They had entrenched around a small campfire, on top of a large cliff on which the eagles had lowered them down carefully. A small bending road led downwards, but the orcs could never climb up without noticing.
Mithrandir took care of their wounds, so that Thorin and Alyssae were both sitting straight, unless their pain.
The atmosphere was depressed. Nobody said anything and only the sound of the sputtering fire and Bombur's heavy breathing avoided a total silence.
Alyssae sat only a few meters away from Thorin, but there was a constant tension. It was partially because of her that Thorin was still alive and the situation was exactly the same the other way around. She knew he was the one who pushed the bleeding warg out of her face.
Both were too proud to thank the other, whereby they both stared into another direction. Alyssae told herself they didn't really save each other. Their rescue operations would have been in vain when the eagles hadn't show up.
Finally it was Thorin who broke the silence. Who else could it be?
'So we lost our burglar?'
Unless his weakness and weariness his voice sounded just as solid as before.
'Didn't he flee?'
Alyssae shook her head. 'No. Azog smashed his arm. He bled to death.'
Thorin looked right into her eyes and Alyssae did her best not to look away.
She was an elf princess. She was not inferior to a dwarf.
'Is there anyone to confirm her words?'
He looked around, as if her opinion didn't really matter.
'Accusing an elf of dissimulation would be unwise,' Mithrandir said.
Thorin looked surly at her and snorted arrogantly. Alyssae felt like she was withering under his looks and she wanted to put the ring on her finger, to hid herself from sight. However, she abandoned the idea, since it was her only trump. She didn't want to share her discovery with anyone.
'Why do you need a burglar?' Alyssae asked carefully. She could barely control her curiosity. She really wanted to know what the dwarves were doing here, so far away from their homes.
'A dwarf never gives away his secrets. Certainly not to elves.'
Of course she did expect an answer like that, but she had hoped he would be a little milder.
'I would like to help you.'
After her words it became silent. The opinions of the dwarves reflected in their eyes and it was clear suspicion competed with a fragile sparkle of hope.
Nevertheless, Thorin's decision was implacable.
'There is no way you are coming with us.'