Eruwen (Part 1 & 2)

King Thranduil

The kingdom hadn't changed at all, it was still beautiful as I remembered it. It was as if time stood still in those places.

The dwarves were being taken to the dungeons, and only Thorin and I were chosen to be brought to the King who sat majestically on his throne.

Unlike the dungeons of the orcs, the elves treated even their greatest enemies with respect, so the dwarves were given a supply of water and bread.

"Some may imagine that 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. You have found a way in. You seek that which would bestow upon you the right to rule. A 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..."

That made me realize that I wanted to keep my promise.

"... I offer you my help."

"I'm listening," Thorin stated.

"I'll let you go if you return what is mine," the king offered.

"A favor for a favor." 

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

"I would not trust, Thranduil, the great King, to only his word. Till the end of all days be upon us!"

Thranduil was shocked by his words.

"You, lack all honor! I have 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!" yelled Thorin, "Imrid amrâd ursul! (May you die a fiery death!)" 

The two elven guards had to hold me tight or I would have kicked Thorin. I tried to stay away, but the insults were over the edge.

"Do not talk to me of dragon fire! I know it's wrath and ruin..."

The wound caused by the great fire dragon began to appear on Thranduil's face.

"... I have faced the great serpents of the North," he added, and the wound disappeared, "I warned your grandfather of what his greed would summon, but he would not listen..."

He gave the order for Thorin to be taken to a cell.

"... You are just like him. Stay here if you will, and rot. A hundred years is a mere blink in a life of an Elf. I'm patient. I can wait."

Once Thorin was far enough away, the king turned his attention towards me.

"And what am I to do with you?" He spoke.

The guards released me and I took on my true form.

"It's good to see you too."

"You look terrible," he stated.

"What do you expect when I was picking my way through cobwebs?" I replied, pieces of spider webs in my hair.

"First of all, I'm interested in what you're doing in the company of thirteen dwarves."

"Accompanying them to the Mountain," I explained.

"And what do you get out of it?"

"I'd like to kill that dragon."

"You and your collection," he remarked.

"I made it a promise to bring you the gems, too."

"Really?" He asked, "And I trust you didn't mention that to the dwarves."

"No," I replied, which amused him, "I didn't even tell them you are my brother."

"I'd like to be there when they find out," he said, "Would you like some wine?"

"You know I can't pass up a fine wine," I replied.

Thranduil led the way and I followed. He no longer needed to wear the crown that made him more powerful and superior. Purely for fun, I put it on my head.

"So that's how it feels," I said, which amused him, "how do I look?"

"You look terrible with those cobwebs in your hair," he said, pouring me a glass of red wine.

I removed the crown, magically made the cobwebs disappear, and took a drink. I began to tell him about the adventures I had had with the dwarves. He was amused at the incompetence of the dwarves.

The captain of the guards showed up to report to us. She wanted to go to Dol Guldur, where the spiders were getting into the forest, which I flatly refused, saying the place was dangerous. Besides, Dol Guldur lay beyond the borders of the elven realm.

Thranduil subsequently informed Tauriel, that was the elf's name, that his son had mentioned that she had fought well. He could see that he had developed a certain affection for her, but he did not want his son to become attached to a common wood elf, so he informed her not to raise false hopes in him before she made to leave.

"So Legolas has reached this stage?" I asked.

"I don't want him to get attached to her."

"I don't like her much either," I admitted, "she seems to have an authority problem."