Note: Italics is thoughts, unless specified otherwise i.e flashbacks or visions. / is timeskip


THIRD POV

During her descent back down to the dungeon. Alexa had purposely slowed down to 'check out the sights' just to see how far she could push before her Elven guards combusted. Yeah, she probably shouldn't have done that… Oh well.

No later had the first Elf unlocked the door of her and Dwalin's shared cell. The other had roughly shoved her inside, into said Dwarf; who wrapped his burly arms around her form as a reflex. Catching her before she could hit the floor.

A loud bang sounded followed by the clinking of metal behind her as the cell door was slammed shut and locked.

Releasing a sigh, Alexa patted Dwalin's sturdy chest in thanks. Too drained to do anything else.

Stepping away from his chest and out of his arms, she turned around and walked towards the bars of the cell; showing herself to the worried company. Yet made sure that the left side of her face remained unseen in the dark.

"What's going on?"

"Wha's happened?"

"Alexa are yer alright?" voices of the company yelled out all at once, making them indistinguishable.

"What did he want Alexa?" the deep voice of Thorin asked after the rest of the Dwarves had quietened down.

"Oh, the usual. He wanted to know why a weak human girl like me, with no special talents or fighting experience. Would want to join a group of misfit Dwarves on a mission to reclaim a homeland," Alexa spoke, letting her characteristic grin form on her face. She held in a wince as her cheek tinged in pain.

At that several of the Dwarves chocked on thin air. Resorting to shoving their fists in their mouths and biting down hard to avoid bursting into laughter.

"I said how you employed me to cook for you guys and yeah. Oh, Thranduil also mentioned how you guys don't care for me and will ditch me blah blah blah. Not much else really," Alexa finished, beaming across the dungeon at a grinning Nori who was trying so hard to stifle his laughter.

Thorin huffed a laugh at her words, a small smile on his face. She was playing that Elf like a fiddle. The rest of the company all let out quiet snorts of laughter that they tried to play off as thoughtful 'ahs' and 'ums'.

"Glad to see your alright lass," Balin chuckled, his words gaining similar-sounding replies of agreement from the rest of the company.

"Thanks! Well, it's been a long day. At least it feels like it has. Force that Elf can talk. Phew! Time for bed I reckon," Alexa said, releasing a loud yawn at the end. Her comment gained plenty of laughs from the company with Bifur slapping his forearm and bicep loudly in agreement.

Pivoting away, a deep sigh left her. Well, she convinced them, thank force! She was looking down so she didn't notice Dwalin standing in front of her until she bumped into him. Usually, she could sense where everyone was, but her mind was plagued with too many thoughts to notice her surroundings.

"Sorry Dwalin," Alexa murmured, her head remaining bowed as she made to step past him.

This wasn't because she was ashamed or upset in any way, not really. She just didn't need him to cause an outburst after seeing her swelling cheek.

Although the two were almost always at each other's throats, they still cared about one another. Well, deep down anyway. Not to mention, Dwarves are fiercely protective of women, seeing as Dwarven women are few and far between. So, knowing this Alexa kept her left cheek out of sight.

As she made to walk past him into her designated corner. His burly hand reached out and grasped her elbow, halting her from proceeding any further.

"Are yer alright' lass? He didn't hurt ya did he?" Dwalin asked, his voice gravelly.

He knew something was up. She had managed to convince the company easily enough but not him. That was one of the things Dwalin prided himself on: his ability to read someone based on their body language.

Mahal! He knew from the beginning when she didn't even flinch oryellat his touch. Which she did to everyone, even Bilbo who she had grown rather close with. It had been that way since they had stepped into Mirkwood. Yet, she had brushed him off without complaint and even apologizedto him after bumping into him! Something was definitely wrong.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Not that it's any of your business," Alexa spat, yanking her arm out of his hold. Dwalin huffed in reply and was about to begin yet another one of their screaming matches when he noticed her left cheek. So, he was right after all.

His tattooed hand reached out towards her face. Knowing that she was merely holding off the inevitable. Alexa stood still, doing nothing as Dwalin's meaty fingers touched her cheek.

His dark blue eyes never left her greeny-grey ones the entire time. Brushing a few strands away, Dwalin's face grew red with anger as his eyes flickered over the dark bruises that littered her cheek.

"It's nothing," Alexa breathed, trying to step away from Dwalin. But he had none of that and stepped closer until her back was pressed against the wall.

"Tis ain't nothin' lass. Tha' tree shagger shouldn't 'ave done tha' ta yer," Dwalin muttered, trying to control his anger.

"I've had worse Dwalin, a slap is nothing compared to what I've-what I've…" Alexa breathed, unable to finish her sentence. Her hand reached down and under her tunic. Her worn fingers ran over the raised lines on her torso; a ragged sigh leaving her as she ran over the old wounds.

During this time Dwalin stared at her. The woman who always had a sassy comment for everything was at a loss for words. From her stories about her life as a Jedi, he couldn't even begin to imagine what horrors she had faced. He watched as her hand disappeared under her tunic and moved along her stomach.

Taking a seat on the bench, he motioned for her to do the same. Wordlessly, Alexa followed and took a seat next to the brawny Dwarf; knowing that if she refused, he would cause a scene. The pair sat in silence for some time, neither knowing what to say. Finally, Alexa broke the silence.

"Dwalin, please don't say anything to the company. Please," she pleaded, wringing her hands together in her lap nervously as she waited for his answer.

Dwalin stared at Alexa's anxious form for a moment, a battle raging inside his head. Eventually, he released a sigh and nodded.

"Thank you Dwalin," she whispered, staring into his dark blue eyes. She reached over onto his lap and squeezed his calloused hand, accentuating her words.

Patting his thigh, Alexa stood and walked over to her corner. Leaving Dwalin alone on the bench, staring after her. Alexa settled down, tucking her hands behind her head. She needed all the sleep she could get, for she knew that soon there would be no time for resting.

/

ALEXA'S POV

Gasp!

Alexa shot up from her position. Scrambling backwards until her back hit a wall. Her heart pounded in her chest; her breaths came out in short quick gasps. Blood rushed over her ears.

It's just a dream. It's just a dream. It's not real. You're in Middle Earth, in King Thranduil's dungeon, not Mandalore. It's just a dream. It's just a dream.

Her shaking hands ran through her auburn hair. Exhaling sharply, she focused on her breathing, in an attempt to calm her raging heart.

"It's just a dream lass. It's just a dream," a disembodied voice spoke.

The cold wall behind her was soon replaced by something much warmer. Alexa curled into the warmth, finding comfort. Her nose brushed against something soft. Inhaling deeply, a familiar musk registered in her senses. Feeling safe, her breathing lengthened as her heart rate slowed.

Soon, the shaking stopped, the world stopped spinning and she was able to just breath. Blinking once, twice, four times. Her vision cleared. She was in a cell in the Woodland Realm. Darth Maul and his brother Savage Opress were nowhere to be seen. And Dwalin was holding her in his arms. Wait,WHAT?!

Quickly clambering out of his lap, Alexa made as much space between them as possible. Scrambling backwards till her body hit the back of the cell. So, in other words, she made it a full four feet away from Dwalin. Yeah, not her proudest moment.

"Why-why were you-you?" Alexa stammered, looking anywhere but Dwalin.

"Yer were havin' a nightmare lass. Yer were cryin' out in ya sleep so I err…" Dwalin mumbled, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.

"Oh," Alexa whispered, curling into herself as her dream played in her head.

It wasn't a dream. Nor a nightmare. It was a memory. During the Clone Wars, Darth Maul and his brother Savage Opress had tortured her, enslaved her. They were angry at Obi-Wan you see, and they knew of the close relationship between him and Alexa. It was well known, well their friendship anyway. So, they had lured him in, using her as a trap. She had never seen Ben so scared than the day that she had been at the brother's mercy.

THIRD POV

Dwalin watched as Alexa shut herself off; the same dead look she had from outside Mirkwood ensnaring her eyes. He momentarily wondered what she had seen to make her act like that.

Dwalin shifted uneasily, words were not his strength, actions were. Gazing at Alexa's fetal position he sighed deeply.

Swallowing his nerves, he closed the four feet gap and hesitantly wrapped an arm around her; bringing her into his sturdy chest. His action worked favourably, as Alexa presently came out of her sudden daze.

Slowly, but surely Alexa moved her hands till they rested against Dwalin's chest. Tucking her head into his neck, Alexa released a shuddering sob. She balled her fists into his tunic as she let out her pain.

At hearing her cry, Dwalin's body tensed momentarily before holding her more securely to his chest. He ran his big hands up and down her back in soothing motions.

"Tha's it, lass, jus' let it out," he murmured into her hair.

After a while, Alexa's crying died down to quiet sniffles; she pulled away from Dwalin's chest but remained nestled against his side. Said Dwarf stopped his ministrations and just held her as they sat in silence.

/

"I was a General you know," Alexa whispered, breaking the silence between them.

She knew Dwalin was confused and somewhat curious about this, she could sense it. Though he didn't reply or physically express any interest (other than parting his lips in shock); as he did not want to pry into her past. So, he waited for her to continue - if she wanted to of course.

Alexa sighed; did she want to tell him this? It always hurt to talk of her past, but she had found that telling someone of her dreams/visions always made her feel better. Besides, she was stuck with Dwalin on this one. Nori, Bofur, and Ori were all in different cells with Bilbo nowhere to be seen. Though for some strange reason, it felt right to tell Dwalin.

"The Clone Wars went on for a little over three years. The Jedi and Clone soldiers fought for the Republic as keepers of the peace against the Separatists and the Sith. During this time, myself along with a few other Jedi were sent to this planet Mandalore to help defuse this order called 'Death Watch'," Alexa muttered into Dwalin's chest; a tear rolled down her cheek as she went to continue the tale.

"What we did not know was that Darth Maul, a powerful Sith Lord was leading it. Darth Maul had supposedly died after... A close friend of mine cut him in half over ten years ago. However, the force is a strange and powerful thing. Maul somehow used his anger to keep himself alive long enough to get help. I was…" Alexa gulped, swallowing the thump that was forming in her throat.

"I was captured – by Maul and his brother Savage Opress. They-they tor-tortured me, enslaved me," she shuddered, her voice cracking as tears fell down her cheeks. Dwalin stiffened beneath her, his arms tightened around her form as red-hot fury built up inside him at her confession. Tehbastards!

"I don't want to remember the Clone Wars. I don't want to remember the people I could've saved had I acted quicker. I don't want to Dwalin, I don't-I don't want to remember…" Alexa faltered, bursting into tear wrenching sobs as her emotions took over once more. What's happening to me?! She thought as she cried.

Dwalin could do nothing but hold the woman closer as she sobbed into his neck; drenching his tunic with her tears. He renewed his previous ministrations, rubbing her back in calming motions. There were no words exchanged, what could he say anyway? It's going to be okay? No!

Several minutes passed before her crying finally seized. Concerned, Dwalin pulled away slightly from the lass to look down at her. Her right hand was balled in his tunic, whilst the other was trapped between her chest and his. The sight caused a warm feeling to grow inside of Dwalin; an uncharacteristically soft smile grew on his face.

Soft snores sounded next to his ear, turning his head he came face-to-face with a sound asleep Alexa. Pulling her from the cell floor and into his lap, Dwalin held her impossibly close to his chest. Even after all their fights, Dwalin would always protect and care for her.

"I've got yer lass. Nothin's gunna hurt ya, I'll protect ya." Dwalin whispered into her auburn locks.