Chapter 22

Legolas was quick to escort Annelise down to the dungeons at her request, and left her at the entrance to them. He simply said, "Wait here for a moment," before disappearing around the corner. It was not long before he returned though, with Tauriel following behind him.

"My father will not be pleased if he hears that you were down here. Tauriel has just begun her rotation and instructed the other guards to patrol a different area of the dungeons, so that you can speak with your companions. I'm afraid that you will not have very long to talk with them."

"A little time is better than no time at all," Annelise responded sadly, and Legolas signalled her to follow him.

"I will give you as much time as I can," Tauriel said from her place next to Annelise.

"Thank you," Annelise said, and Tauriel nodded before turning and walking down a different path within the dungeons.

"Try to be quiet. I will come and get you when it is time to leave," Legolas said, gesturing to a cell a few feet ahead to her left. He looked down at Annelise for a moment, as if hesitant to leave her, before turning and walking back the way that they had came.

Annelise watched Legolas walk away for a moment, then walked toward the cell that he had indicated.

"Father?," she whispered, instantly answered with the sound of cloth shuffling and suddenly her father stood before her, hands gripping the bars between them tightly.

"Annelise!," he answered and she quickly shushed him in order to avoid discovery.

"Are you alright?," she then asked, tears coming to her eyes at the sight of her father helpless behind bars.

"That is a question I should be asking of you. The last time I saw you, you were unconscious in the arms of that pointy-eared prince."

"I am fine. My wounds have been taken care of and no longer trouble me."

"That is the only good thing about being trapped here. I know you will be well taken care of, at least," he said, glancing back into the cell he was currently locked in, grateful that his daughter was not receiving the same treatment.

"I tried speaking with the King, but nothing I say will make him change his mind. I can only speak to you now because Legolas snuck me in. I'm so sorry father," she said, looking down at her feet in sadness.

Thorin reached his hand out between the bars of his cell door and grabbed her hand, squeezing it tightly.

"It is not your fault, dear one. If there was some way that you could get us out, I know you would have already done it. Please be careful, though. I will not have you joining us in one of these cells."

"I will be careful, Father. How are the others?," she asked, glancing around her at the other cell doors.

She saw Dwalin's face peeking out from the cell just passed her father's and tried to send him an encouraging smile, though it came out more like a grimace. He inclined his head in acknowledgement all the same. She continued to move her gaze, and saw the faces of her cousins and the rest of her companions in the cells surrounding her.

"As well as can be expected, given the circumstances," he responded roughly.

"Is there anything I can do?," she asked desperately, feeling completely helpless at the sight of the strongest men she knew trapped behind the metal doors.

"Where is Bilbo?," she asked suddenly before her father could answer her previous question.

"I do not know," Thorin answered sadly. "He was not with us when the elves captured us. I am afraid something has happened to him."

"Oh Bilbo," Annelise said quietly, fearing for her friend.

"Annelise, it is time to go."

Annelise was pulled from her worried thoughts about Bilbo by the sound of Legolas' voice, and she turned to see him standing behind her once again.

"She can leave when she decides she wants to leave," her father said angrily to the elf standing near his daughter.

"Father, please-"

"If the King finds out that she was here, he could very likely have her join you in one of these cells. We need to leave now while the guards are still distracted," Legolas answered calmly, although Annelise could see that his jaw was very tense, as if trying to restrain himself from reacting in anger.

"He wouldn't dare," Thorin growled at the threat.

"You know the King well enough to know what I say is true," Legolas responded simply, resting a hand softly on Annelise's shoulder. "I do not like dwarves, and normally would not care what my father chooses. However, you being locked in here upsets Annelise, and that is not worth whatever grudge my people hold with yours. If there was something I could say to change the King's mind, I would. But I cannot and for that I am sorry."

Thorin seemed shocked at the words of the Prince, and could do little more than nod his head in acknowledgment of the elf's words.

"She will be well taken care of?," he asked instead, though it sounded more like a threat than a question.

"You have my word," Legolas answered seriously and Annelise could see in his eyes that he meant it.

Thorin seemed to see it too, as he simply said, "Very well," before turning his eyes back to Annelise.

"Will you be able to come again?," he questioned, looking up at her sadly.

Annelise looked up at Legolas, and the elf answered for her.

"I will try to arrange another time," he promised and Annelise turned back to her father and knelt down in front of him.

"I love you, Addâd," she whimpered, tears springing back into her eyes as she reached her hand through the bars and placed it on his cheek. He reached through the cell as well and returned the gesture. He then pulled her toward him and rested their foreheads together between the bars.

"I love you, mytreasure," Thorin responded, kissing her forehead gently. When he moved away, Legolas reached down and helped Annelise stand.

"See you soon," Annelise said quickly, waving her hand slightly before following after Legolas.

They turned a corner and were met by Tauriel standing guard at the entrance to the dungeons.

"I tried to give you as much time as possible, but you must hurry. The others guards will be coming by at any moment."

"Thank you, Tauriel," Annelise managed to say before Legolas steered her out of the dungeons and back toward her rooms.

They walked together in silence, Legolas seeming to know that Annelise did not want to talk. However as they approached the hallway that branched off to the Royal wing, he spoke up.

"Would you come with me to my study? I know you are tired, but I would really like to know what happened after your last visit here. I have already arranged to have some tea brought, if you'd like," he said hopefully.

Annelise was starting to get tired and really did not want to talk after seeing her father, but she knew that Legolas deserved to know what had happened 22 years ago.

"Very well," she responded and Legolas began to walk a little quicker, eager to get to his study and finally get the answers to his questions.

"I promise to try not to keep you long so that you can rest before the feast this evening," the elf said as he opened a door to Annelise's right before letting her walk in before him.

She was greeted with a room that she easily recognised as his study from the time that she had spent in there as a child playing with him. Although there were some small differences, the room had not changed much.

On the right side of the room was a large wooden desk with shelves full of books lining the wall behind it. There was a large cushioned chair behind it, where Annelise recalled curling up in the young prince's lap many afternoons to nap while he worked on paperwork from his father.

There were two chairs in front of the desk, and on the other side of the room was a sitting area with a lounge and two chairs surrounding a table. Annelise was surprised to see that a tray for tea had already been set out on the table, and knew that Legolas had been hoping that she would accept his request to talk.

Legolas gestured for her to take a seat on the lounge and took the chair just to the right of her, before passing her a cup of tea for her to fix to her liking.

She watched as he poured a little cream in his before taking a sip and setting his cup down, gesturing for her to speak.

She then proceeded to tell Legolas everything she could think of, answering any questions he had along the way. Although he knew of her injuries, he was somewhat distressed to hear about the events of her journey that had led to them.

He tried his best to comfort her when she spoke of missing her family in Rivendell and her hopes of finding the young boy Estel, and stopped her from going on when she tried to apologise for being away for so long and making he and his father grieve unnecessarily.

"None of what has happened is your fault. This was the path that the Valar chose for all of us, and although we may not understand it now, one day it will be clear," he said handing her a cloth to wipe some of the tears that had escaped from her eyes.

"Now," he spoke once she had managed to compose herself again, "I promised that I would not keep you long and you have answered enough of my questions for now. I will escort you back to your room so that you can get some more rest before the banquet tonight."

"Thank you Legolas," Annelise smiled up at him, taking his hand to pull her to her feet and lead her back out the door.

They chatted happily as they walked back to her room, and Annelise hugged him tightly before closing the door behind her.

She had just finished taking her hair out of the braid Tauriel has put in, when a soft knock came from her door. Assuming it was Legolas coming back to tell her something, she crossed the room quickly and pulled open the door. Instead of Legolas, she was met with the sight of the last person she could have expected to be at her door.

"Bilbo!," she whisper yelled, pulling the small Hobbit into her arms tightly. "I was so worried that something had happened to you. Close the door before anyone sees you."

Bilbo quickly turned and shut the door as quietly as possible before moving further into Annelise's room.

"How did you get here without being seen?," Annelise asked in disbelief.

"That's not important," Bilbo deflected. "What is important is finding a way to get your father and the others out of the dungeons. Do you have any ideas?"

"I do not, but now that you're here I'm sure we can think of something. Today is Mereth Nuin Giliath, the Feast of Starlight, and the King is using the banquet as a celebration for my return as well. Legolas says it is going to be very extravagant and the Elvenking is known for his taste in wine and large parties. If we are going to do anything, it needs to be tonight or early in the morning while everyone is still asleep."

"It would probably be best if you stayed with the King or Prince as much as possible to avoid suspicion. I will figure out a way to get them out. I just need to get the keys to their cells."

"Are you sure you don't want my help?," Annelise asked, not wanting the Hobbit to be alone or to be useless.

"Yes, I am positive," he tried to reassure her. "You will be able to distract the King and Prince at the feast, so that I can work out a way to get the others out. You'll have enough trouble trying to sneak away on your own once the rest of us are out."

"Please be careful, Bilbo," Annelise whispered as the Hobbit opened the door, checking to make sure the hallway was empty before stepping out.

"Always am," he said back with a confident smile, shutting the down behind him.

'Valar, protect him,' Annelise thought to herself, before laying down to rest before the feast that night.