eachdraidh | second » video (memory)

[ The video starts to the image of a clearing in the midst of trees, in the distance a mountain range with snowy peaks frames the picture. At the centre of the shot, two men call to attention, or rather, two dwarves. One easily recognizable, with his dark hair and short beard, even without the white streaks or as many wrinkles counted on his face - it is Thorin. The other, perhaps an inch taller than him, hair lighter but by only a little, and a smile wide and easy on his face, looking younger though not by much.

The taller one aims, with a bow and arrow in hand, at a marking on a tree nearby. A second of silence, and he releases the arrow, sending it flying right past the tree. Thorin's mouth twitches into a smile, and he sounds most amused when he says. ]

You do understand you are meant to hit the centre of that mark.

[ The other dwarf, puffing his cheeks in a manner most childish, shrugs at Thorin as if this had been his plan all along. ] I know. This is just practice. I will be a master bowman in no time, you will see.

[ With that, he retrieves another arrow, stretches the bow once again. This time the arrow does land on the tree, though as far from the mark as one could possibly get. A soft chuckle is heard, and though on the video it is not seen, it is a clear sound from Thorin. ] You are terrible at this.

[ The last taunt to be exchanged, the taller dwarf all but shoves the bow onto Thorin's hands, then gestures dramatically at their impromptu target. ] Really? Well, let us see you do better if you can!

[ At first, Thorin does nothing but stare between his companion and the weapon in his hand. But then, with a resigned sigh of someone who is clearly used to this kind of thing from before, he takes the bow, pulls an arrow from the other's quiver and gets into position. A second, a deep breath, and when he releases, the arrow pierces right at the center of the mark.

A moment of silence passes, then finally the taller turns to the other, mouth still hanging open before he simply lifts his hands up in a shrug. ] ... you are the most infuriating brother I could ever have.

[ At that, Thorin's expression opens into a wide grin, and of all things, he laughs genuinely as he hands the bow back to his brother, resting a hand on his shoulder. ]

I will tell you this, little brother: all things worth having in life will come difficult to you. Were this easy, anyone could do it.

[ A smile soft still remains on his features as he squeezes both his brother's shoulders reassuringly, and finally that pout from earlier disappears, bright expression returning to the taller one. Then Thorin lets go and takes another step back, gesturing at the tree once more. ] As you said, this is practice.

[ With that, the tallest turns back to his practice, while Thorin looks on in silence for now - or until he misses the mark again, perhaps. ]

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[It feels vaguely wrong to watch this, a memory that Fíli doubts his uncle wants out there for anyone and everyone to see, for all that it is only a bittersweet glimpse of his younger days. Yet watch it he does, from beginning to end, something that he and Kíli often wondered, a question that skirted near-forbidden ground, now satisfied at last.

What was Uncle Frerin like?

Judging by the exchange that plays out on the locket, the uncle they never had the chance to know may have been Thorin's Kíli in some ways -- bright, carefree, stubbornly competitive. Had he seen battle before Azanulbizar? Was he a master bowman when he fell?

The locket sits on Fíli's palm afterwards, silent as he gazes down at it. His other hand lowers, only to land in a plate of cold food he tried to use to coax Kíli out from his room. Instead of any appropriate response, a splodge of a magic ink stain is the first thing sent Thorin's way.]

Maker--

[ Fíli's response comes, one he had expected along with Kíli's. He knows neither of them would pass on a broadcast made by Thorin, and he does not blame them for seeing it to its end once they started.

The answer from his older nephew, however, is an oddly short one, and without any logic as far as his own memory is concerned. So Thorin's response is both a confused and inquisitive one. ]

What do you mean.

[He might as well own up to watching that memory (and to the strange message sent), so he rethinks writing, switching to letting Thorin see his face, even if he probably looks uncharacteristically disheveled.]

The locket... [A pause.] I saw you and Uncle Frerin.

[ Despite the switch to video, Thorin opts for voice only instead. He would rather not show his face, even to his nephews, and to that end the locket's functions prove of some use.

Still, he does not know what to say to it. ]

I am aware of that. [ A second, and he shifts to a different topic for now. ] How is Kíli?

[Following Thorin's lead, Fíli responds in the same manner then. He doesn't question his uncle's choice, nor the abrupt change of subject; Thorin has his reasons.

It was a long time ago that he and Kíli last tried to press for something, anything more about their uncle's younger brother, but Fíli remembers those attempts, how they went.

The option to speak without seeing each other does make it easier to answer when Thorin asks after Kíli, although Fíli's reply comes after a few seconds or so, quiet.]

There's been no change. [Not for the better, in any case. I don't know what to do is a faint note in the words. He could break down Kíli's door, tear the walls to rubble, take his brother's star and cast it into the deepest lake he can find, but he knows Kíli best and yet he didn't see this coming.]

[ It is indeed a topic that for many years now has not been touched. Not even with Dís does he remember the last time he spoke of Frerin more than simply in passing, though perhaps it had been even before either of the brothers was born.

He knows too that aside from his name and the place and time of his death, neither Fíli nor Kíli know anything about him, though not by lack of asking. Thorin simply did not answer, but if pressured his reaction would be to respond all too roughly, ending any discussions then and there.

This broadcast may be the most they have learned about Frerin, in fact. And perhaps normally he would lose his temper, he would not even dignify their responses with one of his own, but it is done, it is not something he can simply hide or ignore. And both brothers are grown now, facing all this in a manner entirely different from other times before.

Yet unlike his brother, Fíli does not pose any more questions, and though Thorin would have answered them most likely, he is thankful he does not have to, at least for now. ]

We must let him rest. [ Thorin's own voice is tired, aching, of one who has seen this before, has watched all too closely and helplessly in his past. To see it happen to his youngest nephew is entirely unexpected, however, and all the more painful for it.

He too, that much is clear, does not know what to do. ] Perhaps we ought to take the stone from him, at least for now.

[Even with no facial expression to see, the pain in Thorin's voice is palpable. There are whispers of madness in their line, and while Fíli doesn't want to think it, the odd light that shone in Kíli's eyes when he spoke of his diamond has stayed an unsettling memory days afterward. If they take the accursed thing away, would it be enough? Would he be himself again?]

For now? There is no reason for us to keep any of them, Uncle.

[The stars had voices somehow, begging for help, yet what threat could the heavens face? Fíli would much rather have every single one back in the sky, or in the fairies' possession, or anywhere but near Kíli, even as he dreads what they might find in Kíli's eyes then.]

[ Fíli's words speak true, and yet, Thorin wonders. Hesitates. They could try to return it to the court, if that is even yet possible, but he is reluctant, not knowing why those stars are so important to them. Perhaps they hold some power, and he for one would rather find out what it is about them that gives them any value before willingly handing them over to the monarchs in this place.

But that does not mean that Kíli needs to keep his own star near him, and Thorin can easily find a place where to hide it - where to hide all of them, to be frank, and hope that is enough for Kíli to return to normal. As he had so hoped with his grandfather. ]

Perhaps not. But we cannot trust them to the monarchs without knowing what they want with them. [ A pause. ] We will hide them. Bury them, if we must.

Edited 2014-08-08 12:22 (UTC)

[A weight lifts from Fíli's heart at least enough for him to breathe a sigh on his end. They'll try this, a plan better than sitting around and knocking and waiting.

Admittedly, he agrees with his uncle. The gems can be hidden away and remain in that spot, but Thorin is right that it would be wiser to look into what this entire business with the stars even is -- why they sought protection, why the monarchs would be so insistent on having them relinquished.]

Thank you, Thorin.

[ He had counted on Fíli to understand once he explained it, and he is glad to see that he was not wrong. His response at first is no more than a single nod, but then he speaks up. ]

There is nothing to thank me for. He is my nephew, I wish for him to be safe. For the both of you.

[At that, Fíli falls silent, a distinct pause before he speaks again.]

We know. [He says it softly, an apology of sorts for doubting his uncle, for thinking him willing to abandon Kíli.

(He wonders now if Thorin perhaps sees too much of his own brother in his younger nephew, and if Thorin didn't fear another terrible loss.)

A cautious beat or two later, Fíli voices one thought he had.]

... He reminds me of Kíli -- Uncle Frerin.

[ No words are spoken for a while after the last remark, though there is no complete silence that would tell the conversation to be over. Some rustling, barely noticeable in the background as Thorin shifts from one position to another, a soft sigh masked under his breath.

He's not surprised. It takes no special kind of perceptiveness to see the similarities, all the more so Fíli who shares with Thorin the point of view as an older brother, a carer and protector. But that makes it hurt no less, to hear the words spoken so clearly as if out of his very own thoughts.

His voice wavers when he answers, sounding almost tiny for a change. ]

Yes, he does. Kíli grew up to be like his uncle in many ways.

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