The Glorious and Majestic Citadel of Guard

[King Darre]

King Darre approcahed the White City in a small caravan of Dwarven wagons and warriors led by enormous war-pigs. Dark and gruffy eyes lay upon the miserable site of Pelennor Fields. The Dwarf spit on the already tainted land that Morsereg walked upon as his caravan approached the gate. What in the world was going through Aragorn's head? Morsereg was camped with more than half his army here in the Fields before Minas Tirith... And who said corruption was not among the good-hearted?

The Watchmen of the Gate acknowledged the Dwarf with a bow and opened the gate, granting his caravan of warriors entrance. Darre led his men up the incline ramps of the Seven Levels. It was on the last and highest portion of the city where they made camp in the streets. The Dwarf-Lord walked unto the small area that held the citadel and approached the King's Hall. Angerly they swung open as the stout Dwarf hurried in. "What are you doing? Have you no idea what this man is? What he has done? I have come with the offer of a bonding of realms, but at the sight of that Northern-Waste Sorceror, I must say it set my plans aback!"

[Morsereg Dîndaedel]

"I do not think I, or the king, appreciate your tone, Master Dwarf," The voice of Morsereg slithered from the doorway as he entered. "I do not think Aragorn has to explain himself to anybody, it is his decision, and his alone." He let a foul grin sneak onto his face. "Myself and Aragorn have come into a little...agreement, so to speak. All will be right in your little mind in due time."

[Faron]

"And what about those of us with larger minds?" Ashuron asked, leaning against a pillar on the side of the room, "Are we to stand aside and let you carry on with your unholy work?" The Elven Lord stared Morsereg straight on, "Now then," he said, "Answer me directly, are you the one responsible for the burning of Lothlorien's forests? King Aragorn does not think it likely, saying that your brother carries some ill-will towards you and would gladly throw enemies upon you, but I also recall both Angmar and Mordor fighting alongside each other at the Battle of Erebor. Perhaps this feud between you two is a mask for something more sinister. Now once more, did you, or did you not, burn down the Golden Woods?" By the end of his speech, Ashuron's voice had risen to levels usually not befitting of a place such as the Citadel, but Ashuron had never been one for political correctness.

[Lancir Misolen]

Lancir walked into the citadel fire in his eyes as he wandered in he began yelling.
"ARAGORN I DEMAND YOU TELL ME IF MY BROTHER WAS HERE"

[Morsereg Dîndaedel]

He turned to Ashuron, and shook his head. "I have not come within Lorien's borders bearing ill will against it. I did not burn your forests. We did fight together at the Battle of Erebor, but since then things have become sour. He wants my power...alway will he be the jealous brother. It was he who burnt your forests." He twitched when he heard Lancir storm in and start screaming.

"Lancir!" Morsereg turned to him, hissing, "I would advise you hold your tongue. Must I remind you at this time Aragorn is our only ally in this war?"

[King Darre]

"Congratulations, King of Men."

Darre turned to Aragorn, dissappointment shown on his face. "Perhaps in the end you shall come to your senses. At the moment however I have nothing to say to you." He walked towards the door and motioned for the Elf to follow. "Come. We must discuss important things."

[Envin]

"Darre, hold!" cried Elessar as the noble Dwarf-lord departed. "Do not let thyself be blinded by unknowing rage. Do not depart this City ere thou hast heard why Angmar is camped upon my land. What wouldst thou do, I would know? I would have ye tell me what Darre would do, should Morsereg take his wife, take his very soul, and keep it from him, until Alcorad was crushed. For such is my plight. Arwen is perhaps one of the last of her kind, and my very heart. Without her I am naught, and Alcorad is a common enemy. I have assurances from Dindaedel that our realms will remain unharmed, and that my bride shall be returned to me. In the while, Mordor lies as a threat upon our borders, and must be crushed one way or another.

What would ye have me do? What would thy choice be?"

He sat down in his seat, appearing weary to all they in the Citadel, to the surprise of them all.

"Ashuron, did I not foresee Morsereg's answer? And does his reply not bear the semblance of truth? I judge it to be. Will Lorien not now ally against her common foe, Mordor?"

"Lancir, yes thy brother was in this City, but I have no blame in that. He came of his own free will, and if thy simple mind dares to condemn me for allowing a free man to walk as such in my own city, then I shall behead thee where ye stand."

[King Darre]

"What would I do, Aragorn? What would I do? I would fight the coward who dared take my loved one. I would make war and bring havok unto the monster. Threats of death, regardless, we do not and will not take. Ever. Now the true threat weasles his way out once more and will gain yet another realm under his grimey belt. Or have you naught thought yet? Morsereg Dindaedel will now have housing in the South. Unless you have not heard they already do? Indeed. Traders from the Harad regions talk when drunk. The area named Karna is now under Northern control. Men are foolish. You have nothing but his word... He will be gaining in power..." He gave the King of Gondor a look of disgust and dismay. "Such good things I have heard of Men.. Only to find their ruler under non other than Morsereg's foot." The Dwarf-Lord shook his head and departed the Citadel...

[Lancir Misolen]

"I am sorry Aragorn I lost my head that scum has something very close to my heart in his possesion"
Lancir turned to Darre a look of disgust on his face
"As for you Aragorn does nothing of what is good for his realm hek nows of the growing threat of mordor and he is helping destroy the problem DO NOT speak of him like vermin we reserve that word for dwarves Darre"
he said to him very bluntly a look of pure hatred towards darre on his face.

[Faron]

"Indeed Aragorn, Lorien the Ever-Strong shall lend you its strength. I shall, I suppose, be able to overlook one or two questionable alliances for the good of Middle-Earth, and for Lorien's revenge upon the Tree-Killer whom I am told dwells within Mordor." Ashuron conclueded his speech and stepped back a few steps. And you, Dindaedel, I wish to keep an eye on, for trust is hardly given, but easily broken he thought to himself.

[Morsereg Dîndaedel]

"Darre, you seem to miss the point," Morsereg leaned against a pillar, eyes settling on the Dwarf. "If he tried to move against me. If he or anyone tried to move against me, then Arwen will not see the light of another day. She will not be released from her spiritual prison. I may not be a good man, but I am a man of my word. Arwen will be back in his possession when Alcorad has been stomped." He sighed, looking to Ashuron.

"Your views are understandable, and I will let you get a few strikes in on him. Yet, let me make this known to all in attendance who will aid me. Get in as many blows as you must, but nevertheless do not forget:

Alcorad is mine."

[Envin]

Aragorn had sat through all the discussion in silent calm, even pleading with the Dwarven King to remain and attempt to understand his reasoning. And he had endured in silent calm the doings of the past days, in which he been forced to accept perhaps the greatest blow he had ever known. And now to hear the words of Darre come from his lips, apparently with little thought for the good of Aragorn, and therefore of Gondor, and also with little reflection upon himself in the same situation, Aragorn lost his temper.

"'We' do not take? Have 'I' not thought? 'Twould seem it is the Lord of Erebor who has not thought!" he thundered, rising in an instant from his throne. "I have asked thee politely to consider thyself in my place, and as swiftly thou hast rejected even to possibly consider my point of view! Fight Dindaedel? Yea, as advised a plan as any I have heard from a dwarf!" He deliberately adopted a stance with his legs wide apart, his hand upon his hips, as though he was a schoolmistress instructing an errant child, and his voice was bitingly sing-song as he continued. "If I or Gondor takes up arms against Morsereg or Angmar, then Arwen shall be slain. Is that plain enough for thee? Thy wit appeareth as sizable as thy height! Given this choice, I ask Darre again what he would do, and perhaps he will have the sense to actually give the problem some thought this time, if any thought can be found within thy addled pate! Nay, I shall choose to attempt the destruction of a common foe rather than have my heart sundered from me. Perhaps Morsereg shall turn his grip upon me afterward, and perhaps he may not, but it will be turned against me in the end, and given the chance to defeat Mordor in the process, or slay my wife afore her time in the process, I should elect the former! If thou wilt not give the good of this pact a thought, then return not again to my City! If thou wilt perhaps find it within thyself to think before acting, then by all means stay."

He collapsed onto his seat, the hall echoing with his shouts, and even Morsereg's eyebrow was raised. Aragorn turned to him and said thus to him, as though to rebuke him for all the trouble his ruthless abduction had caused.

"I still await word from Rohan and Enedwaith, but what now is the first move of this alliance, my ... partner?"

[King Darre]

((Darre is of Ered Luin, not Erebor. )

The Dwarven King turned glumly towards Aragorn. Regret and defiance was clearly expressed over his old and tired profile. "Perhaps then, it is the customs of our different races that causes this great rift in the beliefs of this conflicts. Mayhap I speak of only the Dwarves when I say that one prisoner, despite status, should not be held over the good of a nation. What would I do? Follow this principal in bravery and faith. Hope and light. And at the moment, Thorongil, son of Arathorn, Gondor has lost all of them; and with it, the respect of my folk. In the end, this will hurt us all. I hope you are prepared for such an event to occur. Yes, you lose the current ruler of Mordor. But has it occured to you that in his stead it will become domain of another, even more powerful ruler? You gain nothing, and lose everything, King of the West." Darre turned his back on the group and marched out in somber, ignoring the stupid barks from Morsereg and his tool, Lancir. "The Dwarves will not be participating in this... And we withdraw our offer for a stronger alliance. At least for the time being." Shutting the great citadel doors behind him softly as he departed, Darre made his way back to the Dwarven Encampment on the Seventh Level. They would leave at first light.

[Morsereg Dîndaedel]

Morsereg's eyes watched Darre exit, darting them to Aragorn as soon as the doors shut. "You made a wise decision, my lord. Dwarves may be sturdy fighters, but they lack the brain to strategically win a battle. I don't doubt myself when I say that the Elves of Lothlorien," His eyes were on Ashuron for a fraction of a second, "will be able to make up for it with their battle finesse."

"As to my next move...I am unsure whether we should attack without Enedwaith and Rohan. If need be, they can come along as backup. What do you think, m'lord? Shall we strike?"

[Lancir Misolen]

Lancir looked at Morsereg Then Aragorn and he began to leave as he looked from the two.
"As i have what i came for I am leaving unless you need me for buisness."