Boromir Aesir · @Boromir_Aesir
9th Sep 2015 from TwitLonger
Stone-verse: Meeting.
After (or concurrent to) http://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1sn5jka
Boromir and Kíli meet with Dwalin and others.
@Boromir_Aesir @Valandhir
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Kíli
Kíli dismounted about half a mile from the meeting place, it was a habit that he had learned in Gondor - never bring the sole means of retreat - the horse, too close to a situation that might go south. Easterlings and Haradrim alike were swift to take out enemy horses ere they went for a catch. Not that dwarves even thought of horses the same way.... but today the hiding the horses in a patch of forest, helped Kíli calm himself.
Down there, in the vale, in what had once been a dwarven settlement, Dwalin would wait. And some more dwarves if he read the tracks they had encountered near the white river crossing right. On the outside Kíli appeared as he should - wearing his armor, long hair braided and some tied back to not hinder him, the entire appearance of a dwarven warrior. Inside Kíli tried to calm himself, to not let old fears and new worries surface. Still... this was more than just running into some Erebor dwarves in the market of Minas Tirith.
This was Home. Everything in this land whispered of bygone days, and now he was about to confront his past - to meet up with Dwalin, and others, who had once known him. Who might know about... he pushed that thought away, forbidding himself to think of it. Turning around he saw Boromir had left his horse as well.
"They will be waiting, down in the old settlement." Kíli said, gesturing to the path leading down.
Boromir
Kíli was good at masking his feelings but Boromir could see as they approached the remnants of the abandoned village that he had his fair share of nervousness over this meeting. He felt he did not have a full understanding of how Kíli was feeling, but there was a sympathy that he felt, that Kíli might face hard words and even possible rejection.
He found himself scanning the old buildings ahead, trying to pick out possible lookout points. "Watcher on the left, though I would have been surprised if they did not have at least a couple more," he quietly observed, the movement he had spotted being subtle, to which he had to give credit for their talent at staying hidden.
Kíli
Boromir's steady presence was calming, as were his observations about the watchpost, his very being here helped Kíli more than he might put into words. "Another one on the roof of the old hammer mill, second building to the right," he replied as softly, that guard lay flat on the still standing beam of the roof, probably he had a crossbow trained at them. If the group had enough people to set guards like that, it meant there were at least a dozen dwarves here.
Taking a deep breath Kíli walked down the rest of the path, towards were he could see a fire burning in the old village square. He almost stumbled when he saw that there was at least twenty dwarves, sitting on various rocks, walls, and some close by the fire. His eyes went over the group, not recognizing at least a dozen of them - many looked younger than Kíli himself and eyeing him a bit strangely.
His heart began hammering against his ribs, if Dwalin had chosen to end him very publicly.... this would be the setting for it.
"Kíli?" A melodious voice came from the group by the fire where a dwarf jumped to his feet and for a moment Kíli felt like had stepped back into the past, because in spite of the years gone by, he recognized that hat...
"Bofur?" Ere he could say more, the other dwarf had reached him, to pull him into a big, powerful hug.
"Kíli... they said you were dead..." Bofur's voice cracked, words tumbling in rapid dwarven.
To the side of the square a warrior had stepped out of the shadow of a building and cleared his throat. He was tall for a dwarf, balding, and wore a black scale-mail armor, that stood out among the other dwarves. "I had not expected the lad to come so quietly..." the dwarf stated, eyeing Boromir. "not that he'd bring the Captain of Gondor along for the day."
Boromir
Boromir turned his full attention towards the dwarf who recognised him, studying him back. Tales had filtered through of Dwalin Bloodbane, the legend of the War of Succession, fighting on the side of Jadhur. That alone would have some in Gondor see him as an enemy straight away, but Boromir had heard enough from Kíli to know that it was only one side of Dwalin's full story.
"He came in hopes of finding family... and I came because I count myself as one he does call such." Boromir answered back, an underlying thought in his own mind that he would defend Kíli if his old family turned out to be traitorous.
Dwalin
Dwalin crossed his arms in front of his chest, looking unfazed at the man, who might have recognized him straight away - or maybe not. At least he'd recognized the type of armor he wore. "I am Dwalin, son of Fundin," he introduced himself, not offering any service at the end, though. They spoke among warriors here.
He had noticed the claim of "family" and he did wonder... if the Captain of Gondor knew what he just had said. He cast a glance over to Bofur, who had now been joined by Bifur, the old dwarven builder was deeply shaken, that much Dwalin could tell. "Family, friends... a few others," Dwalin replied to the indirect question. "his letter certainly came as a surprise."
Boromir
"I would imagine so, from what he has told me of what happened in his past," Boromir nodded in understanding. "There is more than just Kíli though, we came north for another group as well, who we are planning to escort south so they may resettle somewhere they can live good lives... some of those may be as much of a surprise as Kíli may be."
Boromir looked towards Kíli, wanting to leave the decision about how to speak of Thirán's people up to him.
Kíli
Kíli had gently freed himself from another embrace, turning around to Dwalin. He felt his throat tighten again, Dwalin had been an Uncle... a mentor... and before any further thoughts could come, he found himself in another bear-hug, that threatened to smash his shoulderblades. When Dwalin let go, the old warrior looked at him thoughtfully. "I've heard a few rumours about Dead Dwarves... mostly got them from Balin, before he... before he died. Heard some other stories from Bofur, he's kept me informed more than anyone." he said. "Not sure why, but he says that Dáin is a bit frantic when it comes to the Dead Dwarves. And that is not you, he's fretting on for a change."
Kíli picked up on the hint that Dwalin quite obviously was not living at Erebor, if he had to rely on Bofur's messages. "Dwalin... there were survivors, dwarves who were held captive in Moria." he said quietly, trying to find the words to explain... but he could see in Dwalin's expression that he caught on.
"Frérin?" The word was barely a whisper, when Dwalin spoke it. "He..." the voice choked, and Dwalin turned away for a moment, before having caught his composure. "Dari?" he asked.
"Dari... no. Frérin, yes." Kíli confirmed. "along with a group of others. Frérin has a son now... Anvari."
Boromir
"We found out about them late last autumn, when Frérin and Anvari traveled to Gondor following the trail of a dagger with Kíli's maker-mark on it," Boromir quietly added to explanation. "They had enlisted to help the army over the winter as smiths and requested assignment to Osgiliath, under Kíli's watch." Even now there was a streak of gladness knowing Kíli had his seemingly lost uncle back, not to mention the growing bond Anvari had with his sister.
Dwalin
Dwalin looked back and forth between them. "You're with Gondor now?" he asked, he had noticed the type of armor Kíli wore, the small things that screamed Gondor, but the very thought that Kíli was soldier of Gondor now... it made Dwalin's heart almost freeze.
"Gondor is my home now," Kíli said firmly, the answer had to come up and he would not hide it. Gondor had been his home for many a decade, accepting him as the dwarrow he was, even before Kíli had lost his heart to one of Gondor's sons. "as much as I have ties to the White Kingdom."
Now Dwalin's eyes widened, he knew stories of the hidden Kingdom and of their long silent alliance with the Númenoráns. The legacy of Tiórvi. But he also understood what Kíli had been saying, he was tied to both but more closely to Gondor. The mighty warrior sighed. "Alright. It will bring some howling and gnashing of teeth - but if you are with Gondor now, so are we. Bofur and Bifur are the leaders of those Erebor dwarves who never were happy with what Dáin claimed about your demise. Ragin, over there speaks for those from the Grey Mountains who feel the same way, and..." he looked up to one of the roofs. "Falki, come down here and don't hide like a rat in the rafters!"
A young dwarf with bright blond hair jumped from one of the ledges, slipping his crossbow on his back as he landed. "This is Falki," Dwalin introduced. "he's from the Reach..." He could see how Kíli had paled, there was a resemblance that could not be talked away, but Dwalin was surprised how well Kíli managed to hide all he felt behind a steely mask. He certainly had learned that down in the South.
"Any relation to Dári?" he asked directly, assessing, there was no hint on what he felt.
"Only the most unorthodox one," Falki replied with a shy smile. "and while I would never wish to presume anything... I think unorthodox is going to be the norm from now on, and let Dáin think of that what he wants."
Boromir
Boromir stayed quiet, politely nodding as the leaders of the various groups present were introduced, though Kíli's question to Falki made him study the blond dwarf a bit. He did wonder however how Falki would react to the last group that might join them, the two dwarves Elennárë had told him Anvari had mentioned traveled with the Elf she believed was her elder brother.
"Then if your people are willing, we have a party of warriors we came north with who are currently helping Frérin's people pack up their belongings, your people can meet up with them when they are ready to start south..." he looked Kíli's way as he tested the link with his sister, trying to assess where she might be now.
Kíli
Falki looked at the tall warrior - the Captain of Gondor as Dwalin had said - and then his eyes went back to Kíli. There was much that could be read into their behaviour, especially into the claim made earlier. "He is your bondmate?" he asked directly.
"Obsidian bond," Kíli replied, indicating that their bond was hidden for the time being.
Falkí nodded in acceptance, then looked at Boromir. "a good deal of my people is camped two days west from here," he said. "if Prince Frérin's people need any assistance in their moving, we can help."
"So can we." Bofur said almost at once.
Kíli could feel the tingle when Boromir reached for his sister - who might be with Anvari and who knew where.
Boromir
"I am sure that will help make the move easier all around," Boromir said with a tone indicating his relief. "I have a couple of matters I still need to see to while I am here in the north, but I am sure I will have those done soon." Meeting up with his sister before they headed back south was one of those, the other was that he still hoped to speak to Thorongil before he left, if the Dúnadan was in the region. Elennárë had expressed her thought that they should not totally dismiss the heir of Isildur and Boromir had come around to understand her reasoning.
Dwalin
"I will assist as well," Dwalin said, "though I'll be alternating between the groups. Many of these youngsters here have never much traveled above ground." There was affection in the warrior's voice. He had many questions and wanted to talk to Kíli... but not right now, when there were too many things to do.
Boromir
"I believe Argáz may be able to help them cope along the path, until we can return to the roads under the White Mountains again." Boromir turned to look over those Dwalin would be directing. It would be a substantial group, and if watching eyes had followed their trek north as they had suspected, they may not pass totally unmolested on the way back. He would have to wait and see though, and stay alert along the way.
Kíli
Dwalin inclined his head, turning to the groups that had risen from their places.
Kíli stepped closer to Boromir, knowing he could not have understood some of the rapid dwarven conversations he had with Bofur or the sign language conversation with Bifur. "There is a significant number of my people here..." he said slowly. "I think we will need to plan a lot when we go south."