The Three Kingdoms

4: Betrayal

When the blindfold was finally removed from Beinion's eyes, he found himself in a large, open room, or at least, he thought it was a room. He was unsure whether he was inside of a room, or simply in an enchanted enclosure in the forest. While there appeared to be walls of smooth silver wood, intricately braided and weaved into pillars and columns, the ceiling of the room appeared to be a canopy of brilliant green leaves, mixed with shimmering, glowing crystal lanterns. Before him, in the center of the room, stood an elf that, while would be roughly his height, was much more slender in stature. On top of his golden and braided hair, sat a crown of golden leaves, which seemed to shimmer brighter than the crystals that surrounded the room. Beinion had heard tales as a child of the ancient forest king, Lord Tidurian, but had never imagined that he would be meeting him.

"Welcome to Nimloth Uireb, Mountain-Elf." The king's voice resonated through the room.

"Where are my kinsmen?" Beinion demanded. Having done a search of the room with his eyes, he did not see them anywhere, the only people that remained in the room were the three elves that had shot and captured him, and the elleth from the forest, along with the king and himself.

"You are in no position to make demands, mountain-elf" Lord Tidurian declared. "But, it should ease your mind to know that they have been taken to receive care for their wounds."

Lord Tidurian paused for a moment, quietly walking around Beinion in a full circle. Beinion did not move or meet his gaze. Instead, he continued to look forward, fully aware that every move he made reflected on not only himself, but his entire race.

"My Lord," Beinion began. "I must apologize for these adverse circumstances in which we meet. My kinsmen and I meant no threat to your realm or your people. We have only come in search of food, as our people are starving."

"No threat to my people?" Tidurian interrupted. "Am I to assume you meant no threat to my people when your men threatened to kill one of the members of my elite guard?" He bellowed, bringing his face only inches from Beinion's. His eyes, while silver-gray like the Eruviel's, seemed much colder and more piercing.

Beinion spoke, unintimidated and unflinching, "I can assure you, my lord, we meant her no harm."

"I am sure you will remember my son, Telathion." Tidurian gestured toward the elf that Beinion immediately recognized as the one that shot both of his men, and had already developed a strong distaste for him because of this. "He has witnessed your men with a knife to her throat. Do you deny these accusations?"

Telathion and Beinion's eyes met, and both remained unblinking, in a silent show of willpower.

"It is not as it seems, my lord..." Beinion began, but was quickly interrupted by Tidurian's rage.

"I am not, your lord, spy from the mountains. You would be wise to remember that." He spat. "You have threatened the life of one my finest rangers, and the last in a very noble lineage... something your kind would know nothing about." His emphasis heavy on the word 'nothing'.

"You should not judge the lineage of an elf you know nothing about." Beinion found it more and more difficult to subdue his anger with the unreasonable king.

"You and your kind, are not worthy of calling yourself elves." Tidurian's face was becoming contorted with anger. "You are a diluted race and inferior breed. I hereby condemn you and your kinsmen to ten thousand years imprisonment, after the completion of which, your crimes will be reassessed and further punished if deemed necessary."

"You are a mad man!" Beinion found himself shouting. "Will you not listen to what I have to say? Will you not hear our reason?"

"Silence him." Tidurian commanded, and Beinion was quickly gagged before he could protest. "Your words mean little to me, mountain-filth. There are witnesses enough to your crimes."