"Tell your people to be ready. The assault must happen on schedule," The Gondorian man whispered urgently to the masked assassin.
"All will go as planned." The dark-robed man assured.
"Good, good." The Gondorian man clasped his hands together. "Once Dol Amroth falls, and with it the King's most trusted advisor, and the Queen still missing…it will drive the King mad." He glanced at the assassin, and excited smile spreading across his face. "He will put himself at risk, and that is when you will strike."
"I must get out of the City first, if my people are to be ready to ride against the Prince."
The man dismissed the assassin with a wave of his hand. "Easily remedied. I can show you the secret passage out of the City."
A dark eyebrow raised with curiosity.
"Oh yes, there are many secret passageways out of the City for the royal family to flee in times of great need." The man chuckled to himself. "There will be no royal family to use them once the attack on the White City begins."
-------------------------------
Aragorn sat in his office, head in his hands when Faramir rushed through the doors, a look of horror on his face.
Aragorn stood immediately and breathed, "What it is?"
"The Haradrim King has just been found – murdered." Faramir said quickly, giving no more than a passing curious look at the Chamberlain and two errand riders that had just walked in.
"What?!" Aragorn growled. "How?!"
"I've began an investigation but-"
Aragorn called for his guard. "Summon the Haradrim advisors. Bring them directly here, no detours!"
Aragorn returned his attention to Faramir, ignoring the horrified looks on the Chamberlain and the errand riders faces. "You'd better find out how this has happened, Faramir, or we are in for a very quick declaration of war."
"I've already started-"
"I'm sorry to interrupt, My Lord," The Chamberlain stepped forward and was rewarded with a deep scowl of annoyance from the King and his Steward.
"We bring news from Dol Amroth…"
"What of it?" Aragorn asked without pause. He stared at the bloodied riders that stood next to the Chamberlain and narrowed his eyes. "Speak!"
"We-we ride from Lord Imrahil, My Lord," The first boy answered nervously. "He sent us back to call for help." The boy glanced up at the Chamberlain, who rested a comforting hand on the young man's shoulder.
"Go on," The Chamberlain said quietly. "The King will not harm you."
Faramir stepped closer, as did Aragorn, to hear the boy's news.
"Easterlings are attacking Dol Amroth. Lord Imrahil led his men against them but, but, he was trapped as more came in from behind and-and," The Chamberlain squeezed the boy's shoulder and he fell silent.
The man nodded to the other boy who began slowly, eyes sad. " Lord Imrahil was trapped. We were on our way back here when the road was cut from us. There had to have been thousands of Easterlings, Lord Imrahil was trapped and then-" The boy glanced at his feet, unsure of how to speak of what he saw.
"Then?" Aragorn asked quickly, eyes flitting from the boy's to the Chamberlain and back again.
"Then the banners fell, The banners of Dol Amroth and of Gondor, which he carried." The boy glanced up, eyes sad, "Lord Imrahil fell with them."
Aragorn fell back as if he'd been slapped. Faramir paled and leaned against a nearby desk, reeling from the news.
Aragorn turned away to gather his thoughts - and to control the fury that welled in his chest. After a few silent moments, he whirled around. "Thank you for this news. Lord Chamberlain, please see to it that these riders are well fed and cared for." When the man nodded and did not move, Aragorn continued. "You are dismissed."
Faramir steeled himself for the furious explosion that would be the King's temper. He could barely keep his own under control with the news of his Uncle's death. It hit him like a blow to the gut, and he could barely stand - much less continue to war with his King over the man's very safety.
"Ready an army to ride to Dol Amroth's defense." Aragorn spat, his anger barely concealed. "I will crush these people once and for all!"
Faramir opened his mouth to speak when two advisors and the regent of Lossarnach rushed through the door.
"What is it now?" Aragorn glanced up to see the petrified looks on the faces of the three men.
"My Lord," Regent Aerthane bowed low before his King. "Lossarnach is under attack. I've come to request aid. We cannot hold the City!"
Faramir's eyes widened and he glanced up, wondering what else could possibly be next. It couldn't get much worse unless the King himself was assassinated.
Aragorn sighed and rubbed his eyes. "Tell me this is just a cruel joke?"
Aerthane turned to the two advisors that had accompanied him, confused as to why the King would have such a reaction.
"No, My Lord," Soront answered for Aerthane. "Corsairs have sailed up the Anduin and have begun attacking Lossarnach."
"Reports are trickling in slowly but there are numerous ships dropping Corsair's onto the shores." Raorn continued.
"They've caught us by surprise, My Lord, as we had just sent aid to Dol Amroth. I fear we do not have enough soldiers to keep the City from falling into Corsair hands – not without aid." Aerthane said quickly.
"Then we will reinforce what men you have there with soldiers from the White City. We can spare no ships, the majority of them have sailed soldiers to Dol Amroth, and I am about to take the rest to shore up the defense of that City." Aragorn stared at Faramir and snapped, "Ready 2000 men and send them, with Lord Aerthane at their head, to Lossarnach."
"Thank you, My Lord!" Aerthane bowed deeply and the two advisors left to carry out the King's orders.
"I am riding to Dol Amroth." Aragorn stated, challenging either Faramir or Raorn to object to his decision.
"My Lord!" Faramir did object, and quite loudly, as Raorn began to do the same.
"You will not stop me, Faramir. Something has to be done and I will no longer sit on my hands in the Citadel and do nothing!" Aragorn's eyes blazed and had Faramir not been so adamant about keeping his King safe, he would have wilted beneath the fiery gaze.
"I will not allow you-"
"You have no choice, Faramir," Aragorn growled. "When last I looked, I was the King of Gondor and you were merely its Steward!"
Their argument brought in a rush of guards as well as Eowyn and Elladan, who had been speaking with Ioreth and Celeborn about Elrohir's recovery.
"You are not thinking clearly " Faramir answered, ignoring the audience the two men had gained in a few short minutes. "You are not in the right frame of mind to make decisions about our current situation."
"And would you sit idly by and watch the holdings dependant on your protection burn down around you?" Aragorn answered loudly. "My foster brother has been injured, near fatally, a visiting King, with whom we are trying to avoid a WAR, has been killed beneath our very noses, Imrahil has been killed because I allowed him to leave this City AND my wife is missing! How do you think I should react to this, Faramir?"
"And how many men do you think would be able to go with you to Dol Amroth? You've sent some already. Do you plan to take them all and leave the White City defenseless?! I will not allow you to leave the Citadel." Faramir dropped his voice and answered truthfully. "There aren't enough soldiers in the City that I could send that could assure me of your safety."
"You intend to protect and coddle me like some child?" Aragorn asked, his eyes blazing. "I will not stand idly by and let this Kingdom crumble around me. Not when we've worked so hard to restore it!"
Aragorn turned on his heal and moved to walk away when he was halted by a very strong grip on his arm. "I will not let you leave, Aragorn." Faramir said slowly, "Please understand, I do what I do now only for your safety."
Aragorn's eyes narrowed as Faramir ordered the royal guard to take the King into protective custody.
Eowyn gasped and Elladan and Celeborn moved toward Aragorn.
"You have no authority-" Aragorn began to protest as his own guards surrounded him and glanced at the two men uncertainly.
"I am second in rank only to you, Aragorn, and you are not fit – at this time – to rule Gondor. I DO have the authority when the safety of the Kingdom, and the royal family is at stake. There has already been one attempt on your life, I will not make it easy for there to be another such attempt!"
Faramir turned to the advisors that stood staring in shock as the two men argued. "You will bear witness." Faramir straightened and cleared his throat, making this announcement as official as could be expected under the circumstances. "I am officially removing his majesty, King Elessar from his duties. He is not in the right frame of mind to make decisions on the conflict facing us."
Faramir turned determined eyes on the royal guard. "Take him to his chambers. I am confining him there until further notice."
Aragorn stood stunned, glaring at his Steward. Faramir took a step back, nearly wilting beneath the furious gaze, as the Citadel guard grasped Aragorn and held him firmly by the upper arms. "You cannot do this, Faramir!"
Celeborn stepped beside Aragorn, his voice calm and reassuring, even as his heart thudded against his chest. "Do not fight this. It will be resolved. You need rest."
Faramir nodded toward Celeborn and Aragorn was pulled out of the room, screaming down the hallways to be released.
Elladan and Celeborn followed close behind, knowing they would be needed before the night was over.
Faramir slumped to his knees, his eyes a mask of pain and sadness. Eowyn knelt beside him and pulled him into her arms, unable to speak but intent on offering comfort where she could.
When he pulled away, he stared vacantly at his wife. "What have I done?"