Becka's POV

Becka Starr was pissed. This happened often enough, however on this night she had a reason to be pissed. She had been late to class again, forgotten her homework, been yelled at by no less than three people and to top it off had fallen down the stairs of her apartment with the bruises to prove it.

"Damn it!" Becka shouted to everyone and no one in particular as she struggled to open the door to her apartment. "If I didn't have enough problems the f door won't open again!" This led to a renewed effort to get into the apartment. The door finally allowed itself to be opened but only after another five minutes of struggling and some rather fantastic cursing. "About time" Becka grumbled to herself as she went inside. She then proceeded to throw her backpack; purse and shoes on the floor, while she was doing this, Becka began thinking about a late dinner. The choice came down to Chinese or Mexican. Becka did not believe in cooking. However she had the numbers to all the decent restaurants, and fast food joints that delivered in the greater Los Angeles area. Deciding that the Chinese would arrive the fastest she proceeded with the ritual of ordering and arguing with the poor fool who answered the phone. The food arrived, two minutes after the thirty-minute deadline. "Free food tonight" Becka thought to herself. The deliveryman took one look at Becka's bad attitude and quickly agreed that he had been indeed late.

After finishing her late dinner plus some homework Becka was more than ready for bed. However, the flat that she lived in was so messy at that moment that Becka was sure it would give her nightmares if she did not clean it up a bit first. Becka examined her living space. Considering her financial capabilities, it was tiny. Being a college student meant a tiny living space. The two seemed to go hand in hand. Grumbling about this unfortunate fact of life Becka began to pick up. Fortunately with a tiny flat there was only so much mess that could be made.

Once she had finished cleaning up Becka looked around somewhat satisfied. (For some reason, cleaning of all things always seemed to put her in a better mood) Her entire living space consisted of one room. There was a small refrigerator, plus a hotplate (rarely used) and a tiny counter. Her "bed" was a shelf up on a wall that could only be reached by a small ladder built into the wall. The flats' furniture consisted of orange crates and beanbag chairs. The crates had been stacked up to make shelves and more crates were in the center of the room with some plywood over the top creating a sort of low table.

Deciding that the room now looked half way presentable, Becka went to the bathroom (down the hall) and began her nightly ritual of tooth brushing, showering and swearing at the unlucky man who had deemed it necessary to come into the unofficial ladies room.

Back in her flat Becka stayed awake long enough to trip over the "table" turn off the lights and climb into bed. Unfortunately for Becka tonight would not result in a pleasant nights sleep.

Elrohir's POV

Elrohir slowly crept through the bushes. To his left he caught a glimpse of his twin moving into a position ahead of their target. Elrohir kept a wary ear out for Elladan in hopes that his sharp-eyed brother would spot something important on the path ahead.

Both twins had been following this particular group of orcs for nearly a month now, carefully taking note of the path that the orcs followed hoping that they would eventually be led back to the creatures' stronghold. This particular group of orcs had been acting very strangely. Their behavior and actions had been to well planned and concise and overall unorc like. The orcs had passed by no less than three small elven villages outside of Imladris without once stopping to raid and plunder; (Much to the relief of the brothers). Both Elrohir and Elladan needed answers to this strange behavior. At times the orcs had wandered dangerously close to Imladris but had never strayed into its' fair borders.

Elrohir heard the call of a sparrow. Proceeding forward (and giving the orc band a wide berth), Elrohir went to where his brother had signaled him.

"What have you found?" He inquired as he approached Elladan.

"There is a small ruin up ahead, of the likes I have never seen!" answered Elladan.

"It lies directly on the path that the orcs are following" continued Elladan.

"How soon can we reach this place?" replied Elrohir after some thought.

"Not long Ro, however our smelly companions will be their long before us if we continue to stand around in deep discussion!" exclaimed Elladan

"My dear brother, please forgive my sense of caution for attempting to keep your sorry hide out of trouble this one time!" retorted Elrohir

"If it seems that I lack caution Elrohir, it would be that you have simply inherited more than your fair share!" Elladan responded.

With these parting words Elladan climbed stealthily into the trees and with a small sigh Elrohir followed.

As Elladan had promised it was not far to the ruins that he had discovered. Both brothers took a bit of time exploring the remains of what looked like a small, but ancient fortress. Taking to the trees for safety at the distant sound of orc footsteps they carefully positioned themselves so that they could better see and hear the approaching orcs.

When the orcs did finally enter the clearing where the ruins lay the orcs began screaming and hooting in celebration. It seemed that the orcs had arrived at their destination however during the twins' brief search of the fortress, there had been no signs of orcs. It was quickly becoming apparent that the orcs were not returning to a stronghold dangerously close to Imladris but had instead found a place that they had been searching for!

The orcs swiftly formed themselves into a semblance of order; setting up camp near the ruins and breaking into smaller groups to search the ruins. As the orcs began a thorough search of the ruins, Elladan and Elrohir wondered what the orcs sought that they might have missed and also hoped that they would not find it, whatever it might be.

Triumphant shouts sounded out a few hours later as a pair of orcs emerged from the ruins, one carrying an object in its arms. The orcs all swarmed to the pair eagerly. Despite the twins' best effort neither one could see the contents of the mysterious bundle. The orcs, apparently certain that they had found the item that they had sought celebrated long into the night. Breaking out stores of wine, it was not so very long before they were all dancing around in a drunken stupor. At some point one of the orcs apparently kicked or tripped over the bundle, (neither brother could quite see through the crowded gathering of orcs), which was in the center of the camp. The sounds of merrymaking from the camp quickly turned to shouts of rage and terror. The bundle was thrown out of the camp in the direction of the tree that Elrohir and Elladan sat in. The orcs began running in the opposite direction as quickly as possible.

Elladan began to descend from the tree to inspect the bundle despite his brothers shouted warnings for caution. The item, freed from its wrappings was glowing and emitting the strangest noises. It was also apparent that the item was a palantir. Elladan moved closer to the palantir; Natural curiosity taking over his better judgment. Elrohir swiftly descended from his perch, again shouting for his brother to move away from the obviously dangerous artifact. As Elladan moved closer to cover the palantir with his cloak it began to vibrate, then without warning it exploded. There was light and heat as the twins felt themselves thrown off their feet then quite suddenly there was darkness.