Prompt Post 12

[bettiebloodshed]

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Enthrallment 3/? (Thorin & Thranduil, gen)

[anonymous]

"I suppose not." Thranduil heaved the child upwards, anchoring his back and legs with one arm while his right tucked his loosened garments back to some semblance of order. He wore rather impressive finery - blue, embroidered silks with the hems containing bold patterns of tiny animals. The hair framing his face was adorned with spiralling bangles that cast blue reflections at the smallest turn in angle. A member of the nobility, perhaps, or a rich merchant's son. He was also missing a sock. "His speech seems well on its way to fluency, however. Should he not be walking properly by now?"

"I have heard babes who wish to be held take longer to learn how to walk," Tauriel said from nearby, with a large smile at the child busily mapping out Thranduil's face. "And this one certainly likes being held, don't you, you bold, little thing?"

The child looked at Tauriel, then back at Thranduil and let out yet another phrase of Khuzdul.

Thranduil nodded. "Hm. Yes, quite."

His agreement seemed to embolden the little one further (and what a handful this one was going to be - as young as he was, Thranduil could already detect an imperious note to his manner of speech), and he said something else while his fingers tangled themselves in Thranduil's hair.

"Well, naturally," Thranduil mildly said in response. When the child spoke next, it sounded a bit like a question. He planted a brief kiss on the hand patting a corner of his mouth. "Of course it is - oh." He frowned. After he spoke, the boy began to tug at his hair and wave his arm down the corridor. "Did I just agree to something?" he asked Elrond, whose eyes were alight with amusement. At his expense, no doubt.

"I caught the words buzn and hubûn-maldarûn."

"Hubûn-maldarûn...?"

Elrond shrugged. "A Dwarven game of some sort."

"Ah." Thranduil pondered - they did have time. They'd been told a few minutes earlier that an unforeseen complication had arisen, and that King Thror would be occupied for quite a while (along with the appropriate apologies and an offer to show them the hallmarks of the kingdom). Pressing for details had been an exercise in futility, and Thranduil had had little choice but to wave off the messenger.

They were supposed to meet with one of Erebor's lieutenants, presumably to be shown the outer defenses the Dwarves had erected to keep Trolls, Orcs and wild things at bay, and to seek advice if they wished to part with any. Thranduil, however, had no doubt that it was to keep them out of the castle and out of range of whatever it was that had the Dwarven court preoccupied.

Well, he knew with whom he would rather be spending time. Young, hopeful eyes closed momentarily when Thranduil pressed his cheek against soft hair and a round ear. "All right, little one. Where shall we go?"

They didn't have to travel far. The young child led them to a large, underground garden, meticulously maintained and seemingly built with children in mind. There were many wooden and stone playthings lying about, and a stone fence separated the small waterfall from clumsy feet. He gave orders to two of his guards, telling them to let someone know where they were and to call upon them when it was time to meet.

The young boy pointed out a high shelf, containing all sorts of toys and other items. With some difficulty in communication, Thranduil singled out a box that contained a thick, folded board with drawn patterns and runes, as well as a large pile of multi-coloured glass pebbles.

A minute later saw most of their assemblage exploring the curiosities of the room, from illustrated storybooks to the craftsmanship of the inert wall sconces. Thranduil and Elrond occupied the grassy patch close to the waterfall, lying on the ground and watching as the child assembled the game to the best of his abilities. At one point, Thranduil guessed that the game must have started and was still continuing. There was a small pile of green pebbles on the child's end, and a larger pile of red ones on his.

He threw the die again. The child clapped his hands and placed another red pebble in Thranduil's pile.