Aragorn's face flushed with horror.
Merlyn! He'd been leading them astray this whole time? Aragorn didn't want to believe it, at all! It couldn't be! It just couldn't! The greedy man couldn't have pulled this off!
Could he?
Aragorn was absolutely silent. The thoughts that were flooding his mind filled him with anger. Merlyn couldn't have! But...the more Aragorn considered the facts and clues they already had, the more likely it seemed that the twins' suspense was true.
Everything makes sense now, Aragorn pondered feverishly. Everything! My men said there had been no sign of Arehada save for the old man they didn't recognize, who CLAIMED to be Arehada. They described him as having aged twenty-score years. He was bitter, and severely punished my men for no reason. Murdered some of them even! He claims that I have brought trouble to Middle Earth, for marrying Alasse, an elf.
Of course! Merlyn would be the one to conjure this up! He'd stolen the hearts of the people from Aragorn before, spreading word that King Elessar was taking their children as slaves.
And it had taken some time for Aragorn to earn some of their respect and trust back.
Merlyn had always been jealous of Aragorn's gift to win Alasse's heart. He'd heard abroad of Alasse's beauty and bravery. But he also hated Aragorn for uniting all races, and how benevolent he was to the poor and unfortunate. Most of all, he hated Aragorn for 'coming from nothing' and rising as the greatest king among men, when he hadn't had the same luck.
Apparently, a life sentence of hard labor hadn't rubbed off that deadly envy. Merlyn had taken matters into his own hands. And what had truly become of Lord Arehada? A hostage underground as Aragorn himself had once been? Murdered, most likely. It was just like Merlyn to set the people's prejudices against Aragorn, again. And Merlyn was once again using Alasse as a bargaining chip.
Thank the Valar Thranduil took her away! Aragorn breathed angrily.
"Then it is true." Aragorn finally spoke.
"What?" Fynn prodded.
"Lord Elrond wrote to me, telling me that as far as he could see, Merlyn would attack from a place we did not expect. Everything that has come into play seems to confirm your belief, my brothers." Aragorn stood up from the bed, erect and thoroughly provoked. "You are right. I can feel it!"
"My lord king! What shall we do?" Fynn cried.
"My brothers, we must prepare for war. Now that we feel we know the true identity of the mastermind." Aragorn stated.
"I'd advise you to send spies to Haradrihm, to search for Lord Arehada or at least what truly became of him." Elladan suggested.
"Yes. If he is alive, they shall bring him here. We'll tend him if he is ill or injured, and keep him safe if Merlyn has done him ill. If he is dead, well...then we'll give his house back to his people."
"You should send word to Legolas, and Adar, and Faramir."
"Yes."
"We must inform Adar." Elrohir said.
"At once!" Aragorn agreed. "Skandar!" He yelled. Guards burst into the bed chamber, Captain Skandar at the head.
"My lord?" Skandar bowed.
"Bring the prisoner Damien to the throne room!" Aragorn demanded. "Now!"