Lost and Found [Thranduil love story]

Chapter 12: Double, Double Toil And Trouble

I  tried to leave the tent, but guards were quite persistent. Any try has been noticed and I've been asked to go back. The elves were very courteous, and I felt more like a naughty child, than a prisoner. I had to admit, the king WAS trying to make my stay as pleasant as possible, considering the circumstances. After a while I thought about trying the teleportation trick again. I chose Gandalf as  my destination point. I  closed  my eyes, concentrated and... nothing happened. I tried again and again, with the same result. Finally Thranduil came back, and I was still inside the tent. That was just embarrassing.

"Five escape attempts." He said. "I admire your persistence."

"There's nothing to admire. I'm still here." I  replied, feeling angry. He was mocking me!

"I did not expect you to make it."  Said the king, offering me food and some wine.

"I've escaped you once, I  can do it twice." I replied, feeling my cheeks burn. 

His hand with a goblet stopped on the way to his mouth,  but  before he could reply some elf entered the tent, carrying a set of clothes. He left them on a stool, and I gave the king a questioning look.

"Your present garment  is inappropriate. I suggest you change." He said.

I looked at the clothes and noticed it was a copy of those I was wearing when I came to Mirkwood.  The only difference were the shades of greens and browns, which looked more  silvery. I looked around. There was no place I could hide  myself in.

"And where am I to change?" I asked. "Out here, for everyone to see?"

"The curtains will be drawn for you." He gestured to the elf, who brought the clothes, and still hadn't left.

The small changing room was prepared for me, and I did what I was asked to. To tell the truth I was happy to oblige. I felt awful in my torn and dirty dress, like a beggar. I was just finishing, when I heard Gandalf entering the tent, and introducing to the king no other but my favourite hobbit. I quickly tied the most important strings, so that my clothes wouldn't fall off and jumped out from behind the curtains.

"Bilbo!"  I exclaimed kneeling and hugging the man. "I was so worried. That stupid..." I remembered the king was in the room, and changed the sentence. "There are orders to shoot anything that moves. I'm so happy you made it here safe."

"Anne! I was wondering what happened. You know, you have been disappearing too much lately. This cannot be good for your health... or my nerves." He said smiling.

I smiled back and hugged him again, kissing his cheek while doing it.

When I let Bilbo go, I noticed  that his face turned bright red. Oh my, did I embarrass him just now? Whoops.

"If I'm not mistaken this is the halfling who stole the keys to my dungeons from under my guards' nose." Said the king looking very displeased, and almost angry.

Bilbo looked embarrassed.

"Yes, well, sorry for that." He said.

Thranduil frowned at him, for some reason not accepting the apology. I rolled my eyes.

"Oh come on,  it's not his fault you have such useless guards." I retorted, adjusting my blouse, which started revealing too much. I really should have done better job with those strings.

The king looked at us, from one to the other and changed his facial expression to blank. Oh, that wasn't good. The hobbit, however, didn't look intimidated.

"I came to give you this." He said putting some piece of cloth on the table, and unwrapping it. I drew my breath. It was the Arkenstone! Thranduil looked astonished as well.