Quest-verse. After http://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1s1oeuc

Kíli and Kizár's thoughts in Bag End, and a talk with Dwalin.

@SonofDari @SilmarilNaro
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Kíli

Kíli is trying very hard to hide is own nervousness as he and Fíli knock on the door of Bag-End, the place where the entire crew of the quest is supposed to meet the burglar. It will be the first time for all who are still willing to follow Thorin on the Quest, to meet. Some Kíli knows, most he has seen some time in the past, but formally it is their first meeting.

The little fellow that opens the door and is entirely set on sending them away again, is not quite what Kíli expected, at least not from a burglar. As far as these things go, the burglar is the perfect Hobbit, and flustered by his home being invaded by dwarves.

Balin of course is already there and Dwalin too has arrived before them. There is a distinct difference between these brothers. Balin being a kind old dwarrow, with a wise, cunning edge, while Dwalin is the penultimate warrior. He does not waste time to put Kíli to work, helping to move furniture in preparation for the others to arrive.


Kizár

As Kíli sets about moving furniture, Kizár sits in her comfortable pouch, her awareness gently reaching out to observe goings-on. Balin she knew, Dwalin only a little less so, and both were exactly as she would expect them. Master Baggins... his fussiness and apparent confusion makes her wonder and she finds herself stepping a bit away from Kíli and her stone-form to keep a track of him.

The moment the group to arrive at the door reveals a tall grey-bearded Man behind them, all her shields snap into place. Surely this is the Wizard they have heard about, the one to give Thorin that spark of hope that has him setting out on this quest. She keeps her guard up, not wanting the Wizard to notice her, and cannot help but notice when Master Baggins professes to not understand why the Dwarves are here.

It's a statement that leaves her curious.


Kíli

With all the other dwarves arriving, Bag-End becomes a lively chaos of people moving about and searching the pantry. Kíli smiles and greets Bifur, who is here with his two cousins Bofur and Bombur. All three he knows well, though he is surprised they signed up for the quest, they have no obligations towards Thorin or Durin's folk. Glóin and Óin he knows as well - both being from Erebor originally, and being related to the family, as much as Balin and Dwalin are. The other three - Dori, Nori and Ori, he knows from Ered Luin, but it is a knowing in passing, he cannot claim to know either well. And there is the wizard...

Kíli can feel how Kizár hides more closely when Tharkûn enters the scene, and it makes him step a bit more carefully too. Most of the other dwarves do not, involving the wizard into the preparation of the feast. Only Dwalin watches him with careful eyes, giving nothing of his thoughts away, as he informs the wizard that Thorin will be late to the meeting.


Kizár

The teasing song is amusing, and it really doesn't surprise her that it is Kíli who took Bofur's comment as a queue. She still watches Bilbo, though also taking in Gandalf's reactions. It leaves her wondering why he would be so please to laugh right in the face of the hobbit's upset. If he is so willing to disturb this, his supposed burglar's life, how willing is he to manipulate Thorin for whatever purpose?

As if to answer her thoughts, a heavy knock on Bilbo's door presages Thorin's arrival, and the mood turns a good deal more serious as a result.


Kíli

Thorin's arrival leaves Kíli feeling for the Hobbit, because it is never easy to deal with Thorin's scrutiny. And it is very clear that Thorin is not impressed at all. His inquiry about Bilbo's favorite weapon might sound serious, but Kíli knows, that Thorin expects nothing useful as an answer, and he certainly is not disappointed when the Hobbit brings up the conkers. Still Kíli flinches at Thorin's words "More of a grocer than a burglar." For all that they did tease the Hobbit, it is not necessary to humiliate him in public.

The rest of the crew already moves towards the dining room, while Kíli swiftly goes to store Thorin's cloak away.


Kizár

Gravitating back to Kíli, Kizár murmurs for only he to hear. "Thorin's harshness might not be so hard if it did not seem like Gandalf sprung our coming on Master Baggins with no real warning." She sighs, a little put off that Gandalf seems to be good at shielding himself from the sight of those who might see into his spirit. "Still, now Thorin is here way may finally see what he has to say, and what aid he might give."


Kíli

Kíli relaxes a little at Kizár's touch, her presence in his mind is always calming, something he has come to appreciate much in his life. "You are right - the burglar had no warning nor any idea who came to see him." he responds in their minds. "But Thorin... sometimes it helps to be friendly, instead of harsh..."

He falls silent when Dwalin asks about Dáin of the Iron Hills and Thorin announces that Dáin will not support them on the quest. The following debate reminds Kíli on why there are so few assembled here. There are not many who'd still try, and less who believe it possible. When Balin reminds them that the front gate is barred to them, and Gandalf procures the key, Kíli's heart almost stops.

Somewhere deep inside him a voice whispers that this is too convenient. Where did the wizard find the key? What does he know of the fate of Thrain? And the way he passes the key on to Thorin is... Kíli has no words, but it leaves him uneasy.


Kizár

The whole exchange about expert burglars strikes her as both amusing, and another matter to feel sympathetic to Bilbo over. She can acknowledge Gandalf's statement about Hobbits being unknown to the dragon - even the dragons of Angband never made mention of Hobbits - but the way Gandalf seems to be pushing him...

Though Bofur's helpful description was probably unneeded.

With a gentle touch to Kíli, Kizár carefully follows as Bilbo is moved to a chair, and listens to Gandalf's talk of Bilbo sitting quietly for too long. People change as they grow, she thinks to herself. Is that adventurous child still there? Or is Gandalf expecting too much of one of the fast-lived races?

The final refusal to sign on to the quest does not really surprise Kizár, and a part of her would cheer Bilbo for standing up to the Wizard.


Kíli

Kíli watches Bilbo walk away and sighs, so much for that plan. Half he expects the quest to be called off, but Thorin does not. Not even after a discussion with Balin. Key and Map have sparked something inside his Uncle, a fire that now cannot be quenched. The wizard says nothing, offers no ideas or insights, it seems his plan was the Hobbit and if he has new ideas, he does not speak of them,

Across the hallway Kíli sees Dwalin who too is watching, and the warrior looks grimmer, and more worried than Kíli has seen him in a long time. He reaches for Kizár in his mind, seeking her presence. "it seems we are committed now, burglar or none."


Kizár

"So it seems..." Kizár replies. "We will try to find our way, even without him - the promise in that map is... encouraging, even if we have to dare to face Smaug." Kizár quietly watches as the others start to move towards the parlor. "Even if Master Baggins changes his mind, I still think it is a precarious plan, putting his life at risk to do... what? Go in and have a friendly chat with the dragon?"


Kíli

"He wants the mountain back... and even with the Arkenstone in his hands, and whatever is left of the seven armies backing him... in the end it will not help against the dragon." Kíli replies softly. "The dragon will be up to us..." he rubs his hands against his upper arms. "Thorin... why do I think he'd rather go out on some glorious quest, die a lone hero, than living and working along in Ered Luin?"


Kizár

Kizár curls herself around Kíli a bit tighter. "You and both know in the last few years life has been getting more difficult in Ered Luin. The mines run dry, or are collapsing, births are down and what few are surviving are even more disconnected from the Deep Stone than you are..." She has paid attention when the troubles of their people have been spoken of. "Maybe he feels he needs to do it now, or it will never happen at all."


Kíli

Kíli leans into that mental embrace to hold her, Kizár has been his comfort, his anchor in hard times and he grateful his magic sister is with him. "I know... things are going badly. But what will it help our people if their last King gets killed by a dragon?" he shakes his head. "I cannot see how we can defeat the dragon, and yet... we have to. There's no hero coming from legend to help us, and no one else will even try. There's just us..." The thought is the one that makes him the most afraid. He knows they *have* to try, they *have* to do this... and for some reason the very thought that they might, scares him in ways it should not. "Maybe I am just a coward..." he whispers, ashamed of himself. Dragons have been killed in the past. Frérin Dragonsbane killed several, as did Alberic Stonebow. Durin II defended Moria from a dragon attack... but none of these thoughts helps Kíli to calm down.


Kizár

"We will find a way, Kíli." Kizár lets her inner warmth spread through him, to calm him. "We have to be our own heroes here, and though it seems rather impossible, I feel we will find our way. If I have to show my true self I would fight the dragon, fire against fire, but I would still need someone to get me close enough to the beast."

She is quiet for a moment. "Being afraid is not cowardice either. It is simply being realistic about the danger."


Kíli

Kíli hugs Kizár, he knows she has seen the ancient world, she knows many things. "Maybe..." he says softly. "maybe I can try and bring you close, maybe you can see a weakness in the dragon we cannot. There must be some way to kill it..." the swordsmith in him believes that there is a weapon for any foe, if it only can be found.


Kizár

"I am sure I could find it, if I could see him. I have... I have seen dragons before, I know how they work. Smaug could hardly be as bad as some I knew of back in those dark times..." Her attention is drawn to the sound of deep humming, the slow but effective tune of the song of the Lonely Mountain, something of an anthem amongst the Exiles, recalling that which they lost.


Kíli

Kíli smiles when he hears the familiar voices, joining together in one of their songs, a song that is as old as the dream to return home. *Sometimes the dream seemed so fragile, we did not dare speak of it, lest it would break.* Thorin once said, and suddenly, for the first time, Kíli begins to understand him just a little. Maybe this is what this is about - that dream, that dream their people still have and if they do not try to make it real, it might be the last dream of the dwarrow.


Kizár

As Kíli heads towards the parlor, Kizár lets herself sink into the song, singing in a voice a good deal higher than most Dwarves, even dwarven ladies could claim. As it happens, the only one currently hearing her is Kíli, for which she is content to keep her own song with only him. The Dwarves may not be her first people, but in the time she has been with them she has come to see herself as one of them, just one who remains hidden.


Kíli

Kíli hears Kizár's beautiful voice, and he smiles. He wishes she could stand here, beside him, but even if she could, Thorin would never allow a dwarrowdam on this quest. So he is content to stand here, together with his hidden sister.


Kizár

As the song comes to a close, Kizár curls in a mental hug. "I would gladly stand by your side, though right now I think sleep is calling."


Kíli

They entire group disperses to find sleeping places. Not that any of the beds really will fit them, but there are chairs, rugs and other places to make us of. Kíli sees Fili being called to Thorin and turns another way. Thorin will have serious stuff to talk with Fili, things that bear no little brothers being present. He knows that.

"Kíli, over here." Dwalin waves him towards a small-ish sitting room with chairs and a fireplace. "How are you holding up, lad?" he asks, as Kíli lights a fire in the fireplace. "you looked... pensive before."

"I am alright." Kíli replies. "Nervous, a little."

Dwalin nods and sits down by the fire. "Did you bring your Soulstone with you?"

Now Kíli looks up startled. "My what...?" he asks, though his hand falls to pouch that he never lets out of sight.

The older warrior smiles, almost fatherly. "Laddie, I've known for a long time you found a soul-stone, one of the living stones from the dawn of time, the stone we too were made off. Mahal... he'd protect your house, even now, and I have no doubt he send the stone your way."


Kizár

That guess at her nature strike Kizár with an odd amusement. Kíli had once guessed a similar idea about her, in those early years while he was still a young child. She had said that she was not exactly such, but that she was very similar.

She opens up her speech so that Dwalin may hear her as well. "I do not profess to have come of Mahal's own hand, but the one who shaped my form certainly found guidance in his craft from the Great Smith."


Kíli

Startled Dwalin looks around, when he hears the beautiful voice speaking Khuzdul. Kíli smiles a little, and his hand closes over the stone sphere in his pouch. Carefully he takes it out, so Dwalin may see the dark orb, Kíli shaped painstakingly into a sphere. "Her name is Kizár..."

Dwalin looks at the stone, and very gingerly touches the surface. "It is good to meet you, to know you are with Kíli." the older warrior says surprisingly gently.


Kizár

She takes barely a second to make sure no one is near, besides them, before she calls up her illusory image, offering Dwalin more of a face to speak with. "It is my great joy to be with Kíli, wherever he may go. His friendship and affection helped me find happiness again, after so long lost..." Her pause is almost unnoticeable. "Certainly this quest of anything is something I would not leave him to venture on his own, not that he would ever leave me behind." She smiles a fond, impish smile.


Kíli

Kíli reaches for Kizár's hand, only brushing his fingers against the light of her shape. "And I would not want to ever leave your behind."

Dwalin studies them both, then slowly nods. "This venture is dangerous," he says to Kizár. "dragons, they are a nasty breed, and Smaug is an old and powerful one. Bringing him down.... will take skill, cunning and a good measure of luck. But we..."

Suddenly Kíli can see uneasiness in Dwalin. "You too?" he asks. "You too wonder about this quest?" He knows that only his status as Thorin's nephew allows him to ask such an impertinent question.

"No." Dwalin's eyes go to the fire. "had Thorin called me home and said: Dwalin it's time to slay that beast.' I would have no doubts. But this... this is not Thorin's plan, not his idea, nor did he ask either of us what we could contribute to a serious dragon killing. It is that wizard that is setting him up... like the goat you tie to the pen whence you lure the bear, you will kill the bear, but usually it's too late for the goat."


Kizár

Kizár cannot help nod in agreement. "While I do not think Gandalf is a force for evil, his general behaviour so far leaves me wondering. He certainly has more concern with trying to shove Master Baggins out his door than he has with any politeness to the hobbit, and he certain talks a persuasive story when trying to talk people around." She sighs. "I only wish I knew more of what Wizards *are*. He certainly knows how to shield his spirit from sight!"


Kíli

Dwalin looks at her thoughtfully. "The Hobbit is a pawn, someone he will use... and leave to die, when his use is fulfilled. The wizards... they belong to the elves somehow, at least some of them do, though no one truly knows what they are. In the East I heard they came sailing from the west, long ago. Though given from whom I heard it, this too might not be the truth."


Kizár

"Sailing from the West..." There is a tone of wonder in Kizár's voice as she says that. "I could believe the Valar might send some who might help advise Middle Earth... maybe even send Maiar... and certainly there would be those who would jump at the chance to wander the world this side of the bent horizon..." Her spoken thoughts come with the tone of one who thinks of such remote things as more fact than the distant unknown it is to most.


Kíli

Kili looks at Kizár in wonder, amazed, but Dwalin snorts. "Grabbing the chance to manipulate people and play for power you mean? Shaping the world according to their will? That would be more like it. Too bad their kind is hard to kill."

"You distrust wizards." Kíli looks at their old friend. Dwalin is a warrior, a fighter but such grim words, he has never heard of him before.

"Aye. I fought one of them, back in the East. He was behind the entire succession, backing Jadhur's twin... and for what? Power, influence over a proud nation. He wanted them to go his way, and when they did not, he brought a terrible war upon them."


Kizár

Kizár shakes her head slowly, biting her lip. "I trust the Valar, if they sent the Wizards then they intended them to do good. But Maiar can go astray and be lost to darker forces - some evils known even in this time were such beings. I know not what sort of situation existed with the Wizard you encountered, he could have sought power for his own sake, or sought it for other reasons and the war came anyway." She shrugs and looks at Dwalin. "Neither do we know exactly why Gandalf would set us on this path, only that if we are wary this early, we may avoid being the goat set to lure the bear."


Kíli

Dwalin looks at her, and there is an odd expression in his eyes. "He may still have thought he worked for the light... to break the East away from the darkness. Only... only he tried to force a proud nation down its way. He was the reason for the war, he shaped that boy Prince into the man to take the throne against his brother... and he left him to die, when we finally stormed the capital." The huge warrior's shoulders slump a little, there is a sudden sadness in his eyes. "I am sorry, Kizár, I did not mean to sound harsh. Though I've seen too much to still trust the light, or those who proclaim to serve it."


Kizár

Kizár nods, a slightly sad look on her face. "I know what it is to not trust all agents of the Light. Too much of history is written by those who either knew not enough, or tailored their words to their opinions, and when I come across tales I was there to see... and to see how they speak of them-" Her voice breaks off with a momentary sob. "No one ever speaks of my sister as if she were a living person, but the tales of the war, and deaths that were had because of her-"

She takes a moment to calm herself. "Those histories are the thoughts and opinions of those who call themselves 'Light', but my trust in their intentions are greatly marred by the simple truth that I know, and they seem not to."


Kíli

Kíli reaches for Kizár, wrapping his arms and mind around her, to hold her close. This topic has upset her deeply and while he does not know how, he wants to protect her, shield her. "Shh..." he whispers softly. "we will never allow something like that to happen to you, Stone-Sister."

Dwalin has risen, stepping up to them both. It takes a bit of focus for him to respect her astral form, as he wraps his strong arms around them both. "I know, lass," he says in his deep grumble voice. "they never care for those, who have to take the blows, who have to live through it all... and while this old warrior does not know how to help your sister, maybe I can help protect you."


Kizár

There's a small pained laugh. "You cannot help Lossanárë now, she is beyond anyone's reach except perhaps the Valar. Even if we are separated, I do trust the one who bears her, since I was told he cares for her and treats her well." Kizár Leans into Dwalin's hold a bit. "I worry more for here and now. What will happen on this quest. I have a family after a long time lost and alone, and I do not want to lose it."


Kíli

Lossanárë... that name sounds elven, that much Kíli can hear at once. Something strikes him odd about her choice of words, and it makes him feel all the more protective of his chosen sister. "Your elven family?" he asks gently, not letting go of her. "maybe... maybe, if we somehow survive the dragon, we can try and find them?" Elves live forever, they might not be dead yet.

Dwalin looks at them and his heart hurts. A young Prince of Durin's House and his sister, afraid, alone... and in a world that grew all the darker since the waning days of the great dwarrow realms. "There is ways to tackle dragons, Kíli..." he grumbles. "it's tough but it can be done. But we... we will need to Thorin to listen to strategy when the time comes." His heart shivers, remembering the battle of the Firelands, remembering the black dragon... but then, he faced that beast for a foreign Prince... he will not shy away from a worse one, if it protects Durin's line.


Kizár

While she nods to Kíli's word, though Dwalin's draw her attention. "I know I will help, I have had... some encounters with dragons before, and I also know some degree of their strengths and weaknesses." Melkor never did stop trying to make sure his works were better, the winged dragons were example of exactly that, an improvement on the ground-bound monsters like Glaurung.


Kíli

Dwalin gently touches the lass' shining hair. "There are ways to fight them... you stick to Kíli, have an eye on him, and we will make sure you are safe."


Kizár

"I will Dwalin, though if you ever what the White Fire of Valinor..." Kizár shrugs demurely. "But I will protect Kíli, and you make sure you stay safe as well. No putting yourself right in the way of the wyrm's flame."


Kíli

Kíli can hear the hint, the hint that his sister is more powerful than she shows, but he sees that Dwalin chooses to ignore it. Not because is wants to ignore her, but to keep her safe. "We do this together." he says. "We help each other... and maybe we can see this through."


Kizár

"We will," Kizár replies, with a hug for Kíli. "We will."

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