Just wanted to say thanks for the reviews and a massive thank you to 'SkyBlue' for yours! I'm so glad you're enjoying the story and I really appreciate your comments :-) I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint, I still have lots of ideas and I'm trying to write as much as I can while I have a week off work. Anyway, enjoy. And thanks to everyone who is taking the time to read this.
Reviews always welcome!
A Perilous Road.
Chapter five: Winter Festival
It was the night. The night. Tramping down the trepidation in his stomach Kili busied himself with collecting wood for their fire. A cursory glance towards his brother confirmed he too was battling internally with his nerves, although he hid it much better there were always tell tell signs. "You're watching me brother, what's wrong?" Fili asked. Coming to a standstill Kili placed the logs on the frosted forest ground and stretched his back.
"Nothing." He bluffed. His brother shot him an incredulous look.
"Pfffft." He rolled his eyes at Kili. "And I loves elves. Let's try this again brother. What's the matter?" Kili's shoulders slumped in resignation. He could never fool Fili, never in a million years.
"I…" Trailing off Kili avoided eye contact and adjusted his bow strap.
"Out with it!" Fili pushed. "Are you worried about tonight? Is that it?"
"No!" Kili protested, his eyes wide and indignant. He licked his lips and gnawed on a thumb nail. "Well, yeah actually. I am a little." Feeling stupid Kili looked at the forest floor studying the carpet of frozen leaves and exposed roots – anything to draw his mind away from this embarrassment.
Hearing Fili's sigh drew his attention towards his brother who was now stood before him. "I'm nervous too." Fili admitted. "And I need you to know that if you've changed your mind I won't think any less of you." Now that got Kili's attention. Straightening his posture his eyes flared. He paced away from his Brother stopping with his back still turned to Fili.
"How can you say that?" He muttered. Did his brother think he was a coward? Or was this just another attempt at trying to protect him, he wasn't a dwarfling anymore! Fili's hand on his shoulder startled him and he turned to look his brother in the eye, trying to suss out what was really going on.
"Because I love you. And if anything happens to you…" Fili trailed off, his lips pursed and head bowed in defeat. Grabbing Fili's shoulders Kili took a deep breath.
"Look at me Brother." He asked. When he had Fili's attention he continued on, willing his voice to remain strong and struggling to keep his emotions in check. "I love you too. You know that. And if anything happened to you I would die from grief. But listen. I would never back out of this, if there is even the slightest chance Livi is still alive we have to try and find her. If she needs saving so be it, if we find her and she is safe and well and sends us away then so be it. But we will be going on this quest if it is the last thing I ever do." Fili stared back at him, his eyes glistening. Kili pulled him into a hug and squeezed as hard as he could. When he pulled back a small weight seemed to have lifted from Fili and a small grin played at the corner of his lips.
Kili cocked a brow. "What's funny?" He asked. Fili gave a toothy grin and picked up some logs.
"You called our sister Livi." Kili frowned and considered this.
"Yeah, I did." He hadn't meant to but Fili was right. Watching his brother he smiled as well.
"It's cute." Fili declared. Kili picked up the logs, hefting the weight under his arm.
"Yeah, I suppose it is." They began the walk back to their dwellings. "Livi." Kili repeated. "Yeah, I like it."
They made it back to their dwelling just as dusk was settling in. They entered their home to sounds of laughter and pots and pans clanging in the kitchen. Frowning Fili glanced at his brother who looked equally confused. Hastily kicking his boots off and tossing his coat to one side Fili trudged through the living room and rounded the corner to the kitchen. They definitely had company, he just wasn't sure who.
As he entered the kitchen he came to a dramatic stand still sending Kili flying into the back of him. Grunting as he stumbled forward he shot Kili an irritated look. And then his eyes settled forward again to his Mother, Uncle and Dwalin… Dwalin!
"Fili!" Dwalin boomed and stormed over to pull the dwarf into a tight embrace. Fili wheezed from lack of oxygen but managed to smile, all be it half-heartedly.
"Mister Dwalin! I… What are you doing here?" Dwalin seemed oblivious to Fili's question and he set his sights on Kili, bear hugging his brother till he was sure he heard bones cracking. Thorin on the other hand scowled at Fili from across the room.
"Dwalin always joins us for the Winter Festival, Fili." Oh Aule, the Festival! How had he forgotten? The Dwarves of the Blue Mountains celebrated each season with a massive gathering in the town square. Music was played and people danced and drank and it usually went on into the wee hours of the morning. The Dwarves were renowned for their partying and quite often Fili and his brother wouldn't remember much of the festival the next morning.
Plastering a smile on his face, Fili paced over to his Mother placing a kiss on her cheek. "What time are we heading out for the Festival?" He asked as flippantly as he could. Dis stirred the casserole she'd prepared, throwing in some additional herbs and spice.
"We'll head down straight after supper." Dis answered. Fili nodded and excused himself from the room giving Kili a 'we need to talk' glare as he caught his eye. Kili didn't miss a beat and casually followed Fili, telling the others he was going to start the fire.
Wasting no time the brothers fled out the front door and round to the side of the cabin. "Damn the blasted Winter Festival!" Fili, rather childishly, stamped his foot in frustration. "How on Middle Earth did we forget about it?" He raked his hands through his hair, fisting the braids and pulling as hard as he could. Kili stared thoughtfully at Fili before tugging his hands from his hair.
"Calm down!" He chastised. Usually it was Kili losing his head but Fili was in full blown panic mode. "This could work to our advantage." Fili starred bug eyed at his brother.
"How?!" He bellowed. Drawing the attention of a couple of passing Dwarves Fili nodded an acknowledgement and lowered his voice to a whisper. "How?" He hissed.
Kili smiled. Actually smiled! He was enjoying watching Fili loose his head over this. The little brat! "Think about it. Uncle will be busy in the celebrations as will Mother. We will attend the Festival as we always do and slip away unseen through the crowds of people. It's perfect!" Kili beamed.
Fili frowned as he considered this. "You know I'm right. Relax Brother. It'll all work out!" Kili scooped up some logs and headed back inside. Right, relax. Fili took a deep breath and followed his brother back inside. It would all work out. It would. He prayed his Brother was right.
Supper flew past in a blink of an eye. In spite of his nerves Kili managed to forget about everything and enjoy the company of his family and Dwalin. There was always so much to catch up on that even when the food was in front of them the conversation still flowed. As a child Kili had always loved when Dwalin visited and hearing his stories was something he would never grow out of. Kili was even more excited to learn that Balin would be joining them later in the evening for the celebrations, he felt like a dwarfling all over again and grinned from ear to ear at the news.
After the table was cleared and the dishes washed they all set out for the Festival. There was a feel of excitement to the air and sounds of laughter and merriment floated across the land, it was music to Kili's ears and suddenly the thought of leaving home made him feel quite sick. His gaze fixed on his Mother as she walked ahead. Oh Aule, what were they thinking?
As his pace began to slow Fili fell back with him, allowing the others to pull away and mingle with the crowds. Feeling Fili's hand grip his elbow Kili fixed him with a questioning gaze. "You okay?" Fili shouted over the music and partying. Kili shook his head and gestured with a tilt of his head to talk in private with his brother. Negotiating their way through the crowds they eventually managed to break free of the hustle and came to a halt behind one of the marquees. "What is it?" Fili coaxed.
"I…" Kili trailed off and raked a hand down his face. "Have you thought about Mother? How she will handle all of this? Us leaving her." Kili watched his brother as a myriad of emotions played out across his face. First confusion, then realization, then dread.
"Oh…" Fili breathed. Glancing around the side of the marquee Kili caught sight of their Mother and watched her while she laughed with Dwalin. His gut churned, she would be sick with worry, Aule only knew what she would do.
"Who will look after her? You know damn well Thorin will come after us the second he realizes we've bolted. Who will stay here with her?" Kili asked, never taking his eyes off their Mother. He knew she didn't need looking after but he hated the thought of her living alone. Sure, there were neighbouring Dwarves who would look out for her. But it wasn't the same as him and his Brother being around, and they were her life, everything she did was for them.
"Thorin will not leave without making sure someone is around." Fili explained. "Much to Mothers chagrin." He added light-heartedly but the humour didn't carry.
"Lads!" The cheerful greeting startled the brothers and made them spin in time to see Balin pulling them into a hug.
"Balin!" They replied in unison and bear hugged the Dwarf back, almost lifting him off the ground.
"What are you doing loitering back here?" Balin asked as he looked between the Brothers. Luckily before they could think of a terrible excuse Balin began dragging them towards the main party and sang merrily along the way. The brother's exchanged a glance as they joined the others and began to wait upon the opportunity to slip away.