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Thilbo4Ever – I always like to mention people who are following me. Without you guys I wouldn't be updating so it's done to you really. Glad you love the stories.
Nuka – Happy you're enjoying it.
"I don't want to go."
Ori sat on the edge of the sofa as both of his older brothers stared down at him. Nori's face was on of complete indifference and Ori knew his brother wanted nothing more than being able to head back to his room and play his music at full blast. Dori however folded his arms and gave Ori 'the look'. Although he was only sixteen years old Ori had been given 'the look' more times than he cared to remember.
"It's only going to be for a few hours." Nori reasoned. Ori however carried on shaking his head and wrapped his arms around his thin body as the two brothers sighed at each other.
"It'll be rude if you don't go." Dori moved over to sit beside who Ori who gave a smaller shake of the head. Dori put an arm round Ori's shoulder and hugged him close.
"Why don't you want to go? You get on with Fili and Kili at school don't you?"
Ori nodded. "But I don't like parties. There are too many people and too much noise and I'm not going."
He said it with such certainty that Nori raised an eyebrow.
"Why force him to go? If he doesn't want to then he doesn't want to?"
"That's not the point Nori." Dori gritted his teeth whilst Ori shuffled uncomfortably on the sofa as his brother launched into yet another conversation about how Ori needed to 'come out of his shell'. Nori said nothing and Ori looked down at his feet.
"Could you not just say I'm Ill? That way it doesn't look rude." Ori piped up; thinking this was a good idea. That way he didn't have to go and it didn't look bad on Dori. Nori was already nodding to show his approval but as he looked over at Dori's pursed lips Ori knew he wasn't going to be getting out of this one.
"You're going." Dori got to his feet. "You'll enjoy it I promise you."
"That's easy for you to say." Ori grumbled. "You like parties."
Nori chuckled at this before straightening his face out as Dori glared at him. Patting him on the back Dori headed into the kitchen whilst Ori got to his feet and headed for the stairs. The party was a week away and already his hands were trembling at the thought of having to go. It wasn't that he didn't like Fili and Kili – they were his best friends after all and he usually enjoyed being with them. But parties were completely different. Ori had only been to two before now but each time he'd found himself leaving far earlier than anyone else. He'd tried explaining it to Dori; how he found it hard to breathe when he was around lots of new people. How he found it hard to be himself because he was scared people wouldn't like him. It had taken him almost three months to feel comfortable around Fili and Kili and even now he sometimes retreated into a shell.
When he got to his room Ori took a few deep breaths. Fili and Kili were his friends; at the very least he could go to see them; and if things got too much then he could just slip away like he had the previous times.
Ori didn't say anything as Dori pulled up outside the house. Brightly coloured lights had been hung up outside and as he got nearer the door Ori saw a holly wreath hanging on the red door. Even from his position halfway down the drive he could hear the Christmas songs that were being played inside.
"Ori! Hi!"
Ori smiled as he saw Kili in the doorway. The brunette wore a bright blue jumper with a snowman on it and when he saw Kili's look of disgust at his clothes Ori instantly found himself relaxing ever so slightly. Dori gave him a reassuring wave before driving off and Ori found himself alone of the driveway. Almost as though he could sense Ori's discomfort Kili ran over to him and pulled him towards the house.
"You should see Fili!" he grinned whilst picking at his own jumper.
"It's worse than mine…if that's even possible."
Ori doubted this highly until they got inside and he saw a very disgruntled Fili standing by a Christmas tree. Fili's older brother wore a bright green jumper with an image on Father Christmas on it. Sneaking a look at Kili Ori tried not to laugh but when he saw Kili's mouth twitch he couldn't help but let out a small giggle. Fili rolled his eyes before eyeing Kili's jumper.
"I can't believe mum's making us where these. If we had family over then yeah I'd get it!"
Kili shook his head before pulling Ori through the hallway and into the living room. Ori looked around at the decorations whilst his brain tried to work out how long it had taken the family to put them up. Tinsel had been wrapped around almost everything and Ori saw paper snowflakes had been hung from the ceiling.
"It looks so cool." He smiled at the pair who grinned back before their eyes widened at their mothers voice.
"Hello Ori!"
"MUM!" Both brothers looked in horror as their mum came into the living room with a jumper that was almost like Kili's – only black and as well as a snowman it had snowflakes on it. Ori grinned at the blushes on Fili and Kili's cheeks whilst there mum shook her head.
"Just remember I'm letting you have this party on the understanding you behave. That includes comments about the jumpers." She eyed Kili at these words and he gave her his best puppy dog eyes. Ruffling his hair their mum smiled again at Ori before moving back into the kitchen.
"Who else is coming?" Ori wished he didn't sound so nervous when he asked the question. Kili ignored him his focus fixed on one of the chocolate tree decorations. Fili rolled his eyes at his brother.
"Not many people. Kili insisted we invite Tauriel." Fili winked at Ori who snickered at the mention of the girl. She sat in front of Fili and Kili in class and Ori hadn't failed to notice how often Kili would stare at her. At the mention of his name Kili turned round – hurriedly cramming the rest of the chocolate in his mouth – and glowered at his brother who gave an innocent shrug.
"I don't mind inviting Tauriel. As long as you don't spend the whole evening gazing at her." He burst into laughter at this whilst Kili shook his head before playfully launching himself at Kili. Within seconds the pair of them were rolling around the floor in what seemed to be a cross between wrestling and a tickling competition. Already Ori could feel himself starting to relax. However, as the doorbell sounded all of his anxiety started to steadily creep back and he took a few deep breaths. The brothers shot to their feet and Kili went to go and see who it was. As they heard Tauriels voice and Kili's small stammer both Ori and Fili winked at each other. This was going to be an interesting night.
Although he probably wouldn't admit it to Dori; Ori was starting to enjoy himself. As Fili had said only a few people came. It was more of a case of friends hanging out as opposed to an actual party. Although there was music, food and a bit of dancing. When Kili and Tauriel danced Ori couldn't help but wolf whistle at the pair before blushing at his sudden soar of confidence. He didn't look at his watch once and when his phone rang he realised with a jolt that he had to get home for dinner. Quickly texting Dori to come and pick him up Ori looked over at Fili and Kili – the pair had swapped their jumpers and Fili was too busy teasing Kili to notice Ori.
"Hey?" Ori cleared his throat. "I'm gonna head off now. Thanks for the party."
"Any time." Fili grinned and Kili nodded.
"See you on Monday."
As he made his way out of the house and down the drive Ori saw Dori waiting for him by the gate. When he saw Dori's smug smile Ori rolled his eyes as his brother put and arm around his shoulder and the pair began walking to the car.
"I told you you'd have a good time."
Ori gave a reluctant nod. "There were only a few people. Small numbers I can cope with."
Dori rolled his eyes and started talking but Ori wasn't really listening. His mind was already running through possible present ideas he could get for Fili and Kili. He didn't have enough money to get them something huge but at the same time he wanted to put some thought into it. The pair had hosted the first party that he had actually liked – not that they knew that – and Ori wanted to find the perfect way of thanking them.
It took him about a week but one afternoon Ori found himself standing outside the house once again. He had a carrier bag in each hand and when he rang the bell he hoped the pair liked his present choice.
"Ori!" Fili smiled at him and Ori noticed he was wearing Kili's jumper again. Not bothering to comment he wiped his shoes on the matt before following Fili in.
"Ori's here!" Fili yelled up the stairs. Ori only had to wait a few second before the figure of Kili came bounding down the stairs – jumping over the last three completely. Fili shook his head.
"One day you're going to fall and break your neck." He wrapped an arm round Kili and gave his brother an exaggerated kiss on the top of his head. As Kili squirmed in his brothers grip Ori smiled shyly before handing the bags over to his friends.
"They aren't much." He admitted. "But…happy Christmas."
"Thanks!" Kili grinned at Ori before looking in his own bag. As he stood there patiently waiting for their reactions Ori watched as the hallway was soon littered with torn apart and discarded tags. Fili and Kili both looked at him and for a second Ori wondered if he'd got them the wrong thing. He was already cursing himself when the pair grabbed him in a huge bear hug – making it almost impossible to breathe.
"They are so cool!" the two brothers looked at the PlayStation games they held before grinning at Ori.
"Come on." They grabbed him and hauled him into the living room. Ori watched as Kili booted up his console whilst Fili handed Ori a set of controls. Ori had never told anyone but playing video games was one of the few things he was actually good at. The three of them had just sat down when they heard Dis in the hallway.
"Come back here and clean this mess up now!"
Kili bit his lip whilst Fili took a deep breath.
"If we stay here she might let it drop." He whispered. Kili nodded and the three lay back on the sofa when Dis walked into the room. Whilst she gave Ori a gentle smile she jabbed two fingers in the direction of her sons.
"Hallway. Clean. Now!"
Fili and Kili rolled their eyes but go to their feet all the same. As they went into the hallway grumbling Dis made to leave before turning round to Ori.
"Merry Christmas Ori."
Okay so this was the penultimate story in this series. For those who have noticed I'm afraid I won't be including Bombur in this series. The plan was to have a story for each dwarf but the only idea I had for him just isn't working and I don't want to give you guys a half-baked job because that would be a pretty poor thanks for all you're support.