Author's Notes: This story has been bouncing around in my head for some time now. I'd like to thank my muse, Dwayne, fan fiction author Kitti, who was kind enough to read over my little tale, and of course the Academy! Thank you all! I love you! *cheers*

Disclaimer: You've heard before. I don't own it. STOP ACCUSING ME!

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The Aragorn Files: Mystery in Lothlorien

Prologue

It seemed like a quite and peaceful night in quiet and peaceful Lothlorien. The far-off song of a nightingale could be heard throughout the Golden Wood. All seemed well, but years of wandering in the Wild as a Ranger has taught me that things aren't always what they seem.

The remaining members of the Fellowship, including me, arrived at Caras Galadhon last evening, the 17th of January, 3019, the Third Age of this world. It is the second night of our arrival now, and even though I need not tell you the date, it is the 18th of January, 3019, the Third Age of this world. Even though I should be resting my weary body in the peacefulness of this place, I cannot. I do not know why.

I don't think any of our Company slept last night. Perhaps in was the haunting images of our dear departed guide Gandalf falling into the abyss, perhaps it was the fact that Galadriel successfully crept us all out, I do not know. Hopefully they will sleep in peace tonight, for they shall need their rest when we continue out.

Perhaps that is what keeps me up all night. Is it the fact that I do not what to do after we leave fair Lothlorien? Maybe. Because I most certainly do not. Boromir, of course, wishes to go to Minas Tirith and assault Sauron. I think that, maybe, my path should lead me there too, so I can aid the Men of the White City in the coming war. Surely The Sword That Was Broken would be of great assistance to them. Yet I know in my heart Frodo will not desire to tread that path. I swore to protect Frodo, and protect him I will. I will follow him into the very heart of Mordor, should that be the case. But what about the others? Will they follow?

Even as I ponder these questions, I realize that is not what keeps me awake. It is the knowledge that something is amiss. Something is going to go wrong. But what?

"Aragorn?" I hear a voice behind me. I turn to see Legolas looking at me curiously.

"Yes, Legolas?"

"You should take some rest," he said quietly. "You look weary."

I sighed. "I am weary, Legolas, yet I can take no rest."

"What troubles you?" he asked, coming up beside me.

"I do not know exactly, yet I can tell something is, or will go, wrong." Legolas looked at me strangely. "I know, you think I'm crazy," I said. "Yet I cannot ignore this feeling."

"On the contrary, my friend," said Legolas. "I was just remembering the words of Gandalf: 'If you bring a Ranger with you, it is well to pay attention to him, especially if the Ranger is Aragorn.' Maybe we should go see if everything is well with the rest of the Company."

"No, Legolas, I think it would be best if we both went to sleep now," I murmured. "You are right, I am very weary." With that I lay down and fell asleep almost immediately.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Fudge monkeys. I should have known that the moment I fell asleep something bad would happen. I lay still for a few minutes, hoping that I would realize it is all a dream…

"Aragorn! Come quick!" Legolas shook me violently. "You must get up! Frodo has been injured!"

Double fudge monkeys. The Ringbearer is injured and it's not just a dream.

This is going to be a long night.

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"I do not know exactly what happened," said Legolas as the two of us walked briskly up the many stairs to Galadriel's bedroom. "I was talking to Haldir, and then we heard a scream coming from behind us. We turned around and ran to see where the cry had come from, and we found Frodo lying on the ground. It appears he was shot with a bow an arrow of some sort, but I didn't get to observe closely. Haldir told me to get you and meet him in Galadriel's bedroom. Let us hope that there is something she can do for him."

"Let us hope," I said.

We reached the top of the long spiraling staircase and walked down a small corridor to Galadriel's room. I pushed open the golden door.

Galadriel was leaning over the bed, looking at who I assumed to be Frodo. The other three hobbits were crowded around her, asking her what happened and if their friend was going to be alright. Haldir was sitting in a chair in the corner of the room, his face in his hands. Celeborn was pacing back and forth, muttering under his breath. Gimli and Boromir were crowded around the other side of the bed, gazing down at Frodo. An Elven guard whom I had not seen before was standing by the doorway.

I pushed aside Gimli and Boromir and looked down at the injured hobbit. Galadriel had cleaned and bound the wound in his stomach. The soft white linen that she had wrapped around him was now a deep red. Frodo seemed unconscious.

"What happened to him?" I asked Galadriel breathlessly.

"He was shot with an arrow," she replied softly. "Haldir brought him up here. I was just cleaning the wound when Frodo said something about 'cheese' and fainted."

"Will he be alright?" I asked frantically.

"Oh, yes, he will be fine," Galadriel assured me, "though it may take some time. The wound was not very deep."

"How was he shot?" I asked.

"Obviously by accident," said Haldir. "None of the Lothlorien Elves would do such a terrible deed."

"He's right," said Galadriel. "It had to be an accident. Do you wish to stay with him tonight, Aragorn?"

"No, I think it would be best if I tried to get some sleep," I said quietly, then yawned. "I'll see him tomorrow. Where shall he be relocated to?"

"I shall take him to Lady Eruanna," Galadriel replied. "Haldir knows where she dwells and will take you there in the morning."

"Alright," I said. I looked down at Frodo. "Get better soon, Frodo, you've got a quest to complete," I murmured, then walked at of the room.

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"Aragorn! Wait up!" I turned around to see Legolas running down the spiral staircase behind me. I stopped and waited for him. When he caught up with me, he asked "Do you think it was an accident, Aragorn?"

"Yes, I do," I said, "for, like Haldir said, none of the Lothlorien Elves would do such a thing, and it was not an Orcish arrow that pierced Frodo."

"Yes, but it was not an arrow that was shot either," said Legolas.

"I do not understand," I said slowly. "What do you mean?"

"The bows of the Galadhrim have great force," responded Legolas. "An arrow shot by one of those bows would have pierced Frodo much deeper."

"Maybe it was not a bow of the Galadhrim that was used," I said. "Maybe it was a bow like yours."

"Maybe, but unlikely," said Legolas. "My bow can pierce flesh harder than that, at least when shot by me. Besides, who here in Caras Galadhon owns a bow made by the Elves of Mirkwood?

"Nay, Aragorn, this bow was not shot by any bow here. Frodo was stabbed by the arrow, and I do not think you can unintentionally stab someone."

"Legolas, I am not so concerned about how Frodo was hurt. I am more concerned about Frodo."

"You heard Galadriel! Frodo will be fine."

"Yes, she did say that," I replied. "But that is still not the point. The point is, I was supposed to lead this Company on. Don't you remember? In the Mines of Moria? Gandalf said to me 'Lead them on, Aragorn.' And I did you on, here, where Frodo is shot and injured! What a leader I make."

"Aragorn, it was not your fault!" said Legolas, coming to an abrupt stop. "You could have done nothing to prevent it. Accidents happen!"

"Yet you were just here telling me it was not an accident," I said heavily. "I promise you, Legolas, I will find out who did this to Frodo before they can do it to the rest of the Fellowship."

"I will help you, Aragorn," he said.

"Good." I glanced behind me, back towards the long spiral staircase and Galadriel's room. "You hear that Frodo?" I called. "I'm not going to rest until I find out the truth!"

"You don't mean that, do you Aragorn?" asked Legolas worriedly. "Because you look awfully tired…"

"Of course I don't mean it, Legolas," I sighed. "It's a figure of speech. Now let's go get some rest, and tomorrow we'll go talk to Lady Eruanna."

"Alright."

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So there we were, a Man and an Elf, determined to find the story behind the story. It's just another case for….THE ARAGORN FILES.

(detective music plays)

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Author's Notes: Riiiiiiight. That last part is from me being incredibly sick yesterday. I had nothing to do but watch these old detective movies…anyway, since I am boring and unoriginal and don't feel like creating Elves to live in Lothlorien and be suspects, I'd like YOU, the reader, to be a Lothlorien elf. All you gotta do I write me a little note via review/e-mail telling me your name/personality/whatever and I will put you in the story! The more suspects, the more mysterious it is, and mysterious story equals good story!

Nienna

(dancingkitty207@aol.com)