A/N) This is the second to last chapter to FoF! This chapter is longer then the others which is why its taken me longer to typw it up.

I would like to say thanks to Lyn (?) for pointing out my mistakes. The problem is, is that I've got an American Laptop but I'm English, and I use an American program, so sometimes the program I use changes words from the English way to the American way, so the words are a mixture of English and American spellings.

Sorry about that. I'm planning on buying a new computer in the coming months so everything will soon be sorted out, hopefully!

Enjoy!



The Forge of Friendship

Chapter 7

The True Motive



Each elf was armed with bow and arrow; Legolas the only one with two knives. The men held swords, only a few held bows.

"Whatever you do, do not kill them." Legolas ordered. "Unless you absolutely have to." His eyes were flashing angrily as he advanced forward, his two knives clenched tightly in his hands; his motive: Rescue the Elves and Aragorn, and bring all the men to justice.

All around them the men were advancing, except for Doyni who was making his way towards the prisoners.

Hayner was the first to reach the line of elves protecting their King and Prince, and lunged at Legolas, cleaving his sword downwards so that if it struck, Legolas would be killed instantly. Before Hayner's blow could reach him, the elf ducked swinging his knives outwards, hoping to graze the legs of his attacker. However Hayner jumped back sneering, and ran off to another elf, who was struggling to disarm his opponent without any serious injury occurring.

Legolas did not pursue. Instead he quickly made his way over to the prisoners, where Doyni was furiously fighting against his own men. The Prince could see that he had understood what Derondë had explained about the incident involving his parents and accepted it as the truth, his brother on the other hand had not, and Doyni was working fervently to help the elves and forget this whole escapade.

Rounding past the fighting men, the Prince untied the two elves first and called over three warriors to escort the injured elves back to the safety of their borders. Then he turned to Aragorn, working his fingers on the bindings until they fell loose, freeing the young human from his captivity.

He pressed a knife into the Ranger's hands and bade him to use it well.

"Where are you going?" Aragorn asked as the Prince leapt away.

"To find Hayner and knock some sense into him!" the Prince called back.

Before the Ranger could register what was exactly happening around him, someone leapt for him, pushing him to the ground. He rolled a few centimeters and came to a halt. Moaning softly he felt himself being grabbed by his collar and yanked upwards. The sudden motioned caused his eyesight to cloud over. As his eyes focused he found himself looking into the eyes of Doyni that were blazing like fire in the light.

"Well, we meet again as it seems, in the heat of battle." Doyni said.

I thought he had sided with us! Aragorn thought. This man had killed three of his men to make it seem like that he was on the elves side, but for what. Surely this man didn't hold a grudge against him? It wouldn't be fair otherwise. He already had some elf from Rivendell looking for his blood since he was ten years old!

"Confused?" Doyni asked.

Aragorn did not reply, but listened to what the crazed man had to say in his defence of betraying first his brother, and then pretending to side with the elves, only to betray them as well, by attempting to hurt Aragorn.

"You see Ranger, we had planned this all. Our benefactor had paid us a lot of money to make up some crazed story about elves attacking us and killing our parents. The elf lady that explained it all was on our side, paid by us to do so."

"Why make up a filthy lie?" Aragorn asked, but then something dawned on him. "It wasn't Legolas that you were after, it was me. During our escape, the men went for me, rather then Legolas."

Doyni smirked as the Ranger guessed. "Yes. It was you we wanted but we had to make it look like that it was the Prince that we wanted. An interior motive so it would be easy to get our hands on you. No one would suspect a thing, which is why we didn't just up-prehend you when you brought us the Prince. We wanted to make you believe that we had our target, when at the same time we were planning to get you and hand you over to our benefactor."

Aragorn gulped. Doyni still gripped him by the collar, and was refusing to let go. "Who would want me?"

As the words left the Ranger's mouth a great foreboding came upon him. "An elf." he whispered, his face paling visibly. At first Elrond had not told him that the elf that had wanted to kill him still lived until several years ago when the threat seemed distant. Was it possible for this elf to be here, in Mirkwood, orchestrating this whole escapade? It couldn't be!

"An elf! Yes, a cloaked elf approached us and paid us a lot of money to get you. The elf told us that you were young, inexperienced, closely related to elves, and travelling with a wizard. He told us that you were coming to Mirkwood several months ago and bade us to say that our family had been killed and we were seeking to understand what had happened. It was so simple. The elf didn't want you to wise up to us. Let the elves come on to us first, and then take off with you."

As he had spoke Doyni's hand had slid towards the hilt of his dagger, grasping it he brought it above his head and slammed the hilt onto Aragorn's, rendering the Ranger unconscious.

Glancing around quickly, Doyni heaved the younger man onto his shoulder and carried him away.



*****



Hayner met his brother far away from the battle. With the elves so busy it had been easy to escape. In fact Hayner, himself, had wanted to do Doyni's part, but his younger brother had said that if Hayner was the leader it would be harder to convince the elves of his mistake then it would be for Doyni.

When the elf had contacted them about the human named Estel, asking them to capture him and give him to the elf, Hayner had been unsure, but had eventually conceded to the elf's plans. It was perfect plan for people to recognise him and Doyni for elf catchers. It seemed now that their plans were ruined, however Hayner and Doyni were both adamant that the elf would pay them. That was all that mattered now.

Their money.

The Ranger was still unconscious, his hands now bound behind his back.

"The Prince doesn't know?" Doyni asked.

"No." Hayner shook his head. "We will have no trouble from him."

Doyni chuckled. "By the time they realise our true motive, we'll be long gone."



*****



Legolas had lost sight of Hayner amongst the many elves fighting on the plain. Instead he had fought beside his father and friends, carefully injuring each man to the point that they were not dead but disabled.

He ducked, kicking out at his attacker and sending the man to the ground, then whirling round he hit the man on the side of the head with the hilt of his dagger.

A shout across the clearing caught the Prince's attention. An elf was pointing towards a man scurrying away from the battle with someone slung over his back. The prince's eyes widened when he recognised the two shapes clearly. Doyni and Aragorn!

"Legolas!"

The sound of his father calling his name caused the Prince to start running back towards Thranduil who was being heavily pushed back by men who it seemed were the more braver of Hayner's men then the others.

The King of Mirkwood was steadily being pushed back and none of his warriors were around to protect him. A blow to his side sent a spasm of pain to run up Thranduil's right side, nearly making him fall to his knees. Weakened by the blow, the elf King was finding it immensely difficult fending himself.

Legolas' mind whirled, undecided of who he should go and save: his father or Aragorn.

The elf that had alerted him to Doyni and Aragorn suddenly appeared at his side. "Go and save the human. I know how much he means to you. I'll protect your father."

Legolas nodded his thanks and sped off away from the battle, praying to the Valar to keep his father safe. He ran past a group of downed men and into the opposite trees, climbing up the bark, and running onto the slim branches above and so onto a next tree, running until he heard voices up-ahead and the sound of foot sounds.

Why do humans make so much noise?

The elf leapt through a few trees until he stopped and peered down from the tree-tops. Below him he could make out three shapes: Hayner, Doyni and Aragorn. From his vantage point the Prince could see that Aragorn was unconscious and bound.

He gritted his teeth as the two men spoke of Aragorn and their mysterious benefactor.

"I believe we will not get paid." Doyni was saying to his brother as they hauled the Ranger by his collar through the dense forest.

"Don't be so negative," Hayner said, "We will get our money. We will not give the Ranger to the elf unless we have our money first."

Legolas paused thinking back to his conversation with Aragorn before this whole escapade. "Could the elf they speak of be the same one who killed Aragorn's friend when he was younger? If so what did they need me for?" Legolas whispered before jumping into the next tree and continuing to listen to the talk.

"It's all wrong. I feel we shouldn't be doing this. There is something different about this one. I can feel a great destiny for him, but it will not be so if he dies now. Please rethink this. To me its all wrong." Doyni exclaimed.

Ah! This one has a conscience!

Hayner laughed. "Dear brother, there is no point in trying to think different. We are in this together. We cannot back out now, not when we are so close to our goal."

Doyni nodded. He had not liked the idea from the start but the amount of money involved had kept him going. All they had gone through had been to get one man when they could have easily have caught him when he'd first arrived in Mirkwood, but the elf had specifically planned it all out, making sure that Hayner and Doyni followed it specifically.

Legolas gripped his knives tightly before jumping down from the treetops and stunning the two humans by his sudden appearance.

"How....." Hayner trailed off unsure of what to say. He had been sure that the elf had not followed him. Then how did he get here? It didn't matter anyway.

Before either man could react Legolas jumped forward brandishing his knives and shouting in elvish. Hayner reacted fast enough to defend himself as one of the knives slashed forward barely missing his chest.

What followed was a fight that neither of them could win. Hayner had learnt enough about elves to know when to defend and how to keep them moving, and Legolas was still weak from his ordeal and was finding it hard to keep up with the strokes made by Hayner.

"Weak are we now, my little elf?" Hayner taunted.

Legolas remained cool breathing in as he launched another attack but failing miserably as Hayner defended.

"Ah, can't even beat a human in a fight! Weak little elf!"

Legolas gritted his teeth and snarled. "I'm not weak Hayner! If I was weak I would've been killed when you beat me! Don't think I'm weak you monster!"

Hayner screamed in pure rage and launched another fierce assault upon the elf. As the blows rained down Legolas' hand slipped from his hold on the hilt of the knife, and in the few seconds Hayner had cut the elf's back, leaving a large trail of a mark down his back. He could feel blood trailing down and it ached considerably.

The Prince landed on the floor in a heap unable to move as the pain took hold of his senses.

"I beat a great warrior of your kind and did not receive a scratch. How ironic? When elves are supposed to be better fighters then men, oh well?" Hayner gloated. He did not notice Doyni sneaking up behind him and lunging for his brother with a dagger.

Hayner side-stepped as he heard the soft pattering's of his brother. Doyni fell passed tripping over the Prince, his knife falling to the earth. Stepping beside his brother Hayner laughed again. "Predictable. How did I know that you would side with the elves? You've always been a sissy little brother. You make yourself seem all high but your not. You care to much for others of your kind, and the elves. Pathetic!"

Legolas reached for the fallen knife and pulled himself to his feet, grasping the knife in his hand.

Hayner turned to face him once more but was too late to defend himself from the elf, as Legolas stabbed him in the chest driving the knife through flesh and bone.

Flashes of his life came before him, darkness was crawling at his consciousness, his heart slowing, his eyes dimming, and he fell to the earth dead.

Doyni moved over to the limp Aragorn and untied his wrists and looked up at Legolas. "You won't kill me will you?"

"No," Legolas replied, "Thank you for helping me. I will want to know what this is all about once everything is all sorted out. Do not worry, I will make sure that no one harms you."

Doyni thanked him repeatedly as they made their way back to the camp.



*****



Upon arrive-ment Legolas and Doyni saw that all the man were unconscious and bound with elves guarding them. Legolas, who was holding Aragorn, walked up to his father who was standing with a bandaged arm.

"Father. Doyni, here, is going to explain everything to us once he's had a rest and when Aragorn has woken. All we'll be explained in due time, but I will say this. I was not the target that they wanted, it was Aragorn. They nearly got away with it if it hadn't been for Doyni and his conscience."

Thranduil looked confused but said nothing of it.

"I suggest you also detain Derondë as she will need to explain a few things to us as well." Legolas said before turning and asking Doyni to follow him.

That night the whole camp slept peacefully.



*****



Morning came, and Aragorn woke with a blooming headache. Memories of the past day were hazy at best, but as he woke his mind remembered all. Doyni's betrayal. Hearing that the elf that had wanted to kill him years ago was behind this whole escapade.

He turned his head slightly and saw Doyni sleeping beside him and he started jogging the other man awake.

"I'm glad you're awake," Doyni said, "Don't worry, you elf friend came for you and killed Hayner. I switched sides, again. You're safe back at the camp."

"I'm not sure if I should believe you." Aragorn muttered.

"You should Aragorn!" Legolas said striding through the opening to the tent. "Everything is fine." he turned to Doyni. "In half-an-hour my father and Derondë will be coming here to speak of what this whole thing is all about. Do be truthful. It will make things a lot easier."

Doyni nodded.

Aragorn glanced at Legolas. "Where's Gandalf?"

Legolas shrugged. "I don't know. Last time I saw him was before the battle started. I haven't seen him since."

Aragorn lay back and fell asleep.

He was woken again by Legolas gently shaking him. "Aragorn. Aragorn. It's time."

The human gradually woke. "What?"

"Doyni is about to tell all."

Aragorn woke sharply and stared around. The tent consisted of Thranduil, Derondë, Legolas, Doyni and himself.

Thranduil was speaking solemnly. "I do not like lies. I dislike it when even my own son lies but that is a rare occurrence. Be truthful to me and your punishment will be less docile then what the others will get." he nodded to Doyni. "Begin your tale."

Doyni nodded and spoke in a soft clear voice. "About one and a half years ago my brother and I were approached by an elf in our home town. He was cloaked so we never saw his face or heard his name. He told us he wished us to work for him in obtaining a certain human who would most likely be heading this way in the near future. We listened to his ideas and set to work. He wanted us to make it look like we were hunting elves trying to find out who had killed our parents. In aid of this endeavor we contacted Derondë and her brothers. We staged a plan to make it seem that we had a grudge against the elves. Everything was perfect. Then the elf showed up again and told us the human he wanted was travelling with a wizard and that we would have to change our plans so that we couldn't attack him out right. He told us that it would be better if we took elves captive and made them tell us about the Prince, so it made them think that it was Legolas we were after, when all the time we were just baiting the human in. When the Ranger arrived I began to feel troubled. He was young and he already had a death sentence on his head. I didn't want to give it to him, but the promise of money made me think of the reward I would get if I gave the human to the elf. My conscience got the better of me and, well, I helped you. That is my story."

Thranduil nodded. "Thank you. Now Derondë what is your tale?"

The elven lady bowed her head in grief. She had never thought to be found out. "I was approached by an elf and asked if I would aid him for what purpose he never said. I did. He just told me to involve my brothers and their friends in it and remain in contact with these men. When he had got what he wanted he would give us money. I did not want money but my brother did, so I stayed in it for him. That's really all I can say."

Legolas and Aragorn traded glances.

"That will be all." Thranduil said. "Your fates will be decided at a later date." he left the tent.

Doyni turned to Aragorn and said. "I'm sorry for everything."

Aragorn allowed a small smile to cross his face. "It's okay. I do not care for men, and I never will. You are one of the few that have shown me that there is some good to come of it." he shook his head as if in denial. "But no, I will never ever forgive men for as long as I live."

"You know Aragorn,...." he was cut off by the human's protests.

"Don't call me Aragorn. Estel is my name."

"You can't go around with the name Estel your whole life. You need another one."

Aragorn scowled. "I like my name."

"It just wouldn't fit with the Ranger attire."

"What about Strider?" Doyni asked, "He strides through life, right? It's perfect for someone to forget who he is."

"Then Strider it is!" Legolas laughed.

Aragorn bit his lip. "If you want it that way, then very well, that shall be my name. 'Strider'."

For a while afterwards laughter could be heard through the camp. It seemed that a great friendship was beginning to form between the Prince and Ranger.



TBC



Next chapter: Mellon-nin

Also there will be a sneak preview for my next story 'Fear of Men'.

Look out for it!

Namárië