Aragorn didn't even blink. His silver eyes were locked on the rope. Alasse had said that something pulled at her...Legolas was right. This was no accident! But a deliberate attempt of harm against his wife and baby. But how? Aragorn's stomach burned, and he felt as if he was really going to throw up this time!

"Aragorn," Faramir held his arm, keeping him steady.

"Aragorn, there is something else." Legolas said gravely.

"What?" Aragorn asked flatly.

"The guards on the West wall came to us as we examined the area where Alasse fell. They have caught a prowler!" Legolas told him. Aragorn's head arched up.

"Where is he?" He asked menacingly.

Inside the throne room, several guards were standing in a circle, weapons drawn, surrounding a tall person on his knees. His hands were bound behind his back. He had dark, shoulder-length hair and was wearing a simple orange and blue tunic. His nose was bleeding and a bruise colored his face from where the soldiers had tackled him, slamming his face against the pavement.

Aragorn marched angrily into the throne room, his loyal friends at his heels. He glared coldly at the intruder who had dared come into his kingdom and threatened his wife, and child. The soldiers bowed their heads to him but he waved them off. "Report." He said stiffly.

"Your Majesty," Skandar, one their most loyal men spoke up, "I was about to shift duties with one of my men, when Corporal Matthew raised the alarm that this man was prowling around the castle walls in a hurry!" He pointed to the man they'd caught. "Thanks to his observance, we quickly cornered and apprehended him."

"Very good, Skandar." Aragorn grunted. He slowly approached the criminal and drew his faithful sword Anduril. He held the tip of it under the man's chin and forced his head up. "What is your name, miscreant?" He asked with contempt.

"Damien, Lord Elessar." The man answered in a bored tone.

"What are you doing here, in my kingdom?"

"Mission, my lord."

"Are you the one who set a stumbling obstacle in the queen's way?"

"I was." Damien answered nonchalantly. Legolas and Gimli both stepped forward and stood on either side of Aragorn, cutting off any escape for Damien and smoothly running their fingers over their weapons for further intimidation.

Aragorn was absolutely appalled, and his anger only blistered more because of Damien's calloused attitude! He stuck his sword an inch closer to Damien's vulnerable neck. It would be so easy to just punish him now and be done with it! But Aragorn, though a strong warrior was not a violent man, or easily ensnared by rage. But this certainly seemed as if it would finally break him to stoop to that point! "Do you realize she is with child, that you might have caused grave injury to both of them? Killed them in fact?"

"I was aware, Your Majesty."

Legolas trained his bow on the assassin. "Then why?!" He demanded. "Why would you want to harm the Queen of Gondor and the heir to the throne?"

"Speak up, ye miserable wretch." Gimli barked.

"This wasn't the way it was supposed to turn out." Damien complained. "The fall was supposed to force her into early labor, and-" That was as far as he got! Aragorn pinched his shoulder very painfully and held his sword straight against his skin, pricking it a half inch. Legolas had his arrow a mere inch away from Damien's nose and Gimli stood by, ready to swing his ax.

"Answer the question, scum!" Eomer snarled.

"He didn't provide me a backup plan in case I was captured! He said I had nothing to worry about, that I wouldn't be caught!" Damien vented.

"WHO?!" Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Eomer, and Faramir all growled.

"I wasn't really trying to kill your lovely queen-"

"No? Then just what were you trying to do?" Aragorn hissed, angrier than he could ever remember feeling in his life.

"The fall was supposed to bring on the labor early. The child would not survive, and the queen due to her infirmity, would be most unlikely to bear more children..." Damien explained. Aragorn roughly pulled his head back by his hair so that he met his eyes. Aragorn's silver eyes were flaming like a forger's fire.

"You have committed attempted murder on my heir, and a successful assault on my wife! Only one question more. You answer honestly, and maybe I shall make your death quick instead of painful!" Aragorn warned him. Damien flinched a little. "Who told you to commit this heinous crime?"

"He did." Damien muttered. "He lied to me! He offered me ten thousand crowns to do the job."

"WHO?"

"Name's Vincent Merlyn." Damien spat.

Aragorn's blood ran cold and for a moment, he could not think at all. His head was buzzing. His worst fear was confirmed.