Night was now falling as I patiently waited for the hour to arise when I would finally meet with our inside person and gain the knowledge I was seeking.

I continued to lay on the bed of stone I was provided in the cell and appeared to be asleep, when really I was listening for the light sound of the footsteps that would cause my waiting to cease.

Eventually, they came and approached the door. The sound of jingling keys was made as it made contact with the lock of my cell and unlocked the door with a click. The door was slowly opened and a figure appeared in the doorway. It waited until I stood up before standing  back opening the door further allowing me to exit. It was then shut behind me and I was guided to another area of the prison where there were rooms (or bigger cells) used for interrogation, although that was not what we would be doing in there, in fact it was far from it.

I was lead inside a room with a door that had a window in it covered with bars. The red haired elleth closed the door and turned around slowly approaching me. I waited patiently for her to speak as she paced back and forth slowly on the opposite side of the table at which I was sitting very calmly at.

She stopped turned to look at me, her mouth started to open, but then it shut again and she continued to pace her little distance on the other side of the table. I watched from the corner of my eye, waiting for her ask the question that we both know, was nagging her. Eventually, she stopped. 

And with her back turned to me spoke, "I... I have been thinking much today..." I stayed silent waiting for her to continue, "And I still have not found the answer to the puzzling question before me... actually there are several."

 I raised an eyebrow slightly, waiting for her to ask that question or questions.

"What are you doing here, why did you make your position harder as well as the king mad, and lastly..." she turned and looked at me in the eyes,"Do you have a plan to get out?"

I continued to remain silent, thinking as to how to answer. "Well all puzzling questions have answers, but you cannot expect to have them all at once." 

She sighed, "I didn't think I would, although it never hurts to try." she cracked a small smile that quickly faded. "However, we do have some pressing problems."

I raised my eyebrows."Do we now?" 

She returned my gesture, "Do you not call being captured in the forest, making the king livid, and being imprisoned in his dugeon, with the possiblity of never getting out, pressing problems?" 

I took a deep breath in and let it out slowly, "I would, if I did not already have the answers to them."

"Meaning you have a plan?" 

"That is a very good question..." she looked at me waiting to for a reply. I stood up, "One that  deserves a very good answer."

"Yes it is, but what is that answer?" 

"We shall see in time, won't we?" 

"That is something I have some of at present." She sat down and I began to pace the room. 

"However, it may or may not be long enough to receive the answer you seek." I stopped for a moment, "Which is why I need some questions answered first with the time we do have."

"Go on." I started my pacing again. 

"I need some information about the palace."

"What sort of information?"

"Oh simple things, like where rooms and halls are, a basic layout."

"Are there particular rooms and halls you are wanting to know the where abouts of?"

"Indeed they are."

"Well I shall help to the best of my abilities if I can."

"How far is the kitchen and the  king's cellar from my cell?"

She raised her eyebrow, but that did not hold back her answer. "Not very, down the path a little, and several stair levels."

I nodded, "Is there any door unguarded or not heavily that leads outside, even if it's to the villiage of silvan elves and such in Mirkwood?"

"No, the only one that is not guarded directly is the one that leads outside of the palace and from there about twenty feet is the gate and wall that closes in Mirkwood with ten guards or so keeping a lookout both behind and in front of them. So even though there is no one at that door it is very visiable, and even if it did go unwatched for a bit it is almost impossible to get to it without passing several elves and servants in the cellar and kitchen."

"Besides the information of guard status, there is only one word I care about."

"And what is that?" 

"Almost."

"What does that mean?"

"Just because something is almost impossible, doesn't mean it is. Although that does not mean it is easy to achieve, but it leaves room for hope, something that you have to depend on in this situation. Now, I need to know main halls and the ones that lead to guard chambers, weapons and armor, and such so I have an idea of where they are and how frequently they will be occupied."

She then gave me the run down on that, and although it was helpful I still needed to know a bit more information before I can even attempt in starting the proccess of my plan. 

"How many servants live in the palace?"

"What kind of question is that?"

"That's precisely what it is, a question. An answer usually follows it."

She rolled her eyes, "About half, the rest come from the villiage outside of the palace in the valley bellow inside the gates of Mirkwood. No one, let alone our servants live outside of the wall. Especially with spiders in the vicinity."

"Yes, that is a small detail. You really should take care of that." 

She glared at me and I put my hands up innocently,"I'm not blaming you. I'm simply saying it would be a good idea, especially if you want to continue living in this nice little place. And I'm sure you can handle it and are doing the best you can."

She nodded, "We certainly are. We don't have that much more time, anything else you need to know?"

"Yes, are there any servants living in the villiage who are sick or absent at present?"

She looked at me with a quier look, "Funny you should mention that."

"Oh?"

She nodded.

"Does that mean there are?"

"As a matter of a fact, there is a person who just got sick recently."

"What did they do?"

"She was a second maid in the palace as well as the assistant to the cook when they need it."

"Has anyone been chosen to take her place?"

"Yes, a new comer from the villiage will be taking her place." 

"When?"

"Tomorrow."

"What's her name?"

"Why are you so curious about it?" she looked at me with a puzzling look. 

"Because I'm just that, curious. So will you tell me?"

"I suppose it won't hurt. Her name is Siliana."

"Has anyone seen her before?"

"No. She's never been to the palace before."

"Good, thank you for all your help." 

"That's it?"

"That's it."

She looked at an hour glass on a shelf in the locked up room. 

"It's a good thing cause I need to return you to your cell before anyone notices and  I have some things to attend to as well." I nodded and she got up and unlocked the door of the room and I walked out. She follow me and closed the door behind us and led me back to my cell. 

As she was opening the door and I was entering it, she said one last thing. "Was that enough time for my answer?"

I stopped and looked at her, "No, not nearly enough for them all." she looked disappointed and I added, "But I think it was for one."

"Well in that case I will take it."

"What is it?"

"Do you have a plan?"

I smirked, "Don't I always?"  

She grinned,"That's true." 

Before she went away, I added one more thing, "By the way. How come you know so much about the servants, and their systems and changes? Not that I'm complaing, just curious." 

She smiled, "I'm the captian of the guard, I know everything." I smiled in return, she might know everything within the palace, but I know everything outside it, that is.. more or less. "Sleep well Jules, if you ever do. That mind of yours,  I'm sure, has it's way of keeping one up." 

"I'm used to it by now, and if not I will be, eventually." I stepped in and she shut the door. 

"I'll see you later then." 

"I'm sure you will... Tauriel." She had a small smirk that played on her lips before she locked the door and walked off into the endless halls and staircases. 

I sat down and layed back on the stone bed, thinking about tomorrow. I would have to get up pretty early, well that is if I slept. In that case I would just stand up. I put my hands behind my head and stared up at the ceiling, my mind busy with making plans. I had so much to do, and so little time to do it. 

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Hey mellons! Sorry I haven't updated for awhile, I've been extremely busy with life, and especially school which seems to have a reputation for that. I don't know how soon the next update will be, hopefully it'll be that, soon. I hope you liked the chapter, let me know what you think of Jules and her meeting with their inside person. And let me know what you think about the identy of that person, and of Jules plans to get out without a fight. Sorry if it seems a bit slow, there's a lot that has to be set in place before all the actions starts, and when it does it'll blow by in a super fast whirl wind. Hope you have a great week Mellons. Thanks to everyone who has supported and encouraged me on this book, I really appreciate it as well as all the comments and votes.

        Navaer Mellons, 

                                 ~Jules

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