It was slow going, descending the hidden stairway into the depths of Erebor. The passage was dank and the smell of mildew and rotting things only intensified the farther down Kili traveled. It brought back unpleasant memories of the goblin tunnels from their quest, except the stone walls of Erebor were chiseled smooth with dwarven skill that calmed Kili's thumping heartbeat. A rat squeaked and scurried over Kili's boot, he jumped back, pressing his back against the wet stone as the rat passed him and crawled back the way he'd come. Kili took a moment to swivel his candle back and forth in front of him, looking for any more hidden rodents, but there were none to see at this point.
"Where do you lead to?" Kili asked the darkness as he trekked farther down. It seemed to take forever until he found the first landing, a smooth slab of stone with a door set into the side wall. Kili lifted his candle higher trying to find something that looked like it would open the door, but found nothing. Kili placed the candle down on the landing and planted his palms against the door. He pressed against the stone, first at the middle and then sliding his hands outwards when that didn't work.
"C'mon," Kili grunted at his threw his shoulder against the stone, hoping he was just not using enough force. What was the point of finding a secret passageway if you couldn't open any of the doors?
He threw his weight into it again and lo and behold there was a grinding noise as if the stone was trying to move but something was blocking its progress. Kili stepped back from the door for a better look, his eyes caught on the thick moss that grew around the doorframe. Kili dug his fingers into it, pulling out clumps and dropping them at his feet. He pulled until his fingers ached and his nails were lodged with dirt, but finally the doorway was cleared. He tried the door again and this time when he pushed it started to swivel outwards until he could slide through.
He poked his head out and was greeted with the sight of...a store room.
"Well this is entirely underwhelming," sighed Kili as he glanced around at the piles of linen and wash buckets. Might as well see what part of the mountain they were at. He opened the storage room door a crack and glanced out, huffing a laugh. Near the kitchens, if the wafting smell of roasted meat and other delicacies was anything to go by. Well… if he was ever in the mood for a midnight snack, he'd be sure to remember this door, but at the moment it was of no interest to him. Kili slipped back into the secret tunnel, pulling the heavy stone door back into place behind him.
Kili glanced back up towards his room. He had no way of telling how long he'd been gone in darkness of the tunnel. Someone would be coming to bring him to visit Fili soon. He needed to figure out how far this tunnel led before someone noticed he was missing. With a basic plan of action Kili scampered down the steps at a faster rate, the candlelight flashing off of the walls as it was jostled about in his hand.
It seemed to take forever. Kili knew that the mountain was large but he'd never realized exactly how big until now. The tunnel ended at a single door, a strange whistling noise coming from it. Kili extended his hand outwards and grinned at the glide of air through his fingers. There were only a few places in the mountain that opened to the outside and ventilated air into the rest of the mountain and you could only get to one by heading down. The stables lay on the other side of that door, Kili could tell by the smell of fodder and leather that permeated the air. Kili worked the door open, it wasn't as obstructed as the other one had been. Perhaps it had seen more use back in the day. Kili peeked through the crack to see if anyone was around. It wasn't often that Kili was in the stables in the evening, but he knew messengers and the like were constantly going in and out. It was risky to be exiting a secret passage down here, especially when the palace guards were on high alert, but Kili needed to be sure he had a clear path to his pony.
For the moment there was no one in the stables, it was quiet except for the shuffling and snorting of ponies as they moved around in their stalls. Kili pushing the door closed and moved in a low crouch. The section of the stables the passage opened up to was in the far right of the stables, where the hay was stacked. Kili moved forward in a low crouch, keeping himself hidden behind the stacks. He peeked around the dividing wall, the bridles that hung there jangling from their pegs as he shifted. Kili was quick to still them again. He waited a breathe in complete motionlessness but no one came to investigate the noise. Kili darted across the gap to the stalls.
Tilly was snuffing at some hay when he found her stall. Her eyes swiveled when Kili stood up from his crouch. "Hey, girl. Did you miss me?"
Tilly nickered lowly at him in greeting, her tail flicking out behind her. Kili stroked down the pony's neck. "I hope you're ready to run tonight, girl. Dwalin won't be coming with us to hold us back this time."
Kili slipped back into the passage and started up towards his room. Where am I going to go? he asked himself as he climbed. There was no doubt in his mind that Bard would shelter him in Dale, but it was too close to Erebor and could easily be overrun by Thorin's forces. Kili stopped on one of the lower landings, probably near the treasury if he had to guess. He leaned against the wall, staring at yet another secret doorway. Mirkwood is a safe distance away and there is no way Thorin would be able to search the area without interference from King Thranduil. The problem was, Thorin might not be able to get access, but then neither could Kili. Kili sighed, he would have liked to see the elven guard Tauriel again. She had been kind to him. Still, the idea had been stupid. Everyone knew that King Thranduil never did anything unless he had something to gain from it.
Kili blinked at the door in front of him again and smiled. Perhaps entering Mirkwood was just like entering Erebor… all you needed was a key. And Kili had just the thing.
The door to his room swung open with only a short knock as warning. It didn't matter, however, Kili was prepared for it. Sevrin entered the room quickly and closed the door behind him. It was only then that he stopped to gaze at Kili, who sat at the fore of his bed, back braced against the headboard.
"Time to go," he said. Kili nodded, slowly. His bow was sitting on the table. Every nerve in his body wanted to notch an arrow and launch it straight between Sevrin's eyes, but Kili knew that couldn't happen. Keep your head down, he told himself. Play along. The more Sevrin assumed that Kili was accepting his fate, the more privacy he would get during the night. It was the only way this plan was going to work. In fact, his plan was counting on it.
They didn't talk on the walk to the infirmary. Kili was surprised that Sevrin wasn't gloating or something of the sort, as it seemed to be an enjoyable activity for him. Glancing through his dark bangs at the pair of guards that trailed behind them, however, Kili guess Sevrin deemed it wasn't safe. Kili had heard the change of the guards outside his doors while he'd waited for Sevrin's arrival, and although Kili did not recognize their face, Sevrin seemed to know that they were not his own men. The doors to the infirmary were shut when they arrived.
Kili breathed a sigh of relief when Dwalin stepped away from the dwarf he was talking to in hushed tones to greet them. "My Prince. My lord Sevrin," Dwalin inclined his head to them.
Thinking fast of his feet, Kili turned to Sevrin. "I would like to see my brother alone. If that is not too much to ask?"
"I do not think that is wise." Sevrin replied, eyes narrowing suspiciously. "Someone needs to be looking out for you."
"Aye, I will be doing that." Dwalin spoke up, as he adjusted his weapons belt that hung about his waist. "Prince Kili will be safe under my watch, lord Sevrin. Don't you worry about him."
Sevrin opened his mouth, looking horribly lost for the words he was looking for. Kili smiled to himself, he rather liked that look on the dwarf. "You may go, Sevrin."
"Yes, my Prince." Sevrin replied tersely and departed with one last sour look at Dwalin.
Kili watched the dwarf walk away, the itch that had been irritating the back on his neck finally easing a bit. "Let's go in."
The doors were pulled open and Kili and Dwalin entered into the dimness of the infirmary. The first difference that Kili noticed was that it was quiet… like a crypt. All of the other cots in the room had been emptied except for the one that Fili lay in. A small group of guards were dispersed throughout the room, eyes firmly fixed away from Fili's limp form.
"I don't like him lying all alone like that, Dwalin." Kili murmurred. "He should have somebody with him. I don't want him to wake up to strangers."
"Aye, laddie. Don't you worry, your mother was here not but a little while ago. Oin sent her off to get some rest before the ceremony tomorrow."
Kili felt Dwalin's hand come to rest on his shoulder and squeeze. "Go on, now."
Kili nodded, faintly, and went to take up the chair by the bed. Fili did not look much different from when Kili had visited him before, except perhaps some of his color was coming back to his face. Kili picked up his brother's hand that rested limply on the bed and folded it between both of his.
"I'm so sorry. This wasn't supposed to happen to you..." Kili's eyes burned and it was only a moment before they were watering. "This is all my fault. I know you always think it is your job to clean up my messes, but you shouldn't have to be in this position because of me."
Kili pulled Fili's clasped hand against his lips, trying in vain to suppress the sob that was rising in his throat. His tears fell freely onto their joined hands. He knew it was a stupid thing to even try, since he doubted Fili could really hear him, but he had to try.
"I don't know if you remember, but my wedding day is tomorrow...Sevrin is not the man that I thought he was, Fili. I was a fool and I let him play me like one and now I've put you in danger. I need you to wake up... please Fili...I need my big brother to stop me from doing something reckless. Please wake up."
Kili waited in vigilant silence, hoping for the smallest of a sign from his brother. A twitch of his fingers or perhaps the stutter of a breath. He was met with stable breathing and nothing more. "I guess I've made my choice then."
Kili leaned forward and kissed Fili's brow. "Stay alive, brother. I'll be back as soon as you wake. I promise."
Kili caught Dwalin's arm in a tight grip before they reached the doors. He cast a quick look at the guards around them to make sure their attention was elsewhere. "I don't want anyone but the company watching over Fili from here on out, is that clear?"
Dwalin's voice was low and gruff with unease. "What's this about, lad?"
"You cannot trust the guards, I can't tell you why, but you are just going to have to trust me. Dismiss them and have only the company at Fili's bedside. I need you to swear to do this for me, Dwalin."
Dwalin looked disturbed, but still he nodded just faint enough for Kili to see. Kili released a breath he didn't know he was holding, his grip slackening on Dwalin's arm. "Thank you. You have no idea what you're doing for me."
"Then tell me," Dwalin insisted, bushy eyebrows scrunching in frustration. "Enough with all this secrecy, boy!" He sighed. " I am here to help you Kili, but I cannot do much if I don't know what I am up against."
Kili bit his lip. Oh Mahal, how he wanted to tell his old weapons master everything and let him deal with it, but he knew he couldn't take that risk. Fili's life hung in the balance and his silence was the only thing keeping him breathing still. "I can't, Dwalin."
"As it stands, lad, you are the only one who seems to know what is going on— "
"And I think it should stay that way. It is safest for everyone at the moment." responded Kili, eyes flickering to one of the guards who had shifted closers towards them sometime during their conversation. Kili hoped that he would hear nothing of suspicion in their talk that he thought to bring to Sevrin.
"I need to go…" said Kili, his mind already going through what to pack, and this time it was Dwalin's turn to grip his arm as he tried to leave the room.
"Durin's beard." Dwalin growled. "You must give me something to tell Thorin. I can't repeat your words to him and not have some proof."
If Kili's mind was not in such a frantic, he might have laughed at himself. He might be a Prince of Erebor, but even that title had no sway over Dwalin's stubborn protectiveness and fealty. Kili needed to end this without having to spill any more information and there was only one surefire way to do that, though Kili loathed to have to stoop to it.
"You do not tell me what I must and must not do. I am your Prince, Dwalin. Now, I say release me." Kili declared, loud enough for the guards around them to listen in eagerly.
"Aye," said Dwalin, "that you are." His rough hand retracted from Kili's elbow. Kili couldn't place the expression on his face, but he looked almost proud… angry, but proud. Kili sped out of the room after that, his heart pounding in his chest as he went. Mahal, he had never dared to defy Dwalin so publicly, and the fact that he'd done just that made him feel almost nauseated.
He tried to take deep breaths to steady himself. "Focus, Kili. Stick to the plan."
It was ominously quiet when Kili slipped out of his bed covers and started to dress as silently as he could. Kili had been staring up at the ceiling for the past couple of hours, his only entertainment being the shifting sounds of the guards outside his room and the endless worries that swirled through his brain as he watched the time tick by. Kili pulled his bag out where he'd hidden in underneath his bed. The bag was fully packed with what he needed, but Kili's weapons were still laid out on the table. He'd been too afraid to pack them until it was time, lest Sevrin came to his room and suspected something.
He moved to the table now and started arming his body with the twin daggers Fili had crafted for him before their quest. He slipped his carving knife back into it's slot on his quiver and then added his arrows. Kili eyed the wooden box that held his courting gift. His hand hovered over the lid for a moment, until finally rational sense overtook his actions and he added those arrows into his quiver as well. They were good steel arrows, he reminded himself, and it would be a long and dangerous journey. He could not afford to be stringent about his arrows, even ones with so much emotional attachment.
Kili hefted his pack onto his back, slung his bow over his back, and unlocked the hidden doorway. The candle flame danced in the sudden gust of mountain air that rose up from the passage. Kili picked up the candle and stepped up to the doorway. He looked towards the door, suddenly terrified that it would burst open. He was so close to escaping that he could almost taste it and now that the opportunity was staring him the face, it seemed almost too good to be true.
He stepped onto the first step and closed the door behind him, sealing himself in the darkness of the passage. Kili took a deep breath to steady his pounding heart rate and shook out his free arm with a quick jerk. He closed his eyes, "Just go." Before he lost his nerve entirely.
He raced down the crooked stairs like his life depended on it. Now that the rush of escaping was coursing through his veins, he barely gave a care for his own safety as he practically tumbled down the last flight of stairs, nearly twisting his ankle twice. He braced his hands against the stone door that led out to the stables. This was the dangerous part. He didn't know who would be in the stables at this time and he needed to even his heavy breathing and let his sharp eyes and ears lead his way for this part. Be the hunter not the hunted, Kili, he reminded himself.
He pushed the stone door open, and crept out into the stables. He kept so low to the floor for the first few steps, that he was practically crawling across the hay strewn floor. The hay stuck to his clothes and itched his nose something fierce, but Kili was so nervous he could barely pay it any mind at the moment. When he was sure that no one was in the immediate area, he allowed himself to rise from his crawl and made his way over to Tilly. Tilly nickered softly and snuffed at Kili's offered hand. Kili stroked her muzzle, anxious to quiet his usually excitable pony before she attracted any attention with her noise.
"Shhh, girl. I'm going to tack you up, alright? But we have to be quiet about it."
Kili tried to keep as quiet as possible as he fetched the blanket and saddle and threw it over his pony's back. Still, every instinct in Kili's body was on fire with the need to escape making it hard to focus on the task at hand. Kili breathed a harsh curse as his fingers fumbled on the saddle buckles. He could see his hands shaking and he balled them into fists, forcing himself to take a breath before trying again. The straps buckled tight this time and Kili moved onto the bridle.
When his pony was fully saddled and ready, Kili pushed open the main stable doors. The air was fresh and cold as it fanned against him, any other time he would have enjoyed it but right then Kili turned his back to it. Tilly podded a few steps into the open space as he opened her stall door. "Time to go, girl." said Kili as he led her closer with a few backwards steps towards the open doors.
"Garik, you sad excuse for a manservant, I better not find you sleeping off—"
He stilled at the sudden booming voice and the body that rounded the corner with it. Kili's face was hidden behind Tilly's neck for the moment, but Kili knew that would only delay the inevitable. He knew that voice.
"You there! Have you seen a manservant passed out in here, perhaps?" asked Sevrin.
"No, M'lord." Kili replied, trying to make his voice as low and gruff as possible to disguise his natural tone.
"Hmph…" Sevrin grunted. Kili squeezed his eyes shut tightly and ushered Tilly a few more steps towards the door, making sure to keep his head down and hidden from the light. He's not leaving! Why in Mahal's name wasn't Sevrin leaving. Kili knew for a fact that Sevrin didn't give a damn about what one dwarf that he, hopefully, assumed was just a messenger, was doing.
"Is this your pony?" Sevrin asked suddenly and Kili's breath caught in his throat.
" 'course it is, M'lord." Kili gripped the reins tighter.
"Your saddle is very nice. I did not know messengers were paid so well. What is your name, sir?" Kili could feel Sevrin's eyes trying to search out his face in the darkness. Oh no, he was going to be caught for sure if he didn't leave the stables this instant. The question was, could he make it before the guards took chase after him? And how far would he get with them on his tail? His pony wouldn't be able to make it for long at full speed.
"Show me your face, this instant!" Sevrin hissed and snatched at Kili's shoulder suddenly. Kili was jerked around to face Sevrin's angered expression which quickly became more frightening when Sevrin recognized him.
"Kili." He hissed, and Kili thought his name had never held so much anger or promise of future pain than it did in that moment. Kili reached behind him blindly, where he knew his quiver was secured. He grasped an arrow and struck out with it. It lodged into Sevrin's shoulder with enough force that Sevrin hollered and relinquished his grip on Kili's arm to clutch at the wound.
"Guards!" Sevrin screamed. "Guards!"
Kili didn't waste a second for breath as he swung himself into the saddle and kicked his heels into Tilly's sides. They were still inside the stables and the doorframe was not made high enough for a mounted pony to exit safely without the rider taking their head off, but Kili did not have a moment to spare. Tilly started to move just as Sevrin threw himself against her side, large hands clutching any part of Kili's person they could reach.
"You are not leaving!" Sevrin grunted and yanked hard on Kili's tunic, nearly pulling him out of his seat. "Did you really think you could escape so easily?"
"Get off!" Kili thrashed against his hold. He tried to urge Tilly forward, but Sevrin's actions were scaring her and causing her to circle and try to rear in fright. There was no way he could safely cross through the doors like this. Kili's boot slipped out of his stirrup, he pried at Sevrin's fingers which ensnared his shirt and kept him in a sideways hunch, to no effect. The guards would be here any second and then Kili would be finished. With firm determination, Kili kicked out with his freed boot, catching Sevrin in the chin and freeing his tunic in the process. He kicked again, his boot punching down onto Sevrin's shoulder, just as he started to hear the clatter of running feet. The guards...
"Go Tilly!" Kili yelled, digging his heels hard into Tilly's side. The motion combined with his pony's already panicked state spurred her into action. She shot forward at a diagonal, and Kili tugged hard on one rein to straighten her out as the doorframe loomed straight ahead of them. Sevrin still had one hand firmly gripping Kili's saddle strap, determined to not let go even if that meant being dragged along by Kili's pony.
Kili loosed the reins more, letting Tilly go as fast as she pleased and ducked his head against her neck. He thought he felt the scrape of a wooden beam along his shoulders. The doors passed in a blur of vision and sound only punctured by a pained yell and a harsh tug that jerked Tilly off course for but a moment. Kili glanced behind him to see Sevrin laying in the dirt, half resting against a door. It seemed he had slammed into the doorframe in the rush and the arrow in his shoulder had been punched clean through to the other side. Kili grinned, it served him right.
The pleasant feeling didn't last for long, however, as he glimpsed the first pony being hastily saddled by a dwarf and mounted.
"Alright, Tilly. Now comes the hard part."
This run felt completely different than the one he'd enjoyed on that morning hunt with Dwalin. Mahal, it felt like a century ago. The ground right around the stables was rough slanted rock. It was not meant to be raced down at full speed, so Tilly's hooves skidded and fumbled down the slope, the ride jarring on Kili's bones. Kili was relieved when they hit the sloping plains at the base of the mountain.
There was the sound of cascading rocks and Kili looked behind him to see two guards skidding down onto the plain. Kili kicked his heels into Tilly's side to urge her faster. There was no doubt that those riders would catch up with him on the open plains. Kili's only hope of losing them was through the forest. The air was bitterly cold as it rushed around Kili and tugged at his unbuttoned coat. The area was completely dark on the plains, the only light was far off to the left, the city lights of Dale. Kili would not be heading there tonight, his destination was the dark mass of trees that was rising up in front of him at a rapid pace.
The pair of riders were right at his back when he entered the forest. To say the least… it hurt. He'd taken the shortest direction towards the path, jumping a thicket and dodging around a few trees. The branches caught at his hair and cut at his exposed hands and face. The lacerations stung in the frigid air as Kili came out onto the forest path. Kili was given a few precious seconds to put some distance between him and the other riders as they were waylaid by tree limbs and thick bushes.
Kili pulled his bow from his back, he really wasn't going to like this part. He pulled two arrows from his quiver and turned in his saddle. As the two guards emerged from the trees, Kili took aim and let his arrows fly. One arrow to the neck of each pony. The ponies shrieked and collapsed forward, taking their riders with them to the ground. Kili pulled his bow back over himself and yanked Tilly around. He galloped off down the forest path, now free from present pursuers. He was finally free, of Sevrin and Erebor, but as the injured ponies wailed into the night behind him he could not bring himself to feel joyous.