Note: Italics is thoughts, unless specified otherwise i.e flashbacks or visions. / is timeskip
The first time Alexa woke up, a warmth was surrounding her. Still asleep, she shifted further into the warmth. Inhaling the deep musk around her, a yawn left her as she cuddled deeper into the comfortable pillow under her. No later a groan had sounded from the warmth beneath her. Wait, pillows don't groan.
It was around this time that the reasonable part of her mind remembered where she was. Locked in a cell in the Woodland Realm. Which certainly doesn't come with pillows, let alone ones that moan.
Snapping her eyes open, she saw nought but black. Her nose twitched as it brushed against it, tickling her. It smelt of sweat and smoke. Moving her head, she looked down at her left hand which was lying on her lap. Nothing out of the ordinary.
Lazily, she followed her arm to her other hand. It was buried in a piece of clothing, following her hand up, she saw an asleep Dwalin. It was then that she finally registered what the source of the warmth exactly was. Well, who it was.
Blinking a few times, her eyes focused and senses heightened as she gained her wits back. She was sitting on top of Dwalin. His arms were wrapped around her lower back and under her knees. Holding her firmly to his chest, with his head resting against the wall behind them.
As she registered the burly Dwarf beneath her, memories of last night — or at least she thinks it was last night — came to her. Dwalin helping her, comforting her after her nightmare. Force, Alexa couldn't recall the last time she had such a good sleep. One without visions or interruptions of any sort.
As if knowing he was being watched, Dwalin's eyes fluttered open. The two stared at each other for a while as Dwalin slowly woke up. After blinking a few times, his eyes grew wide as he took in the situation. Quickly, he dropped his arms from around her form.
"I know tis not proper lass, please understand tha' I would rather shave off ma own beard than take advantage of a woman," Dwalin whispered, a bashful look on his face. Alexa laughed quietly as a light dusting of red grew on his cheeks.
"That's quite all right, no need to shave your beard off," Alexa assured the stammering Dwarf.
"Regardless of proper or not, thank you Dwalin. You didn't need to do that, but you did anyway. So, thank you, for that," Alexa breathed shakily, baring a vulnerable part of herself to him.
Dwalin huffed in reply. "It was teh least I could do lass. Yer saved ma life," He breathed, momentarily thinking back to the skin changers; where he was on his death bed after being impaled by Alexa's lightsaber.
"I wonder sometimes why," Dwalin mumbled, causing Alexa to shift her head on his shoulder so she could look into his eyes. Their noses almost touching they were so close.
"Wonder what?" Alexa whispered,
"Wonder why yer saved me, lass," Dwalin breathed, looking at the young woman one last time before drawing his eyes from hers. Leaning back against the wall, his head tilted back to look up at the ceiling.
"Why wouldn't I?" Alexa asked, pulling away from his chest to look at him; a doe-like expression on her face. When Dwalin didn't reply, Alexa sighed and looked down at her hands; wringing them together.
"You're a good Dwarf, Dwalin. No matter how much we argue and fight. I know you are, and there's no way you're going out by a lightsaber. That's not happening, not on my watch," Alexa continued, her eyebrows drawing together in determination towards the end.
Dwalin's chest rumbled as he chuckled. Her wee speech about him not dying by a lightsaber made him laugh. So, he can go ahead and die by an Orc blade but not by a lightsaber, interesting…
Smiling to herself, Alexa lay her head back on his shoulder and nuzzled into his neck. At the action, Dwalin went silent; shocked by the unexpected action. His body stiffened. Moving his head from the wall he looked down at the lass, questioning.
But before he could ask her what she was doing. Her breathing had evened out and she had fallen asleep. Not wanting to rouse her, Dwalin had rested his head back against the wall once more. Placing an arm around her back once more, the other rose to lay on her knee. With that done Dwalin shortly fell asleep with a small smile on his face.
/
The second time Alexa woke up, a sharp pain erupted in her stomach, making her wince. A hiss left her as she rubbed a hand over her sensitive tummy. Oh, force no. Don't be what I think it is. Please. Please!
A dull throb grew between her thighs as another stab of pain hit her stomach. Tucking her head under Dwalin's hairy chin, she curled her legs up till she was almost in a ball. A grumble and a curse left the Dwarf beneath her as she moved; all her movement having stirred him.
Alexa let out a whimper as Dwalin shifted beneath her. Hearing the sound, Dwalin loosened his arms around her form; worried that he had caused her pain.
Feeling the loss of his arms, the pain in her stomach grew tenfold until it was almost unbearable. "No, Dwalin. Please." Alexa whined into the burly Dwarf's neck.
Her sudden plea shocked Dwalin, not expecting it. Nonetheless, he wove his arms around her once more.
Still having no idea as to what was going on, Dwalin looked down - as much as he could - at the quivering lass. At first, he had thought that she had bumped her swollen cheek or bad shoulder into his chest, but it soon came apparent to him as his eyes wandered down her form that it wasn't the case.
He watched as her left hand lay firmly on her stomach, whilst the other was gripping his tunic; her knuckles growing whiter by the second.
As he took in the scene, an old memory popped into his head. He had seen this happen before. Thorin's sister Dis had also gotten pains in her stomach, which had been lessened by a special tea. But they didn't have tea here. Nope, and even if they did there was no way that the Elven King would give her any; not after their 'discussion' the other day. Thinking back, he remembered watching Thorin soothe his sister by rocking her gently and rubbing her stomach.
Now knowing what he had to do, Dwalin gulped. This could either go very well or very badly. He shivered as he thought about how Dis got when she was going through the same thing. Mahal, as soon as he found out he would avoid her like the plague. He may be a feared, battle-hardened warrior but that was no match for a Dam during her 'lady time'.
Slowly, as not to startle her. Dwalin lifted her stiff arm that lay over her stomach with the one hand and placed his other hand where hers once lay; before promptly releasing her arm to lie over his. With a soothing motion, well as soothing as he could be. Dwalin moved his rough hand in circles over her stomach, gently rocking her as he did so.
At his ministrations, a sigh left Alexa as the pain in her stomach somewhat subdued. She moved her hand from over his arm, to rest on his chest. The pain in her stomach making her completely forget about what lay beneath her tunic.
The two had remained silent the entire time, with Alexa's deep breathing the only thing being heard. When she had finally fallen asleep Dwalin had seized rocking her but continued to rub her stomach. Just in case the pain came back.
/
The third time Alexa woke up, there was a dull pain in her stomach. Though that wasn't the reason why she woke up. What was? Oh, only a light knock on the door. Just kidding, the Elf could've knocked down the cell door with all his loud banging. Like honestly, he was being louder than all of the Dwarves combined at Bilbo's; and that was one hell of a feat.
"Just five more minutes," Alexa groaned, fisting Dwalin's tunic. The latter grumbled in agreement.
The banging stopped but a rapid tapping started. Peering up from Dwalin's neck with one eye open, Alexa almost guffawed at the sight. A very annoyed Elf stood outside their cell, his arms crossed; firmly tapping his foot.
Releasing a sigh, Alexa groaned into Dwalin's neck before shifting in his lap. There goes her sleep. Yawning, Alexa stretched her arms above her. A pained whimper left her as a spike of pain shot through her tummy as she moved. Resting a hand on her stomach, she moved her hand in soothing motions.
"Come on, get out before I make you," The Elf spat from outside the cell,
"What happened to chivalry?" Alexa mumbled, though the Elf heard it and scowled at her, but remained quiet.
Releasing a sigh, Alexa looked down at a sleeping Dwalin. He looked so peaceful when he was asleep, it was almost strange considering how he was awake. It was sweet and somewhat cute.
Alexa laughed at the thought. Dwalin cute? Ha! Dwalin and cute in the same sentence, guess there's a first for everything. As she stared at his face (not in a creepy way I promise) she imagined what he would do If she told him that. He'd most likely grumble about not being cute then storm off or something. Yeah no, he would kill her. Yup, she's gonna die.
"Wha' er yer staring at lass?" Dwalin grunted, feeling her eyes on him. His own remained closed with sleep.
Alexa smiled at the noise. Before it had irritated her when he would grunt at her, but now it was becoming more endearing than anything else. Oh, force what was happening to her? "Thank you Dwalin. For last night. I really-I needed that," Alexa whispered, a soft look in her eyes.
At her words, Dwalin's eyes flickered open. His blue eyes catching her greeny-grey. "Yer don'naut 'ave ta thank me, lass. Wha' kind of Dwarf would I be if I didn't?" he whispered back, his arms tightening around her waist.
"True, but you could've just turned a blind eye. But you didn't, you helped me every time. So, thank you Dwalin," Alexa finished; her expression softening as she looked at the Dwarf.
Dwalin grunted in response, his hand landed on her knee with a thump. Wordlessly assuring her that it was okay and it didn't bother him. Alexa smiled at the action before wrapping her arms around his thick neck in a hug.
Dwalin inhaled sharply at the action, flabbergast. It took him a few long seconds but his mind finally caught up with him and he wrapped his arms around her waist. He held her loosely in his arms, his face buried in her auburn locks.
This embrace felt different to Dwalin, almost intimate. Unlike last night when he was comforting her and had initiated the contact, this time she had gone to him first. Whilst Alexa was no stranger to friendliness or joking around, she had rarely initiated any physical embrace with any of the company; not including the wee lad Ben of course.
The only times Dwalin could think of was twice with Bilbo and once with Nori. After Rivendell when Bilbo had almost fallen to his death after the stone giants and again when he appeared out of thin air after the Goblins and after she had woken up in Nori's arms in Mirkwood. All the other embraces were her on the receiving end.
From her past, it was only to be expected. Attachment is forbidden and so forth. So, getting an intimate embrace from Alexa was as rare as it was special. She must really care about the Dwarf since she had embraced him first. The thought caused a warmth to grow in Dwalin's chest; she had hugged him!
Their hug was cut short when Alexa was yanked roughly out of Dwalin's arms; a startled yell leaving her. The Elf had apparently run out of patience. His long pale fingers were curled around Alexa's wrist, his grip painfully tight. He began dragging the woman towards the open cell door. Not waiting for a moment to let her gather her bearings, or better yet her footing.
Dwalin leapt to his feet, stepping closer towards the offending Elf with a deep scowl on his face. He had known that they would come back for her, to question her further; but that didn't make him any happier about the situation.
Seeing Dwalin's actions the Elf smirked and tightened his hold on the woman; almost taunting the burly Dwarf to make a move. Alexa whined painfully at the Elf's unnaturally tight grip, her free hand coming up to try and break his hold.
At her pained cry, something in Dwalin snapped. Releasing a growl, he charged at the Elf, tackling him to the ground; now in full out battle mode. Dwalin quickly got the upper hand and pinned him down. Startled by the sudden assault, the Elf had let go of Alexa's wrist.
Dwalin did not hold back, seeing nought but red. Punch after punch he landed on the Elf's face. Who had tried to fight back against the assault and even managed to punch the burly Dwarf in the jaw. Which, unfortunately for him, ended in Dwalin head butting him. Feeling faint from the harsh knock to his head and unable to do much else, the Elf screamed as Dwalin beat him to a pulp. His yells no doubt alerting the nearby guards.
During this, Alexa had been alternating between rubbing her wrist, which already had a dark bruise forming and her stomach which was having sharp pulses once more. Blasted Elves. Alexa looked across at Dwalin only now realizing what he was doing. A horrified look fell on Alexa's face as she watched as a red-faced Dwalin beat the shit out of the barely conscious Elf. The former, from the looks of it, had no intention of stopping any time soon.
Incoming signatures overwhelmed Alexa's senses, breaking her out of her shock. Peering out of the gate, she saw at least ten Elven guards running up the winding staircases; heading straight towards them. Turning back to Dwalin and the bloodied Elf, she strode towards him. Tugging on his broad shoulder, she tried to get him to stop. Lost in his rage, Dwalin didn't notice her presence; and if he did, he ignored it.
Knowing that she couldn't use the force in the Elf's presence, she began yelling at Dwalin to stop. After one particularly loud yell, Dwalin seized punching the Elf and stood. Muttering incoherently under his breath, he spat down at the senseless Elf.
"Dwalin?" Alexa asked, placing her hand on his thick arm slowly; not wanting to startle him.
Gently pulling on his arm, she tugged him around to face her. Dwalin's chest rose and fell as he breathed heavily. The heat of the battle slowly leaving him. His face was splatted with blood, no doubt from the unconscious Elf.
"Oh, Dwalin," Alexa breathed, "You shouldn't have done that." she whispered, worried as to what will happen to him now that he has brutally assaulted one of the guards.
Dwalin huffed in reply, "I'll take me chances lass," he grunted, shaking off her concerns; as he carefully held her wrist in his meaty hand.
A quiet laugh left Alexa at his words, ever the stubborn Dwarf. She looked down at Dwalin a small smile on her lips as he looked over her wrist. She liked this side of Dwalin, the sweet, protective side. The smile soon fell from her face as several Elves rounded the corner to their cell; all staring down at their fallen comrade. Well shit
ALEXA'S POV
Dwalin stepped in front of her, shielding her from the now infuriated Elves. Though as he glared at the Elves, Alexa managed to sidestep his broad figure to stand in front of him. They were here for her originally and she didn't want Dwalin to be in any more shit.
Said Dwarf had tried to stop her, had even grasped her wrist and tugged her behind him again. But she still moved to stand in front of him. One of the reasons for this was that Alexa knew that further delay would only piss the already enraged Elves off even more.
So, reluctantly she had broken out of his hold, muttering a half-apology half warning under her breath; telling him not to make the situation anymore worse. She left with one of the Elves while the rest were busy carrying out the one Dwalin knocked out.
Not too long after, she had arrived at the Throne Room. Her Elven escort was a complete and utter ass the entire time up, pushing and shoving her. This was somewhat reasonable, as the unconscious Elf was probably his buddy or something so his behaviour was understandable on some points. Nonetheless, when they had finally made it to the Throne Room, she had made him suffer. Well, not quite 'suffer' per se. But she certainly humiliated him.
As they made it up the last few steps, she had flicked her hand ever so subtly. At her action, the Elf had 'fallen' forward and roughly face planted on the wooden floor of the Throne Room with a bang. She watched internally dying of laughter as the Elf scrambled to his feet. His nose bleeding and very clearly broken.
"Well, it's certainly an improvement,' Alexa muttered, letting a small grin form on her lips as she looked up at the pissed off Elf.
The brown-haired Elf glared down at her in fury and went to hit her when the Elf King had stepped in. "I think that's quite enough. Go clean yourself up," Thranduil spoke, his voice as sharp as steel.
After receiving a final glare from his King, the Elf had scrammed down the stairs. Head tilted back, fingers pinching his nose; in an attempt to stop the bleeding. It was almost comical.
Alexa had watched him run down the narrow steps, pushing past the ginger Elf Tauriel. Said Elf had looked up towards her, in response, Alexa had smiled and waved. Which had gained a confused look from the Elf and an awkward wave back.
Smiling to herself, Alexa turned back around to the blonde king. Who was WaYYYY closer than he was last. Like damn, ever heard of personal space?
Wiping the smile off her face, Alexa walked past Thranduil and further into the Throne Room. She stopped before she could reach the Throne and turned around, coming face-to-face with the Elven King who had been trailing after her.
"Miss me already?" Alexa asked, her tone dry; already bored.
Ignoring her words, Thranduil entered her personal space once more and stared down menacingly into her eyes. "The guards tell me you were crying last night, why is that? Did you finally realize that you mean nothing? That you are nothing?" He asked, a smug smile forming on his lips. His icy blue eyes studied her own, searching for any emotion that would betray her calm dilemma.
Alexa bit the inside of her cheek, trying desperately not to blow her cover. But force if her cramps weren't coming back full swing. "No, I just had a bad dream about the Spider's from Mirkwood," Alexa replied, shivering just at her own words. Blasted spiders, ugh!
Thranduil looked at her, an eyebrow raised in question. Being incredibly condescending of her very rational fear. Noting his look, Alexa narrowed her eyes.
"Aranchiphobia is a real thing! Okay? Those spiders are abnormally massive! Like what the force happened to the tiny ones? Where are they aye? Cause whatever you lot are cooking up in that forest ain't natural!" Alexa yelled, losing all her previous patience; and letting her emotions take over as a spike of pain erupted in her stomach.
Thranduil looked at the small woman, nought but his eyes giving away how shocked he was at her sudden outburst. She broke way easier than last time. Guess a night in the cells did her some good. Wanting to use this to his advantage he continued his investigation.
"Who are you and why are you travelling with Thorin Oakenshield and his band of misfits?" He asked, bending his head down to stare directly into her eyes. At this point, Tauriel had entered the Throne Room and was watching the interrogation go down from the side.
"I have told you already. My name is Alexa, I'm a cook, and I was hired to provide meals for the company," Alexa grinded through her teeth; holding her stomach tightly as another wave of pain rushed through her.
"I don't believe you," Thranduil sneered, backing away from the woman.
"Yeah, well believe what you will. Don't make you right," Alexa spat, getting tired of the Elven King already. She watched as he circled her.
"Well, I believe that there is more to you than meets the eye. So, I will ask again. Who are you?" The King asked, scrutinizing the young woman.
"Someone you should tread lightly around if you don't want to leave this place a eunuch," Alexa snapped, almost doubling over in pain from the ever-growing throb in her stomach.
"What did you say?" Thranduil hissed, pausing his circling to stand directly in front of the young woman. His form became rigid, his pale blue eyes flashed dangerously as he glared down at her.
"Do you have ale in your ear? Where do you think the knives are kept, old man? Oh, that's right the kitchen!" Alexa yelled in his face. Yeah, she probably shouldn't have provoked him, yet again. Oh, well. You only live once right?
Alexa knew she had pissed him off beyond belief. Even more so than the last time. She watched as his hand twitched at his side, no doubt ready to slap her once more. She would take it.
Holding her head high, she waited for the blow when the pain in her stomach suddenly upped a level; bringing her down to her knees. Clutching her belly, tears pricked at her eyes as the pain became too much. It was then the King's subordinate, the ginger Elf Tauriel had interfered.
Alexa paid no mind as Tauriel and Thranduil talked, the pain proving too much for her. Even if she was listening to them, she still wouldn't be able to understand what they were saying anyway. It was like her pains were making up for all the years she had been free of them.
After a while, the talking had seized, and she felt a hand wrap under her arm, hauling her up. Peering up, she saw the ginger Elf smiling down at her in sympathy. Nodding in thanks, Alexa closed her eyes as a wince left her lips. Blasted cramps! Why did the Elves have to confiscate her pack?It had her herbs that stopped this sort of thing from happening.
"Here we are," Tauriel said, sitting Alexa down on a stool.
Alexa whispered her thanks but didn't meet the Elf's eyes. Her head remaining bowed as another wave of pain pulsed through her.
"Drink this, it will help with your pains," Tauriel said, passing Alexa a small cup filled with a tea of some sort.
Alexa took the cup from her hand wordlessly, nodding her thanks. She chucked the tea back, the warm liquid instantly soothing her pains. Yet again, Alexa was impressed by the wonders of Elven medicine. Placing the now empty cup on a nearby bench, Alexa looked at the Elf Maid before her.
"Thank you. My name is Alexa, if you didn't catch that before," Alexa finally spoke up, her eyes catching the brown ones of the ginger Elf.
"Yes, I've heard. I am Tauriel," She replied, a humorous look on her face.
At her words, Alexa smirked and held out her hand. Seeing her hand, Tauriel peered back at the woman's face before hesitantly taking her hand and shaking it.
"Nice to meet you Tauriel. I promise I am way nicer than what King Thranduil may have said," Alexa said, releasing her grip on Tauriel's hand; ending the handshake. She ran her fingers over her bruised cheek.
"He did this?" Tauriel asked, inspecting Alexa's swollen cheek.
"He did not appreciate my snark words," Alexa replied, chuckling slightly.
"You should not anger him," Tauriel whispered under her breath, looking around the room; as if the walls had ears.
"Too late for that," Alexa jest, drawing her hand back to her lap; a hiss of pain leaving her as she jostled her left shoulder.
"You're injured," Tauriel said, not missing the expel of air.
"Happened almost a year ago, it just never really healed," Alexa said, wincing as she touched her shoulder.
Alexa was too invested in her shoulder, that she didn't notice Tauriel move in front of her. It wasn't until the Elf had tried to take off her tunic that she did.
"No! Uh, there's no need to do that," Alexa muttered, releasing her shoulder to tug her tunic down instead.
"It's alright, I'll be quick," Tauriel said, before going back to Alexa's tunic.
"Can't you just work around it? Please?" Alexa breathed, staring up pleadingly into the Elf's eyes.
Tauriel peered down at the pleading woman. Releasing a sigh, she agreed. "Okay,"
Alexa sighed a breath of relief. "Thank you,"
Tauriel nodded and got to work. Helping Alexa get her left arm out of her sleeve before pushing the tunic away from her shoulder and down her arm.
Alexa watched as Tauriel looked over her shoulder. Several whimpers and shaky breaths left her as the ginger Elf's thin nimble fingers pressed into the flesh; in an attempt to get a mental image of her injury. At times, Tauriel had asked her to move her arm in certain positions. Minutes of this past, before Tauriel looked into Alexa's eyes.
"I have never seen anything like it," She said, her eyes wide with shock.
"What do you mean?" Alexa asked timidly, already knowing that the news was not going to be good.
"It shouldn't be possible for you to move it. The bone has been broken in too many places; you are extremely lucky that it can still function. Even with Elven medicine, we do not have the capabilities to heal this type of injury. You will live with it for the rest of your life, I am so sorry," Tauriel breathed, she looked at Alexa in remorse before helping the young woman put her tunic back on.
"Yeah, I know. Even with my healing abilities, I do not have the skill to perform such a task," Alexa admitted as she slid her arm back through the sleeve.
"I thought you said you were a cook?" Tauriel asked, suspicious. Though it was clear to Alexa she was jesting.
"Among other things," Alexa said with a mischievous smile.
"But that is a conversation for another time. In the meantime, I'd like to be escorted back to my cell," Alexa said, holding out her arm to be 'escorted'; a massive grin on her face.
Tauriel looked curiously at Alexa, so many questions going through her mind. But the Elf relented for the meantime and took Alexa's arm; escorting her back to the dungeon.
