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As expected, the Company was led into heart of the Woodland Realm. It truly was an eye opening set up, Mirkwood was. The way everything was built around the larger-than-life trees around them, and the way dim sunlight filtered through the cracks in the branches gave the place a sense of tranquility. But that feeling was of course gone once the Company was led down to the dungeons and each shoved into cells.

The Dwarves mostly all protested, but apart from several of their captors receiving swift kicks to their shins by a stubborn Magauna, the Elves mostly had no issue locking any of them up.

By the time the Elves had gone away, and Magauna had sent a last glare at the leading blonde Elf, she'd lost all hope of getting out there. It was as Balin had said as several of the Dwarves attempted to break out by slamming their bodies against their cell's bars: "There's no way out. This is no Orc dungeon; these are the halls of the Woodland Realm. No one leaves here but by the King's consent."

And his words were true.

Magauna sighed as she leaned her back against the wall of her cell, and slid down so she was sitting on the floor.

She'd been aware of the full intensity of the situation since they were all escorted into the halls of Mirkwood; she knew there was no getting out.

Thorin hadn't been brought to the cells, but was instead brought to the King's throne, no doubt so the Elven ruler could offer a deal to the should be Dwarven King.

Magauna thought this was entirely unnecessary. Then again, the Elves of Mirkwood have always been known to be dramatic and ignorant.

Ignorant to what, you may ask?
Ignorant to others.

And so as Magauna sat on the ground with her back against the wall, with her head in her arms, she closed her eyes. Being confined to this cell brought back unpleasant memories. Ones she would rather have forgotten long ago.

In the cell next to her, Fili could hear her heavy sigh. "You alright, Maggie?" He asked.

The Half-Elf opened her eyes and turned her head towards the wall separating them. She smiled, just ever so slightly, that she still had people that cared for her. "Define alright." Magauna responded. When the dwarf didn't respond she sat up straighter, even though no one could see her. "You ever been locked in a cell before this?"

"No." Came Fili's reply.

Magauna resisted the urge to scoff. "You're lucky. I have. Many times. Once for twenty years. And it was all for nothing." Her voice took a venomous hint, though her words were more so directed to herself if anything.

There was a pause before Fili spoke again. "I don't think it was for nothing." He said. "Everything happens for a reason, even if we don't know what that reason is. Just like there's a reason behind every war, a name for every star, or a deeper story behind every great legend."

Magauna raised an eyebrow and smirked slightly. "You should write poetry." She teased.

"You're just jealous I'm more philosophical than you."

"Oh, yes, that's it. My bad." Magauna apologized sarcastically, rolling her eyes at the dwarf's cheekiness.

Fili might have made another comeback; if there was time. But before he could, footsteps echoed up the hall.

Magauna looked up when she heard a cell door near her being opened, and looked up to see a pair of Elves shoving Thorin in the cell across from her. She jumped up from her spot on the ground and walked up to her cell's bars. Balin looked out of his own as well.

"Did he offer you a deal?" Magauna asked quickly, narrowing her eyes in anticipation for his answer.

"He did." Thorin responded, his voice hoarse like always, but this time filled with resentment. "I told him he could go 'Ish kakhfê ai'd dur rugnu!' - him and all his kin!"

Both Magauna and Balin closed their eyes and sighed in weary frustration. Thorin had completely and utterly blown it.

"Well...that's it, then." Balin said, disappointment in his voice. "A deal was our only hope."

Magauna, throughly convinced she wouldn't ever make it out of Mirkwood jow, sighed for what she suspected was the thousandth time that night, and leaned against the wall of her cell again, crossing her arms.

Then something none of the Company ever expected happened. Fhe Elves walked to Magauna's cell, and unlocked it.

She narrowed her eyes when it was opened. One of the Elves went to grab her arm, but she shrugged him away. "Oh, certainly not!" She hissed.

"Aye," Said Balin from his cell. "I wouldn't force her around if I were you, unless you fancy a black eye." The other dwarves all nodded and muttered in agreement.

The two Elves exchanged a look, before the one stepped away and beckoned Magauna to come out. She didn't move from her spot against the wall, keeping her eyes narrowed, full of suspicion.

"I'd think it'd be wise if you come out." Said a voice out of Magauna's sight. The owner of the voice walked to where they were standing in front of the opened cell, showing that he was the same Elf who'd called her and Thorin a pair of thieves and liars. "I don't recommend keeping the King waiting."

Magauna leveled her gaze with him. "I thought Elves were supposed to be patient?" She said coyly. "Or was I mistaken?"

The Elf narrowed his own eyes slightly. "You were not. But King Thranduil is earger to meet you, Peredhel."

Magauna's fingers curled into fists slowly at being called that name. "And why's that?"

The Elf said nothing, and turned to the other two, who still stood there. He nodded to them, and they walked away, leaving just them to stare at each other. "Are you coming?" The Elf asked. "Or will I have to make you?"

Magauna stared at him for a moment. His demeanor wasn't particularly threatening, in fact she thought Dwalin was more intimidating than this Elf, but she could tell by the tone of his voice that he was serious in what he said.

Hesitantly, Magauna uncrossed her arms and stepped out of her cell, though she made sure that not once her eyes left the contact of that of the blonde Elf.

He closed the cell door. "Follow me." He said, grabbing Magauna's arm to pull her with him.

If it was any other Elf, Magauna would've put a fight to get away, but she could sense this one was particularly high up in their society, and that knocking him out while trying to escape wouldn't end well.

Magauna turned her head and took a last glance at the Company watching her out of their cell bars before they both turned a corner to trudge up a elegant flight of wooden stairs.

She had didn't have the slightest idea why the king was so interested in her. Maybe he knew of her Elvish heritage? Did he want something from her? Another offer?

She didn't know.

Magauna kept glancing over at the Elf. Should she say something? Provoke him? I would entertain her until she met her possible life sentence.

"So," she said, starring straight forward as they walked. "Do you have a name? Or should I keep calling you Blonde Bastard in my head?"

The Elf looked over at her, and eyebrow raised slightly. "I'd prefer it if you didn't." He paused a beat. "It's Legolas. My name."

Magauna raised both of her eyebrows, and looked over at him. "Oh?" She smirked. "I know who you are now. You're the king's son. The Prince of the Woodland Realm." She rolled her eyes slightly. "Lousy title, if you ask me."

"I don't believe I was."

"Shame."

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Magauna tried not to let the size of the trees around them distract her from the act she was masking herself with. She was convincing, too. If you passed her in the grand halls, you'd never suspect she was having an internal panic attack under the threatening expression on her face.

She had a fair reason to be panicking, though. Yes, she'd heard many things about the king, and most of them weren't so much on the high end.

Yet there she stood, in front of the throne, where King Thranduil sat in all of his overdramatic glory. And it was very overdramatic, if you asked her.

"

I've heard of a Half-Elf, once enslaved by the Orcs of Mordor, whom miraculously escaped with barely her life." Said Thranduil, staring down at Magauna. "You are this Half-Elf, yes?"

Magauna shrugged slightly. "That depends if you believe in the stories."

Thranduil stared at her for a short moment before standing up from his throne and slowly making his way down the the stairs. "Let's say that I do."

"It wouldn't make you any different from others." Magauna answered. "I've heard that I'm somewhat of a legend; a children's story. Most people believe I'm some sort of prodigy." Her eyes followed him as he circled her. "But what concern of yours is any of this?"

Thranduil ignored her question and instead asked his own. "Do you feel conceited that you are so revered? Do you take pride in your unfortunate reputation?"

Magauna's eyes narrowed. He was playing with her. "No. I don't know why I would. It's a curse." She paused. "What do you want from me?" She demanded.

"Oh, I want nothing from you..." Thranduil moved so he was standing in front of her. "This is about what I want for you."

Magauna's lips curled upward slightly in a slim smirk. She wasn't falling for this. "And what offer do you have that would I possibly take?"

"Salvation." The king answered simply. "For long have the tales of a Half-Elf that traveled forgotten in the woods and cast out everywhere she sought safety passed through these realms." His words made Magauna's face fall just enough that Thranduil noticed. "I offer you what you never had; a place where you will be accepted. A home you will belong to." Magauna's ears perked slightly; he had her attention. "All I ask of you is a small favor it turn."

Magauna looked up the king, her eyes slightly narrowed. "I'm listening." It wasn't likely that she'd take his offer though. Shs knew he only wanted to use her to his own advantage.

"What I ask of you is the fulfillment of a very simple task." Said Thranduil. "Inside the holds of Erebor, there are jewels, as white as starlight. They are not easy to miss. I want you to bring these to me."

Magauna stared at him. He couldn't be serious. She looked down and chuckled to herself quietly. This seemed to tamper with the king's confidence. "So, you want me to go behind the back of Thorin Oakenshield, and bring you these 'jewels of starlight'?" Her expression became heated and her voice harsh. "Behind the backs of my friends? Break their trust in me?"

"Why do you travel in their Company, anyway?" Thranduil question, beginning to circle her again. "You are no Dwarf. Why do feel you owe them your loyalty? You believe you've formed a friendship with Thorin Oakenshield and his kin, but you do not know the first thing about Dwarves and their nature."

Magauna scoffed quietly. "I doubt you know more than me."

"Dwarves are greedy. They care for naught but themselves."

"I've heard all of what you speak, and I can tell you it's all lies."

"Tell me, Magauna Litercash, what is your purpose in the Company of Thorin Oakenshield? Were you invited as a valued friend? Or did you only join to settle a debt with a Wizard?" Thranduil's words were that of venom. They stung Magauna, and made her face red with anger and her knuckles crack as she balled her fists. This Elf had caught a nerve. "The only reason Thorin has kept you with them was because of the Wizard, wasn't it? Otherwise, you would not even be here now. You see, the Dwarves give little care about whether you live or die. They are arrogant. They are greedy. The are selfish. You mean as much to them as a blade of grass. To them, you are nothing."

That's the point Magauna snapped at.

She whipped her head around to glare at Thranduil. Her eyes held a fiery burn; a threatening gaze that would make a lesser man crumble at her feet and beg for apology.

"Tye sinte úqua -o dwarves!" She growled. "You know nothing of Thorin and his kin! They are my friends! I would die for them as they would for me!" Two Elves nearby rushed forward and grabbed her arms to keep her from lunging at the king. "I am loyal them and to them only! You call yourself a king, your an arrogant slouch!"

"Take her back to her cell." Thranduil ordered the Elves holding her. "She's made her choice."

The Elves began to drag Magauna away, but she pulled, trying to break free, all the while screaming in Elvish.

"Cin simeui bauglir!" She screamed furiously. "Linne- fírima -esse a assa! Faire ana tye! Faire ana tye ar ilya tye mel!"

"Perhaps a few thousand years in the dungeons will clear her mind." Thranduil continued to taunt, even as Magauna was dragged out of the throne room.

"Bolvag lat!"

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Translations

1. [You know nothing of Dwarves!]
2. [You slimey tyrant!]
3. [Go die in a hole! Death to you! Death to you and all you love!]
4. [Curse you!]

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Author's Note

Hey guys! Finally updated this book! On Christmas Eve too, talk about bad timing. Anyway, sorry it took so long, but I had no idea how to write this chapter, and then it suddenly came to me the other day.

But Magauna and Legolas finally officially met each other, so yay!

Also sorry, I did Thrandy dirty in this chapter. Hopefully he'll redeem himself, but we'll see!

But Merry Christmas Eve you guys! Thanks for all the support! Love you guys!