The King of Starlight and Lullabies (Thranduil x OC fanfic)

Chapter 14- Master Bilbo Baggins

Instinctively Caledra whipped around as fast as she could, expecting to see a pickpocket of some sort. However she was greeted by... Nothing at all. She looked down at her keyring, eyebrow raised as she tugged on it experimentally. There's no doubt about it, she quickly deduced. Someone definitely just tried to take this.

As one would expect, she became extremely confused. She searched the hold, making sure no one was hiding in any crevices or nooks between boxes. After that quick investigation, she sat back down, trying to convince herself it was simply a trick her mind had played on her. That was clearly proved wrong as moments later there was another tug on it, this one nearly successful in removing the keyring had she not grabbed it quick enough.

What is going on? She thought, eyebrows furrowed together as she clutched her keys tightly. Is this magic? Wraiths? Finally, after the third attempt she had had enough.

"If you want my keys, you should start by politely asking. Stealing is rude," she announced in her most authoritative voice she could manage. There was of course no response. She continued prodding however, hoping it would deem her faster results than waiting. "I won't turn you in, little burglar," she began as she walked around the room, searching again in all the spaces she could find. Finally, a voice.

"I really need those," it said quietly, hesitantly as though it didn't really believe her.

"And I really need to know who I'm dealing with," Caledra answered. She heard a sigh. "I'm the only one down here," she said, hoping to coax him out. There was no sound for minutes and Caledra was about to ask again when he appeared finally. Creeping out from one of the hiding spots she had swore she had checked numerous times was the most unlikeliest creature she had imagined to be there. A hobbit.

The halfling eyed her suspiciously but kept his head held high even as he crept out from the shadows. Caledra had personally never seen a halfling herself, but they were much more known to her people than the dwarves were. She supposed it stemmed from their shared love of nature and the forests of the land. They were a reclusive folk, quite like the elves of Mirkwood had become, and it was certainly odd to see one here, especially one trying to steal her keys.

She spun the keyring around her finger, the keys jingling slightly as he eyed her. She rolled her eyes at his suspicion. "Relax," she finally said, breaking the silence. "I'm the last elf one should be worried of." She wasn't sure if it was the truth in her voice that convinced him, but eventually he seemed to calm down a bit.

"I need those," he said finally, hand outstretched and pointing to her keys. "Please," he added after, looking up at her with hopeful eyes.

"And why is that?" She said, although she had a nagging idea of what it was for. These keys could unlock almost every door in the kingdom, after all.

He sighed, looking back and forth nervously. "Look, should we really be talking about this, I mean-"

"You're with the dwarves aren't you?" She grinned. He gave her a surprised look, caught off guard by her clever deduction.

"How did you know?"

"Just a guess. We don't have many outsiders, never mind two in one day."

He nodded back up to the keys. "Knowing that, I don't suppose you would lend those to me?"

"No," she said. He raised a hand and began to speak, but she cut him off. "I won't lend them to you; but I'll go with you." She said, sticking her hand out. "Caledra,"

He twitched nervously, scratching his head before shaking her hand quickly, "Bilbo Baggins. What do you mean you'll come with me I-"

"I'll get you all out of Mirkwood. But I'm coming with you." She stipulated.