Into the Labyrinth

Author: Amorous

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: Recognizable characters and places are Tolkien's, all others are mine.

*Chapter 13: Elves in Rahma*

That same night, Elladan returned from a long day at Rahma's security headquarters. Upon opening the door to the Elves' room he paused mid-step, unsure of what to make of the sight in front of him. Isorfinduil sat cross-legged on his bed with his headscarf wrapped around a chunk of ice and was holding it gently to the left side of his head. He was glaring at Elladan with such intensity that dark haired Elf remained poised at the door until his twin hissed for him to come inside and close it.

After doing so, Elladan quickly drew the curtains over their window and glanced between his companions suspiciously.

"May I ask what happened?" He inquired cautiously as he laid his hat and coat over a chair, still aware that Isorfinduil was glowering at him. He had the distinct feeling that the Wood-Elf did not wish to discuss it with him, which meant he would not like the answer.

"He had a run-in with Jase." Elrohir provided with a quick glance at Isorfinduil. Elladan stared at the woodlander as well, feeling as though it were not that simple. There was a momentary pause.

"You cannot leave it at that, brother."

"There is nothing worth talking about." Isorfinduil put in sharply.

Then Elladan slowly smiled and nodded, as though he had just uncovered the last piece to a puzzle. "He beat you, didn't he? You lost a fight and are too proud to say it."

"You'd love it if that were true, wouldn't you?"

"Well? Tell me then what happened or I will have to assume I was correct."

Isorfinduil's blue eyes were hard as he looked at the older twin, contemplating his next words. Then he shifted the ice on his temple. "Your brother was inside the bar and I was waiting for him outside. I saw Jase and his men coming down the road so I crossed the street to lose them in the crowd. He saw me and followed me." He stopped there, for all the world looking as though that were the end of the story, as though the rest would explain itself.

Elladan stared at him expectantly and raised his eyebrows. "And the two of you sat down for some tea in the afternoon shade?"

"If you would be content at leaving it at that, then yes -"

"What are you trying to hide, Isorfinduil?"

"He's not trying to hide anything, Elladan." Elrohir said carefully. "Jase started a fight and Isorfinduil finished it. That is all."

"He just walked up and hit you?" Elladan asked Isorfinduil doubtfully.

"We spoke some before hand."

"But what caused him to strike you?"

Isorfinduil said nothing. He lowered the ice and pressed a hand to his temple, looking away. Elladan's face changed to sudden insight and then anger.

"Valar, you provoked him into it, didn't you?! What is wrong with you, you can't even hold your tongue with a man like that?" He shouted, his eyes alight.

"What is wrong with me?" Isorfinduil repeated vehemently, rising off the bed. Elrohir remained seated, watching the pair tensely. "What caused Jase to be angry with me in the first place, Elladan? It was you not being able to hold your tongue!"

"Don't you try to blame me for your own inability to control yourself! I did not ask you to become involved, you did that yourself!"

"I did it because your brother asked me to. And because I had to, or you would have gone and done something that we all would have regretted."

"Like you just did today?"

"No, Elladan, today I certainly did not allow that man's petty comments to anger me as you did last night."

"I did not!"

"Then why did I have to come and save you from yourself?"

Elladan's fair face contorted in rage at this and he took a threatening step toward Isorfinduil. "Watch what you say, Edhelneth. / Elfling, or, Young Elf. You did not 'save' me." He snarled. Isorfinduil's eyes became slits. Elrohir crawled off his bed and came closer discreetly, ready to intervene.

"You see, you are letting me get to you right now."

"We are not discussing me or last night, Isorfinduil, we are talking about you!"

"Perhaps you are…I, in truth, was talking about you."

"Why do you keep changing the subject?" Elladan asked with a strange stillness that barely hid his ire. He stalked forward very slowly until he was staring into the younger Elf's face. "Why can't you just admit that you messed up today? Or is that too hurtful to your pride for you to handle?"

"I did not mess up, I did what I did so that Jase would not bother us in the future." Isorfinduil replied, meeting Elladan's fiery gaze unwaveringly and sending his own straight back. Their faces were less than a foot apart. "Because I knew that if he did, you would lose it and you would mess up."

"Will you both stop this?" Elrohir finally interjected, pushing them away from each other. But the two didn't even pay him a glance, so immersed were they in their battle of will and wit.

"Again, you turn the conversation away from yourself!" Elladan continued as though Elrohir were no longer in the room. "You know you made a mistake and you can't stand it!"

"I knew exactly what I was doing. If I made any mistake it was in thinking you could curb your unruly temper enough for us to work together to find my prince and your little brother!"

"How can you say that? You start half the arguments!"

The door to their bedroom swinging wide open suddenly interrupted them and a plump, bumbling woman bustled her way in. It was the innkeeper's wife. The three Elves looked about frantically for anything that might hide their exposed features, already knowing it was fruitless. The woman took one look at them and her eyes grew to the size of melons.

"Oh, my. Oh, my…" she began backing her way out, frightened. "I'm terribly sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you, I -" Elrohir quickly took her wrist and gently but firmly drew her into the room, seating her in the wooden chair while Elladan swiftly closed the door again.

"Oh. Oh, my." The woman chortled, her eyes straying to the Elves' ears and over their faces. "I came to check on you," She explained hurriedly, looking at Isorfinduil. "And, oh, I brought more ice. I should have knocked. Please, I didn't mean to -"

"We're sorry if we frightened you, but we mean you no harm, Lady." Isorfinduil said gently, crouching next to the chair.

"Oh," The woman put a hand to her forehead and began to fan her face. "I'm terribly sorry. I wanted to give you more ice, young man." Then she started and looked up at them again. "Dear me, but you're not a man. Who are you? What is your business here? Oh, my." She began to fan her face again.

"We are Elves," Elladan offered.

"She knows that." Isorfinduil retorted, shooting him a look. Elladan's face hardened and he closed his eyes a moment to gather his composure.

"My name is Elrohir." The younger twin told the flustered plump woman. He then indicated his brother and friend. "This is my twin brother Elladan, and this is Isorfinduil. What is your name?" He asked, trying to ease her jitters down somewhat by starting with simple questions. He'd already decided that this lady would need to be a friend to them in order to carry their secret and he was hoping with all his heart that she would be able to do so.

"I'm Juda Busker. Mrs. Busker to most folk." She seemed to be calming down, and she continued to stare openly at their defined features and pointed ears. "My goodness I have never seen Elves before. Whatever are ye doing here in Rahma?"

The immortals glanced between themselves. Then Elladan stepped closer. "Mrs. Busker, our business here can not be made known to anyone unless we are sure that they will remain loyal. Do you understand what I mean?"

"Oh yes, I see what you're saying." Juda nodded vigorously, eager to help. "You don't have to worry about me. Anyone has any secrets they need keeping, they come to Mrs. Busker, they do. I've kept a good many secrets in my day." She added, leaning in close as though that itself was a secret.

Elrohir smiled with a glance at Isorfinduil and his brother. This woman seemed quite harmless to them. Indeed, it might actually prove useful to have someone nearby that they could be comfortable with, should they need help of any kind.

"You boys certainly did give me quite a scare." Mrs. Busker chirped away. She was not as frightened now but was clearly still slightly nervous in the presence of such extraordinary creatures.

"Two friends of ours disappeared last night, Mrs. Busker. We have been searching for them." Isorfinduil said with a meaningful look at the twins. Perhaps they should not tell the innkeeper's wife everything about their stay in Rahma just yet. She looked up at them sadly.

"Aye, that is too common a tale as of late. Young folk disappearing."

"This happens often?" Elladan asked thoughtfully and paused for a moment. "I spoke with the chief of security. We are to meet with him tomorrow morning."

"This is taking far too long." Elrohir replied softly with a sigh, and the two other Elves nodded in agreement.

"I reckon ye didn't come here to find your friends." Juda Busker stated timidly. Then her face lit up. "Did ye come from Rivendell? Are ye here to help?"

"Help with what?" Elrohir inquired.

"Why ye are, aren't you! Help with that underhanded group somewhere in this town. I heard someone sent word to Rivendell, the great Elf kingdom," she worded this part with great mystification and awe, "but of course we don't know who actually did it. For safety's sake. There's no telling what would happen if the wrong people found out what's been done." She shook her head dolefully.

"So many of the townspeople are aware of what's going on?" Elladan's brows knit together in deep thought. "Does anyone know where it is? Or who leads it? Anything at all?"

"Well, many a rumor's been flying about town. Some say there is no leader at all while others claim it is led by twin brothers. No one knows where it is and that's what scares people. Well, that and the fact that several folks have been found dead here and there. And those who get on to something always disappear. Some disappear for no apparent reason at all. It's a shame, it is. Someone needs to put a stop to it."

The Elves were silent and Mrs. Busker suddenly shook herself and looked up. "Well don't you mind my ramblings." Then she stood cautiously, still keeping a close eye on the three. "I certainly have had a most exciting evening, that is for sure. Not every day that one sees a bunch of Elves in Rahma. But I'll keep my word and not a soul will hear anything through me. If ye don't mind, I best be going about my business. A woman's work never ends, you know." Then she held out the ice chunk to Isorfinduil although it was have melted by this time. "Here ye are, young sir. And if you boys need anything, anything at all, you be sure to come find Mrs. Busker, you hear? I'll be around for ye."

They said good night and the plump woman left them to themselves. They were silent for a moment and then Elrohir sighed.

"She's a very kind lady. She may prove to be helpful before this whole thing is over."

**

Legolas shifted stance, keeping a close eye on the young man in front of him. He was clearly nervous at the thought of battling this blonde Elf that stood before him. They had both been given long wooden poles to use and Legolas spun his in one hand, testing its weight.

The arena that night was half full, as it had been for Aragorn's first fight. The only major difference this night was the use of weapons and the reaction of the crowd. Alymar had given an elaborate introduction and the assemble had grown silent at the word 'Elf'. When Legolas was brought into the chamber, the entire room fell to awe inspired muttering and the subject of their intense scrutiny felt instantly self-conscious, much to his annoyance.

Presently, bidders were placing bets, continually murmuring amongst themselves, amazed at this new marvel. Then Amadeo raised an arm from his place on their platform and the gong sounded loudly. The young man raised the staff in a defensive position and Legolas swung his in tight circles over his head, hoping to daunt his opponent, though the action was hardly necessary. The dark-haired boy's eyes were wide and he took no step forward, though neither did he back away.

After several moments of stillness, the throng of onlookers began to urge them on by chanting the word 'fight' in increasing rapidness. Legolas risked a glance up at the platform to see the dark twins sitting side by side in green and red as before. Alymar's eyes sparkled as he looked down at the Elf in the pit, eager to see how his new prize worked out. The woman was there as well, next to Amadeo and she raised her eyebrows at Legolas as though asking what he was looking at.

The Prince of the Woodland Realm sensed blurred movement in front of him and turned to see the young man racing towards him with a cry, pole raised. He held his own staff up and stepped into the attack. The poles met with a resounding clack and then again and again as the combatants assaulted each other. Very soon, the dark-haired boy's face was reddened with exertion and he was forced slowly backwards.

The din that echoed about the chamber was deafening. The faces of those in the arena benches remained enrapt and yet still shocked at the strange creature before them. Even as he forced the weary young man towards the end wall of the pit, Legolas was again disgusted with the thought of so many people betting on these human dogfights.

Since his initial attack, Legolas' opponent had not gotten another chance at the offensive. Rather, he had seemed hard pressed to simply keep the Elf's pole away from himself. His arms were shaking and his body was covered in sweat. For Legolas, on the other hand, this battle might as well have been against a trainee in his father's army. He thrust his pole with more force and the young man's grip loosened. With another hit, the staff went flying across the pit and the crowd rose a cheer. Changing the direction of his weapon's movement only slightly, Legolas clipped the side of the boy's head before he had a chance to duck and the young man fell to the rock floor, unconscious.

"The Elf is the winner!" Alymar shouted and through the noise that followed he motioned to Sureim, who was standing nearby. The two of them came to the very edge of the pit and gazed down. Legolas glanced about wildly, knowing what was coming, but he already knew the futileness of attempting to avoid the dart. The lieutenant raised an arm, pointing the same strange weapon at him. It appeared to be a crossbow of hand-held proportions and the dart was somehow released by a trigger near the index finger.

Sureim smiled and pulled the trigger and the dart sunk into the Prince's exposed shoulder. A strange heaviness descended upon him immediately and his limbs stiffened. His vision hazed a bit but he did not fall as he expected. The blonde tried to back up and his knees buckled, sending him to all fours. His thoughts were muddled as he pulled himself sluggishly back to his feet. He was aware of Amadeo's angry voice raising and Alymar laughing above him. Then he felt another prick in his chest and his world became dark as he hit the ground and was rendered unconscious.

**

Alrighty then, my friends. I pushed myself to get this out to you guys before I leave tomorrow. Actually I think this chapter is slightly longer than most of the others… :) Not much, though. And like I said before, I'm bringing a notebook with me so I can work on the next chapter while on vacation. Yep.

And thank you, my reviewers: Tithen Min, Anime Soccer Lobos (ASL), leggylover03, Libby, chris, nightcrawler's girlio, and Naughty Nat!!

I hope everyone has a wonderful week! I'll be gone until late Tuesday…but I'm hoping that the next chapter will be mostly done when I get back. I guess we will all have to wait and see.

Thanks again to those who review and hello to all you lurkers out there! Hope you liked this chapter! Reviews are always welcome!

Amorous