The elves were silent as they led their prisoners within their gates and across a long stretch of roots that made up a bridge into the impressive kingdom. As the company was ushered to the dungeon, Lothrena caught only a fleeting glance at the throne and the impressive creature who was draped across it. Even such a brief glimpse caused shivers to ripple down her spine. This man oozed power, and he knew it.

Rough hands shoved the dwarves into their cells, each one being led to their own - save for Lothrena and the king. The red headed elven woman who seemed to be in charge looked upon Lothrena knowingly as her eyes flittered between the two. It seemed even one as cold as her would not seperate two bound hearts. Or perhaps she suspected hatred between them? Perhaps she sought to make them as uncomfortable as possible? For whatever reason Thorin was tossed into his cell, followed closely by a flailing Lothrena as she was shoved as well.

Lothrena huffed as her side met the stone wall and the air rushed from her lungs. She fixed the elf who was now shutting their cell door with a harsh glare. The gesture went unnoticed as Thorin began to prod at her side, checking for wounds. He sighed deeply as he found none, then settled beside her. All around them, the dwarves began to pull, kick, and charge against the bars. Lothrena's skull began to pound with the sounds of their fruitless attempts.

"Leave it!" Balin commanded suddenly, pulling a sigh of relief from the elf. "This is no orc dungeon. These are the halls of the woodland realm! No one leaves here but by the king's consent." Honey eyes found the silhouette of the king sitting stiffly against the cold stone walls. His eyes were cast downward, flittering frantically. Lothrena watched as he turned over every plan for escape in his head, his expression darkening as he realized each one would fail. Before she could even so much as reach out to comfort her lover, a harsh hand cast her to the side as guards made their way to the dwarf in question. Thorin roared in fury as his elf was once more thrown against the rocky walls and chirped in pain. These bastards would pay for hurting her so.

Thorin's grunts grew further away as the guards effortlessly hauled the dwarf away. Soon it was replaced by the chilling voice of the Elven king of Mirkwood. His deep timbre wafted through the air and right through Lothrena's chest, much like a knife. She gritted her teeth as his voice tortured her, but she could not make out a single word. Thorin's voice thundered now as he lashed out at the pale elf, even his angry rumble giving Lothrena some comfort even though he was far from her. The Elven king was not unaffected by this. His calm exterior seemed to crack slowly, finally exploding as an energy fizzed all around him. She could feel the fury between them melting down over the walls as something about the king changed, but only for a brief moment. Finally his voice faded into almost a whisper before finally Lothrena heard the clanking of the guards' armor once more. "Stay here if you will and rot. A hundred years is a mere blink in the life of an elf. I'm patient, I can wait."

Lothrena shot to her feet as the king was hauled to the dungeon once more. Soft arms enveloped the king as he was tossed unceremoniously into the cell. Lothrena's lithe body softened his fall, catching him as her honey eyes burned the men who stood before them now.

"Did he offer you a deal?" Balin asked frantically, his flushed face coming into view between his bars.

"He did." The king answered shortly as he rose from Lothrena's embrace. "I told him he could go ishkh khakfe andu null. Him and all his kin!" Balin and Lothrena cringed at his words. Though she could not understand him, she knew this had been a grave mistake. All at once, she became exhausted of the stubbornness of dwarves. Her honey eyes searched hopelessly for her hobbit friend, her heart throbbing as she could not find him once more. Ever since they had reached the forest, their burglar had been lost to the elf.

Familiar clanking echoed down the stairs, eliciting a groan from the elf. "Think he's giving you another chance to take the offer?" She snapped, her voice cutting deeper than she had intended. The guards opened the door, both prisoners knowing exactly who they came for. Lothrena shied away from her king, not wishing to be shoved once more when they would reach for him. Only they never did. Rough hands hauled her to her feet as the guards led her from the cell. Realization washed over her like ice. "Thorin!" She shrieked as they dragged her up the stairs, oblivious to her struggle to get free.

"Lothrena!" His deep voice roared, suddenly being swallowed by the depths below as she was brought above. All sound and light from the dungeon ceased to exist, and her heart fell into her stomach. What did he want with her?

Honey eyes met piercing blue depths as she was hurled before the king's feet. His pale mouth was pulled up in a smirk that made her insides wretch. "Strange traveling companions you keep, my dear." He offered, gesturing for a guard to lift her to her feet. Gods forbid the lazy sod help me himself. "How did you come to meet these...dwarves?" The Elven king spat the last word out like poison as he circled the strange woman before him, eyeing her suspiciously. His icy eyes scanned every inch of her, his lips curling back in a sneer. "Something tells me they did not imprison you. No, you joined them willingly, didn't you?"

"Aye." She answered shortly, only allowing herself to watch his strides as he circled her. She knew if she were to look to his face, she would lose the strength she held now in his presence.

"My dear, you do not know this world." He mused under his breath, a slender finger cupping her chin. She swallowed heavily as his piercing eyes held hers. "Selde i Paluure." Her elvish name still seemed so foreign to her. "You are so much less than I was expecting." The great man turned on his heal, ascending to his throne as she fumed and struggled in her captor's grasp. "You are much younger than I had heard, but this does not surprise me. When I was told Selde i Paluure had entered my gates, I was sure a powerful presence would captivate us all. You can understand my disappointment upon learning she came with dwarves. You are nothing they make you out to be." He chuckled darkly, beckoning a guard with the crook of a long finger. "So tell me, naug melar, which one of these crude weapons was yours, hmm?" The guard had now returned with all of the dwarves' weapons in tow.

Lothrena stood tall and silent as the Elven king picked up Dwalin's battle ax, tipping it in question toward her. She said nothing. Not letting this show of defiance sway him, he continued, throwing the dwarven weapon to the ground. She watched in silence, her teeth clenched shut behind her lips as more weapons were shown to her. First Balin's, then Nori's, Fili's, Kili's, and even poor Ori's small slingshot. Still she said nothing, not even her eyes giving him so much as a hint. Finally his pale fingers wrapped around the hilt of Thorin's sword and he approached her. "This one is unlike the others." He mused, running his finger tips over the gorgeous metal. "Though I'm told Thorin Oakenshield was wielding this particular blade." His eyes scorched her now. "And you defended his claim over this weapon? A dwarf, believing he had some right to wield a weapon made by my kin?" He snapped. Straightening suddenly, he tossed the blade down at her feet as the fingers holding her arms tightened. Her honey eyes widened slightly as he made his way to the final weapon. "Another of Elvish make." He mused, examining this one much like he did Thorin's. His fingers prodded at the blade, memorizing every curve and dip in the design. His exploration ceased as a whisper of a tickle brushed at his palm. His blue eyes seemed to burn red as they snapped to meet hers.

"How dare you?" He seethed, holding Lothrena's very sword to her throat. "You dare to come into my kingdom, my land, and insult me like this?" His voice echoed in the great hall and she knew her lover could hear his fury.

"My lord, I don't know what -" A sharp shriek escaped her as his fist knotted tightly in her hair.

"I have had enough of your lies, wench." He growled. "I know a courting sword when I see one." He spat, thrusting the hilt before her eyes. The braid of Thorin's hair dangled in front of her eyes, Thranduil's eyes staring at her forcefully. "You dare allow that filth to feel the touch of an elf? You dare-" He whipped around suddenly, violently handing the blade off before turning back to her. His lithe fingers gripped her arms sharply, digging into her skin much like a dagger. A fire passed through them where his fingers met her delicate skin, the air around them crackling with magic so furiously it made her head spin. It was as if she could feel every emotion that was clouding his mind. And he, hers. As the sensation grew stronger, the king's blue eyes widened, glancing down, then back up once more as realization flooded through his very being. Lothrena didn't make so much as a sound as the back of the king's hand met her face roughly, a loud smack echoing in the silence. "You dare carry that filth in your belly?"

Lothrena's eyes widened now, freezing upon the king. Filth? My belly? No, this cannot be. It cannot!The king's lips curled once more as he took in the elven woman crumpled on the ground before him. He could still feel the trace of two heartbeats thrumming beneath his fingertips. "Perhaps you may still be of some use to me. I wonder, to what lengths would the dwarven king go for his lover?" Lothrena's hand settled upon her stomach as she watched the king ascend to his great throne once more. With a graceful and swift turn, he settled upon it in a single fluid motion. "Get her out of my sight."

The woman was numb, too shocked to fight, as she was hauled to her feet and drug to the dungeons below once more. As her lover came into view, his eyes watering at the sight of his limp elf and his fists clinging so tightly to the bars his knuckles turned white, she suddenly found it hard to breathe. What was she going to tell Thorin?


I am so so so so SO sorry you guys! I was out of state for a week of auditions and stress kicked my butt.
I'll be updating again tomorrow! Do not fret!
HAVE A LITTLE CLIFFHANGER! ;D

xx

naug melar - dwarf lover