Isilwen's heart pounded like a war drum as she followed Haldir of Lorien through the dim, slender passageway which he claimed led to Elrond's chamber. Part of her was kicking herself for never having discovered this passage herself. Another part was wondering what they would find when they reached the end of the tunnel.

Truly, she was not worried for the life of Elrond. She believed that the Uruk-hai would indeed keep him alive, at least for the time being. For as long as he was useful to them. Yet she also knew that Elrond would give up his own life without hesitation to save the least of his people. He had been willing to do so for her. After all, he could have hidden in the cupboard and left to face the Uruks. She was of far less value to Rivendell than he was. Chances were she would just have been rounded up and sent to the banquet hall with the others… but they had not known that.

She wished they had had but a few more seconds -- Elrond could have ducked into this passage and hidden as well! Yet she knew there had been no time for that. And had there been, it was not Elrond's way, to hide from his enemies. At heart, he was a Healer, but there was no doubt that he possessed the valor of a warrior.

Isilwen was glad to be with Haldir and Erestor. It made her feel much, much safer to be with Haldir in particular. This struck her as odd, when last night in the garden he had seemed…dangerous. Her eyes lingered on his tall figure as they crept through the passage. It came to her then that she was admiring him. That she found him attractive. Her lips tingled as she remembered the kiss that they had shared.

She could not help but compare it to the kiss of Elrond in her mind. She could not help but admit to herself that Haldir had stirred her more than the long awaited caress of the King. She loved Elrond, yes -- that could never be denied… but she desired Haldir. having finally gotten what she wanted (almost,) she now wanted something else.

And Haldir, she reminded herself, was free. He had admitted to finding her beautiful -- even if he was seeking no more than a casual lover. Would such a thing be so bad? Many Elves were casual in their affairs. Ai, what was she thinking, longing for seduction when Rivendell had been taken by Uruk-hai? And even once they saved the city, as she had no doubt that they would do once they freed Elrond, Haldir was supposed to be leaving with Legolas.

Isilwen wondered briefly if Legolas and Haldir were truly lovers, as so many seemed to think. If she was not incorrect, Legolas and his Princess seemed pretty well bound up in each other…and Haldir had been looking quite frustrated lately. No matter, she had no doubt that Haldir would make love to her if she asked it of him. She wondered if she could depart Rivendell with him when he left, and with Orophin and Rúmil. What a pleasure it would be to travel with those two darling boys!

Perhaps she would not even ask Erestor if she could go with them. She would ask Haldir, and he would say yes. Her heart felt almost light at the thought, and she had to force herself to focus on the problem at hand. Elrond. Would she not miss Elrond if she left? But he was right, soon he would depart for the Undying lands where he would be reunited with Celebrian.

Save him first, plot later.

Haldir stopped walking and Isilwen bumped right into him. She took a step backwards, glad it was too dim in the passage for him to see her blushing. She opened her mouth to apologize, but he turned and lifted a finger to his lips, urging silence. He leaned slightly towards the door at the end of the passage, which they had reached while Isilwen was caught up in her reverie. She realized he was trying to hear what might be happening in the room beyond, so she listened, too.

"If what you want is possession of Rivendell, you have achieved it," she heard Elrond say in a calm, sensible tone. "I recognize the right of the spoils of war to the victor."

"What is he saying? Give up Rivendell?" Erestor hissed.

"Shh!" Haldir glared at him. "Trust him."

Erestor nodded with frustration and Isilwen heard Elrond speak again.

"Let my people go free, and I will grant the city to you, Tallanz."

"That," came the gravelly voice of the Uruk-hai leader, "Is suspiciously generous."

"The lives of my people mean more to me than our dwelling."

"You will just turn around and attack us again with the help of your allies. They will not dare come if you are my prisoner," Tallanz said chuckling.

"We mean to sail for the west. We will not return. You may remain here untroubled."

"You lie."

"No, I speak the truth."

Isilwen clenched her hands into fists at the accusation. Foolish monster! She hoped she could kill Tallanz herself! How brave Elrond was to remain so calm as he bargained for the lives of his people.

"Well. You may, or you may not, but it still serves my advantage to keep you," Tallanz said.

"Then keep me, and free my people. They will do as I ask," Elrond said.

"What you do not realize is that your people have value to us. They are one of the spoils of war," Tallanz said. "After all, soon the stock of your kitchen will be depleted."

A chill went through Isilwen as she understood his meaning. This Uruk-hai had no intention of negotiating with Elrond. He would simply be kept apart from the others as a bargaining tool, then killed along with the rest of them. It took all her strength to remain calm. Elrond did not reply to the Uruk's insinuation, so Tallanz gleefully went on.

"You owe me in lives as it is. Would you agree to leaving me one Elf for every Uruk-hai who has died today?"

"I will never agree to letting you kill even one Elf," Elrond said. "You invaded. We defended ourselves. Had we been prepared, you would have not set foot in my house."

Tallanz chuckled again. "Boo," he said.

"You are on a fool's errand, and you will be stopped."

"It is too late for that," Tallanz replied. "Now you are beginning to bore me, Elrond of Rivendell. I shall leave you in favor of seeing what delights your dining room has to offer. I think you are wise enough not to try an escape, because if I return to find you gone, I will slaughter every remaining Elf in the palace. My General tells me there are nearly a hundred on hand."

"I…understand," said Elrond. Isilwen knew he was fighting to hold back the note of defeat in his tone.

"Good," Tallanz said. "Just in case, I will leave a regiment of guards outside your door."

From the amount of stomping Isilwen heard next, she guessed that Tallanz had left. Urgently she poked Haldir in the ribs.

"Open the door," she hissed.

"I will go speak to him. Wait here," Haldir said softly.

"No! I want to see that he is all right," said Isilwen.

"I should speak to him. I am his Advisor!" said Erestor.

"The more of us that go out there, the better the chance of being caught. Surely you both realize that we cannot allow the Uruk-hai to discover this passage," Haldir said.

"Unfortunately…I think you are right," Isilwen said.

"I am glad you agree. Erestor?"

"Just go ahead," Erestor fumed. "Hurry, before that despicable Tallanz returns."

"I will leave the door open, that you may see Elrond yourselves," Haldir said, opening it slowly.

"You mean, that you may make a hasty retreat," muttered Erestor.

Isilwen and her brother crowded each other in the passage as they battled for the right to look out of the doorway. Haldir stepped out into the room. The sun was setting, Isilwen realized, as light flooded her eyes. Its reflection came through the glass ceiling of Elrond's chamber.

Elrond stood looking out one of the windows of the room, his back to the passage. His head was bowed and his hands were clasped behind his back. His long dark hair flowed in a curtain over his shoulders. A rush of affection filled Isilwen, but it was the bitter taste of an obsession that was falling into embers.

"Lord Elrond," Haldir said in a low voice.

Elrond turned, his dark green eyes widening as he saw Haldir and behind him Isilwen and Erestor. "Haldir. Never have I been so glad to see you."

"No, I suppose not," Haldir said with a twist of irony in his tone. "Quickly, come with us before the Uruk returns."

"You know that I cannot," Elrond said. "I cannot risk the deaths of the hostages."

"But--"

"Why do you think I did not use the secret passage in the first place, Haldir?" Elrond said with a hint of amusement in his voice. Isilwen giggled and Haldir shot her a stern look over his shoulder. "I must remain here."

"What should we do, then, my lord?" Erestor asked from behind Isilwen.

"I need your help in ascertaining that the Uruk-hai have not murdered any of those whom they hold captive. Perhaps weapons can be brought in to them, somehow. You know where the stores are kept."

"Yes," said Haldir. "But how shall we get them in to the prisoners?"

"You knew of this passage. Do you not know of the others?" Elrond raised an eyebrow. "From the library there are three. One leads to here, another to the store rooms beyond the kitchen, and the third to my private quarters below. From the store rooms you can slip in and out of the banquet hall if you are careful. Be wary of the kitchens, for surely the Uruk-hai will be ransacking them."

"An excellent plan, my lord," said Erestor.

"Make your move at dawn, when the Uruk-hai will be at their most weary," Elrond instructed them. "Until then, you should keep out of sight, in my private room."

"Very well," Haldir agreed.

"Your lives are all at risk, do not doubt this," Elrond said. "If you are caught, they will kill you."

"I do not fear death," said Haldir.

"I know you do not, my friend," Elrond said. He took a deep breath. "I imagine that Gandalf will come soon, bringing help. The Elves must be armed before his arrival so that they are not mercilessly slaughtered. I do not know when he will return, but I know we must be prepared."

"We will be," Haldir said.

"I have faith in the three of you," Elrond said. "Haldir, you are wise in the ways of battle. Erestor, you are wise in the ways of peace. If you work together, you will find yourselves a formidable alliance."

Isilwen felt a little shock of sadness at his words, that he had left her out, until his eyes met her own from behind Haldir.

"Isilwen, you are female -- the wisest of all Elvenkind. When in doubt, follow your heart."

Erestor made a small sound of disgust, as if he did not entirely believe Elrond's words, but Haldir turned and gave her a smile over his shoulder. That smile made her heart miss a beat, and for a moment she wondered if this was not what Elrond meant after all.

"Go now," Elrond said. "Report back to me when you may. Take your time in these endeavors in that they may be performed with caution, above all. I want to see all of you come through this alive."

"Do not fear, Lord Elrond. We will not fail you," Haldir said.

"I admire your confidence," said Elrond.

Erestor finally stepped back and Isilwen followed him to permit Haldir to enter the passage with them. Silently they made their way back to the library, with Erestor now in the lead. It took but a few minutes. He made sure the library was still empty (except for the bodies of the Uruk-hai that Elrond had killed) before they made their way back inside.

"It is a good plan," said Haldir.

"Yes," said Erestor, "But a dangerous one. We should leave Isilwen in the safety of the private chambers."

"Did you know about that?" Isilwen said. She wondered why she had seen Elrond enter one room and emerge from another later. She had even searched for such hidden passages, but had never been able to find them.

Erestor shook his head. "No, but make not idle conversation, Isilwen. We must get you to safety."

"I wish to assist in smuggling the weapons to the prisoners," she said.

"I cannot permit it."

"I think you should reconsider," Haldir said. "She will be the least visible among the prisoners. Most Elves of Rivendell are dark. I will be easily spotted."

"You forget that our faces and features are not like the others," Erestor said angrily. "We will be just as visible."

"Isilwen is smaller than you. If she stays back, she can pass unnoticed," Haldir insisted.

"I will do it," Isilwen said with determination.

"No, you will not!" said Erestor.

"We have no choice," said Haldir.

"For Lord Elrond," Isilwen implored her brother, catching the sleeve of his robe. Erestor considered for a long time, then finally nodded his head.

"Together we will all three examine the situation, and the risks," he said at last. "If it seems she can pass among the prisoners unnoticed, I will let her go… for Lord Elrond."

"To the store rooms, then," said Haldir, "Once we find the other two passages."

The three of them set to work, pressing against all of the volumes of books. The three Elves worked in determined silence, pointed ears ever alert for Uruk-hai guards. It took nearly an hour before they found the first passage, which led down a spiral stair. It was apparent that this was the entrance to Elrond's private chamber and not what they sought, so they went on.

At last to Erestor came the moment of triumph, and the third tunnel was discovered. He ducked inside, leading the way. Isilwen hesitated in the doorway for a moment longer as Haldir hurried across the room to join her.

"Go on," he urged her. "I shall be right behind you."

She smiled at him, and in a moment of impulse threw her arms around him and stood on tiptoe to press her mouth against his. Automatically Haldir wound his arms around her and kissed her back, murmuring low in his throat. When the sweet play of lips and tongues ceased (much sooner than Isilwen would have liked it to,) he looked down at her in stunned satisfaction.

"What was that for?" he asked her, his voice a rumbling purr.

"In case I have not the chance to do it again later," Isilwen said, and then she turned and followed her brother into the darkness.