'Thank goodness that horses need to be watered!' Sepha thought as she dismounted.

She loved riding and her pony was great! Unlike Kili's! However, sitting in the saddle with her legs spread apart, made it all the more uncomfortable when her bladder began to fill up from breakfast and they had been riding for hours. After getting a headache on past trips from not drinking enough, Sepha had made it a routine to drink a full skin (Which is about the size of a waterbottle) every two to three hours. However, this didn't help when you were in the saddle and couldn't empty your bladder whenever you wanted.

When she dismounted, she tied the reins of her pony on his saddle so he didn't trip and let him wander to the stream with the other ponies. She sighed and grabbing her bag, she headed to a clump of bushes that was out of sight of the dwarves. However, it wasn't as easy as that.

Before she even took a step in that direction, Nori, Ori, Dori and Bofur were upon her, asking her questions and inquiring if she would be interested in joining in a new bet. Sepha barely heard what they were saying for her head was spinning with their voices and the need to relieve herself. All she heard was something about how long it would take them to get through Mirkwood. These dwarves seriously bet on everything! Even about Bofur's cooking! Once Dori and Nori had made a bet about how many times Bombur called for a bathroom break during the first half of the trip but finding it rather disturbing, Sepha had declined.

"Uh guys... I have to go," Sepha said, cringing when she felt her bladder weaken. If she didn't go soon she would wet her pants and that would be embarrassing.

Just when she felt like she was going to burst, a deep voice cut through the four dwarves' chatter.

"Let Sepha go. Seriously, you can chatter her ear off after she has a few moments to herself." THorin remarked, stepping to pull Ori and Nori back by their hoods. "Have a little respect."

Dori and Bofur nodded their heads and ducked away, giving Sepha an apology before pulling Nori and Ori away with them, leaving THorin and Sepha alone. Thorin smiled at her which only aided in making Sepha's already flushed face go crimson.

"Sorry about that."

Sepha shook her head, "Don't worry about it. Thank you though for stepping in."

Thorin smiled, "They were going a little too far. Though I wont follow suit and keep you."

The girl smiled gratefully as the dwarf prince bowed his head to her as a sign of excusing himself and headed over to talk with Gandalf and Dwalin. Sepha quickly spun on her heel and charged away from the company. When she finished, she was walking back to the company when something flashed in her mind.

Balin had said that another sign of a dwarf showing interest in a girl would be to show signs of respect, protection and standing up for her.... which was exactly what Thorin had just done.... holy noodles!

When Sepha came back into the clearing where the dwarves were beginning to gather their ponies, Sepha felt her cheeks flame red even though THorin wasn't even looking in her direction.

"here Sepha," Fili invited, holding out the reins of her pony to the girl.

Sepha thanked him and took the reins but it was evident her mind was elsewhere and her cheeks were still a cute shade of pink. Fili smiled at the sight, having to admit that the girl was rather pretty.

"You know, if you were any younger, I would ask to court you," Fili said, mostly in a teasing tone but after what SEpha had experienced, she wasn't taking anything lightly.

She lifted her eyes in puzzlement, "Is it a dwarf custom to be the same age?"

Fili shook his head, "If you found your one, it doesn't matter. I actually know a dwarf who married a dam who was about our age difference apart and she was the older one."

Sepha smiled, "So you have never had an interest in girls?"

"Oh I wouldn't say that," Fili remarked. "I found you vastly interesting when I first met you and after I found out everything about you... I was considering asking for your favor."

"You think I'm your one?" Sepha inquired.

Fili smiled and turned slightly red from nervousness, "I wouldn't say that.... but sometimes it's hard to get to know a lass if you're just friends. if a lass gives a dwarf her 'favor' which is like her permission to get to know her better, they aren't considered just friends or courting... but somewhere between. It is often that dwarves ask several girls for their favor until they're sure they found their one."

"Then why didn't you?" Sepha inquired. "I wouldn't have minded."

Fili's eyes seemed to light up but immediately, something in his mind clicked and the back of his ears turned pink but his face showed no signs of sadness, only embarrassment. He glanced over his shoulder at THorin, remembering full well how all the other dwarves had fallen under Thorin during the arm wrestling match, meaning that none of them had a right to ask for her favor, except THorin. Such was custom.

"I...I changed my mind," Fili replied, scurrying off before he embarrassed himself more.

Fili honestly wasn't hurt that Thorin had put Sepha off limits by winning the wrestling match but he felt bad that he had to hurt her. The way he had told her, he knew that she would be hurt especially since he had said it as if he had lost interest in her. In truth, he adored Sepha as a friend, a sister and even as a mother figure. After Rivendell and how she had strove to care for him and Kili, he had begun to see her less and less as a mate and more as someone who was older than him, but also how she suited Thorin much better than him. There had been a point where he wouldn't have minded to have her favor and even though he still wouldn't mind now, he had begun to realize that she was still more like a mother/sister to him.

Sepha watched Fili go and felt a pain in her chest. Fili had lost interest.... well that was to be expected considering how out of the normal she was and how she wasn't full blooded dwarf. However, there was something about how Fili told her that said that something about it wasn't entirely the truth. Glancing at all the other dwarves, she saw that Kili had been watching and seemed a little saddened, she was not sure about what though. Balin and Dwalin were peering at her but looked away when she looked their direction. They then began chatting together and even though they had seemed so excited and happy a few minutes ago, they almost looked concerned and worried. THorin was conversing with Gandalf and seemed oblivious, a smile on his face and his eyes bright. She was going to find out what was going on if it was the last thing she did.

Once they entered the forest, Sepha had forgotten everything that had been racking her brains for the past few hours. Gandalf had left them and they had of course, lost the path. Kili began to mumble things that didn't make any sense to Sepha. Some of them, having to do about bets and wagers did make sense but SEpha forgot about them the moment they left Kili's mouth... she couldn't remember anything.... her head was swimming.... what was going on?

She remembered vaguely hearing Thorin yell at everyone to be quiet, then she remembered seeing Bilbo scurry up a tree to look for where they needed to go...then everything went black.

When Sepha came to, she found herself covered in a sticky material that she at once recognized as web! EEEEEEWWWWWW!

Tearing it off her face, she was glad that it didn't stick to her leather clothes and hair as much as the dwarves. She found herself lying on several bodies and Ori was partially on top of her. The young dwarf rolled off of her with a quick apology. Sepha saw that she was partially lying on Dwalin who wiggled out from beneath her and began to help the others up.

When Dwalin stood up, Sepha rolled for her feet were still pinned and wrapped up so she landed on another body, banging heads with the person. She groaned and she heard a soft groan coming from the other person. Her hair flopped over her eyes, blinding her and she mumbled to herself.

"Of all things to happen. Spiders. THey're supposed to remain small!"

There was a chuckle beneath her and a hand brushed her hair out of her eyes. Her eyes went wide and her cheeks turned bright red when she realized she was lying on THorin! He was lying on his back, smiling and chuckling at her reaction and the mess she was in. He pushed her hair out of her eyes and tucked some strands behind her ears, letting his fingers linger on the side of her face a little longer than need be.

Sepha was so glad that her head was now clear of the curse or she wouldn't have managed to snap herself out of the daze THorin had her in. When she pushed up from his chest, she rolled over, realizing her legs were still wrapped. Sitting up, she began to tear at it and soon THorin bent down and helped her by cutting the web with a dagger.

"They made sure to bind you up tighter than the rest of us," THorin pointed out.

Sepha grinned, "They must have noticed that I have a thin hide and didn't want me to burst!"

This only caused THorin to grin brighter, "On the contrary, they probably smelt that your blood would be much more agreeable than the rest of us."

Sepha knew that Thorin was speaking logic, since the spiders had been attracted to their blood but she was still slightly surprised at his answer, "And how would you know how my blood smelt? It actually smells really bad when it's not in my body!"

This brought out a laugh from Thorin who drew the girl to her feet, "Maybe so, but the rest of you smells so good that even spiders couldn't resist."

Of course, this made Sepha's face go bright pink when she realized he was paying her a compliment on how she smelt.... how did he know how she smelt? They usually weren't close enough and for the most part, she was so soiled and bloody that she only smelt of the road and blood.

"THORIN!" Dwalin called, snapping the two of them out of their conversation. "SPIDERS!"

"Come on!" THorin called, grabbing Sepha by the hand and Orcrist in the other.

They began to rush through the woods, battling spiders when suddenly, a familiar noise split the air and Sepha found herself shivering.... the sound of a bow.

Looking up, she saw an elf swinging down towards them, killing spiders as he went. For a second she thought he was thranduil, what with the blond hair and all. However, as he got nearer and aimed his bow directly at Thorin, Sepha recognized him.

He had been younger when she last saw him... barely a lad. He had actually be one of the few elves who had been kind and courteous to her when Thranduil practically had her as an experiment. Legolas had shown distaste for his father's experiments on Sepha and had even been the one to aid her in escaping. Him and another elf.

"Do not think I wont kill you dwarf. It would be my pleasure," Legolas hissed.

Sepha found herself smirking, especially when Thorin didn't say anything but lowered Orcrist.

Soon, Kili was brought over and Sepha recognized the female elf: Tauriel as the other elf who had helped her escape. Of course, Sepha was one of the few who knew back then about Legolas's crush on the female elf but of course, Tauriel had confided in Sepha that she wasnt sure she liked Legolas in that way.

"Search them," Legolas ordered.

He had still not spied Sepha who was hidden behind Fili and now Kili. Just then, an elf approached FIli and caught sight of the girl.

"Legolas," He called. "There is a girl."

Legolas's head snapped up from where he was searching Gloin and his eyes met Sepha's.

"Seph?" he asked.

All the dwarves bristled at his use for Sepha's pet name but stopped when they saw the girl smiled sweetly at him. The elf walked around the dwarves and stood before Sepha, smiling.

"What are you doing here?"

Sepha knew she couldn't reveal much but Legolas was her friend, "I'm part of the company. Just hanging out."

Legolas shot a look at THorin, suspicion playing in his eyes, "And I suppose you know these dwarves?"

Sepha nodded, "Aye."

Legolas considered the dwarves a moment before sighing, "LET's move!"

With that, Sepha and the dwarves were shuffled off towards the Woodland Realm. However, Thorin noticed with deep annoyance that Legolas kept a gentle hand on Sepha's shoulder. Of course, THorin found it impossible to get near Sepha especially with all the shoving and pushing.

"You know it wouldn't be a good idea to take Sepha before your father," Tauriel remarked as they shoved the dwarves into cells.

Sepha stood, Legolas's hand still on her shoulder, "You know that he'll know she's here even if we keep it a secret from him," the elf pointed out. "WE don't want his wrath on her to be worse than it already is."

"Well he's speaking with the lead dwarf," Tauriel pointed out, shoving Kili into his cell. "Just wait till that's over."

Legolas nodded and led Sepha off to his father. When they arrived, Thorin and Thranduil seemed to be in a heated argument. Thranduil was sauntering up the steps to his throne, saying something about how Thorin was just like his grandfather.

"Father," Legolas remarked, catching the king's attention.

Thorin didn't turn around, obviously not knowing that Legolas had Sepha but when Thranduil's eyebrows went up, Thorin spun around.

"Well what do we have here?"

"Sepha," Thorin whispered, staring at the girl in shock.

Sepha smiled at Thorin with encouragement, "it's alright."

"Finally you came to your senses and returned," Thranduil remarked.

Sepha snorted and brushed Legolas's hand off her shoulder, "In your dreams!"

Thorin smiled slightly at her response but when Thranduil stormed from the throne, he tensed.

"You had everything you wanted here!" he hissed. "You had a life, people who cared about you, food, a home and a purpose."

Sepha stormed away from Legolas so that she was standing right before the king and she jabbed his chest with her finger, "I had nothing here! The only people who cared about me were Legolas and Tauriel! I didn't have a life! I was being used! I was half starved to death and you threatened to not feed me unless I bore an offspring that I would have with another mixed breed! This was not a home! It was a prison cell! My only purpose was to fulfill you and your blasted experiment!"

Thranduil's dark eyebrows lowered and his eyes darkened, "Legolas, remove Oakenshield from my presence. I wish to speak with Sepha alone."

Thorin at once began to struggle but the two guards who grabbed him were taller and stronger. As they dragged him away, his eyes darkened.

"Don't even think about hurting her!" he hissed.

When THorin was gone, Thranduil turned to Sepha, "Now my dear. I think it's high time we came to an agreement."

"You mean a deal?" Sepha inquired.

Thranduil nodded, "If you stay here and continue on with my project, I will let your dwarf friends go. If not, you will all remain here as prisoners."

Sepha crossed her arms, "Indeed? Well it seems like I have you at a disadvantage. You get one of me, but for me, you free thirteen of them."

"True," THranduil remarked. "in that case. You will stay here to continue the project... and you will release yourself from oakenshield."

Sepha raised her eyebrows, "What are you talking about? I didn't take an oath or anything. I didn't even sign a contract."

Thranduil chuckled, "Oh no, I was referring to your emotional bond with him."

Sepha felt her heart freeze. Was it that obvious?

"I have no idea what you're talking about. We're nothing but friends."

Thranduil nodded, "Uh huh? Then how come Thorin has a claim on you."

"He has no claim on me!" Sepha shouted, getting annoyed. "The only time that THorin ever staked a claim concerning me was when he made himself my 'protector'."

Thranduil's eyebrows went down, "And how did he do that?"

"An arm wrestling match with the other dwarves," Sepha replied, losing her patience.

A loud laugh erupted from the king which only aggravated Sepha more.

"My dear Persephone. You have always been so naive. Have you no idea what an arm wrestling match implies when it comes to dwarves? For humans and elves it's just a form of competition. For dwarves, it's much more personal," the elf remarked, suddenly having Sepha's full attention. "When dwarves have an arm wrestling match in the presence of only one female, no matter if they are their kin or not, the winner of the match now is the only one of the dwarves who competed who is allowed to court the lass."

Sepha froze. She didn't quite get all of that but from how he was saying it, Thorin had somehow put her off limits. "Explain..."

Thranduil smiled, glad that she was listening, "THorin wont the match against the other dwarves correct?"

Sepha nodded.

"Then that means that THorin is now the only person who has any right to court you now. If anyone else wishes to have an interest in courting you or even asking for your favor, they must best him at arm wrestling. It's a way that dwarves stake their claim. Mark their territory. You practically belong to Thorin now as far as romance and courting is implied."

"YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THAT I"M NOT ALLOWED TO COURT ANYONE!?" Sepha shouted.

"No one but Oakenshield," Thranduil replied. "unless someone can best him. though I have to say, if he won against all the dwarves of your company, it will be difficult for anyone to best him."

"Oh that little son of a half troll..." Sepha muttered under her breath, feeling her face go red with fury.

Thranduil smiled, glad that he had hit a sensitive spot, "Legolas will escort you back to your friends. I'll give you some time to think about my proposal and you can tell me when you're ready."

Sepha didn't speak, didn't look up and didn't even object when Legolas placed a hand on her elbow and ushered her away from his father.

When Legolas led her down to the dungeons, the girl finally looked up and her green eyes blazed with fury. For a second, Legolas was afraid she would morph but instead, her fingers just sparked with fire instead.

"Sorry Seph but I'll have to put you in a cell," Legolas apologized.

With that, he opened a cell door and she walked in. Legolas closed it gently and locked it, but not before smiling at her in a fond way.

Sepha walked around her cell, inspecting the place. This was a different cell from the one she had been in the last time she was here. However, when she had entered, she had noticed that there were two cells connected to hers. The cells were so dark that she couldn't tell if there was anyone in the other cells. However, she did know that Balin was to her right.

"Sepha," Fili's voice called out from some other cell. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Sepha replied, trying to not snap.

"Did he hurt you?" Kili's voice called.

"No," Sepha replied. "He just wanted to bargain."

"Bargain what?" Dwalin's voice called.

"If I agree to stay here and be subject to his experiments, he will let you all go. If not, we're stuck here to rot," Sepha replied. "he said he would give me time to think about it."

"You can't do it Seph!" Balin pointed out. "Who knows what he'll do to you if you agree."