His instincts rang when they walked over an enormous bridge, which was clearly not made in a natural way. He had never expected to enter an elvish city voluntary and certainly not this one. Still he had no choice. If he had to believe this elf, he would Fili here and if he was even more lucky, they could wake up Dwalin and Alyssae.
Alyssae…
With displeasure he glanced at the elf who held her in his arms. He hoped he was a family member, but it was unusual the elf had cried for her in presence of everyone and he had a strong feeling this blond man was her fiancé, which drove him to a madness that frightened him. He knew it was a lost battle against this elf.
In the first place he'd hoped that idea would chase away his feelings for her, since it was ridiculous he loved her in an almost perverse way and he didn't want to make a fool of himself. However, the idea that Alyssae would be together with this not unsightly elf was even more repulsive – certainly because she had asserted she didn't want to marry this man.

They didn't go further than an access road to an enormous tree. Some elves stopped them and told them Alyssae and Dwalin needed to be examined first.
'You have to purify yourselves too,' a red haired elf let them know. 'I will show you the bathroom.'
Luckily there were no elves present in the building and they undressed quickly, after which they jumped in the water. Thorin sighed of relief when the warm water surrounded him and soaked the filth of days from his skin. He had never expected to be welcomed like this and actually this warm welcome strengthened his suspicion, but he decided to undergo all of this as long as their group wasn't complete.
'These elves aren't the worst,' Kili smiled, who soaped his arms.
Thorin didn't want to confirm, since he was afraid they would have to pay a price to leave again and he wouldn't be surprised if Alyssae would suffer from that. With his right hand he grabbed his clothes and took them in the water, so they would become clean as well. He absolutely didn't want to put on a ridiculous elf dress, but neither did he want to put on his own clothes, which were covered in mud and blood.
He yawned while he relaxed a little. Everyone seemed to recover from this bath and he was glad they made it so far. It was better when he didn't look too far ahead.

After an hour Thorin left the bath. His clothes were dried up in miraculous way as soon as he had put them on the tiles again. For once he was glad with the magic of the elves. When he left the bathroom he saw two elves who forbid entry for their congeners.
'Where do you care for the sick?'
One of the elves pointed to a large tree, were a winding stair circled around. Thorin's heart raced in his chest when he climbed the stairs and he had to take a deep breath before he pushed the door open.
'I expected you to come,' an elf smiled and she took him to a round, quiet room. Thorin was a little confused by their friendly behaviour and wondered if he had believed in a lie for all those years. Soon however he remembered the moment Thranduil appeared on a hilltop with his enormous elk, staring right into his eyes, where after he turned back.
He stepped into the room, but was shocked when someone threw his arms around his neck. 'Thorin!'
'Fili!'
For a moment tears blurred his sight when he threw his arms around his nephew and held him close. He'd never expected to see the boy again – and certainly not alive. Maybe it had been Fili who rescued them in the end…
'It is good to see you, boy.' Together they walked to the bed in which Dwalin laid. An elf sat next to him and brushed his skin carefully. It made him glad the elves cared for his friend.
Thorin wondered if Fili would still be so elated if he found out it was his fault that Alyssae couldn't receive him with open arms, but he didn't want to bring up his mistake now.
'Where is Alyssae?'
'In the adjacent room,' Fili mumbled and he stared out of the window. 'With her lover, Thranduin.'
Thorin glanced shortly at his nephew and sighed when he saw his pain. That however was a mistake Alyssae needed to resolve by herself.

When somewhere a door opened he turned around, hoping it was Thranduin who had lost the chamber. 'Is she in the left one?'
Fili nodded and Thorin turned around, deep inside he was happy Fili didn't came with him. He was afraid he would show his emotions in Fili's presence and that was the last thing he wanted.
Carefully he opened the door. From the doorway he stared at Alyssae. Her skin was stripped of all the filth and despite her injuries she was still beautiful. The way she was lying in the bed, caused a lump in his throat. She looked like a dead placed on a bier. Her face was pale and less cheerful than he remembered, also she was very bony. He turned his face away when he got the feeling it became too much to bear and he was shocked when his eyes met those of Thranduin.
The elf nodded to him and Thorin wanted to turn around, but the man cleared his throat.
'You don't have to go.'
The elf took tenderly the hand of Alyssae and pressed a kiss on her fragile fingers. 'Gi melin.'
Thorin got the feeling someone cut off his windpipe and he gasped for breath, because of which the elf turned his head.
'What – what did you say to her?' he uttered clumsy.
Thranduin didn't look at him, but he rubbed with his thumb over the back of her hand. Moved he looked at her sleeping face. 'Gi melin. I love you.'
He let go of her hand and left the room, leaving Thorin behind in complete bewilderment.