Though this be madness...

[Envin]

Aragorn said naught to Saeros, but led the good elf back down the passage whence they had come, their chambers their goal. The things which he had seen upon the papers in the storage room were enough to fill him with fear. He shuffled down the corridor, always careful to appear asleep should the be discovered. The doorway to their room was only some two hundred yards distant and around a corner. If only they would remain unseen.

[Garland]

Garland sat with his legs crossed by the fireplace in guest's chamber. His expression was calm as he sipped at his burboun, awaiting the return of his nosey friends.

[Envin]

Aragorn stumbled through the door, still continuing his charade of the sleepwalking nearly in his underwear, and out of the corner of his eye caught a glance at Garland sitting comfortably in a chair. An instant ere he would cease his playacting, he kept it going, lazily walked straight to the bar where the liquor bottles stood, took a carafe of rum, and swilled nearly a third of it at once, then spun about the sat clean on Garland's lap as though he had never seen him there. Just at that moment, Saeros walked in, took in all in a moment, and rushed to the scene.

[Saeros]

Saeros chuckled and shoke his head. "Flies sitting is easier than to make sure he doesn't kill himself," he said to Lord Garland and throw a glance toward Aragorn. "Runs all in a sudden off and I have to catch him before he dumps in some pits in the mines." He went to the bar and took something to drink for himself. Then he took seat besides the fire after he set a kick against Aragorns shin bone to wake him up. "Its quiet out there. Does nobody work at nightshifts anymore in this mines?"

[Envin]

Aragorn was startled awake and fell all over himself trying to stumble from Garland's lap, in the process falling to the floor and spilling rum all over himself. Then he stood up, rubbing his eyes and standing only weakly upon legs that wobbled. When his eyes finally seemed to focus he stared back and forth from Saeros to Garland, then back to his bed with longing. He shook his head briskly and started to walk over to his bed to go back to sleep.

[Garland]

Garland stood and gave a mocking applause. "Wonderfull performance, Aragorn. I was unaware of your acting talent." He crossed his arms, glancing between the two. "I trust you enjoyed your reading in my conference room."

[Saeros]

Saeros raised an eyebrow, took a sip out of his glass and asked: "Anything you need to hide, Lord Garland? Why so tense? I thought we are allies and friends and last but not least guests in Moria. ... Or do you need to observe your guests in this halls?"

[Garland]

Garland turned his glance to Saeros, "Guests?" He replied with an amussed expression. "It would seem to me that you are nothing more than spies." He smiled, "Do spies wear their welcome thin in your realm, dear Saeros? I assure you, they do Khazad-Dum." He turned then and walked to the door, glancing back just before he exited. "Gentleman, now is the time for you to depart Moria."

[Envin]

Aragorn sat up on the bed, rubbing his eyes as though the light pained him. The look on his face was one of astonishment. "Why, my dear Garland," said he, surprised, "Saeros will swiftly tell thee that oft it is that I suffer from this dreadful debilitation, and must be controlled save I injure myself. If I wandered into a place where I am not permitted then I am certainly very sorry, as it was most unintentional. But if thy word is to depart thy realm, then we must do so."

[Garland]

Garland paused halfway through the door and lauged as Aragorn continued his charade. "Oh, I've heard of sleep walking, my friend. What was reported to me though was more of a case of 'sleep reading' and rummaging about through my papers. I hope you found what you were looking for."

[Envin]

Aragorn continued his surprise. "Well, if I have offended in any way, then I extend my most humble apologies. Saeros and I shall leave thy land now, I would hate to continue to insult thee." He rose somewhat swiftly for a man who has lately been asleep, dressed himself, and walked through the door like one indignant. Saeros followed suit, doing his best to hold back a grin.

[Garland]

Garland gave one last fake smile as they walked away. "Good day, 'friends.' I do wish you a safe journey home. Keep straight to the exit and that it should be for you."

[Saeros]

Aragorn and Saeros heared the last words of Lord Garland and looked at each other. Saeros rose an eyebrow in an unspoken question and Aragorn grinned. Both made their way along the lightened tunnels and halls of Khazad Dum, heading for the gate, as Lord Garland had told them.

[Envin]

Aragorn and Saeros walked deliberately down the hall, listening intently behind them to see if pursuit was present. Perhaps it was the total silence of the Mines, but little enough did they hear to their rear, so they darted quickly into an unused side room to wait several minuted ere they began to snoop about again.

[Saeros]

Aragorn led Saeros stairways down into the deeper parts of the mines. There was this filled tunnel they couldn't go through to the old throne roome, but mines never had just one way to a place and if somebody was behind the filling, he wouldn't want to stuck there for eternitys and had to have a way to the surface of any kind. Of course it wasn't certain, that this special way would be still connected to the other parts of Khazad Dum, but it was unlikely that there was no passing at all. It just was a matter of good instinkt and knowledge about the many pits and tunnels and at least in the deepest arreas of Khazad Dum. where even the Dwarves hesitated to dig anymore, there would be a chance of a connection.