The Mountain of Light
Disclaimer: Nothing here is mine. Except you know, the plot.
AN: After we all have safely concluded (thanks to Achromos), that Thorin's pee is an effective ant repellent, here's the next installment~
Thank you everyone for your support. :)
Chapter 7
A commotion startled the dwarf prince out of his sleep. He looked around and found that he was still in the forest, and still in a deductable position. But that wasn't the only thing that came to his view. He looked to his side and found the spot to be empty.
That very spot where hours ago, he had finally reunited with his lover...
Millions of possible explanation came racing inside his mind but most of them he found to be utterly unfavourable. It was not like Thranduil to just be up and gone! They had shared bed so many times and never had the elven king left his side without a ghost of a whisper.
The ruckus now became louder. It sounded extremely erratic and heated. It died down for one second before sharply blowing up again.
What has happened?
Thorin found himself wondering. The night before, those strange creatures were singing and eating. So why did they make such a ghastly noise? Was it because of this that Thranduil had to go?
He looked still and slowly let a frown cross his temples. All of a sudden, he felt his chest constricting out of pure anxiety—the source of which he had the privilege to see just the night before. However, why it rushed to him now was a matter of grave concern.
Thorin quickly rose up to his feet and made himself decent before heading towards the tent.
All along the way, he prayed that nothing rash had taken place.
"Uncle! Where were you?" The youthful voice of Kíli was ready to greet the older dwarf with a huge smile plastered to his face, which faltered slightly at the dishevelled sight of the other.
When Thorin squint his eyes in reply, it was then that Kíli noticed the leaves and twigs attached to the other's clothing and he just couldn't find it in him to resist the quirk of his brow which was extremely dubious.
"I was worried about you." He said, still keeping his facial expression intact. "You know...since..."
Thorin rolled his eyes as a response and quickly waved Kíli to keep his voice down.
"I'm fine. But whatever is that noise out there? What happened?"
Kíli frowned seeing Thorin so worked up. He didn't try and soothe his uncle. It'd be a futile attempt but he did keep his voice calm and replied, "They caught a deer."
"A deer?" Thorin came off admonished, but Kíli couldn't blame him. The elves were strange ad understanding them was something even the Valar had forsaken.
"Yes, some bloke caught a deer and half of them are arguing about taking of life for pleasure is a sin."
Thorin's eyes narrowed further as he observed his nephew closely and admittedly, even though Kíli was quite used to this scrutinising glare, he couldn't really help but shift on his feet.
"How are you able to understand them?" Thorin asked after a long while, amusement unhidden in his voice.
At that, the younger dwarf simply shrugged and replied in a very obvious tone, "I...saw and I asked that King of theirs."
It was now Kíli's turn to be amused when he barely caught the slight perking up that Thorin tried hard to conceal at the mention of the elven king.
When the other gave a thoughtful look, Kíli approached him with a smirk of his own and said, "A good catch that one, eh?"
However, he quickly stepped back and lowered his head when that very comment managed to twist Thorin's expression into something closely resembling lividness.
It took all but a second for Thorin to relax and calm down. As he looked back at his nephew, the younger of the two noticed the air of seriousness that engulfed the other and became serious himself.
"Listen Kíli." Thorin said in a hushed tone, careful to speak only Khuzdul as he nodded his nephew to come closer.
Kíli did as was told and waited for Thorin to elaborate.
"We cannot stay here any longer. It is not safe and I fear what motive Thrór might've had would entirely jeopardise any form of negotiations in future." He directed a steely gaze at the other as he went on, "It is in our best interest to leave today and it is your best interest to do exactly as I tell you to."
"But I won't be pardoned for disobeying the king." Kíli replied, suppressing the revolutionary tendency the young one had. He understood what Thorin was asking of him but that'd mean he had failed his task. The task Thrór had entrusted upon him.
He couldn't go back empty handed...he certainly couldn't bear the disdain Thrór would hold against him.
Thorin shook his head and spoke, "You won't be pardoned for fuelling a riot."
Perhaps he had seen the expression on Kíli's face or perhaps he simply knew him all too well—whatever it was, Thorin intercepted Kíli's trail of thought perfectly.
His glare softened and he gently patted the other's back as he said with warmth in his voice, "Oh Kíli. I understand why you must feel it is your responsibilityor why you must complete it but you must understand. Thrór...he's not what he used to be. He's become alien. A person who puts greed before all else and I'm afraid that his obsession with that jewel has clouded his judgement."
"No, that's not true. He's senile but definitely not out of his mind! I met him." Kíli defended with all he had but found his confidence rapidly dwindling as he recalled the wild look he had seen in his great grandfather's eyes.
"He is as mindful as you are with this blasted quest!" Thorin's voice rose slightly when Kíli consistently decided to keep up his naïve ideologies.
Kíli could see how frustrated his uncle had become while he tried explaining but the truth of the matter was, after all these years of him being born, Kili was finally acknowledged! How could he throw that away now that he finally had a chance to make his great grandfather proud?
Soon after Thorin calmed himself down again and tried once more, "Can't you see? He used you. That is why he kept you from telling me! By Mahal had I not been awake that day, I'd never have known!"
"Maybe he kept it from you because he knew you'd worry too much?" Kíli responded back with foundation in his voice. He still refused to see Thorin's point of view, even though it was quickly becoming apparent that Thorin's assumptions had more concrete base than his own.
"Or because he feared I'd knock some sense into you." Thorin replied sharply, the frustration and worry levelling back up in his tone.
Kíli was about to respond when Thorin hushed him abruptly.
"There's footsteps, you fool!" e admonished the younger one when he was about to ask the cause of Thorin's actions.
Seconds later, both swiftly spun on their heels when they heard the flap of their tent being opened, causing them to glare at the person who dared to interrupt their argument
Both quickly regained their composure immediately when they actually saw who it was that had made the intrusion.
"We'll be having a feast now." It was Thranduil, who coolly looked at both of them and said in an equally cool voice. He acknowledged Thorin with a simple nod and now Kíli could properly see what had attracted his uncle towards the other. Thranduil was regal. And he haid a lazy sensuality hidden behind his eerie. demeanour.
Thranduil let his eyes fall on the youngest member and considered him for a while. Honestly, if Kíli had thought Thorin's gaze was intimidating, he now stood corrected. The elf said nothing to him. He simply observed and if not for the heat of the moment, Kíli would definitely turn into a flustered blob.
Before it would become a very unpleasant string of moments, Thranduil averted his gaze and left the two of them alone.
However, before he could fully turn away, his icy blue eyes lingered on Thorin for just a while longer and he didn't know about his uncle but Kíli was sure that he felt eerie chills just by looking at Thranduil's eyes.
And as for Thorin...
Thorin looked mesmerised moments after Thranduil had left before suddenly snapping back to his senses and turning to face the other.
"After the feast," he said, determination exuding from his eyes, "we leave."
AN: Totally irrelevant to this fic but I just HAVE to get it out of my system: Who do you think could've been Thranduil's best bud? For Thorin, it can be Balin I think. But Thrandy? O.o
What do you think so far? I mean about the fic. Mostly about the fic. And a little about that silly question. OK, I am going to shut up now. Please review.