I am glad people are liking the story. So, here is another update.
This chapter is longer than the last ones and I think that might be a trend from here on out.
I don't own the Hobbit or any of the characters.
A few feet from the entrance to the ally way, Ori leaned his brother against a wall the best he could. He took note that Nori was quiet while being dragged and that bothered the young dwarf. However, his placement against the wall appeared to jolt his brother enough that he opened his eyes.
One of them was so swollen that it was nothing more than a squint while the other one only opened a little more then halfway. Ori looked into the face of his brother with pain in his eyes, as he could now see the state he was in. However, even through it, Nori gave him a small smirk. "Hey there, Kiddo," he spoke the phrase he said every time he came home.
The dwarfling could feel the wetness in the corner of his eyes. This was the first time Ori had seen his brother in over a year. He didn't even know that Nori was back in town. Fear started to race through the youngest as he imagined what could have happened if he and Dori decided not to go to the market. "Why did they do this to you?" he asked in what he hoped wasn't a whimper.
"Job hazard," Nori answered and tried to chuckle but it came out as a cough instead due to the pain in his ribs. Ori moved closer to him but Nori didn't notice this as he realized something was missing. "Where is Dori?" he asked in a soft and groaned tone. "I know I heard him. I was half expecting to wake up to his scowling face,"
Ori sat back on his feet and glanced to the ally way. "He's back there. I think he's talking to the guys who did this to you," he turned his attention back to his brother and lowered his eyes to the ground. "Though, I don't think I've ever seen him so angry before,"
Nori looked back toward the entrance to the ally and smirked. "Talking?… I doubt that," his voice was breathy and Ori looked at him in confusion. The youngest watched as his brother's expression changed. "Well, look who's back,"
Ori turned to see Dori at the exit of the ally where he paused without even looking at them. The youngest looked him over when he noticed how hard he was breathing. That's when he saw the red that stained oldest brother's hands, which were still curved into fists. Panic over took the dwarfling and he dashed over to his elder. "Dori, you're hurt! Your hands…" he began.
Dori looked down at his youngest brother, his brow still knitted from aggravation and adrenaline. "It's not my blood, Ori," he spoke with little emotion in his voice. The eldest lifted one of his now loosened hands and placed it on Ori's shoulder, moving him away from the ally. This was in hopes his brother wouldn't be curious to look down to see what he'd done. Ori, however, was in stunned silence at what he'd been told as they walked back to Nori.
The eldest brother stood over the middle child, looking down his nose at him. Nori turned to gaze back, looking directly in his eyes as best he could. "What did they want?" Dori questioned.
Nori smirked. "You didn't ask?"
Dori's eyes narrowed. "They wouldn't say,"
A breathy chuckle left Nori's lips, accompanied by a minor cough. "They thought I had some treasure horde of things I've stolen in the past," he coughed. "They wanted me to tell them where it was,"
"And do you have one?" Dori asked bluntly.
Nori was silent but his smirk remained on his face; one that could be interpreted as yes or no.
Dori huffed out a sigh and pinched be bridge of his nose. If this is what happened to him when he came home, what could he be getting into while he was out on the road?
There was silence between the brothers as Ori looked nervously from one to the other.
After a number of moments, Dori straightened himself up before leaning over and grasping Nori's left ear tightly. The middle brother had no time to react before his elder pulled his ear up and he had no choice but to follow.
"Ow ow ow ow," the thief spoke in protest as he was forced to walk on his own two feet through the pain his bruises inflicted on him. It was either that or possibly lose his ear to the iron grip of his brother.
Dori walked with purpose as he ignored all the cries, protests and curses his sibling dished out. Not once did he even lighten his grip as he walked him down the road.
Ori was hot on their heels, having to nearly run to keep up with the pace of the eldest. He shot sympathetic looks to Nori. "Dori, he's hurt, what are you doing?" he chimed.
"He may have been in the victim in this, but he still needs to be taught a lesson," Dori's stoic voice was heard.
"This is not a lesson," Nori spoke next. "This is abuse," another painful sound came from his throat as Dori gave a tug.
"You take care of yourself on the road, don't you? Why should I baby you when you get home?" there was a hint of disdain.
"You don't have to injure me more," but this plea went unanswered as the three of them continued to walk.
They drew some attention from those they passed and from the shops along the way. The sight itself must have been kind of startling. An adult dwarf dragging a young adult dwarf by the ear while a near adolescent dwarf attempted to keep pace with them, it was not exactly normal. Then again, these three brothers were not exactly a normal family.
That was chapter 3 and I hope that you enjoyed it.
Unfortunately, I do believe the updates will slow down after this because the previous ones were already written. I will try my best to not have too much time before the next one.