The winter came and went early this year. With the new spring, Thror's reign as king was to be celebrated, having the largest kingdom and the longest reign of the Dwarves. Everyone in the area had come to pay tribute to the king. The biggest surprise was the Elves of Mirkwood that came to visit. King Thranduil himself arrived. Clill and Thorin stood watch next to the king's throne, leaving Sidda in the hands of a wet-nurse for the afternoon.
"I never thought I'd see the day an Elf would acknowledge the leadership of a Dwarf", Clill mumbled surprised.
Thorin gave a slight nod and turned toward the Elves. He knew Thranduil had come to receive the white gems of Lasgalen that had been sent to Erebor. Thror looked at the Dwarf that held the chest of jewels, allowing him to take it to the Elves.
"So what are they doing?" Clill whispered as they watched.
"These gems were sent to us by the Elves", Thorin whispered. "The Elves wanted our craftsmanship to make jewelry out of them."
The Dwarf opened the chest, revealing the millions of gems glowing in the light. Thranduil looked at them with wide eyes in amazement. He never thought Dwarves like them could make something so beautiful. He reached his hand out to grab the chest before the Dwarf slammed the lid shut.
Everyone looked at Thror shocked that he ordered that to happen. Thranduil glared at the Dwarf king and turned away with nothing to say to him.
"Why did you do that?" Clill asked.
"Consider this payment that those pointy-ears owe us for our services", Thror answered as he stood from his throne.
She looked at him uncertain about what to say. It was probably best that she say nothing, lest she risk getting in trouble with the king, her husband's grandfather. Thror turned away and started walking back to his gold horde.
"I'm worried", Thorin said. "Grandfather has been alone in the treasury for many days now. He keeps talking to himself about the gold from what I've seen. I'm worried there may be something wrong with him."
"Should we tell Oin?" Clill asked.
"I don't know what Oin could do", he said shaking his head.
Just one or two more chapters after this one!
