Hello again. I had to post this chapter because I got so excited writing it... no idea why but oh well ;-)

Chapter 20: King of the Woodlands

The elves closed in on the company and quickly relieved them of their weapons, snatching them away with delicate fingers. All of the company, even Evelyn, had looks of anger on their faces, not at all pleased to be at the mercy of elves. Evelyn had liked the elves from Rivendell well enough as she was indebted to one of the most important ones – at this she remembered the elf child Skye – but she wasn't so sure about these elves just yet. But for the moment, it was hostility.

"Who do you think you are?" Thorin snarled, eyeballing the elf who had appeared first, and who had threatened him.

"I know perfectly well who I am dwarf," The elf shot back. He did not say anymore after that, nor did he bother to answer any of the other insults the other dwarves shot at him.

The woodland elves ushered them forward, herding them like cattle. Evelyn looked around, and realised that Bilbo was not among them. In fact, there was no trace of the hobbit anywhere. She wanted to try and find him, but the elves were having none of it, and continued ushering them forward.

Through the trees they went until they came upon the entrance to a particularly cave. Evelyn frowned. She did not expect elves to reside in caves, thinking that caves were rather more meant for dark dwelling creatures, such as trolls. It was because of trolls that she was not so fond of caves.

She was soon proven wrong as the cave opened up into a massive kingdom. The high roof of the cavern was supported by magnificent columns of white rock, and bridges carved out of the same stone stretched across the various underground streams that trickled gently through the cavern, creating a gentle echo. Lanterns, similar to the ones that had tricked them at the feasts in Mirkwood, hung from the ceiling, and small patches of sunlight escaped through holes in the roof.

As the company were forced to walk single file as the bridges they needed to cross were quite narrow, Evelyn could not help but stare in wonder at the huge network of stairs, bridges and walkways built in the kingdom. She found this place quite pretty despite the fact that she was currently a prisoner. Evelyn also noted how all the elves she saw were clothed in colours of olive and brown. It must have been some sort of tradition.

The company were brought to an immediate and sudden halt before a large door with gold patterns embellishing the smooth wood. The elf leading the party – the same one who had threatened Thorin – strode forward and exchanged a few words with one of the guards standing stock still to the side of the door in what they presumed to be Elvish, their native tongue.

The guard nodded after a small moment passed, and he pushed the golden handle of the door down. It clicked, and the door swung open gently without a single creak emitting from the hinges.

Floor-to-ceiling windows decorated every inch of the left and right walls. A moss green rug trailed a path from the door straight ahead to the other end of the room. At the end of the grand room there was a large throne with what appeared to be the antlers of some oversized species of deer decorating the armrests and the back of the chair.

Seated upon the throne was an elf that the company assumed to be the elven king. Evelyn recognized him as the grand looking elf who had been spotted at the feast shortly before their capture by the spiders. He was tall with spindly fingers, a head of sleek golden hair and heavy set eyebrows. Royalty appeared to suit the elven king well, as he gave of an aura of someone who knew how to govern and lead people without a particularly large amount of effort. The way in which he had draped himself ever so casually upon his throne emphasized that aura.

"King Thranduil," The elf leading the group said, a slight inclination of his blonde head to follow. Evelyn was secretly surprised by the lack of devotion that a king usually was showed. "We found them lurking where the spiders were,"

Thranduil nodded and slowly stood up, descending the stairs that led to his throne with grace. "Thank you my son," The elf, who was now recognized as a prince, stepped aside.

Thranduil stepped forward until he was only a short distance away from the company. His eyes raked over them, lingering on Thorin for a moment longer than the rest. He stared defiantly at the elven king, determined to not show any sign of submitting to the will of the elves.

"State your name and business in Mirkwood. Time is ebbing away as we speak and I have other things to attend to," Thranduil said in a loud and clear voice. Evelyn noted the strange tone in his voice. Was he… bored?

No one amongst the company gave much clue that they were willing to speak to the king, let alone give away details of their quest to him. Evelyn regarded the elves with no such ill will that the dwarves possessed – however she felt a tad hostile for their less than warm invite to the kingdom – and she took it upon herself to extract her hand from Thorin's strong grip and step forward and take responsibility, a task she had not ever expected to be burdened by.

Thranduil's eyes followed the movement as she took three steps forward, closing a medium-sized portion of the distance between her and the king. Clearing her throat, she looked up with more confidence than she actually felt.

"My name is Evelyn Lieflin, and this is my company," She said. Thorin stared at her as she said the words 'my company'. "We are but lost and weary travellers in search of-"

Thranduil cut across her before she could continue fabricating the fake tale. "Yes, as fascinating as your transparent story is, I did not ask for you to be brought here so I could listen to lies,"

Evelyn closed her mouth and stared down, feeling slightly humiliated. Thorin however would not back down so easily and he strode forward to stand beside his beloved.

"I am Thorin Oakenshield, son of Thrain, son of Thror, who was once King under the Mountain," He said in a clear voice, drawing himself up to his full height. He looked quite impressive despite the thick strands of cobweb still tangled in his mane of hair that gave him a somewhat dishevelled look. "This is my company and we are on an important quest. A quest that I might add does not concern elves such as you," He added the last sentence with cold contempt.

Thranduil surveyed Thorin with an indifferent expression, no words obviously affected him. "As it so happens, I am already aware of what this little quest of yours entails. You seek that which would bestow upon you the right to rule,"

"I seek to obtain what is mine and what is ours," Thorin said coldly, wishing that he had his sword right now so he could behead the stupid elf.

A ghost of a cold smile flickered across Thranduil's face. "A quest to reclaim a homeland and slay the dragon that lives in it. Such a dangerous task for such… devoted people,"

"Indeed our quest is difficult," Evelyn stated, recovering from before. "But it is achievable nonetheless,"

This time the smile came. For some reason, the cold smile did not suit him. "Such bravery from such a delicate person is duly noted. However I cannot play child games and ignore certain laws that you and your company have chosen to break. Disturbing my people three times during their innocent merry-making is something that cannot go unnoticed,"

Thorin looked positively outraged at this. "If you're referring to the blatant fashion in which your people chose to hoodwink us with petty games, then you can shove that idea right up your-"

A cold laugh swept through the room, sending unwanted chills up Evelyn's spine. "Insulting me won't do you, or your friends much good, Thorin Oakenshield. Guards," At this word, two elves clad in silver armour clutching spears materialized out of what seemed to be nowhere. "Take our 'guests' down to the dungeons. Perhaps there they will have some time there to conjure up some respect,"

If you guys were curious as to why Thranduil was being so rude and cold, he was just very annoyed because of what the company had done in relation to them disturbing his people at their feasts! I mean, come on you would be annoyed too! :-D