(no subject)

[durincest]

[Traveling alone was much harder than Kili had anticipated.

He'd packed everything he'd needed in the dead of night, so perhaps a lot of the trouble was there. Things with Fili weren't...going well, and he just needed to go. Maybe some time apart would help, and Kili was anxious to prove himself anyway.

It takes longer than he'd expected to find Thorin. He'd known at least where his uncle was headed, having maybe listened in on a conversation Thorin had with Dis. But the first village he found was devoid of any familiar dwarves, though he did find someone who pointed him in the right direction.

By the time he staggers into the right town, he's tired and hungry and footsore. Men make him nervous, and he eyes them uneasily, one hand tight around his sword hilt as he wandered through the village.

It's luck that takes him past the forge, and his eyes seek out a familiar face, searching, until finally he catches sight of Thorin, beating hot metal into place.]

Thorin! [Heedless now of his blistered feet and exhaustion, a smile splits the young dwarf's face and he dashes to greet him.]

Comments

[kinginexile]

Strange?

[A brow raises and he's not sure what Kili means.]

How so?

[kilimanjaro]

[Kili shrugs again, eating more.] I don't know. There was one, he looked at me like...

[He trails off. He hadn't liked that man one bit.] Well. I was glad I was with you. But then some of the others... [Kili shakes his head.] I felt like they pitied me. But I don't know, maybe they just haven't seen a dwarf my age before.

[kinginexile]

[You can't just bring up things and then try to sweep it under the carpet, Kili. Thorin pauses in eating and looks quite serious.]

What about this one man? Do not mind the others, you have been in some obvious discomfort, they most likely pitied your suffering. [What with those blistered feet mister.]

[durincest]

[Kili looks down at his large feet and wiggles his toes, sighing. He must have looked a sorry state last night, dressed in his uncle's too-large clothes, limping, eating like he's been starving and then being so exhausted he'd fallen asleep on Thorin's shoulder. He's probably right.]

I don't know how to describe it. I just know it...wasn't good. He wouldn't stop staring. [And finally Kili has a way to put it.] Like...like a wolf stalking its prey, or something.

[kinginexile]

[Thorin doesn't like the sound of that one bit. He'll frown sharply, but chew a bit more on their lunch. So then, a human was admiring his nephew was he? Better they were leaving tomorrow then, he didn't need any human trying to get friendly with Kili. And not in the way he'd rather the humans were friendly with them.]

Do not fret over it. We shall be gone by the morrow.

[Besides, Kili, you're staying in bed, the human won't touch you.]

[kilimanjaro]

[The expression on Thorin's face is confirmation of what Kili was wondering. He's just glad that his uncle is here to keep an eye on him. Kili tends to go through phases of wanting to be an adult and then being perfectly content to still be a child. Right now, he's pleased he can still hide behind Thorin for protection.]

On to the next town? [He's eager to get to work, to have something to distract him from the gnawing loss of Fili in his heart.]

[kinginexile]

[Finishing a portion of lunch, Thorin decides he'll finish off whatever Kili doesn't eat, but for now he's going to have a look at those feet, mister.]

Mm, another town. Better luck there and you will be well enough to work beside me. [He'll try to cheer the young dwarf up some by reminding him of that. With the days it would take to travel Kili's feet would have time to heal as they rode by pony, so he could properly work with Thorin. It would be good to have the young dwarf helping, it would keep him out of trouble. He hoped.]

Hopefully by then your mother will have received the letter I sent. [He'll add, moving to go fetch a damp warm cloth to clean Kili's feet with. Once that's done, he'll work on putting a bit of ointment on those blisters before wrapping his feet so he won't pick at them or bump them against anything. Can never be too careful.]

[kilimanjaro]

[Kili is young and growing, and his feet are already starting to heal. He winces a little as Thorin starts to tend to them and jerks back just a little bit when it hurts too much, but he doesn't make a sound of complaint.]

I want to work. [The words are a bit unnecessary, but he just feels like it's important Thorin knows that.]

...Will Mother make me come home?

[kinginexile]

[Sorry, Kili, he tried to be as gentle as he could.]

And you shall, I will make sure of it.

[As for the question... Thorin is hardly good at hiding anything on that face of his, at least from his nephews. So Kili already knows the answer to that.]

She will want you to return home, but I shall convince her to let you stay with me. That you're not fit to travel on your own again.

[kilimanjaro]

[At first, Kili's relieved. He doesn't have to go home yet; he can stay with Thorin and put off that meeting with Fili. Kili's perfectly alright with running away from that for as long as he can manage.

But then he catches the second part of it.] Not fit--! Uncle, I made it here all my own!

[kinginexile]

And if I tell her that she will expect you home straight away.

[Kili. Kili he's trying to do you a favor. Keep up, lad.]

[kilimanjaro]

[He opens his mouth to argue before he realizes Thorin's right (of course) and closes it again with a huff.

Well, that just plain isn't fair, is it? Kili wants to be recognized for the feat he accomplished!]

Couldn't you tell her I was wounded taking down an orc pack on my own or something?

[kinginexile]

Skilled as you are, your mother is not so easily taken in.

[No Kili. Let's not spin bigger lies upon a small one.]

[kilimanjaro]

...What about two wargs?

[Oh come on, Thorin. Kili doesn't accomplish big things on his own very often.]

[kinginexile]

[Thorin just stares at Kili for a moment, but it will slowly change into a slight smile. Just the smallest of ones.]

Maybe.

... one and a half.

[See now he's teasing you.]

[kilimanjaro]

[When Thorin smiles, even a tiny one like this, is when Kili loves him best. So when he finally picks up that his uncle is teasing him, he just lets out a loud, surprised laugh, grinning.]

I was being serious, Thorin!

[kinginexile]

As was I.

[Some what. It's good to hear the lad laugh and he can't help as his own smile grows from it.]

One warg is fair enough, hm? To make up for lessening your heroic deeds, we can leave in a few hours time. If you can manage to ride on a pony?" Sharing a pony together would be good family bonding time. And perhaps he wanted to leave sooner than later knowing some human was having eyes on his nephew, plus leaving town seemed to lift Kili's spirits.

[kilimanjaro]

[Kili gives his uncle a sunny smile and leans in against him.] Of course I can ride a pony, Uncle. You taught me how to ride when I was a dwarfling.

ajldfja lol as I go from using brackets to not using them whoops

[kinginexile]

[He doesn't mind Kili being so comfortable around him. He'd gotten used to both nephews using him as their personal pillow and climbing tree when they'd been littler any way.]

I meant more are you well enough to ride?

[Don't be cheeky you.]

you have a special kind of talent

[kilimanjaro]

[Kili smiles at Thorin and shrugs.]

I don't see how a few blisters are going to stop me. I'll be fine, Uncle.

I do. Sadly it's nothing that will get me ahead in life lol

[kinginexile]

[Never mind you brat. He was worried about more than your blistered feet, but so be it. Kili would insist more and more if he tried to stop them leaving now.]

Then we will leave within the next couple hours. I must pack and purchase some supplies. Rest in the comfort of a warm bed while you can, we will soon be on the road.

[And he does pack up, eventually leaving the inn to go buy supplies as he'd said, leaving Kili in the room alone.]

[kilimanjaro]

[What else are you referring to, Thorin? Dumb Kili is dumb.

He opens his mouth to argue, but Thorin has a point.]

Oh...alright, fine.

[When Thorin leaves, Kili huffs. He'll just...go back to sleep, then.]

[kinginexile]

[Thorin takes his time making sure they have everything they need. It is foolish to rush into travel without the proper supplies after all. Once he's got everything, he's saddled up their pony, having gotten most of the things packed onto it. Now he just has to get Kili up and dressed.

His nephew is either resting his eyes or sleeping when he returns and he'll lean over the bed a bit to shake him gently.]

Come, Kili, time to head out.

[kilimanjaro]

[Kili's eyes open slowly, and he stares up at Thorin for a few moments.]

Already?

[He yawns and sits up, leaning into Thorin and wrapping his arms loosely around his neck.]

[kinginexile]

[He almost feels bad waking him, Kili seemed to have been sleeping well. It's difficult to not lean in turn towards the younger dwarf, he's always been so clingy and physical, but there's just something about the way he is when just woken, hair all mused and lazy.

It reminds him of Frerin.

He'll bring an arm up behind Kili's back, hand coming up to muse that already messy hair. Something he seemed fond of doing as it were.]

Aye, unless you are not ready? Though if you must sleep, you can always doze while we ride.

[Thorin wouldn't let him fall off the pony.]