The King and Dragon Lord

Ch. 11

"Thranduil this is outrageous," Elrond said in an upsetting tone. When he, Thranduil, and Gandalf saw a guard bring me they stopped talking.

"Hello, Eldaerenth," Thranduil said to me. I held my head high to try and hide that I was frightened.

"It's Nex." I snapped back. Thranduil's guard walked me next to Elrond and Gandalf and then stood back. "Why do you want me Thranduil?"

"I'm glad you asked." Thranduil walked over to me. "You're dwarf friend still has jewels in that mountain and he won't give them up easily."

"So what? You're hoping to use me to threaten Thorin with dragons just to hand over some heirlooms? And possibly even start another war?" I stepped towards Thranduil a bit. "If I'm not mistaken the last time you were in a war you tried abandoning others and leave them to die." I was being harsh but I didn't care.

Elrond grabbed my arm. Thranduil stood and looked at me. He may not have looked like it but I was getting under his ignorant and selfish elven skin.

"Thranduil there is no need to start another war," Gandalf said.

Thranduil continued to look at me and then he reached inside his robe and pulled out the Arkenstone. "I'm almost tempted to let you take it." His voice started changing as he spoke. "If only to watch Oakenshield suffer. Watch it destroy him." A flash formed and it was Smaug. I was in Bilbo's place. "Watch it corrupt him. And drive him mad." The last bit got extremely loud and other flashes shown of how Thorin acted when he felt as if he needed the Arkenstone. I stumbled backward and Elrond caught me.

The flashes went away and I stood there a minute to catch my breath. Everyone was looking at me worried. That vision blocked out what Thranduil had said but he stood there and looked at me as if he was intrigued by what I saw.

"What happens if the exchange isn't made?" I raised my eyes at Thranduil.

"Stay here of course. Besides. They're still my prisoners." Thranduil's guard came up to me and grabbed me.

"Thranduil. This not a way to go about things." Gandalf stepped forward.

"It is based on her decision." Thranduil continued to hold out the stone.

It didn't take me long to make my decision. I stood up straight and held my head high while looking at Thranduil. "Glenn- rot in udún (Go rot in hell)."

"So be it." Thranduil gestured his guard to take me back. Elrond and Gandalf just looked at each other.

"He offered a deal didn't he," Balin asked when I was put back in the cell with him.

"Mhm." I leaned against the wall. "Told him he could go to hell." I heard Thorin let out a soft laugh and he was grinning.

We all fell asleep in our cells but I couldn't sleep. I couldn't look away from Thorin. Part of me felt bad for not wanting to continue forward with him but I was too scared of losing him. To war and the Arkenstone.

Noise filled the halls and everyone woke. "What was that?" I got up and walked to the cell door.

"Orcs," Balin said. We looked at each other and then I looked at everyone else. When my eyes landed on Thorin he looked normal. The sickness of the Arkenstone wasn't there.

A guard fell down the stairs and it startled everyone. Tears started to fill my eyes. Is this where I die?

"Nex," Thorin called out and I looked at him. "I won't let anything happen." We all saw Bilbo run down. "Finally the burglar shows up."

Bilbo went around and got all of the cages opened. "This way!" We all started following Bilbo but I stopped.

"Aro," I mumbled and turned and started running.