Chapter 9 Epilogue

Bofur came round and he was in pain, it wasn't like a cave in. The thought came to him then that it was another bloody knife stabbing his hip. Mahal someone had it against him ever walking unaided again. At least this time it wasn't Nori that put it there, then that set him panicking towards full awareness. He immediately sat up then let out a harsh gasp as it caused so much pain it almost sent him back into the darkness. A hand was behind his back was lowering him back against the pillows; he looked up and noticed it was none other than Sig-Dis and let out a groan.
'Now really Bofur no need to be like that, it's the least I can do'
'But …'
'My boys are fine and I have heard from Fili how he wants to be able to swing his war hammer just like you swung that crutch of yours. Well I told him he would have to go down the mine and work with a mattock. He is convinced there is another way because Dwalin isn't a miner'
'Your right there, hey isn't that your brother?'
'Yer unfortunately the boys weren't the only target last night' Dis didn't want to upset the miner by telling him that the youngest Ri brothers were both critical
'Well seems I was right last time, he is a permanent feature'
'I do have to admit he seems to attract trouble, but you will be relieved to know that the man was killed'
'Oh thank Mahal, I was scared for Kili last night'
'we are in your debt for all the help and support you have given these last 3 months, we owe you and your family more that we can say'
'don't be daft, I didn't even manage to take down that man … what happened anyway'
'well let's just say that the Ur family isn't the only one protecting mine'
'Oh no … (the memory hit him like his mattock) Ori, he stood up to that bastard'
'Bofur it's not your fault, alright no one is blaming you, Ori made the man leave but he got hurt'
'Nori aint going to care if it's my fault or not he is going to kill me'
'I am sorry Bofur but he may not be able to … it seems while you and Ori fought to protect my sons, Nori went to the aid of my brother'

Pain, and loss was what Thorin felt as he came to. Where were the boys Nori said they were alright, but then Nori wasn't alright. He jerked awake calling out for his nephews, everyone in the room with the exception of Nori and Ori woke with a start. Dis raced over to her thrashing brother, and tried to calm him but he wouldn't settle until two small twin voices announced their presence. Thorin calmed and watched as they walked up to his bed. He couldn't believe it, they were here alive and well. The man had lied just like Nori said, he had lied everyone was ok right. Thorin suddenly started looking around desperately and noticed the Ur family with the cheerful miner waving at him.
'Your getting too used to this Master miner, you always seem to be in here'
'Same could be said for you sir' Bifur started laughing his deep growly laugh and slowly the others joined in as Thorin looked horrified that a miner would talk to him like that.
'Bofur, I am sure Thorin wouldn't mind if you and your family dropped the formalities when it's just us present. I have a feeling we are going to see a lot more of each other, I am not sure you will be able to ditch the boys anytime soon'
'Dis really h-'
'Saved your nephews last night and he owes us nothing, you can stop being a stubborn stick in the mud and if it is too much to be friends at least be civil'
'You saved them?'
'Well delayed the inevitable might be the more appropriate term, for when I effectively left the fight it could easily have gone either way'
'So what happened then?'
'Thorin it seems we owe a lot to the Ri brothers'
Thorin paled, but the man was lying. Nori told him that he was lying, the boys were well.
'Uncle it was Ori he gave us the time to find weapons then we scared him off' both Kili and Fili had calmed down significantly since arriving, the fact Ori had yet to wake may have had something to do with it. Thorin was shocked, weedy, bookish Ori standing up to that man to help his friends.
'But the man was lying, Nori told me he was lying'
'He didn't know Thorin, he couldn't know'
'he told Nori that Ori stood up to him, trying to be like big brother with nothing but a slingshot and his knife. He said how, once he had cut away the slingshot the boy begged for death. It almost killed Nori to hear it, but then he lied so Nori snapped out of it'
'uncle, that's not what happened'
'Yer Ori was awesome, he growled at the man, telling him to leave us alone. Didn't even flinch as the knife cut him from wrist to elbow. Then he threw his knife, it hit the man's hand made him drop the knife. Then we all faced him together, and he ran off'
'but Ori collapsed after, and hasn't woken since. I tied to help, I tried to stop the bleeding but Oin says it might be too much'
it was then Thorin noticed Dori, looking very pale and lost between two beds. Thorin felt his heart clench for Dori, would he loose two brothers to the protection of the line of Durin. There was no change in their condition, they were both breathing but it was shallow Oin had told them it could go either way. That was several hours ago, everyone had dropped off into an exhausted sleep all hurting either physically or emotionally.

Pain and exhaustion was the first thing Nori felt, he was tempted to sleep more but he had to find out about Ori. The man had to be lying about Kili and Fili he must have been lying about Ori too. Ori wouldn't, stand up to anyone he was not great with weapons and always tried to avoid going to the training field. As he dragged himself towards consciousness he dully registered that if he had slept more he wouldn't be coming back. When he finally opened his eyes, he was hit by another wave of exhaustion. He realised it was dark and the room was full of breathing and snoring, he risked raising his head. He could see Dori asleep in a chair exactly between his bed and the one next to him, that told him exactly where Ori was. To put off looking at his brother he looked over his shoulder, and saw a small heap of Durin's Kili and Fili were asleep at the end of a bed holding an exhausted looked Thorin. Just beyond them he saw the origin of the snores, Bomber was lying on one of the empty beds, next to a hatted dwarf, with a motionless Bifur sitting next to him. Nori wondered what his friend had done this time.

Nori now couldn't put it off any longer; there were no distractions for him now. He turned to see his brother lying on the bed next to him, he was so still for an awful second Nori thought he was dead then the chest rose and fell a bit. Before Nori really registered what he was doing he got out of his bed and slipped behind Ori and cradled him in his lap. It was awkward; he couldn't move his right arm to his annoyance noticed the thick bandage. It matched his brothers just like the man had told him but Nori was alive and so was Ori. Nori held his brother, humming a tune under his breath but it didn't seem to rouse his brother in fact his breathing got shallower and shallower. Nori was getting desperate and took to whispering in Ori ear begging him not to leave. After what felt like hours Nori caught a small sigh from his brother
'I will stay if I can have a story'
'right, what do you want?'
'Real one'
'I know just the one for you, little un'
Then Nori launched into a very dramatic story about how a young a foolish lad named Ori stood up a mighty monster. And although he didn't kill it, the boy Ori was far too kind to kill the monster; he hurt it enough to protect his friends. Then in steps the brave hero Nori who corners the monster right before he digs his claws into the king, who had put up a good fight but it wasn't enough. Then Nori and the monster dance, as he tells it he becomes more exhilarated. Then the monster caught Nori off guard, he tells him about how the foolish lad had been cut down along with the Princes. Nori doesn't know what to do, how could he survive without that foolish boy, following him around writing stories and reading cleaver books. Then he tells how Nori realised it was a lie and that Ori couldn't have been killed, the brave hero jumped up and rid the world of the monster forever. Then as he sat with the king, Nori thought about the brave foolish lad about how much of a hero he was saving the princes. As Nori dropped into unconsciousness he realised how amazing that young lad was and how the brave hero wished he was more like the cleaver book loving Ori.

Once the story was over Ori forced his eyes open and looked up and his brother.
'You know Nori I am not sure that's how it happened'
'oh really kid'
'Yer Nori I for one remember taking on the mighty monster, before our brave young warrior here'
'well sorry I wernt there, the kid wanted a story and I wernt waitin for you to wake'
'Well I think it was amazing, and pretty much what happed aint that right Fee'
'Yer well it was pretty amazing' Fili agreed
The door opened and in stepped Dwalin, Balin, Oin and Gloin (whose beard was finally an acceptable length to be seen)
'I recon our brave worrier no longer has any excuse not to attend weapon training after that arm is sorted' Dwalin added, Ori flushed then turned to glare at his brother.
'well from what Kili tells me he will be needing long distance weapon training Dwalin, and he might want a few lessons from the "Brave hero" over there' it was a joke but Nori could see the gratitude in the kings eyes.
'Well I have to agree with Ori, Sorry Bofur but Nori's stories are amazing. He managed that half dead with only knowing half of it' Kili suddenly announced the room collapsed into laughter which roused Dori.

Dori woke and looked at Nori's bed, it was empty and there was only one place he would be. The only place that ever mattered, by Ori's side
'Always arriving in the middle of the night'
'Would you ave it any other way ey, you big idiot. You didn't think we was going to leave yer did yer'
'No the world is never that kind to me Nori'
'ey watch it Dori'
'Well that settles it, I know your defiantly alright' and the room burst in to laughter

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Years later, Gandalf is pleased to find a certain Miner and his family accompanying a king as equals. They had defied all class conventions over the years, working together with the exiles to ensure Kili and Fili were raised properly. The sight of Nori and his brothers also lightened his heart, he could see the matching scars on both Ori and Nori's arms as they made their way toward the shire and there next adventure. Gandalf decided the line of Durin couldn't be in better hands.