- I am very sorry guys, but I forgot the chapter before. :x -

When Alyssae opened her eyes she saw a thick leafy canopy above here. She drank deeply the scent of grass and the sweet aroma of an indefinable plant. The moon shined on her arms, which were covered by mud and dirt. Crisscrossing cuts and scars ridiculed her once intact unblemished skin.
She moved her attention to a group of men, which were discussing loudly as if they were miles away from the goblin nest.
'We can't leave her to die.'
'We neither can take her with us.'
It took a little time before her stunned mind understand they were talking about her. 'Can I help you?'
They were of course the dwarves who rescued her. Alyssae would be grateful forever.
The voices became silent and thirteen pairs of eyes stared curiously at her.
'Where do you come from?' one of the dwarves asked. His heavy, dark eyebrows made his gaze threatening.
'I am from Chyndall,' she answered. It was a not well known community and she doubted the dwarves ever heard of that place. Normally dwarves did not wander around here and she wondered what they were doing here, but she decided not to ask for it yet.
After the mentioning of her town angry snorts went up from the group. Obviously Chyndall was not unknown to them.
'Is she an elf?' a doubting voice sounded.
'She surely is. Other creatures do not live there,' a dwarf with a long white beard noticed. He surely was the oldest of the company.
Alyssae glanced nervously at the dwarves. Some seemed a little frightened; others were overwhelmed or even embittered. Most of the friendly smiles were gone now and she looked at Kili in need of help, who released her from her cell.
'She could travel with us until we have left the area of the goblins?' he proposed and he glanced at the grim dwarf, who spoke to her at first. He obviously was in charge of this mission – or whatever brought them to a place like this.
'There other dangers will spy upon her, while she probably would be better off with the goblins. Besides; we do not have the time to escort her.'
Alyssae folded her arms indignantly. 'I do not need an escort. As soon as I have a weapon, I am perfectly able to protect myself.'
'Well, grab a stone and go ahead,' the leader answered indifferently.
She clenched her fists angrily, but a calm hand on her shoulder made her turn around. 'Don't get exited by a stubborn dwarf, whose manners are unbelievable clumsy.' An old man – Alyssae recognized him as a wizard – looked at her with a friendly smile. 'Well then, I dare to state that this most pleasant company hasn't found the courtesy yet to introduce themselves?' He didn't wait for an answer, but started to introduce the dwarves. Although normally there was nothing wrong with Alyssae's memory, she could now only remember Thorin's name: the leader of the dwarves, who seemed to be blessed by very little tact.
'I hoped you would have laid your old conflict with the elves to rest, now that lord Elrond did help you.'
'Such a small deed was the least he could do,' was Thorin's stubborn answer.
The wizard looked him in the eyes for a short time, but then turned his head to Alyssae. 'My name is Gandalf the Grey.'
That sounded familiair, although she was not able to connect impressive deeds to his name
'Mirthrandir?' she wonderded, thinking about the wizard whom visited her home town now and then.
He nodded.
'My name is Alyssae.'
'Welcome, welcome.' Gandalf looked around. 'Now we miss just one more fellow.'