Beauty and the Beast | Thranduil x Reader

Chapter 5

The sheet ladder that you had been working on was now reaching quite a decent length. You had pushed open the window to your room so that you could more easily gauge the distance. This kingdom was strangely built and you were concerned that you were going to end up getting lost before you found your way out of here but you told yourself to focus on one aspect at a time. Your main focus was escaping this room. You hadn't thought you had any chance in the cells but here there was a definite opportunity.

Your thoughts kept straying to your father, hoping he had been safely taken to the edge of the forest. He would find his way home from there but from the look of him when you'd seen him, he would need a healer. What had they done to him? What kind of monster didn't help a man in clear need of aid? He'd looked ill and uncared for. Surely even if you had prisoners, there was a standard to which you must care for them? Your heart was filled with more anger as you thought of that wretched elf king.

The sudden sound of knocking at the door caused you to freeze in place and you turned hesitantly away from your task.

Legolas stood on the other side of the door. He'd lifted his hand to knock, not wanting to just stride into the room and make you feel uncomfortable. You were most likely uncomfortable enough and he still felt bad for having scared you before. He was too gentle and kind a soul for that and he would probably feel bad about it for a good many days yet. "My Lady?" He ventured, unable to see the way your eyes narrowed at the way he addressed you. You didn't speak. He knew you were in there, there was no way you could have gotten past the guards, and he had heard the shuffling from inside the room before he had knocked. You must still be scared.

"Are you hungry?" Legolas continued, pausing briefly to see if you would grace him with a response. None came. "I offer an invitation to dine... would you not like a different view for a while?" Legolas knew that this was probably just going to get him in some sort of trouble and he couldn't really say that right now he had much of a reason for this other than feeling bad. But sometimes he thought that was a good enough reason on its own.

There was no other response as you stared at the door. If you didn't agree would he have it opened and drag you out regardless? Why was the prince inviting you personally to dine? You were a prisoner, were you not?

"Please, I mean you no--"

"You will join us for dinner." A new voice interrupted the sentence Legolas had started. Everybody (Legolas, Tauriel, and the guards) turned to see the King taking slow, deliberate steps towards the end of the hall where your room was located.

You recognised the smooth baritone of the voice immediately and your blood ran cold.

"That is not a request." Thranduil continued, staring at his son with venom. He just could not understand what Legolas was doing or thinking but he had to admit that part of him, small as that part may be, was beginning to get curious. Curious enough to go along with his son and see how this would play out. Besides, maybe if you joined them for a meal, he would be able to give you some more rules about your new place here. Maybe he could assign you some lowly job so you were not just sitting around taking up space and resources... since Legolas was so insistent on you not being locked up in a cell for whatever insane reason.

Anger flickered in your veins at the words and you frowned at the still closed door. "You have taken me as your prisoner." You spat. "And now you want me to have dinner with you? Are you completely mad?!"

Thranduil's composure slipped slightly, shocked at not only your ungrateful tone but your words. Surely you had the good sense to show more respect and common courtesy. He was the King of this realm, after all, and you had been afforded more than you should have considering the situation. Yes, perhaps his son was mainly the one to thank but nothing could happen without his approval. Were you so foolish to believe you could speak to him in this way?

"You have been afforded your own room, a comfortable bed." He stated, voice low, tone slightly dangerous. "One would think that you would be a little more grateful."

Grateful?! You could hardly believe your ears. How arrogant! "I would starve before I ate with you!" Came your reply, tone conveying your bitterness towards him.

"Very well!" The words were hissed through the door, the sound of a palm smacking hard against the wood causing you to jump out of your skin.

Thranduil had lashed out and hit the door in his frustration at your disrespect. "Be my guest!" He snapped. "Starve." Thranduil turned from the door, looking down at the others in the corridor. Anger flashed in his eyes and not even Legolas thought to continue to push this situation at present. "If she does not eat with us, then she does not eat at all." He said loud enough for you to be able to hear him on the other side of the door and then he turned on his heel, disappearing round the corner.