Illegal love ~ the skinchanger book 1 *under construction*

Part 9

Thranduil suddenly leaned down, getting close to Thorin's face. "Do not talk to me of dragon fire. I know, its wrath and ruin," Thranduil suddenly stopped, making scars appear on his face. Aspect, who had never seen Thranduil that angry, or his scars, pushed herself closer to his throne, away from him in fear. "I have faced the great serpents of the North." Thranduil backed away from Thorin as his scars disappeared. He slowly started walking up the stairs to his throne. "I warned your grandfather of what his greed would summon. But he would not listen. You are just like him." Thranduil gave the guards a sign, and they took a good grip on Thorin. "Stay here if you will, and rot. A hundred years is a mere blink in the life of an Elf. I am patient. I can wait." Thorin got dragged away as Thranduil talked.

"Never will I trust an elf like you, nor your wolf-friend ever again!," Thorin yelled. Aspect moved away from Thranduil's throne. He sat down at it, looking at Aspect.

"What does he mean?," Thranduil asked superficial.

Aspect played dumb. "That he will not believe a word you say, ever," she replied, looking away.

"But also 'my wolf-friend'," Thranduil said suspiciously. "Have you met Thorin before?" Aspect stood up.

"No, I have not," she turned to Thranduil and said, eyes flickering of light green lights and ears moving slightly as the lie slipped out from her mouth. She turned away and slithered down the stairs. "My guard is starting." She hid her ears.

"Aspect, stop," Thranduil said, and in that exact moment two guards grabbed her arms, lifted her up and turned her around. "Tell me how you know Thorin. Your ears always move when you lie, no matter if they are human or not."

"I- I do not know him well. I just met them on the way," Aspect started, trying to control her ears. "I heard about their journey and..." Her eyes flickered of green light.

"Aspect! The truth," Thranduil repeated bossily.

"The truth," Aspect started before she took a deep breath. "The truth is that Gandalf the Grey set out on this journey with them, and they ended up right outside of Beorn's farm. I saw them from afar, running away from Beorn, towards his farm. Me, knowing I cannot take on Beorn alone, kept my distance, and when no one saw me, I came running here to tell you." A light flicker of light and movement of ears occurred, but not enough for Thranduil to notice.

"Then why were you running away from the wrong path? Why did Legolas find you in the forest? And why have you not told me anything?," Thranduil inquired.

"It is a long time since last I walked these paths and among these trees, a lot has changed! And I would not known better, would I? A young, stupid girl," Aspect answered with a small laugh. "And to answer the last question; have I not told you? I must have forgotten! So much have happened the last days, I must have forgotten when I got injured!" Thranduil nodded. The guards let her go.

"Your guard begins now. I will have someone check in on you every other hour. One chance, Aspect," Thranduil said, waving his hand in a 'get away'-motion. Aspect turned and walked towards the prisons.

Legolas sat down by the prisons, looking at Aspect with a small smile when she came down the stairs. "I am taking over," she said, nodding to Legolas.

"I can keep you company, if you want to," Legolas said, not standing up from the chair.

"No, no. I will be fine," Aspect said, faking a smile. She could feel the stares from the dwarves. They judged her. They thought she had betrayed them. They hated her. "No problem, Legolas. Go and get some rest." Legolas slowly stood up and stepped close to her.