Chapter Thirty-Seven

"You sleep a lot for an elf." This was the first thing Mirilas heard as she woke. Her eyes snapped open to see Smaug peering at her with his black eyes much too close for comfort.

Mirilas recoiled from him, sending her rolling off the cot to the ground.

"Hiril nin," (My lady) Helluin said in concern, at her side in seconds to help pick her up.

"Hannon le," (Thank you) she said once she was standing before turning to the dragon. At least, they were separated by the cot now. This seemed to be about the most separation the chain would allow. "Why have you done this?" she asked, holding out her left arm attached to his right.

"Now that I have found you, Dragon Jewel, you will not leave me easily," he answered, allowing the space between them for now.

"Mirilas. My name is Mirilas," she corrected, having had enough of this 'Dragon Jewel' business.

"Finally," Smaug said with a smile. "Now we can begin."

"Begin what?" Mirilas demanded.

"Why, building a relationship, of course," Smaug said. "You did not think I would simply possess you?"

"Actually, yes," she replied. "That is exactly what I thought."

Smaug moved to step around the cot. When Mirilas immediately stepped back toward Helluin, the dragon stepped back to the same position, holding his hands up placatingly. "You are the Dragon Jewel, Mirilas. I want that power, but it seems I cannot have that power without you."

"That is...almost reassuring," Mirilas said with a frown.

"Almost?" the dragon questioned.

"You did threaten to take my power and leave me a husk," she reminded him.

"That I did," he assented, glad that there seemed to be a glimmer of banter. Perhaps, he could convince her?

"Hiril nin," (My lady) Feren said, deciding to break them up before the dragon wormed himself further into his lady's too-trusting heart. "Le nuva medi," (You need to eat) he said. He doubted she had eaten regularly since leaving the Woodland Realm.

Mirilas nodded to her servant and asked, "Would you please bring us something to eat?"

"Us?" the dragon asked, surprised that she would consider him so soon in their acquaintance. This might be easier than he thought.

"Unless you prefer to go hungry?" Mirilas asked.

Smaug chuckled. She had some cheek.

"Ah, what exactly do you eat?" Feren asked hesitantly.

"Meat. Raw," Smaug said bluntly.

"Of course, you do," Feren said in a surprisingly snarky tone (to his lady) as he exited the tent. Smaug was not surprised by the elf's behaviour. He doubted he had made any friends among the wood elves in his pursuit of their princess.

"Shall we begin?" Gandalf asked when all parties were seated. Thranduil and Bard sat on one side of the table as they had for previous negotiations with Thorin and Dain sitting opposite them. Gandalf situated himself at the head of the table, between the two groups in the hopes of acting as a mediator.

"Yes, Mithrandir," Thranduil said before looking to Thorin. "What would you have of me? How shall we make peace?"

"I have had word that your daughter has returned," Thorin said, the gleam of greed returning to his eyes. Thranduil's spine stiffened at this knowledge. He had meant to hide her from the dwarves for as long as possible. He should have known Thorin would find some way to ruin this plan.

"Yes. She returned with me," Gandalf confirmed. The Elf King shot him a look, but Gandalf knew that full disclosure was necessary to prevent war between their peoples. A lie at this stage could mean war.

"I would see her," Thorin said firmly. Since he had learnt of her arrival, her presence so near yet so very inaccessible had plagued his mind, feeding the insanity that brewed within him. He would not have her so very close when he could not see her.

"Absolutely not," Thranduil responded immediately. He was certain that Thorin only wanted to be near her so that he could take her and use her against him as he had undoubtedly meant to when he had taken her from the Woodland Realm. He would not put his daughter in such a position again, not when he could protect her.

"Might I see her, my Lord?" Bard asked, turning to the Elf King. He understood and fiercely supported keeping Thorin far from Mirilas after his behaviour in Lake Town, but he himself posed no threat to her, and he wanted to be sure she was recovering well from...whatever this Radagast had her doing. She had not looked well when she had arrived with Gandalf. Besides, he wanted to thank her in person for all she had done for his children.

"If he can see her, you will allow me to see her as well," Thorin said quickly and with rather childish reasoning, Thranduil observed. It sounded much like either of his children's reasoning when they were elflings and thought that one was being treated differently from the other. Of course, he could not simply tell them that one of them was the crown prince with the many expectations that entailed while the other was his precious, and powerful, little jewel. Just as he would not tell Thorin that the only way he would be having his daughter would be over his cold, lifeless body.

"I am not currently under threat of war with the people of Lake Town as I am with the dwarves of Erebor and of the Iron Hills," Thranduil said coldly.

"It would not be wise for her to reveal herself so close to the Mountain and to Smaug," Gandalf chimed in before Dain could intervene on Thorin's behalf.

Thranduil sucked in a quick breath. He had not yet told Gandalf of what had happened. He meant to, truly, but after these negotiations were over. Gandalf might know how to free her.

"Why should it matter if I see her? Who is to tell Smaug? And how dare you suggest that I would aid the wyrm that too my home?!" Thorin demanded. It was a fair point, but neither Thranduil nor Bard was willing to admit to such.

"Do ye really think we'd go traipsin' on down to tell the dragon about a little she-elf? And why would a dragon be interested in some pretty Elf King's daughter?" Dain asked, his voice higher than usual in indignation.

"I am sure that is not what Gandalf meant, my Lord," Bard defended quickly.

"Indeed. I meant to offense, Dain," Gandalf echoed.

"Then let the laddie see 'er!" Dain responded strongly, clapping Thorin on the back. "What would be the harm?"

"What indeed," Bard said worriedly.