A new chapter already, you say? Yes. Yes, indeed :D I'm sick and bored at home and am cheering myself up by updating this story :P
DwarvenWarrior: Squee, thanks! :D I'm really glad that you liked it! Ah, yes, Kili and Tauriel... I can tell you that Kili is not sure what to make of her and it will take a moment until he does :D But you'll discover all of that with the next few chapters :)
Sam0728: I'm glad you liked it! Well, you'll see in this chapter what Thranduil's first reaction to Tarya is, how the rest of the elves react will be discovered in the next few chapters :D
Akilah Swiftblade: After reading your review, I realized that I indeed cut the last chapter at a rather dramatic bum-bum-buuuuuumm-moment but that wasn't really intentional, it just fit best like that xD
sazza-da-vampire: Thank you! As you might have read in the first chapter, English is not my first language and I sometimes struggle a bit with my grammar and such. So, that might be the explanation for some unusual words like 'calmingly' - and I just got a thing for adverbs, really :D
Teshka: Haha, I'm glad to see you liked the last chapter :D Yeaah, I couldn't resist putting good old Leggy and good new Tauriel in, I hope you'll like how it turns out :D
13Nyx13: Hello! I'm really happy to hear you like the story! :) And that you like the slow burn and everything (I know that compared to other stories it's a very slow burn and I appreciate everyone who keeps patient with Kili and Tarya :D) You'll see what happens when they meet Thranduil in this chapter, so I hope you'll like it! :)
Thank you all for your reviews of course also to ZabuzasGirl, Borys68, Beloved Daughter, DJ Sparkles, kaia and FleurSuoh!
And to the people who follow and favorite this story, I really appreciate it!
Well, then, I'll leave you to it now! Leave me a review, you lovely people! :D
Tarya felt something warm touch her face and the darkness around her suddenly dissipated while at the same time her breathing became easier, almost as if a heavy rock had been lifted off her chest. She took a deep breath as her eyes slowly fluttered open, meeting the gaze of a pair of green eyes that she had never seen before. Tarya's brows drew together, her limbs still feeling heavy as she instinctively tried to scramble to her feet, shaking off the helping hand that this green-eyed she-elf before her was offering.
"Who are you?" Tarya asked suspiciously as her gaze flicked to another elf that was standing behind the one with the red hair. His hair was of a light blond colour and his blue eyes were observing her every move carefully, a sword held tightly in one hand.
"I'm the one who saved your life," the redhead grumbled, sending her a scrutinizing look. The elf's brows were furrowed as she observed her and as she moved closer, Tarya instinctively took a step back from the stranger, suddenly feeling like she was being backed into a corner. She looked around, her eyes widening as she became aware of her friends that were standing together with tied hands a few feet away, guarded by a group of elves.
"I'm Tauriel," the red-haired elf added, a bit friendlier this time, drawing Tarya's attention back to her for a moment before the Amarok's eyes flicked down to the rope in her hands. Tarya's eyes narrowed immediately. "And you would do better to come with us."
"You enchain my friends, threaten them with your weapons and expect me to come with you voluntarily?" Tarya asked with a huff, golden eyes wandering back up to meet the green ones of her counterpart. There was no way she would let any of these elves tie her up. She could feel anger rising within her at the mere thought, heating up her skin as the strength that she had been missing since the first spider attack was slowly coming back to her.
A low defensive growl left her throat when the blond elf behind Tauriel took a step closer, sword raised slightly, and she saw his brow furrow deeply at the animalistic sound just as she heard a very familiar voice call out to her.
"Tarya!" Kili called, moving so she could see him in the group of dwarves. Her gaze hesitantly left the blond elf and flicked to him. And by the way Kili was looking at her, she had no doubt that her eyes had already started to glow faintly with the fire that slumbered within her and was just waiting to break out.
"It's all right," her brunet friend added, voice soft but gaze urgent, as he held hers. "Calm down."
It took Tarya a moment before she clenched her teeth together in defeat, forcing the heat in her veins back down as she held his gaze. She couldn't pull a fight here, not on her own against a whole group of elves. And it would certainly do no good to expose herself like this in front of a group of strangers. Tarya felt her temperature slowly go back to normal and Kili slightly nodded at her as she reluctantly held out her hands to the red-haired elf that looked at her with silent curiosity before her expression changed into a neutral one as she tied her hands together.
"Thank you," Kili muttered then, causing both Amarok and Elf to look at him. Tarya watched as Tauriel nodded at her friend, a small, almost untraceable smile on the elf's face as she watched Kili for a moment. Tarya didn't quite know what Kili was thanking this elf for; she surely didn't see a reason for it. They were pointing their weapons at them, taking them as prisoners and he thanked her? Tarya huffed quietly as every fibre of the Amarok kept protesting against the bond Tauriel was putting on her. She had a small urge to transform, rip her bonds and sink her fangs into this redhead's neck but as it was, Tarya just took a deep breath as her daggers were taken from her before she was pushed towards her friends.
The Amarok came to walk near the end of the group, behind Bofur and before Kili as the elves ordered them to walk in a line.
Before her, Bofur shortly leaned back towards Thorin who was waiting to follow reluctantly.
"Where is Bilbo?" the dwarf with the funny hat asked his king in a quiet whisper and Tarya's eyes widened as she looked around searchingly, unable to find the small hobbit anywhere. This couldn't happen, she thought, they couldn't have lost him again. And they certainly couldn't just leave him on his own, wherever he was. But there was little she could do against that now. Tarya looked back to see Thorin observing the place they were about to leave with worried eyes before he was forced to turn away and follow the rest of them as the elves led them through the forest as if they knew exactly where they were going, which they probably did, Tarya thought. She shortly caught the dwarf-king's gaze as he fell in step at the end of the line, Thorin returning her worried look with one of his own.
It took a long while of marching through the forest until the trees around them slowly seemed to grow less dark. The forest started to lose its gloominess a little and soon, Tarya found herself walking along beautiful big trees, adorned with colourful autumn leaves. It was only a few moments later that the Amarok could see a long stone bridge appearing before them in the midst of the forest, leading over a strongly flowing river towards an archway of stone that was carved right into the wall of a great hill on the other side of the bridge.
No one had spoken since they had started walking, at least none of their company, and Tarya looked around as they were led over the bridge towards the large archway that awaited them on the other side, her wrists turning nervously in her bonds. A bad feeling filled her stomach and she shortly looked over her shoulder at Kili who raised his gaze from the floor when he noticed her staring, sending her a small comforting look as if to say that everything was going to be all right. But he had said that twice over the last two days and nothing had been all right. Everything had gone wrong.
Tarya hesitantly turned her head back forward as they passed the archway and two heavy double doors fell closed behind them with a very final sounding thud. The elves led them into a tremendous hall and along long stone trails that were carved to look like massive roots that led deep into the hill. It reminded Tarya strangely of Goblin Town, even if the bridges here did not go as deep into the earth as the goblins' and the air was much fresher. Water was flowing somewhere deep beneath them and Tarya risked a short glance over the edge of the bridge as they were led further into the palace of the Woodland Realm. They walked for a few minutes until they came to a set of stairs that led down to another level of the palace. Tarya saw Tauriel stop before a large stone double door that was flanked by two guards.
"Where are they taking us?" the Amarok whispered quietly to no one in particular as the heavy doors swung open but she didn't get an answer. And as they were forced to follow the red-haired she-elf into the next giant hall, Tarya didn't need an answer anymore, for on a platform on the other side of the room sat another elf with silvery blond hair causally on a large throne that was adorned with massive antlers out of wood. He wore a crown of red leaves and looked at them almost as if he was bored as they were led before him. Tarya felt slightly intimidated as they stopped before the throne. This elf left no doubt that he was a king, his composure throwing off arrogance more than anything and although Tarya immediately didn't like him, he was not the reason why the hairs on her neck were suddenly standing on end.
Her nose had suddenly caught a certain scent, one that she would recognize among thousands, although she couldn't quite believe her nose. The scent of wolf.
Kili came to a halt beside Tarya as they stopped before the king's throne, the elf looking down on them like they were the most boring people he'd ever seen. Kili noticed that Tarya's eyes were nervously darting over the room as if she was looking for something but the young dwarf didn't have a chance to ask her about it as a low female voice echoed through the hall.
"My king Thranduil," the elf named Tauriel spoke up from where she stood at the front of the group and Kili shortly turned his head to look at her, still not sure what to make of her. He didn't trust or like any of these elves but the redhead had helped Tarya, therefore there had to be something good about her. And he had to admit, although he didn't really fancy elf maidens himself, she did have a rather pretty face, even if at the moment it was set in an unreadable mask as she looked at her king. "These are the dwarves that were wandering our lands and attacking our people at their feast."
Kili's eyes widened slightly upon that statement before they narrowed angrily. Attacking their people? What in Mahal's name was that woman talking about?
"We have not attacked anyone," a deep voice rumbled through the hall then, causing all attention to fall on Thorin who was standing in the midst of his men, beside him Dwalin and Balin who were glaring up at the elves around them. Thranduil's eyes widened slightly as his gaze fell upon the dwarf-king who stood tall amongst the rest of the dwarves despite the fact that they were all exhausted and weary.
A heavy silence fell over the room as Thranduil slowly leant forward in his throne, piercing blue gaze falling heavily on the dark-haired dwarf before him. "Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror," the elven king muttered quietly, eyes now suddenly twinkling with interest as his gaze wandered over the company of dwarves. Kili almost instinctively took a small step to the side, hiding Tarya's slender form behind his muscular frame. Thranduil's gaze wandered over the young dwarf without seeing the small woman behind him before he looked back to Thorin who was observing the elf with a hard expression.
"Unbind them," Thranduil ordered and the guards quickly complied, untying the ropes that held the dwarves' hands together. "They need no rope in here. There is no escape from my magic doors for those who are once brought inside."
There was a short silence in the great hall as the companions rubbed their sore wrists. Kili felt Tarya peek over his shoulder and again, he wondered what she could possibly be looking for as he discretely reached one arm behind and gently pushed her back behind him, causing her to huff slightly at his back. But Kili didn't care whether she liked his treatment or not, he just wanted to keep her safe and near him, as far away from this elven king as possible.
"Why did you and your folk try to attack my people at their merrymaking?" King Thranduil asked then, sending the dwarf-king a grim look.
"We did not attack them," Thorin growled in reply. "We came to beg, because we were starving."
"What were you doing in the forest at all?"
"Looking for food and drink, because we were starving." Thorin answered again, angering the elven king a bit more with every word he said.
"Do not play games with me, dwarf," Thranduil hissed, eyes narrowing at Thorin before suddenly Balin raised his voice.
"What have we done, oh king?" the old dwarf called angrily, taking a few challenging steps forward. "Is it a crime to be lost in the forest, to be hungry and thirsty, to be trapped by spiders? Are the spiders your tame beasts or your pets, if killing them makes you angry?"
Thranduil glared down at the white-haired dwarf but before he could even open his mouth to answer, there suddenly was a loud, threatening snarl echoing through the hall. A few gazes flicked to Tarya who just shook her head slightly with wide eyes, gaze fixed on a spot behind the king's throne. From there, out of the shadows, came slowly walking a massive wolf with dark grey fur, fangs bared aggressively at the group standing before the throne. Balin stumbled two steps backwards as the wolf's gaze settled on him, the beast apparently angry that he had practically insulted the elven king.
"It is a crime to wander in my realm without leave," Thranduil answered in reply to Balin's words, his voice now dangerously calm again as he reached one hand out from the armrest of his throne to stroke lightly over the grey wolf's neck. The animal's dark golden eyes were still fixated on the white-haired dwarf as if he was prey about to bolt. "Do you forget that you were in my kingdom? Using the road that my people made? Did you not rouse the spiders with all your riot and clamour?"
The dwarves kept silent as Thranduil slowly stood up and slightly turned his back on them. As the elf's hand left the wolf's neck, the animal moved forward and swiftly down the three steps that separated the dwarves from the king, growling lowly and dangerously as it quickly stepped towards Balin whose eyes widened upon the animal's aggressive behaviour.
It was then that Kili suddenly felt Tarya step forward from behind him and quickly slip past him before he could hold her back. He could only watch as she swiftly moved forward between the companions until she arrived right behind Thorin and Balin.
"You will do no such thing!" she growled in reply to what could only be something that the wolf had 'said', gaze settled firmly on the large grey animal whose eyes darted towards her immediately upon her words.
Gold met gold as they held each other's gaze and Dwalin, who was standing beside Tarya now, tried to wrap his hand around the Amarok's arm to keep her from doing something stupid but she shook him off, jaw clenching as the wolf snarled dangerously at her.
Thorin shortly closed his eyes in defeat as a low inhuman growl rose from deep within Tarya's chest in response and she stepped protectively in front of Balin who exchanged a worried look with his king behind her back as he saw Thranduil's gaze resting on their female companion with barely concealed interest.
Tarya couldn't help the growl leaving her throat. It was pure instinct that caused her to protect her friends from her own kin; for there was no doubt that this massive grey wolf in front of her was an Amarok. The beast's golden eyes were fixated on her, though the anger in them had turned into slight confusion upon her animalistic snarl.
She stood tall as the wolf observed her before it slowly brought its head forward and sniffed lightly at her clothes. Just a moment later, it snarled in surprise before its eyes narrowed at her.
'You reek of dwarf!' the wolf grumbled condescendingly after a moment, as he took a few steps backwards to get a better look at her. She seemed to be a curiosity even to her own kin. Tarya just returned the male's hostile gaze, head held high as she answered.
"And you reek of elf," she growled lowly before she felt a strong hand wrap itself around her forearm. She looked to the side to meet Thorin's blue eyes that were sending her a warning look. The Amarok heard the grey wolf huff mockingly but before she could follow her instincts and make a challenging step forward, Thorin held her back without much effort.
"Tarya," he murmured quietly and as her gaze flew back to him upon the insistent sound of his voice, she suddenly realized that everyone in the room was observing their exchange. And as her gaze shortly flicked up to the elven king standing before his throne and looking down at her, she realized that she had just done something stupid.
The grey wolf was now suddenly absolutely quiet and looking at her with an unreadable expression in its dark golden eyes while Thranduil's gaze was resting heavily on her, curiosity clear to see in his icy blue eyes.
"It would appear you have a wolf in your company," the elven king spoke slowly, observing the whole group of dwarves attentively. Tarya stayed silent, knowing that she'd already done too much. "Though your appearance would not give it away," he continued, and Tarya returned his gaze with her own defiant one.
"An Amarok in human form," Thranduil mused quietly but still loud enough for them to hear. "A sight to behold, truly."
Tarya watched sceptically as the king turned his back on them again, her gaze shortly wandering over the grey wolf that was still standing before her, his eyes firmly fixed on her. She slightly raised her eyebrows at him, silently challenging but the only reaction she got from him was a slight twitch of his right ear. Eventually, Thranduil slowly turned back towards them, apparently having come to a conclusion.
"Where does your journey end?" the elven king asked calmly, gaze settling back on Thorin as his voice echoed loudly through the hall. "Do not think for one moment that I don't know where you are heading. You seek that which would bestow upon you the right to rule… The quest to reclaim a homeland, and slay a dragon."
Tarya saw as Thorin raised his head slightly upon his words out of the corner of her eyes, confirming the elf's thoughts. The dwarf-king kept silent as the elven king continued, though his grip on her arm hardened slightly upon Thranduil's next words.
"I offer you my help," the elf said, inclining his head slightly at the group. "Though I feel like you should compensate for the trouble you have caused. I am willing to forget your crimes against my people and the riot you have caused in my realm under two conditions." He made a short pause and his eyes wandered back to Tarya who felt highly uncomfortable under his intent gaze. He was looking at her as if she was a rare prize, a trophy he wanted for his own collection. And his next words confirmed her thoughts painfully.
"You shall be free to go if you grant me a part of the treasure that lies beneath the mountain… and if you leave her here."
"Tarya is not a prize you can claim," Thorin growled next to her in reply before she could answer herself and slightly pushed her back into the group. She glanced at the dwarf-king in surprise. "She is a free woman, a part of my company and I will not leave her or the treasures of my people to the hands of a greedy, cowardly king. I remember the fickleness of your help well enough not to trust it. Be assured that your help is not needed and certainly not wanted."
The grey wolf growled warningly upon Thorin's words but the dwarf-king stood tall in front of the animal and the elven king, gaze burning with anger.
"As you wish," Thranduil muttered dangerously after a few moments of silence. "Then you shall be kept in prison until you have learnt some sense and manners. It should only be a matter of time until you will realize the benefits of my offer. I can wait. A hundred years is a mere blink in the life of an elf. I am patient."
He shot Thorin a last glance before his gaze wandered over to Tauriel who was apparently head of the guards, Tarya only realized now. "Put them each in a separate cell. The Amarok will have a chamber of her own in my halls; Legolas will lead her there. And give them food and drink, so they don't starve."
Tarya's eyes widened as the king's words sank into her mind and before she could even react, Thranduil made a small sign towards the blond elf she'd already met before. Before she could do anything, she was gripped by the shoulder, pulled out of the circle of her companions and being led towards a door on the other side of the room, the dwarves protesting wildly behind her.
"No!" Tarya called out as she turned to look back, struggling against the hold on her shoulder as her friends were forced to follow Tauriel in the other direction, towards the dungeons no doubt, weapons pointed at each of them.
"No," she repeated in a whisper as she found Kili's gaze in the middle of the chaos, his eyes as wide as hers as they watched each other being led away.
It was just a moment later that her brunet friend slipped out of her sight and she was pushed forward, the door swinging closed behind her and the blond elf with an almost painful thud. Legolas held one of his swords in one hand as he looked down at her with a slight frown on his youthful face. But Tarya didn't notice, for her gaze was still set on the closed door that her friends had vanished behind.
"Come," Legolas said after a moment, gripping her by the shoulder again and forcing her to follow him as he led her down the corridors. Torches lit the way as Tarya followed reluctantly, every fibre of her being protesting against what was happening. It didn't take long until the blond elf opened a door to her right and held it open until Tarya stepped into the chamber that waited behind it. She turned around, seeing Legolas standing in the doorway and sending her a thoughtful look.
"Food and drink will be brought to you shortly," he muttered but Tarya didn't bother for an answer and just stared at him darkly until he slightly cleared his throat before he closed the door. The Amarok heard the click of the key as it was locked from outside.
For a moment, she just stood there, unable to believe what had happened, unable to believe that after everything she had been through on this adventure, it had now ended with her being captured and caged. Sure, this room was spacious and comfortable and brightly lit by torches but in the end, it was nothing more than a luxurious cage.
She had been caged, her friends had been taken away to Mahal knew where, chained and put into cells and all because of the greed and the arrogance of an elven king. And her own kin, a wolf of the Amarok, had been cowardly enough to let one of his own be locked in like a dog in a kennel.
And then, as all this realization made it into her conscious mind, Tarya felt her skin heat up like a flame and she clenched her eyes shut as a furious and desperate cry left her throat just at the moment that a strange pulsation went through her veins. Tarya almost didn't notice the sudden noise around her and only when she reopened her eyes, she saw that all around her, chairs that had been whole before were now lying in pieces on the floor, the table in the corner of the room and the bed had suffered the same fate while some of the torches had somehow gone out.
Tarya was confused, her breathing heavy as she looked around the room. It was obvious that this was her doing – or rather that of her desperation – but as it was, she couldn't bring herself to care. The door was still firmly closed and the walls as thick as they had been before her little slip-up and as long as it didn't help her to get out of here, this power – or whatever it was – was of no use to her.
She sighed deeply, letting her shoulders slump as she turned around in the mess she had involuntarily created before she slowly walked over to a dark corner, kicking the broken leg of a chair out of the way in the process. Tarya let herself slide down the wall, hugging her knees to her body and bedding her head in her hands as she came to sit in the shadows, surrounded by nothing but silence and chaos.