Gladiator Ch. 3
(Eventual Thorin/Ren)
A knock at the door caused the King to take a final sip from his goblet before he placed it on the table. Adjusting his tunic, he also glanced in the mirror for a moment, making sure his crown sat straight on his head.
"Enter."
The entrance to his chambers was opened by Dwalin himself who stepped inside but he was quickly followed by the Slaver and, just as anticipated, the female elf.
She paused in the doorway and Dwalin gave her a gentle nudge on her back with his large hand and she moved forward but too slowly for the likes of her Master. The greasy man yanked hard on the chain when he realized that she had slowed.
Stumbling forward slightly, she momentarily shut her eyes in pain but nonetheless followed until she came up to stand just behind him.
Upon seeing the true state of what she was in, Thorin frowned slightly, taking note that she was still covered in the dark Warg's blood. It was thick but had since dried, staining her armor an ugly color and it even went as far as to cover her right eye before staining part of her braided hair.
"You didn't even have time to wash her?" He growled, reaching for his cup of wine and taking another long drink.
"We had to get the others sorted and put away. Then, we had to check to make sure we had all our weapons, so no, my lord, we didn't have time to wash her up." Borgil bowed his head slightly, his eyes shown with a hint of anger though. "And besides, I thought you only wished to speak to her."
"Indeed, I did." He murmured, turning back to look at them. "I simply wished to ask if she was well but I wished to do so without having my chambers smelling like dead dog."
Turning back to look at the Slavemaster, the King took another swig from his cup before looking at his servant who stood quietly off to the side of the room. "Anuon, go get your sisters and have them bring in some buckets of water."
"Yes, your highness." He bowed and immediately turned to leave through the large chamber doors.
He returned a minute later with two other female elves behind him, both brunettes like the male servant. In their hands, they each carried a heavy bucket of water.
"Take her to the bath in the other room." He waved them away and Anuon nodded his head before stepping forward to take hold of the chain.
Borgil sent the servant a glare but nonetheless released the ring at the end of the chain. Murmuring a few quiet words in elvish, he gestured wordlessly to the entrance to the other room.
The fighter looked at him for a long moment before she moved with him, the two other girls just behind them. She allowed her eyes to flicker from Borgil to the King before they disappeared into the alcove where the dwarf lord's personal bath was.
"The interesting thing about water that has come from within the mountain..." Just as he was saying this, there was an audible shocked cry, one that caused Thorin to smirk slightly. "... is that it's freezing cold." A chuckle escaped his lips as he took another sip from his cup. "And evidently they didn't warm it at all."
The four elves returned only a few short moments later, Ren now cleaner than she was before. Her hair was damp and stringy. The black blood had dripped back down and most of it was cleared but there were still dark parts splattering her body. The charcoal had managed to somehow stay around her eyes but was also slightly running.
But what amused the King the most was the fact of how she was shivering so intensely, all the while glaring at him. She looked like a drowned rat to say the least but it nonetheless made his smirk widen, seeing the once mighty gladiator reduced to nothing but a stringy haired slave.
Anuon walked back over and handed the silver ring to the Slaver.
"As I was saying before, I wished to ask if she was well... especially after the last battle." Thorin surmised as he poured more wine into his cup.
"She's fine, better than fine, actually." Borgil spoke up for her then and the female's eyes flashed to him accusingly, a bright hate shinning in her irises again as she stood there shivering. He just smirked and took a step forward so that he could clap the female soundly on the shoulder. "For it seems as though our good old Ren her doesn't feel pain."
"Only the cold evidently." The dwarf lord took another sip from his cup. "And when I said I wished to speak with her, I meant that she would be the one speaking." He growled lowly into his cup as he glared back at the slaver before directly meeting Ren's sharp eyes. "Now, I will ask again and I expect a proper answer... Are you well?"
Borgil turned back and spoke elvish to her to translate but took note that she was glaring at the King, her sapphire irises alight as she looked at him. He gave a harsh yank on her chain to break her line of sight.
She didn't answer and instead kept her eyes on the dwarf. The Slaver barked the words at her again, this time louder before he gave another tug, causing the collar to dig into her skin.
It was then that she answered though it was short-winded and quiet.
Once she was finished, Borgil turned back around and looked at the dwarf lord. "She says that she is fine and she herself wonders if you enjoyed her performance."
Thorin just looked at the man for a long moment, the frown still upon his face but as he allowed his eyes to move back to the female. He gave her an ever so slight quirk of his lips and a small nod.
"Indeed. It was very exciting." Though she could not understand, he spoke as if speaking directly to her. "I find that the way you fight is very enticing to watch." The Slavemaster explained to her what he had said but she did not reply, instead choosing to look at the King instead. It was quiet in the room for a moment just then and the dwarf lord glanced back at the long table in his chambers, remembering what was had been placed there upon his order. "Would you care for something to eat?"
The man murmured to her and she glanced at him, something glinting dangerously in her eyes.
Furrowing her brow softly, she spoke back to him in rapid elvish and, judging by the soft tones from what he had heard before of the language, Thorin believed that the way she spoke now was rather angry. It had been a long phrase as well, longer than a simple 'yes' or 'no'.
The Slaver only turned to look at her for a long moment, a deep frown on his features before he gave another harsh yank on the chain. "She says that she is not hungry, my lord."
Narrowing his eyes on the man slightly, the dwarf felt as though something were amiss with the way that Borgil translated her words.
"Dwalin." He called for the large warrior who stepped forward from his place beside the door. Carefully brushing passed the female, he reached out and took the ring from the Slaver.
Meanwhile, the King shrugged out of his thick mantel and draped it across the back of his chair before striding across the room and removing the crown from his head. He placed it into the special pillowed box that sat upon a vanity near the long mirror.
"Oi!" The man growled and reached for the ring, only to be sent a dangerous glare by the dwarf as he held it out of his reach. The male only gave another quiet noise of protest but with one glare from Dwalin and he was silenced.
"You may go now, Slavemaster." Thorin murmured, shutting the box and turning back to look at the other three. "She will be returned to you shortly but I just wish to... talk to her a little longer."
"Yes, my lord." He murmured, eyeing Dwalin and his champion before he turned and backed out of the room but paused a long moment. "Need I remind you, my lord. She is wild and should not be underestimated so easily. She is not like the other slaves." And with those words, he closed the door behind him.
It was quiet in the room for a long moment after the man left, the large warrior glaring after the greasy man. The dwarf only turned away from the large fireplace where he had been staring into to look at the female who still stood so quietly in the middle of his chambers.
Her eyes, however, had been on him the entire time.
With his cup still in hand, the King slowly made his way around the table until he stood before her. Much to his amazement, he found that she was not as tall as he first imagined and the top of her head was only a few inches above his own.
Holding his hand out, Dwalin placed the silver ring into his lord's palm without a word.
"You do not feel pain, then?" Thorin murmured, partly to himself but it was also partly directed at the female. He gave her a once over, taking note that she was still shivering but she remained resolute even then. "Anuon." He called suddenly, his own personal servant snapping to attention. He stepped away from where he had been by the wall, awaiting his Master's orders after he had taken care of the female. The brunet elf took a few steps forward and had his hands clasped behind his back.
"Yes, your highness?"
"You speak your native tongue, correct?"
"Yes, your highness."
"Would you please translate my words into elvish. For you see, she does not understand the common tongue and I wish to converse with her." The elf only bobbed his head in answer and came closer. "You must speak exactly what she says, even if it is a bit... rude. Do you understand?"
"Yes, your highness."
"Good."
With his goblet still held in one hand and the handle of the chain in the other, he gave a gentle tug on it, one that was not so harsh but was enough to silently ask her to move forward for him.
She resisted for a moment, not sure what was happening but Dwalin intervened.
"Go on, lassie." The large warrior gave her another gentle nudge. She glanced back at him for a moment, uncertainty shinning in her eyes before she did move forward.
Pulling out a chair at the large table, the bigger dwarf motioned for her to sit and she did as she was asked.
"Look at you…" Thorin murmured quietly, mostly to himself as he gazed over her stoic features, the ring of the chain held in his hand as he himself sunk down into his seat. "You are not so wild."
"You think it's just a show?" Dwalin murmured as he stood behind her chair, his arms crossed over his chest. He wanted to stick close to the king, just incase the little elf did try something.
"I don't know anymore…" The other dwarf breathed, taking note of the fire that was still alight in her eyes as she continued to look at him. "Why are you not wild now?" He asked her.
His servant quickly translated his question, looking to the blonde female for an answer. She only sat quietly, having heard the answer but failing to respond to the King.
Looking to his servant, the elf only raised a brow and slightly shrugged his shoulders. "Repeat the question."
Doing as he was told, Anuon spoke in elvish to her again, speaking at a slower rate than he had before. Again, she did not respond and only chose to sit silently in her seat, her cold gaze locked on that of the dwarf before her.
"Not much of a talker, are you?" A snort of amusement came from his nose as he leaned back in his seat. His servant translated anyway, given that that was what he was requested to do.
"That about kills your plan to 'talk to her a little while longer'." Dwalin mocked him, still watching their exchange.
Thorin just smirked up at him from his seat, a teasing glint entering into his pale blue irises. "Is that a hint of sass that I detect, Dwalin?"
"No, your majesty." He smirked right back, his tone moving up a few octaves to once again mock. "I wouldn't dare tease the King of Erebor lest I feel his cruel and unyielding wrath." The big dwarf just glanced back at the female, nudging the back of her chair with his elbow. "Oi, speak to your King when he asks you a question."
Even then, she still remained quiet and Thorin was beginning to tire of this little game of silence.
Yanking hard on the ring in his hand, the blonde was dragged from her chair and he continued to pull on the chain hand over hand, forcing her towards him the entire time. He only stopped pulling until she was nearly in his lap, her bounds hands having braced themselves on the cushion between the gap his thighs made.
They were very close to the crest of his trousers and the dwarf was aware of this, for he glanced down and smirked slightly when he looked back up at her.
Again, she just glared up at him with those defiant eyes but they were in fact narrowed slightly, for she was fighting against the collar around her neck, wanting to stay away from the dwarf king.
Simply holding her there, Thorin allowed his eyes to fall away from her own and let them trace along every curve and contour of her body. Despite that she was still covered with a bit of blood, he had to appreciate her form. She was toned and had muscle definition but also looked slightly gaunt, depending on one's own personal opinion, and as she stood above him slightly, he watched as her stomach flexed as she breathed. That was when he noticed something else.
"It's a shame you won't talk to me." He murmured, looking back up into her face and he reached out, allowing his fingers to trace up her arm. Her skin prickled beneath his touch and he swore he felt her shudder but it could just be that she was still shivering from the cold water. "But perhaps another night... Tomorrow in fact?" Anuon translated the King's words, the dwarf waiting the entire time. Again, the female failed to respond. "And, how do I know that you'll be returning then?" He surmised though he didn't expect a reply. Instead, he just reached out with his free hand and placed it upon what appeared to be clean flesh in the lighting but he could tell that a bruise was forming.
He dug his thumb into the darkening flesh and allowed his eyes to flicker back up to her face, wanting to gauge her reaction. She slowly closed her eyes and a quiet but shaky exhale escaped through her nose. Yet, she did not move as if to prove the point that Borgil had stated. The King's grip on her side remained strong and the dwarf just continued to watch her, testing her.
"You took a hard tumble today, little slave." He released the pressure he was putting on the center of the bruise and watched as she released a breathe that she had been holding. Instead, he just lightly ran his rough thumb over the darkening skin. "Which means that you'll no doubt be put on rest for a day or two." As he explained, she allowed her eyes to slowly open again, still filled with that burning hate. "Your Master will readily bring you to me again, pet." He told her, a dark look entering into his eyes as a smirk pulled at his lips. "For I am the one that continues to pay him and he will bring me what and whom I want."
At hearing what Anuon had said, if possible, those hateful irises became only harder.
"So, consider next time who it is you are trying to please. For I feel as though if you speak next time, this will be less painful for you." He sneered, holding the ring up and Dwalin got the silent message. The large dwarf stepped forward and took it from him.
As soon as the chain went slack, the slave moved away from the King.
"Now, go get some rest. I expect another fight from you after your side heals a bit." He told her before allowing his eyes to drift to Dwalin. "Take her back to the Slaver." Thorin waved them away and the warrior led her away, not even having to tug on the chain to get her to move.
It was almost like she wanted to get away from him.
Anuon moved forward and opened the door, allowing the two of them to pass through. The King only watched her go, his head tilted slightly, causing his dark hair to spill over his shoulder.
She was intriguing, he had to admit. A challenge that he would very much enjoy solving. The little slave had walls built up around her, strong walls that it seemed as though only pain could break through.
Thorin wasn't entirely sure how he would do it but he knew that he would enjoy breaking her and those walls.
And just as he predicted, she was brought to his chambers again, Dwalin having brought her in due to the fact that Borgil had refused the request. That was when the King insisted.
She was dressed in the same clothes as before; the leather breastplate, trousers, and strange ripped skirt. She had also been washed, he noticed, and her skin was clear of the dark substance from her previous fight.
Ren had not fought on that night with the rest of her comrades for the Slaver was a smart one and saw her side after her washing. So, he had decided to give her a night to rest yet here she was, standing before the dwarf lord again.
Dwalin hadn't even knocked as he entered into the room, instead choosing to push open the larger doors.
The slave followed right behind him and as they entered into the chamber, she found that it was lighter than last time, the candles in the wrought-iron chandelier above having been lit.
Multiple voices could be heard in the room and as she peered around the large warrior, she found that the King was not alone. Instead, he was accompanied an older dwarf with snow white hair and two younger ones, a blond and a brunet who's hair matched the shade of the leader of Erebor.
As they walked further into the room, the chain around her neck jangled and all heads turned in their direction.
She found that her eyes moved to the dwarf lord first who stared back at her with almost a smug look on his face. Then her eyes flickered to the two younger dwarves who had since grown quiet and were watching her intently.
"Here you are, the little fighter, like you asked." Dwalin murmured as he stopped just before the dark haired dwarf and held the silver ring out.
Thorin took it with a nod of his head and put the parchment he had in his hand down on the long table beside him. The two younger dwarves just continued to stare at her, a nervous glint in their eyes.
"So..." Balin murmured, eyeing her as well. "This is Ren."
"The Not-So-Mighty Champion." The dwarf lord murmured with a smirk on his lips, pulling her closer with the chain so that they could properly see her. "Pretty tame when she doesn't have a weapon in her hand." He looked her up and down, taking note of her clothes. "Though she's wearing the same clothes as the night before. You'd think that they'd have the courtesy to have her change when meeting with the King."
"It's so strange..." Kili murmured, taking a step toward her. "To see her up close like this."
"Careful, Kili." His blond brother commanded, grabbing his sibling by his bicep to keep him back. "She's a slave and a fighter. You know what she's capable of."
"Yeah but I mean... She doesn't look like she would hurt us now." He surmised, taking another step forward until he was standing right in front of her. He just looked at her for a long moment before he gave her a slight quirk of his lips, his dark eyes shinning with innocence as well as curiosity.
And the younger prince swore he saw that hardness in her eyes lessen for a half a moment as she looked back at him before it returned immediately.
He suddenly got an idea and he scrunched up his face for a moment, digging into the very recesses of his memory. "Hello." The younger dwarf said and much to his surprise, one of her brows suddenly twitched in interest. "My name is Kili." The hatred lessened once again and feeling his nervousness dissipate, he slowly extended his hand towards her.
"I am Ren." She replied quietly, causing all the dwarves' mouthes to fall open in shock. Kili just glanced back at the others, a wide, disbelieving grin on his face. She looked down at the hand extended towards her before reaching both her hands towards him, given that they were shackled. The slave only got halfway before the dark haired dwarf took her hand into his own.
He was still grinning like mad before he released her hand.
"I didn't know you spoke elvish, Kili." Thorin mused, taking a step forward so that he stood beside his nephew.
"Only a few words. Just what little Haldir has taught me." The King watched her as the younger dwarf spoke. He swore he saw a strange spark in her eyes for a moment before the same hardness was replaced.
"Can you go get him?" He asked, causing the prince to look at him.
"Why?"
"So that he can translate for us."
"Can't Anuon do it?"
"He's busy running errands for me. He won't be back until later."
"Very well. I'll see if I can find him." Kili murmured before turning to leave the large chambers out the doors. The dwarvish prince returned a few minutes later and as he opened the door, a tall blond elf stepped in behind him.
Ren felt her eyes widen with disbelief.
"I found him!" The dwarf replied with a huge grin on his face as he sauntered back into the room.
"Greetings, my lords." The slave bowed to the King and his blond nephew. "I understand that you need me to speak with another one of my kind?"
"Yes, she doesn't speak the Common Tongue." He gestured to the lone lady in the room and it was for long moment that the elf just stared at her, his cheeks paling slightly. But, he suddenly remembered his place so he clenched his jaw and straightened his back out.
"Indeed, your highness?" Haldir asked quietly, his eyes flickering between the King and the slave. He took note of all the restraints upon her person, as well as the leather armor she wore. "Ah... So, she's one of the gladiators you've been hosting?"
"Their champion, actually." Thorin replied, pulling lightly on her chain so that the moved back to the dinning table so that they could sit again like they had the night before. "I trust that your side is feeling better?" The room was quiet for a moment and the dwarf turned back to look at the male elf who failed to translate but then understood the message.
"I apologize, my lord." He bowed his head before translating the words he had already spoken.
For a long moment, the female failed to respond just as she had done the previous night. But then Haldir spoke to her again, nudging her with his elbow before murmuring something else, his eyes narrowing slightly before he jerked his head in the direction of the dwarves watching them.
The she-elf only looked back at him for a moment as she spoke to him, her brow furrowing deeply as she did so. She spoke rapidly and the male elf replied back just as quickly as she had before he sent a harsh glare her way, causing all four dwarves present to look between them with curiosity.
"What did she say?" Thorin asked finally, breaking their rapid banter.
Haldir just froze for a moment before looking back to her. "She said that after resting it, she does indeed feel a bit better though it is a bit achy even now."
"It's a shame to hear that... You will still be fighting tomorrow night, though, yes?"
The male elf finished with the phrase before looking back at her. Ren looked at him for a long moment before muttering only a few words. "She said, 'Yes, I suppose so'."
"Very good. The shows aren't nearly as entertaining without you at the reins." Again, the slave translated, causing the female to scowl at the ground, an almost sarcastic look entering into her eyes.
She then spoke in elvish, the words unintelligible to the other members of the room. Haldir just looked at her for a long moment before he reached out and smacked her upside the head, causing the female to jump slightly but she nonetheless sat quiet.
"What did she say?" Thorin was smiling now, finding their interaction to be immensely amusing.
"Just a bunch of rubbish. I don't think you want to hear it, my lord." He glanced sideways at the elleth, his nose wrinkling slightly in annoyance. "I think her brain still may be a little mixed after the fall she took last night."
At hearing what the servant had to say, the dwarf lord watched her for a moment and felt his lips curl up slightly as he watched her give a hard glare to the elf at her side.
"Do you think she could just be daft?"
"It is possible, my lord, but I truly only think that she is just very stubborn. Perhaps it would be best to just not bother with this old, hard-headed one."
"No, the headstrong ones are the most fun." The King interjected as he relaxed back in his chair, the grin still upon his face. "The most challenging and... entertaining if you will. At least she is speaking this time though, last night she didn't mutter a single word." He had been looking at her the entire time, his eyes narrowing when she began to glare at him. "But, tell me, little slave. Does your Master ever sell any of his slaves?"
Haldir translated and the she-elf didn't reply, instead choosing to narrow her own eyes at the question.
"I'd ask Dain, Uncle." Fili suddenly interjected, stepping forward when he saw that the two of them were having what appeared to be a glare-off. "He seems to be in deep with the Slaver, I only imagine he'd know."
The dwarf lord only hummed in response, stroking his beard in thought. "Will all of you excuse us please? I wish to speak with her privately. Haldir, you may stay."
"But-" Kili began but was cut short.
"It's getting late as it is." The blond brother clapped his sibling on the shoulder, not wanting to anger their uncle. "We should probably turn in for the night. We have a lot of work to do tomorrow."
The younger dwarf sighed, his shoulders slumping. "You're right. I have to go inspect the armory tomorrow and the Gods only know how long that will take." The two younger dwarves moved to the grand doors.
"Goodnight, Uncle." They replied in unison.
"Goodnight, nephews." The King replied with a softened smile upon his face. "Sleep well." The door closed behind them and it was quiet for a long moment before Balin himself sighed.
"Aye. The lads are right, the hour is growing late." The white haired dwarf pushed off the table where he had been leaning and shuffled to the entrance. When he got the door open, he paused to turn back and look at his friend. "I'll see you in the morning, Thorin."
The dwarf lord only nodded his head and gave him a small wave before he too was gone. Turning his head, he looked to Dwalin who had been silent nearly the entire time he had been there.
"What?" He grumbled slightly. "You want me to leave, too?"
"You will need to return her to the Slaver after I'm done with her." The King murmured and his companion only nodded his head in understanding before crossing his thick arms over his chest. Turning back to the female before him, he smirked slightly, allowing the silver ring to rest upon his knee while his hands steepled together before him. "So... Ren." He said her name, one his brows raising in interest. "Are you actually going to speak to me tonight or must we have a repeat of our last encounter?"
"Why would I wish to speak..." She began and Haldir translated for her, trying his best to listen to what she had to say while talking. However, the next half of her sentence was spoken in harsher tones and she leaned forward in her seat, the blaze in her eyes roaring to life once more.
Both the dwarves were a bit taken aback by her sudden outburst but no one was so startled as the elven servant was. His cheeks only paled as he looked between her and the king.
"What did she say?" Thorin asked, another smirk pulling at his lips as he took in the horrified look upon the brunet's face.
"My lord, I don't think-"
"Go ahead and say what she said. You will not be accountable if she says something rude, I promise you."
"Very well..." He cleared his throat before swallowing nervously. Thorin looked back to Ren, meeting her fiery gaze and imagining that the words were spoken by her own lips. "She said, 'Why would I wish to speak to the moron of a tyrant who is the very reason why I am here in chains and shackles.'"
Dwalin couldn't help but chuckle loudly upon hearing what she had to say. The King himself felt an amused smirk pull at his lips though he managed to remain more composed then his old friend behind her. But, he felt pride swell in his chest to know that she was at least speaking to him.
"Oh, she's a spitfire, this one!" The large warrior continued to chuckle as he gripped the back of her chair. Haldir just stood nervously off to the side.
"I would imagine so, what with the glares that I'm always on the receiving end of." He leaned back in his seat once again, just looking at her. "This could turn out to be more exciting than expected."
"Perhaps it is also not an act after all." Dwalin mused, finally sobering enough. He placed his large hand on the back of her chair, eager to hear more of the rude and vile things she had to say to the dwarf lord. "Perhaps the Slaver was telling the truth about the muzzle as well..."
"What have I done to anger you?" Thorin asked her, ignoring his friend's little jest. "I'm curious as to what I've done to cause you to hate me so...?"
"Do not think so highly of yourself that my hate is saved only for you." The large dwarf behind her snorted again at the insult but otherwise remained quiet as the male elf continued to translate. "I despise all the men, dwarves, orcs, and goblins in the world. In my eyes, you are all not worth my time or effort."
"And yet..." He gave her a crooked smile, twisting slightly so that he leaned more heavily upon his left elbow. "Here you are."
"I obviously am not here because I want to be." She growled quietly, her fists clenching in her lap. "If it were my own choice, I would be walking free instead of sitting here before you with a collar and chain around my throat. It is because I am forced to be here." Rolling her blue eyes, she crossed one leg over another and a sigh came from her nose. "Again, don't think yourself so lucky to have me performing for you."
"I would instead think that you are the one who is lucky to perform for me." The King just gave a small turn of his head as he smirked. "If it weren't for Dain, you would still be performing for a handful of drunken men and starving more than you already are. If that's anything to go by how gaunt you are..." He nodded at her stomach, lazily gesturing at her and he took note that the bruise on her side was now green and yellow. "Your ribs are sticking out." She said nothing, instead choosing to glare at him. "But, by the way your Master and his men dress, I would say that there is plenty of gold to be shared. Plus, those knives you use are worth more than a pretty penny yet he can't have a sword sharpened-"
"You think they bought those elven knives?." She spoke and Haldir quickly translated, interrupting the King who just stopped and looked at her for a long moment, a dangerous glint entering into his eyes. Then, without warning, he yanked hard on the chain he still lazily held in his hand.
This jerked the female forward and Thorin picked up on the slack between them and also leaned forward so that there were only a few inches between their noses. He allowed his eyes to briefly flicker across what was left uncovered of her face.
"It would be in your favor to not interrupt your King." He growled lowly, tilting his head to the side.
"You are not my Master." She spat at him, her eyes like blue flames as they glared back at him. She pulled back slightly on the collar yet the dwarf's grip remained the same. "You are not my King."
Smack.
The sound moved quickly through the once quiet room as her head snapped sharply to the side. She would have fallen from her chair if it wasn't for the arms on the sides to steady her.
There was a sharp sting that burned against her cheek and her eye began to water slightly. Her face remained mostly blank, save for her nose wrinkling and her brow creasing deeply. And yet, she did not show him pain.
After a moment, however, the bite on her flesh dulled and she was able to open her right eye, the one left undamaged.
"It would be in your favor to learn your proper place, slave." He growled, lowering his hand after having backhanded her. Flexing his own hand out, he had to admit that it had hurt him slightly but for a moment, he was silently admiring her luck. For the jeweled ring upon his hand would have surely torn open her cheek if it weren't for the leather muzzle. "Being a gladiator champion has given you the mindset that you are above us." He reached out and cupped her chin, turning her back to fully face him. "What if I told your Master about your disobedience?"
Haldir slowly translated the words for the King, not liking how he was speaking to the female elf and how he was treating her. He did not enjoy what was taking place before him.
Gazing at the dwarf for a long moment, the elf slowly closed her eyes and lowered her head in what Thorin only assumed was defeat.
"You would be punished, wouldn't you?" He rumbled, his temper still flaring. "No doubt have your food taken away and water dumped onto the ground before you. And it would be days before you had a chance to eat again." He narrowed his eyes slightly, having bared witness to a couple happenings when slaves had misbehaved. He had only ever seen it, for he had never had to punish his own slaves and even if they did, on one odd occurrence, act out, he would only verbally chastise them. He never physically depraved them or harmed them. "Even a few beatings, I would imagine. No doubt by the end of the night you would be wishing you were dead. So, will you actually behave or shall I report this defiance to your Master?"
It was quiet in the room for a long beat, the female still having her head bowed. Her eyes, however, were half idled and out of focus as she sat slumped slightly in her chair.
"But... I am a kind, generous King... and I will not tell him." As he said this and Haldir translated it, Ren slowly looked up at him. "And I would not see one of my prospective slaves starve." And yet, the hopeful glint in her eye disappeared. This still caused Thorin to smile slightly. "That's right, pet. If you continued to impress me and my nephews, you may permanently live within Erebor and serve your King."
She only lowered her head, a deeply concerned, if not thoughtful look in her eyes.
"Alright, Dwalin. You may take her back." The King held the silver ring out and the larger warrior stepped forward and took it from him. The female slowly rose from her seat and wordlessly followed behind the other male. "I look forward to our next talk, little one." Haldir muttered these words and when they reached the door, she glanced back at the King.
There was a strange furrow in her brow but then, she gave a slow, small nod of her head. The door shut behind her and Dwalin.
"You may return to attending to Kili." The dwarf told the blond elf who only nodded his head and left swiftly. Worry was evident in his eyes and yet the dwarf lord did not see it.
For he was too busy smirking as he shifted in his grand seat, his mind only consumed with the next chance he would get to see her. Yes, next time most definitely would be an interesting one and would change the way that he viewed the fiery warrior.
Hey guys.
Been waiting awhile to put this one out! Had it mostly done a couple days ago but just finished editing.
Saw BOTFA last night and I kinda wanted to publish this in hopes of taking my mind of the pain that has permanently grated down part of my soul. Didn't get much sleep last night and when I would wake up, I would remember the movie and the pain would be renewed.
Anyway, I thought it was brilliant. If you haven't seen it yet, go do it. Just be prepared for immense feels and take a lot of tissues.
Don't know when I'm going to be able to update To Your Mark, given that I have to wait a while for the movie to come out on DVD or on iTunes so that I can get my plot down exactly like I want it.
I can't wait though and I have parts already plotted out. Other parts... are more blurry. Probably with my own tears.
But, I'm gonna let you guys go now.
Leave a review if you have an AU you want to see. I've got a couple more that I need to get done, including the second part of the Bard/Ren AU. I also had someone else review and they said they wanted to see Ren interacting with Quwen from my Lord of the Rings story (Don't read it, it sucks and I'm in the process of rewriting).
Since I have also done a lot of editing of my earlier chapters of TYM, I did add Quwen in there. She was in fact, Fili's love interest and Ren did watch over her for the time that they were together. But, if you would like more of them together, just say so.
Anyway, gotta go guys but I hope you enjoyed! You know what to do! Read and review!
Love,
Blue