A Second Chance

Chapter 7

Italics are Emma's thoughts.

Emma looked furtively around the corridor. Dashing out from her hiding spot, she ran to the end of the hallway and took a left. She had started humming the Mission Impossible theme song under her breath.

Ever since Mr. Perfect-Hair had stopped throwing her in the dungeons, she had been amusing herself by exploring the vast expanses of his underground palace. Legolas had offered to take her outside, but ever since the tree incident, she didn't really feel like it. If she could have been honest with herself, she didn't want to even look at a tree.

Peering around the corner Emma tiptoed out and snuck through a pair of huge wooden doors (it took her a while to open them). Her mouth fell open.

She had happened across the stables.

Emma loved horses. She had always wanted one, but never had enough room. That didn't stop her from taking riding lessons though. She never got very far, but she had learned the basics.

She grinned as she saw all the different horses. Looking in each stall as she walked passed, she talked to each and every one of the horses. At the very end was an absolutely huge stall, in it was the giant elk that his Royal Sassiness had been riding when they first met.

"Oh. It's you," Emma muttered. The elk merely tilted it's head and examined her.

"What are you looking at? Is there something on my face?" The elk snorted and stomped it's foot. Emma rolled her eyes, "I don't have any food for you." The elk snorted again.

"How can you stand being ridden by that stuck up elfy king?" Emma asked conversationally. The elk's ears perked up and it looked over her shoulder, Emma didn't notice and continued talking.

"I mean, he's such an arrogant, annoying, generally mean, grouchy, superfluous; though I don't know why, sparkly robed..." Emma paused to thing of more words to describe the uppity Elvenking.

"Sparkly robed what?"

Emma shrieked and whirled around, barely missing the chest of the very person she had been complaining about. Scowling up at him she said, "Sparkly robed, sneaker up-er on-er person!"

King Sassy-Face looked faintly amused and said, "What a colorful description you paint of my character, Lady Emma. And is sneaker up-er on-er, even a real phrase?"

"Don't Lady Emma me, mister snobby pants! For one, lady just doesn't sound right in front of Emma and anyways, I am not a lady. And no, it's not. I made it up. 'Nuf said." the Elvenking raised an eyebrow, "You look a lady to me..."

"SHUT UP!" Emma yelled.

Thranduil sighed and stepped around her so that he was directly facing his elk. He had long ago given up on receiving any semblance of politeness from this strange elleth. Taking an apple out from the depths of his robe, he fed it to his large beast, animal, pet thing. The elk snapped it up greedily.

Emma walked up next to Thranduil and stared at the majestic beast, animal thing in awe, "What is his name?"

"Tarukka."

"What does that mean?"

"Horned one." '

Emma rolled her eyes, "Figures."

She chanced a glance at him from the corner of her eyes and saw that he looked a little offended.

"What?" she asked defensively.

"You have wounded me deeply!" he said in a mock-hurt voice.

Emma's mouth dropped open, "Oh. My. Gosh."

Thranduil looked a little concerned, "What is it?"

"Y-y-you... you... you..."

Thranduil made a go-on gesture with his hand.

"YOU MADE A JOKE! THE WORLD HAS TURNED UPSIDE DOWN AND IS COMING TO AN END FULL OF DARKNESS AND DESPAIR!" Emma screamed hysterically, before she ran off as fast as her legs could carry her, leaving the shocked and confused Elvenking behind to contemplate the consequences of his actions, along with the muffled thud and yelp that had reached his ears seconds later.

oOo

"Emma, you can't stay cooped up here forever," Miri said in a kind voice. Emma rested her chin on her finger and said, "Hmmmmm, actually, I can."

Emma and Miri had been planning on gong for a walk in the forest, when Emma's nerves got the better of her and she tried to back out of it right as they were about to go out the door.

Miri scowled, grabbed Emma's hand and said sternly, "You are going out there wether you want to or not, young lady!"

Emma was so shocked at Miri's sudden aggressiveness that she didn't notice that they were even outside for a good five minutes. Looking around, she squeaked in alarm and tried to run away.

"Oh no you don't!" Miri grabbed her arm with both hands and hauled in the opposite direction of the palace, Emma was fighting her every step of the way. Soon enough, they were both so tired they just dropped to the ground and sat there panting. After about ten minutes, they were extremely surprised by Legolas striding into the small clearing they had happened to collapse in. He stopped and regarded them with no small amount of surprise, "What are you two doing here?"

"I am being held against my will, she is holding me against my will." Legolas nodded his head slowly. Emma rolled her eyes and flopped onto her back, "Never-mind," she grumbled. Legolas shrugged and pulled himself up onto the first branch of the nearest tree. Emma quickly looked away right before Legolas asked her, "Emma? I have only heard bits and pieces, but I have managed to gather that you climb trees?"

Emma visibly paled, but answered regardless, "Yes, I did." Legolas grinned, "Great! Race you to the top?"

She stiffened, then shook her head.

"Oh, come on! Are you chicken?" Legolas asked teasingly. Emma scowled and stood up saying, "Fine! I'll do it!" She wasn't going to be patronized by some elvish prince! She stood in front of the tree, clearly very apprehensive. Miri was sitting up on the grass, looking very worried, "Emma, maybe you shouldn't do this."

Emma choked back a sob as she remembered the sound her neck had made. Legolas was now looking worried, "Emma-"

"I- I have to go..." Emma choked out. She turned around and raced back to the palace.

When she got into her room, she slammed the door behind her and screamed into her pillow, Why? Why can't I get over this?

A/N: Hellloooo fluffy Kittens! A Second Chance is approaching 100 views! WOOT WOOT! *snigger* anyways.. Just this far from 30 votes! *_* Many thanks comrades!! I would like to thank Elf_and_an_agent, CJ_Callahan90, and Raider-K with a commemorative bottle of Dorwinian wine, courtesy of the Partayking! And Raider-K ol'buddy ol'pal here is that stuffed moose you wanted :3 

I would like any readers who enjoyed this to please check out CJ_Callahan90's story 'To Live Again' for it is much awesomeness and wonderfulness *swoon* and Raider-K's story 'Kingsfoil' which is also awesomeness and wonderfulness *swoon* Until next time  the great and powerful Rousdower out_

*with a flourish of the rapier, and a puff of smoke, the great and powerful Rousdower disappears, never to be heard from again*