Disclaimer: See Chapter 1 for full disclaimer.

Author's Note: I'm really, really sorry that this chapter is late, but I added more to it than I planned, and I've been busy. Well, here's chapter two; there's another argument between Aragorn and Faramir, Meric and Andre get their orders, the plot thickens, yeah. So read and review please!

Blood and Daggers

Chapter 2-The Summons and The Quest

Meric paced the dusty, dank, and small room he and Andre had rented at the Blue Whisker. Round and round the room he paced, muttering darkly, while Andre watched him from the narrow bed, extremely amused.

Meric had been in a bad mood ever since the messenger had come to them earlier that night, and had told them to wait in their rooms until another messenger arrived and they received their orders. Andre chuckled softly as he remembered Meric's livid face at the messenger's words.

"You both are to wait at the Blue Whisker, in your room, at least until midnight. Another man will be there with further instructions." He had been trembling slightly, frightened out of his wits, but doing his best not to show it. And Meric's death glare hadn't helped at all.

"Who will be meeting with us?" he had demanded coldly, unconsciously gripping the hilt of one of the knives he kept at his waist. Andre had rolled his eyes, and then grinned at the messenger.

"No problem, mate. We'll be there." He had said cheerfully, then had quickly steered Meric away back to the inn before he could do worse damage. If there were two things Meric hated the most, it was waiting and being told what to do.

"Calm down, Meric, he'll be here." Andre said after several moments. It wasn't often Andre saw his friend lose his emotionless façade that was a trademark of his people, and he really did enjoy watching him when he did. Meric spun towards him a nasty glare appearing on his face.

"It's already an hour past midnight, Andre! Dagnirion should make sure his lackeys are prompt at least!" he said, so strung up that he didn't notice the door open behind him.

"Perhaps it was because he didn't send one of his lackeys." A chilly voice said quietly from behind him. Meric spun around again, and glared terribly at the intruder.

"Dagnirion." He said quietly, his glare diminishing slightly as he identified the dark-haired man. With hair black as the Void, and skin paler than any Andre had seen before, the guild master looked more like a wraith than a man. His burgundy coloured eyes did nothing to diminish the impression.

"I have need of the two of you." he said his voice sharp and demanding. "I have heard tales of feats you have accomplished together and you will need all the experience to complete the task I have for you."

"And that would be...what? Commandeering a fleet of corsair ships?" Andre joked lightly. Meric and Dagnirion both simply looked at him, and Andre shut his mouth. Not an ounce of humour in either of them, he thought, annoyed.

"Two beings are riding to my hold at this very moment, intent on my destruction." He continued. "I want you to annihilate them."

"Two men?" Meric scoffed. "Well, that shouldn't be too difficult. You could get any cutthroat on the street to comply with that."

"Hardly," Dagnirion replied. "And I said two beings, not Men. One is an elf. Prince Legolas of Mirkwood, renowned for his contribute to the Nine Walkers, and for his superior skill with a bow. His presence would complicate things no matter who the other was, but there is more. With him travels, Elessar, the King of Gondor, and therein lies the problem. Those two together could give me many problems if allowed to live."

"But if we killed Elessar, wouldn't everyone suspect you, or your guild?" Meric said, raising an eyebrow. "That would cause more problems than the other two. And what about Legolas? His father isn't one to sit around and take his death lightly."

"That is precisely why you two are going to kill them. You are an elf, Meric, and they would trust you to an extent for that reason. They would be cautious, of course, and I need you to get close to them to carry out what I have planned." He explained, his eyes gleaming evilly as he spoke. "I want to bring them to my home. I have some ambitious plans for my guild, and information they can provide would be very helpful. But that is merely an afterthought; I can accomplish what I plan without them."

"I thought you wanted them killed." Andre asked bluntly. If he only wanted them captured, why send them? "Annihilated was the word you used, I believe."

Dagnirion smiled coldly, and Andre couldn't help but wince; even Meric looked uncomfortable. "Oh, they will be, but not by you. All I need you two to do is bring them to me. You can meet with them at the edge of Ithilien in two days. Make sure that you gain their trust." He glanced at Meric then, and his smile diminished into a thoughtful glare. "I do not trust elves in anyway. Far too stubborn and difficult for my purposes."

Meric returned his glare evenly, an emotionless mask covering any discomfort he may have had. Dagnirion knew too much about their pasts for either assassins liking, and Andre decided on the spot that after this job was finished, he was moving to the North.

-----

"My lord, this isn't exactly proper conduct. You can't just leave the kingdom without anyone knowing where you're going, and not knowing when you'll be back! It causes panic!" Faramir was far past annoyed by the time Legolas had arrived, and agreed to accompany Aragorn. In fact, he was quite sure he was now a lovely mix of irritation, anger, and worry, with the irritation and anger quickly overriding the worry.

"Everyone believes I'm going to visit your uncle. Really, Faramir, you're acting ridiculous. We'll be fine." Aragorn replied calmly, putting the finishing touches on the packing he had done for the trip.

"You could have at least have taken an escort." Faramir retaliated, weakly. This was about the tenth time they'd had this argument since Aragorn had proposed his insane idea, and the ex-ranger had become even firmer on the subject each time. Why do I bother? Faramir asked himself again. Why?

"We'll be fine." Aragorn repeated. "I've traveled these lands countless times, usually alone, in far more dangerous times, and everything turned out perfectly alright. Stop worrying."

Faramir sighed. As much as he hated the idea, he knew that Aragorn was right. And not only that, ever since the destruction of Sauron, the lands of Middle Earth were far safer than before.

"Alright," Faramir replied, consenting, if only slightly. "Be back quickly, though. Does Lady Arwen know where you're going?"

"She knows enough." Aragorn replied shortly. Ah, Faramir thought gleefully, Arwen wasn't happy that he was going either.

Faramir and Aragorn arrived at the stables shortly, where Legolas was waiting for them, with two horses packed for the journey.

"It's about time, Estel." The blond prince said, grinning. "Did you get lost again?"

"Of course not." Aragorn muttered rolling his eyes. He had only done that once, and only because he had been given wrong directions! It wasn't his fault he had ended up in the lady's bathhouse instead of the library! "Let's just go."

Legolas bowed mockingly, still grinning while Aragorn mounted his chestnut- coloured horse. Then with the grace only elves possess, Legolas swung up easily onto his saddle-less mount settling easily atop his white warhorse. After a small amount of fanfare, and one more argument between Faramir and Aragorn (If you die, whose head do you think it's going to be?!), and the elf and the man were finally off.

-----

"They're late." Meric said shortly, leaning against a tall oak tree at the edge of the Ithilien forest. Dark clouds hung heavy against the deep grey sky, while thunder rolled in the distance. "They were supposed to have arrived yesterday."

"Oh, calm yourself, Meric." Andre said rolling his eyes, while swinging his broadsword around experimentally. "They'll be here."

Meric ground his teeth together, and forced himself to remain calm. A thousand things could have delayed them, he thought to himself. So calm down! He had no idea why he was so edgy lately, but ever since Dagnirion had visited him and Andre, he had been getting the awful feeling that something was going to go terribly wrong. All he wanted to do was get this job over with and away from that demonic guild master.

Something about Dagnirion scared Meric, and he would be the first to say that he didn't frighten easily. No, that man was definitely more than human, or Meric was an extremely tall dwarf. Snorting softly at the thought, Meric shook his head, and turned back to watching the ever- darkening sky.

"And now you're talking to yourself." Andre said grinning as he sheathed his sword. "I've always known you were partially cracked, Meric, but I must admit that I didn't think talking to yourself was your thing. I was leaning more towards torturing small animals."

"Now Andre, that is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard!" Meric protested mockingly. He then paused and looked thoughtful. "I'm more the torturing defenseless women and children type."

"Ah." The dark-haired man replied seriously. "Yes, you're right that does sound more like you. Hmm, no wonder they kicked you out of Lothlorien."

Meric's face clouded at the mention of his childhood home, and Andre grimaced. He really needs to get over that, the man thought. It's been nearly two centuries!

"I'm sorry, my friend, I shouldn't have said that." Andre said apologetically, placing a hand on his best friend's shoulder. "That was stupid."

Meric looked up and grinned. "Think nothing of it, Andre. It's stupid of me to still be touchy over it." Suddenly, his grin became wider as he cocked his head to the side listening carefully.

"What is it?" Andre asked curiously, straining his own ears, but only hearing the forest sounds.

"Our friends have finally arrived."

-----

tbc...