The Company of Wolves

Chapter 19: Soft Hearts

Dakota squirmed and tried shoving off the hands of the two elves holding her shoulders down, but she couldn't use her strength. Her arms were bound tightly behind her, and the wound she received from one of their arrows piercing her skin was weakening her. She hoped it wasn't bleeding out too bad, for she might pass out at any moment if it kept going.

Thorin was just staring at her, looking astounded she was even here. Dakota didn't blame him, she wasn't expecting to find herself captured once she caught onto the trail of her packmates. They came out of nowhere and the forest was so heavy with magic her nose was failing at finding the proper scents and sounds to alert her more regularly.

So here she found herself in the clutches of elves and practically being thrown on her knees right in front of the arrogant King. 

Well, both of them.

Dakota growled deeply, its unusual sound hitting Thranduils ears and causing him to look over at her. His face showed curiosity, but also disgust with her nature.

"Do you hear that?" He whispered. Thorin basically ignored him, he couldn't stop looking at her with concern in his storm blue eyes. Dakota wondered if he was actually worried about her safety. That would be a first, and rather confusing thing. They've been nothing but snappy at each other since they first met, or cranky.

Thorin then turned his eyes over to the elf king, not looking fazed by it. "That is the sound of a creature that does not belong on this earth." Thranduil told him, stepping over to his other side.

While Thorin refused to counter any argument against it, Thranduil continued onto his speech. "You know this creature, you make it too easy. You even knew her name. A name that which does not belong in any of Middle-Earths languages I assume."

This guy really knows how to put useless information out there without ever knowing its consequences. Dakota thought, looking the elf up and down with a slight annoyance. If he truly knew what happened and where they came from, he wouldn't even have her in chains in the first place. Honestly he'd be dead cause Dakota would've felt like ripping his throat out for capturing her friends in the first place.

Thorin just observed him as he spoke, not saying anything. Thranduil hummed at the silence and glanced over at Dakota once more. He tilted his head a bit and watched her, seeming to think about something. "Your eyes do remind me of something I lost quite some time ago. White gems, made from pure starlight. That is an odd and rare color to have."

Dakota looked down so he couldn't see them anymore and he huffed lightly at the disrespect. "You have something I want in that mountain Thorin Oakenshield. For you are mostly looking for the King's jewel are you not? The Arkenstone."

Thorin averted his eyes as the elven king ruled out his true wishes. "It is precious to you beyond measure. I understand that."

Dakota truly thought he didn't. He looked cold as stone from the inside and out. Thorin seemed to recognize what he meant, and slightly narrowed his eyes.

"I offer you my help." Thranduil politely bowed his head.

Thorin let a small smile play on his lips at those words, Dakota scrunched her brows together on what this could mean. Clearly there was a history between these two that she wasn't picking up on.

"I am listening." Thorin commenced, his deep voice rumbling compared to the softer elven king's.

"I will let you go." Thranduil started, "If you but return what is mine."

Dakota felt her arms practically going numb and tried shifting her body a little so she could loosen some binds. The elf that stood over her snatched her back to face forward. Thorin's eyes darted to her, eyes searching her condition before turning around and walking back to face away from them.