~*~ I'm not ashamed to say this is my favorite chapter so far, cause I'm horribly in love with Ori and Dwalin as a pairing. Ori was surprisingly hard to write for, but still fun.
Warnings: To quote my beta, this fic is "endearingly friggin adorable" so consider yourself warned.
Musical Muse: My LotR Playlist
Disclaimer: Not Jackson, not Tolkien, not adorable Adam Brown or glorious Graham McTavish. Damnit.
My usual love, adoration, and occasional inappropriate grope to my beta Kat.

~*~Ori's Nightmares~*~

Ori, as was becoming alarmingly usual for him, was stuck in a rather uncomfortable dilemma. He was tired – dreadfully so – but he had no idea as to where he should sleep.

During the mix-up in the horrible goblin caves, they had lost most of their supplies, and quite a few weapons ended up with the wrong wielder. While the hunters of the group had them well supplied with food, and most of the remaining weapons found their way back to their respective owners, there was little that could be done about the fact that nearly all their bedrolls and blankets had been lost. And they were still stuck in the frightfully cold mountains.

Thank Aüle, Ori's own journal, quill, and ink stone were left safely under his coat when the goblins had groped at him, as it was evident that they were not weapons…at least not to them.

The too-few number of bedrolls was a minor inconvenience at best – brothers and cousins bedded down with each other, sharing the blankets and body heat as best they could. Master Thorin, because he was King, and Mister Bilbo, because he had no kin, were fortunate enough to have their own blankets. Those who stood watch would sleep alone and pass along the blanket to the one who came to replace them.

As watchman, Ori rightfully should wake the next dwarf in the order, take that blanket, and fall asleep like he so dearly wanted to. But Master Thorin had taken his place, and he didn't know how long he planned to be out talking with their burglar. Ori was quite unsure if he should wake Master Dwalin or not. He didn't want to disturb the warrior needlessly. Really, what he wanted most was to crawl under that blanket with him.

Not…not because Master Dwalin is the one sleeping under it, he thought as a familiar blush crossed his face. No. He just wanted to sleep a night without waking up from bad dreams. And be warm. It certainly would be warm under the blanket with Mister Dwalin… but that certainly wasn't why he wanted it, no. Certainly not. He just wanted to get his rest in safety.

Ori knew that his trouble sleeping was a direct consequence of what they'd faced on this journey. At first he thought it would be easy enough, traveling along and doing his part while the warriors of the group did their part to protect them all. It had actually turned out that it was a bit more difficult than he had anticipated. Even after hearing Dori's constant fussing and Nori's tales of the terrors of the wild, he had assumed that they were making it all up and it wouldn't be as bad as all that. He wanted to have a story of his own, like the ones he read in all his books. As it turned out, those stories left out how uncomfortable traveling was and how close to death one constantly was. The worst part was, strongly guessed that he wouldn't be safe or comfortable again until they reached Beorn's house, and further after, when they took back the mountain.

Master Dwalin would protect him, he knew that for certain. Ever since the goblin caves, when grabby claws had ripped him from Dori's side, he'd had nightmares. Hands had gripped him too tight and touched him so uncomfortably, and he couldn't forget the voice of the Goblin King ordering his death. He'd never felt fear like he had in those moments, when he was struck with the realization that those things could have torn him apart, limb from limb, cut up into tiny pieces and Dori and Nori wouldn't have been able to save him. He still didn't feel safe, not in another cave where the floor could drop out from him at any second like it did last time.

A brief fragment of a dream surfaced in his mind as he considered the fabric-wrapped bodies lying on the cave floor. His dreams were always the sort where one cannot move or get away, and that just made it all the more worse. He could only lie helpless as skittering claws and horrible faces like he had never heard before passed before his eyes. He hated the feeling of being helpless, especially during those nightmares. And especially when the screaming began. The worst screams didn't come from the monsters in his mind, but always from the ones he cared about. Nori and Dori, of course, all the more horrible because he knew they were yelling at him to run, but of course he couldn't. Other voices too – his dear friends Fili and Kili, and Mister Baggins as well. He never dreamed of Master Dwalin crying out in pain, because that was simply too impossible for him to fathom. He hoped he never had to hear it.

None of Ori's thoughts were helping in his current situation. He knew he should go and sleep with his brothers. Of course he should, but…they had been quarreling earlier, as always happened if they were in each other's presence for longer than five minutes, it seemed. Ever since he was a wee child, Ori sought to avoid those types of situations, and putting himself in the middle of the two, even if it were just for sleep…well, more often or not he would become the focus of their bickering. Dori insisted upon him being a proper respectable dwarf. Nori constantly pushed for him to be free of Dori's fussing. Ori was only left confused.

If only I had thought to ask if he could bring in Mister Bilbo's blanket, he thought mournfully as he eyed Master Thorin's empty bedroll by Fili and Kili. He and the gentlehobbit were on fair terms – Ori would even go so far as to call it a friendship – and now that Master Bilbo had the King's company he wouldn't need his blanket, right? But no, he couldn't do that; that would be rude. He wouldn't dare take the King's blankets, even if he knew Master Thorin would not likely return. Fili and Kili would undoubtedly welcome him into their tangle of blanket, but he wouldn't want to disturb them. And they'd laugh at him, surely, if any nightmares came later in the night.

Perhaps…if he were to awaken Master Dwalin, and explain the situation…surely the elder dwarf would think no less of him for it. Master Dwalin would likely expect to be woken anyway, for his turn at watch, and maybe Master Thorin didn't actually intend to be outside for very long…

Ori was not very good at confrontation. He disliked bothering people, even over his own discomfort. Most of all, he did not wish to garner Master Dwalin's disproval in any way. He had returned the warrior's warhammer; though, it was more like Master Dwalin had yanked it from his hands when he landed in the pine next to him. He kept his distance, not wishing to say or do anything that would cause Master Dwalin to look down upon him. Perhaps it would be better to keep up his silent admiration, rather than risk disproval.

But, he realized as a tremendous yawn rocked him on his feet, he seemed to have no choice. He would awaken Master Dwalin, explain the situation, and hope he could then just curl up under the blanket, as he wished, and put this whole unpleasantness behind him.

Though, there was that whole issue regarding waking the older dwarf up…

After taking a minute or so to build up his courage, Ori knelt down beside Master Dwalin's blanket-covered form.

"Master Dwalin?" he whispered, reaching out a hesitant hand to rest his fingers on the markings coving Master Dwalin's arm. He ended up squeaking and falling back on his bum in an undignified manner when Master Dwalin shot up in a flash, metal-covered fist rising to strike at some imagined foe.

He actually sleeps in those! Ori never had a handle at the odd thoughts about random details that were forever crossing his mind, and even with his life potentially in danger it was still in full effect. He dimly wondered why he never noticed that the warrior slept in his knuckledusters, before he realized that Master Dwalin was staring at him with a befuddled expression. Well, he didn't appear angry yet…

"What is it laddie?" Master Dwalin asked as he unclenched his fist, rubbing at his face with it. His voice sleep-roughened and deep, and oh, that didn't help the situation at all. He began to push himself up with his muscle-bound arms, and Ori couldn't help but notice how loose his shirt was around the neck, and he really should stop focusing on those details and start focusing on his words. "Yer shift over already?" Master Dwalin roughly inquired as he automatically reached for his axe.

Ori pushed himself back to his knees, where he felt at least a bit more dignified. "Master Thorin took over my shift." He whispered. Master Dwalin gave him a puzzled look, and he hurried to continue. "I wasn't sure if I should wake you or not, because if he's not out there for long, but I wasn't sure, so I just-"

"Alright, alright, I hear ya." Ori shut up quickly, fingers twisting the hem of his jumper. He knew he had a problem with rambling, and it was particularly rude of him to do when Master Dwalin had just awoken. He watched miserably as Master Dwalin slumped back onto his bedroll with a thumb and a sigh. "If his royal stick-up-his-arse wants to stay up all night, let him. I could use more sleep."

Ori mouth opened when Master Dwalin's eyes slid closed, but he didn't say anything as he appeared to fall asleep again. He still wanted to rest so very badly, but Master Dwalin appeared to have a solid claim to the blanket he desired. Biting his lip, Ori was about to come to terms with going to his brothers when Dwalin started shuffling under the blankets. Ori watched uncertainly as the older dwarf shifted onto his side facing him, and scooted over enough to leave a good section of the blankets free. His broad arm patted the exposed area, but still Ori dawdled, quite unsure about sleeping so closely to the dwarf he admired so.

Clearly sensing his reluctance, the outstretched arm lifted the blankets, an obvious invitation. "Come on lad, get yer rest."

Ori took a deep breath, slightly disbelieving that Master Dwalin was willing to allow him to share his bedroll. The elder dwarf didn't appear to be jesting, but this act of kindness was certainly too good to be true. He was still waiting though, so Ori laid his notebook aside, and began struggling out of his boots.

"Leave them on, lad!" Master Dwalin barked, and Ori jumped slightly, hands snapping away from his boots. "Now get in here. You're letting the heat out." Ori was then swift to crawl under the blankets, and after some shuffling and twisting of limbs, he wound up on his side facing Master Dwalin. The top blanket settled over his shoulders, along with a rather warm and heavy arm.

Ori had shared beds before, of course, but only with kin, his brothers and cousins. During the trip, he'd had Fili and Kili fall asleep on him a few times – and he was almost certain they did it on purpose. But this…this couldn't compare to any of that. Master Dwalin was large and very warm, and he'd never felt this nervous about sleeping so close to someone else before. It was mildly troubling and yet very pleasant.

Ori remained tense while he watched Master Dwalin relax. He was unused to seeing any of the warriors in any situation besides charging into battle and standing as solid as a mountain, but here was the strongest of them all, lying calm and quiet. It was beautiful and amazing, and Ori couldn't calm his mind as he imagined drawing Master Dwalin like this, or better yet, being able to see him like this every night and morning. Silly thoughts…

The hand resting on his shoulder began rubbing, back and forth, calluses scraping against fabric. "Yer not sleeping lad," Master Dwalin commented quietly. The hand slipped lower, between the shoulder blades, and Ori was pushed even closer to his chest. Even more embarrassed, he shifted as best he could as Master Dwalin's arm settled over his shoulder again. This close, he could brush the fabric of the other's shirt with his beard if he wished. It really was quite comfortable.

"Um, it's just…" Master Dwalin was very warm indeed, Ori thought distractedly as he pushed his face against the other's chest. "It's just…I've been having nightmares, and I don't wanna wake you again…" The hand resumed its rubbing, and Ori felt eyelids begin to slip dangerously low.

"Don't worry about it lad." Master Dwalin muttered against the crown of his head. "We all get nightmares sometimes."

Well, in that case…I guess I'm all right, Ori thought as he finally relaxed. Sooner than he would have believed it, he felt the familiar black blanket of sleep settle over him, weighing him down with Master Dwalin's arm. He would be alright on this night. Master Dwalin would protect him.

~*~ Many thanks to all my readers. Hope you enjoyed!