Chapter 7 is here. Only one final chapter to go before the end *sniffles*. Please, tell me what you thought of this chapter and of the 'unexpected surprise'.
Song: Chi Mi'n Geamhradh
By: Runrig
Remember to:
FAVORITE, FOLLOW & REVIEW!
From there, after his encounter with the cruel truth, Ori had only become stranger.
Ori hardly ate more than a mouthful or two, but when he did he requested the most unbelievable things. When offered portions of the company's normal meat-filled meals, Ori quietly refused and asked for something lighter, something greener like lettuce leaves or crisp green apples. Ori's stomach could hardly hold such heavy food and often threw it up when he tried, so he had taken to eating some of the same things Bifur favoured.
That was cause for alarm and worried Dori much, as it did everyone; Ori was very ill.
Beyond the cause of heavy food, Nori knew why Ori was throwing up and acting out of the ordinary, but still Dori did not. It didn't take a genius of carving stone and molding of gold to see. Dori was too wrapped up in his belief that Dwalin was at fault for Ori's illness, to see that it was actually he who drove Ori to sickness.
Dori did what he could; what he though would comfort Ori and make him well again, but Ori refused to even let words pass between them. It broke Dori's heart and boiled his blood.
Nori was the only one Ori let even remotely close to him, but even than Ori distanced and isolated himself more than he let himself be close.
It was the night before the company moved on to the waste – a large sum of land bared of all its once lush greens – and Gandalf had stayed with them. He felt the growing dread and dying bond becoming stronger in Ori and Dwalin alike, and knew he would be needed soon. He kept close watch on the two, getting a sense that there was something big on its way to befall them in the very near future.
He watched Ori closely as he quietly puffed his pipe. Ori sat upon a large root that grew out of the soil at the base of one of the trees. It was some feet away from the fire and the surrounding company. Nori and Dori sat to one side of the fire, but kept close to their youngest brother; Nori seeming to sit the closest.
Gandalf quietly turned his attention toward Dwalin to observe him for a moment as he had with Ori. Dwalin sat within the company, but he was not chatting away like the others. Now a days Dwalin seemed just as quiet as Ori and only spoke when necessary. Everyone knew why and at one point, was very quietly consulted by Thorin himself – his king and closest friend.
Dwalin held a mean look, as if he was grumpy from being woken to early from sleep. He was tinkering with his knuckle-dusters in the glow of the fire, but hardly with the care and respect he usually gave his weapons. He seemed bitter, but Gandalf knew better. Dwalin was suffering from a broken heart; a wound greater than that of any of the flesh. It would surely leave an un-healable scar if things were not put right once again.
Gandalf took the pipe out of his mouth and let the smoke drift past his lips. He got up and grasped his staff before casually changing his place of rest. Eyes where immediately drawn to him, and Bilbo's lips even parted to ask where he was strolling off too, but he decided to keep the question to himself when he noticed who it was Gandalf made to sit beside.
Dwalin even lifted his eyes from the battering of his knuckle-dusters at first; his eyes holding deep pain masked behind a vicious glare. But when his travelling eyes wandered to far ahead of Gandalf to see where the wizard was wandering, he quickly brought them back to his dusters and took up braking them down more than fixing them once again, though more aggressive than before. Dwalin could not bare setting eyes upon his precious one, his precious one lost to him forever.
Gandalf approached Ori and sat down beside him quietly after having placed his staff against the tree. Ori was staring at his feet; arms holding his knees to his chest. Though Ori never glanced up, he was aware of Gandalf's presence and he was glad for it. Ori needed a wise mind to tell his fears too.
Ori was aware of the sudden change upon his stomach over the last few… well over the time his world fell to black and white, and coming to terms with his greatest loss, it was the only concern Ori held for himself now.
Gandalf sat in quiet patience as he knew Ori had words to speak; knowing all along he would be needed by Ori most. Ori sniffled and wiped his running nose on the back of his hand. The skin around his eyes was puffy and red, indicating that the small Dwarf had been crying. It took a few moments for Ori to steady his voice long enough to say anything, but quickly and quietly worries came to light.
"I-I'm scared," Ori rasped in a quiet voice, not bothering to look up at Gandalf; he kept his stinging eyes locked on the toe of his boots and kept his arms ever locked around his knees. Gandalf eyed him for a moment before questioning Ori with care. "What of little one?" Gandalf spoke around the pipe between his lips.
Ori sniffled again long and hard, now at long last finally turning his blood-shot eyes to look at the wizard. "O-of this feeling," Ori took in a heavy pre-cry breath that was most un-hideable, but he gave a broken smile to weakly convince Gandalf that he was just being naive about worrying over a silly thing as feelings. Gandalf believed though it was more for Ori himself, as a way of tricking his heart. But the tears that slowly welled behind his eyes threatened to reveal that Ori truly didn't believe his own lie.
Heartbreak was a painful thing to suffer all its own, but add a dwarf's sense of finding 'the one' than tear that too away from them, it was equal to death by torture.
Gandalf gave Ori a gentle, sympathizing smile of his own. "In time the pain will die to a dull throb my lad, but a scar will certainly be left behind," Gandalf said that in the most sincerest way he could, and turned to look behind as he puffed his pipe again. Ori nodded his head weakly and laid his chin upon his knees as he sniffled again and wiped his runny nose with the back of his hand.
Gandalf felt terribly bad for the little Dwarf, and he knew more than he led on. Ori wasn't just frightened and hurt; there was something else that even Ori himself wasn't aware of.
The Company walked upon the waste now, the dreary weather making it difficult to recall it was the early morning. The day and the barren wasteland reflected perfectly how Ori felt.
Angry gray clouds swept across the sky with the promise of heavy down poor. An eerie fog rolled through the waste and lingered above the greenless surface of earth. The air was dry and frozen, biting at the company's faces and burning at their lungs. It was quiet all around, too quiet perhaps. The only sound was the scuffling of Dwarf boots against dry ground and the distant '"caw" of a crow; it uneased even the bravest among the company.
the company's story telling and cheerful song lifted Bilbo's spirit long enough for him to forget how much he missed home, even if it was just for a little while. But no one sang or told stories across the waste, they hardly even talked amongst themselves; making Bilbo wish he was home again more than ever. But Bilbo made a promise to Thorin and the company, and there was a far bigger problem among them now than him wishing to be home.
On that thought, Bilbo's eyes instinctively travelled to Ori dragging himself behind the company. He looked worn and weary, and his eyes where blood-shot and drowsy. But still he looked around him with caution and uneasiness just as the rest of them did.
Gandalf was at the front leading the company with Thorin. They all had their weapons out and kept their eyes about them as they walked through the thick mist slow and with caution.
Though fogbound, the company could see the remains of many corpses peeking up through the fog. Some could even see the debris of broken weapons and rusted shields partly fossilized in the earth, telling of a long forgotten battle there up the waste.
Gandalf had made it clear that they should travel here unspoken and soundless; less they draw attention to themselves. Though the waste was abandoned, Gandalf knew there where eyes about and to engage in battle here would be a great misfortune; the bones that rest here where of good natured solders, but unfortunately their side had not seen victory. Even without Gandalf's warning, the company would not have said a peep at laying eyes upon this land.
The first quarter of their journey through the waste went quickly, quietly and undisturbed by anything, but upon crossing halfway, the company had drawn more attention than they liked. Their first encounter was a crow, plump and deep black; swooping swift and quickly down upon the Dwarves' heads, before perching on a thin branch of one of the many burnt and crumbled trees. It startled the group, causing some to gasp and all to duck in defence. The crow was a bad omen, but to see on here was not to big of a surprise to the Dwarves.
Many of the Dwarves cursed the blasted bird as they continued; keeping their eyes pealed on it in case it tried anything again. It ruffled its feathers and 'cawed' at the company loudly, swivelling its head from side to side and watched the Dwarves closely with its beady little eyes as it held a malicious smirk across its beak.
Several more crows came swooping in and perched on bare rocks and black limbs; ruffling their feathers, cawing loudly at the company and watching them closely just as the first had. But as the company ventured further across the waste, a few crows turned to many.
More and more flocked to them every second until the company was surrounded on every side. Every limb of every decaying tree in sight was nothing but a blur of black feathers; they were perched upon rock and even upon the skulls of the dead, pecking at the hard bone of the eye-sockets.
It was unnerving the way they watched each member of the company closely with a dead-stair and 'clacked' their beaks together, some all at the same time to create a bone chilling chant. The way their beady little eyes never blinked and their heads craned left, than right, than back again to see the Dwarves from different angles. The way the ones from their perches high would swoop low trying to claw and peck at their heads, while the ones bellow hopped quickly down from the sharp rocks and emerged from ribcages of the dead to peck and pull at Dwarven boots and ankles (hair toes, in Bilbo's case).
It had been a long since fresh meat had walked these parts.
As they even more cautiously wandered through the tunnel of murder, on Gandalf's advice whispered to Thorin, Thorin to Balin and through to the rest, the company kept tightly knitted together.
Ori was in the far back, slugging after the rest. His brothers were close by though and even closer when the murder surrounded them. Ori's mind was too tired and numb to think of moving closer to his brothers or the company for safety even in the frightened state the crows put him in.
Watching the crows all around him as he passed, Ori finally became aware of both his brothers standing protectively at his side and for the first time acknowledged Dori's words when he whispered for him to stay close; he even responded with a nod.
But even with both his brothers beside him, Ori didn't feel much safer. Realising how cold it really was, Ori rubbed his arms for a little bit of warmth and instinctively looked in Dwalin's direction. Dwalin was the only one who could really make him feel safe and Ori was the only one who knew how warm Dwalin was. But Ori lowered his eyes and his sudden hope, remembering again that their bond had broken and Dwalin had bigger problems trying to kick off the crow pecking at his leg than holding him close and keeping him safe.
Ori slipped his arms around himself and squeezed his own body tightly; he had never felt more alone than in this moment.
Just as the company thought they could see the clearing end of the black hoard, and their thoughts that it could not get any worse among them dim at the sight, familiar ferocious howls were heard in the distance. The howls and pounding of running paws was so loud and gargantuan even in the distance, that it caused the mass murder of crows to fright and flight quickly. Thorin froze and under his breath spoke "Wargs", before turning quickly to alert his company of what danger was about to befall them, "Warg scouts and Orc riders!"
Panic fell upon the company but they all fell into fighting formation and readied for an attack. The Wargs and Orcs came from all sides, and they came swiftly. There was no time for them to think; it was pure adrenaline and instinct to survive.
There had to be at least more than a dozen Wargs and Orcs; two or more surrounding each member of the company, and attacked them on all sides. The company stayed as close together to protect each others backs, but the Wargs and Orcs tactic was to split them apart and make them vulnerable.
It proved to be a successful tactic for some, but those tended to be the strongest among the company. Bilbo, like the rest, had his faithful sting drawn and ready, but Gandalf had come to his side and pushed him closer to Ori's. Bofur also came to Bilbo's and Ori's side to see that they remained protected, as Dori and Nori where almost on top of Ori on the other side to protect him as well.
Though he knew their bond had burned, Dwalin instinctively kept close to Ori also; Ori was in no condition to protect himself. However that would not last long.
The Wargs bound at them, jaws snapping at their flesh viciously as the riding Orcs swiped down at them with their rusted weapons.
Fili and Kili where separated from the group, being pushed away by attacking Wargs and Orcs at their front and sides. But the two would not be separated from each other; staying close always and fighting back to back.
Thorin had already been singled out and surrounded, but as one Warg attacked from the front, getting its snout sliced deeply, another attacked from Thorin's side, but suffered an even deadlier wound. Its ears and top skull were cleaved off in one swift motion; falling to the ground hard, giving Thorin the chance to slice the rider upon its back.
Gloin held his own no problem, as did his brother Oin; making quick work of the Wargs and Orcs, slashing their legs from under them before crushing their skulls as the fatal blow.
Bifur had completely gone berserk, going after the Wargs and Orcs even before they went to approach him. And Bombur was doing well himself in combat; though any Dwarf was a force to be reckoned with. Bombur took out one Warg and its rider at a time. He propelled an on coming Warg back with his large stomach so he could turne and strike another down, before clobbering the one who quickly came for him again over the head with his heavy ladle.
Balin was close by Thorin's side, helping protect his King's back and getting the same protection in return.
A Warg and Orc that had jumped at Nori and Dori's side where struck in the throat and chest. Nori had used his knives to slash across the Warg's neck, cutting the fur and flesh, before driving his knives through and down to the bone. The Warg howled in pain and collapsed at their feet, giving Dori time to swing his pronged weapon at the Orc's chest, knocking it to the ground and finishing it off with another blow to the chest, hearing the bones shattering under his weapon.
Beside them, Gandalf was swinging Glamdring down upon another Warg and Orc attacker with Bofur's help, by taking the Warg's legs out from under it with his hammer. Bilbo did what he could too, slashing at any Warg or Orc that managed to get passed Gandalf or the Dwarves.
Ori on the other hand was lost. Ori wasn't sure what to think; he could hardly focus on anything. The howls and clashing of metal on metal made Ori's head spin. It made his ears ring to the point he had closed his eyes and went to cover them. But before Ori could, his eyes snapped open and held wide, a sudden gasp coming from his lips. Ori's body was frozen before he felt a sharp pain rack deep to his bones.
Suddenly Ori hunched over and tightly clung to his lower stomach. His face was distorted in pain; brows furrowed deeply, jaw clenched, and his eyes squeezed shit as tightly as possible. Ori had no idea what was happening to him and he became scared. It was true Ori had been doing abnormal things and that he had not been well since Dwalin abandoned him, but never had he felt pain like this; it had not occurred until now.
Splitting pain shot through Ori again, but this time it was worse and Ori cried out. The sound rang through the waste, catching everyones attention. They all turned, only to catch a glimpse of Ori toppling over. Dori was sift enough to catch Ori before he dropped and looked at in him horror.
Nori was looking over as well, but turned back just in time to strike down another on coming Warg. "Whats wrong with him?" Nori called out without looking back again; just as concerned for his younger brother. Dori looked, but he could not see any injury. "I don't know!" Bilbo had come to Ori's side on instinct to help, looking over Ori as well but not finding any injury either. He instantly looked at Gandalf and called for him.
Gandalf was finishing off an Orc rider when he heard Ori's cry of pain and instantly, upon looking at the poor youngling hunched over holding his stomach, he knew what Ori was going through. That extra something Gandalf could not have placed before, this was it.
"Lay him down, quickly!" Gandalf urged, waving his hand at Dori and Bilbo to take Ori some place out of harms way. Dori looked at Gandalf with fear, but did as the wizard said and grabbed hold of one of Ori's arms while Bilbo grabbed the other. "This way!" Gandalf waved them to follow him and led them away.
Ori cried out again as pain shot through his entire body and made his stomach clench tightly. "Gandalf!" Dori cried out himself as he and Bilbo dragged Ori. "Lay him here," Gandalf informed Dori and Bilbo, pointing with his staff at the base of a withered tree. "Quickly quickly!" He urged them on.
Dori and Bilbo carefully laid Ori down in the spot Gandalf told them to and knelled by his side. "Oin!" Gandalf called to the only Dwarf whom specialized in the field. "You are needed here! Make haste!" Oin heard the wizard and knew he was needed, even before the wizard had called to him. He just had to fight his way passed the still attacking Wargs and Orcs.
he was assisted by Gloin and Bifur who cleared a path so he could quickly make it to where he was needed, and quickly he did come. "Can you help him?" Dori questioned. "Perhaps, once I know the problem," Oin said as he threw his pack down and kneeled at Ori's feet. Ori whimpered and groaned, rolling around with his hands still clutching his contracting stomach.
Oin rolled out his tools and was preparing to test Ori for things that might be causing him pain, but Gandalf stopped him. "There is no time! You must remove his breeches and prepare to deliver a baby!" That shocked them all and they all looked at Gandalf with dumbfounded looks, save for Dori who was the first to speak. "A baby?!" Dori looked angrier than shocked, but disbelieving too. "He is not having a baby!" Dori tried to argue, but Gandalf spoke firm and demanding. "He is! Now do as I say and deliver it!" Gandalf had a look on his face that dared any of them to argue again and none of them did.
Ori's problem was exclaimed loud enough that the entire company had heard it, but most did not have time to dwell on the thought. They still had Wargs and Orcs to fight.
Nori was struck with shock and looked at Ori where he lay, becoming distracted as he processed the thought in his mind. And suddenly all of Ori's strange actions became clear. Nori was cut from his thoughts upon hearing a snarl and he turned in time to dodge the jaws of a Warg. However, the same could not be said for Dwalin.
Dwalin was the most shocked out of all of them and upon hearing Ori was giving birth, Dwalin became distracted. He immediately had turned his attention to where Ori lay and lowered his guard. That was a big mistake on his part, for as he did a Warg and rider saw an easy kill.
Oin found it difficult to believe it was labour pains Ori was going through. It was not abnormal for some male Dwarves to become pregnant, but Ori did not even show a Dwarrow bump. The wizard though was wise and Oin trusted in that wisdom, so he had done what Gandalf had told him too.
The Warg barrelled toward Dwalin and jumped him without hesitation. It took Dwalin to the ground and pinned him there. That moment Dwalin was back in his right mind, and as the Warg above came to take a bit out of his face, Dwalin caught both its jaws just inches away from his flesh.
Oin had removed all layers on Ori's lower half and had bundled a pack under his head. Ori cringed and gasped; clenching his teeth and throwing his head back in pain. Oin had propped Ori's legs up on two hefty rocks found near by and spread Ori's cheeks. The concept of giving birth was quite the same for a male Dwarf as it was for a female, though of course it had its own unique differences.
Dwalin clenched his jaw together as his arm muscles strained to hold the Warg back, but the Warg snarled and pushed back, also straining itself.
Ori had begun to pant and his body had willingly begun to push on its own. Oin had checked Ori's dilation, and it was very clear Ori was truly having a baby. He was far over dilated and there was nothing stopping this baby from coming. Oin ordered both Bilbo and Dori to help him, and they did. Bilbo was ordered to wet a cloth from his pack and wipe the sweat from Ori's brow and face, while Dori was ordered to be his extra set of hands.
Dwalin breathed out and turned his head away with a look of absolute disgust. "You stink!" Dwalin insulted, the Warg getting the upper hand for a moment and getting its fangs closer to his face.
Bilbo held tightly to Ori's hand and wiped the accumulating sweat that was ever forming on Ori's forehead and face. Oin and Dori where between Ori's legs, ready for the baby.
Dollops of the Wargs saliva dripped into Dwalin's face and he cringed. Dwalin pushed against the Wargs jaws with all his strength, but his muscles were too strained and his arms buckled, giving way a little and letting the Wargs dull but large fangs graze his face.
Oin had a cloth ready for when the baby came and Dori had extras for the clean up. "Now Ori lad, you must focus on your breathing and push when I say," Oin instructed. Ori barely even heard him though, he was in so much pain and he wasnt fully comprehending what was happening to him. It frightened him to death and all he wished was to have Dwalin by his side. Along with the pain, Ori did feel like pushing and so nodded in understanding.
"Alright lad, ready?" Oin asked and Ori nodded again. "Alright, take a deep breath and… push!" And Ori did just that. Ori clenched his jaw and pushed with all his might. His face went beet-red and he hunched forward as he tried to push harder. "Ahhhh!" Ori let out a wail of pain and gripped Bilbo's hand before falling back exhausted. Ori could not push any more and panted hard; Bilbo wiping his forehead and whispering encouraging words to Ori. This was the first time Bilbo had ever witnessed a male of any race giving birth, and Bilbo had never seen anything quite like it.
Dwalin's head was practically in the Wargs mouth and the Warg pushed harder still. Dwalin growled and clenched his teeth, sweating and going red in the face as he tried to push the Warg back. But no matter how he strained, Dwalin could not do so. Dwalin had a sudden thought that this was it, this was his honourable end. But than a sudden cry of pain rang in his ears and Dwalin recognised it as Ori's.
"You did well laddy, you did well," Oin praised Ori. "Now one more time on my count - 1-2-3, PUSH!" Though Ori did not feel he had the strength to go on, Ori hunched forward and pushed again with all his might. The pushing did not last long this time before Ori was back to panting and lying back exhausted, but he did make an effort.
"Good, rest a few minutes lad," And Ori already was. Oin motioned for Dori to hand him a cloth and he did. Oin cleaned Ori's opening of the blood and other secretions and checked it a moment. The hole was extremely stretched and Oin could even make out the top of the babies head. Oin nodded to himself; it was time to push again.
It was like the scream had given Dwalin the strength he needed, for he suddenly got a look of malice upon his face and his veins burned with a new fire. Dwalin growled louder and fiercer than he ever had. "You should really learn to keep your mouth shut!?" Dwalin pushed against the jaws of the Warg viciously and pulled them apart with all the strength he possessed. He split the Wargs jaws apart, throwing it to the side and off himself.
Ori pushed and pushed with all his might, crying out and squeezing Bilbo's hand. Ori had never felt such pain in his life; it was like an Orc blade was being plunged deep into his body and cutting up his insides. Ori wanted it to be over, so upon hearing Oin saying that the baby was coming and that it was almost out, Ori pushed his body to its absolute limit. He pushed so hard his body shook and tears fell from the sides of his eyes; his face was blood-red and he risked passing out from the strain.
That scream had reminded him that Ori was still there and in pain, and Dwalin wanted to be at his side to see him through it even though their bond was broken. It also reminded him that Ori was giving birth as he spoke and he knew the Dwarrowling was his own.
Ori gave one last cry, the loudest he could give before throwing himself back, gasping like he had just gotten the wind knocked out of him. Suddenly relief flooded Ori's body and it suddenly no longer hurt.
While Ori was giving birth with the help of Bilbo, Dori and Oin, the other company dealt with the remaining threat and soon one by one they came too crowed around Ori. Nori was the first one there and he kneeled next to his older brother. Fili and Kili where second, followed by Bofur. Than came Gloin, with Bifur and Bombur closely behind. Than, Thorin and Balin. They had made it for the last and final push that brought the Dwarrow into the world.
Upon the sight of the small body slipping out and into Oin's awaiting hands, covered in blood and goop, Dori's eyes went wide and his face turned pale. He looked like he was going to faint, but Nori held his shoulder tight.
Oin asked Dori for his medical cutters and Nori had to nudge him to get him to snap too. Dori hastily fumbled for them and shakily handed them over. Oin secured the base of the umbilical cord before cutting it off nice and clean. He asked for a clean cloth after and this time Nori was the one who had to hand it to him; Dori seemed to freeze up again. Oin wiped off the blood and goo, and suddenly a baby's cry was heard.
The babies cry snapped Dori out of his statue-like demeanour and he was the first to lay his eyes on his niece. She was unlike anything he had ever seen; she was perfect.
SURPRISE!
Ori gives birth without even knowing he was pregnant! Tell me what you thought of the 'surprise'. Was it really a surprise to you, or did you suspect it all along? Tell me your thoughts.
Happy Valentines Day to you all!
