Chapter 9. The Clouds Gather

"What do you mean 'knew'?" asked Kyni.

"It's best if we take you to Thorin first. But I promise, Kyni: all your questions shall be answered in due time," Said Hrafen. "Come, follow me."

With that, he turned and walked back around the corner he just came. Kyni stole a glance at Veorza, who looked just as confused as Kyni felt. Yet they had no choice but to follow Hrafen, and so they hurried after him.

The route Hrafen took them wound in and out, turning left then right every few minutes. The air down under the mountain was cool on Kyni's face, and seemed to apply some gentle soothing to his aching shoulder. Every so often he would grimace from a pain and automatically move his hand up to hold his wound, causing Veorza to look at him with concern. As they walked, Oerríc attempted to make small talk:

"So boy, if that's what you really are, who's your father? How does Hrafen know him? Furthermore... Wait, where did you say you came from? Dale, wasn't it? What's a dwarf doing in Dale? I personally think that the people of Dale are a strange folk. Living off fish and that's it. I mean that's just a queer thing to do. Another thing as well..."

Kyni let his voice washing over him, soon realising that Oerríc was quite mad. Veorza cleared his throat and caught Kyni's eye. He shrugged with an apologetic look in his eye, flitting his gaze to Oerríc as he did.

Oerríc's incessant babbling droned on and on. His voice seemed to be getting louder and louder as it reverberated around the stone walls. Kyni looked up and saw the reason was that the ceiling was slowly getting higher and higher.

The company rounded one more corner and Kyni stopped abruptly. They had arrived in the Throne Room of Erebor. The large entrance now seemed insignificant compared to the grand size of the hall. Kyni gazed around in amazement as he tried to take it all in. There was gold inlaid into the walls on either side, with mining lanterns hanging improbably from long spindly lengths of wire. There was an impressive marble walkway leading all the way up to a distant throne.

"Come," beckoned Hrafen, who was already leading the way forwards. Kyni started to walk forwards, still looking around in awe at the vastness of the Throne Room. Arches and walkways loomed high above him, travelling up and up and up, crossing over with one another. Below him, the sound of mining could be heard. He looked down and saw dozens of tiny dwarven specks, chiselling away at the walls, extracting the rich minerals that the mountain was known for.

After a lengthy period of walking, the dwarves arrived at the throne. Seated upon the ornately carved chair, there sat a dwarf, clad in shimmering armour of mithril, his beard braided with gold.

"Kyni, may I present to you, Thorin III Stonehelm, son of the great Dáin Ironfoot," said Hrafen, and bowed towards Thorin. Kyni took this as a sign to do the same and bent his back.

"My Lord," he murmured.

"My Lord Thorin, may I present to you, Kyni of Dale, son of Frór. He has returned my liege," continued Hrafen, this time directing the introduction at his King.

There was a collective gasp from Veorza, Oerríc and Ràsarc, all of whom had only heard whispers of the bastard-son of Frór. Thorin Stonehelm looked deep into Kyni's eyes. Kyni returned the gaze with a face carved from stone. Then, the King stood up, and did something no one expected: he bowed.

"Greetings, Kyni," said Thorin, standing up again. "It is a great honour to have you within our halls again. Tell me, why did you come here?"

"I came for answers... My Lord," Kyni added, hastily. "I wish to know about my father."

"I personally cannot answer these questions. I did not know your father."

"My Lord," interjected Hrafen. "I did know Frór. I, with the help of Geise, could attempt to answer any questions Kyni has."

Thorin considered this for a moment.

"So be it. Kyni, ask any questions you may have."

"Thank you," said Kyni. "Firstly, I'd like to know how you knew my father?"

"We were his wards, boy," said a gruff voiced dwarf standing at the left shoulder of Thorin. "We were sworn to protect him from any danger. You'd do well to show us respect."

"Easy now, Geise," Said Hrafen, attempting to calm Geise down. "The lad is only curious." he turned back to Kyni. "Yes, we were his wards. It was our duty to protect and, if need be, guide him."

"Guide him? You mean you're responsible for my abandonment?" asked Kyni, his eyes narrowing.

"You were never abandoned, you ungrateful child," said Geise sharply. "Your father did what was needed."

"Don't lie to me," Spat Kyni." You mean to say that it was necessary to abandon me? Necessary to place me among the lives of men and women of who I had no connection with?" Kyni continued, his words directed at Geise. "My first few years were of misery. I didn't fit in. I aged differently, I acted differently, I even spoke differently. And you're saying it was needed."

Silence followed Kyni's words. His eyes roamed over the other dwarfs, as the level of animosity within the halls felt palpable. Thorin, Veorza and Hrafen looked sheepish. Geise just looked defiant.

To everyone's surprise, it was Ràsarc who replied.

"They say it was a woman that caused Frór to abandon you," he said, in a dreamy fashion of not really being mentally present.

"A, a woman?" Kyni said, his anger suddenly replaced with confusion.

"Ràsarc..." growled Geise, but Ràsarc paid him no heed.

"Yes, a woman. They say he accompanied Dáin to the Iron Hills many years ago and fell in love."

"But," Said Kyni. "Why would this cause my abandonment?"

"There are rumours that he b-

"No. You've said enough, Ràsarc," cut in Geise.

"You have no right to withhold this information from me," said Kyni, turning on Geise.

"I have every right. I was Frór's ward, boy, it is my duty to protect him." Geise looked Kyni dead in the eye. "And this is a personal matter that must be protected."

"I disagree. But there's that use of the past again. Where is my father?" Kyni asked at large.

"Your father, Kyni," said Thorin. "Has been taken prisoner."