The Elf, the Hobbit and the Dwarf - Book 1 NEW VERSION

The City of Dale

"You have saved us," Bard said and smiled thankfully toward Thranduíl. "We do not know how to thank you."

"Your gratitude is misplaced," Thranduíl said without a hint of a smile. "I did not come on your behalf. I came to reclaim something of mine."

Thranduíl recalled his troops, leaving the people there to march upon the mountain, kill if only take back what he thought belonged to him. Míriel bit her lip hard for her friends were in there and soon they would all be dead if Thranduíl advanced. The King was willing to take lives only to get what he wanted. Míriel stood there like a fool for she didn't know what to do anymore. Should she follow Thranduíl and find Elrond or stay behind and help Bard? Many questions spun in her head as Thranduíl turned back and looked at her.

"I think it is best if you come with us, Míriel."

Míriel nodded slowly and grabbed the reins of the horse Beridan brought to her. She mounted the horse quickly and started riding after Thranduíl, hoping that when Gandalf arrived he would be able to handle this situation better than Míriel had.

"Wait!" Bard said and hurried after them. Míriel stopped her horse and Thranduíl did the same to his moose, turned around to Bard again with a raised eyebrow. "Please wait. You would go to war over a handful of gems?"

"The heralds of my people are not likely forsaken," Thranduíl said without looking at Bard, his back turned toward dismissively. Although herlands were important they did not mean enough to kill for, not when the Dwarves were so outnumbered.

"We are allies in this," Bard said suddenly, which piqued Thranduíl's interest. Míriel glanced at him and wondered what Bard meant? Was he too going to march on the mountains and threaten to kill the Dwarves?

"My people also have a claim upon what is in that mountain. Let me speak with Thorin."

"You would try to reason with the Dwarves?" Thranduíl asked stiffly.

"To avoid war?" said Bard. "Yes."

Míriel thought it to be a great idea. If Thorin would not listen to Míriel, perhaps he would listen to the man that had ultimately killed the dragon Smaug and saved them all from the dragon fire. Bard would speak for his people and Míriel could now merely pray that Thorin would agree to their terms.

Thranduíl nodded slowly and continued to ride without another word, but Míriel assumed he had agreed which was a relief. She followed him on her horse and decided that this was the time to question him about why Elrond and Gandalf were not there yet.

"My lord, you called me here because Elrond's daughter Lady Arwen is ill," Míriel said slowly since she didn't want to anger him further. "Where is Lord Elrond? I was told that he was supposed to be here with Gandalf the grey. Please, I must be in a hurry and I hope you will come to terms with the Dwarves so that no blood is spilt."

"Dear Lady Míriel," Thranduíl said with a small smile. "I am sure that your cousin Lady Arwen is quite alright. And for Lord Elrond, I have no idea where he is, but he is certainly not coming here. Gandalf the Grey is beyond my sight as well." Míriel shook her head in disbelief, this could not be happening. "It has come to my knowledge that you behold special power within you, Míriel, a gift that I feel could be used for this battle as well as for future purposes. It would only be wise of you to share your gift with us as the Woodland Realm will be yours when you pledge yourself to my son."

"You tricked me..." Míriel exclaimed and glared at the King with her most hateful look. "You lured me away from my companions and your son!"

Thranduíl had cold-heartedly tricked her into coming to Dale so that he could use her to his advantage. He wanted her to hurt her friends, but there was no chance of Míriel ever following Thranduíl. Thranduíl had not only tricked her, though, but he would have done the same to Legolas if he would have come with her. Perhaps Thranduíl knew that Legolas would not come and therefore he had separated Míriel from him so that Legolas could not stop him from using Míriel in any way he wanted.

"Legolas will only be pleased that you, as a future lady of the Woodland Realm, will do us a favour," Thranduíl said. He did not know his son if he truly believed that Legolas would be pleased once he heard of this. "Yes, I, of course, know everything about your romance."

Not only had Thranduíl used her, but he had also used the love his son felt for Míriel, which was sickening. Did he not understand or respect love at all?

"What if I refuse?" Míriel asked defiantly. "What if I refuse to help you?"

"Well, that much is up to you," Thranduíl said with another grin. Míriel knew that she would have a difficult choice ahead since Thranduíl seemed capable of doing anything now. "But you are not leaving here until the battle is won and be very sure to know that I would not let my son pledge himself to someone who would not even consider helping his people. It is your choice, Míriel."

"You do not understand," Míriel said, she was now shaking. Thranduíl was threatening her but he didn't know her, and he didn't understand that this friendship and love she felt for the Dwarves were strong, just as strong as for what she felt for Legolas.

"I don't know how to use them for battle, I have ever only been able to do simple harmless spells. The last time I tried doing something more powerful I got hurt. Surely Legolas would never forgive you if he knew what you had done to me. I do not know what darkness you have in your heart or why, but surely there has to be some light in it for you to be able to raise such a wonderful person as your son. I know that you do not want him to hate you."

Thranduíl didn't even flinch as she spoke. Instead, he rode away without another word and Míriel could only hope that she had hit a soft spot in his heart. Thranduíl must love his son more than anything, despite him having such a strange way of showing it. He would not do anything to hurt Legolas. Although one thing was for certain as of now; Míriel would be trapped with the king and be forced to watch as the Dwarves were destroyed. Not that she would ever let that happen.