Chapter Twenty-Four

Riswynn could hear the soft pattering of feet in the treetops, so unlike the skittering sound the spiders made or the loud stomps of her fellow Dwarrow, no this was far stealthier. She ducked as another arrow was loosed toward her, flashing her teeth in irritation like a wild animal she scanned the aged and withered treetops, spotting a flash of golden and green and a head of blond, white hair.

"Eyes up" she shouted getting everyone's attention, pointing toward the tree line as a male elf made an elaborate showing, sliding down the webbing of a spider only to lad on its head and shoot it. He rolled and landed in front of Thorin, wielding a bow arrow knocked and ready to fire in between his eyes.

"Don't think I won't kill you dwarf, it would be my pleasure" the elf said venomously, his comrades who also appeared out of thin air smirked in agreeance. Riswynn grunted taking a deep breath her nimble fingers grabbing a dagger from her boot, she gripped the hilt painfully tight and let it sore through the air straight toward the elven male's head. In a blink her daggers were knocked from the air, the elf moving just as swiftly as she arrows colliding in a metallic twang, he looked surprised and she stood as tall as she was able, puffing herself up, red eyes gleaming in the semi darkness "Touch him and the next shall find your skull instead" she hissed, twirling another crude looking blade between her fingers.

The elf cocked his head looking at her curiously, eyes narrowed he flicked his chin and several elves pounced on her. She hit the ground with a thud, a blade against her throat and an elf above her, this one had hair the color of autumn leaves a lovely red hue so strange to see on an elf. She stared brazenly into his eye refusing to cower now that a blade was inches away from ending her life, she smirked in this position he left himself vulnerable to certain parts of the male anatomy, she raised her knee and smashed him hard between the legs. The elf gave a pathetic little squeak and rolled off her, she chuckled and rolled away almost getting to her feet when the blonde elf, who she assumed was the leader stepped above her, pointing an arrow at her face

"Do not move dwarf, or I shall put this arrow between your eyes" he said calmly, and she only batted her lashes at him and spit on him, earing a kick to the jaw.

"Don't touch her" Thorin growled out in outrage, two elves holding onto his arms to restrain him, he glared at the elven prince with hatred.

"So this creature is a female then" the elf mocked, kicking her in the ribs, his eyes on Thorin who was seething with rage. The elf turned and looked back down at the blonde dwarf female, who despite being beaten seemed only able to laugh at his attempts at injuring her.

Riswynn looked up at him and smiled, spitting out blood at his pristine boots "That all you got laddie?" she mocked, readying another insult when she was grabbed by the collar and hauled to her feet. She felt her toes dangle above the ground, the material of her tunic digging into her skin as it was pulled taunt, and she was brought closer to the elf male.

"Search them" the elf prince said over his shoulder dropping the female he shoved her roughly back into the formation of the group of dwarves. She didn't let her eyes leave his, and that sinister smile never left her mouth.

Riswynn grunted in frustration as a she elf approached her, she was tall like the rest with long red brown hair, it was fastened in the simplest of plaits behind her head, the rest allowed to flow down her back. She wore typical armor for an elf, leathers the color of moss, very boring in her opinion. She grit her teeth as the she elf searched her, prodding her sides she felt up her torso, removing her hidden daggers. She reached forward and grasped her head, pulling it toward her fingering through her thick locks

"By Mahal what are you doing?" Riswynn shrieked, her voice cracking as elven fingers touched her hair, pulling at the elaborating plaits, attempting to remove her beads.

The she elf let go and tilted her chin up "Can never be to careful dwarf, who knows what you hide in your locks" she said as she plucked her family bead from her hair.

Riswynn's eyes went wide as she watched the tiny little piece of iron move through the air and into the open palm of the female elf, her gut turning and her anger spiking "Give that back, that's private" she shrieked her voice oddly high pitched.

The she elf rose a brow "What importance does a little bead have dwarf that you would want it so"

Riswynn shook her head and blinked, a burning sensation traveling up the sides of her neck, she could feel the anger pooling in her belly, her eyes burning in rage "No business of an elf, its not a weapon, give it back"

The blonde elf leader approached them, near silent that she almost didn't hear him coming, she whipped her head to the side and glared at him with barely contained hatred. "What is the problem Tauriel?" the blonde elf asked the she elf.

Tauriel cupped her hand closed over the bead and shook her head "Nothing my lord, this dwarf is searched, she has no weapons"

"What are you doing to her" Thorin growled out, trying to look over the elven bodies to see Riswynn, she was distressed as an elf female was searching her, he watched in horror as the plaits in her hair were ruined and her beads taken, he clenched his teeth and shoved forward surprising the elf supposed to be searching him. He stomped toward his one and stepped up behind her to glare at the elven prince.

"What. Are. You. Doing. To. Her?" he ground out his patience wearing thin, he always knew the elves to be vile beings, but this was beyond what he expected, searched and restrained like a hoard of thieves to be paraded into the elven kings' halls.

"Whatever we please, what does it matter to you dwarf?" The elven prince smirked, looking down his nose at the stout little dwarf. His keen eyes picked up the gleam of metal on his hip and he reached forward removing the sword. He sucked in a breath as he looked it over, it was an elvish blade, light and masterfully crafted by his kin. He narrowed his eyes and sneered down at the dwarf "Where did you get this?" he seethed.

Thorin straightened himself up and glared back "It was given to me" he said plainly even as the blade was lowered toward his throat.

"Not only a thief but a liar as well" he growled out taking the blade for himself.

Riswynn could only glower in rage as the signal was given to bind their hands and march them toward what she assumed would be the halls of the elven king Thranduil. She was pushed roughly from behind, but thanks to her reflexes was able to stay upright, she could feel eyes on her back, her uncomfort increasing as the day waned on. They did not stop, nor did they slow to accommodate the Dwarrow's shorter legs as they walked the twisted pathways of Mirkwood. The closer they drew near to the palace the clearer things became, almost as if the elven magic kept this part of the forest lush and green, untainted by sickness. She allowed her crimson eyes to sweep over the passing landscape, taking in all the minute details just encase a situation arose that they could escape or unlikely were released.

They stopped at a large gate, delicately carved into a giant tree, ancient writings and runes etched into the bark, stone pillars and strange blue toned glass decorated the walkway. She kept her eyes forward, head held high as the gate swung open and allowed them entry. If she wasn't bound like an animal being herded forward towards her own demise, she might have taken a moment to appreciate the fine craftsmanship and the warm glow of candles scattered throughout. They were lead even downwards, a constant firm shoving kept them moving until they reached odd looking cells. Riswynn stopped and cocked her head at the strange sight, it hardly looked like a dungeon, but she assumed that indeed this is where they were being held.

"Get a move on dwarf" someone grunted behind her and shoved her forward; she stumbled a step into the tiny cell and turned to hiss out profanities at the elf when he held a handout waiting impatiently to remove her bindings. She allowed him to cut her free before the cell door was slammed in her face. She was given her own cell, but it was hardly big enough to be called that. It was stone floored and barren, the cool floor seeped into her sore bones, and she allowed herself to drop with a frustrated grunt. She watched as the others were shoved into their own cells, her crimson eyes tracking Thorin as he was placed in a cell slightly above her across a passage. He looked down at her and gave her a weak smile which she returned, before footsteps alerted her to a new presence. She blinked back her surprise to find the female elf Tauriel standing at her cell door, she was holding out something in her palm

"Here take it" she said softly and Riswynn cocked her head to the side and slowly approached the door eyeing her beads she snatched them away with a nod of thanks, turning her back she inhaled a shaky breath ignoring the female behind her.

Tauriel watched the dam with curious eyes, she had never seen a female dwarf in person before, they tended to be such a secretive people. She had shorter hair that she would have assumed, chopped to just below her shoulder blades, it was plaited with an expert hand, although the sight made her frown as she messed several of them up, she wasn't certain, but she vaguely remembered something of the importance of hair to the dwarves. She watched as the little female refastened them in her hair with a sigh of relief before she turned around, looking at her with not red glowing eyes but a rich golden color.

"I thank ye" Riswynn grunted as polite as she could, running her fingers gingerly over her plaits, she fixed them as best as she could, aware of the elf still staring at her.

"I didn't realize they were such an importance to you" Tauriel said softly.

"Aye" Riswynn said awkwardly not wanting to make further conversation with the elf maiden, she wasn't exactly comfortable conversing with elves and other females tended to avoid her.

"You have an expert hand to create such complex braids, I am sorry I ruined them" Tauriel said softly, looking down at the stout little female with pity.

Riswynn grunted and shook her head "I didn't do them lassie, don't have the patience for such things" she said with a small smirk raising the corner of her mouth.

Tauriel looked at her confused and Riswynn sighed "Look lass you didn't come here to speak of my hair, what is it you want?" she said with irritation.

"Nay she dwarf, I did not, my King has summoned one of you, I only stopped to return your belongings" she said turning on her heel to approach Thorin's cell.

Riswynn watched the she elf snap her fingers and two more elven soldiers fall in line, weapons held at the ready behind her as she opened his cell gate and instructed him to follow her. She looked up and gave him a subtle nod as his icy blue eyes connected with hers.

…

Thorin was led toward the throne room, where an elegant and pompous elf king sat perched on his throne. He was stopped at the base of the throne, as the elf king Thranduil stood up and walked down the steps his eyes focused on him. He could feel his irritation rise as he was stalked like a prey animal, as Thranduil looked down at him like filth beneath his feet and he couldn't help but return the facial expression. He remembered the elf king from the days of old, such a pretentious creature, it seemed time did nothing to soften his blackened heart.

"I have heard rumors" he said slowly as he circled him, hands held behind his back his long white, blond hair flowing down his shoulders he stopped and looked over at Thorin with a small smirk "Some say a noble quest is at hand, a quest to reclaim a homeland and slay a dragon" he said his smirk growing at the discomfort on Thorin's face. Thranduil walked toward his throne standing before the dwarf "I myself suspect a more prosaic motive, attempted burglary or something of that ilk, you have found a way in, you seek that which would bestow you the right to rule, the kings jewel, the Arkenstone" he smiled as Thorin looked away "It is precious to you beyond measure, I understand that, there are gems too in the mountain that I too desire, white gems of pure starlight, I offer you my help" he said trying to appear humble.

Thorin grunted, he remembered the selfishness of this elven king, he did not lift a finger to help his people when the dragon attacked and destroyed his homeland, when they were starving, he only cared for his own. He knew the gems he desired, but he would not be bought when Thranduil could not be trusted "I am listening" he smirked looking at the delight wash over the elven king's face.

Thranduil smiled "I will let you go, if you but return what is mine"

Thorin nodded and turned his back on him to look out onto his kingdom "A favor for a favor" he said as Thranduil nodded behind him "You have my word, from one King to another"

Thorin clenched his teeth in anger "I would not trust Thranduil, the great king to honor his word, should the end of all days be upon us, you lack all honor" he roared turning around to point at the elven king "I have seen how you treat your friends, we came to you once, starving, homeless, seeking your help, but you turned your back, you turned away from the suffering of my people and the infernal that destroyed us"

Thranduil sprang forward nose to nose with Thorin, his eyes ablaze with anger "Do not talk to me of dragon fire, I know its wrath and ruin, I have faced the great serpents of the north" he hissed taking a step back his calm composure returning "I warned your grandfather of what his greed would summon, but he would not listen, you are just like him, stay here if you will and rot, a hundred years are but a blink to an elf" he shouted as Thorin was hauled away by two elven guards still within ear shot.

"Bring me the female I will have words with her, see if one dwarf can see reason" Thranduil stated a sinister smile on his face as Thorin reacted thrashing at the guards "Leave her" he roared in anger as the elven king only smiled as he was pulled away.