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A Perilous Road.
Chapter three: A promise made.
After their heated discussion of revelations and heartbreak Fili had excused himself from the table none too politely. In fact he had stormed out grabbing only his jacket and pipe, slamming the door in his wake. Kili had only been able to wait a minute before hastily kissing his Mother on the cheek and scrambling for his own coat, sod the pipe, he needed to find his brother. And luckily he knew exactly where he'd gone.
Treading purposefully down the trail behind their dwellings and into the forest Kili barely noticed the bite to the chilled winter evening. He needed to find Fili, they had to stick together through this, to help each other. Making his way further into the forest he knew he was close as the trees began to give way to the small clearing before the cliff ledge. Their cliff ledge. Their escape. They had come here often as Dwarfling's, usually when Kili had been upset or if they just needed to get away. Up here the world fell away and it was only the two of them and the stars. Nothing else mattered when they were in this bubble of happiness and contentment.
Kili stopped as his eyes settled on his brother's slumped form. He was perched upon the rock most central to the view and for a second he just took in the sight before him. The cloud of smoke rising from his brother, partly his breath, partly the smoke he exhaled. And there was the view just beyond his still form, a star studded night sky looking out over the Blue mountains and the town beneath. It was a sight to behold, but it was quite lost on Kili when his emotions were so frayed.
Fili knew the moment Kili had entered the clearing. He could tell his brother's presence from a mile away. He was glad he'd come, his mind was overwrought with thoughts and emotions and he knew if he had to be alone much longer he'd go insane. "I knew you'd come." Fili stated. He heard Kili gently pad his way over and watched him settle beside him, prying his pipe from his cold fingers and taking a long puff. They could never be separated for long, if anything with age they had become more inseparable. Fili felt his chest warm at this thought and tugged his pipe away from Kili's thieving fingers. "Get your own Brother." He chastised mockingly. Kili gave a lopsided grin and punched his arm playfully.
"Why would I when I can just steal yours?" He teased. Fili couldn't resist the small smile which tugged the corner of his lips. And this was just another reason why he loved his brother so much. No matter how dire a situation was, no matter how chaotic his emotions, Kili could always make him smile. Hell, he could make anyone smile. It was infectious and everyone was powerless to fight his pull.
Noticing his brother shiver and huddle further into his coat Fili sobered slightly and handed his pipe back. Shuffling onto the ground he began making a fire which radiated a pleasant heat in no time. He couldn't have his brother shivering that would do no good. Suddenly a thought occurred to Fili and he immediately wished he hadn't considered it. Kili sensed the change in his mood instantly and frowned questioningly. "What is it?" He asked. Fili looked at his brother, wondering all the while if he should voice his thoughts. It would make Kili miserable, he knew that, but at the same time he didn't want to keep anything from him.
"I was just thinking. If Liviel is still out there she probably has no one to look out for her like we do for one another." Fili explained. "It makes me sad." There was a pause and then he felt Kili wrap an arm around him and squeeze tightly.
"Me too." Kili rasped. "We owe it to her Fili, we have to at least try and find her." Fili nodded, comforted by the fact that once again his brother was thinking along the same lines, and so pleased that Kili making him promise Thorin had just been an act. An empty promise. A lie. He shuddered inwardly, ashamed he had lied to his Uncle. But then he guessed Thorin hadn't believed the words he'd spoken anyway. But if the role was reversed there was no way Thorin would forget about family.
They didn't talk much for the next hour or so. They just enjoyed the silence and the reassurance of each other's company. As the fire began to die down Kili asked the question that had teetered on the edge of his lips the entire evening. "When are we leaving, Fili?" He asked.
"As soon as possible. We just need to get a few things together before we leave, but I'm hoping to set out within the next few days." Fili answered.
"Uncle will have his eyes on us. You know that don't you? How are we ever going to escape with him around? He misses nothing."
Fili poked at the fire with a stick as he considered this. "We'll find a way." And Kili didn't argue. They had to find a way.
Before they left Kili gazed at the stars in peaceful appreciation. Some shone brighter than others and some formed obscure shapes. But there was one in particular which drew his attention back time and time again. So this was the star he made a promise to. He promised he would find Liviel and bring her back. Make sure she was safe and would never know suffering again. And if she was unwell or even worse, dead, so help him Aule he would make the Goblins responsible pay the ultimate price until enough blood had been shed to satisfy his revenge.