I have so many questions...
1. So the Dragon that he just killed isn't a "Beast/Monster"
2. When I think famine, I think locust ate all the crops and you're in a barren wasteland...but they were in a dense forest. Is there no fruits, berries, nuts, honey in this forest? Even insects are high in nutritional value
3. Where the soldiers going to literally eat the elf? I would usually go with the slavery route but the way elf girl was talking it made me think they just wanted some meat.