The Mountain of Light
Disclaimer: Not mine.
AN: So here's the next installment. Thank you all who've reviewed/faved/alerted.
Guest- By chapter 4 or 5. Promise.
Chapter 3
The journey was relentless. Thorin and Kíli travelled through terrains, across rivers, through forests— stopping only when rest was needed in absolution. Throughout the journey, neither did Kíli speak of their destination nor did he say anything about the intent of reaching said destination.
Thorin didn't push him any further for details; for it was clear that Kíli would not utter a word related to it and even if he did, it was so vague that many conclusions could be derived from it.
Kíli was by the river, collecting fresh drinking water when Thorin approached him and asked in a very curious voice, "How long must we travel? It has been three days since we've been on the road."
Kíli looked up and threw a sporting smile as he replied, "Not much longer. We're almost there. We'll just have to cross the river and ride for half a day."
Thorin frowned, trying to calculate in his mind the exact whereabouts of this mystery location. He roughly gathered an idea and waited for Kíli's talkative nature to turn up.
When it didn't, Thorin's eyes narrowed in contemplation. Kíli was being extra cautious about this whole ordeal and that in itself spoke great volumes.
Still, he concealed a sigh and ventured, "Grandfather must be proud of you to entrust such a huge responsibility."
At those words, Thorin could clearly the light spreading to his nephew's face even though he tried very hard to conceal it.
Encouraged, he continued, "Makes me wonder how my nephew is quickly growing up to become a fine dwarf!"
"Oh, thank you Uncle!" Kíli replied, excitement brimming in his eyes. He smiled widely and spoke in a jovial tone, "I hope Great Grandfather sees me worthy! I am absolutely thrilled that he sees me fit to go with this!"
Thorin's smile faltered slightly at his nephew's naíveness. He patted Kíli's shoulder lovingly, much to the other's confusion and let out a sympathised upward twitch of his lips.
There was a reason why he and Dís had been stern about keeping him from interacting much with the king. After all, they were the only ones privy to the sight of Thrór's drastically changed personality.
Kíli, however, was naive but never ignorant. He did not miss the sudden change in mood of his uncle and asked, "Are you okay, Uncle?"
"I'm absolutely fine, Nephew." Thorin replied, sighing deeply and ruffling the young one's hair. He felt his heart tweak as a sudden surge of protectiveness engulfed him. He turned away from the other and made way for his pony as images of the king swam in his mind.
I swear you old nut, He thought frowning with annoyance, Should you cause any further difficulty, especially to Kíli, I'll personally send you and your old arse to the pits of Mordor.
The door to Thrór's chambers were heard closing, making the old king to look up with alertness at the invader of his privacy. He struggled to get a glimpse of who it might have been and he readied himself grabbing the hilt of his sword.
He seemed to soften the moment later as he recognized the other figure when it approached him.
"Are you sure that it is the real thing, father?" Asked the other who was none other than Thráin.
Thrór nodded as a slow smirk crept on his lips.
"My sources are never wrong." He said widening the smirk as amusement danced in his eyes. "It is the real thing. Of that, I'm certain."
Thráin seemed hesitant and for quite some time didn't seem to have any intention of leaving his father alone. That notion made Thrór irritated and he simply wished that he be left alone! He faced his son again and cocked an eyebrow, silently inquiring as to what else might be there for the other to still linger about.
Tháin caught the hint very well and on cue, spoke hesitantly, "How much do you trust him? Thorin's not in his room. He might very well interfere."
Thrór remained nonplussed. He chortled softly and his eyes twinkled brightly. He turned to fully face his son, the twinkle now gaining more and more brightness as he spoke in a low and eerie voice, "Let him. The young one craves approval. He will not betray."
"What if Thorin keeps him from bringing it back?"
The eeriness spread like an infestation all over the older dwarf's face. The glint in his eyes now danced erratically and the smirk extended further, rendering the king a look which was in no way resemblance to any form of sanity.
"He won't. We all succumb to greed."
Thorin stretched in full satisfaction, feeling each of his muscles relax and get unknotted after hours of journeying stiffly. Kíli was tending to the fire and being on a cliff, they sure had an advantage of a clear vantage point. Not that these areas were proving ti be dangerous, still one couldn't be too sure.
He crooned his neck and saw his nephew looking over at the map. He turned and faced the other, voicing the small echo he long had on his mind.
"This is no political agenda, is it?"
Kíli startled at the sudden end of the quietness that surrounded them. However, he quickly gathered himself and gazed at Thorin.
"What do you mean? It certainly is!" He said, hoping to put on a convincing voice at which he failed nonetheless.
Thorin made a face which clearly showed that he was not going to be made a joke of and at that, the younger dwarf retracted himself. Clearing his voice, he rephrased his answer, "Well, partially."
"Partially." Thorin repeated, staring sharply at the other, taking in every account of his nephew's demeanour and not missing the slight shift the other put up being under his scrutiny.
"Yes. Well...It's something we need to do and most likely, it won't harm us if we do it right." Kíli provided and as he explained, Thorin's confusion grew into a frown as his face grew tighter and tighter with growing anticipation.
"What have you gotten yourself into?" He finally asked, no longer able to hold back his concern for the young dwarf. "Kíli, whatever it is, coming from your great grandfather...I doubt it is anything but simple."
Kíli tilted his head in confusion, frowning slightly at Thorin's implication.
"What do you mean by that?" He asked, his face falling a little and it is then that Thorin wished the younger wouldn't expect so much of the king. He tried ignoring the sudden pang in his heart as he realized just how much Kíli had looked up to Thrór and just how badly Thrór was using him.
Kíli still awaited an answer. He kept on staring at his uncle with expecting eyes and suddenly, Thorin couldn't find it in himself to keep on looking back at the other. He swiftly tore his eyes away and stretched on the makeshift bed as he said with a soothing tone, "Let's just go get some rest. I'm sure we'll have a tough journey ahead tomorrow. Though...it'd be nice to know where we're headed."
With that, he turned his back and lay quiet. But he did not sleep. His eyes remained open and guilt poured in them just as he realized how much Thrór was truly affecting them all.
Not only did his sudden uncharacteristic behaviour affect his ability of decision making but also it diverted the king away from objectives which were right.
However, what truly saddened Thorin was the very fact that his grandfather was looked up to and admired blindly by someone who— amongst all of them— had a very impressionable mind.
And for that, he was worried.
AN: So...I realize it might be getting boring but this is coming out to be a pretty slow build and I am waiting for that point to come when all the goodness starts. If you guys have any suggestions, do let me know! Please review.