[IC] Hobbit-LOTR: Quests, Curses, And Guardians { Angel & Polarize }

[kiiblade]

War. The words hit Kili like a wall of bricks. This wasn't at all how he envisioned Erebor -- he'd often fantasized aiding his uncle and brother defend their kingdom from Smaug and enemy orcs. Not the people of Laketown.
This could easily be avoided, if only Thorin would stay true to his word...but he wouldn't. He wouldn't listen to reason, nor would he give anyone a word in edgewise. Kin or not.

Troubled, Kili said nothing, and then his gaze rested upon their godmother from across the room. She had just turned to leave, as had Thorin, Bilbo, and a few other dwarves. Bilbo was doing his best to speak sense into the king, but Kili knew better. Bilbo would not get very far.

"I'm going to check on Delva, Fili." Kili looked to his brother, concerned for his well being. "Get some rest, alright? You've been on your feet all day...you must be exhausted." The youngest gave his shoulder a brief squeeze, and he promised not to confront Thorin again, if only to put Fili's mind at ease. This was by no means a lie -- Kili didn't have a desire to face Thorin. Not right now. He needed to seek Saeril's advice.

Kili made his way back towards the room, and he spotted Saeril up ahead. Quickening his pace, he fell into step alongside of her, peering up at her through his dark bangs. "You heard, didn't you?" Kili knew that she had; he could tell by the way she carried herself.

[AngelBites15]

With her elf ears, the she-elf heard it all. War. She knew that this would come, sooner or later. Thorin was under the spell of Dragon Sickness, and in most cases, the bearers of excessive amounts of gold may not see reality ever again; just like his grandfather. In this case, the dwarven King won't see reason, and she can already conclude that Kili's earlier task to attempt into reasoning with him, was unsuccessful. Thorin was getting worse by the minute; exactly what she feared...

Fili looked at his little brother with tiredness in his eyes, being apparent in expressing exhaustion from the endless search for the Arkenstone, and from stacking the crumbled rocks of stone to barricade the gate they were currently standing on. This was how far Thorin's corrupted wrath can go: endless labor. If the king wasn't this blind to the wellbeing of his kin, he would know the amount of abuse he was giving them. His own nephews, especially. Bags were underneath the blonde's eyes; his attempt to do the work for his brother apparently drained him, but he put up a good fight to stay on his feet. Like he always did when they were children. Figuring that he did put up a good one, a good rest was in order. Fili nodded to his suggestion, nonetheless, internally relieved that Kili won't do anything stupid while he rests.

Saeril was already walking down a stony corridor, until she heard the quickening footsteps of the youngest. Her cloak dragged behind her as she walked, and the dim lighting made her luminous eyes glow slightly. He was right to follow; this was an event that might end badly, and he was right to be in her good graces a day before it happened. The she-elf heard him ask of what she just overheard, and she responded with an exhale through her nose. "I did", she responded with a troubled voice, before making a turn around a corner; him continuing to follow, no doubt.

Before them, was the armory. While standing before it, she took a glance at him, standing next to her. "If tommorrow is to be our last stand, I can guess that you'll always follow me? Even into battle?", she asked him, wanting to know if he's willing to follow her down a path that may result in death.

[kiiblade]

Kili followed along after his godmother, keeping tentatively close while they continued down the long, dim hallway. The armory was cold, as was every room of the castle, but this room was full of weaponry and more armor than Kili had ever seen in his life. Awestruck by the sight of it all, he hurried towards a collection of swords and envied each one. They were finely crafted, each blade heavier than the next.
The excitement was short lived, however. As Saeril spoke, Kili sobered. War was upon them, and it was coming fast.

"Yes, of course," Kili answered her question without hesitation. Deep down, the possibility of death frightened him, but his loyalty to his kin remained strong. He would defend them with his last breath.
"I would follow you until the end...all of you...but..." He trailed off, brows furrowed. This troubled him greatly, even more than seeing his uncle's steady decline into madness. Losing the ones he cared about was perhaps his greatest fear of all.

"Delva...you don't have to do this." Kili reached for her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "This isn't your fault, and this isn't your fight...if, or when the war happens...you shouldn't have to be a part of it. I don't want to lose you."

[AngelBites15]

Saeril solemnly watched her youngest godson, and she was slightly surprised at the loyalty in his answer. Part of her was surprised, but she expected that through their bond, he would give it his all to protect his family. Same with his brother. He was right about the fear of losing his loved ones, and she most definitely felt the same. No doubt, she would...

That was when the she-elf remembered the runestone that he gave her, and the thought, combined with his reassurance, made their shared devotion for each other known. Didn't have to do this? She had to. Not her fight? "My fight, is with the enemies of Durin's Folk, Kili", she softly told him.

He didn't want to lose her...

That was the reason Saeril chose to fight in the first place. She didn't want to lose him either. Through the danger they've been through together, it was relevant, and she went far to risk her own life to spare his kin from fate. But, was this to be their fate? Their last fight? As much she didn't want to think about what lies ahead, the she-elf gently took hold of his hand, as well, and bent down to his five-foot height. With her free hand, Saeril took out the round talisman he gave her, and showed it to him in her palm.

"We will live to fight another day, young Durin. That, I promise you", she was certain.

[kiiblade]

Kili's burdens were great. His heart was weighed with grief, and he feared losing the ones dearest to him. Nothing was at all how it envisioned it to be. He found himself wondering how they would have made it this far with out Saeril's help. Without Saeril, he wouldn't be there. The poison from the arrow would have claimed the youngest Durin long ago.

Brows furrowed in thought, Kili remained silent until the runestone was presented to him. Saeril's words touched his heart, giving him hope where there was none to be found.
"And I promise to follow you," he kissed her forehead, placing his hand over the palm with the precious stone. "I will follow you matter what, Amralime." His godmother's bravery and steadiness never ceased to amaze him; they were faced with trials and with her help, they'd overcome each one. The war was to be their greatest trial.

"When this is all over...we will return to Ered Luin." Kili closed her hand over the runestone, making the promise to himself, and to her. "All of us."

[AngelBites15]

Saeril kept her gaze upon Kili while keeping her position to be at his eye level. His responses proved that he was willing to follow her, wherever she went, whenever. It did give her slight uncertainty for this, due to the secrets she's never got the will to admit. It only served as a reminder that she was a coward, but this was for the sake of her godsons. What she didn't know, was that Kili had a secret of his own...

With the affection he gave her, the she-elf never thought her inner strength would increase. She will participate in battle for Durin's Folk, and live to reunite with her Durin family; in this case, Thorin, Dis, Fili, Kili, and the rest of their brethren in Ered Luin. They were in this together. Like always. In response, Saeril gave a brave, fond smile to the youngest...

-------------------------

The next day, on the day of war, everyone had been preparing themselves for this one event that would either end in victory or defeat. Man, Elf, and Dwarf; all coming down to this one fight that might forever change Middle Earth. The armies of Man and Elf made their march towards the Lonely Mountain, led by Bard and Thranduil, who hoped that a certain Hobbit's plan would be effective to call off this war.

In Erebor, the dwarves have prepped themselves early at dawn to prepare themselves in defending their mountainous domain. The she-elf had her daggers and finger-cuffs sharpened and, upon discovery of Fili and Kili in the armory, earned herself a pair of laced gauntlets for her forearms. She also helped them train that early too, either solo, or against each other. It was a memory she will now keep.

In the armory, Saeril had been twirling her daggers over and over again, while her companions prepped themselves into better armor.