One tiny advantage was that the woodland elves had found us. The closer we got to their realm, the clearer my head became. But the clearer my head became, the more I realised how deep in trouble we were. The elves had tied us together with a coil of rope that bound our hands in front and were pushing us every now and then to keep us going. I walked behind Thorin, who was about to have a rage fit and gritted his teeth when huge waterfalls came into view. We walked across a bridge through a mighty doorway, into the kingdom of the Bleak Elves. In the halls of Thranduil, there was nothing left of the sickness of the Bleak Forest. The paths that wound up and down had been carved into healthy trees. Waterfalls rushed into the depths, elves busily went about their activities. These Elves were so different from those in Rivendell, they were tougher, more warlike and they hated Dwarves.
Legolas spoke something at Sinderin, I squinted my eyes and concentrated to understand something, Sinderin was so different to the Elvish I had grown up with "Take the leader and the half-breed, lock up the rest." Legolas strode forward with his chin up.
Thorin and I were separated from the rope of the group. After a few seconds I heard some doors slam and the cursing of Dwalin. But I had problems of my own at the moment. Surrounded by guards, Thorin and I were escorted to the king. Even from a distance I saw him. Thranduil sat on his throne, towering above everything else in his realm. Reluctantly, I had to admit that he looked quite majestic, with his silver robe and the crown of branches on his head. One of the elven rings was on his finger.
Arrogant and overbearing, he smiled at us as we stood before his throne, it was a cold smile devoid of any emotion "Your journey feigns noble intentions, but I suspect something far less honourable behind it." he began gliding around us "You wish to commit theft and slay a dragon. " his gaze lingered on my ears for a moment, for a second I could see a spark of emotion flash through his mask, then he closed it again and looked Thorin straight in the face "you want back what gives you the right to rule. The King's Jewel, the Arkenstone."
"What business is that of yours?" Thorin had clenched his hands into fists.
Thranduil smiled his cold smile again "That it is precious to you beyond measure I understand. There are gems in this mountain that I also desire." his eyes sparkled "White gems of pure starlight."
"Can you express yourself intelligibly!" being cheeky to a king was not recommended, but I didn't care.
Disapprovingly Thranduil pursed his mouth "I will let you go if you give me back what is mine."
"A favour then, for a favour." The dwarf beside me muttered, turning so that he could look out over the kingdom that lay behind him.
Thranduil bowed his head and put his hand over his heart "I give you my word, from one king to another."
I bit my lower lip, Thranduil had just pricked Thorin's Achilles heel.
The Dwarf Lord laughed mockingly "I hardly think Thranduil the Great Elf King will ever keep his word." he practically bellowed the next words so everyone in the Woodland Realm could hear them too "Even if we were facing the end of days. You lack any honour." seething with rage he walked towards the Elf "Once we came to you, starving, homeless, asking for your help. But you turned your back. You showed no compassion for the suffering of my people and the inferno that destroyed us. IMRID AMRAD URSUL!" he shouted at him.
Faster than I could blink Thranduil dashed down to Thorin "Don't talk to me about dragon fire, I know exactly how destructive it can be!" he dissolved some kind of spell and a huge burn scar, with half his face gone, appeared "I have fought the great fire serpents of the north!" he returned his face to normal and strode back to his throne "I warned your grandfather of what his greed would bring. But for once he would not listen."
A growl escaped Thorin as he was grabbed by two guards.
"You are just like him." with a wave Thranduil indicated to the guards to take Thorin away "Just stay here and rot. A hundred years is but a blink in the life of an Elf. I am patient, I can wait." he dropped down on his throne.
I clenched my hands into fists behind my back, I had a really bad feeling that I was now standing here alone in front of the Elf King.
With his piercing eyes the elf eyed me like a rare animal "So, you have the size of a dwarf but the ears of an elf."
I just stared back, in my life I had faced scarier creatures than a bitter elf.
"Perhaps you will be more cooperative, how do the dwarves plan to get into Erebor?"
I put my head back and laughed "Did you really think just because I have Elven blood I would betray Thorin at the first opportunity?" with teeth clenched in anger I glared at him, for some years I had known which Elven king had killed my father "Ishkh khakfe andu null." I spat at him the worst insult in Khuzdul there was.
Thranduil shook his head "Nana, as the last of your kind you should be a little kinder."
I staggered back as if someone had hit me. How did he know.
"You think I haven't heard the stories of the Half-Blood, the last Fire Elf that somehow survived the massacre?" Thranduil tilted his head and took a seat on his throne again "As powerful as you are, you could do so much more, but instead you go around with a bunch of filthy dwarves."
I set my hands on fire and lunged at him screaming, he had no right to speak of them like that. I didn't get far, two guards knocked me to the ground and held me down with the blunt ends of their spears. Furious, I raised my head.
"I really hoped we could resolve this civilly." Thranduil looked genuinely disappointed.
I didn't care, I spat out on the floor in front of him.
The Elf King sighed "Hollow a whip here." after a glance at my hands he added "and lots of water."
My whole body tensed but I knew one thing now, no matter what they would do to me I would not give him what he wanted. I would not give in, not to the elf who had murdered my father.