Reluctantly Alyssae let go of Thorin, after which he began to dress himself again.
"Well, what did you want to show me?" she asked curiously.
She felt that they were both surprised by the behaviour of the other and she knew this walk was very different than the walk that Thorin had had in mind. Much better.
She looked over the quiet lake where he had brought her to. The stars were reflected in the water. Apparently there was more romance hidden inside Thorin than she had thought.
Thorin fell back into the grass and Alyssae did the same. A lot had changed this evening. For the first time she no longer felt the need to keep her feelings secret, now that Bofur's words had been proven to be true. They still had to be careful, but Alyssae had decided to surrender herself to her desires once they had left behind Mirkwood. Unfortunately for Thranduin, but their marriage was nothing but a practical decision. The positions of their kingdoms would be strengthened by it, but she believed she had the right to give her heart to whoever she wanted - though her family would probably find it depraved that it was a dwarf. Too bad for them. That judgment was only based on prejudices, because no one had looked into Thorin's eyes like she had. Nobody had seen how a rigid, embittered dwarf prince turned into an uncertain, sweet man and she was convinced that everybody would melt after a loving gaze from him.
"This." He gave her a piece of parchment, that she curiously unfolded. "I had planned to take you in confidence during this walk to show another side me." He chuckled briefly. "But I think that already happened in a different way."
Alyssae smiled and stroked his hand. She found it hard to stay away from him, especially since they only had a short time. Moreover, she did not want to look ahead, but Thorin's changing mood was not an oddity and she did not want to assume that this would remain this way forever, even though she wanted it so badly. The wound in her shoulder and the injuries in her neck kept warning her that she had to be careful, even though she could at this moment barely imagine he would hurt her again.
She leaned over the paper, on which were runes she could not read. In the common language some words were written as well, showing the locations of at least the Lonely Mountain, Mirkwood, Esgaroth and the Running.
Alyssae didn't say it out aloud, but the map was not very detailed and she though the Lonely Mountain was high enough to find it without this drawing.
"In the runes it is written that there is another way into Erebor," Thorin explained and her doubts vanished. "One that Smaug does not know."
Alyssae looked excited at him. "This offers real opportunities!"
Thorin nodded. "The door is only visible at Durin's day. Lord Elrond has translated the runes for us."
These words surprised Alyssae, since she had not known they had been in Rivendell.
"At the time we were there, he deciphered a few moon runes that said: 'Stand by the grey stone when the thrush knocks and the setting sun with the last light of Durin's Day will shine upon the keyhole.'"
"And the key?" Alyssae asked breathlessly.
Thorin opened his other palm and she saw an old key. "Gandalf has given me the map and the key. I do not know how they ended up in his hands, but they have been the possessions of my father and grandfather."
"May I hold it?" she asked with awe.
Thorin nodded and gave her the key. She looked intrigued at the object, knowing this small object was the key to the future of the dwarves. If they would lose it, their mission had failed.
"I want you to keep it until we are out of Mirkwood."
Alyssae turned her head aside in bewilderment. "What?" she stammered.
It was one thing that he trusted her with his secrets, but that he gave it to her seemed ... foolish. "Why?"
"Because I will have the guarantee that I will find you again." He did not look at her but stared at his knees.
"How will you companions react?" Alyssae asked indignantly.
"It is the only certainty they will wait for you. And - and the same goes for me. The gold will call me, Alys, when the mountain will be in sight." He sighed. "I know the mountain has driven my ancestors to madness and I cannot be sure the same won't happen to me. The reconquest of Erebor is a long-cherished dream, but once it becomes reality, I don't want to take hasty decisions." He looked up at her. "I need you. I'm sure you will not be led by greed or vengeful feelings." He pushed her fingers gently around the key. "We all need your composure. Keep it for me until we have left this forest and are reunited."
Alyssae was speechless. The fact that he gave her this key, meant more to her than a kiss could ever do. He trusted her more than anyone else. An elf.
This meant that his feelings were much deeper than only a physical desire, which filled her with warmth and happiness.