So here is the new chapter. I hope you enjoy it. Although I had fun writing this scene and Thranduil, I was a bit disappointed by my characterisation of the Elven King. So if it is rather shabby, I do apologise. Please, read and review, and tell me what you think. Your comments really inspire me to write more.
Dear Darneice. I really enjoyed writing about Loki and Leera and the four, very large stories was fun to write and deliver to you all, but I am afraid that their story has now ended. I have nothing more to say on their part. I feel that I would tire it out if I was to pursue it once more and it would become rather boring for all to read. Towards the end of the 4th instalment, I myself grew bored of the whole thing. I do apologise. And yes! The new Loki does have new, long hair haha!
000
Everything was black. Anya felt bile rise up in her throat. All she could hear was the silent tapping of footsteps beside her and people talking now and then in another language. It was frightening to say the least. She knew not where she was nor where the others were. She remembered seeing a giant spider then boom, nothing. She had lost Thorin and Bilbo in the darkness. Their calls and cries of desperation had grown quieter. It was eerie and Anya felt as though she had walked into a horror movie. The footsteps began to pick up and the hands on her arms tightened, pushing her forward. Suddenly she was pulled to a stop and held still whilst another hand ripped her blind fold from her head. Anya looked around in terror at the large area of trees. It was huge and she felt even smaller being in such a place. Before her was a throne made of interlaced branches and smooth darkened wood. Sat upon it was the most beautiful but the angriest of men her eyes fell upon. He was clad in a silver robe and nestled on his long blonde hair was a crown made of twigs and leaves. He looked kingly indeed and the way his eyes pierced into her frightened her. Suddenly, the man Rose from his throne and glided down to the woman with such elegance it was as if he were floating. Circling her, he eyed Anya curiously, taking note of her height and features.
"Who are you?" he asked; his voice like liquid gold. Anya swallowed hard and looked to the floor.
"My name is Anya..." she trembled. In a flash, a hand grabbed her chin and lifted her head up quickly. Anya stared into ice blue eyes and felt her heart beat quickly.
"What are you? You are neither elf nor human; you are small in height. Yet, you hold no features of the dwarven race." Thranduil inquired, taken aback by this woman's appearance
"I'm a human..." Anya replied, slightly confused.
"Surely you jest! In all my years roaming this world, never have my eyes looked upon a human as small as you. Are you of two races?" Thranduil asked once more, completely forgetting the fact that she was a stranger walking in his wood, as was so enthralled with her that he took a seat once more, staring intently at her.
"I was born this height. Both my parents are human. I'm a Homunculus; perfectly sized miniature human being." she explained and watched as the information spun around the elf's mind.
"Intriguing. I have never met one such as yourself, nor do I believe such thing exists among the race of men for I would have heard of, or at least seen one in my time. You are indeed unique, child"
"I'm not a child thank you very much" Anya growled instantly; clearly fed up of being labelled so and completely forgetting that she stood in the presence of a king. Thranduil raised his eyebrows at her spunk and sat back in his throne. She had a burning confidence about her and it made him interested in her. She was clearly different among all beings he had met and he wished to know more. As he sat, staring, the guard beside her cleared his throat and stood forward, gaining the kings attention.
"My king, she was found among a party of dwarves. We have one with us just outside. The remaining company are held up with the spiders. A scouting part has been sent to retrieve them just moments ago" Thranduil widened his eyes and looked upon the woman with a great deal more interest.
"You seem to surprise me even more. Tell me; why is one, such as yourself, with a party of dwarves all the way out here in these parts?" spoke the elf; his voice ringing like chimes in a breeze.
"I can't answer that" she stated firmly and the boing king frowned instantly at being denies information.
"In whose company did you enter my realm?" he pressed on.
"I- I can't answer that either" she replied, a little more uneasy. Thranduil then glared and looked to his guard.
"Send it he dwarf that stands outside. I would see in whose company this so called 'Homunculus' travels" Quickly, the guard left Anya's side and left the throne room in pursuit of the other soldiers whom held said dwarf in custody. Not many moments later did the guard return with a dwarf, blindfolded just like Anya. The blonde woman turned around and took in a deep breath. She noticed that figure anywhere. Feeling relieved that he was safe, Anya turned to face straight forward once more. The guard removed the blindfold from Thorin's face and Thranduil instantly stood to his feet. "This is whom you take company with? Thorin Oakenshield, son of Thrain, son of Thror"
"Thranduil…" Thorin spat in disgust. His eyes then trailed over to Anya worriedly and looked her over. She appeared unharmed. Thorin then thought. What if Thranduil found out about their partnership? Would he then do something dreadful to Anya? Would he separate her from him? His thoughts were disturbed when the demanding voice of the elven king.
"Dwarf, why did you and your folk three times try to attack my people at their merrymaking?" Thorin glared at the blonde elf and scoffed loudly before replying
"We did not attack them. We came to beg, because we were starving." Thranduil bared his teeth at the dwarven king and shot over to him, standing over the shorter male in an attempt to appear daunting.
"Where are your friends now and what are they doing?" He inquired.
"I don't know, but I expect starving in the forest." Thorin replied and Anya could not help but smile at Thorin's responses.
"What were you doing in the forest?" Thranduil demanded once more, but Thorin was not willing to budge.
"Looking for food and drink, because we were starving" As soon as the words left the dwarf's mouth, Anya laughed aloud and gained the attention of both males. Thranduil glared at the woman and straightened his back.
"This amuses you, woman?" Thranduil inquired bitterly.
"I don't think you can compete with his sass" Anya spoke, confusing both males. Thranduil took several steps towards the woman.
"Why is a human in the company of dwarves? Answer me this. Who is she to you?" the elf asked Thorin but kept his gaze upon Anya at all times.
"She is a friend of the company" Thorin replied, protecting her identity, but he was not aware of the pang of hurt that hit Anya in the stomach at being labelled as such.
"Is this true?" Thranduil questioned Anya. The blonde woman glanced over at her love and watched his subtly nod at her. She was confused, hurt even. Taking a deep breath, she nodded. Thranduil hummed at the information given and took a step back regarding both. "Send this woman to the dungeons; I shall deal with her later" instantly a guard grabbed the woman roughly and Thorin felt anger rise up in himself.
"Be careful with her!" Thorin snapped. He did not want them to harm her in anyway, nor the baby that was inside of her. His reaction however caught the king's attention.
"Oh? And why pray tell, should we listen to you, dwarf?"
"She is in a delicate situation" Came Thorin's reply in a growl and Thranduil raised his eyebrows, and with an open mouth he looked to the small woman.
"Bring her to me…" He said, walking back to his throne to take a seat. Anya came before the throne and she looked to the floor, a feeling of dread spreading inside of her. "A delicate situation? Tell me, mortal; what situation would that be?"
"None of your business you nosy twerp" Anya spat and suddenly regretted it when the guard beside her, struck her face for speaking to the king in such a matter. Thorin growled loudly at what just took place, but Thranduil remained calm and collected.
"Are you aware of whom you speak to?" He questioned the woman.
"Goldie locks?" she replied, not caring for what the guard might do once more. She had enough of this obnoxious elf. Thranduil frowned and sat forward.
"Enough! You will speak to me with respect, wench, and answer the questions which I deliver to you. Is that understood, lest I be forced to take further actions against you? As it is, you have already trespassed in my woods."
"I speak with respect to those who deserve it. You, my good man, are an obnoxious bully. I won't take orders from you or anyone else. Do what you like, you snob!"
"Guard, take this venomous witch to the dungeon. I will hear no more of her lack of disrespect." Thranduil spat, with dark eyes. Anya yelped as her arms were held behind her back and pushed toward the exit of the room. Thorin watched as the elf handled his fiancé harshly and he felt his blood boil. Clenching his fists, unaware of the elven kings eyes upon him, watching every move of the king under the mountain with questionable eyes. "You harbour feelings for that mortal" Thranduil stated, almost pleased with himself. Thorin snorted and glared at the blonde being, returning his attention to him.
"You know nothing, elf" Thorin snapped.
"It seems she gets her charm from you. I hear that your friends are on their way. Let's not keep them waiting…" Thranduil waved another guard forward and nodded to the dwarf before him. "… Take him to the dungeons. See to it that he is placed with that woman. I could not bare to think that they were separated" He replied sarcastically. Thorin hissed at the elven king as he was roughly grabbed. He glared at Thranduil with the hope that looks could kill, but inside he felt afraid. He did not have his nephews with him. He did not know how they fared, nor if they still lived. The quest was now put on hold and Thorin feared whether or not they would actually leave the god forsaken halls of the Elven King of Mirkwood.
000
"Take your hands off me!" Thorin snarled as they walked into a darkened area filled with large cells. The guard pushed Thorin forward toward a cell that was open, ignoring the dwarf's protests. Thorin ungracefully fell into the cell and glared up at him. The elf bared his teeth at Thorin as if he were a beast and quickly closed the cell door, locking it in an instant. Holding onto the keys, the elven guard left the room in haste.
"Thorin?" Anya whispered in the dark and scrambled on her hands and knees forwards toward the dwarf that led on the floor. The blonde woman cupped Thorin's face in her hands, breathing heavily in the darkness. Thorin blinked up at her, stunned at the current situation.
"Are you ok?" He whispered to her. Anya removed her hands and sat back onto the floor, remaining silent. This unnerved the dwarf king and Thorin looked around frantically in the darkness. "Anya, are you well?"
"I have a pain…"
"Where?"
"In my stomach… I don't know whether it's because im hungry or because I fell when that Elf pushed me in here" Anya replied, feeling frightened.
"Come to me" Thorin spoke and the woman shuffled toward him in an instant. She moved onto his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. The son of Thrain held Anya's waist, keeping her close to him.
"Im scared" She spoke into his ear. Thorin took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
"As am I"
000
"Get yer filthy hands from me" Dwalin snapped in annoyance as both he and the remainder of the company were shoved into the great halls of the king of Mirkwood. Thranduil remained seated on his throne, with his crown of leaves and berries upon his head. He looked down in disgust at the gathering of dwarves in his home. They were dirty, disgusting beings, he thought to himself, and surveyed the expression of each of them until his keen elven eyes came to rest on one dwarf whom had a great resemblance to Thorin son of Thrain.
"Why are you in my forest?" Thranduil questioned said dwarf.
"Looking for food" Kili replied, unimpressed by the way they were treated; as prisoners. Thranduil took a deep breath, attempting not to lose his temper at the response that was delivered him.
"Why were you so far from your home dwarf? What business do you have in this area?"
"Leave the lad be" Balin butted in.
"And who are you to command me, dwarf; You who stand in my halls? Why are you in my realm?"
"Where is Thorin?" Fili snapped. Thranduil ignored him and glared at the company once more.
"It is a crime to wander in my realm without leave. Do you forget that you were in my kingdom, using the road that my people made? Did you not three time pursue and trouble my people in the forest and rouse the spiders with you riot and clamour? After all the disturbance you have made I have a right to know what brings you here, and if you will not tell me now, I will keep you all in prison until you have learned sense and manners!" (*) "…Send them away! Lock them up"
000
Bilbo watched the whole scene pan out as he hid behind a pillar. As the company of dwarves were ushered from the hall toward the dungeon, he thought to himself, 'I must help them, but how?'
000
(*) - A direct quote from J.R. 's, The Hobbit in italics.