Eclipse of Hearts ✔

Chapter 69. [Alyssae]

Alyssae spread her fingers over Thorin's hand, that was laying on her knee. It might be a simple gesture, but it meant the world to Alyssae. It was a sign of initiative, which convinced her that he wanted to fight for their relationship. Since the beginning of the journey she hadn't believed for a moment that things would work out well. That she would return with Thorin and be together with him. 
Alyssae wished he would stay with her tonight. She wanted to sleep in his strong arms and see his face when she woke up, but she didn't dare to suggest it. 
Now Philae had left a bed was available and it would probably do the bound with his friends well if he slept in one room with them. The relationship between Thorin and her wasn't after all the one only that had been over.
She looked over her shoulder when Thorin froze. The grasp around her knee tightened and she wasn't surprised it turned out to be Eldinòr who caused  hisanger. 
The elf smirked at him, but then walked to one of his mates. Thorin breathed out slowly. Alyssae decided it was better if she didn't tell Thorin she had just kissed the elf, even though it had been a silent protest against all the things he had done with Aymara. 

Days went by and the wounds seemed to heal slowly. Now and then Kíli showed a smile when his uncle was around and the lines in his face became more friendly. Something seemed to flourish between Iorwen and Dwalin, so that more things were on his mind than only the injustice that was done to his brother. Thorin even told her that he had spoken with Aymara a few times and that her fear was a little tempered now. 
Between Thorin and her things were getting better too. They talked, held hands and kissed beneath the burning sun and the sparkling starry sky. Alyssae started to believe they could get back the future they had thrown away and even Thorin admitted carefully that he never had thought he would ever feel this way again, even though there were plenty of thoughts that still overshadowed his mind. Alyssae noticed he still despised himself and found she deserved better, despite all the times she held him and whispered she wanted nobody else. 
Eldinòr didn't came close to her. She missed his company, although they both knew it wouldn't speed up Thorin's recovery and she had to make sacrifices too. Furthermore the attention Thorin gave her, meant more to her that the flirting of Eldinòr, which she never had known how to interpret. 

It was a bright evening when the ship anchored. It was more quiet than Alyssae remembered and even the songs of the night birds didn't echo through the otherwise so animated wood. A lump appeared in her throat. The flickering lights in the distance, the few elves that greeted them and the soft laments called up tears in her eyes. In silence she climbed down the ship, toward the misery. 
The elves that were waiting for them, nodded to her. Their lips didn't move, but even without their words Alyssae knew what had happened. Their was only one person they would all mourn for. 
In a straight line she walked to the palace. The guards stepped behind when she passed them. She heard the hastened footsteps of Thorin behind her. It might be the worse moment to be introduced in an elf city. 
"Alyssae..."
Raphael ran through a side-passage to her. He undoubtedly had kept an eye on the river. She let him embrace her without saying a word. 
The grief burned behind her eyes, but she didn't give in. Not before her fear had taken a solid form, so that she could no longer deny the truth. 
Alyssae heard the tinkling of iron and looked up. Two elves pulled Raphael behind, one of them held a spear in his hands. 

"Raph-"
"I didn't do it," he whispered. "I swear." Defeated he stared at the two guards. "But I'm not permitted to get anywhere near to you." The expression on his face became embittered. "Not even near my own wife."
Alyssae shook her head in disbelief. It made her angry somebody treated her friend this way, but on this moment there were to many others emotions dragging her along. "Where is my father?"
One of the elves stepped forward. "I'll escort you to him."
Alyssae looked back, to Thorin who stood a few meters away and clearly didn't know what to do. "He's coming with me."
The man bowed his head politely. "As you wish."
She felt a little calmer when Thorin stroke with his thumb over her forefinger. They didn't speak while they followed the elf to a room. There was a dark bier, on which the body of her father was laid. 
Alyssae knelt beside him and watched his calm face. His eyes were closed as if he was only sleeping, but he did not breath. Even though Alyssae had known he was gone as soon as she had reached Chyndall, it was only now that she was flooded by grief. She collapsed and tried to control her breathing. Thorin held her and kissed her temple, but he said no comforting words. There were none. A few tears eluded her eyes, but she was surprised by her own strength. 
Until she saw, through a veil of tears, the jewel around his neck. It was a gem, so beautiful it could only belong to a king. She stood up and shook off Thorin's hand. Her breathing speed up while she grabbed the ornament in blind anger and pulled it from her father's neck. A heartbreaking scream echoed through the room, followed by the sound of glass that scattered in thousand pieces. The starlight that they had been in them, extinguished immediately. 
It was one of the stones she had received from Thorin. The stones Thranduil had wanted from  her.