Done 25
They used the storm drains and the woods to move progressively farther from the compound. Wink was getting worse the longer those bullets stayed in his system and Nuada was worried he would lose his friend. Finally he called a halt in a cave in Virginia. Wink could go no further he was getting delirious and six wasn't holding up so well either.
She just didn't seem to have the stamina that she used to and she cursed her weakness. Nuada started to help her to sit on a rock in the cave and she pushed him off. "help him" said six. he frowned and helped his friend to lay down. "We need to get him some help" said six "yes I know but we cannot return to the city we've been exiled" said Nuada.
Six glowered "well whose bright idea was that?" said six "my father's he passed a law about leaving remember" said Nuada. Six eyed him "and you broke it?" said six. He smiled up at her.
"yes I did because I needed you" said Nuada. She smiled and blushed somewhat then nervously cleared her throat. "so what do we do about him?" said six Nuada eyed his friend he couldn't just let him die.
"I know of one who would help him but he can no longer journey there" said Nuada "so bring them here" said six. he looked at her then at his friend then back at her. "Nuada I can take care of him just go and hurry back" said six Nuada didn't like leaving her there but he had no choice if wink was to live he needed to get to the healer.
He headed out first thing giving six a kiss goodbye and leaving her with some pain killing herbs to tend him with. Six waited for two days for Nuada to come back then they showed up. They had dogs and they were looking for her. Wink was unconscious in the cave. She had only one chance she had to lead them away from him. So she ran giving the dogs and agents something to chase. She led them as far away as she could.
They caught up to her at the river. She wasn't as swift as she used to be and the dogs tripped her up. She protected her stomach and face as the dogs bit her until she stopped moving. They hauled her to her feet and led her towards the command center. Surprised they were very gentle with her as they led her to the trucks.
As she was led into the camp one of the scientists she knew came out. "dr croft how nice to see you" said six "six? My what a pleasant surprise where are your companions?" He asked. Six looked suitably upset, which was easy all she had to do was think of grudge.
"dead" she answered. Dr Croft nodded and motioned for her to be put into the truck. "welcome home six do try to cooperate we wouldn't want anything to happen to that precious cargo your carrying" said croft. Six climbed into the back of the truck and prayed that wink would be all right on his own.
Nuada returned to the cave, healer in tow just five hours after six was captured. Nuada swore and wanted to go after her but the healer needed him so he remained.
"we must remove the arm the iron is poisoning him" said the healer. Nuada reluctantly agreed and while the healer chanted the healing spells he used his sword to remove Wink's arm. The healer quickly stifled the bleeding by searing the stump. Administered some antibiotic herbs to Wink and then told Nuada to call on him if something went wrong.
Nuada saw to his needs and then followed the dogs trail to where six was caught. When he realized it was humans again he swore and returned to Wink. He waited impatiently for Wink to regain consciousness. Then he waited until he was well enough to travel again.
They traveled towards the goblin compounds at Winks insistence. He felt guilty for letting her get caught again since she obviously had been leading the humans away from him. At the compound wink got a mace gauntlet in place of his missing hand and insisted he go with Nuada to retrieve Denair.
It was a matter of honor for him now. His cousin had died in her service and she had sacrificed her freedom to safeguard his life when he was too weak to defend himself.
It took them six months to find out where she was. She was giving birth while they were breaking in to save her. Six blearily heard the alarm going off at the same time the doctor demanded she push. She swore at him but did as he requested.
They had been overly cautious with her the whole time she had been here. Making sure she got nutrious meals free of pesticides and watching over her every need. It creepily reminded her of the reports she read on her mothers captivity, so much so that she almost didn't enjoy the ultrasound and heartbeat monitor.
A wave of pain passed through her again and she pushed again. The baby finally came out just as the door burst open. Nuada was framed in the doorway behind him was a pissed off looking wink. Both were covered in blood and both of them were the most beautiful things she had ever seen.
The baby chose that moment to scream its first breath and six let out a relieved sob. It was over her family was safe at last. Nuada let the nervous looking nurses clean up the baby and wrap him in a blanket. He took the baby from the nurse's arms and handed him to six.
The woman had the courage not to beg for her life so he made her end swift. The doctor and the rest of the personal followed right after her. Nuada approached her side and kissed her on her lips firmly and hungrily. He drew back reluctantly and cupped her face in his hands.
"do not ever scare me this way again, now let me hold my son" said Nuada. he held out his arms and she glared at him until he sheathed the spear. He did so but she continued to stare until he wiped the blood off his hands. She then handed the baby to Nuada.
He looked down at the downy haired infant in his arms as his mother climbed out of the bed. He cooed to the child and he tried to smack his dads face with a small fist. Nuada chuckled "what did you name him?" said Nuada "Balen Anairius" said six. she pulled on her clothes slowly. Everything hurt but she wasn't going to let it stop her from leaving this place.
"After my father and grudges clan name?" said Nuada "yeah and sort of after my dad too" said six Nuada chuckled at the infant in his arms. Wink peeked his head in the door "my lord more troops approach I suggest we leave now, ah what a cute baby" said wink
Nuada chuckled "congratulations my lord, my lady" said wink. Nuada handed the baby back to six and they headed out the door. Wink led the way killing anyone dumb enough to try and stop them. They were making there way through the fence when six head that pop pop sound.
She looked at wink first, he was unharmed. Nuada moved forward in alarm. A blossom of red was forming on her chest right above where the baby was being held. "Wink she's been hit" Nuada yelled. She blinked in shock and looked down the baby met her stare and tried to hit the rd stain forming on her chest.
Six struggled to remain standing as Nuada rushed to her side. A part of her mind coldly pointed out that he was making himself a target. "Take the baby and run" she gasped out. She fell to her knees and Nuada took the baby from her arms. She started to pitch forward but wink caught her before she went any further.
He swung her over his shoulder and they dashed for the tree line. Six was getting dizzy blackness edged her vision and she fought it off. They were running she could feel the motion jarring every bone in her body. She used the pain to cling to consciousness.
Wink and Nuada disappeared into the tunnels they had exited from coming out twenty miles away in the woods in another state. "Wink put me down" said six. Her voice was a breathless gasp but he complied reluctantly. The babe clung to Nuada's front wrapped in a makeshift sling. He kneeled at her side.
"please hang on just a little while longer my love I can get you to a healer just stay with us" said voice sounded desperate to her ears and she saw the pain and terror mirrored in his eyes.
Six knew there was nothing that could be done even now she felt her breath leave her lungs whenever she breathed in. she could feel her lungs filling up with blood. The assassin in her knew it was a fatal shot. She wanted to say her goodbyes while she still could.
"Nuada?" she said her voice was close to a whisper "hush my love save your strength don't speak" said Nuada she bristled "don't you hush me elf I don't need my strength you know as well as I that this wound is fatal, now listen" she said.
He looked sad and six wondered why she had never given him a descent chance at winning her heart. "my love" he started to say. Wink stopped and watched the two elves Nuada handed the baby to him as Nuada knelt by her side.
She touched his lips to still his protests."I love you" she said "and I'm sorry we never got a chance for this relationship to work" said six he kissed her lips to still any further apologies.
"I know its all right I know" he said softly. "I know I just need to say it" said six "I would have married you" she said softly. "We already are" he said softly. she frowned at him "you had my child it makes us mates regardless of vows no child of Elvin descent has ever been considered a bastard" said Nuada
she snorted "figures I go through all the trouble of driving you nuts and all you had to do was sleep with me, treacherous asshole" said six. she coughed at the end and blood came out of her mouth. "Stubborn willful bitch" said Nuada she laughed at him and he kissed her one last time. He could feel the strength leaving her body and knew she would not make it to a healer.
"please burn my body" said six. he nodded in acceptance then waited until her breathing stilled. Tears were flowing down his face as he stacked wood around her body. Her half human heritage had prevented her return to the earth so he did as she asked.
They piled the wood silently and wink helped him light it. They walked away from the smoldering ashes both with tears in their eyes. Nuada disappeared into the underground with his son and his liege wink.
He delivered his child to his sister through secret means and she found a wet nurse to feed him. She didn't even need to ask about Denair, she already knew.
Nuada once again went into exile to nurse his wounds and grieve his wife's death alongside his only friend. He also avenged her death carrying out her wishes for her. Though it did nothing to aleve his pain he got a certain grim satisfaction from sending her killers to their graves.