His Queen

Chapter 20 - Kitra

Gandalf's voice echoed through the dark, cavernous chamber as he spoke. "We have but one path left to us; we must brave the long, treacherous halls of Moria. Be on your guard, for there are older and fouler things than orcs that lurk in the deep places of this world." As he spoke, Gandalf lit his staff with a fierce glow, casting flickering shadows on the damp stone walls.

The group stood huddled together, their faces illuminated by the soft light of the wizard's staff. Half of them were drenched from wading through the underground river, while the other half remained dry, but equally shaken. Kitra leaned against a nearby wall, panting heavily as she tried to catch her breath and calm her nerves. Her body ached from being tossed around in the raging waters, and she could feel her cracked ribs protesting with every breath. Despite the pain, she knew they had to keep moving.

"Hang on," Aragorn called out to Gandalf, breaking the tense silence. "Kitra's injured." The wizard halted in his tracks and turned back to face them, his piercing gaze fixed on Kitra. She couldn't help but feel a bit annoyed at being singled out once again for her injuries. But she also felt guilty for slowing down the group.

"Let me see your head," Aragorn said gently, stepping closer to Kitra. She reluctantly

The crimson stain on the back of her head was growing larger by the second, but she stubbornly refused to acknowledge it. She gave him a defiant look when he tried to protest, but he could see the fear in her eyes. He couldn't let her bleed out before they even left the treacherous mines.

"Turn around and let me see." His voice was firm as he demanded, and she reluctantly complied. The throbbing pain in the back of her head intensified as he tilted her head down and his fingers gently brushed against her hair. A wave of relief washed over her when she realized it wasn't any higher - if it had been, they would have lost one of their own. She winced as something cold and sticky was pressed onto the wound, burning on contact. She couldn't help but hiss at him, resisting the urge to lash out in pain.

"Hey, be gentle!" She complained.

"Quiet now," he chided softly. "It's just some Athelas." He continued to apply pressure with one hand while reaching for something else with the other. Bandages were useless in this situation, so he simply held her head still until the bleeding stopped. "There." The relief in his voice was palpable as he removed his hand from her head.

"Thank you," she said sheepishly, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. He gave her a small nod and a gentle peck on the forehead before walking over to check on Frodo, leaving her feeling both grateful and flustered.

As she took a step forward, pain shot through her side and she winced, immediately cradling her ribs. Alana noticed and came to stand beside her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. Boromir stood nearby.

"I think my ribs are cracked," she explained, trying to brush off the injury as if it were just a minor annoyance. "There's nothing we can do about it until we reach Lothlorien."

Alana nodded understandingly before letting go of her shoulder. Gandalf spoke up then, reminding them of the four-day journey ahead and the need for caution. She stayed closer to the back of the group, walking alongside Aragorn. Each step was a struggle, and any slight stumble caused sharp pains to shoot through her body. But she gritted her teeth and pushed on, determined not to slow down the rest of the fellowship.

Walking through the mines was uncomfortable and eerie. The dim light cast shadows all around them, making it hard to see more than a few feet ahead. She kept close to Aragorn, finding comfort in his presence as they moved deeper into the

Of all the injuries one could sustain, breaking ribs was by far the worst in her opinion. The sharp pain radiating from her chest with every breath reminded her of this fact. Unlike toes or fingers, where there wasn't much to do but wrap and rest, broken ribs required constant effort and care. Yet at the moment, she couldn't do either.