The Valar Child: The Desolation of Smaug

Chapter 8 - In the Palace of the Elven King

Hildar

Bilbo had to use all his strength to hold me back as I wanted to cut the throats of every single elf I saw. Especially the three who targeted Thorin, Fili, and Kili. I saw a tall blond take Thorin's sword, Orcrist. When he pointed it at him, I almost leapt out of the bushes. I was afraid he would kill my father, but Bilbo pulled me back down. "Don't move Hildar. If we're discovered, there goes their chance at escape," Bilbo counseled. I finally nodded and crouched down in the brush to watch them. A red head brought Kili back, a female elf. She was tall, graceful, and pretty (but then, all elves are). She shoved Kili, and he looked at her, and I sighed. I had seen Kili get that expression on his face before, with a few human maidens we had traded with, in the Blue Mountains. He was smitten! With an elf! That was when I looked over at the elf, who was searching Fili, very thoroughly too. Fili had once challenged me to find every single blade he carried on his person, and I had. This one was doing the same thing! He looked under Fili's collar, in his boots, arm guards, and even underneath his hood! I had to smirk a little.

This guy is good, I thought to myself. When he had had his fill of finding my brother's arsenal, he took hold of his shoulder, and pushed him into line with the rest. He resumed carrying a bow and glanced over his shoulder. He had a nick on his cheek, and I realized that my brother had succeeded in causing him an injury. Good one Fili. My eyes were following this man's every move, every flick of his eye. He seemed suspicious of the bushes, but he made no move to search. The rest of the elves were leaving, so, he turned and followed them. My mind was telling me to pursue them immediately, but my instinct was telling me to wait. The elves would surely keep the dwarves together, and all I had to do was track my company. A hand on my arm made me look back at Bilbo as he knelt next to me. He held out the ring in the palm of his hand, and I realized that I now needed him to use that. I bit my lip and nodded my head. He nodded back, slipped it on his finger, and disappeared from my sight. But, I still felt his comforting hand on mine, and he led me along. Bilbo was going to take me to the palace of the elves, and we were going to get our friends out!

Following the elves was difficult. We didn't want to alert them that we were there, but we also did not want to lose them. The elf in the rear would pause every so often and look back. This made me afraid, but Bilbo would always pull me down in time. Finally, the trees became beautiful again, elegant, and growing tall. The bark was unmarred by cuts, or spider webs. The sun started to shine again and soon, Bilbo and I saw a wall. It was twenty feet high, and made of smooth, white stone. "Garzan i-shan bruntere!" I muttered under my breath. Basically, I was saying, "That's a huge bastard!" I saw the elves leading the dwarves across a bridge, and through a narrow gate. Nudging Bilbo forward, I waited for everyone to disappear inside. Two elves, the blond, and the brown haired one, turned around, and looked down the path they had come. I remained utterly motionless, waiting for them to go into their stronghold. After a moment, they turned around, and entered, the gates closing behind them. I was waiting for Bilbo to cry out at getting stuck between the doors, but when no exclamation was forthcoming, I breathed a sigh of relief. He had made it in!

Beren

I followed Legolas to the great throne hall and stood before Thranduil as the dwarves were taken away, and their leader brought forward. Thranduil's eyebrow went up when he saw me standing there, and his lips pursed together. "You went outside the palace walls? Again," the last part in a matter-of-fact tone of voice. Legolas glanced at me, and that was when I saw the dwarf leader giving me a look as well.

"I sensed the spiders, your majesty. I went out to kill them. It's a simple as that," I stated, but Thranduil was not swayed by my words.

"You disobeyed me again. For that, you will surrender your bow and quiver to Tauriel, and you will await my orders for your next task," Thranduil said. I stepped forward and let my brashness speak for me.