Elladan looked up as Katie entered the dining room. She looked subdued, but fine. He breathed a silent sign of relief. He had been worried that one so young and inexperienced might become emotionally scarred by the scene she had witnessed, but it seemed that his guess had been correct, and that she would heal well among the elves.

"Good morning," he said as she took a seat. She gave him a small smile in return. Yes, she would be well.

"I take it we're stuck indoors again today," Katie commented as she left the dining hall with Elrohir. Elladan had remained behind to discuss security with Glorfindel and his father.

"Yes, the threat of the traitors still hangs over us," Elrohir agreed. "And there was a note found… yesterday, threatening those dearest to my father—which means, my brothers and I. So we must certainly remain inside."

"Bummer."

"…?"

"What a pity," Katie translated with a smile.

"Yes… bummer," Elrohir agreed. "So we must amuse ourselves indoors." He knew better than to suggest they study history some more—it would be heartless to suggest they go back into the library. From her experiences yesterday, she would most likely have conceived a severe dislike of that room—and he would be surprised if she could open doors without some trepidation. Her cheerfulness this morning seemed a bit forced, and Elrohir certainly wasn't going to put her through any more stress than he had to. So if study were out, he could think of one option to amuse their young guest: games.

He led her to a comfortable sitting room, and pulled a deck of cards out of a drawer. "Do you know how to play cards?" he asked, seating himself at a table.

"Of course," Katie said. But as he was shuffling, she stopped him and took the cards from his hands. "Wow, these are different," she said, flipping through the deck.

"The idea of cards came from the Haradrim—the southerners."

"I don't recognize the suits," Katie said. "Cups, swords, shields, clubs?"

"Chalices, swords, coins and batons," Elrohir corrected.

"I recognize all the numbers, of course—except that you don't have aces, just ones. And these are kings, queens, and jacks?"

"Knights," Elrohir amended. He took back the deck and finished shuffling them. Then he taught her the memory game, "Matches". She was pretty good at it. After they had played a few games, Katie took the deck and began to shuffle it with a snap. "How about I teach you a game?" she said, trying to hide her mischievous smile.

She taught him a game called "Speed", which involved laying out cards in numbered succession as fast as you could, and then slapping a deck to claim it. Katie's hands flew over her piles of cards as she laid them out, faster than Elrohir could. The first time he beat her in slapping the smaller deck, her hand come down, hard, on the back of his.

"Ow!" he exclaimed, and ruefully rubbed his hand.

"Oops! Sorry," she said, gathering up the larger deck. "Got a little excited, there."

As they played, Elrohir gradually played faster and faster until he began to beat her consistently.

"Wow!" she said after he had taken the smaller deck three times in a row. "You're really fast."

He shrugged. "I am an elf. We have faster reflexes than those of men. Maybe we should play a game that is less physical?"

"Well, the other one I can think of requires at least three people." Just then, they heard Estel and Legolas's voices from down the hall. They were approaching the sitting room. "Problem solved!" she added, jumping up and crossing to the door.

"Hey, guys," she called down the hall, "c'mere and play a game with us."

Estel came readily enough, but Legolas didn't exactly look enthused. Elrohir couldn't help but smile at the dark looks he gave his friend when Estel answered, "Of course!"

When they were all seated at the table, Katie commenced shuffling the deck. "Okay. This game is called "Bullshit"."

"I'm leaving." Legolas started to stand, but Estel pulled him back into his chair. Legolas began muttering darkly in Elvish.

Katie carried on as if nothing had happened. "The object of the game is to get rid of all your cards." She began dealing them out. "And to do that, you have to lie, and make people believe it."

She explained the game as they played, and her three opponents soon caught the drift. As they seemed uncomfortable using the vulgar name of the game, Katie conceded to say "bull" instead—except with Legolas. Somehow, she always seemed to know when he was lying, and every time she would loudly declare, "Bullshit!" When Legolas would then pick up the deck, she would teasingly make some mocking comment ("Ha ha, sucker!" "Score!" "Loser!") Elrohir and Estel had a hard time containing their laughter, but it was driving Legolas mad. After she had called his bluff and made him pick up most of the deck ("Oooh! Burn!"), he finally exclaimed in exasperation, "How do you know when I'm lying?"

"You think I'm going to tell?" Katie asked in feigned shock. "Not a chance in hell. How am I supposed to win if I can't tell you're lying?"

"It is really rather obvious, Legolas," Estel added, teasing his friend. "I am surprised no one has told you before."

"You are not helping," Legolas growled. The other three laughed.

After a couple more times around the table, Legolas laid down his last cards. "Two fours," he said, solemnly.

Estel beat Katie to it, this time. "Bullshit!"

Someone in the doorway cleared his throat, and all of their heads shot up. Elrond was giving his youngest son the look, one eyebrow lifted. Behind him stood Elladan, trying hard not to smile. "What was that, my son?" the lord of Imladris asked slowly.

"Erm… Nothing, Father."

"Hmm." Elrond looked unconvinced. "I came to ask you and Legolas to relieve the guard at the front door," he continued.

"Yes, Sir." Estel and Legolas stood and bowed, then departed after their father. Elladan joined Katie and Elrohir, dropping down into a chair.

"Any developments?" his twin asked.

"None." Elladan rubbed his brow wearily. "At least Estel is old enough to protect himself. I would fear greatly for him, otherwise. We truly have no defense against this murderer. Father will certainly not give up Vilya, and the two days runs out tomorrow. And we are powerless to prevent anything that might come of this!" The last part came out almost as a shout of anger. He rested his forehead in his hand. "I am sorry. I do not enjoy feeling powerless."

"None of us do," Elrohir said gently, putting his hand on his twin's arm.

"No," Katie said softly, staring down at her hands. Elrohir felt a great wave of pity for her. She was an immeasurable distance from her home and all she knew and loved, required to complete an incredible task before she would be permitted to return, and while here she had witnessed a more gruesome sight than many ever saw over the course of their lives. And this conversation was not helping her any.

"Come," he said, rising from his chair. "It will surely be time for luncheon soon." Katie and Elladan followed him from the room.

000

Elrond sat in his darkened study, gazing at the fire, his fingers steepled. Orain's family had buried him today, in the rarely-used graveyard just outside the gardens. The lord of Imladris had been unable to be there, for reasons of security. If so much weren't at stake, he would have gone despite Glorfindel's safety concerns. But the possession of Vilya was more important even than his own life, and so he would not risk it. But darkness and doubt haunted his mind. Tomorrow afternoon, the two days would be up, and he did not know how the enemy would strike.

000

The next afternoon, the twins, Katie, Estel and Legolas all wandered into the Hall of Fire. Elrohir sat in one of the chairs and picked up a lute, playing a few notes.

"Sing us something, Elrohir," Legolas said, depositing himself carelessly in one of the seats.

Elrohir played a little introduction, then sang a short song in Elvish, of the opening of the apple blossoms in the spring. He had as fine voice, and they all smiled to listen to him.

When he had finished, a wicked smile spread over his face. He crossed the room and held the lute out to Katie.

"Oh, no, no, no," she protested, holding up her hands. "I don't play."

"Then sing us something," Elladan suggested.

"She probably doesn't know any songs," Legolas said provokingly.

Katie glared at him and stood. After a moment of thought, she opened her mouth and sang.

"Let all things now living, a song of thanksgiving
To God the creator, triumphantly raise,
Who fashioned and made us, protected and stayed us,
Who still guides us on to the end of our days.
His banners are o'er us, his light goes before us,
A pillar of fire shining forth in the night,
Till shadows have vanished and darkness is banished,
As forward we travel from light into light."

A slightly stunned silence met the end of the song. "Where did you learn that?" Estel finally asked.

"It's my grandma's favorite song," Katie answered with a shrug. "She sings it all the time."

"Is it an old song?" Elladan asked. "That's not the way you generally speak."

"Oh, yeah. It's a hymn. They're not really popular anymore. Why are you so surprised by that song?"

"Well…" Elrohir tried to put it into words without offending her. "It just… sounds Elvish. And most of the things you say, er… don't."

Katie hooted with laughter. "Totally."

"You said it wasn't a popular kind of music," Elladan said, trying to pick up the thread of the conversation again. "What is?"

"Oh, pop, rock, rap, that kind of thing. Hip-hop."

"Hip-hop?" Legolas repeated incredulously.

"Yes, hip-hop," Katie reiterated firmly.

"Why don't you sing us some of that?"

"I can't," Katie said, annoyed. "It'd sound weird without the music."

"Do you often sing in front of people?" Estel asked, cutting off Legolas' retort.

"Not really," Katie admitted. "I do when I'm in the high school's musicals, but I prefer acting to singing."

"What are musicals?"

"Plays with music in them," Katie explained. "My school does one non-musical every fall and one musical every spring. I like the non-musicals better. Last year, we did "Macbeth". It was awesome!"

"You were in it?"

"Yep. I played one of the weird sisters." Katie hunched over and moved her arms like she was stirring a large pot. In an old woman's cackling voice, she chanted,

"Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.
Fillet of a fenny snake,
In the cauldron boil and bake;
Eye of newt and toe of frog,
Wool of bat and tongue of dog,
Adder's fork and blind-worm's sting,
Lizard's leg and owlet's wing,
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.
Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn and cauldron bubble.
Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf,
Witches' mummy, maw and gulf
Of the ravin'd salt-sea shark,
Root of hemlock digg'd i' the dark,
Add thereto a tiger's chaudron,
For the ingredients of our cauldron."

She crossed over to Estel, and with a flourishing and almost mocking bow, she cried, "All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thane of Glamis! All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, thane of Cawdor! All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter!" Estel looked distinctly startled. Elrohir wondered if Katie knew how close to the truth she had come. But now she had crossed back to Elladan, and with a more respectful bow, cried, "Hail! Lesser than Macbeth, and greater. Not so happy, yet much happier. Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none: So all hail, Macbeth and Banquo! Banquo and Macbeth, all hail!"

Then she moved as if she had heard something. Elrohir reflected that she was a consummate actress. "By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes. Open, locks, Whoever knocks!"

She gestured to the door just as Dorlarth walked in. He blinked at Katie as the room froze in surprise. Then they all began to laugh.

"Sorry, Dorlarth, I didn't mean to call you wicked!" Katie apologized after she had caught her breath.

Dorlarth, still confused, smiled indulgently (if bemusedly) at her. "My lords," he addressed the twins, "Cook has sent you some viands."

"Thank you, Dorlarth," Elladan said, taking the tray. "Send Cook our thanks, as well."

Dorlarth bowed and left the room. Estel came over to see what the cook had sent them. He laughed. "Cook knows you all too well, Legolas. He sent your favorite almond biscuits. You are the only one who eats them."

Legolas smiled and took the cookies Estel offered him. "The staff here is very attentive," he said appreciatively, biting into the treat.

"That they are," Elladan agreed, handing Katie some pastries. They all chewed in contented silence for awhile. It warmed Elrohir's heart to think that while some of the elves of his father's realm had it in for them, others still cared about their family, even enough to think of sending them a snack.

"Dorlarth really scared me when he came in!" Katie finally said, grinning. "I thought for a second that he was a ghost and the play really was cursed!"

"What do you mean?" Elrohir asked.

"Well," Katie said, talking around a bite of cookie (which made Legolas roll his eyes), "actors tend to be very superstitious. And supposedly, the play Macbeth is cursed. Every time it's performed, they say weird things happen to the cast. People have strange accidents, that sort of thing. You're not supposed to quote Macbeth in a theater, or even say its name—actors refer to it as "the Scottish play". Some people say that when Shakespeare wrote it, he put actual curses in it, and they cursed the play." She shrugged. "I don't believe it, though. We didn't have any weird accidents last year when we performed it. Well, except that Ashley Harrison, who played Lady Macbeth, fell and sprained her ankle in soccer practice before the closing performance, and my friend Kara got to play her part that night."

"Soccer?" Estel asked.

"Football."

"Ah."

Katie glared at Legolas. "And yes, girls play football, so no comments from the peanut gallery, please."

Legolas looked up at her, rather abstracted. "Hm?"

"Come," Elladan said, standing and brushing crumbs off of his tunic. "Let's go and thank Cook in person."

They all stood and followed him out the door—all except Legolas. Estel turned back to see that his friend was still in his chair, his forehead resting in his hand.

"Legolas?" Estel said, pausing in the doorway. "Are you coming?"

"Oh. Yes." Legolas stood to his feet and made to follow him, but his knees gave and he pitched forward.

The twins spun around as they heard their little brother cry his friend's name, and they rushed back into the Hall, with Katie on their heels. Estel knelt by Legolas' head, calling his friend's name. Legolas' face was terribly white, and his eyes were shut.

"Estel," Elladan said, kneeling on Legolas' other side and checking his vital signs, "go get Father."

Estel jumped to his feet and ran. "I thought elves didn't get sick," Katie said in a small voice.

"They don't." Elladan and Elrohir looked at each other, then at the empty pastry tray nearby. "He's been poisoned."

AN: I really think this is the fastest I've put out one of these stories… I hope you're all duly impressed! lol

EresseElrondiel: I totally agree about the door thing. I'm scared enough of opening my closet door, since my friend Dana has a habit of hiding in there. She even hid under my bed one time and grabbed my ankle. I was not terribly pleased.

Cierah: Thank you! And I like Elladan and Elrohir being all protective, too. :) Gives me warm fuzzies. lol

don'taskmewhy0991: Heh. Still looking for that cookie, hm?

Fanficfan0791: Thanks! I am!

Hermione Heart: Thanks! Of course, EVERYONE is entitled to an invisible cookie! You just gotta find it.

Hint: Maybe if you press that little purple button down there… :)