A/N: I just wanted to let everyone know how much I appreciate their reviews and to the lurkers just reading. I'm going out of town, in a few minutes and won't be back until Sunday so expect the next chapter Sunday night or Monday morning. I'd like to wish each and everyone of you a Happy New Year, please don't let friends and relatives drive impaired. And now on to the fic.

Overcoming Prejudices

By washow

Rating: PG (rating went up for some mention of violence).

Summary: Things go badly for the elves of Mirkwood and their only salvation may come in the form of a ranger of the north. Will the woodland king swallow his pride and ask for help?

Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings nor am I making any profit from this story. Any similarities to other fan fiction are purely coincidental. This is not slash but a tale of friendship and family love. Some people may see this as an AU story because of the assumed friendship between Aragorn and Legolas.

Chapter 3: The answer discovered

Aragorn rode hard hoping to make it to the tall birch, the half-way point, by dark. The man knew that Legolas had the utmost confidence in his abilities but Thranduil was another matter entirely. Aragorn was excited by this opportunity to grow closer to the woodland king and had no intention of letting the elf down. Luck seemed to shine on Aragorn in this endeavor because he made his destination the first night and managed to get into Lake-town before the gates were closed on the second night.

Due to his fatigue and the dull throb of his wound Aragorn was forced to retire to his bed as soon as he found a room but rose extra early the next day, determined to find some answers. As soon as he broke his fast Aragorn headed for the grain market, intending to find out if there was a shortfall here as there was in Mirkwood. The man had opted not to wear the dark colors of the rangers but instead had dressed himself in the attire of local men hoping to be able to pass for a spokesman of a human settlement. When he reached the market he took a deep breath to study his jittery nerves and knocked on the manager's door. Hearing a summons from within Aragorn opened the door and strode in to find himself facing an elderly man who had a gentle smile, the kind of smile that would put most at ease, but Aragorn was not like most men and could easily see the dangerous glint in the this one's eyes.

The man rose from his seat, "I am Gordor, the grainery manager how may I help you?"

Aragorn shook hands with him as was the custom in these parts, "My name is Thorongil and I hope you can help because you see I'm in quite a fix. My village, Greenbor, lies some thirty miles to your southeast and we have been hit with an invasion of insects that destroyed our wheat. We are in great need of some to get us through the winter and we hoped you would sell us some, we could pay extra of course."

The man's eyes became kind, "No need for that. We have wheat in abundance this year and if our excess can help you than so be it. In fact we had so much that I was afraid it would rot."

Aragorn smiled widely while his mind processed the new information, "I thought you have elves as neighbors, perhaps they would buy the wheat."

The man narrowed his eyes suspiciously, "I'd rather die than sell that wheat to the elves now, later perhaps but not now. Do you want the wheat or not?"

Aragorn filed the information in his brain to process later and nodded enthusiastically, "Of course, we'll be back for it in a week's time." The disguised ranger then took his leave of the man and made his way back to this room where he could once again become a ranger and more importantly, be clothed in such a fashion that he could blend in with the shadows and find out some information. Once redressed Aragorn begun wandering the streets while thinking over everything that had been said at the grainery manager's officeIf the men had so much grain they were willing to let it rot, then why wouldn't they trade with the elves? He was sure Thranduil would be willing to pay handsomely for the grain if it meant saving his people. His mind continued to work on the matter while his feet walked about the town. He remained in his daze until he heard a shout and came out of his musing to see he was back exactly where he started – the grain mill. He looked up and saw the shout must have come from the men who were getting off work. The ranger hesitated a minute then decided the best way to find out what was going on in the grainery was to listen to the conversations of those men. He could only hope that they, like so many others, would visit a pub on their way home. So it was with that thought that he followed them down the street and around the corner.

Aragorn was glad that he had managed to change back into his ranger garb during the course of the day, it allowed him to be inconspicuous while he tried to gather information. The men in front of him had indeed stopped in a tavern and Aragorn took a moment to ready himself before going inside. As soon as he stepped through the door a hush gathered over the assembled crowd, this he thought, was the draw back of being dressed like a ranger – everybody was afraid of you. Ignoring the hush of the crowd and the prying eyes Aragorn headed for the back corner of the establishment and settled himself in a chair. Once the other patrons saw he was no immediate threat they went back to their conversations.

Aragorn ordered a house brew when the girl came by and focused his attention on the grain workers who were sitting nearby. "Gordor told me a man came by today to ask about all that grain so it seems it won't be going to waste after all."

The other man took a drink of his ale and shook his head, "I don't see why Gordor didn't just sell it to them elves, they sure was interested in it."

The first man cuffed the second upside the head, "Sure they were interested in it but they weren't interested enough. Gordor wants to hold out until they are really desperate then get the king to hand over a quarter of his land in exchange for the grain. It will be great, Gordor has plans to cut the trees, sell the lumber then use the land to grow wheat. He offered me a full partnership when I agreed to deliver the grain when the time comes."

The men soon got up and made their way to the door but Aragorn was no longer paying any attention – they meant to cut Mirkwood? Aragorn never thought his fellow men would stoop so low. He could not even imagine the implications of such a proclamation on the royal family. Well, he thought no time like the present to deliver the news and so he hoisted himself from his chair and within the hour was riding toward Mirkwood.

TBC