Disclaimer: Neither the lovely Alenor, nor myself, own the characters, place, or settings. A secret plot is currently underway to get hold of them though… Cookies to anyone who can help!

AN: Ooops… Sorry everybody for taking so long. Send cookies to Alenor, who got me off my lazy bum with a multitude of emails! So here it is, all shiny and brand-new… I think it's safe to say the both of us are satisfied with the result…

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Elladan Elrondion crept stealthily through the forest, rough light brown tunic making him all but invisible as he flitted through the grove of pine trees that pressed in on either side of him. He made not a sound as he approached what had become known as the mysterious camp. Elrohir was nowhere in sight, having been elected to stay behind at the twin's own campsite. It had been rather unfairly decided that the younger twin would be too likely to give them away. Actually, Elladan had made that decision, much to the dismay of Elrohir who had gotten no chance to argue back before Elladan had left..

Elladan was ignorant of the thoughts of revenge running through his brother's mind as he closed the distance between himself and the secret camp. Frustration seethed just under his skin as he noticed a patrol making their daily and noisy rounds. Not again! Each time he had tried to get close; he had been forced to scramble away from a Dwarven patrol. This time there was no going back though, he was determined to get past.

He slid from tree to tree, keeping to the shadows whenever they presented themselves for his use, ever alert for signs of another approaching sentry. It seemed, that for once luck was on his side, as he soon found himself close enough that he could make out several voices, along with a great deal of banging. Confusion knitted his handsome brow, furrowing it in a deep groove. One of the voices sounded very much like his Ada, which in itself was both relieving and odd.

It was relieving in the sense that he had finally discovered where his Ada had disappeared to, as he been missing from Imladris the day after he and Elrohir had barged in upon the 'secret' meeting between the Elven lord and the dwarf. Many of the Rivendell occupants, simply believed that he had gone on an unexpected trip to Lothlorien, and would be back within a few weeks, besides Erestor and Glorfindel were adept enough to handle any matter that needed to addressed in his brief absence. Elladan and Elrohir had been grudgingly forced to accept the story as well, (though it had enough holes to use as a fishing net), mainly because neither of them could think of any other reason for their Ada's vanishing act.

Elladan's mind was drawn back to the present as he considered the big question: what was Elrond doing in the foothills of the Misty Mountains? Elladan's brow drew down further as he realized that his father was conversing amiably with dwarves! What on Arda was going on here? Elbereth's stars!

Unfortunately for the poor Elf, he had quite forgotten to shift positions, as he had paused to ponder Elrond's sudden appearance. In light of his stupidity, a sentry had taken the time to sneak up behind him.

Elladan yelped in surprise as a pair of thick strong arms snaked about his waist and pulled.

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Elrohir made his way cautiously around the perimeter of the camp. It had only taken him several minutes after his brother's departure to realize that he could use the time given to him to pay his brother back for the humiliation suffered in Imladris, and he had immediately set to work. Now he was being even more graceful than usual, carefully avoiding all the trip wires that criss-crossed the ground under him.

'Twould be an awful experience, having to wait for his Elladan's return tangled in a net and coated in tree sap. Even worse, Elladan would no doubt go running off to Imladris or the nearest Elven sentry patrol, to spread the word of Elrohir's incompetence to set up a simple revenge.

Shuddering at the thought, he reached up to gently tug on a rope that would trigger a bucket of mud. Satisfied at last that all were complete and that there was nothing left to do, he sat on a log and waited, eagerly anticipating his brother's return.

Elladan, on the other hand, seemed to have different ideas. When half an hour had gone by, Elrohir began to fidget uneasily. It had taken him two hours to make the area a 'war camp' riddled with dangerous pitfalls and hangman's nets. He had been worried that his brother would return before he had finished. But as the minutes ticked by, and his elder twin was nowhere to be seen, Elrohir realized his fears had been for naught. But then, where was Elladan?!

Finally, he had decided, albeit unwillingly, that Elladan had most likely finally found a way into the secluded Dwarven camp and had lost track of time while he snuck around. He twisted the fabric of his deep blue tunic between his fingers as he settled back, forcing himself not panic. Besides, Elladan would have a laugh if he realized his twin had leapt to false conclusions, and that would sink Elrohir farther into the pit he was currently struggling to get out of.

The fabric was wrinkled beyond probable repair by the time Elrohir leaped to his feet, intent on going after his missing brother. Too much time had passed, and he refused to wait any longer, despite any consequences that his decision may have.

Before he managed to take a single step however, he heard footsteps approaching, the sounds muted by the last year's foliage and fallen pine needles littering the forest floor. Feeling foolish, Elrohir began to sit, already wondering which of the traps his brother would set off first. His rear hadn't even touched the log before a rough hand clapped over his mouth, and another took hold of the back of his tunic. With a muffled squeak, Elrohir was pulled backwards.

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Elladan looked up sulkily as the flap of the tent was flicked aside. He was sitting on the ground, hands bound uncomfortably behind his back with his feet awkwardly stretched out, tied as well. A dirty bit of cloth served as a gag, preventing him from even attempting to speak. And the taste the emitted from the foul thing was something not to be desired. His grey eyes widened as his younger twin was dumped unceremoniously near his feet. Elrohir was bound in the same manner as Elladan, although the younger was considerably more uncomfortable, seeing as he was laying flat on his back with his hands under him. The door closed, dropping the room into darkness but for the strips of light creeping in from under the canvas.

Elrohir writhed about and managed to lever himself into a sitting position. His dark hair was mussed, and his tunic was muddy. The dwarves that had dropped him inside the tent could be heard talking to the sentry just outside: "Fought like a demon, that one did. We dropped him in a mud puddle just to make the little rat shut up. Couldn't very well try to bite us with a mouthful of mud, now could he?" There was another round of laughter.

Despite their situation, Elladan snickered at that. His twin looked up at him with baleful eyes. Much to the younger twin's dismay, during his fight for freedom, his foot had triggered one of his traps. The mud had spilled out of the bucket, fortunately missing both himself and his attackers. However, the dwarves had decided that the newly-created mud puddle made too much of a tempting target. They had dunked him repeatedly until his mouth was too full of mud for him to breathe properly, therefore muting his struggles. "Mph!"

The elder was about to try and respond to what had undoubtedly been an attempt at an insult, when the tent flap was shoved aside once more. And much to the twins' surprise, they knew the person who entered.

"Mmph!" It was a double attempt at speech that ended in something unintelligible.

Elrond looked down at his sons with what could only be described as the famous cross between amusement and anger. "And what might my sons be doing all the way out here?"

Appraising them carefully, he chose to remove Elladan's gag so that the elder twin could answer.

Spitting out the foul taste, Elladan struggled not to writhe uncomfortably and look his father in the eye "We- we came out for a hunting trip, is all. If you could take an 'unexplained vacation' so could we! When we made camp earlier tonight, we heard voices, rough, dwarven ones. We wanted to know what it was, and Elrohir insisted that I go, seeing as I am much better at sneaking around than he is..." He went on, ignoring the indignant noises that issued from behind Elrohir's gag and the heated glare. "When I got close, I got snatched. And that is all I know. Why are you here, Ada?"

Elrond shook his head. "It is not time for you to know yet. Trust me my sons, you will learn soon."

"Well..." Elladan was nonplussed. "Then tell these infernal dwarves to set us loose, and we'll go home. You can tell us all about it later."

Their father shook his head once more, a secret smile hidden beneath a curtain of hair. "But Elladan, I cannot hold you to that. You will stay here until I feel the need to tell you. And you are wrong, ion-nin." He bent down and replaced the gag gently, and considerably looser, though no less efficient. . "Twas not the dwarves' fault... I was the one who asked them to capture you!"

The elven lord turned and left, humming gaily and paying no attention to the shocked splutters of his offspring.

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AN: Hey ya'll! Thanx to the reviewers of last chappy: maneatingbananas, Fuzzy Buny, Aurehen, rivendellelve, and Nelarun. We really appreciate your support guys!