▌𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐍𝐢𝐧𝐞 ━︎━︎ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐮𝐞𝐥 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠 ▌

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐖𝐀𝐋𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐄 palace of the Woodland realm made a feeling of nostalgia flood through her veins. She hadn't been here in a while and nothing changed. Ellaria glanced around the palace, Tauriel walking at her side. It was breathtaking. She came to a stop, watching with a frown as the dwarves were all placed in cells. She turned to Legolas who had come to a stop at her side.

"Are you not going to imprison me as well?" Ellaria asked.

Instantly, he looked at her. "Why would I?"

Ellaria frowned. "They were not the only ones trespassing on your lands."

"Surely you do not believe I would imprison you for coming to pay me a visit." Legolas said, eyes focused on the interaction between Tauriel and Kili. Ellaria opened her mouth to respond only to stop when Tauriel walked up to them. "Why does the Dwarf stare at you, Tauriel?"

Tauriel's eyes widened for a moment before she replied, "Who can say?" She paused, her head tilting slightly to the side. "He's quite tall for a Dwarf. Do you not think?"

Legolas followed her with his eyes as she started to walk past him. "Taller than some. . . but no less ugly." His attention turned back towards Ellaria, grasping her by the elbow and pulling her along. "He'll want to see you."

"He will not be happy with me." Ellaria argued, letting him lead her. They approached Thranduil's throne, Thorin already standing before the King.

"Some may imagine that a noble quest is at hand." Thranduil began. "A quest to reclaim a homeland and slay a dragon." He held his hands behind his back, a cruel look to his eyes. "I myself suspect a more prosaic motive. Attempted burglary. Or something of that ilk." He moved his face closer to Thorin's. "You have found a way in. You seek that which bestow upon you the right to rule." He took a few steps backwards, keeping his gaze focused on the Dwarf. "The King's Jewel: the arkenstone. It is precious to you beyond measure. I understand that."

A sly smile pulled on the King's lips. "There are gems in the mountain I, too, desire. White gems of pure starlight. I offer you my help." He bowed his head slightly and Ellaria was taken by surprise. She stood beside Legolas, watching the entire exchange with nerves eating away at her.

An amused smile began to curl on Thorin's lips. "I am listening."

"I will let you go if you but return what is mine."

Thorin turned his back on Thranduil taking a few steps forwards. "A favor for a favor."

"You have my word. One King to another."

Thorin stops, a dark look crossing his face. "I would not trust Thranduil. . . the great King. . . to honor his word. . . should the end of all days be upon us!" He quickly turned, pointing to Thranduil with anger. "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." He shouted in Elvish and Thranduil had enough.

Quickly, Thranduil appeared before Thorin, their faces mere inches apart. "Do not talk to me of dragon fire. I know it's wrath and ruin." He closed his eyes, a pained look crossing his face. The skin on the left side of his face began to began to separate and disappear until all the was left was a mauled part of his cheek and temple, his left eye going completely white. "I have faced the great serpents of the north!" He stepped back and his face went back to how it was before. "I warned your grandfather of what his greed would summon. But he would not listen."

Thranduil began ascending the stairs to his throne. "You are just like him." He raised a hand and instantly two guards grabbed Thorin and Ellaria went forwards only for Legolas to pull her back, holding onto her and forcing her to watch as Thorin struggled in their grip. "Stay here if you will. . . and rot." They began to drag him away. "A hundred years is a mere blink in the life of an elf. I'm patient. I can wait."

Thorin's eyes caught Ellaria's and he watched the pained look that crossed her face, fighting to loosen Legolas' grip. Thorin had never seen the princess look so distraught. He'd never once trusted her, not since she'd joined their group, but seeing that look on her face told him everything he needed to know and suddenly Ellaria became the first Elf he ever trusted.

Thranduil took a seat on his throne and Legolas stepped forwards, finally letting go of Ellaria. "I see you have come back." Thranduil said, eyes flicking to look at her. "And yet I notice the way you look at the Dwarf, as if you care."

"He is my friend." Ellaria said, standing up straight and holding her chin up.

"My dear Princess, you mustn't allow yourself to mingle with those kinds. They will ruin you just as they ruin themselves."

"Are you saying I need new friends?"

"Precisely." Thranduil hummed.

Her gaze narrowed. "I was the one that lead them here because I believed they would be safe. Yet, you have thrown them in the dungeons and have imprisoned them for life."

Thranduil sighed, unimpressed. "You are more of a fool than I thought. Tell me, Ellaria, does your father know the company you keep these days." Ellaria clenched her jaw. "Does he even know where you are?"

"I have finally been set free, you cannot take that away from me."

A wicked smile flashed across his face. "You are very mistaken. I very well could, but seeing as I do not want a war with Rivendell for imprisoning their heir, I have refrained myself from doing just that." His gaze grew hard. "Do not mistaken my kindness for you as weakness. You earned my respect a long time ago, Ellaria. You do not want to lose it. Besides, your safety here is by the request of my own son. Do not thank me for you not being in my cells with those Dwarves." He leaned back. "You may roam these halls as you always have, or you may leave and go home. But I assure those Dwarves won't be going with you." He waved his hand in dismissal and Ellaria clenched her fists at her side before turning and walking away.

She made her way down the steps and footsteps following her told her it was Legolas. "I do not wish to speak with you right now." She hurried her steps, wishing to get away from him. She knew these paths like the back of her hand, and right now all she truly wanted was to get to the Dwarves and reassure them that she would find a way out.

"Ellaria," Legolas started.

"Do I need to repeat myself for you to understand." Ellaria snapped, not once faltering in her steps. "I do not wish to be near you."

When he reached her, he gently grabbed her arm, forcing her to stop and face him. There was a hint of regret on his face and he almost flinched back at the pure anger that was on hers. "Ella," he softly spoke.

"Don't." Ellaria snarled. "This is cruel and you know it is, yet you continue to sit idly by. Your father is a cruel man, Legolas, and you listen to him without thinking twice about it."

"What do you expect of me, Ellaria? To defy my father."

"Yes!" Ellaria closed her eyes. "No." She let out a sigh, opening her eyes and looking at him. "Legolas, this is not right and you know it. And when you open your eyes and finally see that, come find me. Until then, I do not wish to speak with you." She removed herself from his grasp and turned and walked away, even though it made her chest ache. She paused, glancing at him over her shoulder. "And I do not need your protection. Consider this the last time I ever need it." She turned and kept walking.

Legolas watched her walk away and his heart almost broke at the sight. He never thought he'd see the day where she turned her back on him because of something he had done. He was dying to run after her and apologize and tell her that he would help her, but he knew he couldn't. His father's claws were too deep into him and he couldn't pull away. He already lost his mother to death, he wouldn't lose his father because of this. He couldn't. He was the only family he had left. But if he continued to listen and obey his father like a good prince, if he kept his father close to him, what would it cost? It had already costed him his best friend, the elven woman whom he cherished and cared for deeply. Could he really risk staying without fearing of losing anyone else?

With a disgruntled sigh, he turned and walked the other way.