Alyssae screamed when someone grabbed her shoulder. Fearful she looked behind, by which her nose bumped upon the pale forehead of a goblin. He breathed heavily into her face and she retched by inhaling the rotten smell, although she suspected her own breath didn't smell much better.
The razor sharp nails of the goblin scratched through her paper-thin robe, which was made for breezy summer nights instead of cold, violent caverns like this. She didn't know which commands the goblins received nor if they all knew they kept an elf in their dungeons for months. Maybe this malicious goblin believed she belonged with these fleeing dwarves and wanted to split her in two with pleasure.
Her eyes became larger at the moment her thoughts became reality and the creature indeed raised his curved sword. Alyssae tried to loose herself, but the goblin seized her upper arm like a stringent claw and she saw the sword coming closer and closer. Her cry echoed through the corridors and she squeezed her eyes anxiously, trying to postpone her last seconds while she helplessly waited for the definitive pain.
Suddenly a second cry filled the air, which died away quickly. The grasp around her arm loosened and finally disappeared. Carefully Alyssae opened her eyes. She was filled with horror by seeing the goblin laying on the ground, while an arrow was stuck in his right eye. Despite of the relief she felt because she was freed from him, she hated to see dead creatures, even when they were her enemies.
She was startled from her astonishment when a new hand enclosed her wrist. She wanted to wrest out again, until she saw the dwarf who shot the goblin. In his other hand he held his bow, while he pulled her along.
The dwarf run surprisingly hard with his short legs and once in a while he had to stop to wait for her. While he waited he shot some more arrows at the goblins that came too close.
Alyssae looked forward, where she noticed a weak light going back and forth. She knew it came from the tall man, who passed her cell not so long ago.
'Faster, Kili,' the voice of the other dwarf sounded.
The dwarf lifted his head and looked her in the eyes. 'We have to go faster, madam. I am not able to carry you.'
The last thing Alyssae wanted was being carried by dwarves, but she nodded politely and tried to run faster, although her legs started to shiver because of the action they had to undertake after months of sitting still. Alyssae tried not to think about the protests which were raised by her limbs. She concentrated on the light before her. When she reached that she would be safe, she tried to convince herself.
Alyssae was afraid she would faint when the light disappeared. Everything seemed to go by unnoticed. The pain in her legs and between her ribs almost silenced her, but the unbelievable strong fingers around her wrist kept dragging her along.
She did not fully realize what happened when they run through a small tunnel, which brought them outside. She lost her balance and fell down along the hillside. When her head hit the ground, she wanted to keep laying in the grass and fall in a deep silent sleep. Nevertheless Bofur helped her on her feet. 'We have to go further.'
'I can't,' Alyssae whispered.
'Just a little longer. We're full in sight here.'
It felt like the dwarf commanded her legs to walk without her permission. She followed the men through the bushes. She didn't pay attention to the trees and the beautiful sky above her head, which she had missed for such a long time. The clean breeze she inhaled didn't fulfill her with as much joy as it would have done in a normal situation. She was dizzy, longed for relief and the moment they arrived at an open space, she collapsed.
She heard a harsh voice asking: 'Where the hell did she come from?' and then the world around her faded away.