/Planning\\\
"Hello," said a gruff voice that made Ori immediately turn. He twisted around and lost his footing, stumbling to the side and into the shelf.
"Hi," Ori said weakly in response.
"I did not intend to startle you," Dwalin said, ducking his head.
Ori shook his head. "It's…I'm…what can I do for you?"
"I was hoping to speak to you about the schedule for the interviews."
"Oh," Ori said, looking back at the shelving and frowning up at Dwalin. "Was I expecting you?"
"No," Dwalin said, his mouth moving into a half-smile. Ori felt his own mouth widen into a smile in response. "I am giving a talk this evening at the University of Bree."
Ori's eyes brightened. "Can anyone attend?"
"Would you like to?" Dwalin asked.
Ori nodded and then ducked his head. "Yes."
"I'd like it if you could come. Perhaps I could take you to dinner at the The Prancing Pony after I am done?"
"Yes," Ori said immediately.
Dwalin smiled at him and Ori stared back dumbly for a moment and then shook himself and blinked.
"Would you like to come into the office and we can schedule some dates?"
"Lead the way, Ori."
Ori nodded and started walking back towards the office. He lead Dwalin around the ostentatious display Sméagol had done on the seven dwarves that apparently received rings of power from Sauron before he became the Dark Lord of Mordor. Ori thought that Sméagol was just a little too obsessed with the old tales of the Dark Lord Sauron and his rings of power.
"This is an interesting display," Dwalin said, stopping to look at it.
"It's…" Ori shook his head and trailed off.
"Inappropriate for a library like this?"
"Yes," Ori said, looking down at the books. "We can't even work out why he's done it."
Dwalin picked up one of the pictures that was part of the display and frowned.
"What?" Ori said, stepping forward to look around him as he couldn't see over his shoulder.
"This is not Balíuk of the Broadbeams."
"What?" Ori asked, reaching out for the photo.
"It is his son Fulíuk."
"Are you certain?" Ori asked.
"I am," Dwalin said, stepping back.
"Oh," Ori said, "this is terrible."
"It is an easy mistake to make."
"No, you don't understand," Ori said. "Sméagol will be most displeased when I tell him he is wrong."
"He is your boss?"
"No," Ori said, sighing. "He is a horrible little hobbit who is vicious and does not take well to criticism."
"I shall tell him," Dwalin said, taking the photo. "Take me to him."
"You don't need to do that," Ori said, following behind Dwalin.
"I'm a historian, yes I do."
Ori couldn't resist beaming at the other dwarf's back and rushing forward to lead the way. "Come through my office, I'll pull up my calendar."
Dwalin followed close behind Ori. "Lead the way, Ori."
"You don't have to…" Ori said, twisting around to look up into Dwalin's eyes. "If you will give me the photo. I shouldn't have said anything – we work together and-"
Dwalin gripped Ori's elbow, halting his process and smiled at the younger dwarf. "I would be most pleased to help you, Ori."
Ori flushed, caught in Dwalin's gaze. The other dwarf was looking at him so openly and Ori felt like Dwalin was riding into battle for him. Dwalin smiled down at him broadly and squeezed Ori's elbow before he let go.
"Right," Ori said, taking a step back and leading Dwalin through behind the circulation desk and into the workroom. Ori took Dwalin on a quick tour, showing him everything and stalling against the meeting with Sméagol.
"Where is your desk?" Dwalin asked. He seemed completely unaware of the attention he was being paid by everyone else in the workroom – especially that of Éomund.
"This way," Ori said, shaking his head at Éomund and ushering Dwalin into their office. "This is our office. Dwalin, I'd like you to meet Bilbo Baggins."
Bilbo immediately stood up and walked over, bowing to Dwalin. "Bilbo Baggins, at your service."
"Dwalin, son of Fundin, at yours."
Bilbo smiled brightly at him. "Are you here for your project?"
"And to talk tonight at the University of Bree."
"How fortuitous."
"I believe so," Dwalin said, smiling at them both.
Sméagol turned around and looked at them.
"And this is Sméagol," Ori said, weakly waving at the hobbit.
"Hello, Sméagol," Dwalin said walking over to the hobbit and handing him the photo. He explained what was wrong with it and Ori looked at Bilbo as Sméagol's face fell into the horrible twisting that he always took just before he started to nastily berate someone.
"What do you know of the Broadbeams," Sméagol asked, standing up.
"I am a historian; I know much of the Rings of Power."
Sméagol sneered. "Then you should know that that is Balíuk."
"No," Dwalin said, crossing his arms across his chest and looking at Sméagol as Ori was sure he must have looked at the orcs he had battled. "It is his son, you can tell because of the cleft in his left ear and the distinctive battle beads in his beard. This one is for his battle against the elves of Lothlorian and this one is to mark his promotion to commander of the legions of the Broadbeams which was not used until after Balíuk was already the King of his mountain."
Sméagol frowned and looked at the photo again.
Bilbo's eyes opened wide and Ori bit at his bottom lip. They both watched what was happening avidly as Sméagol's face turned a peculiar colour. Dwalin smiled down at the hobbit and turned back to Ori with a soft smile.
"Ori, shall we organise those appointments?"
"Yes," Ori said, bounding forward immediately. "Please, sit down and we'll work it out."
"We'll organise a time to talk as well," Bilbo offered, returning to his work which Ori noted seemed to be the creation of a turtle made out of buttons and a paper plate.
"That would be appreciated, Master Baggins," Dwalin said, sitting in the offered chair and smiling up at Ori until the younger dwarf sat.
As soon as Ori sat, Sméagol stood and walked swiftly from the room.
"That's going to come back and be a nightmare," Bilbo said, shaking his head.
"It was not Balíuk of the Broadbeams," Dwalin said. "How can he learn if he does not hear about his mistakes?"
"Sméagol does not work to logic," Bilbo said.
Dwalin looked at Ori.
"It will be fine," Ori lied. "Now, let's look at my calendar."
When they had organised dates for Dwalin to return and begin the interviews, Ori lead Dwalin from the workroom. As Ori stood at the library's doors they agreed to meet later that evening. He returned to his office to Bilbo's knowing smile.
"A date?" Bilbo asked.
Ori flushed and nodded. "I believe so."
"How wonderful. He certainly looked at you as though he wished to take you on a date."
"You believe so?" Ori asked, excited.
Bilbo nodded. "I do."
"I didn't think he would be interested. Not after our first meeting."
"You're much too charming for your own good," Bilbo said with a shrug.
Ori shook his head. "And he stood up to Sméagol."
Bilbo nodded. "Obviously you're going to have to bond with him."
Ori flushed and turned back to his computer. Bilbo smiled at his back and then turned back to what he was doing. His mother had always told him to trust his instincts and his instincts told him that Dwalin was interested in their local history librarian and was a good dwarf. Bilbo was looking forward to watching their relationship unfold.
/
