The King stalked around the hobbit, he had never seen a dwarf fight for something that wasn't a dwarf. Yet they had fought for this hobbit, he stopped his circuit before the hobbit. "What is your name hobbit?" asked the King.
Bilbo stubbornly remained silent reining in his sobs; he refused to tell this Elven King anything. Thranduil continued on regardless of not getting an answer from Bilbo. "What are you doing with the group of dwarrows?" he asked pausing for an answer that never came. "It is unheard of to find one of your kind so far East. So it makes me wonder what Thorin has planned. He might have tempted you away from your home with words of a noble quest and reclaiming a homeland. But dwarves are greedy creatures with love for only their treasure, many can't see beyond their greed. Do you know why Smaug came to Erebor, it was because of Thror's greed, it attracted the dragon. No matter what these dwarves have told you little hobbit they do not care about you, they will use you and then forget about you. Such is the nature of dwarves. Your loyalty is wasted on them; they will turn on you on the end."
Bilbo lifted his head to glare at the Elven King, "You're wrong" he whispered, not able to stop himself from speaking.
Thranduil looked down at the hobbit with sympathy on his face. "Oh little hobbit you are too naïve about the ways of the world. Everybody in Middle Earth knows that dwarves care only for treasure, it is their greatest flaw. But I am curious Halfling, how did Thorin plan on entering the mountain, when the front doors are sealed?"
Bilbo's gaze returned to the floor, "I won't say."
Thranduil sighed and sat back on his throne. "Tell me Halfling and I will have my guards personally escort you back to the Shire tonight. Before you answer think of this, what do you really owe these dwarrows?"
Bilbo thought back to all the good memories that he had of the Company jokes with Bofur, recipe sharing with Bombur, Fili, Ori, and Kili calling him Uncle along with many others. Cold metal beads resting against his neck also reminded him that he was kin, the dwarrows were family and he wouldn't betray them.
Lifting his head to meet Thranduil gaze, he smirked slightly. "No, sorry I don't make deals with people who are over two feet taller than me and have no beards."
Thranduil frowned, it would seem the hobbit would be difficult but less difficult then a dwarf. It wouldn't take long for the hobbit to break like glass if Thranduil put enough pressure on him and then the Elven King would know everything he wanted about Thorin Oakenshield's quest. Glaring down at the hobbit from down his nose he spoke. "You have made a grave mistake Master Hobbit" he turned to one of his guards. "Put him in a cell far away from the others, I don't want the dwarrows to be informed of a single detail about the hobbit."
As the hobbit was lead out of his hall Thranduil pondered. He was certain the hobbit would break, hobbits were soft creatures that loathed violence and avoided wars.
"Whats the elf's game, singling Bilbo out like that?!" asked Kili out loud as soon as he was sure that the elves were out of hearing range, he hated that he was in a separate cell from Fili, but at least he could hear his brother only a few cells down.
"It's a gamble the elf is making" sighed Balin, "He knows of hobbits, probably knows of their mannerisms. He also knows of the stubbornness of the dwarves, and figures that Bilbo will be the first to crack. Probably filling the poor lads head full of doubt in hopes he does break, and being forced into solitude will re-enforce his words. There is no worse enemy then the mind when it's all alone."
Bifur laughed at these words, "Thranduil is mistaken, and soon he will learn that the hobbit is stronger than the rest of us combined and not so easily broken" he growled out in Khuzdal.
The echoing confirmitatives echoed in the dungeon as each dwarf agreed, their hobbit was strong, no poncey weed-eater was going to get the better of him.
-=-A few weeks later-=-
In a lone cell quite a distance away from the dwarrows, Bilbo shivered with cold pulling the thin blanket close around him, the slight clink of metal echoing in the room. Thranduil had degraded him further by shackling his feet, constricting his movements. A part of Bilbo knew Thranduil was trying to break him by humiliating him, chaining him like an animal to stew in his own thoughts with nary a kind word spoken to him in the long weeks he had been there, not a single kind touch. Despite himself a part of Bilbo believed the Elven King's cruel words. The dwarrows had made it very clear before Goblin Town that they barely tolerated him.
He has been lost ever since he left home, he has no place amongst us.
He can't even wield a sword, such a weak creature.
I cannot guarantee his safety, nor will I be responsible for his fate.
He wouldn't survive a minute on his own.
Can't even ride a pony, all he is doing is slowing us down.
He should have never come, he has no place amongst us
These and many other insults swirled around in Bilbo's head as sat alone in the dark, remembering the early days of the journey. He tried to argue with himself that was in the past, that he had a family now that cared about him. Yet with each time he was brought to Thranduil his head was filled with more doubts. The elf's words even followed him into his dreams, the images of his family glaring and sneering at him telling Bilbo that he was worthless, weak, and they had made a mistake by adopting him as part of their families, then the dreams would change. Sometimes he was back on the cliff and instead of Thorin saving him, the dwarf would watch the hobbit fall to his death, others he was back in the Goblin Caves and the dwarrows escaped with Gandalf while Bilbo was left on the Bone Mangler to be pulled apart. The newest nightmare had the dwarrows leaving him to the mercy of the Trolls, and Bilbo would end up in the pot for the Trolls supper boiling alive. He would wake up from these dreams shaking and gasping for breath and for the rest of the night would put his head upon his knees and rock back and forth.
The stress of the hours being questioned by Thranduil, fearing for the fate of the Company, and the Nightmares was taking its toll on the hobbit. He felt exhausted all the time, too tired to even glare at Thranduil during their daily interrogation. He hated the smirk that the King would send his son, looking extremely proud of what he was doing.
Thranduil was certain that the hobbit would break soon, could tell by the hunched way he held his shoulder, by the bags under his eyes, and the glare that was no longer present. Though the stubborn thing had yet to say anything, Thranduil hadn't heard him speak since the first day, he would have thought he was mute.
"Why must we go through this every day Master Hobbit. You force me to treat you like a prisoner when you could be an honored guest?" sighed Thranduil, his voice thrown to be welcoming but also sad, dangling a prize no hobbit should be able to refuse. "I've heard hobbits have love for great food, feasts will be thrown in your honor with music and laughter and a warm bed at the end of it. The palace grows cold as you might have noticed; I can give you a room with a large bed with your own fire and have a warm bath drawn. I know that after weeks of travel a warm bath can do wonders."
Bilbo refused to look at the King, afraid that he would see the longing in his eyes for each and every one of those things. He wanted to be warm again, full of good food, and surrounded by company. But he didn't want the elves company, he wanted his family. Wanted their strong presences that made him feel completely safe, to hear their booming laugh that shook his bones, heck he even wanted the dish throwing, burping, and lack of manners. He was snapped out of his thoughts by the sound of rustling cloth and suddenly Thranduil face was inches away from his. He tried to scoot away from the nearness of the King but found himself stopped by Thranduil grabbing his chin.
"I can see it in your eyes Halfling, you want all that I have offered, just give in hobbit the dwarrows are not worthy of your loyalty."
Bilbo closed his eyes and turned his face away letting that be his answer. With eyes closed his missed the fierce scowl that crossed Thranduil face at his refusal. The only hint Bilbo got that Thranduil was displeased was that the fingers tightened their hold. "What is it Halfling, what makes you so different from the rest of your kind? Why would you leave your home, unless you were not welcomed."
Bilbo couldn't help the flinch as the words stuck to close to home, remembering the cruel words from Lobelia, and the cold shoulder many hobbits had given him for being part Took. The way his Aunts and Uncles looked at his home in envy and make passing remarks on how it was too big for a single hobbit like himself and then bring up the number of children they had. The worst was when they would gossip at him as he visited Violets grave every year, saying he should move on. How could he move on, just forget about his other half, his soulmate, the one he was supposed to love forever. He couldn't look at another woman's face without seeing Violets. He could practically feel the smirk on Thranduil's face as he hummed though his eyes remained closed, another chink had been found in Bilbo's armor.
Bilbo opened his eyes when he felt his face being tilted and the brand was turned towards the light. "Such a curious thing this symbol, I have never seen it before." This time there was no Thorin to stop the Elven King and one slim finger rested on Bilbo check and slowly began to trance it out.
Bilbo suddenly wasn't in the Elven Kings hall, he was back in Goblin Town, his body thrumming in pain as the King held him aloof and began to carve into his check
"Now all will know that you belong to Goblin kind, your death will be long in coming. You will not die today, but by the time we are done today you will never be called Halfling again."
The fallout was worse than any of the elves could have imagined.
Legolas wandered the halls that evening, wondering if his Father was doing the right thing with the situation of the dwarrows and hobbit, especially the hobbit. His ears were still echoing with the screams that came from the hobbit when his Father touched the brand on his face. It had startled all the elves in the throne room, the hobbit had thrown himself as far as he could from Thranduil and curled into himself and cried. He flinched away from any that approached and cried harder when someone actually touched him.
That was until he started to throw punches at any that came near, a look of desperation on his face. The hobbits eyes were far away, caught up in a flash back. In the end it took three elves to subdue him and take him back to his cell. Legolas wondered if that was the reason the dwarf king had not wanted the hobbits face to be touched, the bloody dwarf knew that this would happen.
A faint melody reached the elf's ears as he wandered. Feeling curious he followed the source until he was standing in the hallway that held the hobbit. Creeping forward silently he stood looking in at the hobbit whose gaze was focused on the east wall.
Home is behind, the world ahead Mist and shadow
And there are many paths to tread
Through shadow, to the edge of night
Until the stars are all alight
Cloud and shade
Alll shall Fade
All shall fade
"That was beautiful, but sorrowful" murmured Legolas after the last note had faded. The hobbit didn't look surprised to see him standing there, his green eyes were shadowed and his shoulders hunched as if carrying a great weight. He looked haunted, no longer the defiant creature that would glare and tell his Father 'No'. He sighed, knowing that it was the elves fault.
Bilbo snorted, a spark coming back into his eyes, as he coolly looked at Legolas. "Do you expect me to be singing something happy, because if you did I'm afraid I'm going to have to disappoint you. I'm afraid my mood isn't one someone would consider jolly."
Legolas looked taken aback, this was the most he had heard the hobbit say the entire time he had been in Mirkwood. Bilbo gave another humorless laugh at the face of the young elf, before it turned hard again. "What do you want?"
"Nothing, I just heard singing and it led me to you" answer Legolas truthfully, crouching down and sitting down in front of the cell. "Does the song mean anything?"
The hobbit eyes the Prince and for a moment Legolas thinks that he wasn't going to answer him. "It's a mourning song, it fits the mood I am feeling" answered Bilbo mildly, fingers playing with his Took bead.
"I am sorry if my Father brought back unpleasant memories for you" replied Legolas making sure to put all his sincerity into his apology.
"Your Father is King Thranduil?" asked Bilbo surprised, he had thought that the elf was Second in Command under the red haired she-elf.
Legolas chuckled at the shocked expression on Bilbo's face. "Prince Legolas at your service Master Hobbit." Bilbo nodded his acknowledgement but didn't offer his name in return, his mind going back to what Legolas said before.
"I should have excepted it, Thorin basically challenged him too on the first day" muttered Bilbo, anger building back up. "And of course being a simple hobbit like myself no bad memories could possibly be attached to something that was carved in my face" Bilbo said harshly. "Now if you don't mind Prince Legolas, I would like to rest before I'm brought in front of your king once again. I have had enough company of Elves today."
Legolas flinched at the venom in the hobbit's voice, but respected the hobbit's wishes and quickly picked himself up from the floor and walked away.
Bilbo waited until he was sure Legolas was gone before he slowly opened his shirt, hands traveling to the wound that the spiders had given him. His agitated breathing had shot pain through his side, and brought his attention to it. He grimaced when he pulled his hand back and saw the blood that came back. His flash back had caused him to fight with the elves thinking that they were goblins and in the process he had reopened this wound. Ripping off a piece of binding from his ribs he dipped it into his remaining water and cleaned it the best he could before buttoning his shirt back up and pulling his coat closer around him he tried to fall asleep.
Decided to break this chapter in half, and give you guys an update instead of making you wait longer. Hope you like!