Erebor's Guardian

Chapter: 16

"Search them."

The elves approached us. Thorin whispered to me.

"Use your wings."

I unfolded my wings and shielded the dwarves from the elves. They all stood back. Suddenly another group of elves came out with bow and arrows on fire.

"Don't think we don't know who you are. And your weakness."

I growled at the male elf.

"You can shoot, but I will not stand down. Not like your king."

The male elf walked up to me in anger, but the female elf stopped him.

"Legolas, remember your orders."

The male elf scoffed as he brought up a hand to the other elves.

"Kill her."

I saw them pull their arrows back. Suddenly Thorin stepped in front of me.

"No!"

"Thorin, what are you doing!"

"Shut up!"

The male elf brought his hand down.

"If she closes her wings, will you let her live?"

The male elf simply nodded. Thorin turned his head to me. I reluctantly folded my wings, the elves still held their arrows toward us. The elves approached us and started to search us. The male elf started to speak to the female elf. An elf handed Orcrisr and Ringil to the male elf.

"Where did you get these."

"They were given to us."

The male elf pointed the sword at Thorin.

"Not just a thief, but a liar as well."

"Take them."

As the elves took us away, one of the dwarves noticed that Bilbo was not among us. We were led over a bridge and into the Woodland Realm. After we passed through the male elf called for the elf guards to close the gates.

As they led us through the wooden walkways. Thorin and I noticed the KIng of Mirkwood. Thranduil sitting on his throne. They brought us to the cells and pushed everyone into them. They pushed Thorin and me into the away from the cells to the throne room, I saw one of the elves stop Fili from entering the cell and found a hidden dagger. I smirked to myself. I looked to see Kili speaking to the female elf.

"Aren't you going to search me? I could have anything down my trousers."

"Or nothing."

The female elf slammed the cell door shut and walked away. Kili looked at her and smiled. As the male and female elf pulled us away I could hear the others throwing themselves against the door.

Soon Thorin and I had been brought before king Thranduil.

"Some may imagine that a noble quest is a noble quest is at hand. A quest to reclaim a homeland and slay a dragon. I myself suspect a more prosaic motive: attempted burglary, or something of that ilk."

Thranduil looked closely at us.

"You have found a way in. You seek that which would bestow upon you the right to rule: the King's jewel, the Arkenstone. It is precious to you beyond measure. I understand that. There are gems in the mountain that I too desire. White gems of pure starlight. I offer you my help."

Thorin looked up at the king.

"I am listening."

"I will let you go if you but return what is mine."

Thorin turned and slowly started to walk away.

"A favour for a favour."

"You have my word. One king to another."

Thorin stopped walking. Still facing away from Thranduil, he spoke. His voice got louder and louder as he spoke.

"I would not trust Thranduil, the great king, to honour his word should the end of all days be upon us!"

Thorin turned to Thranduil with rage showing in his eyes.

"You lack all honour! I've seen how you treat your friends. We came to you once, starving, homeless, seeking your help, but you turned your back. You turned away from the suffering of my people and the inferno that destroyed us!"

Thorin beat his fist against his chest.

"Imrid amrad ursul!"

Thranduil lept down from his throne and put his face in front of Thorins.

"Do not talk to me of dragon fire. I know its wrath and ruin. I have faced the great serpents of the north."

As Thranduil spoke his face contorted, it appeared to have scar and burns. I stood in front of him and unfolded my wings. The gold and black feathers shown scared and missing parts. The loose feathers fell as the scarred wings opened.

"You are not the only one who has suffered that pain! Yet I fought with them and protected them! While you hid in your forest for your own selfish actions!"

I folded my wings in pain as two elves brought torches to the wings. I fell to my knees as Thorin placed a hand on my shoulder. I glared at the king and brought my arm up in front of Thorin.

"Such strength."

Thranduil turned to Thorin and spoke.

"I warned your grandfather of what greed would summon, but he would not listen."

Thranduil turned around and began to walk up the stairs of the throne.

"You are just like him."

Thranduil motioned to the guards who grabbed both of us.

"Stay here if you will, and rot. A hundred years is a mere blink in the life of an elf. I am patient. I can wait."

The guards threw Thorin and me into the cell. Balin spoke

"Did he offer you a deal?"

"He did. I told him he could go 'Ishkhaqwi ai durugnul' him and all his kin!"

"Well... that's it, then. A deal was our only hope."

"Not our only hope, Master Balin."

I remembered that Bilbo was not with us when we were taken, there was still some hope.