Aragorn stayed rooted to the spot, the weight of what he had learned heavy upon him. There were traitors inside the palace. They were going to strike at Legolas, Thranduil, and Alandor within a matter of days. Aragorn knew in his heart that the lives of the royals hung in the balance. And yet, he felt frozen to the spot, not daring to risk movement for fear of being heard. True, he could move stealthily, but the hearing of the elves was far greater. And with Gimli caught and unaware of what mischief was afoot, Aragorn knew that he was the only one that could possibly save them.
One by one the elves departed from the prison room. Still Aragorn did not move, not until he was sure that they were out of earshot. Then Aragorn set to work finding a way into the room beyond the bars of the grate. It did not prove to be too difficult a matter, for the grate was not secure in the stonework and was easily removed and set to one side. It would be a tight squeeze, but Aragorn could see that it was just wide enough for him to slip through. He let himself sneak through the opening, stepping on top of the cell that Gimli was in. Quietly, he eased himself down onto the floor.
Gimli nearly gave a shout of surprise and gladness at seeing his old friend, but Aragorn rushed his finger up to his own lips in a sign to remain quiet. Gimli complied and whispered only.
"Am I glad to see you laddie! What is going on? Thranduil I can understand. This is not the first time he has imprisoned an innocent dwarf. But he and Legolas calling for our deaths?"
Aragorn shook his head. "It is not them. There is bigger mischief brewing here and the royals are but pawns in it. Those elves just now, they are plotting something and I fear the worst for the royal family." Quickly he informed the dwarf on all that had been said between the four unknown elves. "Do you know who they were?" he asked when his tale was complete.
"Aye," said Gimli. "That middle one was Kyno. The other three I could not tell. They did not sound or look familiar to me. Or at least I saw two of them. The other was in shadow the whole time and hooded."
"Kyno," repeated Aragorn, bringing to mind the face of the healer who had tended Legolas' spider bite on the way back to the palace. "I thought that the voice sounded like his, but could not be sure. He spoke too quietly and I was barely able to hear all that I did. Are you sure it was he?"
"Absolutely," Gimli said, nodding. "But enough talk! If all you say is true, Legolas and his family are going to need you!"
Aragorn nodded. "One small thing before I go," he said.
Turning on his heel, he crossed the smooth stone floor of the prison room to the table that the elves had been around earlier. Empty bowls for mixing were scattered about without order. Aragorn did not heed them and went instead to the jar that Kyno had taken something out of earlier. It was a simple, unadorned clay pot without so much as a rune to distinguish it or tell what the contents were. The top was stopped with a cork the size of Aragorn's fist. He pulled it free and grabbed a handful of what was inside.
The jar was filled nearly to the top with small oblong white pills. He sniffed at one briefly but it had no odor. Opening a tiny leather pouch hanging from his belt, Aragorn took a few of the pills, for he understood their purpose. They were counter-drugs for the spider venom serum. Somehow the ingredients negated the mind altering powers of the serum, disallowing any suggestion from taking hold in the victim's mind. Aragorn was not sure why it felt so important to take the pills with him; he knew that he would probably not be getting close enough to any of the elves to use them. He would be killed on sight if even a glimpse of him was revealed. But somehow he felt better having some of the white pills with him.
"I must go," he said turning back to Gimli. "There is much that I must do in a short space of time. You must remain here. I cannot risk the elves finding you missing. It is enough that they know I am somewhere inside the palace."
Gimli waved off his friend's apology. "Do not trouble over me. Go! Do what you need to. I will be fine enough here."
Aragorn nodded his head and began to look for the easiest way to reach the opening he had come through. The tops of the prison cells were higher than he had thought. Gimli, seeing Aragorn's thoughtful face, cupped both hands, ready to give him a boost up.
"Here," said the dwarf. "Let me help you."
A wry smile passed over the man's face and he gratefully accepted the help offered to him. With a small grunt from Gimli, Aragorn was able to reach the top of the cell and pull himself all the way up. He squeezed back through the vent and into the secret passage and returned the iron grating none too soon, for the echoing of elvish voices came softly to his ears. Guards were coming to take up their watch on the prisoner – probably the same elves who had been with Kyno earlier. Aragorn strained his ears. Yes, it was the two that had spoken with the healer elf. But as Aragorn lay on the floor listening, he could hear nothing of importance, only light joking and singing. Without further hesitation, Aragorn slipped away into the hidden corridors in search of one that could lead him to a place where he could learn of the doings of Legolas and his family.