Eclipse of Hearts ✔

30. Natural [Alyssae]

The walls seemed to close her in. Would it ever stop? Was one moment of luck too much to ask?
She grabbed her sword that hung next to the door and buckled it around. "The one who touched her, better starts praying I'll never find him."

She knew the villagers found Niamh a strange creature, but that was no reason to - to ...
Ferociously she shook her head. Welcoming all the aggression that showed itself, was the only way to keep her head above the water. When she would allow a single tear, her world would collapse and she wouldn't even be able to reach the threshold.

To her dismay Raphael said nothing. He only stepped aside to let her through. Dwalin and Kíli hastened after her. 

"Is she dead?" she grumbled to Raphael, irritated because he did not say a word and only stood next to the door stupidly. 

He moved his head slowly from left to right and Alyssae had to restrain herself not to push her sword against his throat. Maybe she was insane. Maybe none of this was really happening. This couldn't be true. She couldn't lose her only child, that had left her womb only a few days ago.

. . .

Alyssae did not need Raphael's help to find out what had happened. A large crowd had assembled at the square, but they stepped aside when their eye caught her. Her toes arched of nervousness, but she didn't let her shoulders slump. Would the killer still be here? Did he want to see her face? Was this Thranduil's revenge? If that was true, he would feel the rage of a mother. She would find him and slam a sword through his chest.

Her wrath however turned into confusion when she saw three bodies that were lying on the ground. They were no full-grown elves and the stones upon which they laid, were stained in blood. Their eyes stared at the sky and some of their limbs were torn off their bodies. 
Alyssae got ice cold when she felt the looks of the bystanders. The parents of these children could be around and they clearly believed she was guilty. That could only mean one thing, but that presumption was way over her head. She looked at Raphael. "Where is Niamh?"

"I brought her to the cells." He didn't look at her, but stared at his bloody hands.

"Is that her blood?"

"No."

Alyssae did not ask whose blood it was; that of himself or of the young elves. With shaking legs she turned around an walked to the cells. She placed her trembling hands on the balustrade. For a moment she looked over her shoulder, but the dwarfs and Raphael had left her alone. 

. . .

Bent she sat before the only cell that was filled. "Niamh?" she asked softly. 

She heard some shambling and saw her little girl. Her pale skin was covered with blood, her eyes were fixed at a spot she could not define. 

She didn't want to accuse her, but she could scream of frustration. Was the child irresponsible? Or did she know damn well what she had done? Was this even her child? Or had Thranduil created something dark, something that surpassed her darkest nightmares? She didn't know and she couldn't think of anyone who could give her an answer. 

"You can't do this, Niamh," she said softly in the end. "You can't kill the other elves. Why - why did you do that?"

Niamh looked her right in the eyes. "Why do I breath? Why do I walk? This - this was just as natural."

Her voice was not colored by remorse or despair. It had a calm tone, causing goose bumps. She intertwined her fingers. 

"That is unusual."

"I am unusual," Niamh mumbled and she turned her face away. "You think I don't know that?"

Alyssae sighed. There was no use in denying it. A tear slipped down her face, for she suddenly realized what they would do to her daughter - even if it was a royal child. They would execute her, for the safety of their society.