Winter Lily

Chapter 2: To Rivendell, once again

When Thranduil's travel with his knights started, it had been rather peaceful for the most part. He insisted to ride beside the carriage Elinil was in, the elleth being wrapped around by a thick cloth as she lay motionless on the makeshift bed they prepared for her. Bilbo rode, rather uncomfortably, as Thranduil noticed, on a pony beside the carriage, occasionally asking if Elinil was doing okay. The Elvenking applauds the hobbit for his care. He had been glad that it was a hobbit like Bilbo who had found his Lily.

Of course, it would not be a journey with dwarves if the elves hadn't at least argued with them once.

"We cannot pass in that path you are taking to the Misty Mountains" Thranduil said, a twitch in his eyebrows showing his annoyance. He slid down from his elk smoothly, as they stopped somewhere on the Great East Road to camp out for the night. He turned to order one of the knights to fetch some firewood and make themselves useful.

"It is the only path" Gandalf said before the uncrowned King of the mountains could retaliate.

"You think it is" The Elvenking replied. "There are stone giants in there, as well as a community of goblins hiding beneath the mountain. You will not survive if you encounter them" he warned.

"The stone giants are fond of play fighting. If they are awake, you would see them throwing large boulders around. It is too dangerous" one of the knights said, a large bounty of wood in his arms.

Thorin huffed, glaring daggers at Thranduil. "I do not care what you think. We will take that path and that path only" he said stubbornly.

Thranduil raised a thick brow. "Of course" they can walk to their doom and he wouldn't bat an eye. He gave a look to Gandalf, hoping the wizard would be able to stop the stubborn dwarf from bringing everyone to their deaths.

He is just like his grandfather.

Foolish.

It was during their meals when Thranduil hears something from afar, the ears of an elf were much sharper than any others. It seemed, however, that it was not only him who had heard of the sharp, curdled screams located in the west near them. He turns immediately to look at his knights who nodded and stood up with their weapons drawn.

"Olog-hai!" Thranduil whispered sharply to the elven knights who surrounded the carriage where Elinil lays while some remained with their king.

Gandalf looked affronted, he looked to be in the middle of an argument with Thorin when he sees the elves. "Trolls, there are trolls" he said to the dwarves who drew their weapons as they glance around their camp.

"Look around, search for them before they could see us" Trolls rarely travel around alone. There could be a horde to them right now.

"But there is something wrong, your majesty. It sounds like something is killing them" one of the knights said.

"There must be at least 3 of them being slaughtered" the other knight said.

Whatever was killing those trolls was not something to be ignored. "I will go and search, you two come with me" he said. He glanced at Gandalf, who nodded his head and stopped the dwarves from coming with them.

Upon finding a small clearing, the Elvenking sees the bodies of 3 trolls, all dead around what seemed to be a large pot they are using to cook something. What was in front of one of the trolls, however, was an Orc. A filthy one at that, who was feasting rather disgustingly on the dead trolls.

Thranduil frowned in distaste. He was relieved that it was only one orc.

"What is an orc doing here in the Great East Road?" the orc stopped upon hearing the question from one of his knights. It turned its head around, a crazed look on its horrendous eyes and the elves prepared their swords.