Eclipse of Hearts ✔

Chapter 105. [Alyssae]

Alyssae stared in the mirror. A soft green dress with tattered edges adorned her body. She had a large veil and the sleeves were missing. Although it was a beautiful piece of clothing Alyssae felt a prisoner in it. 
"You look beautiful, Alyssae."
She looked agitated over her shoulder. "You shouldn't see me."
Thranduil laughed. "I expected you would state that we shouldn't marry."
Although his laughter sounded genuine, it gave her goose bumps on her arms and she was sure it didn't escape his attention. She looked at the door, that had opened so silently it seemed as if Thranduil had used magic. 
"Can you set one of them free for the wedding?" Alyssae asked hopefully. 
An irritated expression appeared on his face. "Are your thoughts still with that baleful dwarfs? They stay there. I don't want to hear one more word about it."
"But Aymara..." she sighed. "That poor girl has gone through enough misery."
"She clearly believes she's better off here than somewhere else," Thranduil shrugged. 
"Can they join the wedding?"
Her future husband rose his eyebrows, disdainfully. "Why would they want to join the party? Our pledge means nothing to them."
Alyssae stared at the ground. Their pledge didn't mean anything to anyone.

In the middle of the night Alyssae left the castle. Her footsteps shambled over the smooth, cold stones and shivers crept over her back when she saw the moon, that wrapped the treetops in a mysterious light. She went down the stairs she had descended with Thorin once, but took another turn. 
Two guards stood there, both elves with unfamiliar faces. 
"I know Thranduil has forbidden me to go inside," Alyssae confessed when they were startled by her presence. "But I beg you. My best friend is locked up and I really want to talk to her. I don't mind if you come with me and report Thranduil every word I say to her."
One of them shrugged, the other gave her a questioning look. 
"Please." She gave him her sweetest smile. Even though the left one looked away grumbling, the other seemed easier to appease. "It can't do no harm, the wedding is tomorrow."
Alyssae wanted to hug him, but she didn't, afraid it would only strengthen the suspicion of the other .
Again she descended the stairs, accompanied by the guards. She was afraid of what she would see. Maybe Aymara couldn't handle her imprisonment at all. 
She was freed from that nightmare when her eye caught the dwarf-woman. She sat at the ground with Bombur and Bofur, but they all jumped up when they saw her.
"Alyssae!" Aymara whispered. "I was afraid I couldn't speak to you in time!"
Timidly she looked at the guards and she shrunk a little. Bofur laid an encouraging hand on her shoulder. A careful smile was drawn on Alyssae's face, glad her friends were still alive and supporting each other. 
"What are you doing here, Alyssae?"
She stared at the ground, but then started to tell, rapidly, as if she was afraid someone would cut her off. "Raphael and Melline sent me. I had to tell you that you can't turn back time, because Thranduil's wife died to protect her brother."
Alyssae watched her, blankly. Before she could say anything, Aymara went on. 
"That brother is your father, Alyssae." She looked up. "Which means that Melline and you will never be born."
Alyssae felt sick. Not only about the fact that she wouldn't exist, but she also realized with whom she would marry tomorrow. 
With her uncle. 
She couldn't breathe, while she wondered if this was true. Why would her parents never have told her this? It couldn't be true. Then Thranduil could have used the heart of his own son after he had died. 
"This makes no sense," she grumbled, shaking her head. "I am afraid they have abused your kindness again, Aymara."