Thorin breathed heavily. He stared at the elf that was lying unconscious on the ground, his head in a pool of blood. Still that wasn't the image that kept dancing before his eyes. That were his lips, fused with Alyssae's. The smile on her face, while her hands stroked through his blonde hair. Only a few moments ago that smile had colored his cheeks red. He had been convinced that he was the only one for her, but his whole being was now shaking to its foundations. He couldn't believe it was nothing but an act, for he knew that smile. He knew that look in her eyes.
With an aching heart he had seen that Alyssae and Thranduin belonged together. They appeared to be a perfect couple: designed to be together. He couldn't bear that knowledge and before he even realized, he had grasped a vase from one of the tables and threw it to them. Luckily Alyssae wasn't hurt. Now he could only stare at her, while she sat on her knees beside her fiancé.
Rough hands grasped his shoulders and pushed him across the hall. Various dwarves turned around, but elf guards kept everyone away.
Nothing really dawned to him, until Alyssae stood up. Suddenly she stood in front of him and stared at him, with tears in her eyes.
"You're insane," she whispered, full of tempered anger. "They should lock you up. You're a danger to everyone around you."
His head turned aside when her hand hit his right cheek. Tears jumped in his eyes. Not because she hit him, but because of her harsh words and accusing glance.
"You heard the words of the princess," the voice of the elf king sounded.
Full of remorse Thorin turned his face towards the man. A cynical smile adorned his face.
"Take him away."
Helplessly he looked at Alyssae, but she shook her head in silence and turned around.
Strong hands pushed him forth. Now and then he almost stumbled over his own feet, but the elf warriors that had suddenly appeared, kept him on his feet. He felt tiny between their large shapes.
He didn't feel the need to try to escape. There was nowhere he could go. His men were still in the banquet hall and they surely would be watched. The only thing he could do, was wait until Alyssae's anger cooled down so that she ordered the elf king to set him free.
Numb he descended the stairs. He said no word when a cell was opened and he was pushed inside. He touched the ground and grazed his knees. He crept to the back of the cell. Most of the elves left, apart from two elves who stayed in front of his cell.
His head pounded. His throat burned, but he didn't want to give in to the tears. It was all is own fault. He had been a fool, believing that such a beautiful elf as Alyssae would really love him, while there was an elf like Thranduin who adored her.
What was he after all? An introverted, aggressive dwarf prince who didn't even have a kingdom to rule. He had persuaded only twelve dwarfs to regain their homeland, while the rest of them believed his quest was doomed to fail. Maybe they were right. Maybe he was not competent. He wasn't even able to control himself for just one night. How did he ever expect to look after his people?
Thorin was startled from his self-reproaches when his cell door opened. Thranduil stepped inside. On his waist hung a sword and he held a dready-looking weapon in his hand, that he couldn't define very well in the dim light.
"Finally the moment is there. I have waited for days."
Thorin looked up impassively, but his limbs froze when he saw the enraged look in the eyes of the elf king. Intuitively he touched for his waist, but he was unarmed.
"It's about time we're going to talk about the things you attempt to keep secret from me."