Under the watchful eyes of their captors, Ella trudged next to her companions through the dense forest which continued to look as cheerless as she felt.
They were prisoners.
Again.
Since the beginning of their quest they had spent way too much time in captivity for her taste.
Granted, these elves were no orcs or trolls and they had not done anything worse to them than relieving them of their weapons, that was: not yet.
They were to be brought before their king to await their sentence for trespassing his realms or whatever offence they might have committed, and this time they had no Gandalf to speak in their favour.
Considering their leader's 'friendly' welcome words and the icy, contemptous looks he darted her companions from time to time, being a dwarf was probably enough of a crime.
Ella remembered how Beorn had called the Woodland Elves 'less smart, but more dangerous'.
Well. She didn't know about the first thing, but the latter was certainly true. She was sure they would shoot them at the slightest provocation and likely not shed a single tear over any of them.
After searching them, the Elves had not wasted a further word at their captives but solely talked to each other in their own language Sindarin, but their leader, the fair-haired elf was called Legolas- Ella had heard the other members of the hunting party address him that way.
It was always hard to tell with Elves and their smooth, even faces, but if she were to guess his age she would take a bet that he was quite young by the standard of his long-living people, and that his bossy behaviour was partly a show to impress the auburn-haired woman, who went by the name of Tauriel.
Even though she could not understand the words, she noticed how his voice grew markedly softer and more friendly when he spoke to her, and the looks he gave her were unmistakably full of admiration.
And he was not the only one.
Kili couldn't take his eyes off the tall and slender Elven maid who had saved his life, either.
He stared at her like a thirsty man in the desert at the mirage of an oasis and- prisoner or not- seemed well content to follow her anywhere.
She, for her part, gave no sign of noticing his stares, but Legolas very well did- and judged by the way he clenched his jaw and furrowed his brows, he didn't like it at all.
Fili gave his brother a not too gentle dig in the ribs. "If you keep staring at the Elf woman like that, her grumpy friend will put an arrow in your eye" he warned him under his breath.
"Isn't she stunning though?" Kili sighed. "What more could a man wish for than to die in the face of such beauty?"
Fili rolled his eyes at his brother's newly discovered ( and certainly uncalled for ) poetic ambitions.
"Mahal save us." he grumbled. "Your taste in women will be the death of us all."
The object of Kili's desire however, had turned her head in their direction at his words and curled her lips into a subtle, amused smiled.
Obviously, Elves had very good ears.
Since she was a woman and visibly no dwarf, Ella had suffered comparatively less rough handling from the hands of their captors, although her pet surely attracted a few hostile glances.
But they had not killed the warg as they very well could have, and neither had they forbidden her to keep her, and Ella was determined to take that for a good sign.
And while she was at it, they had encountered no more of the great spiders either, and besides the Elves seemed to actually know the way.
Which finally led to an elegantly curving bridge, and then, on the other side of the river, a huge stone portal covered in mysterious runes- the entranceway to the Elvenking's Halls.
It had not been visible until the company of Elves and their captives had set foot on the bridge, as if it had been hidden by magic.
Which was most likely the case, Ella thought, as everything was where Elves were concerned.
She could clearly feel it again, too- all her exhaustion seemed to fall away from her and she felt rested once her feet touched the bridge's stones- a very similar effect as she had experienced upon entering the Valley of Imladris.
Two Woodland Elves stood on guard at the gate.
When they noticed Legolas and his party, they quickly dropped the bottle they had been sharing during their watch and struggled to stand at attention.
One of the guards pointed at Ella and the dwarves and asked him something in Sindarin.
"Yes," Legolas answered with a grim smile and in Westron. "It has been a good hunt."
The Woodland Elves shoved their prisoners through the gate and into the underground stronghold behind it, and then it went across long, winding wooden staircases until at last, they reached a great hall surrounded by huge pillars carved from the rock around it.
It was a breathtaking sight, a perfect, harmonious fusion of wood and stone- but not nearly as breathtaking as the man who sat on a huge chair made of artfully carved wood in the middle of it, and now rose at their approach.
Ella stood and gaped in astounishment.
"Is this the Elvenking?" she whispered.
"The queen, more like." Gloin rumbled into his beard, causing the other dwarves to chuckle lowly until their captors silenced them with not too gentle pokes with the blunt sides of their swords.
Ella could understand Gloin's resentment ( upon searching him, Legolas had given some quite rude and snide comments on the pictures of his wife and son ) and certainly the king of the Silvan Elves was more beautiful than nature should allow.
He wore a floor-length, shiny robe, had the same silvery-blonde hair and arctic blue eyes as Legolas, but with wide, dark eyebrows which contrasted his fair eyes, skin and hair in the most attractive way.
On his head sat a crown of leaves and berries in autumnal colours.
But despite the typical smooth and youthful look of Elven faces, Thranduil features were distinctive and indisputably manly- as was the body beneath his magnificent robe.
He let his gaze roam over the newcomers and his silver-bright eyes widened as he recognized Thorin in their midsth.
"My, my!" he said, visibly delighted. "It's been a long time, Thorin Oakenshield."
He stepped closer and opened his arms in a welcoming gesture. "Welcome to my modest hunting lodge."
Ella suppressed an amused snort. To call these halls modest was an understatement if there ever was one, and there was absolutely nothing modest about the man in front of her, either.
"We found these dwarves straying across our lands without your permission, father," Legolas said sharply. "There is no doubt that they are up to no good."
Father? Ah. Hence the obvious family resemblance.
Thranduil turned from his son back to the dwarf king. "Is this true?"he asked curiously.
Thorin clenched his jaw. "We have crossed the forest, yes. But I assure you, it wasn't with bad intentions of any kind."
"Of course not." The Elven king curled his finely curved lips into a faint smile but his eyes stayed as cold as ice crystals.
"You must forgive Legolas. His only desire is to protect this kingdom as it is my wish, but sometimes he can be a little over-zealous. And of course, he could not know that you and I are good old friends. I'm very pleased about your visit, Thorin. I'm sure there's a lot to talk about after all this time."
Ella could see how Thorin's jawbone tensed even more in order to bite back a sharp reply.
"Sorry to disappoint you, but we won't stay." he answered curtly. "We are travelling in important business that cannot be delayed."
Thranduil raised one of his pretty dark eyebrows. "Are you now? And what business could that be, I wonder?"
Thorin gave him a tight-lipped, wintry smile. "Our own."
"You must leave. I understand." The Elven king nodded, seemingly unconcerned.
"But not tonight. You have seen what creatures occupy these woods as of late, I'm quite certain you won't want to risk an encounter in the darkness. Besides, you have arrived just in time for our biggest holiday. Tonight is Mereth Nuin Giliath. The feast of starlight. Please- to ensure your own safety- be my guests and stay at least for the celebration."
It was no request and they all knew it.
Thorin's eyes burned with suppressed rage but he knew further contradiction would be pointless and only lead to a fight they could not win.
He inclined his head in defeat. "So be it." he said in a low voice. "And since we are your guests- we would like to have our weapons back."
"I assure you, you won't need your weapons here," Thranduil replied in a condescending manner. "You'll get them back upon your leave, my word on it."
Two angry, red spots appeared on Thorins cheeks. Clearly he was tempted to tell the fellow monarch what his word was worth to him, but before he could open his mouth and say something they all would soon come to regret, it was Ella who barged in.
"Thank you for your invitation, mylord." she said quickly and looked up to meet Thranduil's crystal blue gaze. "We're honoured."
The eyes of the Elven king widened slightly."A halfling," he said in wonderment. "How unexpected."
He took a step towards her and reached out to hold her chin up to him and take a closer look at her. Ella noticed that he wore a jewelled ring on each of his fingers.
"And to whom do you belong, my dear?"
Ella felt her cheeks flush hot, both at his touch and the insinuation.
She heard Thorin next to her suck in a sharp breath.
"I'm no one's property!" she exclaimed indignantly. "I'm a free hobbit and an equal part of the team-"
"The halfling is right," Tauriel, the auburn-haired she-elf intervened on her behalf. "I have seen her in battle with the great spiders. She's a fierce fighter."
Ella shot her a brief, grateful glance and the other woman replied with a wink and a subtle smile.
"Interesting."
Thranduil looked at Thorin, then back to Ella and bowed his crowned head.
"I beg your pardon for my ignorance, my lady, but I have never before met a member of your people who would have been a warrior. Especially not such a pretty one."
Ella blushed anew. "You are forgiven," she said as gracefully as she managed, but she was mollified enough. He sounded genuinely rueful and after all- he had called her pretty.
"Good." The Elvenking smiled broadly and showed beautiful, shiny teeth. "But where are my manners. You must be tired."
He turned to one of his subjects and waved his arm. "Show our guests their rooms so they can freshen up." he ordered.
His gaze turned back to Ella. "I'm looking forward to see you again at the feast." he murmured softly.
The woodland elf led Ella and the dwarves out of the throne room and across the strangely beautiful underground castle to the guest rooms.
Walking next to Thorin, Ella noticed that the dwarf king still looked tensed and clearly, he had not been pleased with her intervention either.
He may have good reason not to trust Thranduil's seemingly friendly behaviour, but then again, Thorin always mistrusted everyone.
Ella, on the other hand, deemed it best to keep on the right side of whoever had the upper hand, which currently was the Elven king.
And joining him and the Woodland Elves at their starlight feast was certainly a much more pleasant prospect than to dwell in some dark cell- as it could well have happened had Thorin's temper once more prevailed over his reason.
"What's wrong?" she whispered. "We'll take their food and drink and tomorrow we'll be on our way again and still reach our destination in time. Or do you think Thranduil won't abide by his word?"
"Wouldn't be the first time." Thorin growled lowly. "No matter what he says, he has never been friends with me or my family."
"I know, I know," Ella sighed. "The old stories again. But whatever grudge you bear, it is long past, isn't it? Maybe it is time to dig up the hatchet. Maybe he wants that, too."
She shrugged. "And even if he doesn't like you, he does seem to like me."
The dwarf king gave a contemptous snort. "Don't let yourself be deceived by his sweet talk," he spat. "This isn't about you. It's about me. He flirted with you solely with the purpose to make me angry."
Of course. Ella thought disgruntledly. Everything was always about Thorin. Unthinkable that someone would flirt with her because he was interested in her as a person-
Then it occured to her what he had just said.
"And why should Thranduil think flirting with me would make you angry?" she asked.
Thorin averted her gaze. "He has no honour. " he spat. "He knew it would be offensive to talk to a member of my company in such an improper way."
"I see." Ella grimaced. Here we go again. You and your precious honour.
"Well, I'm not offended," she said airily, although she very well had been, in the beginning anyway. After all, Thranduil had mistaken her for one of the dwarves' pet- "I think he was quite charming."
Thorin furrowed his brows and shot her a dark glance. "If Thranduil requires a new concubine," he said snidely, "I'm quite sure he should have no difficulties to find one of appropriate size."
Ella felt angry heat crawl up her cheeks.
She was just about to tell the insufferable man next to her that if he really wanted to be her friend as he claimed, he could damn well start to be a lot more friendly- but the words died in her throat when she looked at his face.
She might have failed to read the expression on it, had she not seen the exact same one earlier today- on the smooth features of the Elven prince Legolas whenever he noticed Kili's admiring looks at his beloved.
It was jelousy.
Plain and simple.
He cared for her.
Perhaps he always had. Perhaps his rude behaviour towards her had been more for self-protection than anything else right from the start, a desperate attempt to shield himself from a feeling he had to consider improper by his own high standards. And it had only taken another man's - however dubious- interest in her to break the rampart and reveal his true intentions.
Ella wondered if Thorin was even aware of it. Thranduil, as it seemed, very well was.
She gave him her sweetest smile. "You're certainly right." she said in a honeyed voice.
The woodland elf who was leading them to their rooms had stopped in front of a door and gestured the dwarves to follow him inside.
Apparently, Thranduil attached more importance to propriety than Thorin would have credited him for, for Ella was to be accomodated in a chamber for herself.
It was only a short way to go, but it felt to her as if she was walking on clouds.
The most beautiful man in Middle Earth had called her pretty and Thorin was jelous.
The day that had started so awfully had turned out to become the best of her life.
