The dwarrow-dam in the kitchen wasn't someone Ori had ever seen before. Nori had introduced her as a friend, but she seemed a little too pretty to be Nori's friend. That and her interest in the homework Ori was doing at the kitchen table seemed suspect.
"Let's go, Mith," Nori called as he passed the kitchen, heading back out the door.
"Do NOT get into any trouble with the guards today Nori or so help me I will disown you!" Dori yelled from somewhere further in the house.
"Actually, I want to hang out with this cutie and see what he's up to."
Ori blushed. She wasn't actually talking about him, was she?
"Mith," started Nori quietly, "I'd rather-"
"No it's okay Nori!" Ori cut in quickly. "I'm just working on the Old Texts given to me by my teacher, Balin!"
Sighing, Nori went into the kitchen to join the two. Letting his little brother around one of his accomplices was always a bad idea. He gently took the silver-haired dwarrow-dam to the side and whispered to her, "Let's go, now."
"Hmph. You're no fun today!" She turned back to Ori, braids swinging recklessly. "See you around, cutie!"
Ori stared as they left the kitchen.
"Why did you have to flirt with him?" Nori asked as soon as they were out of the house.
"He didn't seem to mind." Mith giggled. "It'll be good to get his heart broken early, then he doesn't have to worry about love until he's older."
"He's my brother. And besides, what do you know about love?"
"I know it keeps you awake at night thinking about the captain of the guard, what's his name again?" Dancing away from the punch sent her way, she laughed then began to inspect the shops they passed. "Where are we hitting today, Nori?"
"I was thinking, maybe the jeweler has some nice wares out on display."
They joined hands and strolled to the upper end of the city.
Dori came into the kitchen to check on Ori, only to find the young dwarrow doodling absentmindedly on his homework.
"What would Balin say if he saw this mess," he asked, making Ori jump.
"Oh! Sorry Dori, I didn't hear you."
"Do you know where your brother went? If I have to bail him out of jail again tonight I swear on granite that…"
As Dori began a long rant, Ori quickly shuffled his papers around until the drawing of Mith was hidden. He didn't need another lecture about how he needed to focus on his studies. Although technically he didn't even need to worry about his studies, he was one of Balin's top students, and that was good enough for him.
"What would you like for dinner?" Dori finished.
"That venison we had yesterday was good, maybe as a stew tonight?"
Dori gave the young dwarrow an appreciative smile. "Yes, that sounds lovely. Would you like some tea as you work?"
"Sure, Dori," Ori grinned up at his brother.
"My wife and I are looking for your absolute FINEST works, sir!" Nori said loudly to the dwarrow in the jewelry shop. Mith smiled and blushed, batting her eyelashes at the him.
"Dear, remember I just wanted something simple for the dinner-" she started, just as she had many times before
"Oh nonsense, darling! Only the best for you! I want to see your mithril chains!"
As Nori distracted the shopkeeper, Mith glanced around the shop. It was small, clean, and the perfect hit. She slipped her hand out of Nori's, winking at the shopkeeper, and strolled casually to a display of fine diamond beads. After a look back to make sure she wasn't being watched, she quickly pocketed several beads.
When she wandered back to Nori's side, he was demanding a lower price for a mithril necklace with a dainty diamond pendant. Finally it looked like the shopkeeper would go no lower, so Nori took up Mith's hand, turned on his heel, and stormed out of the shop.
"How many did you get?" he whispered as they headed down the street.
"Enough to feed you and me and a few others for a couple weeks. I'm keeping one though." She pulled out one of the beads, a small, mostly silver bead with two diamonds embeded on opposite sides.
"You know He won't be happy to hear that…"
"Don't worry Nori, I'm giving it away before He'll ever know."
"You aren't! Who's the lucky dwarrow?"
"Let's go back to your house and see, why don't we?" Mith laughed as Nori attempted to land another punch on her shoulder.
"If I find that bead in Ori's hair I will personally never do buisness with you again!"
Ori heard the front door open and close before Dori did. He excused himself from the kitchen to go see who was there. To his surprise, Nori was home early and had Mith right behind him.
"Hey, Ori. Go tell Dori I have a guest for dinner."
"Sure, Nori! Hi Mith."
As he turned to head back to the kitchen, Mith quietly said, "Hey, cutie."
Blushing to himself, Ori hurried in to give Dori the news.
Dori, to his credit, was very good at multiplying his dinner materials so that there would be enough stew for everyone. Mith engaged Ori in an indepth conversation about the Old Texts, which left Ori's heart beating wildly.
When Mith finally dismissed herself, it was dark outside and growing cold. Ori had gotten out his homework to show her what Balin had him working on. He saw her to the door, then smiled all the back into the kitchen, where he found on top of his homework, a single silver bead.