Alyssae plucked nervously at her hair when Thorin opened his eyes. He squeezed his eyes while he uttered a snarling curse. Then he held his tongue and did not look at her in purpose, which did her nervousness grow. She'd better say what she wanted, before he began to scream again.

"I did kiss Fili in a fit," she admitted, "but I also told him that I do not feel the same for him, as you wished."

She felt quite embarrassed because she talked about this with Thorin - especially since he barely responded to her words. She sighed, but his silence was so exciting that she began to lose her temper. "They want to throw you in a cell."

Those words finally made him look up, though his expression was rather defeated than hateful.

"Maybe that's for the best," he murmured to her surprise and he looked coyly at the welts in her neck.

"What do you mean?" she asked hesitantly, surprised by his honesty.

Thorin shrugged. "I have inflicted you more injuries than any other creature and I don't even know why."

Alyssae was not sure how to react. Did he shudder from a stay in prison? Was he trying to get away with it by saying this? She doubted it. She believed Thorin preferred to sit a week in a cell than talking openly and honest about his mistakes.

"You're drunk," Alyssae muttered. "You would not be the first to become aggressive from that."

Thorin shrugged his shoulders dejectedly. "You are the only one who has spoken the truth to me. I will never be a good king."

"If you cling to old grief," Alyssae repeated her own words. "Do not linger in the past. It's no use crying over spilled milk. That goes for you, but also for me. You are not the only one who makes mistakes."

"But these are mistakes with serious consequences," he grumbled.

Alyssae sighed and thought of her own mistakes. "I also have hurt all of you by holding back that I am a princess. It's just … this was exactly the reaction I was expecting." Her eyes darkened. "You cannot blame me. You almost killed me and I knew this was going to happen."

Thorin shook his head. "If you had told me, I would have left you behind at the most. A decision the rest of my men never would have agreed with."

Alyssae sighed. "I was afraid of you." She stared at the ground. "I am afraid of you."

"I understand," he murmured. "I fear myself too."

She swallowed, which ached and she stretched out her hand to his cheek. He looked at her with wide eyes and Alyssae suddenly felt so much love for this sad, introverted man that it was difficult to keep her feelings in check. However, she could not kiss him, even when she would have dared. He would never believe that would mean something, so soon after her kiss with Fili.

She heard his breath caught as soon as her fingers touched his cheek and she felt she turned red. She moistened her lips nervously and swallowed again. Thorin kept looking at her, making her sweat and she wondered how the hell she had come this far.

"I ..." She couldn't find the right words. She bent quickly over his ropes to untie him.

Thorin cleared his throat and looked hesitantly at her. Would he say what she could not?

"I - I know," he murmured.

Alyssae believed she saw his cheeks turn red. "W-what?"

"What you said to me." He looked deep into her eyes and Alyssae's fingers started to shake, she couldn't untie the knot. "Your fiancé said it to you. I had to know what it meant."

Alyssae didn't dare to look at him anymore. She wished the ground would disappear beneath her feet as she kept trying to unravel the knot. His breathing blew in her ear, caushing goose bumps and she felt relieved when the ropes slid from his wrists.

"You need to let Oin check your head wound," she muttered embarrassed. She noted that Thorin's eyes were still fixed on her face. He stretched out his hand to her neck and sighed.

"I cannot believe I did this."

Alyssae didn't know what to say and she stood up. At the same time Thorin did so and their heads bumped against each other.

"Sorry," Thorin growled. "It feels like a curse."

Alyssae chuckled a bit sheepishly and rubbed her forehead.

"Are you going to tell him about Fili?

She shook her head. "For now, no. We are not married yet."

Moreover, it were not her feelings for Fili she was worried about.

"I'll leave you to rest again," Thorin muttered and he turned around. However, on the threshold of the door he dwelt.

"I am really sorry, Alyssae," he said after a pause. "For your shoulder and the boat. And what I just did to you ... I cannot say it enough."

His voice was steeped by repentance and she sighed softly. He punished himself enough for his actions.

"It's okay."

"The only reason you might not be one of us, is your forgiveness. If you wouldn't have been twice my height, I would have embraced you."

A faint smile drew her lips and she fell on one knee. "Well, come here. You slightly exaggerate."

Thorin looked a little staggered by her words, but knew there was no way back. He threw his arms around her and Alyssae rested with her chin on his shoulder for a moment, while she held him tightly. She closed her eyes and felt the pressure of his upper body against hers.

She could not help to whisper a few Elvish words in his ear.

"More riddles?" His voice sounded somewhat mockingly.

They let go of each other and Thorin studied her face, though his eyes still had a strange glitter.

"I just said that your heart is less cold than you think."

He grinned. "Maybe I am just afraid you will turn off when you see what a sweet, gentle man I really am."

Alyssae chuckled at his unstressed, teasing words, wondering if he would have said that as well if he had drunk nothing.

"That would be scary," she chuckled and she gave him a wink. "I see you tomorrow, Thorin."

"Good night, Alys."

A dash of a smile graced her lips as she watched how he descended the stairs and disappeared from sight.