Beauty and the Beast | Thranduil x Reader

Chapter 21

The next afternoon, Thranduil readied himself and moved down the corridor to your room to fetch you. He was still feeling quite unsure about yesterday's... well, it was not an argument but he did not entirely know what to call it. Still, you said it was no big deal, and he decided to believe you. He did feel bad in a sense, keeping you locked away as it were, despite the fact that you had willingly given up your own freedom for your father's crimes.

Today, instead of simply lunching in the dining area as usual, he planned to take you on a ride through the safest parts of the forest. He decided to put his trust in the fact that you would not simply run off at the first opportunity, not that you would get far if you tried, but regardless.

He strode through the corridors towards your room, passing Elros on the way and falling into step with him to discuss some matters relating to the upcoming festival. Elros soon took his leave, scurrying over to Myleth who had just left your room. Thranduil eyed the pair for a moment, aware that there was some sort of romance budding there, but he moved it to the back of his mind. It concerned him not.

Knocking at your door, he awaited your voice allowing him entry, and moved inside. He had asked Myleth to ready you suitably for riding and she had done as asked, eliciting a nod of approval from Thranduil as he took you in.

You looked back at him, feeling much better than you had yesterday, deciding that a good sleep had been all that you must have needed after all. "Afternoon." You bowed your head slightly, looking back up at him.

"Good afternoon. You look well." Thranduil smiled in return, gesturing for you to follow him. He led you back down the hall and out a door you had not noticed before. A winding path brought the two of you to what was obviously the stables and you brightened considerably as your gaze roamed the many steeds standing there, chewing hay and neighing softly. What your gaze fell upon next, however, drew a loud gasp of surprise from your lips.

A large elk stood in the very end stall, contentedly passing the afternoon with its horse friends. When the elk noticed Thranduil, however, its entire posture shifted. It seemed to straighten up before your very eyes, hooves stamping in excitement. Then you could have sworn it bowed before the king. The beast seemed to fully brighten up at the mere sight of him. Thranduil couldn't hide his smile as he stepped away from you and over to the majestic creature, pulling an apple from somewhere deep in his robes, and holding it out to his steadfast companion, who took it happily, wolfing the fruit down greedily.

You gazed at the elk with wide eyes, having never seen anything like it in your life. Thranduil turned to you with a soft smile when he noticed the way you were looking upon his elk. "His name is Mahtar." He told you, studying the wonder in your expression. "It means warrior. He has been by my side through many battles."

You tore your gaze from the beautiful animal and turned your awe to the king himself. "You... you ride him?!" You asked, stunned. Mahtar was huge, and yes elves were incredibly tall, the king the tallest you had seen, and yet it was still such a wonder to you.

Thranduil chuckled, nodding. "Yes. He is my most faithful friend." He reached up to run his fingers down over the elk's snout, smile growing as Mahtar showed his appreciation of the gesture by stamping his foot.

"You may ride with me." Thranduil said, glancing at you before gesturing to the many other animals in the stables. "Or you may choose a steed more to your liking." He didn't wish for you to be afraid, after all. Most people worried about mounting such a creature and also falling off - not that Thranduil let any other actually ride this particular elk.

You were quiet for a minute as you thought about it, mulling the idea over in your head. You knew how to ride a horse, of course, growing up on a farm... but the desire to sit atop that magnificent elk was overwhelming and you would not be expected to actually take control, you reasoned. Thranduil would have the reins.