Alyssae barely realized what was happening. She had tried to disassociate from her surroundings, for she knew Vaughn would punish her for her resistance - probably at the expense of Dwalin.
The moment he wanted to penetrate her brutally, she had waken up. However, before she could make a sound somebody had came into the cell and killed Vaughn.
Only when she became aware that Vaughn was dead, the full reality came back to her. The danger was over. Finally Vaughn was dead.
Crestfallen she looked up to Eldinòr. He had put back his bloody dagger in its scabbard and he pulled out his leather jacket. As soon as his eyes caught hers, Alyssae looked away ashamed. Bruises had appeared where her ankles and wrists had been chained. The rest of her body was frozen and she couldn't look at her own body without feeling his loveless hands and poisonous lips.
Eldinòr searched the dead body of the dwarf. After a few moments he stood up with a keyring in his hands. Alyssae turned her head away. She didn't want him to see her nakedness. She didn't want to see what he was seeing.
As soon as her arms were freed, he threw his jacket over her. Without saying a word Alyssae get into it. The pressure around her ankles disappeared and Alyssae stared at the ground. She wanted to leave. Away from the memories. Away from Vaughn's bleeding body. Away from Balin's decaying body. She would give anything to go far, far way from here, never to return.
She noticed she was staggering. Her throat felt thick by the suppressed grief and she fought against the longing to fall on her knees, curling up into a small ball.
There is nothing going wrong, she said to herself. She was saved before something really bad could happen.
"We have to leave." Those were the first words he spoke. Cold, as if nothing had happened. As if he had seen nothing.
Alyssae nodded absent-minded. She staggered toward the door, but he believed she was to slow. He lifted her up and carried her out of the dungeons. For a moment she panicked because he touched her, but then she leaned with her head against his shoulder, exhausted. "Dwalin," she whispered, "you have to take Dwalin with you.""I will get him as soon as you're safe."
Alyssae closed her eyes. He would take her to Thorin.When Alyssae woke up again, she first thought everything had been a bad dream. Quickly however she found out she was still wearing Eldinòr's jacket. She came upright on the bed he had laid her in and looked around. "Where is Thorin?"
Eldinòr sat at the foot of the bed. In his hand he held a jewel, that he studied - his thoughts seemed miles away. "You can't go back to Erebor now, Alys," he sighed. "Vaughn had not planned this on his own. There are more men who want you dead."
"Then get him here."
"We already sailed way. I won't take any risks."
"Rubbish. My whole army is there." She wanted to stand up, but he pulled her back into the pillows. "Calm down, Alys. You are upset. Thorin will manage a few hours without you."
Alyssae sighed and tried the catch his eyes, but his attention was still absorbed by the jewel. "Thank you. If you hadn't been there..." Ashamed she stared at the blankets.
"I was way too late," he mumbled, finally looking at her. "And I am really sorry about that." He stood up. "About that and many more."
Alyssae looked at him in confusion. Even when he had left the room and closed the door, she stared at the wooden planks, until the door was opened again.
She stopped breathing when she saw Philae. Did Eldinòr know he had betrayed her? The answer came like bolt from the blue, for behind the pirate she could see the bridge she had crossed four years ago. She was back in Mirkwood.

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Eclipse of Hearts ✔
Fantasy[Completed. Words: 93.173] *This story is a sequel to "Courage"* "Once upon a time I was falling in love, but now I'm only falling apart. Once upon a time there was light in my life, but now there's only love in the dark. Nothing I can say, a t...