Thorin Oakenshield was not the kind to allow emotions to get the best of him. He was a logical man that always thought a plan through to make sure everything was perfect. His face was always set in a serious scowl and he never allowed anybody to see him any kind of feeling other than anger or annoyance.

That was why whenever he wanted to think about all of his life choices he left Dwalin watching the boys to be able to hide in the woods without worrying about his nephews.

He had only needed to leave the company twice in the whole journey, but he was sure that his trips would begin to increase. The company had yet to really find any real danger other than Gandalf's insane ideas, but Thorin knew that something was going to happen.

He didn't know what was going to happen, when or where it would take place, but he was sure that something was bound to go wrong. He had just argued with the wizard and Fili and Kili were tending to the ponies, but Thorin was really beginning to worry about something.

And he did not really understand what.


"Are you sure this is the way to go about this, Ori?" Kili asked the younger member of the company while they watched over the horses.

Ori nodded, convinced this really was the correct way to do it. He had gone over his thoughts many times since he had last met up with his two co-conspirators and he was extremely sure his initial plan really was the way to go. Neither Bofur nor Thorin could catch on to what they were doing before they had set them up together, neither could anyone else from the company.

"But... Dwalin's already started scolding us for corrupting you." Kili pouted, seated beside his older brother.

They both were leaning against a rather large tree trunk while Ori stood before them, hugging his notebook tight to his chest. This was the more personal one, the one filled with all annotations about Bofur along with his many personal thoughts.

Ori rolled his eyes at Kili's whine, "I thought you two were adventurers. I had no idea a scolding would stop you."

Fili huffed and crossed his arms, "We are not afraid of Dwalin, Young Ori." He said the younger's name in an almost mocking tone. "We are just... We don't really understand much when it comes to the matters of the heart. Wouldn't it be easier if we just, I don't know-"

"Pushed Thorin and Bofur together?" Kili gasped, suddenly jumping up with a mad glint in his eyes. "Yes, that is perfect brother! We put them in a predicament and that will make Bofur admit to his feelings for our uncle!"

Fili eyed Ori, wondering if that was a good idea, but the younger shook his head with a sigh. "That is a horrible idea, Kili. Bofur does not need to be pushed, he needs to be helped."

"But what's the difference?" Kili asked softly, but both his brother and Ori ignored him.

"Well, Ori, if you say this is the best way to go, I agree." Fili told him.

"Good. Now, I must tell you, Nori is beginning to suspect." Ori sighed, shuffling his feet slightly.

Kili gasped at him, "What do you mean? We haven't done anything, Ori, we swear! We've been laying low and picking up information like you told us!"

Fili shook his head but still looked at Ori with worried eyes. Ori nodded and sighed. "Well, he's always been suspicious of anyone that tries to befriend me. I think it's because he's my older brother, but... He doesn't suspect us doing anything with Bofur. He's just worried about all the time we have been spending together."

Kili nodded, sliding down to sit against the tree once more. "So... What does he think we are doing?"

Ori smiled softly, "I believe he thinks I have a crush on either one of you. Maybe he even thinks both."

Fili's cheeks reddened at his words while Kili's eyes widened, both incredibly surprised by the words from the younger dwarf. Ori actually chuckled at their reactions but still shook his head.

"You don't have to worry, you know. Nori's always had a creative imagination."

"But what if he tells Dori? Or worse yet, Dwalin?" Kili squeaked, clearly traumatized.

"Or even worse, Thorin?" Fili asked his brother then turned to Ori. "Do you have any idea what would happen if your uncle told our mother?"

Both brothers paled at the elder's words and Ori couldn't help but roll his eyes. "You do not have to worry about any of that. Nori may be a thief and a liar, but he is not going to break my trust. He would come to me for this before he even thought about telling Dori, much less Dwalin or Thorin."

Ori really didn't understand how these two dwarves- who were clearly overreacting- were actually older than him. He clearly was more mature than them, along with more organized, yet they had been born before him. The world was really odd sometimes.

"Would you two please calm down?" He asked seeing how they really had not been calmed by his words. "Nori is honest and trustworthy. He will not ruin the mission for us."

The brothers could only hope that Ori was telling them the truth.

It had taken the three of them a moment or two to notice their missing ponies. Then the Hobbit went to find them and... Well, things snowballed from there.

Fili and Kili now found themselves caught in sacks, rolling around to try and escape from the trolls, while Ori was tied up over a roasting fire. And, of course, Mr. Baggins telling the trolls the secret to cooking dwarves was skinning them hadn't really helped them or even calmed them, but once Thorin kicked Kili on the head the dwarves figured out what the hobbit was doing.

And now Kili and Fili stared, wide eyed and stunned, at Gandalf with new found respect while the other members of the Company helped the ones stuck over the fire.

"How did you know to that, Mr. Gandalf?" Kili asked, shock written all over his face.

Gandalf smiled in amusement at both brothers reactions to his magic but only winked at them. "A wizard just knows, boys."

To say they were mind blown by what they had just experienced would have been an understatement. They really had never seen magic before and this... Well, this was pretty amazing.

"Fili. Kili. Help get Ori and Bofur down." Thorin grunted at his nephews, not understanding just why they were reacting in such a manner.

Magic was magic. It wasn't too stunning.

But the boys still went and helped down Bofur, getting a smile from the toymaker. "Good thing Bilbo was smart enough to stall the trolls." Bofur remarked, stretching to relieve his back from the pain of being tied down to such a hard surface.

"Aye. I know." Fili agreed, then turned to help Ori down from where he was hanging.

Luckily for the three boys, Bofur thought that they were all paying attention to each other and the task at hand, so when he looked at Thorin with a worried gaze all three were able to see. And now that they had seen the look from Bofur himself Fili and Kili were sure of what they were plotting on doing.

"Ori, careful with your head!" Kili giggled as he cut the last rope, making Ori fall into Fili's waiting arms.

The younger dwarf only huffed at the rescue but still smiled gratefully. "Thank you for getting me down."

Fili wiggled his eyebrows at Ori after he noticed Nori looking their way but Ori just rolled his eyes. "Would you please let me go?"

And now Nori was heading their way with furrowed eyebrows. Fili quickly placed Ori down and started to whistle as if he was innocent while Kili began to help untie their friend.

Before he could reach the boys, though, Thorin called for Nori, Bofur, Gloin, and Bilbo to accompany him and Gandalf. This caused the three boys to smile as Nori glared at them, but they quickly ran before Nori could disregard Thorin's orders.

And once the small group had left, Ori smacked both Fili and Kili.

"You two are poking the wrong bear." Ori frowned but Kili couldn't help but smile.

"Your brother does look rather funny like that."

Fili rolled his eyes but shrugged in slight agreement. Ori rolled his eyes at both of them and walked away, heading towards Dori to make sure his brother wasn't too worried about him.


Ori was beginning to think that having allowed Fili and Kili to find out about his small plan was a mistake. Ever since he had told them about Nori's over protective streak they had been hugging and touching him whenever the elder was around, causing poor Ori much discomfort whenever left alone with his older brother.

But, at least they were able to find information he never would have been able to even dream of finding.

Bofur was eating more, at least. Maybe after the episode with the trolls he had figured out his own mortality and how useless it would be if he died before telling Thorin of his love. But he still didn't sing as much and the twinkle in his eyes had not returned.

Fortunately, though, after they were chased by orcs and saved by a funny looking wizard/hobbit creature, the company found itself in a 'safe' place. Thorin, of course, didn't like Rivendell, much like the older dwarves, but Fili, Kili, Ori, and Bilbo couldn't find much to hate about the place. Apart from the rabbit food, of course.

The first day was rather rocky with different cultures clashing once more but Ori didn't mind. And now they were able to relax a bit more before they went back to certain doom.

And Fili and Kili were really having fun pulling prank on unsuspecting elves. On more than one occasion they were caught and taken to Thorin or Dwalin, but they were never really scolded by their elders. If anything, their silence told them they should continue their small war against the elves.

"Okay, we must steal the magical comb from the evil dark Lord Elrond, Kili." Fili told his brother in a hushed tone, both lying on the floor, underneath a bench they had strategically placed in front of the Lord's room.

Kili nodded and smiled toothily. "To save Erebor?"

Fili nodded sagely. "To save Erebor." He answered and was just about to send Kili out on his mission.

But right as he was going to send out the order, Fili found himself being pulled out of his hiding place by a hand that had a tight grip on the collar of his coat.

"Hey, I know how to fight, you dirty tree- Oh, hey Nori." Fili chuckled slightly nervously as Nori quirked an eyebrow at him.

"I had no idea you shared your uncle's sentiments on the elves." Nori crossed his arms and Fili couldn't only shrug with a smile.

"Hey, Nori, we were doing something rather impo-" Kili began to say as he pulled himself from beneath the bench but Nori interrupted him.

"Ori is looking for you, Kili. Something about that drawing he promised you."

Kili squealed in delight, shaking Fili's shoulder. "He finally finished us, brother! I will go see and make sure it is perfect!"

With that Kili ran off without Fili, making the elder curse inwardly. He loved his brother dearly but sometimes he could be an outright idiot. And now he was left all alone with Nori... One of the scariest dwarves he had met aside from Dwalin.

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