Hello there, I'm back once again, now if I could just catch the plot bunnies.

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Chapter 14--Deception

Aragorn watched the man cautiously for a long time while he downed tankards of ale and annoyed the serving girls. Finally it was time to make his move. Aragorn stood. "Stay here," he told the twins then walked over to the man. "Mind if I join you?" he asked. "The next round is on me."

The man looked up and studied him then shrugged. "Suit yourself," he said.

Aragorn took a seat and gestured to a barmaid for more ale. "You are a warrior, do you know of any jobs or Lords that need more men?" he asked.

"You do not look like any of the warriors I know of," the man said.

Aragorn shrugged. "I am a ranger, I am called Strider," he said.

"Renn," the man said.

"Well met, Renn, so you have an idea about where I and my companions can find work?" Aragorn asked.

"I work for Lord Dalton. He is always looking for good men," he said. He peered at the twins. "Your friends look a bit scrawny though."

Aragorn didn't know if he should tell the man, but he would find out sooner or later. "They are Half-Elves," he said, "does it matter?"

Renn snickered. "No, I suppose not, come with me. I will take you to him," he said, draining his mug. He led the way from the tavern. Before long they came to a large manor house and were led inside.

Elrohir snorted in disgust at the furnishing and the other two agreed with him. It looked like a color-blind Orc had decorated it and that was being nice. They were led to a door.

"Wait out here," Renn said and slipped through the door. They could hear voices though not what was said then Renn came out. "He will grant you a brief audience," he said, gesturing for them to enter. He hurried off down the hall.

They exchanged looks and nods then entered the room.

Lord Dalton studied them for behind a large oak desk. "My man said that you three are looking for a job?" he asked.

"Actually that is not quite true," Aragorn said.

The twins drew back their hoods and Elrohir made sure the door was securely locked, so they wouldn't be interrupted.

Aragorn was across the room with Elf-like speed and had a dagger to the man's throat. "You bought an Elf from a innkeeper, blonde, blue-eyed. He is our friend and we have come to take him home. Where is he? If he has been harmed there will be hell to pay," he warned. He pressed the dagger against Dalton's throat until blood was drawn.

The color drained from Dalton's face when he realized how serious his situation was. "I do not have him any more. Cedrin has him! Do not hurt me!" he said. Suddenly he saw a way to get back at his hated rival. "I am kind to my slaves, believe me your friend would be better off if I had him. Cedrin is a vicious, perverted brute. He tortures slaves in the worst ways possible. I shudder to think what might have befallen the Elf by now."

"Where does Cedrin keep him?" Aragorn asked.

Dalton gave directions to Cedrin's manor. "I swear that is where he is," he said.

"If you lied to us I swear to the Valar we will come back and kill you," Elladan hissed.

"Easy, Elladan, we can not let our anger or dislike for this scum distract us. Legolas is the only thing we should be thinking of. Tie him up and gag him. We have to find Legolas," Aragorn said. He felt like the twins did, but they dared not commit any crimes. The man that had brought them to Lord Dalton would fetch guards and they couldn't afford to be arrested.

The twins hurried to do so then they left the house to find this Lord Cedrin and get Legolas back no matter what or who stood in their way…..

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Sneaky, deceiving little worm, that Dalton, don't you think? R/R please!