Title: TH Elvenking's Visitors
Chapter 3: Woods
Spoiler Alert: The Hobbit (books, maps and movies)
Warnings: Language, Sexual Situations, Violence, Blood.
Pairing: Thranduil/OC
Summary: Ship - Thranduil lost his wife years ago to war. After the death of the dragon, there is a group of humans who are causing problems. One sparks Thranduil's interest.
Alyssa strolled taking her time toward the cells. She had no idea that they made all the sets together and so elaborate. "What did that other assistant just tell you about me?"
Her Elven guards paused then one spoke. "Our King has added to his orders. We are to take you to the cells, but you will not be placed in one. He said to order you to stay with your people."
She blinked at him trying to remember what she heard the other one say to him. She though she heard him say to give her the order and that she would obey just as she had to all of the other orders.
What orders? Are they talking about a script? Oh that's right I'm Bilbo, so I can't go in the cells. Maybe the rumor about the water ride is correct. Perfect.
Alyssa strolled in. "Hey everyone. Remember you can't see me because I'm Bilbo."
Several nodded.
Alyssa looked at the guy who was going to play Thorin. She believed his name was Andrew. "Andrew right? Uhhh They didn't give you guys anything to change into?"
Andrew shook his head and stopped inspecting the back all of his cell. "No. I hoped they would. Steve…camera guy. Can you get all of us in the shot from across there?"
"Yeah man I'll work." He held out his cell and started moving it from side to side. "Hey Bilbo, when I say action, whisper to Andrew then go off that way and find the barrels. Put your hand out and I'll pass my cell to you, but don't let the camera on it see the pass off. Just keep filming, but if they come up turn it off so they don't catch you and take it."
The red head spoke up. "This is so much fun and very authentic."
Alyssa went to her cage. "I'm sorry. I don't remember your name."
"Krissy." She smiled while knocking on the wall looking for any panels. "I think this really is rock. Oh what ya need?"
"Can you pull your hair back for a close up? You're hair's lovely, but it might get in the way. I want to hold the camera up and get a close up of you as I pass. Is that ok?"
"Oh yes. That'll be great."
Steve held up his hand. "Action."
Alyssa whispered to Andrew pretending he was Thorin then crept past Steve, reached back taking the cell and pointed it at Krissy as she passed. She kept it pointed in front of her as she walked down the dark corridor.
She came to a fork in the corridor. She remembered a drawing she saw of the underground dwelling and knew she had to go straight because to go left took her to another cell. When she came to a seating area, she knew she was going the right way and was in the cellar.
She practically skipped to the end of the room and inspected the trap door believing there was a boat under it leading out the portcullis like some type of ride.
She kept the phone in one hand and pried at the wooden doors in the floor. She struggled with the heavy door and slipped. She fell forward and flipped inside.
Alyssa heard herself scream before she submerged in freezing water.
She thrashed as she breathed water into her lungs. She felt herself fall again and knew she was in the river. She rolled under the water as the burning in her lungs warned her how dire her circumstances where.
She thrashed trying to find something to grab onto. She managed to catch her hand on a branch and gain footing on a rock. She hoisted herself out of the water and fell onto her stomach spewing out river water and gasping for air.
"Oh my god." She spit out more water hearing her voice was more of a croak. She moved onto her side and continued coughing.
Alyssa looked up noticing the sun was going down and thought that was crazy because it was closer to three or four pm. She lifted her upper body trying to sit up and slumped feeling the burning in her sinuses and chest. She had no idea how long she was in the water, but looked at it now as if it were still trying to get her.
She heard rustling in the trees farther in the wooded area. She sighed with relief thinking that they knew of her mishap and were coming to find her. "It's ok! I'm over here. I'm alive."
She felt embarrassed about what happened and stood up on shaky legs. "I'm over here."
Between the trees in the distance, she saw movement.
Her heart that had finally slowed was speeding up again. It was not rescue party. Her body went cold as if the water that was dripping down her skin froze into ice. "A wolf?"
She tried not to move and hoped it didn't see or hear her. No such luck, it turned looking right at her and moved forward.
It was a massive grayish brown wolf with deadly fangs, and it was walking toward her.
Alyssa turned and ran in the opposite direction following the river. She was unable to think as sheer terror took over. Her body moved swiftly due to morning runs all through college, but she was not fast enough to outrun the beast.
She heard it getting closer. Snarling. Growling. Snapping its teeth.
She ran as fast as she could push her body, and never looked back. She was running from death itself and it was closing on her.
Alyssa found herself shrieking. "Help! Help me!"
Thranduil dispatched the last orc and wiped its vile blood off of his silver sword. "Last one."
Timilands strode up to him. "Did you get her out of your system?"
"Yes." He blanched and turned to his old friend. "What do you mean by her?"
He bowed. "My King, you are the one who said yes."
"Alright. I guess you are correct." He put his sword in its scabbard. "I do not know why she bewitches me so. I look at her and listen to her uncomprehending half of what she says, but I find myself wanting to know more. Wanting to experience her. I do not know how to stop myself."
He clasped the King's arm. "You loved her dearly. You know of whom I speak. And do not chop my head off for mentioning it. Someone needs to say this." He paused waiting to see if he would die. When he still breathed, he continued. "She would not want you alone and hurting. You feel guilt. Let it go. You drink till you can't see straight. A King should not be that way. If this human interests you, allow yourself companionship. Stop punishing yourself. There I said it. Kill me if you will."
Thranduil's anger deflated. "I do not know if I can."
"Kill me? I am certain that would be easy for you." He risked a smile.
Thranduil lowered his eyelids contemplating his comrade. "I am not very sociable anymore am I? It is alright, but I am also not use to dealing with women either. I never know what goes on inside their minds. This one least of all."
Both men turned at the same time. They heard running, growling and a scream for help.
Thranduil felt dizzy as memories flooded back. Wolves and his wife's dead body. He blinked and it was gone.
He sprinted into the woods with Timilands headed straight for the screams.
What he found was a wolf standing on a pile of large rocks snapping his snout between them trying to work its way down into the crevice.
Thranduil ran forward and yelled out at the beast. It turned and lunged for him.
He sliced its head off in one fluid stroke. He held still as the wolf's head rolled across the gowned slinging blood.
Fresh blood joined the partially dried orc blood on his attire. At the sound of a whimper from the rocks, he dropped his sword knowing that his friend would retrieve it.
For a moment, he thought he had saved his wife, but the face that peered up at him was not the same from his memory.
Green eyes stood out on a face that was as pale as death. He reached down for her, but she screamed and jerked back.
"The wolf is dead. We need to leave before the pack shows up. Alyssa, can you hear me?" Thranduil watched her eyes dart over all of the blood on him. He inspected her seeing that she was drenched. "How did you get out here?"
"I'm Bilbo. I'm Bilbo. There was no ride. I fell in. I…I almost drown then that thing. It's dead? You killed it?"
"I killed it." He saw her eyes darting around again as she hugged herself as best she could. He had no idea why she insisted she was the little Hobbit. But, he could tell she was freezing and shocked from the events. He pondered where she lived that she did not see death on a daily basis. "Give me your hand."
She did and let him help her out. She huddled on the ground rubbing her ankle. "It almost had me. I climbed into the rocks." Her wide eyes stared at the dead body.
Thranduil watched as she held her breath and her eyes stopped blinking. She was visibly trembling as she drew her legs up to her chest hugging them. "It almost got me. I was almost chewed to death. No not chewed. Shredded. It wanted to rip me apart."
Thranduil looked to his friend for help as to what he should do because Thranduil was mostly use to dealing with Elf soldiers not sheltered humans. When his comrade just shrugged, Thranduil took his shirt off and wrapped the warm material around her. "It is dirty, but mostly dry. I fear you are ill."
He watched as Alyssa's breathing returned to normal and she closed her eyes.
"We need to depart."
Alyssa opened her eyes hoping it was all a hallucination brought on by almost drowning. She looked forward and saw the headless wolf again. It was the most revolting and horrific thing she had ever seen. "That looks real and it smells real. Did you really just kill some mutant wolf and save me?"
Thranduil held his hand out to her again. "Yes. Now take my hand."
She inched her hand up and saw the thick material of the long sleeved shirt that was wrapped around her. Her eyes went wide again seeing the blood. She threw it off behind her then fell forward. She lifted her head to see that she was now closer to the dead beast.
She pushed back getting to her feet, and tried to control herself. She turned and slammed straight into Thranduil's bare chest. Her hands came up making contact with ridges of muscle.
She pushed back, but he grabbed her arms holding her in place.
Alyssa still felt fear and panic, but she stopped trying to pull away. He was warm and her mind kept telling her that he saved her. If it wasn't for him, she would be dead.
Thranduil turned his face toward the other Elf. "Your shirt is clean. Give it to me for her. She is very cold. Painfully so. I believe she is ill. Do we have anyone who knows of human illnesses?"
Timilands shook his head. "No, and it is getting dark."
"Then when she is safe inside the mountain, send for someone who does now. Send for two."
"I believe Lorien has a healer who has dealt with humans before."
"Very well, then send for the healer straight away upon our return." Thranduil felt better knowing that she would be looked over.
"This can't be." Alyssa lifted her hand up to his ear. She traced the edge along the point then down. She couldn't feel a difference in texture. She even scratched with her nails trying to peal the prosthetic ear tips off. "These aren't fake, and I don't see contacts in your eyes." She griped his hair at the roots and pulled. She pulled three times and parted his hair continuing to apply pressure.
Thranduil just stared at her showing no signs of pain.
"My god. You…you really are an Elf?" She spoke then watched him nod at her. She felt as if she had not just fallen into coldwater, but that she fell into Alice's rabbit hole. "You're an actual Elvenking and I just played with your hair like a primate digging for fleas. That's really some mutant wolf and we were inside a real mountain palace thing."
"No need to worship me as a god, but Thranduil will suffice. We need to leave. Are you able to walk or shall I carry you?" In the dimming light of the sunset, she mused his hair still shone like liquid gold.
"Carry me?" She had no idea why a real live Elf King would even talk to a human let alone carry one. She thought she should just be thankful that he didn't just let her die.
She felt herself lifted into the air by strong arms.
She grabbed onto him when he took off in a smooth steady run. His arms tightened, so that she didn't jostle around. She could still feel every point of contact where her body moved against his even with the new shirt on. She was still debating back and forth if this was real, but she continued to hold onto him just in case.
When they reached the gate, she expected him to put her down, but he strode right in with Elves watching him.
"This one got out. Make sure there are no more getting out." His voice was sharp and cutting.
She felt her eyes filling with tears. "You're not going to leave them in those cells are you?"
The haughty expression on his face hardened as if he became angry.
Alyssa realized yet again that she was talking to a King. He was not an elected politician, but a King. He was a man of absolute power. His every whim obeyed as he held the power of life and death over those on his land.
He ruled the land and what he said was law. There were no appeals. There were no police and judges. No attorneys to call for guidance and help. No news media was going to cover the incident and report if it was fair or not. She was in Middle Earth and at the mercy of an Elvenking who was not known for dealing kindly to intruders.
He peered down at her and she saw coldness in his blue eyes. Complete absence of compassion. Devoid of empathy. She never knew what the words 'terrible beauty' truly meant before this moment.
She took a deep breath truly believing he was going to drop her on the floor then chop her head off like he did with the wolf.
"Please." Her mouth hung open to speak, but no further words came out even though her lips moved like she was trying to form another word.
His eyes glazed over and his voice became a whisper. "She looked like that the day she found a young hart tangled in a briar patch." His head tipped to the side as if he were seeing it again. "She wanted me to help it. I shredded my arms getting that thing out of there alive." Be blinked a few times, and his eyes came back into focus.
He spoke louder where his men could hear. "Put them in one of the guest rooms, but make sure it is secured and guarded. When the healer gets here, send him to my chamber."
Alyssa took in a shuddering breath. "Thank you." She was thanking him for not killing her, but she didn't dare voice that because his expression was not so severe now.
He started walking and whispered to her again. "You should not thank me. You should be thanking her."
"Who?" Alyssa very minutely moved a finger feeling the silken perfection of his hair as she wondered if Elves could be bipolar and if she may have cracked and lost her mind. Another thought occurred to her…what if she had been in a car accident and was really dreaming in a coma?
Thranduil quickly strode up steps and shook his head no determined not to speak her name aloud.
A/N: :) Ok, that went a little different than what I planned. But I think that works. What do you think about this chapter?