Flippin' plot bunny. Now I have far too many ideas and no clue as to how they're going to work. *frowns in annoyance* hmm. Still not mine and thanks for the reviews! And this title came to me whilst the song was playing! There's a first for ya!

Mysterious Ways.

Now you may all be wondering what the heck I was doing agreeing with this mad elf to try and bump off the crown Prince of Mirkwood. Quite simple really, I was keeping my options open. If Veborion really did carry out his threat of torture well then quite frankly I had absolutely no problem with him ending up dead. Heartless? Probably, but then I didn't think that torture was something that could be easily forgiven or forgotten.

If he didn't, or if this mad elf was more evil than Veborion then I would turn him and his sinister plans over to Veborion. Simple yet brilliant. Well, as long as no one realised that I was intending to play both sides. Intrigue and double dealing was not something I had much practise of I mused as I sat on the floor besides the mad elf.

But then again... I am a woman! My brain exclaimed excitedly. This should be no problem! All that training in school and work, back stabbing, bitching, whispers about others... All I have to deal with is elves, male elves at that. As long as they're as gullible as the human males this should be no problem at all. And hey, if it doesn't work I'll only end up being tortured - which is where I was going anyway. It was a win win situation!

***

Several elves had passed us in the corridor, most completely ignoring us although I did get a few nasty looks from some of the female elves, which puzzled me for a while until I remembered. Sindaringevardaanwen. Whose name I still couldn't get over. I'm really gonna have to abbreviate her name, I thought to myself, it's just waaay too much. Hmm.

"Sindy!" I said suddenly. Then I cracked up laughing, much to the consternation of the elf who looked down at me bewildered. "Sindy...Doll!" I collapsed helplessly on the floor memories of a long forgotten childhood obsession with 'sindy dolls'.

***

By the time Veborion came back around the corner I was lying on the floor helplessly laughing. Tears rolling non-stop down my face. I was banging my fist against the floor, hysterically.

"What is this, Thingaladion?" He asked the elf he had left guarding me, gesturing at me as I rolled around the floor shaking with laughter.

Thingaladion, or Mr I am plotting to overthrow the throne of Mirkwood and yes I am a slightly mad elf, merely shrugged in answer.

"What is wrong with you?" Veborion hissed pulling me up by the arm that Thingaladion had just let go of.

"Sindy. DOLL!" I shouted in his face, still laughing madly.

"Her brain must have turned. She is insane." A courtier behind Veborion suggested.

"It matters not. She will be tortured anyway. Although it would have been preferable if she were not in this state. This takes away some of the fun element."

"Sadistic bastard." I said. His words had sobered me up and it seemed like I would be choosing Thingaladion over Veborion. What a pity, my brain muttered, Thingaladion is nowhere near as gorgeous as Veborion.

"Will you just shut up?" I said aloud, "I'm sick and tired of you telling me that! I can appreciate beauty just as much as the next gal, y'know?!"

The elves looked at me strangely. And I realised I had been telling off my own brain. As you do.

"Maybe I am insane." I muttered under my breath, slightly disturbed by the fact that I was having an argument with myself and losing. Yeah, I was losing. Because as soon as the words were out of my mouth my brain answered back.

Beauty? My brain questioned. Liar. More like lust. Admit it. You want the towel. Or less.

I groaned. What the hell was going on with me? I had agreed to help assassinate the heir to the throne of Mirkwood and I was lusting after him at the same time, and I was having arguments with my head and not winning.

"I've lost it." I said, more to myself than anyone else.

"I do not think you had it in the first place." Said a voice almost silently.

My head whipped around to see who was talking to me. But no one seemed to be paying any attention to me whatsoever. I groaned again, louder this time. "Hearing voices? Marvellous. All I need now is hairs on my palms." I muttered.

Idiot.

*********************************

Hmm. may go against my own rule of only using an artist once for a song title. Depends if I can write a chapter to suit the title of another U2 song. We'll see. R&R please!

Anyone confused by Sindy Dolls? They're like Barbies, only not as popular.