Chapter Twenty-Five
Riswynn found herself nodding off as the silence stretched on day after day. She wasn't sure how long she had been a prisoner in the elven kings' halls but judging by the growing knot of hunger in her belly she assumed it was far too long. She slowed her breathing and just listened, the footfalls of the elven soldiers that patrolled outside the cells, the subtle movements above her as the kingdom resumed its day-to-day activities, the curses spit from her companions' mouths, foul things spoken in Khuzdul that made her smirk. She cracked an eye as footsteps approached, the same ones that approached every day, the scent of stale bread hit her nose before the flowery scent of the elf male.
"Dinner is served" he sneered down at her as she sat on the cool stone flooring, his green eyes sparkled with hatred, she allowed her gaze to travel down his profile lazily, he wanted to taunt her get her to react with violence, just like all the rest before him. She despite what these elves thought was not a beast, although she was kept in a cage like one. The elf guard kicked her cells door roughly his face twisted with distain at her lack of reaction "Don't know why the king even bothers to feed you filthy dwarves" he growled taking the stale hunk of bread in his hand and crumbling it at the edge of her cell doors. She watched as the pieces hit the ground and bounced, collecting dirt from the elven boots that passed by, her eyes flickered to meet his, her golden gaze all the elves struggled to maintain, and she smirked huffing out a breath as he shucked in a shallow breath and looked away angrily.
"Filthy creature, Prince Legolas should have killed you in the forest where he found you lot" he hissed kicking at her provided meal taking the water also provided and pouring it onto the stone floor to join. She sighed and closed her eyes leaning her head back against the wall "Leave elf" she said with a grunt, she was tired, these days it always seemed she was tired. The elves for some odd reason liked to single her out, taunt her and withhold her rations.
Something wet splattered across her cheek and she hissed eyes going wide as she realized what just happened. Slowly her hand traveled to her face, swiping away the spittle generously provided by the guard. She could hear his taunting laughter as he came closer to inspect his handiwork, faster that he could fathom she was up and at his throat, her eyes burning with rage, a deep bloodied color. He yelped and tried to pull back, but she had him firmly by the throat her, fingers digging painfully into his tender flesh. She pulled back her lips to reveal a sinister smile "Simple elf, tsk, tsk, didn't your mother teach you to play nice with others" she cooed pulling him downward to glare into his eyes, she could feel his tremors as she applied more pressure, his face turning a lovely shade of red. He cough and sputtered hands seeking weapon, the movement drawing her eye and she laughed "E-kaadrâf mênu idbulul – I could kill you so easily" she tutted as his eyes went wider pupils dilating as she glared at him flexing her fingers, she released him with a rough shove smirking as he gulped in a lung full of air.
"You shall be punished" he wheezed holding his throat pointing a slender and delicate looking finger at her.
Riswynn only grunted in response slinking back down to the floor with a forced breath "Your presence is punishment enough" she said with a hint of venom in her tone.
She allowed her eyes to close as his footfalls retreated hastily down the winding corridor, she assumed more would come now that she had injured one of their own.
"Lass that wasn't wise" the patient voice of Balin echoed across the dungeon hall and she sighed pulling her knees to her chest, she turned her head and looked outward, picturing the frown on his face and the disappointment in his eyes.
"When have I ever done anything wise Master Balin?" she called back with a grunt, her voice holding none of its regular humor, the time for humor was gone, they were prisoners, and no one left these halls without the king's consent.
She allowed her eyes to travel to Thorin's cell, he had not returned, and she felt a strange sense of emptiness form in the pit of her stomach.
"Pst, here my lady" someone whispered shouted to her, and she watched with amusement as a piece of bread was tossed at her cell, she smiled with gratitude at the food offering, her stomach rumbling at the thought of something to line it. She stood and slowly approached the door sticking her hand through the iron bars she grabbed the food and brought it hungrily to her mouth, devouring it. She sighed "Thank you Ori, but please just call me Riswynn lad"
"How'd you know It was me?" came the weak reply and she chuckled shaking her golden tresses.
"Lad you are likely the only one here that would offer me your ration" she laughed "Besides I reckon I know your voice, thank you for keeping me fed"
"Do you know what's happening? Where is Thorin?" Ori asked, leaning against the bars of his cell, much to Dori's as he tried to pull the younger deeper into the cell.
Riswynn sighed "Nay lad, I know as much as the rest of ya, Thorin likely was summoned by Thranduil to speak"
"Aye lass, you'd be right, and I hope he uses common sense, don't anger the elf while we are all captive" Balin sighed looking out past the dungeons to the brighter lantern light.
She groaned and closed her eyes as several footsteps echoed toward her, the cool metal of her prison door chilling her flushed skin.
"You dwarf step back" an elf shouted, hand on the hilt of his weapon.
She opened her eyes slowly and looked up surprised to find several elven soldiers staring her down, all had the long white-blond hair so typical of elves, eyes the colour of the sea glared down at her, mouth pulled back into a sneer on his naked face. "What ye want?" she grumbled stepping back as instructed crossing her arms over her chest.
The elf leader grunted at her in disgust unlocking her cell and grabbing her roughly by the arm "The king has summoned you" he growled pulling her out of the confines of her cell.
"Where are you taking her?" she could hear Dwalin roaring in outrage as she was shoved forward, her bare feet slapping against the stone flooring.
A great rumbling sounded as her companions grew more agitated, screaming at the guards as she was led away, she watched in satisfaction as the elven soldiers grew more agitated as the sound rose to a great roar of outrage.
"Quiet all of you, or no rations for a week" the leader turned and screamed, his pale skin was bright red with anger, his eyes wide and a small trail of spittle clung to his lip. He smirked as the shouted ended and the halls were silent once again, he looked down at the little female dwarf and sneered at her, poking the end of his sword into her back, a sinister smile on his face as she sucked in a breath and shot him a dirty look over her shoulder.
Riswynn sighed, she wasn't sure why the king would summon her, she had never had the unfortune of actually meeting King Thranduil, but she had heard in her travels and from Thorin that he was especially pompous and easy to anger. She allowed her eyes to roam as the tip of the sword constantly poked into her back reminding her to keep moving, she supposed sight seeing the great elven keep was kept for guest and not prisoners. She watched as several elven females and their young spotted her, noses turned up, glares thrown her way, some slung curses at her and hissed like wild cats, while their spawn looked on in general curiosity. She drew in a breath and kept quiet, there was little sense in making a scene, Mahal only knew that she would be killed on the spot.
"Move dwarf" the elf growled behind her, and she rolled her eyes and looked over her shoulder, golden eyes glowing with anger "Me legs aren't as long as your spindly one's elf, can't move faster unless you mean to carry me" she sneered flashing her teeth in irritation.
The elf scoffed "I don't want to dirty this tunic with your filth"
She smirked enjoying getting under his skin, elves like this lot tended to anger easily and her presence was clearly testing their limited patience. Soon more footsteps greeted her ears and she looked up and ahead of her escort to see more elves on the march, ram rod straight they moved, quiet as if floating on the ground rather than walking, they were leading something, a shuffling of foot, heavy and sure footed unlike the elves, she glared hard, she knew that sound, and before long she could place the scent.
Thorin walked with a bord expression on his face, he knew he shouldn't have fought with Thranduil but there was something about that elf that angered him like no other. He knew Balin would be disappointed, he likely would have wanted a bargain struck between the two of them so they could leave the woodland realm. He grit his teeth, he would take no deal offered by an elf that lacked honor, his word was nothing and he knew as soon as Thranduil got what he wanted he would start to demand more and more of him and his people. He would not rule under anyone's thumb.
"Stand aside, prisoner coming through" he heard, and elf command and he looked up in curiosity watching as several elves moved gracefully past him, weapons at the ready as his one was pushed forward.
"What are you doing with her" he shouted angrily ceasing to walk, the elf behind him placing a hand on his shoulder roughly pushing him, but he stood firm and would not be moved. "Riswynn" he shouted getting her attention, golden eyes that burned like the sun connected with his own and he felt his heartbeat frantically.
"Move dwarf" the elf hissed brandishing a weapon to control the insubordinate prisoner.
Thorin grit his teeth and spun around trying to rush toward his one, Riswynn spotted the commotion and his struggles and faster than anyone could anticipate sped toward him. She collided with his guard and smashed her fist into his kneecap, sending the elf to the ground his hand automatically releasing Thorin. Hands grabbed at her and pulled her close, the scent of pine invaded her nostrils and she inhaled deeply, his warmth traveled through her and she wrapped her arms around his middle "Are you alright?" he asked softly loud enough for only her ears, she nodded and took a step back as the elves caught her, grabbing her roughly under the arms they drug her backwards and away.
"Try that again and I will kill you dwarf" her elven guard hissed at her fingers digging into her tender flesh and a sword pressed against her throat.
She flicked her golden eyes upward and smirked "Too slow, here I though elves light on their feet" she was backhanded across the face, her neck snapping to the side, and her lip smarting as blood trickled down her chin, but she only laughed her eyes never leaving the icy blues of Thorin even as he was drug away from her.
She was dumped rather unceremoniously at the foot of a rather handsome looking throne, her eyes adjusting to the new lighting she allowed them to roam freely settling on the amused face of the elven king. He was lean and tall, with a crown of vines delicately placed on his head, bright blue eyes and long blond hair, he looked rather boring in her opinion.
"Rise dwarf" Thranduil said watching her curiously, she wasn't what he expected of a female dwarf, she was rather lean with fine features rather than the stout and grotesque things he was used too. Hair the colour of spun gold decorated her head, with burning eyes to match, she stood and brushed herself off clearly unamused by the treatment his soldiers provided.
Riswynn met his eye and held it, refusing to bow or kneel, this might be a king of elves but he was nothing to her. She watched as his perfect brow rose and a ghost of smirk pass his face "It is customary to bow before a king dwarf"
She snorted unladylike and shrugged "Aye customary for elven people, not I King Thranduil"
He looked down at her and fought the urge to smirk, this one had a sharp tongue and if the reports from his soldiers told him anything "You've a sharp tongue on you dwarf, I've not come to argue but make you a proposition"
She crossed her arms over her chest and cocked her head to the side "Oh aye did you now, must be pretty desperate to make dealings with a lowly dam instead of Thorin"
He stood tall and regal and walked down the steps of his throne to look upon the female, her gaze was unwavering as he stalked closer, he leaned down and smirked at her "We both know you aren't a lowly dam are you"
She sighed and shook her head "I am a dwarrowdam, part of the company of Thorin Oakenshield and nothing more elf king"
Thranduil stood straight and walked around her "I will tell you what I want, and you will listen dwarf"
She chuckled without humor "Aye I reckon I don't have much choice, do I? these last few weeks all I can do is listen to you elves"
Thranduil frowned down at the little female "I have offered my aid to Oakenshield in exchange for gems held inside the mountain, they rightfully belong to me, and I will see them returned" he said voice taking on a firmer note.
Riswynn chewed her lip and sighed "He refused I take it"
Thranduil nodded "He is very unwise, I told him he can rot inside my dungeon unlike he changes his mind"
She cracked her aching neck and shoulders "Then you have your answer elf, what do you need me for?"
He smiled as he round on the dam "My guards have told me interesting things about how you two interact, you are his one are you not, convince him to take my offering of aid"
She laughed and shook her head, eyes flickering from golden hues to dark crimson "Oh poor elf king, I'm afraid I won't be doing such a thing, I will not side with you over Thorin or any dwarf for that matter"
Thranduil smirked "And what if I threaten death?"
She shrugged "I care little if I live or die elf"
He leaned in closer and looked her in the eye watching with fascination as hers swirled with the colours of fire and embers "I didn't mean your death dwarf"
She ground her teeth "Killing Thorin won't bring your gems inta yer hands elf"
He straightened and nodded his head "No it wont, but it would bring me joy to see that dwarfs head roll"
"I wouldn't say such things elf king" she growled out in a rage.
He turned and looked down his nose at her "And why not dwarf? What exactly are you going to do"?
She leveled him with a gaze full of hatred, eyes blazing, fingers flexing "Imrid amrâd ursul!"
He watched her rage consume her, and he found it humerous perhaps keeping them locked in the dungeon would provide him with entertainment for the next hundred years, he couldn't imagine what it would do to the pathetic little things having the one they loved within reach but unable to do anything about it. He flicked his eyes to his captain and dismissed the female "Take her away"
Riswynn growled out as hands grappled her again and pulled her away from the throne, her red eyes never leaving the light blues as the king smirked at her and sat himself down in his comfortable throne, her misery and discomfort his delight.