A big thank you to everyone who is following this story! I had no idea that it would go all the way to 26! Anyways, thank you all! Review and Rate! Song; "May It Be": Celtic Woman
Chapter 26
"The King and the Versifier, Part 1"
Torshar fell to her knees beside Calyr as her tears cascaded in waterfalls while Legolas was handed Orchrist and Isenbold. He carefully inspected Orchrist first and spoke to himself, "These are ancient Elvish blades. Forged by my kin." He then turned his attention to Thorin and spoke Common Tongue, "Where did you get these?"
The Dwarf prince stood his ground, "They were given to us."
This answer did not seem to sit well with the Elf prince as he pointed the Goblin Cleaver at Thorin's throat in a threatening fashion, "Not just a thief, but a liar as well."
Looking up from the ground, the versifier pleaded, "Legolas, please! Return our weapons and we will be on our way! This is completely unnecessary!"
Before anyone could react, Legolas had turned and backhanded Torshar across the mouth, actually drawing blood from the cut it caused her lip, "You are not to speak to me with such familiarity, She-Dwarf! Take them to the palace!" The archer prince was lucky that Thorin had been shackled after being searched because if he was not, more than likely Elvish would have been spilt.
"Prince Legolas, what about the traitor?" the blond man pivoted and came back over to the healer's body, dismissed the others to follow the prisoners, stooped to one knee, and leaned over to whisper, "I hope wargs feast on your flesh, nice and slow…" and then slipped a piece of parchment into Calyr's tunic.
The group of Dwarves was soon led out of the denser side of the forest and into the deep, spacious halls of King Thranduil. Thorin and Torshar were separated led lead to the audience "chamber" while the others were thrown into cells beneath the palace. The shackles were removed from both Dwarves' wrists when they stood before the Elf king.
'Tall, elegant, pale yellow hair, and a huge ego…' were only some of the things that ran through Torshar's head as the king stepped down from his throne and approached the pair.
"Some may imagine that a noble quest is at hand. A quest to reclaim a homeland and slay a dragon. I myself suspect a more prosaic motive… Attempted burglary…" the king slowly walked around the pair and came to Thorin's left side where he bent at the waist to be eyelevel with him, "Or something of that ilk… You have found a way in. You seek that which would bestow upon you the right to rule. The King's Jewel, the Arkenstone… It is precious to you beyond measure."
"The king of Erebor needs no jewel to claim his rightful throne, Thranduil!" Torshar spoke up, causing the Elf to chuckle.
"There are gems in the Mountain that I too desire." Thranduil walked behind the minstrel and gently caressed her hair, making her tense, "White gems of pure starlight… I offer you my help." He stated simply, released the versifier, and moved to stand before them.
This made Thorin smirk slightly, "I am listening."
"I will let you and your men go… If you but return what is mine." The Dwarf prince pondered this as he faced away from the king and bard and stood near the edge of the staircase that lead down.
"You have my word. One king to another."
Shaking his head slightly, Thorin responded, "Would not trust Thranduil… The great king to honor his word should the end of all days be upon us!" He shouted so everyone listening could hear then turns to the Elven king, "You who lack all honor! 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 inferno that destroyed us! Reed-um rad ulzul!"
Thranduil was quick to get in Thorin's face and begin a rant of his own, "Do not talk to me of Dragon Fire! I know its wrath and ruin." His loss of control caused his disguise magic to falter and reveal the disfigured left side of the elegant king's face, "I have face the great serpents of the North! I warned your grandfather of what his greed would summon. But he would not listen… You are just like him."
With a dismissal wave of the king's hand, two guards grabbed Thorin and began to drag him away, "Stay here if you will and rot. A hundred years is a mere blink in the life of an Elf. I'm patient, I can wait."
Torshar tried to run after her love, but two more guards held her back, "THORIN!"
"TORSHAR!" the prince put up a valiant effort but is unsuccessful in escaping.
Thranduil smirked as he found himself alone with the She-Dwarf. Dismissing the guards as he approached Torshar, who had her back to him, the king gently laid his hands on her shoulders, "Now, we can talk privately, Lady Torshar."
"I have nothing to say to you, Thranduil." She spat and shrugged his hands off of her while wrapping her own arms around herself, "And I do not regret the last encounter between us."
Angered by her bold statement, the Elven king roughly grabbed her upper arm and spun her around to face him, "I gave you the most beautiful and precious gems in all of Middle-Earth as a sign of my love for you and you disregard them as if they were nothing but mere trash! How could you do something like that to me?!"
"I told you then as I am telling you now, I am not easily won by trinkets, Thranduil. You do not love me… You love the feeling my voice brings you since the death of your wife-" the versifier was quickly silenced by the Elf grabbing her by the throat.
"Do not speak of her! I warn you, Torshar… You are treading on very thin ice…" the angered king dropped her to the floor coughing just as his son enters the chamber, "Legolas, take our "guest" to her room and see to it that she stays there." He ordered.
The prince bowed, "Yes, father." He then went over to Torshar, gripped her by the arm, and hoisted her to her feet then lead her to a semi-lavish room.
It was familiar to the minstrel as she stepped in and the prince that was once her friend locked the door behind her. The bed was canopy style with sheer white curtains, a washroom to the left, a desk and wardrobe to the right. Torshar sighed in defeat as she sat on the edge of the bed, removed her boots and coat, then laid down thinking about how to escape… If there was a way.
Thranduil sat on his throne even after Torshar was lead away; the first time she visited the Greenwood flashing before his eyes.
The day was warm and sunny as the Elven king walked through the woods in brown leather boots, beige pants, and a white tunic; his crown left behind at the palace. As he ventured further away from the bustle of people getting ready for his son's birthday celebration, the more beautiful the forest seemed to become. The trees began to become more dense and the Elf found it a little more difficult to maneuver through the trunks. Suddenly, a soft sound peaked his Elf hearing… It sounded like singing although he couldn't tell for a fact because he was too far away from the source.
He decided to follow the melodious sound and came upon the river where he found, not only the source of the sound but who was making it. She wasn't very tall, had a bulky build, and had her hair divided into braids; Dwarf. The Elf turned to leave for her did not care if Dwarves travelled through but stopped when he heard a new song begin.
"May it be an evening star shines down upon you,
May it be as darkness falls your heart will be true,
You walk a lonely road, oh, how far you are from home,
Mornie utulie, believe and you will find your way,
Mornie utulie, a promise lives within you now,
May it be the shadows call, will fly away,
May it be your journey on to the light of day,
When the night is overcome, you may rise to find the sun,
Mornie utulie, believe and you will find your way,
Mornie utulie, a promise lives within you now,
A promimse lives withing you now…" she sang as she soaked her feet in the cooling waters. The Elven king was shocked that such a beautiful sound could come from anyone other than an Elf, much less a Dwarf. As the mysterious woman began to hum a new song, the king accidentally lost his footing on a couple of stones and quickly came face-to-face with an arrowhead as well as an angry looking Dwarf woman.
"Who are you?!" she demanded.
"I am unarmed… I was simply taking a stroll and happened to be passing by when I heard your exquisite voice."
A blush crept to her cheeks and Thranduil took notice of her eye color, "The color of starlight…" he mumbled to himself then shook his head, "Are you lost, my lady?"
Not lowering her weapon but backing up a couple of feet, the woman answered, "I am afraid that I am… Do you happen to know the direction to the Elven King Thranduil's palace? They seem to have changed the path once more…"
"I could lead you there if you wish." The disguised king offered.
Looking over the kind stranger and deciding that he was alright, the woman lowered her bow, quivered her arrow, walked over to her nearly forgotten boots, crossed the river to his side, then puts the boots on, "I would appreciate the assistance… I am Torshar of Whurrak; I am due to play at prince Legolas' birthday celebration."
'So she's the minstrel my son so desperately desired…' Thranduil thought to himself as he led the way back to the Woodland Palace.
Luckily the guards were still gone and the king was able to sneak Torshar in without being seen. They stood together in the front chamber for a few silent moments until the versifier spoke up, "Thank you for being my guide…"
A smile spread across his face as he answered, "Not a problem… Let me go let His Majesty know that you have arrived. Wait here." He ordered gently to which Torshar nodded in understanding. Then the king calmly walked into his throne room, closed the doors behind him, then speedily changed into his regal robes and placed his crown on his head.
"Send her in." he told the guard then slowly climbed up to his throne, where he gracefully sat. He did not have to wait long for the doors to open and in strolled in the minstrel behind the guard, "Welcome Lady Torshar of Whurrak. I was beginning to worry that you not attending my son's celebration."
The versifier curtsied respectfully, "I would never turn down such a gracious invitation, King Thranduil. It will be an honor."
Thranduil smiled as Legolas came in, "Legolas, my son, there is someone I would like you to meet…"
The archer looked up towards the king, "Yes, father?" when said Elf gestured to the She-Dwarf with moon white hair, his eyes widened in surprise, "Are you Lady Torshar?"
This made her smile and turn to face the Elf prince with a curtsy, "The one and only, Your Highness!"