Lost and Found
Pre-Quest story for the brothers Ri. I realize that there are more popular members of our favorite dwarven company, but Nori and his brothers are my favorite. I hope you enjoy, but if you don't then that is okay too.
I own nothing at all.
Chapter Seven
Dori gathered some bedding and made a rather comfortable bed for himself before standing to tuck both of this younger brother's under the covers more. Both Nori and Ori were peaceful, but Dori was not happy with the paleness of Nori's face.
"Rest and then more food," Dori told himself as he rested a hand on Nori's head for a moment to stroke back some coppery hair, "Need to get you fattened up."
The eldest Ri brother crawled into his bedding after he had checked every door, window, and shutter to make sure that nothing could enter and harm his family. Dori slept hard and woke many hours later to light snickering.
"He's sleeping like a big baby. Ori, put his hand in a warm bowl of water and watch what happens," Dori heard Nori chuckle.
"I will not," Ori denied sounding scandalized, "What will happen?"
"I'll kill two little brothers is what will happen," Dori snarled as he rolled over to look up at the bed where Ori had helped Nori lean up on some pillows, "Stop corrupting our brother, Nori. Shame on you for trying to teach Ori such things."
Nori grinned unabashedly before coughing doubled him over for a moment and Dori stood and poured him some water.
"Right. Here we go," Dori stated as he held the glass to his brother's lips, "Come on. Have a drink."
Nori choked for a second before finally being able to get some of the water down before desperately pushing the glass away.
"What's wrong?" Ori asked looking panicked.
"Dori," Nori gasped as his brother recognized the look and got a fresh chamber pot up in time for Nori to cough up some fluid and mucous.
"That's good," Dori reassured as he helped Nori lean back again, "The more you cough out this muck, the quicker you'll get back on your feet."
"I hate being sick," Nori groaned before sitting up straighter once he looked at Ori's miserable face, "Feel better now that it is out though. Much better."
"Really?" Ori grinned out brightening up.
"Sure do," Nori answered taking a deep breath that was still a bit shallower than it should be, "Can't fill my lungs up completely, but my chest doesn't feel as tight."
"The more you clear that fluid from your lungs, the better you will feel," Dori agreed, "You just let me know whenever you need the chamber pot again. I want as much of that muck coughed up as possible."
"Which is oh so much fun for me," Nori groaned as he nodded at his older brother, "Dori, when will Thorin be coming back? I still need to tell him the rest of the information I have. I'm surprised he hasn't shown back up yet."
"I told Thorin not to come back," Dori admitted as his brother's mouth dropped open, "Ori wrote down the questions that Thorin needed to know. You relapsed after he questioned you last time. I will not allow that again. You're not strong enough to go through another round of high fever. Nori, we nearly lost you!"
"I went through all of this to keep the slavers from hurting our people like they hurt me," Nori denied looking angry, "I need to speak with Thorin. This is important, Dori. The slavers need to be stopped."
"I agree," Dori sighed, "But your health matters to me more. I won't have you pushing yourself back into a relapse."
Nori huffed leaning back against his pillows. Finally, he growled and looked back up at his brother.
"Dori, there are more children in that slave camp," Nori described as his elder brother gaped at him, "Get Thorin. He and I need to talk and I don't want you or Ori being there. This is hurting you two too much."
Dori scowled as Ori looked a little angry. What to do? Thorin did need the information that Nori had to reach the slavers, but Nori looked so fragile all the time. Dammit! Plus, now he wanted to lock his brothers out? Not going to happen. At least, not to the eldest brother.
"I will get Thorin," Dori decided as Nori perked up, "However, I will be there when you are questioned. Ori will stay outside."
"I will not!" Ori snapped, "I have every right to hear what Nori went through as you do, Dori. I won't be treated like I'm an infant!"
"It hurts me to have you hear everything," Nori explained as his baby brother deflated, "You've heard and seen too much, Ori. Nothing I've been through could have prepared me for the life of a slave. It was…it was worse than anything I've ever been through. I just…I can't watch your heartbreak at hearing everything. Please, Ori? Please do this for me."
"Fine," Ori moaned looking unhappy before another coughing fit shook Nori hard as he gestured frantically to Dori.
Ori supported his brother as best he could as Nori coughed and coughed before finally spitting more fluid from his lungs into the chamber pot that Dori held.
"Get Thorin," Nori panted out looking exhausted, "Get him now. Please, more water."
Dori looked to Ori as the youngest nodded and stood to leave while the eldest helped Nori sip some water. Nori shivered and then calmed as his brother pulled the blankets up and his eyes closed. He was asleep by the time Thorin arrived with Dwalin.
"It's just a catnap," Dori advised as Thorin nodded, "Coughed himself sick several times today. Let Nori sleep just a little more. I promise he will wake very soon. Would you like some tea while you wait?"
"That would be nice," Thorin agreed as Dori stood and led the others out of Nori's room, "How is he?"
"Better than the last time you were here. Ori, go watch over Nori. Tell us as soon as he wakes again," Dori instructed as the youngest left, "Thorin, you have to be gentle with Nori. He is not well. The pneumonia has a strong grip on him, but he is starting to get some of the fluid out of his lungs at least."
"I will not upset him," Thorin nodded out as Dori removed a boiling teapot from the fire, "Seeing him with that fever was troubling to say the least. Not even my young nephews have ever gotten as ill as what I saw Nori. Is this worse because he was practically starved?"
"Oin and I think so," Dori agreed as he brought the tea over, "Nori can't fight this illness well because he has little energy. It's a fight to get food into my brother and that isn't because he's being stubborn. Nori is trying and hates being sick. He has no appetite since he's so tired most of the time. I'm worried."
"When are you not?" Dwalin muttered to himself before diving as a knife imbedded itself into the wall behind where his head had been.
"You deserved that one," Thorin hummed accepting his tea as Dwalin grumbled, "Watch your mouth. Have some respect for the home you are within."
Dori seemed appeased after Dwalin apologized and they sipped their tea in silence until Ori hurried in to let them know that Nori was awake.
"Ori, stay here," Dori ordered as the youngest Ri looked unhappy, "Do as Nori wishes, Lad. He's going through enough right now and doesn't need the strain of seeing you upset."
"I understand," Ori grumbled sitting down, "Why is there a knife in the wall?"
"Spider," Dori answered, "Ugly thing too."
Thorin snorted as Dwalin scowled angrily. The three entered Nori's room to see the ill dwarf with his eyes closed.
"Nori?" Dori asked as his brother looked up, "Thorin's here."
"Good," Nori said as Dori helped him sit up a bit, "There is much I need to tell you. Has…has that man talked yet?"
"A little," Dwalin answered for Thorin, "We know where the ships sail in and out of now. The slave auctions occur then."
"Not always though that is the main auctioning location," Nori admitted as Dwalin and Thorin sat to listen, "I was auctioned at the slave camp. Seems they couldn't wait to get rid of me fast enough since I was a handful. I wanted to show you the trail to the camp, but I don't know when I'll be able to sit up on my own let alone travel that distance again. Dori, get me some paper and a quill."
Nori worked out a small map and frowned as his hand shook.
"Look," Nori instructed as Thorin and Dwalin leaned over, "Travel from this town here. I was blindfolded, but I heard enough to know that I was traveling south. My legs were hobbled by manacles, but I was able to scrape the cuffs along rocks as I pretended to stumble and fall. My marks should look roughly like this."
Nori dipped his finger in the ink well and marked the paper in a rough symbol.
"You need to go now," Nori insisted leaning back looking exhausted, "There are women and children in that camp. There are also a handful of dwarves from the Iron Hills the last I was there. The ship sailing overseas should not be leaving until the beginning of spring to have a full load of slaves. I spied as best I could to get that information, but I was whipped thoroughly just for spite by…by him and ended up not being able to escape as quickly as I wanted to. Many are sick and starving. Please help them, Thorin."
Nori coughed then and had to gasp for breath for a moment as Dori leaned him up to breathe better. Dori stroked his brother's back softly to try and help him calm his breaths. Nori sighed softly and shuddered when he could draw in air again.
"You've done well," Thorin complimented as Nori leaned weakly against his brother, "Leave the rest of this in our hands. You have done enough and deserve a chance to rest and recover. We'll handle the slavers and free the slaves."
"There are many of the filth about," Nori rasped, "They are marked with a circle behind their left ear to identify the slavers. Trust no one."
"Dwalin, send word to the Iron Hills," Thorin hissed standing, "Dain will send troops and we will meet them. The slavers stand not a chance."
"They know of me," Nori sighed, "You must move in secret or the slaves will die. Eyes are probably already watching. I was the only slave to every escape with my life. The slavers will be wary of movement near them."
"I've thought of that," Thorin agreed standing, "You concentrate on getting better. You will be avenged for what has occurred to you. Rest now."
"Damn straight Nori will be avenged," Dori snarled out helping Nori lean back on his pillows as the ill dwarf sighed.
"Did you learn your knife skills from Dori?" Dwalin blurted suddenly as Nori looked up at him in surprise.
"He started my training, yes," Nori agreed, "Why?"
"No reason," Dwalin chuckled, "Just remind me never to piss him off."
"What did you do?" Nori asked once Thorin and Dwalin had left.
"Nothing," Dori denied as Nori looked unconvinced, "Are you hungry? Do you think you can eat a little more for me?"
"I'll try," Nori nodded out, "Did you throw a knife at Dwalin?"
"I'll make you some tomato soup. You've always liked that dish since you were a child," Dori decided ignoring his brother.
"You did," Nori gasped grinning, "You threw a knife at Dwalin. At Dwalin! Wish I could have seen his face."
"It looked like this," Dori chuckled making a funny face as Nori laughed, "Rest while I cook, but try not to fall asleep. I need you to eat for me."
"Dori?" Nori called in a strange voice as he patted the bed next to him and his brother came back to sit down.
The eldest brother was urged to lean down and stiffened as Nori began to whisper into his ear for several long moments. Dori's eyes widened as he listened in horror at what Nori had gone through. More and more horrors were whispered into his ear as Dori fought the urge to growl loudly. He wrapped his younger brother in his arms after Nori was done as he shuddered at how lucky he was that his brother was still here even as it took all of his willpower not to erupt in vicious anger at what he had heard. Heads were going to roll.
"Don't tell Ori," Nori murmured against his chest, "I needed to tell you the truth. I owe you that much for having run off without telling you were I was going. I had no intentions of being gone so long. I never meant to worry you or Ori like this. I'm sorry that I scared you."
"I was an ass to you," Dori soothed as he rocked his brother, "It was never my intention to be so cold and fussy the day we parted. I have regretted my words to you even before you came home. I'm sorry for being me, I guess."
"Ha," Nori barked, "You are Dori. I couldn't believe how much I missed being mothered by you when I was chained to the slave poles. I've taken a lot for granted within my life. I won't anymore. I've been a right ass to you as well. Ori's listening at the door by the way."
"I know," Dori chuckled as Ori walked in sheepishly, "Shame on you, Ori. That is not how you show your brother respect for his wishes, but part of that is to be blamed on this scamp here. I think he learned the spying from you, Nori."
"Did not," Ori denied coming and joining the cuddle, "I just wanted to check on you and only heard when you two were apologizing for being…well who you are. Nori is my Nori and Dori is my Dori. You two are fine being yourselves. When are you two ever going to figure that out? Geez! Big brothers!"
The brothers chuckled before Nori slipped off to sleep once again. Dori tucked him in tight and reached and stroked a pale cheek.
"I need you to watch Nori for me," Dori insisted as his youngest brother looked up at him, "Don't allow anyone in the house until I get back."
"Where are you going?" Ori questioned.
"I have an errand to run and Nori is safe for now so I feel better about leaving for a moment," Dori explained as he stood, "I'll explain everything later, I promise."
Ori nodded as Dori left the room.
Dori rolled his shoulders out in the hallway before walking to his bedroom to change his clothes. Once in the living room, something caught his eye and he bent to retrieve part of what he would need.
"Hello, Oin," Dori greeted as the healer met him at the door.
"I thought I'd come check on your lad," Oin admitted as Dori nodded, "Heading out somewhere?"
"I am," Dori nodded out, "Would you be willing to stay while I'm gone. I would feel safer knowing that you were here with Nori."
"Certainly," Oin readily agreed studying Dori closely, "Handling business?"
Dori snapped his knuckles with a scowl nodding. The healer dipped his head and walked inside as the eldest Ri marched to the Blue Mountain prison with a pair of knitting needles tucked into his coat pocket.
To be continued…