Disclaimer: I own nothing except for my original characters. Tolkien owns everything else. ALL BOW BEFORE HIM!

Summary: Who can you trust when you can't even trust your friends? That is the question continuously running through Aragorn's head as he is led on a mystery trying to figure out what happened to his friend, encountering one deceitful person after another.

The scam

Chapter 2

I was told about what happened by my foster father, Lord Elrond of Rivendell. You see I wasn't even in Imladris when the Mirkwood rider came to tell my family of what happened. My brothers and I were out hunting. Believe me, when we got back and Elrond told us, there were enough tears to fill the Anduin river. I think I was too overcome with my anger to realize that some of my friends had been murdered. We made plans to travel to Mirkwood the following morning.

"Estel, come on. We have to go now." I hated when Elladan did that. I still do. I guess I should have always been on my guard, living with elves and everything. Both he and Elrohir and every other elf were able to sneak up on me, and I was never able to hear them until they spoke.

I nodded to him and picked up my bag that was thrown on my blue sheeted bed. "You have to be strong" he told me. I almost wanted to laugh at the thought of that. I mean how in the Valar could I possibly be strong when I had learned only hours ago that my best friend had been thrown off a cliff. It was impossible to even think about, let alone do. I knew he was only trying to help, and I didn't want to offend him. He was hurting too, so I gave him a half smile as we walked out to where Elrohir, Elrond, a few riders and Glorfindel were waiting, already mounted on horseback.

For the most part, the trip was eventless. Quiet too. Hardly anyone spoke a word, not as we were travelling, not as we were resting. I do have to say that I was really thankful for that. I didn't want to talk to anybody about what I was feeling. If only I knew then what I know now. Maybe this whole thing could have been avoided.

*

"I really am sorry about this Estel, really I am" she said as she dug the blade just a bit deeper into my throat. Not far enough to cause any real damage, but enough to spill blood.

"Like hell you are" I spat. I never thought in a million years that I would ever hate her. But I guess when I made that assumption I didn't really know what harm she was capable of. I want to kick myself right now. How could I have ever let her trick me? And she wasn't even the only one who had fooled me, there were others as well. It's just that she was leading them.

*

Anyway…

We arrived in Thranduil's realm about three and a half weeks later. I don't know why some people give Thranduil such a bad reputation. He's been called a tyrant and a bully by some of the elves in Imladris, even some in his own kingdom. He really is a strong individual, strong and level-headed. Okay, okay, maybe he lets his temper get the best of him sometimes, but don't we all? He, Rydel, Thianna, and Darnin, his advisor, greeted us at the gate.

"I want to thank you all for coming" Thranduil said as he tried to keep his tears from spilling. You could see it just by the redness in his eyes that he really wanted to break down in weep in the company of his friends, but he wouldn't dare let himself do that. Maybe besides being temper mental sometimes, his only flaw is his pride.

"I am so sorry for your loss" Elrond said as he and the flaxen king gripped forearms. "I lost my wife also, though under very different circumstances, I feel your pain."

"Hannon le mellon nin."

(Thank you my friend.)

After we were all shown to our guest rooms that we would be staying in for the amount of time we were here, I sought out Rydel. Next to Legolas, and well the twins, he was my closest friend. I finally found him in one of the lounges, next to a roaring fireplace. Elves don't feel the temperature, so I think he had just put himself in a trance watching the bright flames flicker before his eyes. I guess it is sort of a rhythmical thing to watch.

"Rydel," I said as he patted him on the shoulder and sat down beside him. "I know there is absolutely nothing I can say that will ease the pain that you are feeling right now, so I won't even try. But I do want to tell you that you are not alone right now. Never while you have your father and your sister, will you be alone."

"Thank-you Estel" he responded quietly. "Thanks a lot."

The next day the funeral service was to be held. You should have seen how many people showed up. It was quite a turn out. Not that I was surprised or anything. I was sort of expecting the hundreds of people who came, to come. Guests from Rivendell and Lothlorien along with Mirkwood citizens filled the beautiful glade in which the service was taking place.

"I would like to thank all of you for coming today" Thianna began. "It means a lot to my family and I to know that we can always count on a few to be there for us in our time of need." She brushed back a strand of blonde hair away from her eyes as she continued on with her speech. "The members of my family that were lost were all good people, who did not deserve what was thrust upon their unsuspecting souls. How do I even go on trying to fit everything in about them in only a few minutes?"

It didn't even appear like she was crying. Her face was pale though, but she's an elf so that didn't say much right? I just thought to myself that she was doing what I was doing. Keeping her feelings locked deep within herself, not asking for help even though she needed it, badly. It was a plausible explanation.

After the funeral was concluded, everyone was moved into the grand hall. Thranduil told everybody that his kin wouldn't want people to mourn their deaths, but celebrate their lives. I think that that was a pretty good assumption to make. It was probably true. However, at the time, I wasn't in the mood for a feast. I'm sure nobody was, but I couldn't even pretend. Looking back on it, that was one of the better choices that I made.

I decided to take a walk through Mirkwood's gardens. This realm was really a beautiful place, if you didn't take the dark forest and gigantic spiders into account. Yes you heard me, gigantic spiders. Descendants of Ungoliant no doubt. Anyway, I'm getting off topic. As I was walking, I overheard a conversation being had within the trees. Me, I'm not one to eavesdrop, okay fine I am, so I moved closer.

When I was close enough, I saw that it was two people talking that I recognized. One of them was a rider that journeyed with my party from Imladris called Kindry. The other was a warrior from this realm named Carek. The discussion occurring froze my very blood. Let's hope I remember this word for word. I'm pretty sure I do, because it played over and over in my head since the day I heard it.

"How did she contact you?" Carek inquired. "You being from Elrond's land and all."

"She didn't contact me, I contacted her. Once I heard about her plan, I just couldn't stay away. But that's not important. You were saying something about when you visited the encampment four weeks ago" Kindry responded as he crossed his arms in front of him.

"Yeah, it appears as if she had kept him alive. I thought he was in for it after he tumbled over the side of the cliff" Carek said. "I'm guessing she has her reasons not to kill him. She must, or he'd already be dead like his brother and mother."

"Well of course. But I was under the impression that she had planned to get rid of all of them in that attack. If that's the case, then only Riandry and Thandarion are out of the picture" the noldorian elf declared. "How does she plan to fulfill her plans with Thranduil and Rydel still hanging around, and Legolas not too far away?"

"You see, Legolas will not be a problem. Everyone thinks he's already dead, they won't go looking for him. As for Thranduil, I know not her plans for him. Rydel on the other hand, he's to be gotten rid of within the week" Carek replied with a grin.

"She's asked you to do it?" Kindry asked in disbelief.

"You bet. And I'll make sure it's done right, so you don't have to worry."

"So you were up at the encampment, I still have yet to know where it is? Care to fill me in mellon nin?" Kindry inquired.

"It's up by the Iron Hills. About two weeks by horse, who knows how long by foot" the sylvan elf stated.

At this point I was filled with so much anxiety that I blew my cover. I went to move forward a bit when I stepped down upon a twig and it broke under my weight. "Damn it! Stupid, heavy, human feet!" I had cursed under my breath.

"There's someone there" I had heard Carek say. But that was all I heard him say because I made a run for it. If what I had heard was the truth, then I had to speak with Rydel as soon as possible.

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~*Judy Greenleaf*~