It doesn't matter Alyse knew, she heaved herself up to her feet and wrapped one arm around her stomach. The Dwarves would make short work of one Orc, injured as he was already. Hoping she slipped back around the corner unnoticed Alyse jogged trying not to open the gash anymore, already the blood was pooling against her fingers.
It felt like it took forever to reach the other side, when she leaned against the corner she turned in time to see the blonde Dwarf swing around the corner, one of his dark haired friends close on his heels.
Alyse tightened her grip on her side and took off running, he called out to her but she didn't listen, already around the corner she didn't care to stop and chat. Her speed was definitely hindered by her side, a jostling pain erupted every time her left foot hit the stone floor. She could hear them yelling behind her but if it did anything it only pushed her faster.
Leave me alone! The voice in her head screamed, that's normally what one should do when the other runs from them. She ran for hour, or minutes, seconds maybe, stopping at a junction Alyse turned around and around her mind filled with fog. Where am I? She knew panic should start to bubble in her chest, lost and running in a maze of stone. She could feel the blood soaking down into her pant leg now, but every moment she stood there trying to think they were getting closer. It didn't matter anymore, she would lose them for now and find her way back later.
Loud and heavy her feet hit the stone like bricks she could almost not feel them anymore, twisting one caught the other behind her ankle and sent her sprawling forward onto her knees. Panting Alyse knew she wouldn't last much longer, desperately her eyes darted around, stone and sky spun together making her sick.
Using one wall for balance she swayed to her feet dragging in a long breath to clear her head and trudged forward. Around the next corner the path widened into a small clearing, I know this clearing, Alyse told herself. A small chip mark into one possible corridor told her which way to get home, gasping she grabbed her side tighter and stumbled forward throwing her hand out to stop her fall, but it was slick with blood and slid along the stones.
Alyse didn't even have the strength left to brace for the impact, all around her the world swirled, but the impact never happened. Blinking hard Alyse focused ahead and found herself staring into blue eyes, both worried and confused his blonde brows were pulled together in concern.
"Kili get Oin here faster," Alyse rolled her head from the blonde Dwarf speaking to see the dark haired one take off back down the path. Gently he tried to pull her hand away but Alyse's strength held out and kept her wound covered. Rolling her head back she looked at the man again, he was young, probably close to her own age, blonde beard braided on either side of his mouth. What was up with Dwarves and braids? Alyse thought to herself, feeling a laugh rise she quickly stifled it, her mind was becoming too loose.
"Move," A new gruff voice broke her thoughts, this Dwarf must be Oin, he was gray the lines on his face set from many years of squinting. "Well what do we have here laddie," Alyse was too busy squinting at the strange ear trumpet he held up to stop the blonde Dwarf from pulling her hand.
Lolling her head she saw more Dwarves pouring into the clearing, they kept moving and she lost count, maybe 12?
"What's going on?" Even in her foggy state Alyse knew that voice, full of authority and anger the 13th Dwarf stepped forward, sapphire eyes blazing with hate just like they had last time they had laid on her.
It only took a second for her mind to clear fully and she pushed forward, cold fear numbing her body. Using one bloody hand she planted it firmly on Oin's face and pushed him back catching him off guard he sprawled over. The blonde Dwarf was faster though, catching her waist and hauling her back down, "Kili!" He yelled and the other ran over sliding on his knees to her side and finished pulling her back to the ground.
"Calm down laddie!" Oin grunted as he rolled back up, "we only mean to patch the wrong done to ya."
"No," her own voice was rough from her throat, panic and lack of use getting the better of her.
"Accept the help and be grateful," Thorin's voice froze her heart.
"What are you doing?" This voice on the other hand was kind, Alyse looked up and met a pair of kind old eyes she didn't ever think she would.
"Gandalf?" The name sounded foreign after these years, but there was no mistaking that gray hat and mane.
"It's been a long time," Gandalf leaned on his staff, speaking as if she was the only one here.
"If you don't mind, this here lad had quite a hole in need of stitching," Oin turned back to Alyse and brought her back to this world.
"That won't be necessary Oin," Gandalf gently tapped Kili with his staff, and after throwing an unsure look to the blonde Dwarf he backed off. "Won't you be so kind as to let us stay the night?"
Alyse cursed that old Wizard, she owed him a favor and knew he wouldn't be turned down. Using the wall as leverage Alyse tried to get up as smoothly as possible, careful not to look at Thorin. Without a word she began to walk home, it really wasn't far, but with the sounds of the Dwarves following her dread grew in every step. What if Thorin recognized her? What if they destroyed her home? Normally her door was a thing of joy when she saw it, but today when she rounded the last corner her heart dropped to her feet.
There wasn't any ceremony when they arrived she didn't welcome them to her home, she just left the door open after she tottered inside and let them close it behind them. Alyse wanted a moment to let her mind clear as she fell into her nearest chair. Looking to the door she noticed only Oin, Gandalf, and a small curly haired being stood in her home.
"That needs to be looked at now," Gandalf spoke, Alyse wanted to scream no, to run, but he was right. Unclasping her cloak she let it slide to the floor, next she unbuttoned her torn jacket and pulled the scarf from her face.
Alyse heard the Dwarf and curly haired man draw in a surprised breath, she was an odd looking one and she knew it. Short as a Dwarvish woman with thick braided hair, it wasn't any surprise that they assumed she was a Dwarf, and for all purposes she was half a Dwarf. Her body was slender, features refined and skin light, she was what her mother used to like to call the best of both worlds.
"You're a woman?" the curly haired man gasped, light headed Alyse breathed out a laugh. Then her knees gave out, before she knew it Oin was helping her into a chair.
"Do ya mind Lassie?" He gestured to her shirt which she pulled up just enough for him to be able to examine her wound. While he tutted around she leaned back and turned her head to the others.
It seemed to take forever while he poked and prodded at her, at least she spoke to the other, his name was Bilbo, and he was a hobbit. Even though she didn't know what he was she nodded along and listened to him tell her all about the shire and the shire folk, it all sounded so wonderful that she wondered why he left to begin with.
Meanwhile Gandalf stood off in the corner, puffing away on his pipe. Something was up Alyse was for sure, Wizards don't just show up on your doorstep with a group of Dwarves for no reason. It was the addition of Thorin that concerned her the most, important Dwarves of that caliber didn't travel around for no reason.
"Your bound for Erebor," her voice came out just above a whisper, not so much asking as voicing her thoughts. Gandalf nodded slowly, continuing to puff in the corner. "The real question is why you're here."
"Orc attack," Oin grunted, "you're going to be needing stitches."
"Fetch the box above the fire," Alyse told the Hobbit, he hesitated for a moment throwing a glance at Gandalf before scurrying to grab it. Carefully he handed the hand carved wooden box over to Alyse. "I can take it from here Master Oin."
Poking around her side was one thing, but already today these Dwarves had poked one too many holes in her.
"I don't know what you're expecting of me Gandalf, that Dwarf will not accept my service." Alyse spoke while threading her needle then laying it back in the box to rummage through her salves she kept.
"We have already spoke and he is willing to accept your help," Gandalf spoke quietly, he knew what she was going to say next but she said it anyways.
"Why should I offer my service to a Dwarf such as him?" Alyse spread the infection salve on and bit down on the pain of the needle piercing flesh.
"Lassie that is Thorin Oakenshield you are referring to," Oin began to protest.
"I know," Alyse clenched her jaw, she wasn't daft.
"Why don't I let the two of you speak," Gandalf was serious, something she found disconcerting.
"Fine, let them in what do I care," somewhere between sewing her side shut and Thorin outside Alyse agitation spiked.
As Alyse reclined in her chair and pulled the thread through again as Gandalf turned the door handle. Dwarves spilled into the room, apparently leaning against the door to hear their conversation.
The one wearing the funny hat jumped up first, "it weren't as if we were evesdropping or anything!"
The needle bit through her skin again but Alyse held her hiss of pain. It didn't take long for them to look over and for Dwarves they feel deathly quiet.
It was the blonde Dwarf that spoke first, "for all the gold in the mountains I didn't know you were a woman."
"Well if I had known that I'd have worn a sign or something," glancing over Alyse saw that they were all staring at her and she suddenly became incredibly aware of her position. Here she was practically laying down, sewing up her side while a group of Dwarf men were staring down at her, she felt her cheeks flush lightly.
As if things weren't weird enough they parted and let Thorin through to stand next to her chair. Alyse wanted to get up and face him standing but instead she drug her gaze back down to her side and pulled another stitch through finally thankful for the pain.
"It's been a while," Alyse spoke through clenched teeth, picking up her pace.