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“Come with me,” Legolas said as he unlocked Y/n’s cell and held it open.

Y/n stood up from her bed. The prisoners had been served one meal since Kili and Y/n had their screaming match. Y/n reasoned it was midmorning.

“Is everything alright?” Y/n asked. She didn’t see any of the others being released.

“Yes, everything’s fine.” Legolas’ tone convinced her. “My father has requested your presence at breakfast.”

“I already had breakfast,” Y/n said as she stepped out to stand beside him. “One piece of bread and something that looked like oatmeal.”

He smiled down at her.

“Didn’t taste like oatmeal though,” She whispered as if it were a secret.

“What did it taste like?”

“Bad. Just tasted bad.”

The elf chuckled, “Hopefully this breakfast will be more to your liking.”

He began leading her past the many cells of dwarves. They all looked distinctly nervous she was being taken away. Y/n nodded at them, trying to reassure them. She wasn’t nervous. Legolas made her feel safe. Plus she hoped that as long as he was with her, she wouldn’t be executed for trespassing.

“I’ve arranged a bath for you and some clean clothes.”

“Oh yes!” Y/n gasped. “Thank you! I’ve been dying to get clean ever since I got here!”

They walked up countless flights of stairs until they reached the main castle. Legolas led her through passageways and halls, until he stopped at a door. He opened it and held it for her. Y/n stepped inside and looked around the room. It was a guest room, with a grand four-poster bed and countless bureaus. The walls were green and tan with gold accents. A golden chandelier of candles hung in the middle of the arching ceiling.

“The washroom is this way,” The elf walked to a door in the back of the room. Y/n followed him, soaking in her surroundings.

The bathroom was elegant; all marble tiles and polished mirrors. A large tub sat in the middle of the room, shielded from the door by a wooden divider. A maid knelt by the tub as she added the last bucket of steaming water to the full bath. She was beautiful. Y/n had never seen a female elf before and they were even more enchanting than the men.

“Sir,” She curtsied. “Miss.”

“Thank you Avalynn, that will be all.” Legolas turned Y/n. “There are bath oils and salts on that tray if you like. Avalynn will be back with a fresh dress and there are towels over here.” He pointed to one of the many countertops.

“Wow! Um, thank you so much… I don’t know what to say,” Y/n said.

“Take your time,” He smiled as he exited the room, leaving Y/n alone.

She looked around the room once again. The floor was cold on her bare feet. She’d tracked in dirt.

Y/n pealed off her pajamas and slipped into the tub. It already smelled like jasmine and roses and Y/n hadn’t added any of the oils yet. Rose petals swirled on the surface of the water. She closed her eyes and sunk back, letting the warm water embrace her. ‘Is this how all elves bathe?’ She wondered. ‘No wonder they’re all so beautiful. I can feel myself getting prettier by the second.’

She combed her fingers through her hair and to her surprise an array of twigs and leaves untangled themselves and dropped into the water.

“Oh gross.”

Y/n grabbed a near by bar of soap and began scrubbing her body from head to toe. She scratched at the scabs on the bottom of her feet. She washed her hair with rose oil and something that Y/n could only assume was shampoo. She splashed her face with hot water, but being unsatisfied, Y/n submerged herself completely. Soon the water around her became murky with dirt.

Y/n stood up, rung her hair, and stepped out of the tub. Water dripped onto the marble floor and she grabbed a towel. She patted herself dry before wrapping it around her person. The girl walked over to the mirror hanging over the counter and leaned in close. Y/n looked cleansed and beautiful but seeing herself in this place… was strange. She gingerly touched her face. So much had happened in the past few days. Y/n was desperate to get home, or at least to understand how she came to be in Middle Earth. Another matter pushed its way into her mind: Kili and Legolas.

They both made her feel something and it was all very confusing. She liked them. Both. Y/n scolded herself as she frowned in the mirror. She was in a different land, a different world in fact, with no idea how to get home and she was thinking about boys. There were more important things for her to focus on for God’s sake. But still the two men pushed their way into her mind.

Kili was driving her crazy recently. Legolas was the only person that spoke English and Kili just didn’t care. Y/n smiled. She started to think about Kili’s smile and the way he always tried to cheer her up, even if he didn’t understand what she was going through. She thought about how he carried her for over a day and she thought about the way they shared that bedspread. Kili made her feel safe and happy.

Then there was Legolas. He was tall and gorgeous - the spitting image of an angel. And she could talk to him! Not only that, but he was easy to talk to. Y/n liked the way he made her feel with only a bottle of wine, bread, and some conversation. Not to mention all of this, the bath and the rose petals. He made her feel special.

There was a knock at the door.

“Come in,” Y/n said not taking her eyes off the mirror. She assumed it was Avalynn, Legolas said she would be back with clean clothes. Y/n heard a faint breath behind her. She turned around.

Legolas stood in the doorway holding a folded dress in his hands. Y/n gasped and clutched the towel to her chest.

“Oh! Legolas! I thought you were Avalynn.” Y/n felt very exposed, the towel barely dropped to her upper thigh. Her hair was still slick with water which continued to drip to the floor. They stood there for a moment, looking at each other. Y/n saw Legolas’ eyes wander to her body, if only for a moment. She smirked at the elf’s blush.

“It was my mistake, I should have announced myself,” He sputtered. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. She was riveting. The way the towel hung off of her bare body entranced him. Never in his life had he felt this particular mixture of lust and embarrassment. He didn’t want her to think him rude. “I, um, apologize.” He tore his eyes away from her. It was almost painful. Legolas shifted his feet, not knowing what to do or say.

“It’s alright,” Y/n said. She honestly didn’t mind. “At least I had a towel right?” She laughed.

“Er, um, yes,” Legolas continued to look at the ceiling.

“Are those the clothes?” Y/n asked as she took a step forward.

“Yes,” Legolas said again. ‘You sound like an idiot,’ He thought. ‘Say something besides yes.’

Y/n was close to the elf now. He looked down at her momentarily. His eyes widened and he looked away again. Y/n reached out her
hands for the clothes but Legolas didn’t notice. He was too engaged studying the fresco on the ceiling.

“Can I have them?” She asked smiling.

“Um, yes…here,” He handed the dress to her. He glanced at her and felt the sudden urge to touch her, to caress her…to take her in
his arms and kiss her.

“You can wait outside,” She laughed.

“Oh right! I apologize,” Legolas said as he scurried out of the door.

“No sweat.”

The door snapped shut behind him.

Y/n unfolded the dress and gazed at it. It was exquisite. The dress was made out of fine baby blue silk with pink and white embroidered flowers decorating it. Gems and jewels were scattered around the hem and neckline. A long, flowing cape was sewn into the shoulders, creating an elegant and poised silhouette. The cape had even more flowers than the dress itself.

Y/n stood in awe. She’d never worn something so perfect. The towel fell to the floor and she slipped the dress on.

“Built in bra,” She muttered. “Perfect.” Y/n turned to look at herself in the mirror. The dress fit her body dreamily. She looked like a princess. Y/n fluffed her still wet hair, picked up the hem of her dress and walked out into the bedroom.

Legolas was standing by the window, hands behind his back. His head turned as she entered. “You look…beautiful,” He said. He walked forward to meet her in the center of the room.

“Thank you,” Y/n said. “And thank you for the dress.”

“It’s no problem.”

“Well, there is one little problem,” Y/n said.

“What is it?” Legolas asked. He was concerned. Was she angry with him for seeing her in a state of undress?

Y/n let go of the hem and the material pooled around her feet. The dress, obviously made for an elven maiden, was much too long for her. The material collected around her toes and- without lifting the hem- Y/n wouldn’t be able to move in it.

“Aw, I see,” Legolas smiled, somewhat relieved.

“Don’t worry about it though, I’m just happy to be clean.”

“I do have one more thing for you…” Legolas said. He pulled two shoes from behind his back. They were high heeled and the same color as the dress. He handed them to her.

“Oh wow!” Y/n said enthralled and utterly grateful. “Thank you! Oh my goodness. This is really too much!” She looked up at him.

“Nothing is too much,” Legolas gazed down at her.

Y/n placed the shoes on the floor. She gently grabbed the elf’s shoulder as she stepped into them. He steadied her elbow and made sure she didn’t fall. The small touch made both their hearts speed up.

“There,” Y/n said as she removed her hand from his shoulder and stood on her own. “I feel like Cinderella.”

“Who?”

“Never mind,” She said. “I’m just glad to have shoes again.”

Y/n and Legolas exited the little room and he began leading her again. Y/n’s heels made little clicking noises on the floor and the sound happily bounced off the walls.

“This way,” He said as he turned left down a narrow hall.

“So tell me,” Y/n said. “Who’s your father?”

“Pardon?” Legolas said, hoping he misheard. He wasn’t comfortable with the idea of telling Y/n his father was the king of Mirkwood. He didn’t want her to treat him any different because he was royalty.

“Well he must have some kind of pull, to get me out of jail like that.”

“Yes…yes he does,” The elf paused. “He’s the… king.”

Y/n stopped dead in her tracks, “What?”

“My father is the king of Mirkwood.”

“Your father…is the…”

“Yes.”

“King of Mirkwood?”

“Yes.”

“And that makes…you the prince?”

“Yes.”

“Oh…” Y/n stood there processing this whole situation. “And we’re going to meet with him now?”

“Yes.”

Y/n suddenly felt panicked. “Oh I can’t, I don’t know what to do. We don’t have kings were I’m from. I don’t know how to act!”

Legolas smiled at her reassuringly.

“Do I curtsy? Do I bow? Both? No one’s ever taught me these things.”

“Just curtsy when you enter the room and you’ll be fine.”

“Alright,” Y/n began walking again but then stopped. “You’re the prince?”

Legolas turned back to her. “Yes,” He repeated.

“How do I act around you? Do I curtsy to you too?” Y/n put a hand to her head. “God, this is a nightmare.”

The elf was about to reply when Y/n interrupted.

“Oh my god, you’ve seen me in a towel! I don’t know much but I know that can’t be proper.”

“Just be yourself,” Legolas said. “I don’t want you to treat me any different.”

“Well that’s good because honestly I don’t think I could do anything else. I have no idea how to act around royalty.”

He laughed, “You’ll be fine.”

“Why does the king want to see me?”

“He wants to know more about the group you came with,” Legolas offered his arm to her. Y/n took it, lifting her dress with the other
hand, and they began walking once again.

“I don’t know much about them, they don’t speak English.”

“Then all you have to do is tell him that.”

They walked for several more minutes until they reached a great arching doorway, with gold embellishments. Two elven guards stood
outside the door and as the prince and the girl approached, the doors swung open

They stepped into the room. A grand hall greeted Y/n’s curious eyes. A dining table stretched across the room; it was lined with countless chairs and flowers were set in the very middle of it. Y/n’s eyes were immediately drawn to the throne at the head of the table and the man lounging in it. He stood as Legolas and Y/n entered. It was obvious he and Legolas were related, they had the same long blonde hair. However, the man before her looked more threatening than Legolas ever could.

Legolas walked Y/n to his father. He was nervous. His father was a threatening individual. Legolas leaned into the girl and muttered: “Curtsy.”

Y/n grabbed both sides of her dress and bowed her head.

“So you’re the girl I’ve heard so much about,” The king said.

“Ada,” Legolas hissed. He really hadn’t said that much about Y/n. The king simply enjoyed seeing him squirm.

“I am King Thranduil,” He continued.

“It’s nice to meet you, your highness. I’m Y/n,” She curtsied again. Y/n really didn’t know how many curtsies were expected in this
situation. She was, however, very relieved the king could speak English.

“Take a seat, Miss Y/n,” Thranduil said as he returned to his throne.

“Thank you,” Y/n said. Legolas guided her to the seat next to the king. He pulled out her chair and she sat. The elven prince took the
seat across from her.

The king picked up a small bell and rung it. Within seconds, five servers came bustling into the dining hall with platters of steaming food.

Plates of fruit, eggs, meat and bread were set down and Y/n’s eyes grew wide. It all looked so good.

“Please help yourself,” Thranduil said as both elves began to serve themselves.

“Thank you,” Y/n said. She took a little of everything onto her plate. She was especially excited to try the fresh fruit. Y/n’s eyes flicked up to Legolas in front of her, he was already looking at her. They smiled at each other.

“So tell me Miss Y/n,” The king’s eyes were trained upon her. His intensity was startling and very intimidating. “Why were you, a human girl, wandering about my forest with thirteen dwarves?”

“Um, I don’t know,” Y/n said. She sat up in her seat and tried to chew as properly as possible. “I woke up in the middle of the woods and they kind of…took me in.”

“I see,” Thranduil said. “Legolas has informed me of your so called apparition.”

Y/n glanced over at Legolas. The mood in the room had turned serious and Y/n was unsure what to do.

“At any point, did the dwarves tell you why they were passing through Mirkwood?”

“No, they didn’t. Or if they did, I wouldn’t know it. I don’t speak their language.”

The king hummed. “You do speak a fascinating language. However, I believe that you do know what the dwarves are planning.”

“Sorry?” Y/n stopped eating.

“I believe you know that the dwarves have found a way back into the Lonely Mountain.”

Y/n’s expression was confused, verging on scared. She glanced at the prince who tried to give her a reassuring look.

“I don’t-”

The king interrupted her.

“How do they plan on doing it? How do they plan on entering the mountain without the dragon’s knowledge?”

“I’m sorry what?” She didn’t know what to say. “Dragon? You have dragons here?”

“Yes-” Legolas said but his father interrupted.

“Do not change the subject.”

“Dragons?” Y/n asked again, to herself this time. She placed a hand on her forehead and leaned on the table. “That’s insane…”

The king glanced over at his son who nodded his head.

“I honestly don’t know what the dwarves are planning. I didn’t know they were planning anything,” Y/n said to the king.

“You must have some idea.”

“I really don’t.”

Thranduil huffed. It didn’t surprise him Y/n didn’t know of their plans, but he desperately wanted to understand Thorin’s strategy.

“Your leader is…temperamental.”

Y/n gave the king a slight smile, “He is.”

“I offered my assistance to him,” Thranduil continued. “I offered to release your group in exchange for a few trivial gems, once he
recovered his throne.”

She furrowed her brow. What the fuck was he talking about?

“He refused. Leaving me no other choice than to hold you all here for however long it takes to change his mind.”

Y/n suddenly lost her appetite and worry washed away all other thoughts.

“That may mean hundreds of years; dwarven and elven lifespans are long and plentiful.”

“Hundreds of years?” She repeated.

The king nodded as his son stared at him incredulously.

“I see.”

Legolas was mortified. He would never have brought Y/n into this if he had known his father was in such a testy mood.

“Well if I’m going to spend the rest of my life in your prison, I’d like to get on with it.” Y/n stood up. This was unquestionably not how one should behave around royalty but Y/n didn’t care, she was close to tears.

“As you wish,” The king waved his hand dismissively. She had given him no new information. And to think, Legolas had talked him into dining with her. “The guards will escort you back.”

“No, I have her,” Legolas stood abruptly.

Y/n walked towards the doors, with her fists full of fabric. The door slammed shut behind them.

The two walked side by side down the many hallways and staircases. The castle looked darker to Y/n than it had this morning. The air seemed staler and the light had faded. Legolas said nothing as they made their way back. He couldn’t think of anything that would help. He could see she was upset, who wouldn’t be?

When they finally returned to Y/n’s cell, Legolas opened it for her. “I’m terribly sorry for what my father said,” He said.

Y/n stepped back into the cramped little room.

“Your father’s a douche.”

Legolas nodded. He did not know what that was, but he was sure it was an insult. Y/n didn’t turn to face him. Tears bubbled up inside of her.

“Could you give me a minute?” She asked. She brought a hand up to wipe her nose.

“Of course,” Legolas said. He slid the bars shut and turned the key. His heart ached. “I’ll…I apologize,” He said one last time before he walked away.

Y/n heard his receding footsteps and sunk down onto her bed - the bed that she would be apparently sleeping on for the rest of her life.

“Oh my god.” She put her head in her hands and let the feeling of hopelessness wash over her. Hundreds of years. By the time Kili or any of the others saw the sun again, she would be a long forgotten memory. Tears slipped down her cheeks. She’d never see home again. “Oh my god,” Y/n whispered to herself. Her voice shook. Y/n would never get to see her family or friends ever again. And by the time she died down in this deep dark pit, she would be a long forgotten memory in their minds too.