"I have sorely needed your counsel and companionship!" Aragorn breathed, with small tears in his eyes.
"That is putting it mildly." Elladan frowned. "You are a pitiable sight, little brother. You have lost too much weight."
"The whites of your eyes are as pink as a sunset." Elrohir offered.
"I'll be alright now." Aragorn tried to assure them. "Now that you are here, I shall be able to put my mind to a little rest."
"We will insure that." Elrohir told him. "On top of all the stress you're under, it's obvious that you're lovesick. Estel, we saw Alasse and her father in our travels."
Aragorn's bloodshot eyes lightened up. "You did?"
"Ai. They were leaving Edoras." Elladan said.
"H-how was she?" Aragon asked with trepidation.
"She looked very well, Estel." Elrohir said kindly.
"Very well indeed! And as round as a rowboat." Elladan threw in. "She looks as if she could deliver any day!"
If that truly is the case, I shall miss out on it. Aragorn thought painfully.
"She is so heavy with child, I do not fathom how the horses manage to bear her weight! The most rotund elf I've ever seen." Elladan teased. Aragorn clopped him on the ear. "Hey!" Elladan winced.
"You happen to be speaking of the Queen of Gondor, brother. My queen!" Aragorn told him angrily.
"Lighten up, Estel. It was a mere jest." Elladan said defensively.
"If Legolas was here, he'd threaten to rip your tongue out." Elrohir said.
"Well, he is not here. But I am." Aragorn glowered.
"Alright, alright. Valar, Estel! You are overwrought." Elladan shook his head. "Your battlefield struggles have made your sense of humor turn sour."
"Come. Come inside. We have much to discuss." Aragorn smiled wearily. The two elves lifted their arms under his, assisting him in his walk. "Really?" He groaned.
The servants were summoned, Aragorn introduced Fynn to his brothers and tried to explain to the poor, confused boy how they were family. Aragorn informed his brothers on what Elrond had told him, and what he knew so far. The sons of Elrond pondered all of this quietly. Aragorn appeared more and more weary until he'd shared everything that had been burdening his mind. He looked so drained, his kingly shoulders slumped, his face hallow and taut, and his hands were shaking.
"Have you arranged a counsel meeting yet?" Elladan asked.
"We shall...commence with that tomorrow." Aragorn said sluggishly. He tried to rise from his chair, but his body felt like liquid. "You must be tired. Best settle in your chambers until…" he yawned.
"We're tired?" Elrohir chuckled, crossing his arms. He shared a conspiratorial grin with his twin.
"Shut up, 'Ro." Aragorn muttered quietly, taking another sip of wine. He nearly passed out in the middle of his drink. His eyes widened and he glared darkly at the two miscreants. "What did you put in this wine?" He snarled.
"What?" Elrohir asked innocently.
"Don't give me that!" Aragorn shouted, then yawned. "You...you spiked my wine!"
"We are not mortals, Muindor. We do not spike beverages." Elladan said calmly.
"Why?!" Aragorn growled.
"Estel, you are beyond exhausted." Elladan rolled his eyes. "You can barely stand."
"Liar…" Aragorn tried to shake his fist and staggered like a drunk. He dropped face first on the floor and didn't move.
"That should've instantly worked." Elrohir stated. "Why didn't the serum take immediate effect?"
"Because he's a mortal Rovan dol (hard head)." Elladan answered casually. "Well, let's get him to bed."
At that moment, Fynn appeared in the doorway. "My lord? I brought some extra-" Fynn dropped the tray he was bearing of extra cheese, grapes, and water. "My lord Elessar!" Fynn gasped in panic. He rushed to the king's side. "Your majesty! What happened?!" He glanced up at the elves. "What did you do to him?! What have you done to the king?"
"Oh, Valar help us." Elladan breathed. "Calm yourself, penneth. He is perfectly alright."
"You poisoned him!" Fynn accused frightfully.
"Never! He is our brother." Elrohir knelt down next to the boy, trying to calm him. "He only had one drink too many of wine."
"I don't believe you!" Fynn shook his head. "Skandar!" He hollered. "Come quickly! The king! Skandar!"
"No, no. It's alright!" Elladan tried to assure him. "We only gave him a sedative so he can rest tonight."
"Skandar!" Fynn yelled. Several guards, including Skandar arrived, their spears at the ready.
"What is it, Fynn?" Skandar asked.
"The king has been poisoned!" Fynn declared.
"Poisoned?" The guards drew a breath.
"My good sirs!" Elladan held up his hands as a peace gesture. "The king is not dying! He is our kin! He is exhausted. We were just about to help him to bed-"
"Not another word!" One of the guards bellowed. "On your knees, kingslayers! The both of you!"
"Skandar! You know us!" Elrohir pleaded. "We are the sons of Lord Elrond of Imladris! Aragorn is our family. This is not what it appears!"
"I do recognize you, my lords." Skandar said calmly. The twins breathed in relief. "On your knees!" He demanded.
"What?!"
"On your knees!" Skandar bristled. "Take these two into custody, and escort them to the dungeon!" He ordered.
"What the-" Elladan gaped. "Skandar, he's fine! He's only knocked out with a sedative!"
"Take them away!" Skandar told the guards. "Take the king to his chambers, and send for a healer!"
"We are healers, you dolt!" Elladan protested.
"You know we are!" Elrohir added.
"Take them away." Skandar said in a bored tone. Four guards took the twins by their arms and led them away. Several others stooped down to lift their king off the floor.
"Will he live?" Fynn whimpered.
"I believe he will, lad." Skandar said reassuringly. "But we still must investigate this situation."
"I pray he lives!" Fynn cried.
"Breathe, lad. You should go home, Fynn. We will look after our king."
"I am his cup-bearer. His valet." Fynn pleaded.
"Go, little one. The king will be alright. I promise." Skandar said calmly. Fynn fled, weeping. The soldier shook his head. "This day has just become even more flummoxed."
Elladan and Elrohir sat gloomily in their cell. "Well, this is just brilliant." Elladan muttered.
"It was your idea, Muindor." Elrohir glowered.
"You would've done the same thing! So would Ada!" Elladan retorted defensively.
"He would've actually been clever about it!" Elrohir rolled his eyes.
"Everything was flowing just fine, until Fynn showed up! We could've just carried Estel to his chambers, tucked him in bed, and he would have slept beautifully." Elladan replied tersely.
"You blundered it again."
"Would the two of you just shut it already?!" A disgruntled voice hissed from four cells down.
"Can't you see my brother and I are having a family argument here?" Elladan answered.
"D- it. It's bad enough the whelp didn't die in her belly, or after she popped it out. Now the king is arresting elves! D-. He must be a rare specimen of ingenuity. Perhaps he's beginning to see the point."
The brothers' elf ears had picked up on the curt monologue. They both rose to their feet and peered darkly through the bars as far as they could see. "What in Valar's name are you speaking of?!" Elladan demanded. "Whom do you speak of?"
"Why should I tell you?" Damien sneered.
"You spoke of committing murder of an unborn infant!" Elrohir snapped.
"I prefer the term attempted assassination." Damien said dismissively.
"You abhorrent cur!" Elladan hissed.
"Are you referring to Queen Alasse?" Elrohir asked coldly.
"Obviously." Damien groaned.
"You tried to kill her, and the baby?" Elrohir spat, mortified.
"Not her, you dunce. Just the little one. The fall was supposed to trigger an early labor, killing the suckling, and therefore causing the oh-so-beautiful queen undue grief and heartache." Damien explained with a hint of elation.
"How dare you!" Elladan hissed. "Who hired you to commit such an unthinkable act? And why?"
"You pointy-ears never shut up, do you? Vincent Merlyn of course, he hired me. Wants revenge on the king of Gondor. Simple." Damien sighed. "Until those d- rookie soldiers got a hold of me! If they'd been at their queen's side, tending to her distress instead of chasing me, things would've been different! D- it! The security in this city is above reproach!"
"That was not by chance, thank the Valar." Elrohir snarled.
"According to Estel, it appears Lord Arehada is as appalled about the royal wedding as Vincent Merlyn." Elladan said.
"But Arehada was allies with Gondor. It doesn't make sense. Why would Merlyn declare war on allies of Gondor instead of directly provoking Estel?"
"My belief is that his objective is to play with Estel's selfless heart, parrying off the good of the world, his kingdom's sources of security against his own personal conveniences. Namely Alasse."
"So he threatens the allies to turn against Estel, believing that it will save their people. In the end, all of their forces will truly be weakened significantly. They'll realize they should have clasped their loyalty to Gondor, who wouldn't leave them in ruin."
" 'Dan? According to Estel's reports, his men were sent to inquire after the whereabouts of Vincent Merlyn, were they not?" Elrohir pondered. "But instead, they returned with reports on Lord Arehada, and this...this Mordor miscreant claims that Merlyn paid him to attack Alasse and the baby. 'Dan, are you following me?"
"Ai. There were no reports on Merlyn's whereabouts when they returned!" Elladan answered.
"Ai, muindor. That was their mission, and yet turned up nothing of him. That does not settle right. What did Lord Arehada do with Merlyn?" Elrohir gazed at his brother pensively. "Why wasn't he around when Aragorn's men came?"
"Because he was-" Elladan began then his dark eyes grew intense, piercing like a sword's edge.
Elrohir shouted through the cell, "Guard! Guard! Let us out! We must speak with the king, now!"