She was biting her lip, trying not to grimace as they rode through the city streets. "Are you alright, iel nin?" Thranduil asked quietly in Elvish. She looked up startled, hoping he hadn't seen her.

"I can bear it, Ada." She nodded, trying to smile. Thranduil frowned coldly at her. She looked away. Who did she think she was fooling? She was in pain again.

"Are you sure?" He asked firmly. Alasse gulped hard before answering that question. If anything, the pain in her old wound was getting worse! And she was afraid it was going to lead soon to a full blown flare up again. But they couldn't afford for that to happen now. They were so close to solving the mystery of Aragorn's abduction!

"For now." Alasse nodded to Thranduil. He noticed sweat on her face. He did not like this! If arriving in Aragorn's home was making her this 'sickly', what would finding him in person do to her? Thranduil shifted his horse closer to hers but she did not dare gaze into her father's face. She could feel his hard stare, which still made her feel sheepish even though she was an adult. Thranduil reached onto his hip and handed her his water-skin. "Hannon le," She breathed with relief.


"My Lord Faramir!" Legolas called out as they made their way to the citadel where the steward was sitting on a bench, praying fervently. He looked up and beamed, rising to greet his friends.

"Legolas, Master Gimli, Master Pippin!" He exclaimed. "I am so relieved to see you again! Thank God you made it back safely."

"We brought some help too." Pippin said. Faramir noticed the other members of the company.

"Princess Alasse, Lord Elrond. King Thranduil." Faramir bowed respectfully.

"Faramir, mellon nin." Alasse smiled sadly. The poor man's eyes were bloodshot, his hair unkempt, and he'd grown thinner since she'd seen him last.

"Faramir, my friend, we have much to tell you of what we have discovered and deduced in our travels." Legolas spoke up.

"As do I." Faramir nodded.

"Have you any news of the whereabouts of my son?" Elrond asked, trying not let the anxiety escape in his voice.

"No, my lord. I am sorry. But we have been going over the events of that week." Faramir assured him. "It is not like Aragorn to just leave, without word, or his horse. I fear that foul play may be cause of his disappearance.

"We already know that, lad." Gimli groaned.

"You do?" Faramir frowned.

"We must go inside where we can talk." Legolas said. The whole procession entered the citadel. As they reached the throne room, they were greeted by an unexpected, but very welcome sight! Gandalf was standing there waiting for them, and beside him were Merry, Sam, and Frodo!

"Merry!" Pippin cried for joy and raced to hug his cousins and friend.

"Frodo, Sam...what are you doing here?" Legolas smiled.

"We got Pip's message." Merry said, crossing his arms.

"Gandalf came all the way back to the Shire and brought us here." Frodo smiled softly.

"You didn't think we could stay comfortable in our homes with Mr. Aragorn, our good friend, in trouble now, did you?" Sam asked. Alasse smiled, shedding tears at seeing her friends again.

"I...can't believe you're here. You have no idea how wonderful it is to see you!" She said fondly to the hobbits.

"Bless you, laddies!" Gimli beamed proudly, engulfing them in a hard hug.

"Gandalf." Alasse smiled and grasped her old friend's hand. "Am I ever glad to see you!"

"Likewise, Alasse." Gandalf smiled sadly. "You do not well, my dear." He whispered. "What ails you so?"

"Later." Alasse warned him.

"But, Sam, what about your family?" Legolas asked with concern. "Last I heard, you were married with a child."

"Two children, Mr. Legolas." Sam corrected him. "And you are right. I couldn't just up and leave Rosie and the kids all alone indefinitely. I wouldn't dream of it!"

"They are perfectly fine. They've been keeping Lady Eowyn company." Gandalf smiled.

"Eowyn! How is she?" Alasse asked.

"Due any time now." Faramir answered.

"I should like to see her after we have discussed the mystery of Aragorn's disappearance." Alasse said.

"Of course, my friend. She will be overjoyed to see you."

"Elrond, my dear friend," Gandalf sighed heavily, "I wish we were meeting under better circumstances."

"As do I." Elrond said stiffly. He had half-hoped that Faramir and the people of Gondor had found and rescued Aragorn by now! But obviously, that was not the case.

Then Faramir's face turned serious. "Come, let us sit and speak in the council room." He said. They all followed the captain and while many of them sat down when they entered, the elves and Gandalf remained standing. "I am grateful, Legolas, that you have summoned more help."

"Faramir, what have you come up with or learned newly of since Aragorn's disappearance?" Gimli asked. Faramir recounted to his visitors the details surrounding Aragorn's vanishing, the very testimony Legolas had given when he'd ridden to the Wood to seek help from his father.

"So, nothing." Gimli muttered, puffing on his pipe to relieve his frustration.

"Has everything been left as it was the day you found him missing?" Elrond asked.

"No." Faramir answered. "The maids changed sheets as usual, in hopes of Aragorn returning. Of course, he didn't. We found no weapons, no rope, no instruments of harmful intent."

"What was Aragorn fed the night before?"

"My lord, forgive me, but is has been many weeks since then, and his plate of food from that night was licked clean. I would have no account of what exactly he ate. Although he did have a glass of wine." Faramir mentioned.

"Wine!" Elrond's head shot up.

"What does a simple glass of wine have to do with this, mellon?" Thranduil frowned at him.

"Nothing, my friend, if it was a simple glass of wine!" Elrond replied.

"What are you getting at, Hir nin Elrond?" Sam asked. "You look as if something just came to your mind."

"Who is in charge of the king's wine here?" Elrond inquired.

"Vincent Merlyn." Faramir's eyebrows furrowed. Thranduil stiffened when he heard that name! "Odd thing is, I have not seen him since Aragorn disappeared! It is as if he was either taken with him, or he could not bear the thought of the palace without his king."

"That is exactly what he wants." Thranduil growled.

"What?" Gandalf sputtered.

"Not two months ago, a band of Orcs attacked my realm." Thranduil said coldly, standing straight and commanding. "Alasse was injured, and there were two things one of the foul creatures t old my captain: The White Seeds, and Merlyn."

"It cannot be!" Faramir's eyes widened as realization started to dawn on him. "The Feast of White Seeds is..."

"Celebrating Aragorn's coronation!" Sam added.

"The Orcs could not know that unless..."

"Someone told them." Legolas breathed. "Faramir, many bad things have been happening cross Middle Earth since I departed to seek my father's aid! Villages are being stripped of families, choice people being captured and sold as slaves! The children even!"

"This cannot be happening." Merry huffed, appalled.

"Trust me, Merry. I saw it!" Pippin argued.

"That is not the worst of it." Alasse said angrily. "Someone has been riding through those villages, to Gondor's allies, claiming to be a squire of Gondor. He calls himself Estel Bonwe." She snarled, outraged that someone would try to steal her beloved's Elven name and smear Aragorn's reputation in the eyes of the people he loved! "He claims that Aragorn has left and left him in charge!"

"This is new to me. Aragorn never told me that." Faramir shook his head.

"That's because it isn't true!" Legolas growled. "This Bonwe claims that Aragorn was making new decrees, enabling him to just pluck these people from their homes!"

"Gandalf, what do you make of all this?" Frodo cried.

"It is obvious that someone wants to overthrow Aragorn and claim the throne for himself." Gandalf said gruffly.

"But Aragorn is the rightful heir!" Sam blurted out defensively.

"You are right, Samwise." Elrond nodded.

"Who is this Vincent Merlyn?" Thranduil asked suspiciously.

"He is in charge of the king's wine. And he has personally served it to Aragorn since he claimed the throne." Faramir answered.

"Where does he come from?" Alasse asked.

"He was brought to Gondor as a boy, a slave from one of the Eastern countries. Father took him in, but it was my brother, Boromir and I who helped raise him. We liked to think of him as a younger brother. But in time, he made his own way and found himself personally serving the king himself!" Faramir explained.

"What does he look like?" Merry asked.

"Tall, able-bodied, dark hair cut short, blue eyes. He is well- built and sharp as a wit." Faramir said.

"It's him!" Legolas declared. "It has to be! He lives in Gondor, he would know of the upcoming feast."

"And he has been missing!" Gimli added.

"But why would he try to do away with his own king who treated him fairly after the horrible life he used to know?" Frodo spoke.

"I do not know." Gandalf sighed.

"Now the two remaining questions are: how did he manage to pull this off so efficiently?" Alasse asked.

"I think I know." Elrond said. "Faramir, may I be permitted to investigate the king's wine storage and the remedies and potions in this city?"

"Of course, my lord. Whatever you feel you must do!" Faramir nodded.

"And, where is he keeping the poor boy?" Gandalf chimed in.

"We do not know exactly, but we have a fair idea." Thranduil said solemnly, turning toward Alasse.

"Indeed?" Gandalf stepped forward.

"You do?" Merry, Faramir, and Sam all spoke at once. Alasse went on to tell them of her painful visions when her wound acted up. As she spoke, Gandalf, Thranduil, and Legolas all noticed that she was perspiring.

"Are you alright, child?" Gandalf asked.

"I..." Alasse cleared her throat.

"You are bearing sweat, Alasse!" Thranduil exclaimed anxiously.

"Maybe I should sit down." Alasse said and did so.

"Are you sick, Miss Alasse?" Sam asked worriedly.

"No, Sam." Alasse smiled. Thranduil was rigid and clenched his fists. She was getting worse than he'd seen in a long time!

"You will see Elrond when he returns." Thranduil commanded. Alasse nodded.

"I do hope we can save Mr. Aragorn." Sam said.

"I can't imagine going that long without food!" Merry agreed.

"I believe Elrond suspects that Aragorn was drugged that night." Gandalf suggested.

"It is the only possible explanation!" Legolas nodded. "Only amateurs would consider holding a knife to Aragorn's throat and getting away with it!"