Disclaimers: I do not own The Lord of the Rings. J.R.R. Tolkien does.

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Welcome to the final part of my Second Child fanfiction trilogy. :( :) In a way, I'm happy this trilogy is reaching its end, but I'm also sad since I've been writing my IMC Bingo Baggins for three months now. I'm going to miss him when it's over. :( One more thing I'd like to add, we're picking up right where we left off in the Journey to the Blue Mountains fanfic.

So, without further ado, I present the conclusion to my fanfiction trilogy, The Man in Shadows. :)

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The tavern in Thorin's Halls was filled with hobbits and dwarves that night. All around were kegs of beer and ale, as well as the usual dining. No one suspected a thing, but no one expected the mysterious man, hooded and cloaked in green, to leave so early. He had a mission, one that had been set down for ages. He waited until he was outside the inn and away from the doors before checking his scroll.

A list of names protruded on the scroll's parchment. Some of the names he had already taken care of. Doppelgangers and their hosts. But two names stood out the most at the end of the list, two names that shouldn't have come to the Blue Mountains, but stayed in Rivendell for a time.

Doppelganger: Bingo Baggins, Host: Frodo Baggins

"Bingo and Frodo," the hooded man chuckled slyly, "you two are on my list!" He closed the scroll, determination in his eyes. He looked up, checked his watch, and waved. A blue portal appeared in the center of the hallway. He looked back, checking to make sure no one was paying attention to him and disappeared into the portal.

The portal closed behind him as if it never came to light.

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The blue light reappeared and vanished, bringing the hooded man to the same hallway. The only difference was the hallway glowed in bright and shady colors. The hooded man sniffed the air. Sulfur and coal. Someone was working in the mines again. He turned to the inn, gliding in to see a variety of hooded and cloaked men and women, sitting down and lowering their hoods, revealing their faces.

The hooded man approached a bald, portly man wearing a white tunic, a brown leather belt, and blue jeans. This man looked up when the hooded man approached, tossing a sack of coins on the table.

"It's all here, Baider. One hundred and fifty silver coins, as promised," the hooded man said, as Baider counted the coins.

"Yes, yes. Very good, Ander." Baider said, looking up again with a pleased expression. "You can remove that hood now, Man of Shadows. We all know who you are here and are free to go about your business."

Ander removed his hood, revealing a rugged complexion. His eyes were like sapphires, twinkling against the night sky. His brown beard was scruffy, while his mullet brunette hair needed a trim. He donned silver chain mail beneath his green tunic. The brown leather belt, strapped to his dark green pants, carried a dagger and a sword. He grinned a sly grin at Baider, who continued to count his coins.

"Am I done for the day?" Ander asked, curious.

"Yes, yes, yes. You are free to leave." Baider said, shooing him away. "Oh, and Ander: do be quick! If a Doppelganger gets loose again, we must get rid of it. If not, then his host will suffer."

"Never fear. Frodo Baggins will not leave the Blue Mountains, without being apprehended." Ander vowed.

"Yes, I can see that," Baider said, returning to his coinage.

Ander approached one of the corner tables and sat down. It felt good to relax after a hard day's work. Now he knew where the hobbits were located. It was only a matter of time before he caught up to them again and showed them what a Shadow Ranger could do.

"Doppelgangers!" Ander huffed, smoking his pipe. "What a waste!" He would see to it that Frodo Baggins was safe. No Doppelganger escaped Ander's grasp. That he made sure of!

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Thanks for reading. :)