The Hall was elegantly carved out of stone, adorned with tapestries in the likeness of Varda, Queen of the Stars, and the many other Valar. A large throne sat magnificently in the middle of the room, large and emanating importance. An Elf sat upon the chair on its plush cushion, his legs crossed, causing his long silver tunic to sweep across the floor in a dramatic matter. Jeweled rings wrapped around his slender fingers, a crown made of the freshest berries and twigs sat upon his head. The Elf huffed impatiently, sampling the wine that was laid out before him. An Elf patrol marched into his hall, thin layers of sweat causing their hair to shine in the light of the lit torches which resembled stars.

One of the Elves stepped up, her full face smudged with dirt. "The nest was destroyed, as you ordered, my King. It is as you fear, the fell beasts are growing bolder. However, if we are lax, they will become arrogant and destroy our dwellings and halls of old."

The patrol awaited an answer from their King, who ordered for more wine to be brought to him.

"Act quickly then. I refuse to have these Spiders ruin our woods. Destroy them. Send more patrols if you must." He growled harshly, his sharp blue eyes filled with malice for the arachnids. The She-Elf bowed deeply in acceptance to his command, her hair tumbling forward. Another Elf spoke, bolder than the first, her hair like red fire in the dimly lit room.

"Sightings of Orcs have been reported close to our boarders. Let us send out warriors to rid ourselves of them, King Thranduil, as they are notorious for becoming nuisances." She suggested, but the King shook his head, his long, blonde hair falling onto his chest.

"No, Tauriel. You underestimate Orcs; as they are strong, evil beings." The Elven King replied, his piercing gaze falling on the Elf as she quarreled with him.

"I refuse to have them step on our boarders without punishment or consequences." Tauriel continued, her green eyes leveling with her King's, as she was unafraid of questioning him.

"I do not care for what you will have or not. What I have said is an order, and I expect you to follow it," He hissed, "Send another patrol out and do not come back until you have taken out another nest."

Tauriel bowed stiffly, frustrated that she could not rid her kingdom of the Orcs. Her King could not see beyond his own goals, though she would carry out his commands, for she was loyal to him. The patrol took their leave, adding fresh arrows to their quivers. They walked through the gate of their kingdom, smelling the rotting scent that emanated from the trees.

Moving silently, their footfalls as light as feathers, they crept into the forest. A twig snapped in the distance, and the Elves turned around, their ears perked in an attempt to pinpoint where the sound came from.

"Nad no ennas!" One of the Elves whispered. His forehead was adorned with a simple circlet, (as his father demanded he wear it so he would be separated from the common folk) and golden hair framed his fare face. Every Elf knew him as the Prince of Mirkwood, Legolas. He locked an arrow in his bow slowly, pulling the string taut. A Spider snarled in the distance, the sound causing the hair on the back of the Elves' necks to rise.

"Sedho, tiro!" Eleniel, another Elf in the patrol snapped, as she wished not to rouse the Spiders. Yet it seemed as if someone already had, as if there was an outsider in the forest that had accidentally caused a Spider to seethe in rage. A gruff yell sounded, followed by the screech of many arachnids; they had found a target. Fearing a curious child had wandered too far into Mirkwood, the Elves rushed into action and began to kill the Spiders, unpleasantly surprised to be rescuing a pack of unkempt Dwarves. Sliding upon the wet leaves Legolas pointed his loaded bow at the lead Dwarf's face.

"I will kill you, Dwarf, if you move. It would pleasure me." He snarled, breaking into the Common Tongue. The Dwarf said nothing, as words could not describe the amount of disgust he had for these Elves, and for as long as time could tell these two races were indifferent towards one another.

The group of Dwarves was an interesting one, as they all had an assortment of different hairstyles and beards, making them an amusing sight. In the background, a Spider emerged from the undergrowth, latching onto one of the younger Dwarf's legs, dragging and attempting to sink his fangs into his flesh. Tauriel rushed to his side, managing to shove her dagger into the Spider's thick hide, its black blood pouring onto the forest floor.

"Search them!" Eleniel growled, pushing a blonde Dwarf away from her; who had gotten dangerously close and looked like he would have given anything to run his blade through her. Legolas took a silver object away from one of the older dwarves, who objected angrily.

"Is this thing your brother?" Legolas taunted slyly as he opened the locket, revealing a hairy dwarf. The older one was seriously offended.

"That's my wife, you ass!" He explained stiffly, his cheeks red with rage. Legolas glanced at the picture again in disgust, closing it and putting the locket into his pocket.

Eleniel took a sword from the leader's side, inspecting it greatly, shaking her head and handing it to Legolas.

"This was forged by my kin and is an ancient Elvish blade. Where did you get this?" He asked, and the dwarf looked at him straight in the eye.

"It was given to me." He said gruffly, his face like a mask; showing no emotion. Pointing the sword at his neck Legolas frowned.

"This dwarf is a thief and a liar. Take them back to King Thranduil!" He ordered, removing the sword with a flourish. The patrol took the Dwarves to the Halls of King Thranduil. You wished not to be a subject of his wrath.

Elvish:

Nad no ennas: Something is out there.

Sedho, tiro: Quiet, listen.