AN: Well, you asked for Kili falling through the ice... ;) Hope you enjoy the chapter. More hurt/comfort, now with Kili!
Again thanks for reviews, favorites, follows. I've gotten a lot of follows! Thanks :)
Kili did his best to compose himself, again brushing the snow from him and his older brother, before he glanced down to see Fili's face look all to pale. Kili's heart dropped and he gave his brother a shake.
"Wake up, come on, please Fili!" Kili begged. Fili's head lolled, and Kili took one of the warm furs that was keeping himself warm and draped it around his brother's shoulders. He also took off his and his brother's ice-skates, putting them away. Almost immediately the cold bit through his thin tunics, but Kili pushed the cold from his mind and as he stood.
"Please!" Kili begged, tears keeping his voice from being very loud, and he did his best to hoist his brother to his feet.
Fili groaned, barely awake, and he leaned heavily on his littler brother.
"Yes, now... Now walk, please, can you walk?" Kili begged, "Lets try to walk!"
Fili didn't respond, but when Kili stepped forward, Fili dragged his feet along as well. The brothers' steps made deep marks in the quickly building snow drifts, and Kili felt snow leaking into his boots. He did his best to suppress a shiver, but he couldn't help when one after another riddled his body. He also felt his brother's sporadic shivers as he helped him along; it was a most discouraging sign.
Fili groaned, gently shaking his head as if trying to clear it, and Kili took hope in the small gesture.
"Fili! Fili, can you hear me?" Kili gave his brother a gentle shake, "Fili!"
Fili almost slipped into the snow, but he managed to hold himself upright as he feebly reached a hand up to rub his aching head.
"Kili?" He moaned, "What's happened? Are we almost home?"
"No," Kili suppressed the fear in his voice, "No, we're on the other side of the river!"
This seemed to shock Fili into some state of awareness as he turned his head to stare at his brother.
"What?" His quiet voice broke through the sudden silence, and Kili nodded once.
Fili groaned softly and then said, "Well, let's go across the river; it'll be the fastest way."
Kili glanced at the river, which had a light freeze over the edges near the bank and perhaps the rest of the river. Kili could see that the water was still flowing somewhat and they'd break through the thin ice the minute they tried. Still, he wasn't sure what other choice they had and besides, it was his brother who had suggested it! Fili knew what he was saying, and so Kili trusted his elder brother's judgment. They had to get home so Fili could warm up!
Kili nodded to his brother, trying to look brave. Fili would be brave had their parts been switched; Kili would just have to take the role of guider and provider. It was what Fili needed!
Fili shook his head again, his eyes appearing more alert, and he tried taking a few tentative steps on his own.
"Can you walk?" Kili asked, almost reaching out to catch his brother, should he fall.
"I'll manage," Fili grunted, "Lead the way."
Kili wasn't sure if he should still be helping his brother walk or not, but he lead the way through the drifts. The brothers arrived at the edge of the river, and Kili again eyed it uneasily.
Fili glanced up to see why they'd stopped, and then he too noticed the thin ice and freezing water.
"Perhaps we should cross somewhere with thicker ice?" Fili asked, but Kili shook his head.
"I've got to get you home," Kili decided, "You were right, this'll be the fastest way. If nothing else, I can swim across!"
Fili bit the inside of his cheek nervously, but he followed his brother to the bank's edge. The brothers eyed the river, and then Kili nodded as bravely as he could.
"I'll go first," Kili decided, "Since I feel better."
"No, Kili, I should check it out first. Besides, you can't really expect to swim across!" Fili shook his head, trying his very hardest to push the cold away. Oh, he was cold! And numb. He was quite numb. "You stay back!"
Kili looked into his older brother's tired, blue eyes, before he made an all to quick decision.
He leaped in front of his brother before Fili could do anything, and he stepped onto the thin ice. For a moment, it held, and Kili took another step. This time, the ice did not.
Kili fell into the freezing water with a scream. It was so cold it burned, and he struggled to get his bearings.
"Kili!" The younger heard his brother's voice, but suddenly he realized he couldn't breath. He fought his way to the surface of the river, sputtering freezing water that caught in his lungs. The river was flowing much quicker than he'd expected it would be, and he was forced under again by the current.
He kicked to the surface, gasping for breath and searching for the opposite bank. The stream wasn't terribly wide, but it was wide enough that it would be a true swim to the other side.
Kili was pulled under again, and his lungs begged for some air. Kili shivered in the frigid water, especially since he was missing his extra coat layer, and he did his best to kick his way to the surface. He must have become turned around, however, for he wasn't reaching the surface no matter how he swam. His lungs screaming for oxygen, and his arms so cold they felt numb, he changed direction and kicked hard for what he hoped was the surface.
For a moment, his face was above water, and he panted. Gasping in what he believed to be a breath of air, he realised he was breathing in water and he spit it out just to have more water invade his lungs.
He was so cold, fighting to the surface was almost impossible, and he felt his mind slowly shutting down. Numbness clung to his body, and the cold almost seemed warm for a minute before again hitting him with full force.
His mind must have been playing tricks on him, because he thought he felt a touch from above. Feebly, he tried to kick his legs in that direction, both of them feeling like frozen lead, but he couldn't get far before the black water wasn't what kept him from seeing.
Oh no! Kili! What's next? Reviews help with any writer's block that might arise ;)