I love this story!!! I don't know why, I just do...

Deana; Thank you v. much! I know, ff.n is screwed... what am I saying, ff.n is always screwed!!! *sees ff.n admins glaring* Ahem! I mean, in the nicest way possible... -_-'

The joyous pumpkin; Poor Brego?! What about Aragorn?! Or Arwen?! Or... or... anyone???!!! No. No, it's poor Brego. LOL, always the horse! Only joking with you; thanks for your review!

Estel Elven Enchantress; Drive him insane!!! Go on Jo!!! Oh yeah, did you get my email about Twilight? If not, I'll send it again... if you did, I've had some ideas now!

Callie3; Yes! Someone has picked up that Faramir will be featuring more now!!! Good good good... -^.^- --- *blushes* Ooh!!! You really mean that?! One of the best stories here?! THANK YOU!!! *blushes again*

Sirithiliel; Thank you! ^_~

Fritz Will Get You; Who is Fritz? And why is Fritz going to Get Me?! ^_^ Lol, only joking! I like the name! Thanks for reviewing!

Mellaithwen-JediKnightess; More torture?! Ok Amy, your wish is my command... *grins evilly at Legolas & Aragorn* This means you two y'kn- *realises the pair are wearing full body armour* What are you two up to now?

     ARAGORN: Well, we figured that seeing as this is you we're talking about, we'd better take some precautions...

     LEGOLAS: That nice Ned Kelly man lent Aragorn that and that other one, his friend, lent this to me... what was his name again? Unusual it was...

     ARAGORN: Somewhere in Florida, wasn't it?

     LEGOLAS: Yes... Miami or something like that...

     O_O' Right then...

Sparrow Greenleaf; Yes Aragorn! *pulls out multi-thronged whip* Be nice... or I won't be. Thanks for reviewing Sparrow!

Anarya; What could this evil person want? Who knows?! ... Well, I do obviously, but other than me, who knows?!

elfmage; Ah, what are they going to do to Aragorn? You shall se my dear... alright, fine then. I take it back. You're not nice. You're horrible, nasty, depraved, sadistic... *continues for hours*... you get my point now? All in the friendliest possible manner of course however... =) What do you mean; "scary if you read it"?! Is my stuff scary?! =)

     ARAGORN: Scary?! That's got to be the understatement of the century...

Unavoidable Aragorn-bashing ahead my dears... you know how it works... =) Like I said, unavoidable...

.:Chapter 13:.

Arwen's head turned sharply when she heard footsteps clacking on the dusty stone floor of the corridor. The Queen strained her neck to see who, or what, was coming.

Two skulking Orcs lumbered into the large cavern. Behind them, they dragged a heavy weight that they didn't seem to be handling too gently at all. Following them was the mysterious and dangerous stranger, his long black cloak dragging slightly along the ground.

The pair of foul beings dropped the part of the object that they were pulling on the hard floor. Arwen's doubts mounted when whatever it was moaned softly.

The dark man approached them, his snake staff clicking as it made contact with the floor. "Go, join the others," he commanded.

As they moved away and returned up the passageway, Arwen was then able to see clearly just what had been brought in. She gasped, tears welling in her eyes once more.

"Aragorn!"

~*~*~*~

He was in a blissful state of unconsciousness when a hot lance of pain exploded in his side.

"Wake up you!" hissed a voice. Aragorn groaned again.

His captor, frustrated with the King's lack of response, kicked him harshly in the ribs again. "I said wake up!"

Aragorn's eyes fluttered for a moment before sliding open. He was in a spacious cavern, which had many large pinnacles of rock jutting up from the floor. He realised that he was lying atop on of these vast peaks, and surrounding the rock-strewn precipice were great canyons of inky darkness. If you fell, it would be a long way down before your body was impaled on the jagged rocks below.

And then he saw him; the strange man from before, standing over him, smirking. His thoughts suddenly came back to him, and a look of rage graced his face. His hand went instinctively for Andúril, but grasped only at thin air.

The man laughed. "Looking for this?" he teased, and withdrew a shining silver sword; Andúril.

Aragorn stared upwards in disbelief for a moment, before making a wild move to grab his sword back. The other however was not going to let it all end so easily, twisting the blade so that its tip rested on the young King's neck.

"Oh, I really wouldn't if I were you... imagine that; the great hero of the War of the Ring, impaled on his own sword..."

Aragorn glared furiously at the man. "Who are you?!" he shouted, ignoring the tiny nick of pain as his neck pressed slightly against his own blade.

"Who am I?" repeated the man. He grinned. "I am the Darkness held in every heart. I am the Shadows in the alleyway at night. I am Everything you are not..."

Arwen watched in horror as the sword was pointed threateningly at her beloved's throat. "Leave him alone!" she screamed, pushing herself up from her seated position on the floor and running towards the two figures. The Orc on guard however grabbed her arms, pinning them back and holding her in place.

The leader of the Orcs looked over. Aragorn heard the cries and craned his neck upwards to see behind him. He saw his wife being handled roughly by the foul beast, and his rage boiled inside of him.

"Let her go NOW!" he demanded furiously, not moving as the tip of the blade was still hovering over his neck.

The stranger glanced back down again, rolling his eyes. "Shut up," he hissed, and kicked Aragorn harshly in the ribs a third time. The King cried out in pain, rolling onto his side. Luckily, the sword was moved from its possibly deadly position, leaving him free to move.

"As I was saying, before I was so rudely interrupted," sighed the man sarcastically. "I hope you realise how much trouble you have been to me, son of Arathorn. Remember back, all those years ago... your father was killed by marauding Orcs, am I correct? So tragic..." He laughed.

"Why are you telling me this?" asked Aragorn, his teeth gritted with pain and anger.

"Let me finish," whispered the man. "Arathorn... he was a good man. Too good. I couldn't stand him..."

Aragorn's eyes widened.

"I was fed up with always being second. It was always Arathorn this, Arathorn that... never Cayred. I wanted some recognition!" His eyes narrowed, and he peered into Aragorn's face. "And I got my glory. Not from those I had expected, no, but I gained respect from another side... I was able to control those Orcs with promises of power."

"Y-you?!"

"Yes. Orcs aren't intelligent to attack certain people on their own; they need a leader. I just happened to be able to provide that to them." He smirked when he saw the look upon the King's face.

Aragorn's heart swelled suddenly with pure white hot rage. He let loose an enraged cry and launched himself at Cayred. The traitor simply side-stepped and Aragorn regretted his actions when he felt a leather-gloved fist sink into his stomach hard. He collapsed on the floor again as the air left him.

"Stop, please," pleaded Cayred mockingly. "You're embarrassing yourself in front of your beautiful wife here."

Aragorn slowly raised his eyes to him, gasping for breath. "Keep your... filthy eyes... off... her!"

Cayred ignored him. "A beautiful trophy she would make... and look!" He grabbed Aragorn around the chin and forced his head to the side to look directly at Arwen. "I wouldn't even have to do any work for an heir. You've done that already for me..."

Aragorn struggled wildly against Cayred, kicking and wriggling away. Oh, if he could get just one swing at this beast, he would finish him off. No words could describe just how much hate he felt for this man right now...

"Just you wait Cayred!" he screamed. "The City knows I am gone! Do not think that Gondor shall simply let its royals fall in some dank Mordorian cave!!! They will be here soon!" He was sure of it. Faramir would bring the army here; his faithful Steward and good friend wouldn't let him down.

Cayred laughed again. "No dear King, I think I will get away with this. Would you like to see how?"

He brought the snake staff closer to Aragorn. Although the former Ranger twisted his head and tried not to look, he found himself transfixed as the ruby eyes of the golden serpent began to emit a swirling red light. Images began to appear before his eyes and in his mind...

Orcs were headed towards Minas Tirith! Some pulled up their enchanted hoods and took on the appearance of men, and some hid in sacks and were put onto carts. They were disguising themselves as merchants heading for the market, but underneath their cloaks they carried brutal looking swords and scimitars. They would take the City from the inside...

Aragorn's eyes widened. Faramir! He would not realize until it was too late!!! Legolas and Gimli were still in the Citadel (so he thought), both probably still quite weak from their injuries. How would they fare?!

Cayred waved his hand, and the ruby swirls faded. He watched as Aragorn shook his head numbly.

"Your hope is gone, Elessar..."

~*~*~*~

"Quick, get down!"

Both Elf and Dwarf ducked behind a great rock and peered over the edge.

They had left Arod a little way down the hill, concealed by a particularly large clump of dried and brittle bushes. Legolas had spoken softly to Brego, explaining that the horse had to go and wait there also, and the horse, knowing and trusting the Elf, obediently carried out the request.

The reason for hiding now? A great army of Orcs marched out of the cave, dragging with them carts and sacks. They were heading for Minas Tirith.

"What should we do?" whispered Legolas. Gimli looked up at him.

"What do you mean?"

Legolas frowned. "They," he said, pointing to the Orcs. "Are headed for the City. Aragorn however, is in there." He nodded towards the cave which they were merely feet away from.

"We go and help Aragorn of course!" said Gimli. When Legolas looked at him questioningly, he cleared his throat.

"Look laddie, Faramir is in the City. He's got the army there; they'll cope. They'll see this rabble coming a mile off. Aragorn on the other hand, is in there alone, and if that flighty Elvish intuition of yours is anything to go by, he's not faring too well. Now who do you think need the more help?"

Legolas though for a moment. "There would be no way we'd be able to get in front of them anyway, would there?" Gimli shook his head. The Elf sighed. "Then we help Aragorn..."

They waited a while longer, crouched behind the rock, until the last Orc left the cave and began to make its way down the ashen hill. Then, they gathered their weapons, and headed inside, fading away into the darkness...

~*~*~*~

^_^ There we go! So now the evil creep has a name!!! Tell me what you think!

     ARAGORN: =( I'll tell you what I think!!! I think-!

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