"I cannot believe it." Faramir stated despondently, slowly pacing around the council room. "Why would Merlyn do this? Gondor is his home! Or...was. We took him in, and he grew up well and sharp-minded. And he has been devoted to Aragorn."

"Perhaps that is how he wanted it to look." Gimli muttered, puffing his pipe.

"An easier way to accomplish his goal, without suspicion ever being shed on himself." Merry grumbled.

Faramir stared at the floor. His own father had not treated him half as well as he had Boromir. His father had resented him. But he had not turned him out in the streets-why, Faramir did not understand! For Denethor had certainly made it clear that Faramir wasn't fit to be his son-. Vincent Merlyn had been brought here with nothing but the clothes on his back. He'd been beaten and starved when his 'owner's' ambassador had brought him to Minas Tirith. Denethor's sons had shown him what kindness looked like and helped him become a person. And this was how he repaid them? Betrayal? Betrayal to Faramir himself, his sweet wife, and to their faithful king? Why? And it was a great insult to his late brother Boromir's good name! All their kindness had been for nothing? For not the first time in his life, Faramir felt deeply deceived and taken advantage of.

"There can only be two possible explanations for his disappearance." Thranduil suggested. "Either he intends to assassinate Estel..."

"If Estel was dead, we would know it!" Legolas cut him off sharply. "He's not. He's not!"

"And if that were the case, Merlyn would have done it long before now." Gandalf said.

"Then, the only other possibility is...is..." Frodo rubbed his head sorrowfully, not wanting to orally express the next option.

"Sold into slavery." Legolas's face grew taught with sorrow as the realization dawned on him. How could this have happened? And why to Aragorn? He didn't deserve this! All he ever did was for others, even as the mightiest king of men.

"Slavery?!" Alasse, Sam, and Pippin gasped. "Oh no!" Sam wailed.

"If he really wanted to get rid of Aragorn, but make him suffer for who knows what reason, it would be the perfect way to remove him without anyone following his trail." Gandalf added glumly. Alasse hung her head, tears starting to hit her eyes. She didn't want to believe it! Slavery! No! Not Aragorn! Not him...but she did not argue, because she knew in her heart that it was the strongest possibility of her beloved's fate. She winced when her stomach throbbed with burning pain. "Alasse child, I am sorry." Gandalf said sympathetically. "You do not look well, my dear."

"He's right, Miss Alasse." Sam agreed. "You look like my Rosie when she has had morning sickness carrying our babies." Alasse kept her eyes down now that everyone was staring at her. Legolas stepped toward her.

"Perhaps you should go lie down for a while, sister." He whispered.

"I want to be here when Elrond tells us what he figured out. And I have not seen Eowyn yet." Alasse said.

"Go rest, iel nin." Thranduil commanded. "That's an order!" Alasse huffed, but she did feel very awful right now, more than she wanted to show. Maybe a little rest would help it pass. She stood up to leave.

"You may have the same guest quarters as your last visit here." Faramir told her.

"Excuse me." She mumbled. Thranduil followed her, deep worry painted all over his face.

"Is she going to be alright?" Frodo asked.

"I'm sure." Legolas nodded, swallowing nervously. She seems more poorly since we arrived! What in Valar's name is happening to my sister? Is she...dying? AGAIN?


Alasse lay on the bed on her side, staring at the wall as Thranduil stood over. "What is it, my love?" He asked, concerned.

"I don't know, Ada." Alasse shook her head, biting her lip. "I feel we are so close to solving the mystery of Aragorn's abduction! I can feel it. Yet...something is amiss. And it..."

"Yes?" Thranduil pressed gently. Alasse shook her head.

"I...just need some sleep, I suppose." She said. Truth was, she was hurting more than she wanted her father to know. After all he had been through, she didn't want him to bear this on his shoulders!

"I will stay with you." Thranduil insisted.

"You don't ha..."

"Yes, I do!" Thranduil barked at her.

"Of course, Ada." Alasse nodded but she turned on her other side with her back to him, so he would not see her slip the vial of Elrond's medicine from her outfit and quietly sip some of it. She prayed that Aragorn was closer than they thought, and they would solve this very soon! She also prayed that she wouldn't have another attack! The misery during those episodes was severely disorienting...and, on top of that, every time a major flare up happened, she always had a vision of Aragorn, and each premonition was worse than the one before! She couldn't bear any more bad news for Aragorn! What could possibly happen worse now, except for...No! Not until I see him dead for myself will I believe that. Aragorn would not give up to the likes of a scoundrel. He is stronger than that. His people are depending on him!

"I still wish you were back at home with me." Thranduil said, breaking her thoughts. Alasse bit down a cry.

"I know, Father. I know." She murmured. "But I must know the truth! I have to find him." Tears filled Thranduil's eyes. Alasse and Aragorn were not even wed yet, and he hadn't even perished yet! But so far, already Thranduil had witnessed his daughter suffer much heartache for the ranger. Pain was what he'd wanted to protect his son and daughter from. And yet they both seemed to attract it no matter what. He never wanted this kind of life for them. He wanted them safe with him. But Legolas would not have thrived under such conditions, and Alasse...well, she would've tried to adapt for as long as possible, until she was ready to burst. No, his children had to know that they were free to live their lives, with his blessing, and not be hindered by obligation. That was what his wife would've wanted. It still hurt though.


Two hours later, Elrond reappeared. Everyone looked up expectantly. Elrond did not look joyful, but he did not look entirely crestfallen either, so he must have fond something! "Where are Thranduil and Alasse?" Elrond asked. "They will want to hear this!"

"I will find them." Legolas answered and made his way through the familiar halls to Alasse's guest room. He quietly stepped inside. Alasse was lying on her side, Thranduil sitting across from the bed on a chair, holding her hand. At first, Legolas thought she was asleep, but then she faced him. "I'm sorry." Legolas apologized. "I didn't want to disturb you."

"It's alright, Legolas." Thranduil said. Legolas shuffled closer.

"How are you feeling, Alasse?" Legolas asked cautiously.

"A bit better, thank you." Alasse nodded. Legolas narrowed his eyes.

You're not telling me the whole truth, he thought. "Elrond has returned! He says you must hear his findings!" Legolas spoke. Thranduil helped Alasse up to her feet and they both quickly followed Legolas back to the council room.


"There you are!" Elrond exclaimed when they arrived.

"My old friend, what have you discovered?" Thranduil asked.

"Please sit." Elrond told all of them. "Faramir, you too." They obeyed. "I have discovered that Aragorn was indeed drugged!"

"So it is true?" Gimli choked on his pipe weed.

"Ai."

"How can you be sure?" Thranduil asked. Elrond threw him a skeptical look.

"My friend, are you familiar with Irismilate?" Elrond asked.

"A drug!" Legolas exclaimed. "Do you remember, Ada? Your begetting day celebration years ago. Prince Durion drugged our men, to weaken our security, to force Alasse to marry him and assassinate you!"

"You think I would forget something like that?" Thranduil glared.

"Excuse me! I don't wish to appear rude, but what is Irismilate, Lord Elrond?" Sam asked curiously.

"It is a potent plant, young Samwise." Elrond replied. "Made of sulfur and lavender. Its purpose is to heal grievous wounds. Yet its effects are so strong that we have refrained from using it for centuries."

"Why would you do that?" Merry frowned.

"Because the healers began to feel that it accomplished more harm than good." Legolas explained. "It was given to people in dire and horrific physical states. But it more often than not has made its patients into victims, rendering them weak, languid, and comatosed, sometimes for days! Some even died from it! And then there were others presumed dead because of how listless the plant made them."

"Oh!" Sam gulped. "Well, I wouldn't want that to happen. I suppose if I ever hear of this plant, I should burn it right away!"

"If measured exactly and at the appropriate dosage, it can save lives, young Sam." Elrond said.

"What has this got to do with Mr. Aragorn?" Pippin asked.

"I checked the castle's wine supply and that which is only reserved for the king." Elrond began. "I quickly used my powers of internal foresight-that is seeing beneath the surface what naked eyes can't-to inspect all of it. I noticed a foreign powder substance in the king's wine. It was not in the others. However, the king's was riddled with it."

"Whoever did this mean business! He was going to make absolutely sure that Aragorn received the drug, one way or another." Faramir caught on.

"That's it. It has to be!" Alasse blurted out excitedly. "It would explain everything! Aragorn can not be just taken down by a mere conk on the head. He is too smart and aware of his surroundings."

"And the kidnapper would know that." Frodo added. "He knew he was going to need something, something that would make Aragorn completely immobile and unconscious so he could take him without a fight."

"Frodo must be right." Gandalf agreed.

"Ai. And Aragorn would never have suspected Merlyn." Faramir said dismally. "They were friends. He was a devoted servant! At least...I thought he was."

"But how did he get him out of the castle, without being apprehended or noticed?" Thranduil frowned.

"I may have found out how." Elrond spoke up again. "I spoke to those who guard the wine cellars. They both said that that night, a hooded figure who kept his face averted in the dark was carrying a limp form. The body was covered from head to foot in a big gray cloak. The man desperately asked the guards where the Healing House was, as his 'companion' had a delirious fever. They gave him directions then he split. They did not know who he was.

'I visited the Healing House. They have no record from that night of someone being brought in that they treated for delirium. I myself checked over all their records from that night twice.'"

"So. It appears that we have established the identity of our kidnapper, and the method he used to take Aragorn." Legolas breathed with relief. This did not answer all the questions, but it did shed light on two of the most important riddles!

"But what did he do with the poor laddie?" Gimli huffed.

"It is only speculation. But it seems likely that he may have intended to sell Aragorn to Harad." Gandalf hung his head.

"Harad?!" Alasse gasped. "But, I thought Gondor was finally at peace with them, after the War of the Ring!"

"There are still some, child, of those tribes who have not abandoned their old ways. Not after what the Numeroneans did to them long ago." Gandalf said sadly.

"But what if he didn't?" Alasse persisted, trying to come up with any other possibility than slavery.

"We do not know." Faramir shook his head.