3 ❧ dictated; backdated to Mar 8

[woodking]

[It took a great deal of effort to turn the pages, and he had torn one slightly before arriving at a blank one, and so Thranduil sounded somewhat frustrated by the time he finally began speaking. Hooves were not made for handling paper, and he wasn't entirely sure how else he was supposed to do it. The horn seemed to control some sort of magic, but thus far it had only made his life more difficult, not less.]

Is it common to experience a loss as the result of another's actions? Or do I just have bad luck?

[Bad luck in that he and Legolas had been changed at the same time, if nothing else.]

Comments

dictated

[bow_of_the_galadhrim]

I have said that I am sorry, have I not?

[whining]

[woodking]

Peace, Legolas. I do not blame you.

[... well. Maybe a little. But mostly he blames the castle.]

[bow_of_the_galadhrim]

I had meant to surprise you with a new crown.

[But then the castle had to be a jerk about it.]

[woodking]

[A sigh.]

You have apologized already, and there is nothing to be done now. We have only to wait for this to pass.

[bow_of_the_galadhrim]

I have.

[But he's still sorry, dad! :c]

I shall endeavor to learn to use my bow as I am in case something should happen.

[woodking]

I don't imagine anything will, and in any case I am capable of defending myself.

[Even if he'd spent far too long in this short amount of time nearly tripping over his own tail, shhhhhh]

[bow_of_the_galadhrim]

You should not have to unless I cannot. I am still one of your guards.

[Let him try to be useful like this.]

[woodking]

Which means only that I shall expect you to be ready if you are needed, not that I expect you to be able to do everything yourself.

[There's something slightly haughty in his tone now.]

[bow_of_the_galadhrim]

I will be, I'll make sure of it.

[woodking]

'Ready' does not, in this case or any case, mean you must be able to defend me entirely yourself. If nothing else, a King who sits to the side and expects his subjects to take upon everything themselves is not worthy of his title. I owe protection to you at least as much as the reverse.

[bow_of_the_galadhrim]

[His ears fall back, though Thranduil can't see that.]

I understand. I will remember that. And hope that it does not become necessary.

[woodking]

As will I. But take heart, I do not think it should. This place... It is capricious, but I have as of yet seen very little that could be considered a true danger.

[Not that it was devoid of all dangers, of course. It was possible, however, that Thranduil's standards for this had become somewhat skewed from living so long in a place where the danger was so omnipresent.]

[bow_of_the_galadhrim]

It is and I haven't had need to defend myself or anyone but I like to be prepared.

[Not exactly on guard but not completely at ease either. Especially with how often the castle has seen fit to toy with him lately.]

[woodking]

Perhaps, but that may take different forms in different places by necessity.

[Thranduil, meanwhile, was taking a slightly more pragmatic view of things at the moment.]

[bow_of_the_galadhrim]

You are right...

[of course.]

You will call for me if you need me?

[woodking]

As do I always. But, Legolas, I am not helpless, even now.

[bow_of_the_galadhrim]

I know it but I will still worry. [You can almost hear the pout in his voice.]

dictated;

[lord_wizard]

The first loss I experienced was actually someone else's. It turned out the effects were somewhat...infectious. Communicable like a disease through touch, in a sense.

[woodking]

[A pause as he considers that.]

Interesting. I do not believe this is one of the same, but it is intriguing to know that it does happen to others.

[lord_wizard]

What makes you think it to be different?

[woodking]

[His voice is a study in dry understatement.]

For one, no one touched me.

[lord_wizard]

Ah, but you mentioned something about the actions of others...

[woodking]

My son. He and I experienced the same loss in the same moment. It seems as though they would be connected, and yet he is the one who made the wish.

[lord_wizard]

Wishes are not always the trigger for losses, but given the correlation I can see how it would seem to be associated. It might just be because of your relation. Losses between people from the same world are also rather common.

[woodking]

Perhaps not always, but as I understand it's often enough for the connection to be firmly there, which seems enough to base assumptions on.

Perhaps. I did have something to do with what he was wishing for.

[lord_wizard]

Is that so? Are the loss and the wish at all related?

[woodking]

[A sigh.]

As far as I know, no, unless in the most tenuous way.

[lord_wizard]

Well, that was the only other thing I could think of. The rest is really only the so-called whims of the castle itself.

[woodking]

Which I suspect.

[Doesn't make it less of a pain.]

[lord_wizard]

[No, it really doesn't]

Well. The best of luck to you then.

[woodking]

[He stomps an irritated hoof absently, and gets it caught in his own tail. He doesn't swear outwardly, at least, even if internally he feels like cursing.]

I thank you for the sentiment, though I am unsure of what good it may do.

Dictated

[fuckelves]

[Oh, if only he could see this loss...]

Heh...I don't think it's bad luck, I believe it's that thing the men call 'karma.'

And what, pray tell, happened to you, oh great Elvenking?

[woodking]

I wonder that you speak as though you know me. I believe we have not met.

[He sounds haughty, but the tone had been belligerent.]

[fuckelves]

Not here yet, no. But I remember you clearly enough from our world, Elf.

[There is particular venomous emphasis on that final word.]

And just how long have you been skulking about the castle grounds?

[woodking]

[His voice is cool in response to Thorin's tone, which is hardly polite, but manners, manners.]

Then you must acquaint me with yourself, for I have no knowledge of you. I assume by your words you were also brought here from Arda?

I do not hide in the shadows. I have been here some months, now.

[fuckelves]

[Yeah...despite being a king, Thorin's never been incredibly polite...sorry Thranduil.]

Indeed. I am Thorin Oakenshield; son of Thrain, son of Thror, King Under the Mountain.

[woodking]

It seems rash to claim such a title when you have no kingdom, Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror.

[He may not have met Thorin, but what he has heard from Galadriel does not make him predisposed to like him.]

[fuckelves]

[Bitch, them's fightin' words!]

...I am a king, I have a kingdom. Stolen or not, the kingdom of Erebor belongs to Dwarves alone. As I am the heir of Durin, I am therefore King of Erebor.

[...yeah he...doesn't have the greatest of reputations with Elves...but he knows this and doesn't really care because...well, Thorin.]

[woodking]

It belongs to the one who holds it, and claims from those who don't will not remove the dragon from its den. You are heir, but where are your people? Have you served them, or do you cling to the past?

[fuckelves]

I will remove the dragon - without the assistance of any arrogant pointy-ears who believe they have some asinine claim on my treasure and kingdom.

I have served my people since our expulsion from Erebor. I have found them safe haven in the Blue Mountains. Now I will lead those who are willing back to the mountain to slay the dragon and bring my people back to their rightful place!

[woodking]

[Those ears he was commenting on - or, at least, their replacements for the time being - flick back against Thranduil's skull in brief annoyance.]

The only thing who has any claim any more is a dragon. You lead your people only to their deaths, and the ruin of all those who lie in the dragon's path when you have awoken it.

[fuckelves]

He has no right. Anyone who says otherwise has a mind and heart blacker than the darkness of Moria.

I lead my people to what is rightfully theirs, and they know the risks. Whole armies have declined, but my band of allies agreed. They know bravery as no other creature does.

We will slay the dragon. We will reclaim Erebor.

And I'll serve you your own words back to you when we do so.

[woodking]

He has the only right which matters, which is the claim of having taken the mountain, and living there now on his pile of treasure.

You will all die, and bring danger to those who survive you.