READERS: Just a small input before you read this chapter. I know there hasn't been much action in these last few chapters and I hope it has not gotten too tiresome. But this chapter is important – pay attention to the dream!! The climax is on its way fast (the next few chapters most likely) and I promise you all won't be disappointed when it rolls in. Thank you for sticking with me and I hope you enjoy!

There is another author's note about the next chapter at the bottom!

Into the Labyrinth

Author: Mirfaen

*Chapter 19: Dreams of Black Rain*

"Move."

"Excuse me, your highness."

Isorfinduil stepped around the other side of his bed and held his arms out, mockingly indicating that he was allowing Elladan to pass by. Elladan gave him a cold glare and brushed past him. Isorfinduil followed him with his eyes for a split second, then returned to wrapping his weapons into a tight bundle to put by his bedside.

Elladan stepped up to the small window that looked out on the dark Misty Mountains and drew the curtains closed as he did every night. He took a moment to glance at the night sky, a finger holding the cloth away from the windowpanes. A second later, he let it drop. He was far too stressed for his mind to find peace.

He was not unused to having someone close to him disappear for long periods of time, nor was he unused to loved ones being in danger. Aragorn was often gone for months without word and only later would Elladan hear about the wild adventures or near death experiences that the young Ranger had just been through. Even Elrohir had gone missing several times. Together, the twins had been through perhaps more dangers than Aragorn would see in his lifetime.

But what worried Elladan was that they knew where Aragorn and Legolas were. Not the exact location, of course, but they knew what they were facing. Cadell had spent the rest of their time together after their late dinner telling them everything he knew about The Labyrinth. Every dead body that had been found in the woods. Every male citizen who had vanished without a trace. Every strange pool of blood that was found in the roads when the sun rose.

He even told them every rumor he'd ever heard of the fighting ring. They rig the fights. They torture the prisoners between duels. They burn the bodies of the losers to light their passageways. Sometimes, if a fight gets boring for the crowd, they'll turn it into an execution and torture the fighter before cutting their heads off in front of the crowd.

Elladan knew it was possible for all of those to be true. He had seen it before. His eyes had seen too many gruesome sights that he wished they never had and he could not be rid of them. He knew how twisted the hearts of men could become, how far they could go to feel power.

He knew Legolas did as well. Legolas was younger than he, and perhaps had not been through quite as much. But then, Legolas did always tend to keep his pains to himself so perhaps he had seen more in his time than he let on. But even so, Elladan knew that Legolas had seen enough to know the darkness that dwelt in the hearts of men. Elladan could look into their eyes and see into their souls, and several times in the past he had glimpsed on Legolas' face an expression that mirrored his own feelings when he saw that darkness.

But Aragorn was human. He was young. To an Elf, he was a mere child. He had not yet been exposed to the horrors that Elladan had been. Elladan feared that if the rumors were true, or even if they weren't, Aragorn was getting a sort of hopeless over-load. Legolas and he had been in there for weeks. Who could tell what had gone on in that time? All of Aragorn's past adventures had been out in the wild, dramatized quests and thrilling dangers. For many of them, the twins had been practically in calling distance. And after that, he was in the company of his fellow Rangers. Never before had he been a prisoner for weeks on end. He had never been forced into fighting other men and who knows what else.

The thoughts brought pain to Elladan's heart. He did not want Estel to be faced with so much darkness and anguish. He could only hope that Legolas was still with him and could provide some protection or comfort if possible.

Legolas. The thought of his long time friend only brought another wave of worry washing over him. Legolas was more prepared than Aragorn, but that in itself was the problem for him. Elladan feared that this experience would awaken painful memories of past evils that the Prince had been dragged through. Legolas was young still, but he was the son of a king and that was always known to bring trouble. Legolas was no exception. Even had this not been the case, Legolas was daring and proud enough to get himself into plenty of risky situations. Elladan could almost play over in his head the many times he had seen Legolas in dangerous hands. Elladan knew that such things never leave the memory banks of Elves and eventually it begins to wear on their hearts.

"…tells me to move and then stands there in the middle of the room like we can just go around him every time we want to reach the door."

Elladan snapped out of his contemplation and found Isorfinduil standing in front of him looking rather displeased.

"Certainly you are not so lazy that you cannot step two feet to the side to go around."

The words came from Elrohir, much to Isorfinduil's apparent surprise. The golden-haired Elf turned in Elrohir's direction looking offended, then he smiled and turned back to Elladan.

"So it's all right when he says that. If I had said that, you would have gotten all riled up and fought back at me." Elladan said as he moved away from the door. His mind was still lingering on his worried thoughts.

"That's because I know he's joking. You would have said something much more cutting and you would have meant it, too." Isorfinduil replied and reached for the doorknob.

Elladan suddenly turned and latched onto the back of Isorfinduil's coat, barring further movement out the door.

"Where are you going?" He asked.

Isorfinduil angrily disentangled himself, throwing Elladan's hand back at him. "Leave me alone. I swear, you are acting like you think you're my parents." He backed towards the door again, his eyes now flickering with irritation.

"That's because you are acting like a child. You know you're not supposed to be alone." Elladan laid a heavy hand on the wooden door. "Where are you going? I can begin with a more simple question, if that one's too difficult."

"If it's quite all right with you, I was going to go out into the hallway. After that, I plan to descend the stairs. Then, if all goes well, I will enter the kitchen and request an extra handful of candles from Juda. If that venture is successful, I hope to make it back up the stairs without any casualties. Perhaps I should send for a contingent of soldiers from Cadell to protect me on my way down. You never know what might be lurking at the bottom of those stairs."

"With your sensibility, you will need those soldiers. I will send for them."

"Just let me go." Isorfinduil sounded exasperated.

Elladan open the door and stepped aside. "Try to not to fall on your way down. And don't get into any fights with strange chairs."

"Yes, father." Isorfinduil returned with a dark glare, stepping through the doorway. He snatched the door handle and closed it forcefully behind him. "Only you would fall down the stairs…" They heard him say clearly on the other side.

"And only you would fight with a chair." Elladan returned, knowing that Isorfinduil would be able to hear him on his way down. He went back to his bed and sat down, taking out a piece of parchment paper from his pack. He had just settled in when he felt an unmistakable stare.

"I was joking with him that time, brother." Elladan said without looking up. He knew what his twin was thinking.

"He doesn't know that. That's got to be the first time you've ever been joking with him."

"He knows. Besides, I could've been joking many times."

"Elladan."

Elladan looked up into his brother's deep gray eyes. He sighed.

"You have not joked with him once in your life, am I right?" Elrohir asked.

"Yes."

"And that time, your words were jesting but your motive was not."

Elladan looked at him and then nodded. He knew better than to try and hide such things from his twin. Elrohir knew his thoughts and behaviors as though they were his own. Sometimes they were.

"What is it about him that you despise so much?" Elrohir asked as he sat at the other end of Elladan's bed.

Elladan stared deep into those swirling grey eyes and knew that Elrohir was seeing an identical pair looking back at him. Elrohir didn't have to ask why Elladan resented Isorfinduil. He could see it and sense it plainly enough.

Elladan dropped his dark head slightly but kept the connection of their gaze. "I don't know truly - I believe it is a combination of things. It is strange, because…I don't despise him. I don't despise him at all."

Elrohir only nodded, his eyes remaining locked on his brother. Elladan needed to talk his feelings out. And he needed to do it completely before they burst out of him in a disastrous way. Elrohir knew well how to get Elladan to release his emotions, but he also knew it would take some time.

"It is a strange thing and I'm not sure I've figured it out yet," Elladan continued, turning to look out the window that was still closed off by the curtain. "I can't stand him and yet I don't hate him or despise him." He glanced back at Elrohir.

Elrohir nodded but didn't say anything right away. He stood slowly and stepped over to Legolas' vacant bed, resting a hand on the bedpost before turning his eyes back to his twin. "We are all worried. We are all anxious to find them. I know you are reaching the end of your rope."

"It feels as though my rope is burning."

Were it nearly anyone else, Elladan would have answered far differently.

"You must hold on to what is left of it. Elladan, if your hand slips than ours will too. Even if Isor won't admit it."

Elladan stared at him for a long time, saying nothing. He was more tired than he would care to admit, both physically, mentally, and emotionally. He had not slept in days for the struggling of his mind.

"Do not let your worry channel into anger. The rift between you and Isorfinduil is already large enough. The two of you are standing on either side of a chasm and every angry word from either of you is like a step backward. What you both need to do is start taking steps forward, even if they are slow and tentative. There is a bridge between you that needs to be crossed. You just can't see it."

Elladan was about to respond but at that moment, Isorfinduil entered the room again, a bundle of candles in one hand. He laid them down on the small candle stand under the window and moved to his bed.

"That was a rather harrowing journey," He commented lightly as he shrugged out of the large black overcoat that Aragorn had lent him. "I don't believe I would have survived, had you not warned me of those chairs, Elladan. Your wisdom knows no bounds." He sidestepped suddenly next to Elladan and paused with his golden head cocked to one side, as though listening for some minute sound. "Why, Elrohir. If you stand close enough to him, I believe you can hear the ocean!"

Elrohir raised his eyebrows in amusement while watching his brother closely. Elladan's eyes said clearly 'You see? He does not make it easy for me to like him.' Then the older twin took the hat from his head and laid it, with his outer coat and shirt, on a nearby chair. He removed his boots and stretched his long legs out on the bed.

Isorfinduil gazed at him, his blue eyes narrowing in suspicion. "What is this? No harsh comeback from you tonight? No temper? I ought to leave you alone with your brother more often. You know this change of attitude is quite becoming of you."

"Yes, I'll bet it is," Elladan said vaguely, folding his arms behind his head. His ebony hair fell in long streams down his chest and was shining in the candlelight. "You ought to try it yourself. Might save you from making any more mistakes that lead to brawls. But don't get too comfortable with this, you probably won't get it much longer."

"Than I shall attempt to enjoy the unusual peace."

"I am rather surprised you do not enjoy peace on a more regular basis," Elladan said with an air of superiority. "You are such a peaceful elfling, after all. Always trying to avoid fights and confrontations…"

"You are quite the peacemaker yourself, to be talking that way. The few confrontations I've been involved in the past few weeks have been because of you. Actually I recall being in only one fight myself, and you caused it."

"Don't start that again!" Elladan turned his head to stare hard in Isorfinduil's direction. "Your tongue is what caused your little squabble with Jase. You are far too loose with it."

"Rather I have a loose tongue than an uncontrollable temper. And an unhealthy pride, I might add." Isorfinduil turned back to look at Elladan with the hint of a sarcastic smile. "I think that's what's at the root of it all, Elladan. You couldn't just walk away when he used a petty name on you, could you?"

Elladan forced himself to disregard the younger Elf's words and be silent for a moment. He would not be pulled into another argument so soon.

"We do not need to get into another discussion about pride and tempers," he said finally and allowed his eyes to close restfully, settling back into the pillow. "We've been down that road before and it gets us nowhere."

"I must say, I am astonished," Isorfinduil replied without a hint of sarcasm, sitting on the edge of his own bed. He reached down and gently removed his light boots, setting them neatly beside the bundle of weapons. "I don't know what Elrohir did to you when I was gone, but you've changed somehow. You aren't quite your usual angry, agitated, condescending self."

Elladan didn't answer and didn't move from his comfortable position. For the moment he felt peaceful, something that had been foreign to him as of late. His turmoiled thoughts were blissfully absent, leaving his mind feeling calm and collected. He instantly felt the persistent allure of sleep stealing over his limbs and he did not fight it.

Elrohir sent a quick glance to Isorfinduil, cautioning him to hold any further remarks. The woodlander conceded with short dip of his head and Elrohir rose to put out two of the three lit candles. Their quarters fell into a dim, wavering orange ambience.

In moments Elladan's eyes had slid open, unfocused and far away. He was partially leaning against the wall at the head of his bed and his body was still save for the rising and falling of his chest.

"It would be well for you to find rest as well, while you can," Elrohir whispered, his low voice barely making an impact in the quietness of the room.

Isorfinduil turned around from where he had just folded his outer tunic on a chair. The dusky candlelight flickered faintly on the silky clothing he wore now as he shifted onto the bed. His eyes seemed both tired and anxiously preoccupied as he looked back to Elrohir.

"I don't know if I will find sleep tonight," he admitted with an almost imperceptible sigh of fatigue. "She seems always to be running from me."

**

Elladan's dreams had turned sour. For what seemed like a long while, he had been complacent in the wandering visions before his eyes, his body finding rest while his mind relished in the joyful memories of his past. Cheerful colors raced across his sight and he had found himself in a dazzling forest. There were white birches about him on every side and the strong, healthy branches were glistening in the morning sun with the wetness from a freshly fallen rain shower.

But it had not lasted long enough for him to truly enjoy it.

A drop of rainwater had rolled down a slender green leaf to hang poised at its tip but even as Elladan watched, the clear drop became murky and slowly turned black. The Elf became confused and leaned in.

The forest seemed to darken around him as though a heavy cloud had passed over the sun, obscuring her radiance. The waterdrop began to sizzle and smoke. An instant later it burst into flame in front of his face and he stepped back from it quickly in astonishment.

The flame rapidly spread to engulf the tender leaf and it licked its way over the surrounding twigs, moving up the branch. The sky darkened even farther, giving the appearance of dusk, and Elladan looked up just as large drops of smoking, black rain began to hurl down from the boiling clouds.

Elladan felt dread welling up inside him. Not this again. He had gone so long without this happening to him. He glanced apprehensively back to the tree and found that several large branches were now burning brightly, the flames reaching ever upward. He could feel the stifling heat radiating from the blaze and stepped back farther.

The branches of the white birch crackled and snapped as they burned and it was a horrifying sound to his ears. The energy of the delicate tree was being sapped as its boughs blistered and smoked and he felt it calling desperately, painfully for help.

Another wave of heat rolled in from behind him and he spun to find another tree lit in brilliant flames. He stared at it, horrified. He needed to get away from here.

He turned in a circle, throwing his glance about him to find a route of escape. As he looked, a stinging, burning sensation suddenly flared on his cheek. A hand flew up and he rubbed swiftly at the side of his face, trying to rid himself of the strange, painful feeling. When he brought his hand away there was a liquidy, black substance smeared on it. It instantly began to burn and itch on his palm.

The black rain fell in fierce, heavy drops now, stinging him and burning his skin. He gave a cry of dismay and pulled the hood of his cloak over his head, taking off at a run. Behind him the burning trees spread their fire like a disease, swallowing up the once peaceful glade in a scorching inferno.

**

Isorfinduil had felt the tension in the room growing steadily. Laying in his bed, he had not felt the least bit sleepy and now he sat up slowly, sensing that something was awry. The single candle still burned in its corner but its light seemed ominously feeble.

Glancing across Legolas' empty bed to where the twins slept, he found Elladan in the same position, leaning his head and shoulders against the wall behind him in slumber. Elrohir, on the other hand, was sitting cross-legged on his own bed, his body tense and he stared at Elladan with wide, anxious eyes.

Isorfinduil gradually eased off his bed and onto his bare feet, making not a single sound as he crossed the dimly lit room and came to stand uneasily by the bedpost of Elrohir's bed. The dark-haired twin did not look at him.

Isorfinduil followed his gaze back to Elladan and took another curious look at the older twin. Upon closer examination, Isorfinduil found that the Elf's eyes were no longer unfocused but were sharp and clear, darting this way and that as though he were watching shapes move around the room. His hand was twisted in the sheets by his side and his face was tight.

Isorfinduil looked quickly back at Elrohir, his eyes wide and questioning. Elrohir glanced at him with a troubled look before shifting his gaze silently back to his brother.

"What is happening?" Isorfinduil asked in a low voice as he too, turned back to Elladan. The son of Elrond seemed to be both awake and yet dreaming in an odd and distressing way.

"He is dreaming," Elrohir answered, his voice apprehensive. "What is happening to him now has not happened for many long years and we thought he was rid of it. Apparently it is back."

"A nightmare?"

It was clear that the dream was not a pleasant one.

"Yes. Of the most disturbing kind. It is inescapable until it has run its course," Elrohir paused as Elladan's hand shifted slightly in the sheets before continuing. "He nearly lives through Hell in this dream. It is recurring but different every time, each one being utterly terrifying and horrific to see and feel. It is part of the foresight of my father that has been passed down to him."

"How do you mean?" Isorfinduil asked. He stepped in front of the dreaming Elf's line of view, but the dark eyes continued moving as though they were looking through him. "Does he see what is to happen in the future?"

"Sometimes. It is difficult to say precisely what he sees but many times the future is mingled in with the horror. Or rather, a part of it."

Isorfinduil looked at the younger twin questioningly. He usually did not like asking questions if there was a possibility that he might be able to figure it out on his own, but this situation was something completely beyond his knowledge. "Please, explain what you mean."

"Every future that he sees is evil. Not once has he had a dream in which he views happiness or life to come. It has always been of future destruction and fear and death. Once in a while he sees things that have already taken place."

Elrohir paused and leaned back slightly, as though settling in for a wait. Isorfinduil saw the sorrow in his eyes for his brother's plight and wished there was some way he could help.

"The foresight of Lord Elrond graces himself more than it does his children and my father has seen both joy and despair in his visions," Elrohir continued. "But it seems as though the Valar chose to split it as it was passed down to us somehow. Arwen, our sister, has visions always of future life and blessings that are to be bestowed. Elladan and I see pain and death."

"You have it as well, then?" Isorfinduil asked. In a small gesture, he made to pull gently at the sheets around Elladan's hand and so untangle him.

"Do not touch him!" Elrohir said sharply and Isorfinduil's hand froze in midair before dropping back to his side. Elladan flinched at Elrohir's loud command and his head turned away slightly.

"He is affected by everything we do." Elrohir said in a softer tone, his eyes apologetic at his cutting words. "That is why we must be quiet and not disturb him until he comes out of it. Any touch by us could be a slashing stroke of an enemy in his dream."

**

Elladan slowed his run to a jog and glanced behind him. He could no longer detect the fire that had seemed to be chasing him for so long. The trees around him that had once been white birches were now dark and gnarled, but they were not aflame.

The burning black rain continued to fall on him in sheets and he noticed small, smoking holes appearing on his cloak as the liquid began to eat away at the cloth. His unprotected hands were in fiery pain, dark drops sliding down his pale skin and leaving a burning trail.

Suddenly an intensely loud clap of thunder crashed through the sky directly over him and he winced, covering his ears and crouching slightly to wait out the assault on his senses.

The sound faded quickly and he straightened up again only to find that the forest had altogether disappeared. The dirt beneath his feet was now rough, cold stone and the trees around him had been replaced by nothing but a dull, ruddy brown color. He could make out no shape or form in the foggy brown except for the stone under him and he instantly dropped into a low crouch, resting his hands on the floor, the one tangible thing in sight.

He felt cornered. There were no walls that he could see but he felt a sudden sense of a danger that was inescapable. Wherever he was, he was trapped. He was filled with a dread that he could not explain and he glanced around himself apprehensively, expecting at any moment for some new danger to assault him.

Suddenly before him came the head of a large, frightening beast rushing towards him with the speed of light. Elladan leapt backwards and the snarling jaws snapped at him, but in the blink of an eye it had disappeared again. The Elf spun around quickly, trying to locate the beast but could see nothing but brown fog.

A searing pain caught him off guard from behind and he cried out agony as claws ripped through his shoulder and down his back. He twisted away and fell to his knees on the stone ground, his mind going temporarily numb from the intense pain. The beast was nowhere in sight.

The brownish-red fog around him slowly receded and the stone under his knees sluggishly morphed into a swampy marsh. Wetness seeped through his pants and chilled his skin. The pain in his back gradually faded and he stood, taking a long look around him. The marsh extended for miles and an unpleasant smell reached his nose.

Glancing down, he was met with the horrible sight of a dead body floating just under the water of a nearby pool of water. The face was a whitish-green and its eyes were cold and staring back up at him. A shiver ran down his spine just as a piercing screech blasted through the air and his hands flew up to protect his sensitive ears. A shudder shook his frame at the horror and dread that rolled through him at the ugly noise.

Almost instantly, the scene blinked out and he was left in black silence. He could hear nothing around him and could see even less. He thought for a despairing moment that he was tasting death and was relieved when he felt a sudden unleashing of rain pounding on his shoulders and head. A lightning bolt flashed close by, blinding him with its intensity. In the split-second that the light lingered, he saw that he was in some sort of woods with tall trees and strong branches.

He tried to take a cautious step forward but found that he was unable to. His body was suddenly not his own and he felt his consciousness taking him forward, seeming to leave his body behind. His vision brought him through the trees and as bright light flashed again, he saw through sheets of heavy rain several tall dark shapes amidst the trunks ahead of him.

The light blinked out and he felt himself moving steadily forward in the darkness. Only seconds later the lightning struck again and he found himself much closer than he was before. Many uniformed men were standing about a thick tree and just before the lightning receded, one of the men stepped to the side and Elladan saw with shock and dismay a figure tied securely to the large trunk, shifting uncomfortably in the ropes as though in great pain.

The scene snapped away from him before he could get any closer to the figure at the tree and his heart went out to the stranger in trouble. He was left in empty whiteness for only a moment before multiple scenes began to flash before his eyes in rapid succession. A tall dark mountain with fiery hot lava sweeping down its slope towards him and boiling clouds of ash pouring into the sky above. A scorching desert with a strange band of haggard humans dropping one by one onto the dry and cracked ground as the merciless sun sapped away the last of their life's energy. A wounded soldier, crying out desperately for someone to hear him and ease his pain. An Elf with an arrow through his chest. A child sobbing over the body of her dead mother.

Elladan's heart was wrenching inside him and he could not get away from the torturous scenes that played out so vividly in front of him. He willed to close his eyes and shut out the fear and death that he was seeing, but the displays were in his mind and the mind's eye has no lid. The visions kept coming and with them they brought pain and despair. Elladan saw gruesome deaths transpiring at his feet and he was unable to either give aid or escape. Some ends he experienced himself, feeling the throbbing intrusion of a cold blade sliding through him or the pounding panic that seized his lungs as he was held underwater.

They kept coming and he kept struggling to keep a hold of himself and not to break under the weight of the illusions. He had no time to think, no time to react. His mind was no longer under his control and he lived painfully from one experience to the next, hoping that each horrifying vision would be the last. He needed to wake up, to see the reality of the world around him.

But the nightmare held him through the night and he had not the time to even remember where he was in reality. He did not know that two Elves were sitting silently, anxiously next to him, watching him and praying that he would soon wake from this endless dream.

**

Everyone who is itching for some action with Legolas and Aragorn, the next chapter is for you. (It's for everyone else, too, of course! :) ) They both get some ouchies and we also see how Elladan is when he finally comes out of the dream.

Thank you to everyone who reviewed last chapter!

ASL – Well, I'm glad you like long chapters because that seems to be the only thing I've been able to spit out lately! Yeah, I'm trying to build up the tension between the twins and Isor. Or at least Elladan and Isorfinduil. I know, the bad twins aren't being too hospitable, hm? Well, just wait till next week! They get worse!!

Bookworm, .303 – Yeah, the bad twins aren't being all too friendly, are they? Thank you, I had a nice trip, and thanks so much for the review!

Leggylover03 – Yeah, I can't wait for them meeting up and dealing revenge either! :) I seriously can't wait to get to that point and be able to get it all out. The end is going to be my favorite part to do, I think. Thanks for the review!

Libby – Yes, I breathe still…Haha, thanks for the Hitchcock comment! I don't know much about those movies but I'll take your word for it! Thanks so much. I hope there was a bit less than three ages between these chapters, I think there was. :)

Niani – I'm glad you still like it, and thank you for sticking with me! Thanks so much for the review!

Trin – I hope it's alright if I call you Trin, I do these late at night and I get too lazy to type out the whole thing. Is that pathetic or what? :) Haha!!! Poor Aragorn, he better watch out now. I'm armed with Trin's devices. Lol…you'll enjoy the next chapter, I think…*wink*

**

Have a great week everyone and drop me a review! I love 'em! A huge thanks to all my regulars! (And the new ones too, gotta love newbies!)

I'm heading off to research some literature. *waves a flag of make believe joy*…What fun…

Hope to see you all next chapter!!

Mirfaen