He looked right into her eyes. In relief Alyssae wanted to smile, until he raised his sword. Would he knock her down? In fear she let go of his leg.
'Don't!' she squeezed.
'Was that Alyssae?' Kili asked and he looked around.
She remembered the ring and pulled it off her finger, so she became visible again. The brothers recoiled and stared stunned at her.
'How did you do that?'
Alyssae didn't know if she could trust them. She really wanted to, but Thorin was their uncle. She would feel guilty when she asked them to keep a secret from him.
Fili helped her to get on her feet. He hugged her tightly and she said a lie: 'I don't know how I did it. It's a gift, some means of defense.'
As inconspicuous as possible she pushed the ring in her pocket. The dwarf looked at her for some moments, but then let go of her and turned to the orcs, who came really close in the meanwhile.
'Your sword is in the hall.'
Alyssae nodded and slipped through the door. Kili clearly didn't trust her abilities, since he stepped after her and only nodded when she found her weapon without stumbling.
She felt a bit brighter than the moment the orcs invaded, but still the world seemed to turn around her.
'Where are the others?'
'They are outside waiting for us, except for Thorin. He went that way to search for you.'
Kili pointed aside and Alyssae hastened that way. The two dwarves followed her immediately, once in a while turning around to shoot or beat down an orc.
Alyssae didn't now what to think of the fact that Thorin went looking for her. Why would he risk his life for her? She understood why his nephews did so, since they were close. But Thorin? It was a strange idea, causing a ridiculous sense inside, which was very inconvenient since she struggled with nausea as well.
'Thorin!' she yelled as soon as she had entered the room. 'I'm here!'
The chamber was darkened and it took some time before she heard footsteps. A glimmer of moonlight shone upon him and she noticed his arms and sword were soaked in red. The look in his eyes was bewildered, as if he had changed into an animal.
Alyssae didn't know what to say or do, but she almost died when he pushed her away violently.
'You should never have drunk so much!' he snarled. He looked disdainfully at her. 'Retarded elves! Don't you drink anything but water?'
Alyssae leaned against the wall. She was short of breath and felt really sick. How would he react when she puked over him? She grinned while she imagined how angry his face must be, but her laughter only made him more furious and suddenly her cheek was burning.
'Did you beat me?'
Slowly she brought her fingers to her cheek.
'I hoped it would bring you back to normal,' he growled and he looked at Kili and Fili. 'Take her with you and be sure you don't lose her again.'
Fili bowed his head and wrapped his arm around her. Alyssae held her sword and was dragged along, glad it were dwarves who accompanied her instead of orcs.
'I'm okay,' she said to Fili. 'I know what I'm doing.'
'He just wants to hold you,' Kili grinned, but his brother didn't seem to be in the mood for jokes and glanced angrily aside.
Alyssae looked at Thorin, who walked before them. He walked straight ahead and his manner of moving did something to her. He walked like a king. She tried to remember if her father also walked that way, but it was hard to make a comparison between a surly dwarf and a majestic elf. The only similarity she could think of was their gender. She cowered when a beast roared. It echoed in her head, so it seemed like there were hundreds of animals growling at her.
'Stay calm,' Fili's voice sounded. 'I'm with you.'
His grasp around her waist solidified and secretly she was glad he was with her, even though he was small.
'You're sweet,' she found while she looked at him. His cheeks turned red, although it wasn't visible for other eyes in the little light of the moon. He mumbled something she couldn't hear well – partly because she didn't concentrate – and she saw a group of little men waiting under a tree.
'I think we're complete,' she announced when she approached them.
Thorin glanced at her enraged, but Alyssae smiled back friendly and he turned his back to her.
'Azog will be around too. Let's go quickly. As -'
'I can't walk fast,' she interrupted him.
'You have to. Thanks to you we lost a lot of time. It's a miracle the orcs didn't discover us here.'
'As if I invited them at the party,' Alyssae reacted wronged. She noticed she hiccupped, but couldn't remember when she had started to. Every time sour gall crept higher and she began to sweat.
'Let's stop this discussion,' Fili mediated. 'We'll help Alyssae.'
'It's already your fault she lost her mind,' Thorin snarled. 'It's even your fault she's her in the first place!'
His comment made her so angry she wanted to shout back, but her inaudible words were flushed away by a gulf of puke. She bowed and vomited. In shock she stared at Thorin's shoes, which were covered with a sour sludge.