Chapter 4

-Sorry for the last chapter being so short! But I know this chapter will make up for it! Enjoy ~~

Temperance was silent as she sat the the table next to the King.. She kinda wanted to sit with Legolas, and listen to his stories but she never was let to. It has been three days since she has been in Middle earth, and is no closer to finding away home or has even tried. She watched them laughing at the story, she smiled slightly as she took a small drink from her water. Soon messing with her hair, the maiden made her wear it in a braided-bun. She did like it, but she didn't like it on her and it felt weird from it always being down. As she was doing this she didn't see Thranduil looking at her with a faint smile.

"What is wrong you have something to worry about?" He joked slightly with her, making her look at him. Temperance blushed faintly and huffed, "N...no sir, its just im still getting used to this..". Temperance bit her lip as she looked away still nervous around him, as she should be he could throw her in the cells...or worse. She looked at her plate of fruit and took a bite of her sliced apple happily. But soon she frowned thinking of her mother, how they would cut fruit and sit in the den and eat with her father. She misses her friends and her old books, she just couldn't believe this way happening to her.

Thranduil looked down at her, he watched her expressions change so much. It truly made him even more curious about her, then he looked away.

" Temperance. .come with me.." he said softly as he rows from his chair. She looked at him in shock and quickly followed his movements, as she replied to him.

Thranduil looked down at her, almost wanting to smile at her curiosity. But soon looked away as she turned to him, to ask.

" Have I done anything wrong?" to her relief, he shook his head as they left the room.

As they walked the more and more she began to get, slowly her eyes began to wonder around the vast halls. Scanning the artwork carved into the wood.

" Sir, where are we going?" She looked at him with her blue-green eyes gazing up to his icy cold gaze. He gave a faint smile down at her as one of the guards opened the doors, to reveal the open wild of Mirkwood. She gasped softly as she walked out into the sun's rays, loving the feel of its warmth on her face.

"Its so beautiful out here.." she smiled at him laughing. Temperance jumped onto a rock and laughed loudly as she scanned the area. The Elven King watched her with a faint smile on his lips, he looked up to the leaves above him. As he returned his gaze to her, he jumped as she was gone. Thranduil looked around for her, "Temper-." He stopped as she saw her standing at a tree looking out, her eyes staring in amazement at what she was seeing.

Slowly she pointed into the thicket and smiled like a child, " It's.. an Elk.." she smiled softly as she looked at the creature. It's large form gazing upon her, as she watched it in wonder. It's black orbs looked upon the KIng and bowed its crowned head. Thranduil watched her with slight amusement in his eyes as he walked forward, she gasped softly as she watched him walk to the beautiful beast. The beautiful King placed his hand on the creature, as he waved her over slowly. Nervously she looked at him like he was crazy, but soon her legs began to move to him. Gasping softly as he took her hand into his, and placing it on the chest she flinched but soon relaxed herself. Rubbing her hand on the pelt of the large creature, feeling the heat radiate from it.

" T...This is amazing...Does he have a name?" she asked him softly as she placed her other hand on the Elk.

" He has no name." Thranduil called softly as he watched her prance the creature with her smile and touch. She looked at the beautiful creature, as she brushed her fingers through its rough fur. Temperance smiled softly as she looked into it's large eyes.

"Feeble. ." She whispered softly, the king turned to her with a questionable look as she repeated, " Feeble. His name is now Feeble." She smiled softly as she petted his muzzle slowly. Thranduil looked at her slightly, and smiled softly at her, "Feeble? Strange Name.", she gasped and glared, "My dog's name was Feeble thank you!".

The king laughed loudly as her jump to save the name she chosen, " Alright, Feeble it is then." She smiled at him softly and giggled, " Can I ride him?", hugging the creature's neck slightly as she snuggled into its fur. Feeling the heat seep through his thick belt, the thumping of it's massive heart played in her ears like a drum. Thranduil smiled softly, as he watched her actions did quite amuse him soon he strided closer to her grabbing her waist with his hands. She let out a gasp as she felt herself being lifted off the ground, " M...My Lord?!" she cried out as he placed her on the beast's back. She wrapped her arms around his thick neck tightly in fright, soon she heard laughing.

" Don't laugh at me!", Temperance cried out slightly as she slowly sat up, still holding on tightly to his fur to keep from falling. The beast snorted slightly as he stomped his hoof against the ground as he adjusted to her being on him. She gulped softly as she got herself stable on it's back, smiling softly, " See… I got it..".

The Elven King grinned slightly, " Oh? Then ready to walk?", as the girl was about to stop him he padded the elk's rear making him leap forward. The girl screaming at him, holding on to the creature as she rode on. Soon she opened her eyes slightly as she sat up, feeling herself go up and down slightly as she slowly matched her movements with his.

" O..Okay I think I have it." she gulped softly as she pushed her heels slightly into its sides to make him go faster. Temperance giggled softly as she turned her head to Thranduil with a big smile on her face, but she noticed he was smiling but… his eyes still looked dull and sad inside.

It has been three months that Temperance found herself in the land of Middle Earth, at times she can hardly believe it herself. Sometimes feeling like this is her true home, but would always look at her locket and remember her real home. But she can't find a way back home herself, so she worked around the Kingdom to learn and as well work her stay. Legolas even took time to teach her how to shoot a bow, as well as Tauriel teaching her swordsmanship. She wasn't great but she was slowly getting better at them everyday. Her and Nym became friends quite quickly, he introduced her to the King's sweet wine. But that when down hill when Legolas and Tauriel found them, Nym lying there drunk and she sitting there finishing his glass not phased at all.

She groaned slightly as she listened to Legolas complaining about her leaving the Kingdom for the first time. In her mind,she figured that the King would be the one to complain about her leaving his sight.

" I totally disagree with you leaving!" he growled again as she was packing her supplies for the long trip to Rivendell. Temperance groaned loudly again as she turned to him, her hands on her hips as she glared into his eyes.

" Okay.. This is enough! Nym asked me to go.. As well I asked 'Your Father' and he said yes! Legolas, you can't expect me to stay here all the time! " she glared at him, her amber eyes burning with pure determination. Standing her ground as this argument continued until Nym and Tauriel came into the room, to see what was going on. They laughed slightly at the sight they was seeing, making her and the blonde elf turn to them blushing in embarrassment to their acts.

" Legolas, you need to relax."

" Yeah, she will be safe with me.", Nym smiled slightly as he placed his hand on his friend's shoulder for comfort. The elf prince looked at him, then at Tauriel who was giving him a slight grin which made him sigh in defeat. Temperance looked at him, her hands on her hips as she tried to regain herself slightly.

" See Legolas, I'm going to be fine. It's not like I'll get lost, I can hear Nym complaining so it won't be that hard."

" Oh yea- wait.. HEY!" Nym growled loudly as she giggled at him, her hand over her mouth as she then turned away.

" Now come Nym, we really don't wanna be late." she waved her hand behind her as she started to the entrance, Nym sighed slightly as he turned to his friends and groaned, " I'm gonna regret this..".

" Oh lord...How much longer, Nym.." , moaned the tired human called out, to the laughing elf.

" Oh.. Rivendell is still a few days journey from here." He chuckled softly as he heard her groan again from his reply to her question, he looked back to see her laying on her horse hiding her face in it's mane.

" Don't worry yourself, we will be there before you know it."

" I hope so.. I don't know how much more I can take of this.".