Chapter 4:

Thank you for all the wonderful reviews! They really do help. I'm sorry for you guys who think the elves are real jerks. Not all the elves are. There are always going to be some bad apples. I have not revealed everything about Emily. She still has a few more secrets up her sleeves.

Please keep reviewing!

Kiridion strode purposefully down the many winding passages towards Emily's room. She had enthralled him ever since she first arrived in Mirkwood, but was continually able to resist his charms. This frustrated him to no end, because he felt that he had to have her. She was extraordinarily unique and not simply because she was half elf.

Kiridion saw Tauriel slip silently into Emily's room. Emily and Tauriel had become best friends during their time in Mirkwood and considered each other sisters. Tauriel was the head of the Mirkwood Elven Guard and was about 30 years older than Emily, but elves measure time differently than humans.

He quickly slowed down and stepped as quietly as he could up to the door and pressed his ear to it. He could hear the quiet singing on the other side of the door. He closed his eyes and listened. Emily's voice was by far the most beautiful he had ever heard and he gradually felt himself relax to the faint sound of it. "I could just sit here and listen to her forever," he thought to himself, but the King's order quickly reminded him why he had come. He raised his hand and knocked on the door.

The singing stopped and the door opened, revealing a suspicious Tauriel. "What does the King require?" Tauriel asked with a small bow. She was wary of Kiridion partly because he was the King's second in command and partly because he was incredibly short tempered. He had also shown that he was not afraid to wield that power against anybody who angered him.

Kiridion quickly glanced into the room at the dwarf sleeping quietly on the bed and Emily gently wiping his brow. "The King wishes to see Emily in the throne room," he said. Tauriel's eyes narrowed slightly before walking back into the room.

Emily glanced up as Tauriel came to stand behind her. She stood up and gave her friend a hug whispering, "Look after him" into her ear before walking towards the door where Kiridion was standing. Emily bowed her head to show her respect before following him to the King's throne room.

She took a deep breath as she came to the massive doors. The two elves standing at the entrance gave her a reassuring glance before resuming their watch. Kiridion threw open the doors and walked confidently into the throne room before taking his place next to the King.

Emily quietly followed Kiridion into the throne room and stopped in the center. She gave a quick bow and patiently waited for the King to notice her. She did not have to wait for very long.

"How is the injured dwarf doing?" the King asked.

"He is still unconscious, but as long as he doesn't get an infection he should make a full recovery, your highness," she replied.

"He hasn't regained consciousness at all?"

"No, not yet."

The king was silent for a moment before replying, "Please send someone to inform me the moment he wakes up. However, I need you to do something else for me."

"Anything, your highness" Emily replied.

"There was another dwarf injured today. I believe he might have some broken ribs. I need you to go to the dungeons and check on him. Kiridion will show you which one. You are dismissed." And with that the King turned to some papers one of his many advisors had handed him earlier.

Emily felt a flash of anger go through her. She did not approve of torture and she knew that was what had happened to the poor dwarf. She could only guess at what state he would be in when she arrived. She hoped he wasn't terribly injured. She bowed and followed Kiridion silently out of the throne room.

Once the massive doors were shut, Emily quickly stopped Kiridion and asked, "Is there any way I can stop by my room first? I need to pick up a few salves before heading to the dungeon."

"Of course," Kiridion replied with a smile.

Emily tried to ignore the shiver that was trying to make its way down her spine. "He looks like a snake when he smiles," she thought to herself. She hurried back to her room giving Tauriel a quick smile while grabbing a couple different jars of salve and some fresh bandages. She stuffed everything in a small brown bag and rushed back to Kiridion, who was waiting patiently outside her door.

"Ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be," she replied. She hated going into the dungeons. They were dark and damp and gave her the creeps. She couldn't stand to see anybody or anything suffer. She knew what it was like to suffer and wanted to prevent anybody else from having to go through it.

She followed Kiridion through the many winding passages that slowly became narrower and narrower. They finally came upon a barred door and entered into a small guard station. The guard quickly popped to attention and they talked in hushed tones while Emily just stood silently by the door. Kiridion turned towards her and said, "I apologize, but I must be off, my lady. The guard will unlock the dwarf's cell for you."

The guard led her to the darkest and dampest cells. "How many dwarves are being kept down here?" she asked.

"Twelve. But that doesn't include the injured dwarf. So thirteen total," he replied nonchalantly unlocking the cell door and holding it open for her. She could smell the blood wafting from the cell.

She stepped into the doorway and sent up a silent prayer. It was the blonde haired dwarf. He was sitting with his back against the wall of the cell. His head was tilted back, eyes closed, and his mouth was stretched in a tight firm line. She could clearly see the lines of tension and stress on his face. His blonde hair was disheveled and braided and his face was coated in dried blood from the broken nose. It looked like he had tried to wipe it off, but the blood still managed to run down his neck and into the tunic he was wearing. His right leg was propped up and his arm rested lightly over his knee. His left hand rested gently on his lap. Emily thought he had looked young before, but he looked even younger when he was asleep.

Emily quietly bent down to touch his wrist, but his eyes flew open and he grabbed her wrist. The grip was strong, but it was not painful. The guard stepped up to rescue her, but Emily quickly stopped him and sent him for a bucket of fresh water. His eyes were incredibly blue and disoriented. They stayed like that, just staring into each other's eyes. The confusion and disorientation slowly drained from his eyes and were quickly replaced with concern. "How is he?" he asked in a deep voice.