A/N What a doozy, right? Can't get through one damn adventure without some sort of shitty injury happening, can we? Did I do all three of these chapters in one sitting and now I'm exhausted and probably a bit off my rocker?

Yes. Don't even doubt it. Just believe me.

As soon as I get these posted I'm going straight to bed.

Josephine hung limp against the ropes holding her arms outstretched, the pain from the lashes, the cold of her blood running from her wounds, it made her stomach roll. Above her Thorin blocked her view of the Goblin King. He argued and yelled back and forth, words that came in and out as her vision narrowed and darkened.

And then suddenly there was light, a bright flash and a rush of air that knocked everyone standing to the ground.

"Take up arms. Fight. Fight!"

Gandalf's voice came clear, cutting through the rushing in her ears. Her hands fell to her sides, free of their bonds and she slumped forward into a warm body. Something was thrown over her and then she was floating, bobbing like a boat in the water. Torchlight blended together as it rushed past and the couldn't make out one sound or voice from another.

And then it was dark.

3020

"Josephine!"

It was dark, she pushed away from the sound, her feet awkwardly hit the ground and she stumbled back, knocking into something hard that toppled over. She tripped on it and started to fall but something jerked her forward.

Soft fabric brushed against her cheek and arms wrapped her in warmth.

"Shhh, sidh Josephine." Aragorn soothed. "A nightmare, nothing more."

Frantically she wound her arms around them and gripped his shirt in her hands. "Too real." She mumbled, pressing her face into his chest. "Like I was there."

"But you are not." He reminded her softly, reassuring her that the things she'd seen were long past or false entirely. "You are with me, and no more harm will befall you."

"You can't promise that." Not if battle came again, not if orcs came in droves like they had in her dream, like they had during the war not yet a year ago.

"You are safe, meleth nin." A promise he could make that she could believe.

She shook, tears stinging in her eyes. "I know that but I can't feel it." It felt no different from the fear of staring down the maw of uncountable orcs, the creep of darkness nipping at her chest at the gates of Mordor.

Shifting his arms he picked her up, fumbling with the latch of the balcony door for a moment before stepping outside. He put her down on the settee and gently pressed the flats of her feet against the cold stone. The wind was harsh that night but felt clear and crisp against her cheeks. He then sat down behind her and wrapped her in his arms, pressing her back against his chest.

"Do not dwell on the darkness, Josephine." He said softly, pressing a kiss to her neck. "Think of the coolness of the wind, and the light of the stars above you."

Josephine took a deep breath and looked up, leaning her head back into his shoulder. He breathed slowly and with measure behind her, coaxing her away from the reach of her dream. He spoke under his breath, elvish that she couldn't make out but lulled her into gently rocking along with him. The motion quelled the urge to run and after the moon had made a bit of progress along the sky she finally felt like she was coming back to herself.

Her feet were like ice now, but she could finally feel it fully and tucked them up onto the cushion. Aragorn freed one of his hands and laid it over them. "How do you feel?"

"Better." She said with uncertainty, still unsure of exactly what she felt now. "Well, more awake I guess."

He trailed his hand down her arm lightly and kissed her temple. "The rest will pass."

"It's getting worse." She'd had nightmares before, from the war, it was only natural. He did too, at least as often as she did. But neither one of them had been through one so bad as that, at least not since they'd known each other. Not one that felt so…so real. Not one that followed her so far into the real world.

"That does not mean it will not soon get better. But we will weather whatever comes, for it will not endure."

Josephine wasn't sure she fully believed him, not with the yawning darkness that had just been filling her mind so convincingly. But she would trust him.

Stars wheeled overhead and Josephine couldn't make sense of why. The smell of earth and trees mixed with sweat and blood and her world jerked dizzyingly as her legs crunched into a bed of fallen pine needles.

"Oin! Do what you can!" Thorin's voice cut through a clearing din of voices and his face filled her vision as she blinked away a film of old tears. "Fili, take her!"

Fili took hold of her arms and rested her chest against his shoulder. Stars? Trees? They made it outside? How-

The memory of Goblin Town filled her mind and she cried out in surprise and pain as something was peeled away from her back, blood feeling half dried against it.

Goblin town.

The lashes.

Bilbo! Where was Bilbo!

She clenched her hand around Fili's arm and looked around. "Where's Bilbo? Where is he?"

Fili looked around. "I…I don't know…I haven't seen him."

He had to be there, he had to have the Ring he had to- "Bilbo!"

"Curse that halfling, now he's lost?" Gloin grumbled. "I thought he was with Dori!"

"Don't blame me!"

Bilbo had to come, he had to be there. Without him it didn't matter if she lived or died because there was no saving Middle-Earth. "Bilbo!" It was all that mattered as Oin slathered something in her wounds and she withered. "Bilbo!"

"Well where did you last see him?" Gandalf asked.

"I'll tell you what happened, Master Baggins saw his chance and he took it. He has thought of nothing but his soft bed and his warm hearth since first he stepped out of his door." Thorin ranted. "We will not be seeing our Hobbit again. He is long gone."

"No. He isn't." His soft voice cut the tension and Josephine slumped against Fili as Bilbo hurried over and took her hand in his. "Gracious, Josephine, what happened? Are you alright? Can I-"

"How on earth did you get past the goblins?" Kili asked in amazement.

Josephine let go of Bilbo's hand and grabbed for the one tucked lightly in his pocket. She wrapped her fingers around the fabric, looking for what had to be there. It had to be. And there it was, her fingers just barely glanced off of it but there it was, the little bastard. The Ring was found. They were safe.

"Why did you come back?" Thorin demanded.

Bilbo once again took her hand, giving it a light, comforting pat. "Look, I know you doubt me, Thorin. I know you always have. And you're right, I often think of Bag End. I miss my books. And my armchair. And my garden. See, that's where I belong. That's home. That's why I came back. Cause…you don't have one. A home. It was taken from you, and for Josephine she was taken from it. So I will help you all get them back if I can."

Satisfied the dwarves went silent, but Oin kept working.

"Will she be alright?" Fili asked quietly over her shoulder, as if she couldn't hear him.

"Aye." Oin said, but she could tell he wasn't so sure. She'd probably die of infection or blood loss before they even reached Beorn's house.

"Oin, Fili, get her up fast. Carry her if you must but we cannot linger." Thorin ordered.

"You try getting someone up fast when their back's been flayed open-" Oin began to argue. "We lost nearly all our supplies, I donne even have bandages, she's lucky I saved the ointment!"

"Here now," Gandalf interrupted. "This should offer some comfort." He kneeled down at Fili's side and supported her head with his hand, a task she couldn't have managed on her own. He put a flask to her lips and tipped it up to pour a cool stream of something familiar down her tongue. Miruvor warmed her from her chest to her toes, clearing the edges of her vision and dulling at least a part of the pain.

Goblin Town.

Ring.

Now wargs. They had no time.

"Wargs are coming, we have to move." She ordered.

To make her point, howls echoed over the hills and everyone stiffened.

"Oin, get her up, now." Thorin ordered. "Fili, she is your responsibility. No matter what happens you will see she reaches safety is that clear?"

"Yes, Uncle." Fili promised firmly.

Oin wrapped something around her tightly, blocking the air from her wounds. The second he was done she was lifted up again, slung over Fili's shoulder like a sack of grain.

And then they ran.