Hanging On Like a Noose [Kili]

[Kili]

He had never sprinted like he did quite this day, he was at his beloved's side in an instant, trying to work out how best in his mind he could touch her and not injure her further. She was so broken, so bent, so hurt, and it was all he could do not to cry at her pitiful state, she had not the strength to move, not even to lift her head and Kili no longer tried to hold his tears. How... how could they wound something so beautiful, so precious? How could they hurt her so terribly? Deciding finally on her mid-section, he coiled a strong arm around her, whipping the cloak from his back and wrapping her form, tightly, before lifting her into the air as gently as he was able. He pressed kisses to her forehead, passing up his uncle, and heading towards the exit as quickly as his legs would carry him. At the moment he did not care for Thorin, or his bride. He cared only for Flanna, and Flanna would not survive much longer if she didn't receive help and fast.

Her voice trembled and shook, heady and fast and there was nothing he could do for her, he needed to get her back to Aledon. "I love you my Flanna. Never, never again will anything harm you, so long as I live and breathe, I swear it." He murmured against her skin, willing her to be strong enough to survive this, willing her to live. he hoped his cloak would offer her ice cold body a bit of relief, even a touch of warmth, he would think later on why they had her naked, he needed not to think of such things at the present.

She fell limp in his embrace, but he could still feel her breathing, soft and jagged, but still there against his neck. He forced himself to calm, whistled for the horse and swung a top it, he turned back to see Thorin shortly behind him. He urged him with his eyes to hurry, he knew not the condition of Leona, but he knew his brides and she would not make it much longer. "Thorin, we need a medic, badly." Kili almost whimpered, his strength leaving him at the wicked condition of his bride, as soon as Thorin was a top his horse, he was gone, urging the beast, faster, harder than he had ever urged it before.

[Leona Oakenshield]

Her name upon his lips was the most beautiful thing she had ever heard, she had never thought to see him again, never thought to hear his voice again, never thought to feel his touch against her skin again. All too soon he was upon her and she was pressed so tightly against his breastplate that it made her body and all of its injuries ache, but she would trade it not for the world. She could not move her left arm but her right she coiled around his neck, fingers tangling in his hair and holding him to the best of her ability. her incessant babbling finally ceased and she buried her face in the curve of his neck, breathing in his scent, his warmth, everything that was so uniquely him. She pressed her lips to his shoulder, trying to speak, wanting to speak, but her body was so cold and she hurt so bad, she could not find the strength to do so.

Dislocated shoulder, punctures, bruising along her spine, the slash from her forehead to her hip, and if the swelling in her right arm was anything to go by, a sprained wrist... she was a bloody mess and she doubted Flanna was any better. "Thorin." She cried into his skin, his name she clung to like a vice, reminding herself that it was he who held her so strong, so safe, so secure within his embrace. He would always protect her, would always save her, he was everything to her. Everything. She could not be without him and he was here and he had saved her, and she would live and together they would grow old, surrounded by their children and their grandchildren. "I love you...so much." There was nothing else she could say, nothing else she wished to say.

He carried her outside the cavern and she bit her bottom lip, trying not to cry out at the pressure that put on the gash at her side. Her vision flickered in and out, staining black and trying to take her away from consciousness, but she fought it, because she wasn't sure she would awaken again and she wasn't ready to leave her beloved. She wasn't ready to give up her Thorin just yet. She clung to him, focused on his scent, his taste beneath her lips, the softness of his hair within her fingers.

She begged whoever would listen to please give her this chance. To let her and Flanna somehow survive this. She wasn't ready to give him up, she wasn't ready to let go of this impossible dream.

[Flanna]

In Flanna's eyes, everything was a blur. She knew, of course, that it was Kili who was with her, who was going to save her and protect her, but she could not make out the distinct lines of him, of his face, of his armor. Perhaps it was due to the tracks of tears welling in her eyes, or perhaps she was so tired that her eyelids hung heavy. Of even, perhaps, a combination of the two, wherein she was so downright exhausted that it mattered little that she had been crying. She did not know, and did not care. All that mattered was that her husband had helped to take down those damned orcs and now he was going to save her from otherwise certain death. She knew she had no means of taking care of herself right now. She would have to rely solely on him--but she trusted Kili with all of her heart.

His strong body pulled her to him, after wrapping her in his cloak, which helped somewhat with her shivering, cold frame. She hated to be such a burden for him, but she knew he would deny it and she just wanted right now to feel his love. She felt kisses on her forehead, love in his saddened voice. She would fight for her life so that she could spend it with him. And... and there was something else. Something that she could not pinpoint. The pride of a mother, a wife, maybe. He pressed vows into her weak body, and she closed her eyes, safely now in his arms. She could not worry about anything but him right now.

Her body was numbing, sensation abandoning as she fell weaker. Flanna allowed her body to slump, held carefully in Kili's embrace, but made sure her mind was on and working and sharp. This was how she would stay alive. There was a shift in movement and she thought she could hear hoofbeats below her. Drawing on his warmth near her, she took a deep, pained breath, and whispered, "We're going to be... alright." All she could think of was him, and Talar, and Leona. Where were they going? Home? Into Aledon? She cared not. Kili would know what to do to best aid her, and she was willing to gamble her life that he could take good and proper care of her. She loved him. He was her world.

[Thorin Oakenshield]

Thorin cradled his bride to him, keeping her close. Surely, she was hurting, but he did not think to hold her any less tight than he was now, because he was so very protective of his precious wife. She was going to get better, under his hand, he would be certain of it. He loved her, it was that simple. Even when her arm coiled around him, even when she hid her face in his neck, he could only hold her. Holding on was all he could do, and he was willing her to fight, to live. For him. For herself. For the future they were going to have. Hell, for revenge. For anything. He hoped with all he was that she would make it. And something in him said she would.

He followed Kili's lead and had his own bride wrapped in his surcoat, trying to keep her warm. She need not suffer from the cold; there were many other more prevalent concerns that Thorin needed to address first. She was hurting. Either he would fix her or he would find someone that could. "I love you, Leona. We'll get through this. I'll find us a home, somewhere we can stay for a while until you get better." He whispered this and other promises to her as he carried her, trying to soothe her however he could.

There was nothing he would not do for her. She was his reason and his life. "Shhhh," he directed her, trying not to make her hurt any more than she had to. He eased them both gently onto his horse, and followed Kili, saying, "To Aledon, and go find someone to help our wives." Thorin was riding at a trot, not so fast as Kili, because Leona was not in immediate danger and he wanted to be careful. After some help and bone-setting, perhaps Kili would provide a bed for Leona until she got better. Thorin would not protest to the four being together; they had a lot to catch up on.