So, after doing some more research, I figure out that book-canon Dwalin wasn't even born, when Smaug came, being 26 years younger than Thorin. For the sake of the story, I've decided to age him up, because I want him to remember Erebor, and to have grown up there for at least some part of his life. So right, he's still 190.


Travelling across the lands with his brothers was nothing new to Ori. His entire life so far had been travelling. Spending a few years in each city, taking whatever job they could get (though Dori never allowed Ori to work before he came of age), renting whichever rooms they could, sometimes sleeping all of them in one bed.

However, of all the places Ori had seen in his, admittedly short, life, the Shire was like none of them. Even in the darkness of the early-summer evening, Ori could see the lush green fields that spread as far as his eye could reach; he saw the homely holes in the hills, with smoke coming out from the chimney and a warm orange light gleaming from the windows.

When they left Ered Luin, they had no idea what to expect, even Ori with his vast knowledge had no idea what a Hobbit was, but somehow, the Shire wasn't anything like that they had thought it would be.

Neither was the Hobbit.

Bilbo Baggings was a kind-face, short, big-bellied male, with a disturbingly lack of a beard. Even as the Hobbit looked at them with disdain and rattled off about them ruining his home, Ori could see the kindness in his eyes. A trait not often seen in the eyes of his kinsmen. The fact that the Hobbit was merely yelling at them and complaining about them, and not throwing them out, when he clearly didn't wish for them to be there, was also a testament to his soft heart. Something Ori knew, that the others probably felt was a weakness, but that he very much liked about their host.

Inside the Hobbit Hole there was chaos. The good kind of chaos, that Ori was sure Mister Baggins was in no way used to, but that was so very home to the dwarves. Singing, drinking and feasting on good food. Contentment settled into each of the guest, filling the air around them, making even the socially awkward Ori feel at ease with his new companions.

Many of the dwarves knew each other from Ered Luin, and even before that. Although having been forced to become a nomad people, many of the dwarves of Erebor still kept a tight net between them, and the comradely tonight was a testament of that. Even Ori's eldest brother Dori seemed to know most of the people there, as he was currently speaking to the elder Balin, trying to get heard above them noise of the celebrating dwarves around him.

Ori didn't know most of the dwarves around him. Sure, he knew of a few of them. Mainly Kili and Fili, being that they were nearly the same age as he was, and had lived in Ered Luin for most of their life. He wasn't friend with them, they were of a higher rank than him, and had always seemed to have enough in their own company, but he had spoken to them a few times. Enough to know that they might be wild and a bit out of control, but they were still nice enough guys, which was all Ori needed to know.

He also knew of Gloin, who had a son some years younger than Ori, who always trailed after the princes with a large grin on his face and his fingers wrapped around a battle ax.

Balin and Dwalin, Ori was sure that everybody in the company knew. It had been Balin who had visited all the members before they were to leave the Blue Montains. He had come around a couple of times, informing them about the journey, and making them each sign a contract much similar to the one Bilbo would be signing later on. In his time with Balin, Ori found that he very much enjoyed the older dwarf, finding him interesting and kind.

Dwalin, on the other hand, didn't strike Ori as kind. The warrior often wore a stern expression on his face, toughened by years of hardship. He was an intimidating figure, who was well-known throughout the Blue Mountains as a fair and just guard, but also capable of being very frightening and cold-hearted.

Ori knew him through Nori's profession, which had often gotten the middle Ri into troubles with the guards. Whenever his brother had been caught, and needed bailing out the guards would visit the Ri household, to collect the fee. The times that Dwalin collected, he stood in the entrance of the house, arms crossed, patiently waiting as either Ori or Dori fetched the money.

Out of all the times Dwalin had visited their home, Ori had only ever witnessed the guard entering the home, and speaking anything but the fee amount, one time. Dori had been at work, taking extra shift in order to stretch his earnings enough to support three, and Ori had been left of his own, waiting for his middle brother to return home for dinner. When a knock came on the door, and he opened it to see Mister Dwalin standing there, a passive look on his face, all Ori could do was sigh.

"Again?"

The elder dwarf gave a curt nod and mumbled the price. Only 25 pieces this time, apparently the crime hadn't been too awful. Ori quickly scattered off, after inviting the other dwarf to step in – although he knew from experience that he wouldn't -, to find the gold. As he returned to the room, he was surprised to see that his invitation had been taken to heart, and Dwalin now stood in the room, arms behind his back, and door closed behind him.

"You alone?"

Ori nodded, not quite able to find his voice, rather stunned to see that Dwalin had actually stepped inside the house this time. It took him a moment or two before he got control over his tongue once again, stuttering out:

"Y-yes Mister Dwalin, my brother Dori will not be home for another few hours," he paused, fidgeting with the gold he held in his hand, "I was suppose to make dinner for Nori and

I," Ori inclined his head towards the food sitting on the table, and the two plates laid out.

Dwalin looked at him in silence for a moment, as if weighing his next words through his head before saying them.

"Nori will not be released before the morning."

Ori normally knew better than to argue with the guards, but he had truly been excited about spending the evening with Nori, who was rarely at the house anymore, due to his disagreements with Dori.

"Are you certain? I know he did wrong, but can you not make an exception Mister Dwalin?"

Dwalin shook his head, stepping closer to Ori, collecting the money from him, quickly stuffing them down the heavy leather wallet strapped around his middle.

"I am sorry lad, but we cannot bend the rules this time, the man he stole from, is from a higher class and would not see kindly to it. We've already claimed a lower bail than he approved."

Ori lowered his head, resigning to his situation. Letting out a sigh of frustration, he quickly thanked Mister Dwalin for the low bail, watching as Dwalin turned to leave. The idea of spending the night alone didn't sit well with him, and thinking quick he stepped forward, gripping onto the guard's larger arms.

"Will you not stay for dinner, Mister Dwalin? I've made far too much food, now that my brother will not be returning, and I do not wish to throw anything out."

Dwalin was clearly surprised by the request; his brows pulled together and mouth hanging slightly open. It didn't, however, take him too long to compose himself and give Ori a small smile.

"I would like that very much, lad."

Dwalin had spent the night there, left before Dori returned and came back with Nori the next day. The conversation had been scarce, and they had not spoken since. They moved in different circles, interlacing only through Nori, who had decided to leave Ered Luin for a few months after that. By then Ori and Dori had accepted to join the quest, dragging

Nori with them once he returned, and quickly left for the Shire.

Now however, Ori mused, Dwalin and he would have plenty of time getting to know each other, if the elder dwarf wished to. Ori could only hope that he did.