Disclaimer: I own nothing to do with Tomb Raider, Lara Croft nor anything in this fic.

The Fall

Yay! Another chapter. Please R&R!

Croft Manor, England

"How do you know that it's not just Amanda setting you a trap?" asked Zip, watching Lara pack everything into her backpack.

"It is a trap," answered Lara simply, checking that she had enough pistol clips in her backpack. Alistair looked at her in surprise.

"Then why are you going?" he said. "We have found the most likely location of where Amanda was talking about, but it looks nothing like Bolivia! The structure is completely different!" He looked at Lara's face. Suddenly everything turned very serious. "Why are you going?" he asked again. Lara sighed.

"Because Amanda is probably just about the only person on this planet that could answer any questions that I might have. I need to know if anyone can get back from Avalon if they get there."

"And why should she know that? Surely only a person that has been to Avalon could know that."

"I hope not." Lara then picked up her equipment. "Alistair, while I am gone I would like you to go through all the footage we have of the past few weeks. Cut out any irrelevant parts, and make a folder of all the evidence that we have to prove that my father was right."

"Sure thing," said Zip. "He could do that easily, but the camera footage isn't good quality at all. It would need enhancing quite a bit."

"Can you do that?"

"Sure, can't see why not. Do you want me to enhance all the footage, or just the parts that Alistair picks out?"

"Either. Start with the parts that he picks out, but then try to enhance all the footage, in case something is missed."

"Sure thing." Zip nodded as Lara left. She called behind her as she exited the building.

"I will be back in a few days, don't worry if you haven't completed it by then." After she had left, Zip and Alistair looked at each other.

"She's forgotten her climbing gear again." Was all that Zip said.

British Museum, England

"Like her father, must be in their genes," is all that Erik Williams said when he heard of Lara's story of her mother. Erik Williams was one of the most senior professors at the British Museum, and, despite being so highly ranked, was still younger than most others. He was in his mid-twenties, with mouse coloured hair and walnut coloured eyes. He was of medium height and weight, and looked very plain and boring compared to others around him. Nobody would notice him if walking down the street.

"Perhaps," answered Eddigton. "But it is very unlike Lara to come up with such a story without any proof. If she does bring proof with her, I do think we should think of it as a possibility." Williams snorted in disbelief. It was true that he had very little respect for Lara, or indeed her father, although he had been far too young to meet the man. He had always insisted the reason for his dislike was that he did not believe in this 'fairy tale chasing' that he thought Lara did, despite the fact that Lara always went on missions that had at least some kind of evidence for going there. Everyone knew, though, that the real reason he disliked her was that she was the only person ever to beat him in his archaeology degree at university.

"And what about the sword? She said that she had found Excalibur? And King Arthur's Tomb? I suppose the sword crumbled because it was so old, and there was a cave-in in the tomb magically just after she had left it?" Eddigton sighed and shook his head.

"Perhaps you should show a bit more respect towards Lara. After all, she has discovered far more important archaeological sites than you have ever done." Eddigton said. "And she has offered to show the sword to us, as long as she can keep it for further examination, and insists that she has plenty of footage from everywhere she has been in the past few weeks." Eddigton paused. "And in case that does not convince the more … cautious of us, she has offered to give us the locations of everyplace that she has visited." He looked at Williams. Williams sighed.

"Fine. But I will tell you now, I will not be surprised if it all comes to a dead end." Eddigton smiled, and opened the door into his office.

"Thank you my friend." Eddigton closed the door. Williams paused and then walked on. He had to find a way to prove Croft wrong.

Arequipa, Peru

Amanda looked at her watch. She had been there for two days and nights now, but Lara still had not turned up. Of course she would have known it was a trap. But Lara would also have known that if Amanda had seriously wanted to check out what was here, she would not have been so stupid as to tell Anaya.

Amanda lay back. Lara was still not here, and she should probably keep a watchful eye out for any suspicious movements, but she was too tired. After all, Lara had decided not to kill her the first time, so it was highly unlikely that she would come all the way to Peru just to do that. Amanda looked at the stars. She began to wonder where Avalon really was. Maybe it was just in a far away galaxy. Or maybe it was further than that, a different dimension or something. Eventually she drifted into an uneasy sleep, still thinking of Avalon.

It did not really shock Amanda that she woke up with two pistols aimed at her head and the usual "move and I'll shoot" coming from its owner. Neither was she surprised when Lara asked her why Amanda had wanted to see her, but she was disappointed that Lara had appeared to bring neither her stone, nor the sword.

Amanda sat up. Lara's threats did not scare her and she could not stand having to look up at the bright sunlight. She smiled as she turned to face Lara.

"I knew you would come." Lara clicked the safety catch on the gun and told Amanda very simply that she needed some information. Give it and Amanda would live to see another day; refuse and it would certainly be the last day that Amanda would see.

"However, if you kill me, Lara, you would never get the information you desire." Lara insisted that she would, and was sure that she would easily find the information from elsewhere. Amanda paused, and to Lara it would appear that she was thinking of the offer. But Amanda had not. She could sense something.

So, you have brought a bargaining chip she thought, as she tried to see where it was. I knew you would. After all, the stone had been with Amanda for years, she had come to depend on it. However, she could not see where the stone was, and decided it would be far easier to let Lara bring it out.

"I know you have my stone, Lara." Amanda said. "Give it to me, and I will tell you everything you need to know." Amanda watched Lara's hands. She knew that a reflex reaction would take place where Lara would check to see where the stone was, to check it was safe. The left pocket of the backpack.

"How do I know that you just won't kill me as soon as I give it to you?"

"Trust is far too rare a commodity these days." Amanda was quick. She kicked out at Lara expertly, pushing her onto her back. Then she grabbed the rucksack, and attempted to reach the stone. It did not take Lara long to fight back though, and she swung her arm around, connecting it with Amanda's face, who fell back in pain.

Lara got up. Amanda quickly attacked with kicks and punches, and Lara soon found herself defending. She eventually managed to kick Amanda in the stomach, and was disappointed to find her foot come into contact with a ring of muscle. It did not knock Amanda out, but it did wind her, and she fell back against a wall of the ruins, gasping for breath.

Amanda saw what looked like a branch in the wall. She pulled it out, and thrashed it at Lara like a sword. It was too late before they both realised what she had done. Below them a door opened, and soon they found themselves both falling into darkness, with no light above them as the trap door closed.

T.B.C …

Another chapter done! Please review and tell me what you think!