Tinuiel smiled ruefully. "Yes, I could have ended your life, but I do not love bloodshed, and it is not the way of my people, even if your past has told you different." The wild girl glared at her.
"Why should I trust you?"
Tinuiel shrugged. "You do not have to, but you will fare better if you do." Tinuiel gestured to Rűdhchamion. "You can see he is like you and in my company, yet he has come to no harm." The wild girl remained silent. Tinuiel sighed. "It matters not. You will see the justice of Thranduil. I will take you both to him now." She signaled to Rűdhchamion to hold the wild girl and walk in front of her. As they neared the throne room Tinuiel threw her shoulders back, took a deep breath, and walked it.
Thrnaduil was seated on his throne, speaking with Legolas. When Tinuiel and the prisoners entered, both Thranduil and Legolas ceased their conversation and turned to look at the newcomers. Tinuiel led her captives before the throne. She signaled to them to kneel, which they did, thank Elbereth, and Tinuiel knelt also. "Hail Thranduil, Lord of Green Wood the Great. I have brought before you two prisoners."
Thranduil regarded the prisoners in silence. They remained kneeling under his gaze, but Tinuiel stood. "I"--she hesitated. "I ask that you look with special mercy on them."
__________________
Such lissom limbs no more shall run
on the green earth beneath the sun;
so fair a maid no more shall be
from dawn to dusk, from sun to sea.
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