Title: One King to Another- Chapter I
Author: Cleo Harrison
Fandom: The Hobbit
Rating: T
Disclaimer: I do not own any characters created by
J.R.R Tolkien, (Writer) or Peter Jackson, (Director)
-Karma's P.O.V-
"Bilbo… I'm not so sure that this is a good idea." I tell the hobbit who is walking beside me.
"The what do you propose we do?" He asks, stopping and turning to face me.
"Maybe something that Thorin won't pull our heads off of our necks for!" I tell him, becoming irritated at his lack of sense.
"Thorin is becoming sick, Karma. Don't lie to me and say that you have not noticed." I bow my head in pain, the face of my leader appearing in my mind. His face distorted with rage and torment. The gold sickness had been sucessfully passed to Thorin from his father and grandfather.
"I do not deny his illness, but that makes this no less risky." I tell him, my voice faltering. He continues walking, and I run to catch up with him again. I'm rather short, almost as tall as Thorin. But my mother was a human and I have split genes, sentencing me to be shamed by most dwarves because of my lack of ability to grow a beard. I subconsciously lift my hand to my chin, feeling the smooth hairless skin. Bilbo and I walk in silence until we reach the entrance of Thranduil's tent.
"Enter." I hear the elf's voice flow from inside of the tent before the guards can say anything. I give the Hobbit one last worried glance before we step into Thranduil's Canopy. I stay in the doorway while Bilbo nervously continues further into the tent. Thranduil is leaning over a desk covered with maps and what looks to be military forms.
"Eh Hem…," Bilbo clears his throat before speaking again.
"My Lord Thranduil, I have come to-" He barely begins speaking before the Elven king cuts him off.
"If you have not come bearing news that Oakenshield has changed his mind and is willing to relinquish our share of the treasure, then you and yours are not welcome here." He says, still leaned over his desk.
"M'lord, I do not bear news, but rather have a conclusion to the issue between Thorin and yourself." Bilbo says, surprising me with a steady voice.
"Why does your companion linger in the doorway?" Thranduil asks, finally turning around, his bright eyes scanning the room before him. I look down to stare at my feet, feeling his calculating stare on me. Bilbo looks back at me, beckoning me forwards with his eyes. I slowly walk to Bilbo's side, keeping my eyes low as I approach him.
"I-I'm sorry my Lord. I prefer to keep my distance from those I do not know." I say, trying to keep the fear from my voice. The tall, white-haired elf walks towards us, a scrutinizing look in his eyes.
"You are afraid." He says, more as a statement than a question. Bilbo becomes to look irritated at the loss of topic in the conversation.
"My Lord Thranduil, I have the Arkenstone." Bilbo blurts out, trying to get me and the King back on track. Thranduil's attention instantly snaps towards the Hobbit, and he takes a threateningly swift step towards him.
"Reveal it." He says, staring down at Bilbo with complete attention. Bilbo reaches to the inner pocket of his vest, pulling out the white, glowing stone. Thranduil's eyes become misty as he studies the stone intensely.
"Why have you brought this here?" Thranduil asks us, holding out his hands for Bilbo to place the Arkenstone in. Bilbo tentatively hands over the 'King's Jewel' before answering.
"I wish you to have it because I know that if it should be in Thorin's possession, he would be even more ill than he is now, and we fear for him." I remain quiet, not wanting to attract more attention than I have already. I begin to quietly inch back into the corner of the canopy, hiding in the shadows.
"A well-chosen act, my friend." Thranduil says, holding the stone up to the light of the lamp. His attention suddenly swivels towards me, staring at me with a wicked grin as he lowers his arm.
"Come forth, little one." He beckons me towards him. I resent his comment 'little one' but even so, I walk forwards slowly until I'm directly in front of him.
"What are you do-" Bilbo is cut off in the middle of his question as Thranduil flips me around, my back to his front as he holds an engraved dagger to my throat. I cry out as he pins my hands behind me, the dagger pressing against the soft skin of my neck.
"What are you doing?" Yells Bilbo as he panics at the situation.
"I…" Thranduil begins, a sly smile decorating his face. "Am going to negotiate with Oakenshield." He says, ordering his guards to lead Bilbo out of the tent in Sindarin.
"What… are you doing?!" I scream as Thranduil releases his grip on me and throws me into the arms of three impending guards. Two of them grab either of my arms and stretching them out, the last pressing my back forwards so that my shoulders are distorted painfully behind me. Thranduil smirks and walks back towards the desk, pulling an empty oak chest from under it. He carefully pulls out a red ruby and replaces it with the Arkenstone.
"I demand you to tell me what's happening!" I yell as loud as I can, earning a slight push from the guard behind me, a sharp pain striking my shoulders.
"You dare demand a King?" Thranduil asks me, turning around and looking at me calmly.
"Yes, I do. And I demand you to tell me what's happening!" I repeat haughtily. Thranduil rushes towards me, leaning down so his face is directly in front of mine. I turn my face to the side, only to find Thranduil's fingers on my chin, twisting my face back towards him forcefully.
"Take her to the guard tend and restrain her." He commands the guards holding me, never losing eye contact with me. I fight as I'm pulled out of the canopy, but I soon realize that it's to no avail and just saps my energy. I scream at Lord Thranduil in Khuzdul, cursing him and all his kin. I'm dragged through the woods until the guards have apparently reached their destination; a lonely tent with an open doorway and wooden column in the middle, reaching from the ground to the ceiling.
"You will be here for the night's length." The apparent guard leader tells me vaguely. I grumble and spit at them as they tie my hands behind my back and to the column. I shift uncomfortably to sit with my legs crossed, but this creates a cramp in my sides. I rest my head back, close my eyes, and sigh tiredly. I wish I had stayed at Erebor with Fili instead of accepting Bilbo's offer and coming to meet with Thranduil. I feel as if I am to cry when I see my fiance's face in my mind, his golden hair like a lion's mane and his brown eyes staring into mine with adoration and undeniable love.
I hear approaching footsteps, coming closer with every second. I know who it is even without opening my eyes. Thranduil's cold and bitter voice cuts through the silent forest night like a blade. I open my eyes to see him standing in front of me, a triumphant glimmer in his eyes.
"I see you no longer demand anything from me." He says, pacing in full circles around me. I attempt to trip him multiple times, but he has too great a balance to fall.
"Have you not the honor to untie me at least?" I ask him, trying to mask the hope in my voice. He titters and kneels beside me, pushing a stray strand of my deep brown hair out of my face. I jerk my face away from his hand and fight the urge to bite him. He can see the restrain in my eyes, I know it. He smirks.
"You do realise that when I offer Thorin either you, or the Arkenstone.. he will choose his royalty over one of his own." I look down, breaking the hold on my chin.
"Fili loves me, Thranduil. And Thorin is a better man than you will ever be." I tell the elf angrily, staring at the ground between my legs.
"Will he love you still after tonight?" Thranduil asks, confusing me.
"What do you-" I begin, but I'm cut off as Thranduil pulls my head forwards and forces me into a deep kiss.