Stone-verse: On The Way North.




After http://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1sll90d

Some talk about various things while traveling.

@Valandhir @Boromir_Aesir
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Kíli

The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the wide land as she made her long journey to the western seas. Kíli smiled at seeing the wide open land, the rolling hills with their sparse patches of woodland, with bushes and the high summer grass stretch before them. They were out of the Mountains and now approached Rhudaur from the Southeast. The land was lonely, wild and... home. Decades had passed since he had wandered these paths and still... he felt home the moment they had come out of the dark tunnel and crossed the foothills of the Misty Mountains.

The lay of the land was familiar, little had changed in the passage of the years. He pointed ahead towards the river. "Is the crossroads still a bad place to camp?" he asked Anvari, who kept with Elennárë like always.

Anvari nodded grimly. "Slaughter place - some people never learn and will consequently fall to the Orcs. It was like that in your day too?"

In your day... it made Kíli feel old. "Yes, a good few caravans were slaughtered there, the bones used to stick from ground wherever you looked. We used to camp in that tower ruin further up, easier to defend." He saw Anvari's agreeing nod, that confirmed the place was still considered safe.

Kíli sped up his pace to walk beside Boromir. "You will see the first outskirt of ancient Arnor tonight - an ancient watchtower, probably built as a station for their patrols, back when this was their borderland." He explained, while they walked on.


Boromir

Boromir listened with a slight smile of wonder as he scanned the landscape ahead. Since leaving the underground roads they had made quick passage across the plains of Dunland and he had seen some of remnants of the legendary Eregion. Elennárë had been a little unsettled, recognising the style in some of the sparse ruins they had passed, but now they were moving into the lands that had always been in Boromir's dreams and fancies.

"I heard you speak of it to Anvari, a defensible location still?" He responded. "I... know you have said the land is little more inhabited that what we have already passed, but I still cannot help but feel an eagerness to see it, even with it being only ruins."


Kíli

"The tower is where we will make camp tonight," Kíli replied with a tilting of his head, he knew that Boromir, like others in Gondor often had wondered about the fallen Northern Kingdom. Arnor was a legend to them, a legend that had indirectly also destroyed the last King of Gondor. "it is easily defended, well away from the crossroads down by the river and the Orcs do not like to go there - they believe it haunted, or cursed."


Boromir

"I will remain glad that orcs have their own superstitions as well, and if any make themselves known I have no issue with reinforcing those beliefs." He looked back at the rest of their party, seeing them all doing well, though he was sure they would be glad to rest soon as well.


Kíli

Kíli cast a glance at the group, Anvari was with Elennárë talking animatedly in elven, while Argáz and the rest of the warriors followed Frérin, listening to what he said about the land. There was curiosity about the foreign land there as well as honest respect. Some of them had hunted during the day, so things were good.

"Let's move ahead," Kíli suggested to Boromir. "check out the camp."


Boromir

Boromir nodded and they set off at a faster pace, moving ahead, ranging a little around the broken tower, checking the immediate environs. The tower had been build on a small hill, a common defensive choice, and should make it easy to see anything approaching. Even at night the land around did not offer a lot of cover, so sharp eyes would catch movement.


Kíli

Having checked for tracks and dangerous surrounding the tower, Kíli also checked the walls for signs, small things travelers would leave as a warning, explaining the Boromir in hushed tones about the way the wandering people left signs for each other, to warn of danger, or plague, or other things that were afoot. There was nothing here, only the ruin and the wind whispering in the grass.

"When we go further north, we might see a few more of the old places," he said eventually, when they were sure it was safe. "I hope I will not end up stealing half your night's rest again," he added, knowing this was a moment they were alone... and there had been little chance to ever talk about Kíli's or rather Askíl's nightly wakings. Sleeping close together had helped a good deal, but it had not entirely prevented Askíl from waking, even if he tried not to move, except when spotting danger.


Boromir

That brought out a wry laugh and Boromir shook his head. "It is no worse than the rest I might have on a scouting mission and often I do sleep better than I would. I do wonder how much rest you lose when he's awake, how much more tired you may be." Not that Boromir would stop Askíl, as he got a sense that Kíli's past incarnation appreciated his gentle affection.


Kíli

"It used to strain me, at first," Kíli replied, "back when I fled Erebor, and sometimes when I was attacked at night... my attackers met Askíl instead. Somehow I got used to it, it is much like the strain from the Spellforge, you get used to it after a while. Or maybe... maybe Askíl was the one who was used to that kind of exhaustion." he knew how strange that sounded, He may almost never have slip-ups while awake, only twice had that happened, once the dragon and once later, both times he had willingly allowed Askíl to come to the foreground, to act with the experience his soul seemed to carry. Still, talking of it sounded insane, and with any other than Boromir Kíli would have evaded the topic.


Boromir

"Given what tales I have heard about him, I would think he is used a hard life," Boromir said in a low voice, thinking about what his sister had told him about Askíl. "Still maybe having shelter will make our rest a bit easier, our last few nights have been... wary." In all honesty, Boromir felt like someone was watching them as they went, something Elennárë had also been feeling.


Kíli

"You too?" Kíli asked surprised. The feeling that something was haunting their steps had been there ever since they left the mountains, but he had wondered if he was seeing things, jumping at shadows. He stepped a bit closer to Boromir, so he could speak in a hush. "Do we wait until it makes it's move or try to lure it out by seemingly being careless?"


Boromir

"I would keep a wary eye but... Elennárë has said she's felt something similar, and recently as well." Boromir frowned as he thought about what his sister had told him about the talk she had with his father before they left Minas Tirith.


Kíli

"Why do I have the feeling that something she senses so keenly is nothing we can trap, kill and be done with it?" Kíli asked in a wry tone. Yet, he saw something in Boromir's expression... something that told him there was more. "You are worried... is Elennárë in danger?"


Boromir

"She has been shielding very strongly and I believe she knows how to deal with this as she knows how it works..." Boromir lowered his voice, "she believes it is a palantír, which would mean *someone* is watching, but according to what she has said, they cannot hear any sounds and cannot look into a shielded spirit."


Kíli

"A Palantír?" Kíli asked awed and surprised all in one. "But who...?" He frowned. "The Arnor stone was lost in the ice bay... it is too deep to be brought back up easily, so that one is out of the counting, the White Towers... unlikely, some of the other stones are lost..."


Boromir

"The only two it may be is the stone in Gondor or Orthanc, and given that it is the closer, I am more inclined to think Isengard, which means another Wizard who might decide to interfere." The idea that Saruman would consider their party worthy of watching as long as Boromir had been sensing it did not instill confidence in him.


Kíli

"Wizards," Kíli had a hard time not make a face, but to keep the loathing strictly to his voice. "that might mean trouble or more wizards before all this is over." he did not like the idea, because Boromir was the only one in their party who could be of any interest to the wizards, lest they had discovered Elennárë's identity and Kíli seriously hoped it was not so. "There is little we can do about them, though. Either they will show up, or not... for now we can only make camp and enjoy what rest we can have."


Boromir

"That is true, and if we face any problems from that direction, we would deal with it better when rested," Boromir agreed, putting an arm around Kíli's shoulders as they started to turn towards the tower. As he looked at their night's shelter he could see the other had arrived and were starting to set up camp within the ring of stones it walls offered.


Kíli

They set up camp inside the ring of stones, by now there was some routine, a pattern that had developed for them, also in those who stuck together more closely. While Argáz skinned the game his men had procured, Kíli went downhill to pull Whiteroot, the long winded roots looked not very appetizing, but packed into a flat ceramic form with a bit of water and cooked in the fire, they were quite tasty. Anvari and Frérin too had returned with edibles, and as the sun sank, they all had settled down in the various corners of the stone ring, eating and resting.

Kíli watched Anvari bringing Elennárë her dinner - he always did that. Kíli too balanced two bowls of foot back to the corner where Boromir had settled down.


Boromir

Boromir accepted the bowl Kíli brought, his eyes drifting back to watch how his sister behaved with Anvari for a few more moments. "They've grown close, haven't they?" he murmured between spoonfuls.


Kíli

"They have indeed," Kíli replied, between slowly eating some of the food. "Anvari has been seriously questioning me about living among Menfolk. He means to come back, as a fighter, if he cannot pass for a blacksmith, not that he'd have to worry on that side."


Boromir

Boromir thought over the prospect of having Anvari returning to the army when they return. How would they address it, considering he expected Darghûn would formally declare Frérin and Anvari as part of the royal family. "That would be something appreciated, whatever he can do. Also for what his presence does for her, I think he has helped her a great deal, just by being her friend."


Kíli

"I think Elennárë is good for Anvari as well," Kíli replied. "a friend, someone who won't question *what* he is, but simply accepts him for *who* he is. he may hide it well, but I know that attitude... that *never show weakness, never let them see things get to you* attitude. Elennárë made him open up."


Boromir

"Mmm..." Boromir wordlessly acknowledged. For a moment he stopped as a thought occurred to him. "How much fuss do you think it will cause in Minas Tirith to hear the suspected daughter of the Steward is being courted by a dwarf prince?" He kept his voice low, not wanting to cause the pair they were talking about embarrassment.


Kíli

"If said Prince came to Gondor to fight the Shadow... it would cause a little stir, but could mostly spun the right way, if the right tales about his brave father, the battle of Azanulbizar and so forth were strewn rightly." Kíli replied. "The main issues would be made by some of the noble houses who earn part of their wealth by trading with Erebor. Only... they'd have to treat carefully, for neither your father, nor many people in Gondor, stand for the kind of "Shame" that would be their only argument."


Boromir

"For that I am glad, I find myself less than happy knowing Gondor retains any connections to Erebor, though I know we cannot cut ties with them entirely. Just knowing we are not dependent on them is enough, despite those noble houses." There were a few things like that Boromir had come to see reason to distrust since meeting Kíli, some from Kíli's tales, a few from Elennárë as well.


Kíli

"The one thing that might be of real importance for Gondor Erebor does not have: steel. The mines there have gold, jewels of many kinds... but the only steel worth mentioning is probably not one Dáin deigns to care about. The entire deep mountain is a hoard of gold." There was a tremor in Kíli's voice as he spoke of the mountain and of the hoard, though he tried to contain it.


Boromir

Boromir heard the tremor in Kíli's voice as he spoke and rested a hand on his back, rubbing slowly. He knew from past tales that there was a dragon's hoard within those halls, a hoard Kíli had seen in person, and lost family because of. "It is an issue that we will face when it comes. For now we can simply be quietly happy those two have something going between them that does them good."


Kíli

Kíli smiled at Boromir, grateful for his presence. "As happy as I am to have found you," he replied, setting the half-empty bowl aside and placing a hand on Boromir's arm.


Boromir

Boromir put his own bowl aside and drew Kíli in closer to hold him in a loose hug. "I am glad to have fond you as well."


Kíli

Kíli returned the hug, leaning into the warm embrace for a moment, before pulling back to not occupy Boromir entirely. "We will find a way for your sister to be safe... and happy." he said, casting another glance over to her and Anvari. It is strange, but within the span of a year he found more family than he thought he might have again.


Boromir

"That she has been doing well in learning a measure of self defense is one step in that direction, and that we may have a chance to ally with her elder brother..." That was something that was both a little intimidating and hopeful that they might have the support of one so legendary.


Kíli

The thought of finding Maedhros was something where Kíli shared Boromir's awe and trepidation, but he also agreed that the elf would make a formidable ally. "He certainly would cause a stir, were he to come to the White City your people are well read," he observes. Somewhere deep down inside his mind, there is an impression, a sense of something he could not name in that regard. "Though he certainly gave the Shadow a fight that became legend."


Boromir

Boromir remained wordless for the moment, the simple idea of that legend becoming a real part of Gondor's war too great a thing to put into words. Instead he looked up into the night sky and caught the sight of a bright star over the looming slopes of the Misty Mountains. For a moment he looked Elennárë's way, seeing that she too was looking up at the bright star, Eärendil, or more aptly, her sister. He wondered for a moment if her connection with that sister was something he could share with her Elven brother. Perhaps he would ask her some time.


Kíli

Kíli's eyes followed Boromir's gaze up to the skies, the elven star had risen high in the night. Elennárë's sister looking at her from afar, vaguely he realized that Askíl too connected memories with this star... with it's first rising. The fleeting moment made Kíli reach for Boromir's hand, gently squeezing it.

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