Here is the next chapter of the story. This too is another short chapter.
Thank you to those who reviewed the story so far, it really makes me happy.
I don't own The Hobbit or any of it's characters.
Dori stood at the front of the ally way. He and Ori were passing by on their way to the market when he heard the sounds of a fight. At this time, he'd gotten the attention of the three dwarfs who surrounded a fourth. He recognized the one standing in front of the fourth as Gress, a stone carver from town. He then realized the other two were the twins Dovic and Davic, who both worked as movers of the stone that needed carving. The three were often seen together, the twin ginger dwarves almost acting like henchmen to Gress. The fourth, however, was difficult to see due to both the shadows of the ally and two of the dwarven group obscured him. In fact, Dori could have sworn that two had moved in ordered to keep him from seeing the fourth.
Gress stepped forward. "This is a private matter, it doesn't concern you," he commanded in a rather rude tone.
Dori raised a brow. Private matter? It looked more like they were beating some poor soul up in an ally way. What kind of self-respecting dwarf would be so cowardly?
His thoughts were interrupted when he heard Ori gasp from his place beside him. When the elder looked at the young dwarf, he noted the horror held in his eyes. "Brother," the adolescent dwarfling began with a panicked tone. "It's Nori! That's NORI!" his voice went up as he spoke their brother's name a second time.
Dori's head snapped back to the group in front of them. Bless Ori's keen eye for detail because at that moment a small amount of light managed to illuminate the fourth dwarf dimly. His eyes widened at the sight of his brother leaning against the wall. He could see a busted lip and a swollen eye but from the way Nori was keeled over, Dori knew it was worse then just that.
The older dwarf trembled; rage filling his body as he walked into the ally with Ori following behind. The steps Dori took was heavy and one might think the ground beneath each foot was cracking under the weight. "None of my business?" his voice was dripping with malice. "Get… away… from my brother,"
"I told you it's a private matter, w…we have business to discuss," Gress stood his ground, though it was easy to tell that his voice was less confident.
"You're business is with me now," was the response. Without taking his eyes off the black haired dwarf, Dori directed his voiced toward his youngest brother. "Ori, go get Nori and take him out of here,"
Ori glanced at the oldest before nodding. While these three intimidated him, the concern he had for his other brother was greater than his fear. He started toward his Nori.
Gress would have none of this interruption and he moved to push the young dwarf away from his victim. This action was never completed as he was shoved against the wall. In a speed that Ori never saw, Dori stopped the assailant in a display of force that was accompanied by a nauseating crack from the black haired dwarf. He gasped in pain as Dori's eyes grew thinner and his voice even harsher. "How badly do you want this to end that you'd try and attack my youngest brother too?"
This side of Dori was new to Ori as he looked at his brother. However, this shock vanished at the sound of a weak voice; "Dori?" it questioned. The youngest turned toward Nori and scrambled over to him, between the twins who were staring at the their detained boss.
Ori did his best to support his older brother, helping him off the ground. Nori moaned in pain at this movement, which upset Ori. Looking back at Dori, he saw that the eldest was looking at them. His expression told the youngest to leave the ally now. Dori didn't want him seeing what he was about to do. So, Ori obliged and he nearly dragged the injured Nori out of the ally way.
So, that's chapter 2. I will ashore you that the next chapter is longer than the first two.
It should be up sooner rather than later.