Courage ✔

Chapter 16

The sun warmed her skin and left behind little sweat drops. A soft breeze brushed her hair and played guilelessly with her brown locks. Invisible birds chirped from their hiding place in the thick canopies, and the surface of the water reflected the blue sky in which a few small clouds floated.

Alyssae was sitting in the reed, her legs crossed, and she stared into the water. She had no idea how long she was doing that, but she didn't feel the need to stand up and leave this peaceful place. Her fingers strung a garland without noticing and it seemed her thoughts only started to arouse by now, by which she wondered how she had come here.

She looked at her bare arms, which were unharmed. There were no signs of the fight she had been through, because of which she started to believe it had been nothing but a bad dream.

Alyssae thought about the dwarves, who seemed to be nothing but a creation of her own brain, an illusion made by her wild fantasy. The thought reassured her since it meant that nobody's life was at risk or had died. Bilbo, Bifur, Kili, Fili and Thorin were all part of her imagination. She was grieved by that conclusion, for there were only imaginary friends she cared for and there was even a non-existing love that made her blood whirl.

Slowly she stepped into the transparent pool. Circles appeared around her ankles and she took off her dress and threw it to the shore, assuming there was no one around, but she jolted when there was someone on the waterfront. She dived a little deeper into the water, but it was so transparent her body wasn't hidden.

She solidified when he undressed too until he only wore a loincloth. Her cheeks turned red when their eyes met. In a reflex, she crossed her arms before her breasts, although she knew he had seen them before. Still, she was afraid they wouldn't please him.

Silent she watched how he stepped into the water and waded towards her. His tense torso made her cheeks glow even heavier and water drops glittered on his slightly haired chest. Alyssae's throat became dry when she saw his penetrating glance and when his husky voice spoke to her, goosebumps appeared all over her body.

'What are you doing here?' she uttered with a trembling voice.

'I wanted to hear your voice again. I wanted to look into your eyes.'

Alyssae noticed she could look right into his blue eyes. The height difference had disappeared.

She couldn't say a word and with wide eyes, she watched how he stretched his hand towards her face and stroked her hair. His fingers glided along her ear and cheek and he even touched her lips.

Her nipples hardened by his touches and she felt ashamed because he could see it, although she didn't know where that embarrassment was coming from. It was clear he longed just as much for her as she longed for him. Carefully she raised her hand. Her hands touched the little hairs of his beard. She bowed towards him with burning desire, but just before their lips touched, he shook his head.

'I wish I could turn back time,' he whispered, 'so I could admit you mean the world to me as you asked me.'

Alyssae looked at him in confusion, but the glance in his eyes changed and a dark shadow crept over him. He pushed her so that she fell backward. With her arms, she lashed out to the right and left, but the bottom beneath her feet suddenly disappeared.

'Grab my hand!' she screamed, but by her panicked cries her lungs were filled with water and she became short of breath.

Alyssae opened her eyes while she screamed loudly. Immediately footsteps came closer and a face appeared in front of her. Two blue eyes looked worried at her and for a short moment she believed everything hadn't been a dream, but when her sight became better, she noticed it was not Thorin.