Courage ✔

Chapter 15

His instincts rang when they walked over an enormous bridge, which was not made naturally. He had never expected to enter an elvish city voluntarily and certainly not this one. Still, he had no choice. If he had to believe this elf, he would Fili here and if he was even luckier, they could wake up Dwalin and Alyssae as well.

Alyssae...

With displeasure, he glanced at the elf who held her in his arms. He hoped he was a family member, but it was unusual the elf had cried for her in presence of everyone and he had a strong feeling this blond man was her fiancé, which drove him to a madness that frightened him. He knew it was a lost battle against this elf.

In the first place, he hoped that idea would chase away his feelings for her since it was ridiculous he loved her in an almost perverse way and he didn't want to make a fool of himself. However, the idea that Alyssae would be together with this not unsightly elf was even more repulsive – certainly because she had asserted she didn't want to marry this man.

They didn't go further than an access road to an enormous tree. Some elves held them and told them Alyssae and Dwalin needed to be examined first.

'You have to purify yourselves too,' a red-haired elf let them know. 'I will show you the bathroom.'

Luckily there were no elves present in the building and they undressed quickly, after which they jumped in the water. Thorin sighed with relief when the warm water surrounded him and soaked the filth of days from his skin. He had never expected to be welcomed like this and this warm welcome strengthened his suspicion, but he decided to undergo all of this as long as their group wasn't complete.

'These elves aren't the worst,' Kili smiled, who soaped his arms.

Thorin didn't want to confirm, since he was afraid they would have to pay a price to leave again and he wouldn't be surprised if Alyssae would suffer from that. With his right hand, he grabbed his clothes and took them into the water, so they would become clean as well. He didn't want to put on a ridiculous elf dress, but neither did he want to put on his own clothes, which were covered in mud and blood.

He yawned while he relaxed a little. Everyone seemed to recover from this bath and he was glad they made it so far. It was better when he didn't look too far ahead.

After an hour Thorin left the bath. His clothes were dried up miraculously as soon as he had put them on the tiles again. For once he was glad about the magic of the elves. When he left the bathroom he saw two elves who forbid entry for their congeners.

'Where do you care for the sick?'

One of the elves pointed to a large tree, where a winding stair circled around. Thorin's heart raced in his chest when he climbed the stairs and he had to take a deep breath before he pushed the door open.

'I expected you to come,' an elf smiled and she took him to a round, quiet room. Thorin was a little confused by their friendly behavior and he wondered if he had believed in a lie for all those years. Soon however he remembered the moment Thranduil appeared on a hilltop with his enormous elk, staring right into his eyes, where after he turned back.

He stepped into the room but was shocked when someone threw his arms around his neck. 'Thorin!'

'Fili!'

For a moment he became full when he threw his arms around his nephew and held him. He had never expected to see the boy again – and certainly not alive. Maybe it had been Fili who rescued them in the end...

'It is good to see you, boy.' Together they walked to the bed in which Dwalin lay. An elf sat next to him and brushed his skin carefully. It made him glad the elves cared for his friend.