C5: Pain

"Oi, daydreamer!"

Rana turned in her seat of the saddle and smiled wide as Dis and her pony trotted up behind her. She'd only gotten about a minute ahead but sat still on her own steed as she shut her eyes and inhaled the wonderful mountain air.

Erebor was particularly sunny today, but a gentle breeze made it pleasant. This was her home and her favorite time of year, just before Autumn fully set in. The mountain was never a suffocating place to live, but the blue skies and smell of grass just seemed perfect to her.

And there was nothing better than 'sneaking out' of Erebor to go riding. Well, it was supposed to be a sneaking out, but they had bumped into Frerin and Thorin on the way and she felt they knew exactly where they were going. Frerin had even commented on the nice new 'riding boots' they wore but Dis pretended she didn't know what he meant. And Rana only blushed when he gave her a wink, but mostly because he'd caught them out. She avoided Thorin's gaze though, knowing he'd be giving her an 'I know exactly what you two are up to' look.

"Oh, at last!" Dis joined her and took a deep breath in through her nose, "It's so stifling in my bloody rooms sometimes!"

"I like your rooms. Bigger than our families house," she laughed, knowing that she and Dis never argued about their statuses, nor who was 'richer or poorer', "and you've got fresh mountain air coming in all the time."

"Ya' know that's not what I mean. It's just this is a damn sight better than sitting and knitting. Or Embroidery. There's only so much thread a female can look at before she wants to throttle someone with that thread," she wrapped the reins around her hands and pulled them taut, "uch, if I have to sew one more bleeding apple on that tree, I'm going to-"

"Scream?"

Dis loosened the reins, nodded, and smirked.

"Yes. Loudly, for the whole mountain to hear."

"So, what would you rather be doing?" Rana gripped her reins and waited for her friend to give word. She knew exactly what she'd rather be doing.

Dis gave her a large grin and readied herself on Pansy.

"How about…a race?"

"What does the winner get?" Rana kept her back straight but leaned slightly forward, getting Billy ready.

"Oh…snacks at the best bakery in Erebor?"

"Two horns?"

Dis smirked and readied herself.

"Deal. Ready?"

"Steady?"

"Go!" They both yelled almost in unison and kicked off their horses to go. Despite having names more suited for children's ponies, Billy and Pansy knew this game all too well and loved it just as much as their owners.

The wind rushed by, and Rana held on, her heart soaring as joy filled her being.

Outside the Mountain, racing down the hill was the Princess of Erebor and her friend. If anyone working outside saw this, they paid it no mind. It was a usual sight and sometimes, the children of Dale would be out farming and cheer either or both on.

Sometimes Rana would win and sometimes Dis would win, but neither knew what would befall them that day.

Because, as Rana flew forward on her horse, she drew too close to the ledge of the hill. It was neither her nor Billy's fault what happened, but it was too late to save herself or him as his hoof landed on the edge.

He stumbled. Rana screamed and clung on for dear as he toppled and fell to the side, but her instincts took over, and letting go of the reins, automatically threw her hands up to protect her face.

Dis pulled up Pansy and cried out.

"RANA!"

She could only watch in horror as her dear friend was flung off Billy's back and they both hit the ground hard. Billy rolled over twice and narrowly missed landing on Rana, but she was not so lucky.

Rana rolled and tumbled, trying her best to stop and protect herself, but she could not see the rocks below. A small formation, that spelled disaster.

She did not see the sharp, jutted edge of the rock, but she felt it was finally, her body was stopped. Her stomach took the full impact and whilst it did not pierce her skin, it first knocked the wind clean out of her, and then, when she was finally able to take a breath, she could only let out an agonized, long scream.

She managed to roll herself onto her back and placed her cut and bruised hands on her stomach. But she barely felt any other pain.

"Rana!" Dis dismounted from Pansy and being as careful as she could, hurried down towards her friend, "Rana, are you alright?!"

Rana's eyes were shut tight, but she felt her friend fall down by her side and hands moving over her, checking her face.

"Oh, Rana! Rana, can you hear me?! Say something, please!"

"It…hurts," was all she could manage before sobs took over and she could feel herself falling into blackness.

"Rana, please," something fell over her to keep her warm and the hands gently touched her face, "please, you need to try and stay awake for me. I'm going to get help, please, just stay awake for me!"

Rana felt Dis leave her and despite her best efforts, she could feel herself slipping between awake and sleep. The pain seemed to wash over her in waves and when she dared open her eyes, all she could see was the beautiful, clear sky over her.

The calming blue was almost comforting. But she felt like her very insides were torn. Like she was dying.

Then suddenly, she was aware of the sound of hoofbeats. Or was she dreaming that? Her eyes were shut again as the pain lessened, waiting to grow.

"She's here, hurry!"

Dis? It must have been. Even though she should have known her voice, everything was so hard to concentrate on.

Blackness kept claiming Rana, but she remembered bits and pieces later.

She remembered voices over her, and hands trying to soothe and wake her.

She was lifted into strong, firm arms and was held still as they carried her.

She recalled being moved between people and jolted back and forth, but whoever held her talked to her.

"Hold on, Rana."

She liked whoever that was. She felt comforted.

Finally, as she was moved again, she blacked out one last time and would not awaken again until much later.

Xx Rana xX

When she came to, she was aware she was laid out on a hard surface. Her stomach still hurt, and fingers prodded her bare skin.

She cried out as it dug into one particular spot and forced her eyes open, her breath catching in her throat.

The hands on her stilled and a face came into her view.

Old, with a large beard, nose, and hair but calm eyes and a gentle, slow voice.

"It's alright. You're in safe hands now, lass."

Rana didn't feel safe. Only pain.

"Oh, Gods!" The place he prodded her burned and felt like she'd been sliced by a knife that had been heated in the forges of Erebor, "Make this stop! Please-" she panicked and tried to move her hands to her stomach, but someone stopped her.

"Rana, it's alright," Dis's voice was there again and her hands held hers tightly, "I know it hurts but you must stay still. Oin is one of the best healers in Erebor."

"You can have some medicine lass, but it'll knock you out," the elder man moved aside and she heard the tinkering of glass.

"Anything, please as long as it stops the pain," Rana shut her eyes and desperately tried to breathe normally, but every moment, even the rise and fall of her chest felt like agony. Something was wrong, she knew that. It felt like she'd taken a beating to her stomach, and she was aware she was bleeding, but there wasn't much she could do. If her time of the month had arrived, then Oin would be used to it and if he wasn't, he'd send for a midwife to deal with that.

When he came back over, he gingerly placed her hand under Rana's neck.

"I know it's hard, but I need you to drink this all down girl. You'll be out in a minute and won't feel any pain."

Raising her head with a pained groan, she happily slipped the tip of the bottle into her mouth and drank it down. It tasted bitter and strong, but she could only think of a pain free sleep again and sure to his promise, within a minute, she was drifting off, peacefully.

When next she woke, she felt groggy and sore all over. She wasn't even properly awake and thought it was a dream until she heard Dis and her father talking with Oin. She groaned, still bothered by her pain and wanting to keep sleeping.

Dis came to her and took her hand again.

"Rana? Rana, my Da's here. He wanted to see how you were. Someone's sent for your mother and father and they'll be here soon," she leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss to her forehead, pulling back far enough so Rana could see her red and puffy eyes, "I'll come and see you as soon as I can, ok? I promise."

"Dis," Rana knew it was important to say how good her friend had been to her, "thank you…thank you for staying with me and getting help. I'm…so lucky to have you."

"Oh, stop it!" Her friend let out a sob and as gently as she could, took Rana into her arms and gave her a small hug, "I'm glad you're ok!"

"I'm in one piece…and had I been on my own, I probably would still be lying there."

Dis finally let her go and with one last kiss, turned away and walked back over to Oin and her father.

The prince said nothing to her, but the fact he had come to see her and make sure Dis got back to her home alright was appreciative enough. The royal males of Durin did not simply drop everything to check in on injuries.

Rana remembered drifted off again and the only thing that woke her was her father's strong embrace as he lifted her up and carried her home.

"Father?" She groaned and opened her eyes, seeing her mother walking by their side and looking at her with a worried, but loving expression.

"Hush now, my little bookworm," her mother reached over and fussed with the blanket covering her, "rest. We'll be home soon. Rest."

Rana, always the obedient daughter, shut her eyes and did as her mother bade her.