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 Eight
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.
"Dori, why are you here?" Thorin asked as he and Dwalin looked up at the livid dwarf in surprise, "Has Nori thought of something else that we need to know?"
"I need to speak with you now," Dori stated, "Alone where no one can hear."
"I am coming too," Dwalin gritted out obviously picking up on Dori's anger, "I have heard you threaten Thorin too much for me to leave you alone with him."
"Fine," Dori hissed, "This is personal. Nori has brought something to light that needs to be dealt with. I am requesting immediate privacy. After what my family has been through due to the decision that was so foolishly made that resulted in my brother's state, I think my request is just."
"This way," Thorin advised leading the elder forward into a private room, "What has happened?"
"I demand to be given Lanathcourt since you have the information you need," Dori snarled, "His blood is mine."
Dwalin and Thorin looked at one another in shock. Dori was completely calm and in control of his faculties. His anger rose from him in deadly waves as he regarded the two with narrowed eyes. Narrowed eyes meant trouble.
"Dori, I realize that you are angry, but there may be more information we need from that man," Thorin began before growing silent as the elder Ri's grip on the table snapped the top nearly in half as Dwalin gaped in astonishment.
"His blood is mine," Dori stated again.
"What have you found out that has angered you so?" Thorin began trying to calm the dwarf, "That man's blood is yours, but not until after I get the rest of what he knows. Just be a little patient and then have at him."
"I will have his blood now. The scum drugged and raped my brother," Dori gritted out in rage as a gleam of righteous wrath lit his eyes, "Nori was violated when he was unable to fight back and then was taunted by that bastard. He touched my brother in a way that is unforgiveable and I will have him know dwarven justice for such a crime. Rapists are put to death in our culture. I plan to do the same to Lanathcourt."
Thorin froze as Dwalin stood with a roar. Dori held the Prince's eyes steadily as Dwalin's cursing filled the air.
"What say you?" Dori demanded rising, "I take his blood with your permission or without. I'd rather have your permission, but if I have to fight through you and Dwalin, then I will do so. Know that you two will not stand a chance. I will avenge my little brother in the most painful way as possible. That man's death is already sealed. I still hold you two responsible for what has been done to my brother."
"You have my permission. Second door from the right," Thorin instructed as he handed Dori a key, "Make him suffer."
"I will," Dori growled standing and accepting the key, "May I borrow one of your axes, Dwalin? The sharpest of the two, if I may."
The warrior handed the axe Keeper over quickly. Dori studied the weapon and hefted the weight thoughtfully before nodding.
"This information never leaves this room," Dori growled as Thorin and Dwalin nodded, "Nori doesn't want Ori to find out. It would kill the youngest to know and it would destroy Nori if he knew you two knew of what has been done to him. My brother is more sensitive than he lets on and I will come for you two if any rumors spread about this."
"The secret is safe with me," Thorin agreed, "Dwalin?"
"I will take that information to my grave," the warrior vowed.
"Good," Dori sniffed, "Know that my brother will be unsullied once that man breathes no more. Nori is not to blame for any of this. I blame that bastard and you two. If you will excuse me now."
"Wait," Thorin called as Dori turned, "I'm sorry. I accept the blame you carry against me. This was not supposed to work out like this. What can I do more to clear my honor?"
"I'll think about that," Dori decided, "I have a job to do now."
Screams of torture echoed through the halls of the prison for hours on end. Many prisoners talked of death having come among the living that day. No one saw the one who brought the death besides a man by the name of Lanathcourt who rued the day he ever bought a copper-haired dwarf as a slave. Dwalin met Dori at the door and silently accepted his weapon back and grimaced at the bloody, knitting needles in the eldest Ri's fist.
"You and Thorin allowed this to happen to Nori," Dori spat as the warrior grimaced.
"I am ashamed in my role of this plan," Dwalin agreed, "I never…Nori has always been my thorn, but never did I want any of this for him. I would sooner cut my own wrists than to have any of this come to be. I feel that my honor has been tarnished at having allowed this to happen to your brother."
"You are dishonored," Dori accused before calming, "Make it up to my family by killing every slaver in the most vicious manner possible. I want suffering."
"I swear upon my own beard to do as you asked of me for the House of Ri," Dwalin vowed as Dori straightened, "I'm sorry for allowing this."
"Tell Thorin that your and his debt to my house will be paid when you two bring me the head of a slaver with a scythe tattooed on his temple," Dori continued, "That is the one that branded my brother and auctioned him off. I will consider everything paid off for my Nori's suffering after that and your honor will be fully restored."
Dwalin placed a fist over his heart and bowed. Dori nodded and accepted the fresh clothes that the warrior handed him.
"Burn these with my clothing," Dori insisted as he handed Dwalin the knitting needles, "I don't want Ori seeing these. It will be impossible to get these clean again. I'll have to buy Ori new ones."
The eldest Ri cleansed himself and walked home with a fresh basket of tomatoes and newly bought knitting needles for Ori.
"Where have you been?" Ori demanded when Dori came home, "Wait! Those aren't the clothes you left in? What has happened? You've been gone for hours. Oin fed Nori because you never came back to cook."
"Handled your business?" Oin asked as Dori nodded, "Good."
"I know you heard me," Ori spat, "What is going on?"
"Has Nori woke yet?" Dori asked ignoring his brother as Oin patted him on the shoulder and took his leave.
"No," Ori answered, "I know something is up. Where have you been? You promised to explain to me later. This is later."
"I dealt with Lanathcourt," Dori admitted as Ori looked livid, "I know that I promised to allow you to be there, but this was my right as eldest. Nori nearly died due to that man and Thorin would not have allowed me to do as was needed with you there."
"Did he suffer?" Ori snarled looking fierce, "Did you make him suffer for every beating, every bit of starvation, and all Nori's pain?"
"Piece by piece he suffered," Dori stated with livid eyes as he handed Ori his new knitting needles while his younger brother's eyes widened, "There is not much to burn since he will get no burial. Nori is avenged against that scum at least."
Ori breathed hard before nodding. The lad was smart and knew that Dori was correct. Thorin wouldn't have allowed him to come. Coughing drew their attention and both hurried to get to Nori.
"Fine. I'm fine," Nori croaked as he hacked before spitting out some more phlegm into the bowl held at his lips, "Ugh. This is disgusting."
"Not your fault," Ori assured as Dori leaned Nori back on his pillows, "Dori's making tomato soup for dinner."
"Yum," Nori sighed as he closed his eyes, "Tired."
"Sleep some more," Dori urged as his brother hummed sleepily, "I'll wake you when dinner is ready."
"Kay," Nori sighed before drifting back off as Ori and Dori glanced at one another in understanding.
"Anything to keep him safe," Ori whispered as Dori nodded firmly.
Nori continued to try to heal as days went by. With gentle insistence, his weight began to improve.
"Dori?" Nori asked one day as his brother sat beside him, "Lanathcourt?"
"Dust," Dori stated as Nori sighed in relief, "He'll never hurt you again."
"Did it hurt you?" Nori asked with his eyes closed, "You are gentle souled despite your strength."
"I am an older brother despite anything else," Dori snorted as Nori looked to him, "I will destroy anything that harms my family with relish. Worry not for me. I've wanted to ask…this is going to upset you, but how are you…down there? Does Oin need to see to you?"
"No. I healed long ago and it was not but once that it happened. I wasn't…torn too badly," Nori assured blushing hotly.
"Truth?" Dori asked as his younger brother nodded, "I'll never mention this again. That is a solemn promise, Nori. That never happened to you. When that bastard stopped breathing, all that disappeared with him. You are unsullied."
"Thank you," Nori breathed looking away uncomfortably, "I wish to leave some memories in the past permanently. Thank you."
Dori stroked his brother's hair until he drifted back to sleep. The information that Nori was not torn in places he should not be was a weight off of Dori's mind. Days passed and his brother slept, ate, and healed. As days added into three weeks, Nori was eating more and sleeping less. Both Dori and Ori were overjoyed when Oin said that the pneumonia was nearly out of Nori's system.
"Nori, I'm going with Thorin to take out the slavers," Dori admitted one evening when the youngest had already fallen asleep against his second, older brother's chest.
"I knew you would," Nori sighed, "When do you leave?"
"Tomorrow," Dori answered, "Ori and Oin are going to stay with you while I am gone. I don't want to hear about your stubborn streak acting up while I was gone when I return."
Nori closed his eyes and nodded.
"You will return?" Nori finally asked as Dori paused.
"I will," Dori promised, "I'll not be taken out by slavers that hurt my family. I'm ready to see you up and fixing your hair in that silly style you love so much."
"Dori, you do realize that my style was gifted to me by the kid here, don't you?" Nori grinned out as Dori startled, "Look in the drawer over there and get me the paper you find inside."
The eldest Ri did as his brother asked and then unfolded the paper when Nori gestured for him to do so. The picture was old judging by the yellowing of the paper and age of the ink.
"Ori drew this?" Dori chortled seeing a badly drawn picture of Nori with a lopsided version of what was now Nori's trademark style.
"Gave that to me when he was a sprite," Nori chuckled softly as Ori slept on, "Was so proud that he had designed that for me that I instantly fixed my hair for him. Kid was so happy and it's not hard to fix so I've used the style ever since. Tweaked it over the years, but this is all Ori."
"So now I know who to blame," Dori snickered as Nori flashed a grin, "Get some sleep. You look worn."
Nori nodded and fell asleep as Dori left to pack his gear. The next morning, Dori said his farewells to his brothers and headed off with a large group of angry dwarves. Dwalin had already tracked down the slave camp and Thorin's plan was a sound one. Dori itched in anticipation. The day the attack went down happened in pure clockwork and Dwalin kept his vow and slaughtered slavers viciously with Dori right beside him.
"This way," Bofur urged young, frightened slaves as he got them out of harm's way with Bifur protecting the innocents from behind, "It's okay now."
Dori saw as Dain himself freed the dwarven slaves and got them to safety. They were all of the Iron Hills.
"You!" Dori hissed as he spotted the slaver he was looking for and tackled him to the ground in rage, "Nice tattoo, Bastard."
"Get off me, Filth," the man bellowed as the scythe tattoo on his face wrinkled at his efforts to get free before gasping as Dwalin grabbed his hair to hold his head back.
"You branded my brother!" Dori roared as he punched the man hard, "You chained him and auctioned him off like cattle!"
Dori looked up as a hand touched his shoulder and accepted the hot brand from Thorin.
"Let's see how you like it," Dori hissed.
All slavers died that day when found. One was burned beyond recognition besides the head that was presented to the House of Ri. The slave camp was torn to shreds before the dwarves moved on to the docks and burned the ships that ferried the slaves overseas. Slavers were rooted out and executed. The campaign was won with only a handful of casualties in a little under a month. All slaves were returned to their homes to heal over their ordeal and praised the campaigners with sincere gratitude. Thorin had also recovered records of past slave auctions and Dain took up the cause to track down the slave owners to free as many innocents as possible.
"You are eager," Dwalin pointed out as Dori urged his pony to go faster.
"I have been worried none stop over my brothers," Dori stated as Dwalin, Thorin, Gloin, Bifur, and Bofur kept pace with him, "I wish to see Nori's face when he hears that this is all over. He and Ori will be pleased."
"Ya were a sight out there," Bofur complimented as Dori blushed, "Never knew ya had it in ya ta be so…so malevolent. Gave me goose bumps, it did. Nori will be proud."
"Hush," Dori mumbled feeling embarrassed, "It was my right to see this task done to avenge my brother. Nori will be happier over that."
The eldest Ri was ecstatic to see the gates of home, but startled as Bombur tore up to the group with amazing speed.
"Dori, go home," Bombur huffed out, "Nori's relapsed. It's bad, Dori. It's real bad."
To be continued…
