Chapter 13: The Capture
In reaction to an earlier critique on this chapter, I will clarify here for future readers. Thranduil is here based on the actual novel, for those who have read it you will know he is far from the perfect elf. This is not based on the PJ version as we have seen very little of him (no movie 2 yet), so we can't form his character based on that yet. Thranduil lovers, hold your horses!
Things became quite bleak as the days moved on in Mirkwood. Their food began to dwindle dangerously low, and worst of all, their water was depleting fast. Gandalf had mentioned that the water of Mirkwood was definitely not for drinking, or one would slip into a deep sleep. It was a rather cruel work of magic on the part of the elves, as Mirkwood had many flowing, black streams.
Thorin's concern became focused on Lily, who was not only caring for her own well-being, but also that of their child. She needed more than the rest of them, but she always refused Thorin's offerings for more of his. The journey was hard without food, and especially so without water. The evidence of the journey could be seen by the pained looked on everyone's face, and the especially pale complexion on Lily.
"This madness cannot go on. We must find a safe source of water." Thorin said to the group, breathing heavily and hunching over slightly.
"We've not seen clear water since we entered the forest." Dwalin commented.
"There must be a stream somewhere, the elves must drink too." He said, trying to encourage the group onwards.
It was that night that things suddenly changed quickly. It had been well over two weeks now, and desperation was setting in. As the thick darkness closed in once again, the group noticed the blazing fires and music of the elves always off to the side of the paths, just in the distance. Rational thinking had left all but Lily and Bilbo.
"We must ask them for food!" Bombur said, running off the path into the woods.
"No! Bombur!" Thorin yelled, but it was too late. He ran after his comrade and was soon joined by the others. Lily and Bilbo hesitated, for they knew something was not right.
"Do not move from the path." Lily commanded, her breathing labored, and her skin more pale than ever.
Bilbo worried so deeply for her, he had promised to take care of her, but he could do nothing to ease her suffering. He cast his eyes forward, following her gaze into the darkness, but the fire light had gone, as did the music. Only the sounds of the dwarves cursing and searching for each other could be heard.
"Over here!" Lily yelled as loud as she could. It did not help. She made to step off the path when Bilbo stopped her.
"No. I will go. You stay on the path, do not follow! If we do not return, continue on. I'm sure the elves would not let a pregnant woman die on their lands." Bilbo said, squeezing her hand reassuringly.
With that, the little hobbit wondered off into the dark after his friends. Lily stood alone on the path, now in almost singular darkness. Her torch was flickering low, and the sounds of the forest soon came to her ears. She looked about her, suddenly quite frightened when her torch went out all together. Next thing she knew, her hands were grabbed and pulled behind her into a binding. She fought and screamed for release as best she could, but she was too weak to fight long.
She soon found herself being lifted and laid down onto something soft. Exhaustion and hunger made her fade from consciousness in a matter of seconds, all struggle leaving her.
When she awoke next, she found herself on a fine bed, with beautiful, soft sheets in a dimly lit room. The candles flickered gently about her on the wood carvings of the fixtures about her. She sat up and found her energy was returning. She noticed she had been cleaned, and her dress changed. She looked about her for any sign she might recognize, but she knew nothing other than that she was in the presence of elves, with such fine rooms.
She did not have to think on it long before the chamber door opened and a tall, elegant blond elf stepped in. His piercing eyes observed her keenly.
"Welcome, my lady of the house of Winters. We have long since had one of your kind within our borders." His voice said with a regal air. "Curious that we should find you in the company of dwarves. My name is Thranduil, I am lord of Mirkwood."
"Where are they? Are they alright? Where is Thorin, I must see him!" Lily demanded.
"Thorin Oakenshield... is currently indisposed." He said lazily.
"What does that mean?" Lily said, looking at the elf with wide eyes.
"It means you cannot see him at present." The elf lord said looking at her sharply. His cat-like movements carried him to her bedside where he seated himself beside her. His hand went forth without hesitation to her belly, which she noticed had grown quite large.
"It will not be long now." He said in a trailing voice. "Curious that such a noble house would choose to bare heirs with dwarves." He said, searching her face.
"What business is it of yours with whom I bare heirs?" Lily said in a low tone.
Thranduil met her gaze firmly before rising and walking about the room, he continued in his airy tone,
"You shall remain here until the child is born. It has been discussed among the high elves, and the journey into Erebor has not been seen fit for you." His eyes lazily traced over her form, "We will gladly keep you here and make sure you have every comfort until the birth." He said, slightly raising his tone towards the end.
"You cannot keep me anywhere!" Lily spat at the elf, "My house cannot be kept against its will! I know why you wish to keep me. It is to spite Thorin. You want to do him harm in the most maniacal way you know how. You will keep him from his queen and his heir!" Lily yelled at the elegant figure.
Thranduil did not respond to her accusations, rather, his cat-like eyes simply traced the edges of the room before settling on her once more. She shivered slightly from his piercing gaze. It seemed there was more behind his intent than she had first guessed.
"My lady, you misunderstand my intent. I wish not to spite the dwarf king. I merely wish to keep the presence of such a noble house within my borders for a while longer." He said in his airy tone, "It would be an honor to bring the next generation of the house of Winters into the world." He said, his eyes fixed on her belly.
Instinctively she moved a hand over her belly as she observed the elf. She suddenly felt like prey.
"Will you not join me for dinner?" He said with a gleam in his eye, "I will send a fine garment for you to wear."
Lily did not like the implication that he wanted her to dress for his pleasure.
"Where is Thorin?" She said again, much lower.
Thranduil's eyes snapped onto hers as he hissed, "In the prison where he belongs. If he has the nerve to trespass on my lands then he will be treated as the criminal he is!" He just as quickly composed himself once more into his cat-like stance.
"You knew we were here the whole time, did you not? Why did you not send aid? You knew we were starving and dying of thirst!" Lily yelled with a tone of disbelief.
"We knew the dwarves would succumb to their weakness soon enough and wonder from the path. It just took a little longer than expected." He said matter-of-factly.
"And what of me? You saw me all this time and did not think to offer aid?" Lily asked in a tone of discontent.
"We watched you closely, my lady, we would not have let anything happen to you. If your dwarf king had only left his stubbornness behind you might have been in Rivendell right now." Thranduil remarked.
"He did! He sent me away! I chose to come back to aid my lover, my king, my husband." Lily said, low and threateningly.
Thranduil stopped his pacing and looked at her in shock. She bore no shame at the thought of the dwarf king being her husband, and not at the thought of him being her lover. The idea did not seem to sit right with the elf lord as a slight look of disgust formed about his mouth. He soon settled his features back into their composed form before making for the chamber door.
"The dress will be sent shortly. I hope to see you at my table, my lady." He said, not turning to look at her before leaving the room.
Lily quickly rose out of bed, finding her belly more cumbersome than before. How long had she been there? In a moment a knock at the door informed her that she had a new visitor. Without waiting for an answer, a female elf came in with a deep crimson dress, much like her cape, and left it on the bed while standing back and waiting expectantly.
Lily looked at the dress and the waiting elf. She was a handmaid. Lily began to pull at the threads of the dress she had on before the elf woman came forward and pushed her hands aside. She swiftly undid and removed the dress with ease over the pregnant form. She then went to the bed and brought forth the crimson dress. She slipped it over Lily's head before tying it in the back. It was a beautiful gown, but Lily knew why she was to wear it. Thranduil was enticed by the house of Winters. It was a noble house, and it had married with elves before.
To Thranduil, Lily was a pretty thing to capture. He would wait until the heir of Durin was born before making a move of his own to claim heirs in her bloodline. What he would do to her child, she did not wish to think. She did not believe he would out-right kill it, for it would cause an all-out war with the dwarves, and she would never consent to taking him then. She realized that Thranduil was holding the quest in his hands. Lily was the only one that could make something happen.
She finally made up her mind. With a deep sigh, she followed the handmaid to the dining hall of the elf lord. As she entered into its wooden structure, all earth tones, she saw the elegant king sitting at the head of the table. No one else was there to dine. Lily knew it was because he had meant it that way. As she came near to the table he rose and directed her to a seat to his right. His cat-like eyes watched her sit down before he too took his seat.
"I'm so pleased you chose to join me." He said in his airy tone.
"I have come to propose a trade." Lily stated.
"Oh? What kind of trade might that be?" He asked in an intensely curious yet lazy tone, his eyes raking her figure.
"Myself for the freedom of the dwarves." She said, almost choking out the sentence, "You will free them and provide them with provisions and safe passage into the valley of The Lonely Mountain." She hurried on.
Thranduil made a low breathy laugh, "Indeed the lady of the house of Winters does make high demands." He lifted his knife and played with it between his fingers for a while, still staring at her with a look she could only describe as hunger before he spoke again,
"Very well," He said, leaning towards her, "But you may not see them when they part. You will stay with me until the birth of your child." He said, making his demands clear.
Lily shuddered under his direct gaze and merely nodded at the terms. She felt as though she had sold her soul to the devil, but she knew that if she did not, Thorin might well spend the rest of his days in a cell. She ate in silence before swiftly returning to her chamber, barring the door.
The very next day Thranduil kept his word and set the dwarves free. Thorin stood at the foot of the elf king's throne and demanded to know the whereabouts of Lily,
"Where is she?" He snarled at the elf.
He sat lazily upon his throne as he relished in answering the dwarf king's question,
"She is safe, within her chambers this very moment. She has stated that she wishes to stay here with me, and that you all must go on your way." A small smile peeked at the edges of his delicate lips, "Oh, but do not worry, she will be set on her way once her child is born, that is, if she still chooses to leave..." His eyes wondered down onto the fuming face of Thorin.
"What have you done to her?!" He roared. The elf merely laughed musically at the frustration of the dwarf.
"You should be given provisions and will be undisturbed on your journey out of my realm." Thranduil continued, "But do not think on returning for Lily." He warned.
"YOU CANNOT KEEP ME FROM HER!" Thorin bellowed at the elf, he then threw his head back and bellowed as loudly as he could, "LILY! LILY!"
Lily had not been in her chambers as Thranduil had thought, she stood around the corner listening to the elf king addressing Thorin. Her heart ached to run to her king, but she knew she could not break her promise. At the sound of Thorin bellowing her name, tears began to run down her cheeks. She could hear the elven guards rushing forwards to silence Thorin, at which point she could take it no more. She ran from behind the corner into sight, at which the elf king rose up, a look of anger on his face.
"STOP!" Lily yelled, her hands thrown forwards in protest.
"Lily!" Thorin said, his voice releasing all his emotions at once.
Lily ran to Thorin, despite the icy stares of the elf king and clung to him while weeping into his neck. His strong embrace was all she wanted to feel in that moment, but she pulled away slowly to speak to him,
"Thorin, my love, my king. You must leave." She said, as the tears flowed freely. Thranduil's expression changed to wry joy at her words, "I have agreed to stay behind with Thranduil, he is not keeping me here. It is for the sake of the baby. I will be safe here. He has assured me I can leave once the child is born, I will come to you then." She said, stroking his flushed cheeks.
"No, this is foul play." Thorin said in disbelief.
"No, it is not, it is my choice, my love." She said, smiling sadly at him, "Now go with the guard and get your supplies. Time will go so quickly, you will see, we will be joined soon, and we will then celebrate a child." She said in her best reassuring tone.
Thorin knew there was something afoot, but he could not grasp at it. He nodded in consent finally and led his men away, glancing over his shoulder at Lily again and again. He had no intention of leaving her in Thranduil's hands, but he would not let on of that just yet.
As Thorin rounded a corner and disappeared out of sight, Lily freely sobbed into her hands, her body shaking with the agony. She jumped slightly at the feeling of soft hands taking her shoulders.
"Well played, my lady, however, you did break a condition of mine." He said with a warning tone.
"I had to, he would not have gone otherwise." She stated, her body still shaking. Thranduil merely raised his regal head once more and looked down the hall the dwarves had gone, a small smile on his lips. He had plans for the noble lady, he would soon woo her into being a willing recipient of his affections, but he had plenty of time for that. For now, he had to comfort her, and help her forget about her king.