Run It Back Again (Part 1)

Chapter 24

*Skyrena's Pov-

"I'll bargain for your life if I have to, Skyrena...  I swear I won't let them hurt you."  I watched Legolas turn and glare at Thorin.

"Quiet, dwarf!"  I cringed at the anger in his voice.

It seemed to me that he was mad about me coming back because it might mean my death.  We were quiet for the rest of the trip, but I fought to keep from smiling when I realized Bilbo wasn't among us.  Thorin, Era, and I were escorted to the throne room while the others were taken to the dungeon.  Before we entered, Legolas turned and narrowed his eyes at me.

"Shift into your elven form so the king will know who you are."  I swallowed hard and shifted to the elf I had been so long ago.  Looking down at Thorin and Era, I received an encouraging nod from the two of them and followed our elf captors into the throne room.  The king sat up straight when he saw me.

"Skyrena...  You return, despite your banishment?"  Before I could respond, Thorin stepped forward and spoke.

"She is in my company."  The king tore his gaze from me and looked at Thorin.

"Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror...  This is a surprise.  I didn't realize your grandfather took in our little outcast."  He raised a single eyebrow.  "Did she inform you of her banishment?"  Thorin matched his stony gaze.

"Yes, she did, sir.  She is here because we needed to travel through Mirkwood, and she is part of our company."  I waited for Thraudril to respond.  When he did, he smiled at us both, which worried me as he came down and circled us.

"One would guess that a noble quest is at hand.  One to reclaim a homeland, stolen so long ago...  The mountain...  The treasure...  It's precious to you, isn't it?"  Thorin didn't move, but I trembled slightly.  "And, I see you have another friend who has caught my guards' interest..."  I swallowed hard as he looked Era up and down.  "What is she?  Another shapeshifter, perhaps...?"  Thorin tensed as Era glared at him in response.  "And here I thought they were all gone and out of my kingdom..."  I watched his hand inch towards his robes and looked up at him.

"Don't hurt her, lord Thraudril...  She hasn't brought your wrath on herself the way I seem to have."  He smiled a little as he looked over at me.

"Is that so...?"  He turned back towards Era.  "Tell me...  How'd you come to find my dear friend, Skyrena?"  Era raised her gaze to look him in the eye.

"I find that to be no business of your's..."  I fought a smile back as I noticed the venom in her voice.  Clearly, she's not a huge fan of Thraudril either.  "We were only passing through and got attacked.  I think that you should be more concerned with our well being than with our reasoning for being brought here..."  Around us, several elves tensed, their bows drawn with an arrow notched.  Thraudril chuckled and turned to Thorin.

"You keep interesting company, Thorin, son of Thrain..."  He circled around all three of us and smiled slightly.  "I'm willing to make you a deal...  One which would result in our company's release and the pardon of the shapeshifter, Skyrena."  At this, Thorin turned to face Thraudril.

"I'm listening..."  The elf came around and looked down at him.

"I am willing to release your company and spare Skyrena if you return the Starlight Gems to my kin and if you release Skyrena and your friend here from any allegiance and allow them to rejoin my kingdom."  I yelped in surprise.

"Never!  I refuse to rejoin your kingdom!"  One of the elves silenced me by striking me across the face.  Beside me, Era roared but was caught before she could lunge at the elf who hit me.  I bared my teeth at him, daring him to hit me again, but Thraudril stopped the elf before it turned into a fight.

"The Starlight Gems are like your Arkenstone to us elves.  Return those to me, and you free your company from my dungeons.  However, you release Skyrena, and you spare her life."  Thorin glared at him.

"But, why the other one?"  Thraudril chuckled as he glanced at Era.

"I believe that she will turn out to be an excellent guard, if broken and trained to submit to my authority."  Era glared at him.

"I'd never join your kingdom, even if it were the only way to save my life."  With that, she spit at the ground by his feet.  Thorin looked like he was trying really hard not to laugh.

"Why would I give them to you against their will?"  Thraudril rested both his hands on my shoulders, causing me to tremble.

"Because, otherwise, I'm afraid I'll have to kill her for breaking her banishment.  Besides..."  He looked over at Era.  "I don't think you want the shapeshifters going extinct..."  Nearby, Legolas's stare turned into one of horror.  I swallowed hard and looked over at Thorin.

"I won't allow it, Thorin.  I won't go back, and no one can make me."  Thraudril's grip tightened on my shoulders as his voice went harsh.

"It seems to me that you need some time to think, Thorin Oakenshield...  I'll give you a fortnight to choose Skyrena's fate.  After that, she faces death."  He flung me to the floor at Thorin's feet.  Before Thorin could kneel down, several elves grabbed us both and started to drag us to the dungeons, dragging Era behind.  I whimpered in pain as I was thrown into the cell, crashing into the wall before I could stop myself.  Era followed me into the cell while Thorin was thrown into the one across the way from me.  Balin was beside him.

"Did he offer you a deal?"  Thorin sounded extremely bitter.

"Yes, he did...  Give up Skyrena and Era?  How could I?!?!"  Balin looked across the way at me.  I sat in the back corner and tucked my knees to my chest.

"Starlight Gems...  Hardly worth fighting about.  However, I would sooner die than be forced to rejoin their kingdom."  I turned to a wolf and slammed into the door in rage.  Balin and Thorin both shouted as Era knelt down beside me, but I couldn't hear them.  That sick, twisted, coward of an elf...  Soon, my anger diffused, and I reclaimed my dwarf form.  "I won't let you do it, Thorin."  He hung his head wearily.

"Skyrena...  He'll kill you if I don't.  I swore I'd bargain for your life...  However, there may be hope yet."  I sat back in my corner and rocked back and forth for awhile.