Dazzled Thranduin sat upright. He had no idea what had happened. Something hard had hit his head, an explosion of pain had followed and now his brain was one big mess.
What he did remember, were Alyssae's soft lips and her surprisingly strong tongue.
"Are you all right? Here, take some water."
Perplexed he took the glass and drank. His surroundings seemed to wave, as if he was on the deck of a ship.
"What happened?"
He noticed the music had stopped, but excited words still filled the air.
As through fog he saw Alyssae. He startled when he saw that her hands were covered in blood. With his free hand he touched for her wrist.
"It's not my blood," she said when she saw the shocked expression on his face. "Somebody threw a vase at your head."
"Somebody threw a vase at my head?" her repeated flabbergasted. "Why?"
He touched for his head and felt it was bandaged.
"Because I kissed you. Somebody – somebody was jealous."
"Fili," Thranduin understood.
To his surprise Alyssae shook her head. "No. He wouldn't hurt a fly."
Thranduin closed his eyes. There were so many things which he didn't understand, as the fact that Alyssae had kissed him without loving him, but he didn't want to think about that yet. "I need some air."
"Of course."
Quickly she helped him on his feet. He felt ashamed that he couldn't stand upright alone, but needed to be helped by someone else.
He felt better in the open air. The excited buzzing became silent and he took some deep breaths.
"I am sorry the party is ruined," Alyssae said softly. "I really enjoyed it."
Thranduin squeezed his eyes when he got the feeling somebody stabbed a knife in his head and he waited until the pain disappeared before he answered: "It wasn't your fault, was it?"
"Maybe I should have known that he would respond this way."
"Where is he now?"
It was hard to formulate the words and he lowered himself on the ground slowly.
"In the cells. His anger will probably be subsided tomorrow and he will apologize."
Thranduin shrugged indifferently. On this moment he only longed for the pain to leave.
"Somebody's making herbal tea for you."
Apparently his pain was visible for everyone and he smiled gratefully, thankful she took care of him. "That will help."
Alyssae took his hand. "I am really sorry. This shouldn't have happened."
Thranduin only spoke again after someone had pushed a cup of tea in his hands.
The healing herbs had a good effect immediately and he felt his mind became more clear. His senses were sharper and the pain numbed.
"You feel much better, don't you? I can see it."
Thranduin nodded to confirm her words and sighed, while rubbing his head. "Much can be said about that dwarf, but he knows how to aim."
Alyssae showed him a crooked smile and he stared at her. Her thoughts seemed miles away and he didn't dare to interrupt them. Therefore he only looked at her, taking in every detail of her face, as he had done so many times. He wasn't surprised she attracted even dwarves with her beauty and heart-warming smile. He believed it was a miracle nobody else had asked for her hand and he felt immense gifted that he was destined to become her husband.