Courage ✔

Chapter 22

With mixed feelings, Gloin looked at Thorin, who embraced the elf. It wasn't that he disliked the elf or that she hadn't been of importance during this journey, but her influence on Thorin was growing and he didn't like that at all. For the second time, he had almost died because of her and it was only due to unexpected help that he was still alive.

If it had been up to Thorin, he would have given up everything for the elf. An elf with whom he had no future at all because she was engaged with someone else and they both had to lead a kingdom.

Could he still trust Thorin? He had almost thrown away his kingdom for a woman. A woman.

Of all people, Gloin knew what feelings a woman could cause, but he himself had left his child and woman to help Thorin with his quest and now he had ruined almost everything.

Rational thinking was something he couldn't do anymore. He was blinded by his feelings and Gloin had feared that for a long time, even though Thorin hadn't been serious about it.

Meanwhile, he knew Alyssae wished them no harm, but that didn't take away the fact she troubled the sight of their leader. She was his weak spot. Azog had known that. Thranduil had known that.

Soon everyone would know that and all they would have to do was turn to the elf to get their king on his knees.

"Where's the key?" Gloin grumbled.

He couldn't believe Thorin had chosen her to be his confidant. What had come over him that he had given the key to their future to an elf? Gloin knew him his whole life and had followed him to dark places. That went for everyone who stood around the couple, but still, he had given the key to her. The only one who was not connected to their city. Their lives.

"I have the key," Bofur said to his surprise. "Alyssae gave it to me when she went to the elf king."

Gloin could conclude from Thorin's face he hadn't known that. The key already passed from hand to hand without his knowledge.

"As if it's a useless object," Gloin mumbled distressed. "Why did you abandon it in the first place?"

Thorin looked at him. "Because I suspected Thranduil would search my clothes. If I hadn't done it, the key would have been lost now."

"Still!" Gloin burst out. "Why did you give it to her?"

"Because I knew he would let her go," Thorin grumbled. "Don't be so difficult."

He took the key from Bofur and put it away.

Gloin shook his head in disbelief. The others listened to their discussion silently, but he knew there were more who shared his thoughts. It was better if Alyssae left. At least while she affected Thorin's thinking.

There was a short silence, which was broken by Kili. "Now tell us what happened, Alys!" He pointed elated to the head that lay on the ground.

The other dwarves nodded agreeing and Alyssae started the tell how Azog's attention was attracted by the flashes of Gandalf. She had torn loose and stroked with her sword immediately, so she could cut off Azog's healthy arm. By her better-developed senses, she could find him within the dust clouds and she'd succeeded in hewing his neck. Her razor-sharp blade had slit easily through his muscular neck and with a few powerful blows she had broken his bones, to free the world from his filth forever.

"What do we do with the head?" Kili grinned, who was impressed.

Gloin kept an eye on her. In the beginning, she hadn't been the type that triumphed the death of others and his eyebrows raised in surprise when she proposed to send the head to Thranduil, as a message that she wasn't done with him.