Ya'aburnee

The Halls of the Woodland Realm

The forest thinned slightly, the light finally filtering down through the leaves as they got closer to the elven city. Eventually, the exterior wall of the city came into view, carven out of a stone rockface in the river. The carvings were reminiscent of those in Rivendell, but moss grew up from the river on the face of the rock, the wall painted a faded blue color. The door swung open, four or five times taller than the elves who manned the entrance.

The lead elf and the red-haired woman both stopped at the outer pillars of the gate, letting the whole line march past, the leader holding firmly onto her arm just above her elbow, making her stop with them. The dwarves all looked very proud and very angry, just as she had expected they would. There had been so many elves between her and the dwarves she had not been able to see them till now. She pulled at the arm who held her, but was yanked harshly back, and she saw Thorin falter as he passed, willing himself not to throttle the elf then and there.

She was at the back of the group now, the red-haired elf taking her arm as the leader took the back, ordering something in elvish. "What exactly is our crime?" Liv asked the elf as the door closed behind them. She glanced sidelong at the human woman, but did not reply. Liv continued. "We were helping deal with your spider infestation, and were traveling through your wood. I was not aware that was a crime."

The lead elf cleared his throat from behind, saying something in elvish, and the red head straightened, pulling Liv forwards. The city looked almost like an indoor Rivendell, but carved out of wood in addition to stone. Water flowed through the city, and light filtered down from the canopy above. It was like a great forest inside a cave. The angle of the sun told her that it was getting late, and despite the circumstances, she was glad to see the golden light.

"Why am I separated from my group?" She demanded answers again, though did not struggle against the elf. She knew it would be fruitless.

"You are not a dwarf," The leader replied. "And the king will wish to speak with you."

"Isn't that lovely," She muttered sarcastically. Eventually, they reached a fork in the path, and Liv was brought to a halt, most of the elves and all but one of the dwarves taking a path to the side, down deeper into the city. "Thorin!" She pulled forwards but was yanked back by her new guard. Both the leader and the red-haired elf had gone with the main group, leaving to help lock the main company away.

"Olivia," He also pulled at the elf who held him tightly, but was yanked back as well. "Are you unharmed?"

"I'm fine," She replied as their guards began to drag them up a set of stairs, away from their companions. "Are you alright?"

"Fine," He replied. "What do they want with you?"

"I don't know," she replied honestly. She had a few guesses, but in truth she didn't really know.

As they rose up the last flight of stairs, they came to a tall throne, branches sticking up behind the back, the dais rose above a stone platform, pieces of roots showing between the stone. The elf who sat at the top looked strikingly similar to the lead guard, and had a haughty look in his eyes. The king stood, stalking silently down the stairs, circling Thorin, Liv being held for a moment off to the side. The king stopped his circling to stare out over his kingdom. "Some may imagine that a noble quest is at hand. A quest to reclaim a homeland, and slay a dragon." He turned to look at Thorin, who faced away from him, towards the throne, where he was placed by the guard. "I myself suspect a more prosaic motive." He stalked forwards, Thorin shifting his eyes to the side, not liking being unable to see the elf behind him. "Attempted burglary. Or something of that ilk."

"I was not aware taking what belongs to you back from a dragon was defined as burglary," Liv interrupted the king, his gaze falling to her.

"And you," He had a curious glint in his eye. "Have you been lied to so much that you are blind to the truth?"