The Course of True Love [Kili]

Kili roamed the forest with his uncle for a great many hours. They spoke of days of old, companions that were no longer with them, places they missed and discoveries they had had made in this strange world. Thorin had told him of a woman who had intrigued him named Leona and he had told Thorin that Flanna was pregnant, despite Thorin's stoic nature, the shock that he had seen had been worth the slap on the back he had received. Of course calling Thorin Grandpa, in retrospect... he probably deserved the black eye he was now sporting. Thorin wasn't his father but he was the closest he would ever have, he was close enough to be the child's second father, and he had told his king as such. They had shared a drink at the bar in celebration and had vanished into the wilderness, off on another adventure.

They maneuvered well together, whether scoring prey, or facing a foe, they moved like clockwork, able to read the others movements in a glance. Kili had not slacked off on keeping his body in tune and even when a few ogres chanced upon them, the two had gotten away with only minor scrapes and bruises. They spent the day outside of curious ears and wagging tongues, catching up and filling in the other on what had occurred since their last meeting, a great deal more had transpired with Kili but he hammered his poor uncle with questions and inquiries, he tried to avoid speaking of Erebor at any cost, neither one had discovered any way to return home and he knew that was killing Thorin. As night began to fall the two headed back towards Aledon, Kili had a wife to return too and Thorin... well he hadn't committed himself to a permanent home yet, much to Kili's protest. They hadn't been but a scarce few miles from home when they had been attacked.

A small band of orcs had come from the east, an arrow, embedding itself in Kili's thigh, Thorin wasted no time in charging the group and Kili was quick to supply support, grinding his teeth against the pain. Arrow after arrow had found itself embedded in the nightmares skulls and once he had run out, he charged right behind his uncle, sword as deadly as ever as he sliced through his foes. When it was all said and done, and once the adrenaline had worn off, the pain took hold of Kili and a strong limp overtook him. Thorin had torn the arrow from his leg, stuffed the wound with herbs and bandaged it tightly. It had taken the two several hours to get Kili home and when they had he forced Thorin away, not wanting to worry his wife, she would think it worse than it was if he limped in balancing on the shoulder of his uncle.

He swung open the door, locking it behind him and slowly limped across their home, wincing with every step he took. "Flanna." He called her name quietly, not wanting to wake her if she already slumbered.

Kili damned the orcs to the lowest layer of hell. They had caused so much strife for him and his kin in the past and now or so it seemed. The blue mountains, the pale orc... their journey to reclaim Erebor, they were nasty foul things that he cursed. They caused problems for all races, humans, hobbits, hell even the damn elves hated the disgusting things. They were ugly, foul tempered and smelled absolutely horrendous, he was lucky this arrow had not been tipped with poison or he could have been much worse off. Damn. He had a wife, heavy with child, he couldn't be limping around for a month, he had suffered worse he would need to fight through the damnable pain. To Smaug with the damned things!

He limped through the front door, the guard dogs quickly ceasing their snarls as Kili gave them a quick command and they recognized him, if his lovely wife was slumbering he wished not to awaken her. He tore the heavily armored plates from his torso but left the linen beneath, it was bitterly cold. He grunted as he removed the blood stained pants, they would need to be replaced. Blood had seeped through the bandages, but the wound had long since clotted over, he would need to stitch it in the morning. Damn, damn, damn. He called his wife's name in a soft whisper, and he almost wished she was asleep, she needn't see such things upon his flesh, but her cheerful voice met him and internally he winced.

He disguised the limp as best as he was able, but he knew there would be no hiding such an injury from her for long. He tore a length of cloth, untarnished from his pants and wrapped that around the bandages, answering her as he did so, not wanting her to worry. "I have missed you as well my Flanna, I will join you in but a moment." he did not wish to soil her blankets with blood. He limped as little as he was able once he entered her view and despite his pain, he smiled as she drew back the blankets, willing him to join her. She was still so beautiful, even more so swollen with his child.

"Flanna, do not fret, a minor injury at best, a wound to my leg, nothing more, Thorin treated it well." He smiled to her reassuringly, hiding the pain he felt with a smile and sliding in beside her in the bed, tugging her freezing frame close and he frowned. he could not leave until she had had the child, she was too cold in these bitter months without him. "You are freezing, come closer, you can leech my body heat." He chuckled into her hair, drawing her flush against his body, she was far more important than some wound.

Kili missed Flanna when he vanished with Thorin. He forced himself not to dwell on it though, it's how many soldiers were killed, they allowed themselves the distraction of thoughts of the comforts of home, of family and that second of faltering became the only weakness an opponent needed to make a killing blow. He had seen it happen to his kin one too many times, and while he loved her dearly he forced her away from the forefront of his mind when he left her. Kili found a solace and Thorin that he received nowhere else and his heart and mind demanded that he explore the vast lengths of the wilderness, and Kili was loathe to say no. He needed the change of pace, the excitement, the danger. He could not be content forever chained to a routine, it was too boring, too repetitive, he needed the change, and it brought him a sense of peace.

Of course, he had never meant to get shot by the damnable arrow. It had plunged deep, ripping through the muscle with ease, he had been lucky, it hadn't torn through the ligaments or tendons and it hadn't punctured the bone. He would be limping, but he would heal up just fine, he could still walk, it would just be painful. Pain, he could handle all too well. He could hide just how bad it really was from his wife. He did not wish for her to stress or worry, especially when she was so late in the pregnancy. He forced his pain off and away, numbing it with the use only of his mind and walked decently well to Flanna's side. He slid in beside her with ease and held back the groan of relief he felt when his weight was taken off of the leg.

He shifted until she was trapped between his loving embrace, his hands, both of them, held the swell of her stomach with tender grace, it would not be so long before the child graced their lives. How wonderful a thought that was, it distracted him from his own aches and pains better than any poultice. He smiled into her hair at her concern, despite her worry, it made his heart warm that she fretted over him so. It was endearing to say the least. He chuckled softly, wishing she would stop her frets, it was bad for the baby. "An arrow, it did not dig that deep, I am still fully capable of walking and it stopped bleeding hours ago. I will have a limp for the next few weeks at the very most. Do not stress so much my Flanna." He coos soothingly into her ear, willing the tension to leave her body, the majority of what he had told her was true. "Besides... you like my scars." He chuckled into her ear, trying to make her laugh.

She shivered in his embrace, and he pulled her closer, Croi, moving up the bed to warm her other side and he smiled at the dog nodding approvingly. Croi whined and nudged Flanna with his nose. Kili shook his head, rolling his eyes, this was his family now. Her words made him smile and he kissed the crown of her head. "As I have missed you my love." The child kicked beneath his palm and Kili's smile broadened, his heart warming at the notion and he laughed softly. "You are our child can rest easy, I shall not leave your side again, at least until the babe is born."

Kili chuckled as she buried herself in his chest, hiding her face, and more than likely her worry. He was truly alright, or at least he would be. A bit of rest, a few days of recovery, and as long as he didn't overexert himself, he would be fine. He chuckled at her quiet admission, she spoke it almost a though she didn't want too. Kili only hugged her tighter, flexing the muscles in his arms and laughing softly into her ear. His hands spreading out across her swollen belly and caressed it with a gentle touch. The life they had created dwelled beneath his fingertips, so fragile, so gentle. She needn't stress for the sake of their child.

He smiled into her hair as he thought of the mini bundle of joy that would be darting around the house, chasing Croi with all of its power, if it was anything like him, Flanna would have more than her hands full, and so would he. According to Thorin he was a demon on short wobbly legs, from the moment he had learned what a prank was he was pulling them, damning the consequences to Smaug and that was a trait he still possessed today! He shook his head, shaking the memories of his youth from his mind. They would be in for a treat no doubt, and they would be damned if it possessed both his deviousness and her intelligence. "Goodnight Flanna love, I will still be here when you awaken." He didn't plan on going much of anywhere for the next few days.

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Kili groaned as the familiar voice of his wife beckoned to both him and the dog, if the grumble that the dog emitted was anything to go by, it was just as content to lie amongst the sheets as Kili was. It was, of course, the damnable wife that wished to rose them. As Croi moved and Flanna arose from the bed, he caught Croi around the abdomen and tugged the dog into the space Flanna had just occupied grumbling, voice colored still with sleep as he spoke. "Five more minutes mom." Oh he was gonna get hit for that one, he was positive, but it would be worth it. he yawned and stretched, Croi becoming agitated that his second snuggling partner was now moving and with an annoyed growl sauntered out of the bedroom.

Kili watched his wife circle the bed, sitting up and stretching, his spine cracking back into place as she approached him. He knew she wouldn't leave the wound alone. Curiosity was in her nature. he sighed and allowed her to pull off the bandages. He watched her face fall in worry and he shook his head, grasping her chin gently and pulling her face to his own. "I have had far worse than this my Flanna... it will need stitches, you need not watch me place them." He had stitched himself and his kin a thousand times, the pain of the tiny needle and thread was almost nonexistent to him now, but it wasn't pleasant to watch. She returned with her bandages and he gently set them aside. "Go on Flanna, I will be done in a moment, you can help me wrap it alright?"

Kili had slept soundly beside his wife, several days of traveling without a bed or his lovers warm embrace... he had joined his beautiful bride in harmony very soon after she had fallen asleep. He held his wife and unborn child, even in sleep, in security. He embraced her tightly, chasing away any demons his wife or his child may have. He would protect them as he protect his kin, until his very last breath was taken from him. His child would grow knowing family and warmth, never the sadness or loneliness that had plagued he or his bride. His child would know everything good about their life. Kili would train them, make them physically strong but they were never emotional pain as he and Flanna had. Kili would be sure of it. Flanna would make for a wonderful mother and he would do his damndest to be just as good a father.

Kili had never been a morning person. Partying until the sun rose in the sky was more his style. At night he thrived, but in the morning he was lucky to make it out the door with his attire properly assembled. Despite his teasing tone and his grunt of annoyance for having been woken up, she kissed him soundly and he was but a slave to her touch. With a yawn and a rather large stretch he sat up in bed. Croi having long since fled the room. He blinked as she spoke, not used to the accent coming on so strong, but grinned, chuckling and shaking his head as she vanished to retrieve a few medical supplies.

He blinked surprised at her sudden indignation at the fact he had asked her to leave. He had not thought she would wish to see such things, but she surprised him constantly, and his laughter was thick and rich as she stubbornly sat near him, her gaze on the window that overlooked their property. Perhaps a few sheep... or maybe some cows to color the view? Nay... he need not think of such thing now. He threaded the needle with practiced ease, driving it through his flesh with nary a grimace. Stitches were something he had placed many of and the dull pain was little more than an inconvenience too him. He grunted quietly as he cut the last of the material and tied the final knot. His wife had not glanced at him once through the whole process and he caught her chin in his hand.

"I am fine my lovely wife. Seven stitches is not so terribly much, and yes! By all means! Do what you will with me!" Dramatically he flopped back on the bed as she crawled a top him. Her fingers were soft and gentle as they spun the bandages about his leg, and when she had finished, he sat up, tired of her teasing fingers on his thigh and snatched her hand. "Evil woman... I have already done my husbandly duties for you are round and heavy with my child. Now stop teasing me." He growled against her mouth and kissed her fondly. Ah but he did love her.

He was accustomed to waking without his wife. She was an early riser, enjoyed the morning, and more often than not by the time he roused himself awake she had already eaten and was scribbling sonnets, stories, and poems in her small workspace. Kili, of course, would then tell her some jest about giving her and the desk some alone time and she would laugh and fire back some half hearted insult. On rare occasion, however, she would awaken him before he was ready for one reason or another and while Kili enjoyed dozing late into the morning, he didn't mind his beloved waking him on rare occasion... she usually did so with a kiss and he couldn't truly complain. Today he had the sneaking suspicion that she wanted only to see if his injury was really as mild as he claimed, and if by the speed she stripped him of his bandages was any indication he was correct.

He rolled his eyes at her false expression of innocence. She was perfectly gentle as she bandaged the injury before her finger consistently ghosted places they shouldn't be, luckily for him, his leg still throbbed with enough pain to distract him from such thoughts. Although she would not need to know that. He knew she was forever loyal to him. God knew she deserved so much better but for some odd reason she had chosen to bond herself with him and Kili was certainly not in the habit of looking a gift horse in the mouth. His eyes narrowed at the challenge on her tongue and it was all he could do not to take her, Damn his injury and her swollen belly.

"Yes...yes.. and once you have that child you will be lucky to walk ever again." He growled low against her mouth, and then she was gone, skipping away merrily towards the kitchen and Kili groaned, falling back onto the bed. Croi's barks of excitement echoing down the hallway. He blew a stray piece of hair from his eye and sighed, not for the first time the thought swam through his brain; Not a siren by Thorins beard! [/b]

With a grunt he swung from the bed, wincing as he momentarily forgot his leg. The pain quickly reminded him. He hobbled forward, limping half way decently into the kitchen. With a groan and a soft sigh. he collapsed into one of the chairs, watching Flanna buzz about the kitchen, making only she knew what... it was sure to be delicious, the woman could cook. Croi danced about his feet, but he ignored the pup, instead focusing on the lists before him, a coy grin pulling at the corners of his mouth as he glanced up at his wife.

"I am assuming... these are the names you like love?"

He plopped in the chair across the kitchen table, Croi's nose weaseling its way under his hand, flipping it until he finally relented and stroked his head. He huffed and sat, finally and it was all Kili could do not to roll his eyes at the 'brave, strong, protector' He shook his head and returned his attention to his stunning wife. She whispered such promises that he could not keep until the babe was born, these next few months would surely be torture for the poor man, maybe he should leave again. No... not he, he could do no such thing to his pregnant wife, but how cruel she could be. His eyes dropped to her swollen stomach and he could not stop the smile that spread across his face. He may be tortured now, but in a few short months it would all be worth it. That child, the babe that grew within the confines of her stomach, it was a piece of him and a piece of her. Wrought from their union, it would be perfect, he knew it. It mattered little to him, the gender, if it was a piece of her, it could not be unwanted and he looked forward to becoming a father every second of every day.

He chuckled at her choice of words, and glanced down at the mutt who had weaseled his way practically onto his lap, he kept his head below the table though, occasionally glancing at Flanna, perhaps she had told him no at least once, becoming the picture of innocence, he shrugged his shoulder nonchalantly and let them fall. His dark eyes trailing up to the ceiling. "How should I know? At the way you fawn over Croi, I'm surprised you haven't gone out and simply bought another dog." His laughter echoed throughout the small kitchen at the thought of her speaking to that rather disgusting excuse for a human. Yes, he bred good quality dogs, but the poor man needed a bath and sorely. Kili was fairly certain that the corn meal in his mustache had turned green from age. Ah but he held a good heart and Kili supposed that was all he could ask for. Loyalty, Honor, and a Willing Heart. The quote brought an enormous sense of homesickness and for a brief moment Kili grew solemn, dark eyes hardening momentarily before he released it.

"For a girl, I love Aoife, Saerin and Fallon, and if the babe is a boy I love Talar and Rhan the best, your thoughts my lovely bride?" He knew she wanted his opinion, twas why she had written him the note, she had not merely wrote it for her health and her uniqueness of name choice impressed him, he had heard of none of these before. Intelligent, smart, clever... why in God's name was she with him?

She brought breakfast to the table and Kili felt his mouth begin to water at the buffet that was spread before him, grabbing a bit of everything and piling his plate high, after, of course, Flanna had taken her own. He slipped Croi pieces of food when Flanna wasn't paying attention, the dog was practically glued to his side. Kili grinned and chuckled patting the thing on the head as Flanna scolded it for sneaking food. "Oh my heart... you needn't scold the poor beast, it is attempting to eat for two, I fear you spoil him and he has grown quite fat." Kili's rich laughter filled the kitchen and the dog nipped his fingers, Kili swore the damn thing was too smart for his own good. "Thank ye for the breakfast love, it tis quite delicious."