Nori deals with the two who would sell information that threatens Fíli's safety rapidly. They do not even have chance to reach for their weapons as she slips through the open window and flings a knife into the throat of one while she buries the handaxe that Dwalin had given her the last time they were in Labamgarel Zarrakh into the skull of the other. Dwarf heads are notoriously hard, but Nori takes incredibly good care of this particular weapon even above the knives that she cherishes so much. If the Men are looking for information on Thorin and the boys' whereabouts, however, Nori very much doubts that these are the only ones who are debating passing on the information. There has to be a large amount of gold involved because it would take a huge amount to tempt any dwarf to betray their own kin at all, let alone the famed Thorin Oakenshield.
Unfortunately, Nori knows from having lived the next few years before that Thorin has less influence and power than he realises.
She does not bother cleaning up. The bodies will be found soon enough and while she has a name as an assassin in the Guild here as well as in Ered Luin and the Iron Hills her paid kills are neater and rarely so obvious. Even when she kills another thief in a fight she never goes for the head in this way and years after being given this axe by Dwalin she still rarely uses it. She only used it this time because it was the nearest thing to hand that would do what she needed it to. Now she needs to get back to Nila's and get cleaned up. The three of them will need to leave as soon as they can. Nori seriously doubts that those two would be the only ones debating selling the information and no matter her reasons for opting not to go on to the Iron Hills with Kíli and Dwalin she very much doubts that Thorin will object when he is told that someone out there wants information on the movements of himself and his heirs. In fact, Thorin will probably insist that Fíli, at least, be pulled away from the caravans, which he has dedicated himself to as a way of spending time with Hela while they are courting.
Nori can understand Sela's desire to keep his daughter close, but Hela is a skilled leatherworker who should be pursuing her craft rather than following her father to and fro between Ered Nimrais and Ered Luin. Besides, if the lass is who Fíli has truly decided to choose as his future bride it would be best for her to start setting up a home and building friendships in Thorinuldum. She will need friends of her own if Fíli is really where her heart lies, particularly with everything that Nori knows is coming.
"So, those two won't be a problem," Nori tells Dwalin when he returns to Nila's, packs heavy with trail rations slung over his shoulders. "But we need to leave at first light and we'll have to push hard to catch Sela's caravan. I doubt those two are the only ones aware that there is a reward for information on the whereabouts of the boys."
She casts a look in Kíli's direction, expecting his head to pop up from the bed and ask what she is talking about since she had not arrived all that long before Dwalin, having stopped off at the baths to clean up. Luckily the coat she has taken to wearing on the road the last couple of years is one of dark leather and so it does not show the blood spots all that much. There is a soft snore from the bed instead and she bows her head. One thing that she has never been able to train Kíli out of is sleeping heavily.
"He seems to have the right idea, anyway," Dwalin mutters. "And I don't disagree. Sela's a sensible sort, if we tell him there's a threat he'll switch to the old Moria road and go just south of Rivendell instead. It'll add time but we're early enough in the year that passing near the mountains shouldn't attract too much attention from orcs."
"Only just," Nori disagrees, "and we'll have to push hard to catch him before they pass the point where going back to change route will cost them too much extra time."
"I know," Dwalin acknowledges, "but what more can we do? If we can't get Sela to change the route we'll just have to keep an extra eye out. Fíli's a good lad, give him a couple of decades and he'll probably be better than me if he doesn't let his smithing, courting and lessons get in the way of his practicing."
"We don't have a couple of decades," Nori hisses, "we might not even have a couple of days."
She ignores the fact that regardless of whether they avert this latest potential crisis, they only have six years until the fateful crossing of the Misty Mountains that will bring Fíli, Kíli and Thorin even closer to their untimely demise. She had believed that the quest had brought her closer to the young princes and her prickly king. Now she knows that she had barely scratched the surface of what it was to truly be within their inner circle. Especially when it comes to Kíli. She would survive the loss of Thorin and would likely struggle her way past losing Fíli as well. But to fail Kíli once again? Nori is silently certain that if she were to fail Kíli for a second time it would kill her.
"Let's get some sleep," Dwalin sighs, "no sense in the both of us being exhausted either." He puts a hand on her shoulder. "We'll work it out, lass. He'll be fine. Come on," he pulls her close as he leads her to one of the chairs.
Nori looks at Kíli as he sleeps in the large bed that she has spent the last two weeks sharing with Dwalin. It has been easy to forget that they have responsibilities elsewhere, that they are not just Nori and Dwalin and she has come close, more than once, to whispering the real depth of her feelings for him. She keeps it to herself, she needs to focus on her work and as hard as that has been over the years she knows all too well that to lose focus before the quest could kill the people she is trying her hardest to protect.
Of course, it would be easier if she had not managed to become so deeply involved with the boys and Dwalin so early on.
They are all up bright and early the following morning, ready to leave as soon as the gates to the mountain open with the rising sun. Kíli is updated on the plan as they ride and once again Nori sees that expression of intense hatred cross the lad's face.
"There were some Men who approached the caravan I arrived with asking questions," Kíli tells them as they ride.
"You never mentioned it," Dwalin rumbles.
"Nori was too busy organising going back to Briar's," Kíli reminds them, "and I didn't think much of it because we know that someone is trying to get Thorin out of the mountains. The other dwarves on the caravan were pretty angry, I thought they were going to kill the pair of them. They turned and ran fairly quickly, though, so I think they knew they were treading a fine line."
Nori and Dwalin exchange a long look, then push their ponies that little bit harder.
It should not take them more than a day or two to catch up to Sela's caravan, the carts move more slowly than three determined dwarves on the back of fresh ponies, and he can only go a certain distance each day before he has to stop. Dwarves on foot or even riding without a cart, can go further. They, and their mounts, tire more slowly and they can get off and walk for a time to rest their beasts as well. Sela does not have that option.
They catch him up just as the sun is setting on their third day out of Labamgarel Zarrakh. He seems oddly relieved to see the three of them, Dwalin especially, and it makes Nori shift on the back of her pony as Dwalin explains what has brought them racing after the caravan. Kíli, who has taken the braids that he would normally wear as Cadan out and replaced the plain silver beads he would wear on the road with a couple of intricately decorated ones, pulls his pony away from them and moves to search out his brother. Sela knows Kíli by virtue of having spent time with the royal family during the course of his daughter's courtship with Fíli, so they had decided that the lad would be himself during this trip rather than the young thief he usually plays.
"...worried that even though the two we overheard were prevented from sharing the information, someone else may already have done it," she hears Dwalin explain. "We wanted to put you on your guard, and I have a duty to the lads that means I can't ignore it either."
"I understand completely," Sela nods, the clasps in his finely braided silver beard chiming as he does so. "Truth be told, I had some concerns on that front myself. His brother and the ones you overheard are not the first to be approached, and I very much doubt they are the only ones of the opinion that the gold will be of more use to them than keeping their mouths shut. The ones who work the caravans gossip worse than the miners do, and I know from experience that I probably have more than one unsavoury character among them."
Nori pulls a face, but lets Dwalin continue to do the talking.
"Aye, I know a little bit about that," he agrees genialy. "You'll be alright with us joining you, then?"
"I would welcome it," Sela lets out a half laugh. "I had meant to talk with the lad's mother upon our return to Thorinuldum. Much as it pains me to admit it, I believe the time has come when this courtship should continue in one place rather than on the road. And given that Hela's mother was taken from us some years ago, I had hoped that his mother would oversee things there."
"Sounds like an excellent idea to me," Dwalin nods
"Then perhaps, while we travel, you could help me with the best way to approach it?" The merchant asks. "I have noticed that Lady Dís tends to be somewhat touchy when it comes to the subject of her sons."
"That's one way to put it," Nori mumbles and Dwalin throws her a quick look, half a smile dancing about his lips for a moment and vanishing just as quickly.
"To be honest," Dwalin rubs the back of his neck, "I never did get the knack of avoiding touching raw edges with her myself."
"Tell her what you told us and I'm sure you'll be fine," Nori pipes up. "Not that I'm any better at handling things with her than Dwalin is."
"And you are?" Sela frowns. "Forgive me, you appear familiar but…" he gestures around him.
"Nori, daughter of Tori," the thief lies with ease, accustomed to using the identity at the drop if a hat now. "When that one," she jerks a thumb at Dwalin, "isn't available I have the dubious honour of being Kíli's personal shadow." She rolls her eyes and Sela chuckles.
"By my understanding you have your work cut out for you with that one," he glances behind them and Nori follows his gaze, able to see Kíli riding as close to Fíli as their ponies will allow.
"He isn't so bad," Nori smiles sharply. "He's like a spirited horse, you have to know when to give him his head. More often than not it's easier to let him do whatever it is that he wants to and just step in to make sure that his mischief doesn't do too much damage. His Ma doesn't much like it, but then I'm more interested in keeping him safe than making her happy. At least he tells me when he's going to do something potentially stupid rather than trying to work around me."
"Ah," Sela nods. "I remember learning the same lesson with my oldest son. With luck it will turn out as favourably for Prince Kíli as they did my Midla." He glances around then puts his hand up. "We will camp here tonight," he orders.
The various dwarves who make up the guard and drivers of the caravan jump to obey and Nori and Dwalin slide among them to help out with the ease of long practice.
A.N: I give up. The posting schedule is a lie!