Now, back to your "regular programming." Note that anything in Sindarin or kuzdul is English italicised.
Chapter 29
Tauriel dismissed her patrol, keeping only one guard per dwarf, and leaving four to watch the two prisoners that were to see the king directly. Not wishing to report to Thranduil directly, she decided to take one of the dwarves down to the dungeons herself. Without even thinking, she moved to escort the young dwarf she had saved in the forest. Seeing that most of her guards had put a guiding (sometimes shoving) hand on the shoulders of their respective captives, she did the same.
He looked at her with no malice and did not struggle or attempt to escape as they walked towards the dungeons. This surprised Tauriel greatly, for in her experience, prisoners were always discontent and troublesome. As she looked around, Tauriel saw that these dwarves were no exception. They all looked sullen, angry, and a few looked downright enraged. As they walked out over one of the many freestanding bridges that wound around much of their realm, Tauriel saw that the dwarf she led was one of only two exceptions to this rule.
The other was a dwarf, similarly young in age, who showed no sign of anger, save for a defiant glint in his bright blue eyes. The moment Tauriel saw him, she recognized his face. He was Aria's husband, Fili. And he was here. She was about to lock him and his friends in her dungeons.
When she made this realization, Tauriel halted for a moment and gripped the shoulder of her captive tightly.
"Oh, don't worry. You won't fall. I'm right here in front of you," said the dwarf humorously, turning to look at her.
"I have walked these bridges for hundreds of years, master dwarf. I am not the one who should fear falling," Tauriel replied, eyebrow raised slightly.
"Hundreds of years?" the dwarf asked incredulously.
"Keep moving," was Tauriel's only reply.
Once she and her captive had continued along the bridge, Tauriel shook her head and smiled, despite her better judgment.
When they reached the dungeons, Tauriel led her prisoner to an empty cell and opened the door. She shoved him inside, and held the door open, surveying the work of the elves under her command. Several of the dwarves shouted in defiance at their captors, but the elves cared not, shoving each dwarf into a cell, putting two in a few of them.
Tauriel noticed one of her companions, the elf in charge of Fili, stop his captive from entering the cell. Tauriel didn't have to wonder why for long. The elf reached into his jacket and pulled (yet another) sizable dagger from within it. Tauriel briefly wondered if he was still armed before she was addressed by her own captive.
"Aren't you going to search me?...I could have anything down my trousers," he said, face serious, but a glint of humor in his eyes.
Tauriel surveyed him with a slight frown on her face.
"Or nothing," she said, shutting the door to the cell decisively.
She looked at him for but another moment through the barred door before turning and walking back towards the steps that led down to the guard keep. The place that her patrol kept their weapons and armor.
Before she could descend out of the dungeon, Legolas stopped her with a few words in Sindarin.
"Why does the dwarf stare at you, Tauriel?" he asked, face as unreadable as stone.
"Who can say," Tauriel replied in a tone holding no more warmth than that of her prince.
Looking away from her prince, she allowed herself a slight smile. "He's quite tall for a dwarf," she said, wistfully.
She glanced at Legolas, looking away quickly, and sobering her voice quickly, and said "don't you think?"
She began her walk down the stairs, but not so quickly as to miss Legolas's answer.
"Taller than some...but no less ugly," he said coldly.
Tauriel frowned at the staircase in front of her. Much as she would have like to agree with Legolas, she couldn't come to see that dwarf as ugly. In fact, she was beginning to think quite the opposite of him.
She then remembered her promise to banish the dreams along with the spiders. She decided that this would be impossible now that two of the very people from those dreams were under lock and key in her own home. She would take these events as they came and avoid rushing to conclusions.
With this new resolution, she opened the door at the foot of the stairs and entered the noisy guard keep. The place was a bustle with elves removing armor, hanging shields, and re-sharpening spears. A few were cleaning spider remains from their swords, and a merry conversation was had by all. Not only had they successfully captured fourteen dwarves at no cost, but they also had the third and final night of feasting to look forward to.
"Thalion, what have you got there?" Tauriel asked a chestnut haired elf who appeared to have his own armory.
"I, Captain Tauriel, am attempting to count a pile of daggers that I took off of the dwarf in my charge," Thalion replied in a jovial tone.
"The young one with light hair?" Tauriel asked.
"Indeed. Look at this one," Thalion agreed, holding up a particularly large dagger.
"What of it?" Tauriel asked.
"He nearly got into the cell with it. I took it just as I was about to close the door," Thalion told her.
"Do you suppose he's still armed?" Tauriel asked though she was not overly worried.
"No, and supposing he was, what use would it be against our cells. They have seen many prisoners more dangerous than a dwarf with a knife in their time," Thalion said.
Tauriel had seen enough of the guard keep to know that her patrol was in good spirits and under control, so she decided to take her leave.
Thalion, it seemed, had much the same idea. At the moment Tauriel decided to be on her way, Thalion finished with Fili's daggers and deposited them in a weapons chest.
"Captain," he hailed Tauriel.
"Yes, Thalion," Tauriel acknowledged.
"I had intended to visit Galion to inspect the preparations for tonight's celebration. Would you have an interest in accompanying me?" he asked.
"Yes, I have a while yet before going to report to The King," Tauriel said, and the two left the guard keep together.
"May I ask why you do not report to him directly. From what I understand of his temper, he does not like to be kept waiting," Thalion said.
"Indeed he does not, but the King has guests at the moment. I shouldn't like to intrude upon him while he attempts to interrogate prisoners," said Tauriel, and she meant it.
I was in a state of nervous anticipation, standing with Thorin, just inside the gates to the Realm. Four guards stood around us, per Tauriel's instructions, and I couldn't help but feel that they were intended more to control Thorin than myself.
"Tell me," Thorin said in khuzdul. "Why have you been singled out?" he asked me.
"I told the prince to go kiss an orc...in Sindarin," I answered in the same language.
"What warranted that, if I may ask," he asked in a voice that sounded more like a demand than a question.
"He said I looked like a hobbit. Would you have let an insult like that go over your head?" I queried.
"Maybe not, but I would have addressed my own insults in a language he could not understand," Thorin advised.
"Excuse me for asking, but if he didn't know what I was saying, then why insult him at all?" I asked.
"He won't be suspicious of a dwarf maiden knowing his language and decide to bring her before his King for a start," Thorin said, voice unchanging.
I nodded, and we fell into silence.
This silence continued on for some time before Legolas returned from the dungeons, and ordered us to follow him. More specifically, he ordered the guards to bring us after him.
We followed him through the hall and to a door at the other end that opened onto a vast space. Light filtered in all around, making it hard for me to remember that we were in doors. I could hear the sounds of birds chirping, and of running water, and when I looked over the edge of the slim path on which we stood, I could see it streaming down the walls, even splitting some of the walkways in two. The falls misted over, shrouding the lower levels of the realm from sight. Walkways and bridges seemed to hang in mid-air, weaving their way about the space, and the pathway that lead to the immense throne ahead of us was no different.
Legolas stopped us at the foot of the steps.
We were close enough to behold both the throne and the elf that sat upon it. The throne was ornate, carved of wood with antlers sprouting every which way from it. Thranduil was no less imposing in his crown of woven branches and his robe of silver. I was so caught up in surveying the monarch, that I nearly missed Legolas's order.
"Bring the she-dwarf first. My father may not be so inclined to talk with her after dealing with Oakenshield," he said, casting a disdainful eye on the both of us.
I felt a strong urge to laugh, for at that inopportune moment, a picture of Legolas and Gimli fighting side by side popped into my head. His attitude would change in time, but I had more pressing matters than the prince's attitude towards dwarves to attend to at the moment.
Two of the guards followed me up the stairs, and took positions on either side of them when we reached the landing where sat the throne.
I looked up at its imposing structure, and waited, for what I did not know.
"Well, this is a surprise. I was under the impression that dwarves valued their women too much to take them on journeys such as this," the King said in his monotone voice.
"That was my impression as well," I replied in my most straight forward fashion.
"Then tell me, how does a maiden come to be in my domain under these circumstances?" he asked.
"I fell from the sky," I told him, deciding that the truth was so far fetched that even he wouldn't believe it.
"So, you will not give me the answer that I want to hear. Maybe another question, then… Why has my son thought to bring you before me?" he asked.
"I insulted him in Sindarin," I said, again choosing truth as the best policy.
"Indeed. A dwarf that speaks the language of my people. Maybe-" here he paused, and looked down at me for a moment, before changing directions. "That thing around your neck, what is it?" he asked.
I cursed under my breath, berating myself for failing to hide the pendant before this audience.
"A token, nothing more," I said.
"I do not think so. In fact, I am certain that is not what it is at all. The rune is ancient, one that few alive know how to read. It speaks of a summons. How came you by this?" he asked.
"My grandparents gave it to me," I told him.
The King seemed to look me over. "You fail to answer my questions truthfully," he observed.
"Quite the contrary. I have answered every question with some degree of truth. You merely ask questions that I have been bound not to answer. If you need my answers so badly, you can take it up with the Lady Galadriel," I said, confidence rising in my voice.
The king raised an eyebrow at my words, or maybe at my glare.
"I grow tired of this, dwarf," he said.
"Don't call me that. It's inaccurate," I said.
Thranduil dismissed this and went on to ask yet another question.
"Tell me what you and your companions were doing in the woods, and be careful with your answer. Why do you and your people disturb my realm on a night of merrymaking?" he asked, looking upon me sternly.
I racked my brains, but thought it best not to tell him what the company was actually doing in the woods.
"Well, you see, we had run out of food earlier that day, and we were all starving," was the answer I came up with.
"And your friends, they are in my dungeons now. What think you of that?" Thranduil asked.
"I expect they're all down there starving, sir," I replied impudently.
"I ask you once and for all, what were you doing in my forest?" he asked, malice rising in his voice.
"We were looking for food and drink because we were starving," I said, not breaking eye contact between us.
"And what brought you into the forest in the first place?" the king asked.
I shut my mouth and didn't say another word.
There was a long silence before one of the guards came to attention and spoke.
"Shall I take her to the cells, My King?" he asked.
"No...I have not yet come to a decision," he said.
I couldn't help but wonder what kind of a decision he could be making at the moment, but given my failure to be of any use to him, I dreaded what it might be. When at long last he spoke, the king's voice sounded pleased...unnervingly pleased.
"You have come to take back the mountain. You and your people are here for your homeland, are you not?" he asked.
I refused to speak.
"I thought so. Oakenshield wants what is his, and he has brought along his closest friends to take it from the dragon...But, that still doesn't explain you. A maiden not of his kin, who speaks the language of a people he is renowned for mistrusting," Thranduil mused.
"Unless," he continued. "Unless that is his very motive for bringing you, to act as a translator on the journey...No, that cannot be it, for dwarves are above such things. I wonder, did you did you have your own reasons for joining such a quest? Did you blackmail them into bringing you, proving your worth as a translator?"
He asked, seeming to read my every thought. I bit my lip, for I had no answer that I wished to supply him with. His quick intelect was frightening and awe inspiring all in one.
"Ah, I see. What then, was your reason for such an act? Personal gain? A promised share in the treasure, perhaps?" he asked, raising one eyebrow.
I had held my tongue long enough. Was Thranduil really suggesting that I had wormed my way into Thorin Oakenshield's company for...for personal gain? I was appalled by this notion, and I told Thranduil so in no uncertain terms.
"I've known from the beginning that I would gain nothing material from this quest. I have no desire for gold. In fact, I much prefer silver. No, I only wish to see Erebor regained safely, and it's conquerors alive and well," I said in a level yet commanding tone.
"Now I see. This is a task set to you. You mentioned the Lady Galadriel? Yes, well, by all means, stay with your precious company, and much good may it do you in the end," he said, voice dripping with sarcasm.
I turned to leave the dais, but was halted by the King's next words. I did not bother to face him, but I could hear a note of amusement had entered his voice.
"Maybe you did not intend material gain at the start of your journey, but I would be surprised if that has not changed by now," he said.
"I'm sure I haven't the faintest clue what you're talking about," I said, hoping that he wasn't alluding to what I thought he was.
"Oh, I think you do. I have seen that look in the eyes of the young more times than I can count. There is more binding you to this company than just a sense of obligation," he said.
As he spoke, I closed my eyes slowly, a knot of dread filling my stomach. Did I care what Thranduil learned from our conversation? No, not particularly.
Yet try as I might, I couldn't bring myself to forget the fact that Thorin had heard every word spoken by both the king and myself. The king had just accused me of falling in love with one of my companions, and there was nothing I could do to remedy the fact that Thorin had heard.
"Take her to the cells," Thranduil said dismissively, and I was escorted to the base of the stairs where Thorin waited.
As I walked, he stepped out to block my path. I dreaded what he was about to say, knowing that Thorin was not dull enough to miss the meaning of Thranduil's parting words. He spoke in khuzdul, ensuring that none of the guards were privy to our exchange.
"You spoke not of our quest, and denied personal gain to a king who could have paid you handsomely. You have my gratitude," he said in just as gruff a voice as was his usual.
The guards quickly pushed me past Thorin, but I gave a slight bow of my head before they could do so.
While the guards marched me out of the hall and towards the dungeons, I thought of Thorin's words. I could only cringe at the thought that Thranduil had revealed my pendant to be more than just a token, and revealed the fact that I'd become emotionally attached to one member of the company in front of Thorin. It wouldn't be difficult for him to guess just who I had fallen in love with, and that was one conversation I never wanted to have with my leader. But maybe, just maybe, my denouncement of gold and of want for personal gain, coupled with my shielding of the company's secrets might have turned his opinion in my favor.
From what he had said on the staircase, I could derive some hope that I had gained his trust at last.
Nevertheless, I was in a foul mood when we reached the dungeons. I was thrust into one of the uppermost cells on what seemed to be the second level of the dungeons. Looking down and to the opposite side of the cells, I had a clear view of Dwalin, Fili, and Kili's prisons, and a fair view of the steps in both directions.
When the door closed behind the guards, and they had descended the staircase out of sight, there was a silence.
Still fuming over Thranduil's accusations and parting comments, I spoke, very loudly, a sentence that I never thought would pass my lips.
"I hate that elf!"
Thranduil figured Aria out so fast! Thorin seems to have a better opinion of her now that she didn't cave under pressure.
Only downside is that he now knows she's in love with one of his dwarves. Do you think he'll figure out who?
What did you think of Tauriel and Kili's interactions?
