Elves become….somewhat easy to handle once you understand how they mentally function. Most of them are full of themselves, and very arrogant. It then becomes so very easy to manipulate them one way or another.

It has been about a week since I have been locked up here. The meals are adequate, enough to sustain me. I've had worst beds than the one I have now. All in all, I was doing pretty well. The elven king has not summoned me yet, which had me wonder. Either the maintenance of his kingdom is taking a little more time than initially thought, either he is meticulously planning out his next moves. He may be far older than I am, but a person with feelings, remains a person with feelings, no matter how old (though over time one may learn to handle himself better). Unlike other people who would have probably thought out a plan of escape during that time, I spent it daydreaming, and mentally wandering the halls of the Woodland King. The guards didn't talk to me. Though occasionally, I teased them about a little, and they would grow all the wearier of me. Occasional smirks ghosted upon my lips at their reactions.

But during my sleeps, the ice-shard eyes visited my dreams. Cold, penetrating, predatory, authoritarian. And sometime it went a little farther. His shape moved about me, and I could feel his long hair swing about in the cool air, and sometimes grazing my shoulders. He never spoke. He let his eyes do all the talking. I let myself bathe in his presence, knowing that would not happen in the real world.

One morning though, the door to my cell opened early, and two guards walked in. Well that's an original breakfast!

… At least one part of my brain is awake…. I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes quickly, and tried to stimulate my mental activity, so as not to be taken off guard. They didn't speak. One quickly learns to read another's eyes in this environment. "You guys came to have breakfast and tea with me?" I asked innocently. They eyed me with nothing more than irritation in their gaze. Bwahahahahaha! Got you! I thought. The one on the right side of the door came to stand by me, waiting expectantly for me to get up. I sighed audibly. "You guys are going to have to learn how to use those vocal cords of yours one day…". The one by the door remained impassive, but the one next to me narrowed his eyes in annoyance. He opened his mouth, about to talk when I interrupted him. "Don't bother. I know what you want. All right, let's go guys." I walked towards the cell door, anticipating that they would follow me. Of course they did, though they didn't seem too happy about me taking the lead. None of them dared to take me up on it.

Stuck up chickens… Although it was the first time I was out since that week, I moved down the halls like I'd known them all my life. Every inch, every corner, every turn had been memorized when I was brought here. If my guards were startled, they showed no sign of it. After a few sharp turns, and a couple of stairs, they took the lead, for I had not actually been where-ever they wanted to take me (I had only been to the throne room).

They took me further into the palace. So far in fact, the likes of which I could never have imagined. The place became spacious, tall, and with plainer decorations. There were less servants as well. One of his private studies perhaps…Does he wish to destabilize me with an environment I am unfamiliar with? Ha! The little smirk danced upon my lips.

The guards walked up to a grand door, and one knocked carefully. The sound echoed throughout the halls, leaving an ominous silence behind. A few seconds went by before I heard his deep, cool voice order us in. My heart couldn't help but clench at the sound. So smooth and fluid. Like water over polished stones.

One of the great doors swung towards me, allowing me a first peek inside. Great curtains fell to the floor in cascades of delicate pearl-grey. The side of a wooden table showed, the walls of delicate white, and the floor of dancing patterns of white marble and beige. I did not pass the thresh-hold until the guards cornered me through. Timidly, I stepped in. The door was closed behind me with a surprisingly small thud for its size. I looked about the new chamber. A balcony stood out to my left surrounded by heaps of trees. Elegant gold and wooded decorations danced about a desk, right in front of it. On my right, the table at its full size, surrounded by its chairs.

But no Thranduil. …..? I looked about again. He was nowhere to be seen. I frowned and stepped a little further into the room, throwing nervous glances here and there. That WAS his voice earlier….was it not?

"You seem a little lost. Or nervous perhaps." His voice went dancing through the air. I could feel the hidden satisfaction. Of my short stature, I straightened myself to my full height, head held high, and body de-contracting. I would not show any crack in my defenses.

His voice came from the balcony. I slowly turned about to face where it came from. The platform in question went further beyond the entrance point to it. And from the left corner, his shape came out. Were the white railing not there, it would appear that he was melting out of the trees. His integrally green tunic camouflaged him well. His starlight hair though shone at me with all it had, continued upwards by his spiky crown. And then, the doors to the soul.

My eyes fell upon his, and it took my full strength of will not to let out a sigh of admiration. Stature! Stature! He's just another guy! Focus! I mentally slapped myself.

He walked on silent feet towards me, slowly, elegantly, imposingly. I watched him come with what I hoped appeared as cold indifference. "It seems boredom got to you sooner than I thought." I intoned, "Your majesty" adding mockingly.

He kept his distances with what I said this time, and kept coming. Oh? Not bad…

What I did not expect though, was how close he would come to me… So close, I could almost feel his heat. So close, I had to look up to keep his gaze. So close, I thought he would figure out the puzzle of a defense I had made up for myself. Too close! Too close! But I could not back down. I could not break eye contact, nor take a step back. I had to find a way to turn this to my advantage.

So I made myself appear at ease. I took my time studying his face, like I was simply looking at the landscape. I took up a questioning glance and asked "why would someone as high seated as you, need a simple person like me?" to which I added a little knowing smile.

He narrowed his eyes at me. Ah? Did I catch something?

"What makes you think you are needed here?" he replied, tilting his head to the side. Never change your expression suddenly, for it means you were taken off guard. So mine did not change. The little smile remained, but underneath… Wham! Surprised you there, didn't he? You underestimated him far too much!

Thank you brain…I did not realize that! The next technique you can do, is imagine him asking the craziest question. Then the simple ones are never surprising. "Would you share a bed with me, love?" Oh yeah! That one would never come up!

"Then why do you keep me here? To decorate your poor dungeon walls? Or are you going to find some pitiful excuse to my presence here?" I, also tilted my head, in the same way as him.

First spark of irritation, found!

So…why DOES he keep me here? I mean, it's not like it was love at first sight!

Though it might've been for you!

Who asked for your opinion, smart-one?

His face, at first, ever so slightly tensed, was now relaxing. Uh Oh…

"You're…. interesting. A curious little being of which I wish to figure out its ways of functioning. A perfect little distraction from my days of work."