DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN THE HOBBIT.

some events mentioned here are related to my prior fanfiction, 'Here Comes the Durin Boys.' but it does not have to be read in order to understand this chapter. :)

This time we speak of kin,

Who talked and laughed over the din,

Who held us up when we fell,

And would brave tales tell, (Verse 8 of Requiem for Kings)

Bilbo walked out into his garden only to find the three Ri brothers standing in a small group amid the flowers of his garden. Dori was gesticulating wildly and softly hissing at Nori who was standing with his arm crossed over his chest. Ori was looking at the ground looking miserable. Bilbo took a step backward and winced as his foot crunched on a twig. Dori and Ori seemed to not notice but Nori head turned slightly to the side. Then without a word Nori turned away from Dori, who was still talking and walked over to Bilbo. Bilbo opened his mouth say something but the look in Nori's eyes stopped him and he allowed the dwarf to grab him by the arm and drag him along with him. Bilbo turned back to see Ori staring after them with his mouth open and the hurt look on Dori's face. He mouthed 'I'm sorry' to them as Nori pulled him into the house and then out of sight.

Bilbo tried to ignore the surprised looks on the faces of the other dwarves as Nori led him a quick place through the house and out the front door. He paused at the gate and turned to Bilbo.

"Do you need a coat or anything?" Nori asked, his voice thick and harsh. Bilbo swallowed and shook his head. Nori nodded and then proceeded to drag Bilbo out the gate and down the street. Bilbo groaned inwardly at the faces of the hobbits that they brushed past. Nori led down a path into the woods and when he reached the river he let go of Bilbo's hand. With a sigh threw himself in the ground and leaned with his back against a tree. Bilbo looked at Nori and then went to sit beside the dwarf. They sat for a while in a semi- awkward silence until Nori sighed again.

"Brothers are a pain," Nori muttered, "Always meddling in your business."

"I wouldn't know," Bilbo said, "I don't have any siblings. I am an only child."

"Must be nice," Nori said.

"Sometimes," Bilbo agreed, "But not all the time. When you lost those you care about, those are close to you and you are the only one left it gets rather lonely." Bilbo looked up into the trees but his mind was recalling those tragic days when his father and mother has passed away; and the gnawing loneliness that had gripped him for many long years after wards. The ache in his chest flared up painfully but Bilbo smothered it. They lapsed into silence again. Then Nori said softly.

"Master Baggins why do you think that Fili and Kili stood and died for Thorin?" Bilbo looked at Nori, but the dwarf was cleaning his fingernails with his throwing knife.

"What do you mean Nori?" Bilbo asked.

"I mean what I asked," Nori said looking at Bilbo, "Fili and Kili stood and fought till they died in front of Thorin. He had to watch them die. Why didn't they try to get away? It was over for Thorin anyway. Why would they stay and die?"

"Would you not stay and protect your brothers if that was you in Fili and Kili's place?" Bilbo asked surprised at Nori's words.

"Well I would if there was a chance. If one of them was on the verge of death and I could save the other, I would save that one and leave the other," Nori shrugged, "It makes sense. It does not make sense having all of us die."

"I see," said Bilbo finally beginning to catch onto to what was bothering Nori. "But if you were in Thorin's place…"

"I would make them leave," Nori said hotly, "Would I want to see my kin die in front my eyes for some fool's hope to save me? Of course not! Why would anyone want that?"

"Is that what you and Dori was arguing about earlier?" Bilbo asked gently. Nori was silent for a bit, pausing in his nail cleaning.

"Well no," he said resuming the cleaning, "I've not been out of jail for the last two years. Dori thinks I am being a bad influence on Ori. Like if the lad can't make up his own mind about what he wants to do by now. He survived the quest didn't he?" Nori paused but before Bilbo could respond, Nori spoke again.

"Dori thinks that I don't care about them anymore. It's not that. I…um…I do care. It's just that…I saw Fili and Kili dead on the battle field. I saw them huddled together in each other's arms, their foreheads pressed together. I saw their fingers gripping the other, cold and dead. If that was Dori and Ori…they would be the same way. Holding onto each other." Nori voice grew softer.

"I can't get the picture out my head. Dori and Ori dead and cold surrounded by rotting goblins. Every time I look at them the picture becomes more and more real. And I just can't take it. I love my brothers Master Hobbit. I'm just not good at this family thing. I can steal, I can lie, I can spy, but I can't tell my brothers I love them. The great Nori…" Nori voice hissed at the end as the blade cut suddenly into his finger.

"Oh Nori!" Bilbo exclaimed as great drops of blood dropped on the grass. Nori stuck his finger into his mouth. Bilbo shook his head and pulled the dwarf to the river edge and washed the hand out.

"I think you brother's know you love them and they love you too Nori," Bilbo said inspecting the cut, "Or else they would not meddle in your affairs. And they won't be concerned if you were setting a good example or not." Bilbo looked at Nori, who was watching into the water quite adamantly with his lips pressed hard together into a thin line. Suddenly he got and dusted off his clothes.

"Thank you for the talk Master Baggins," Nori said looking away from Bilbo, "If you don't mind, I am going off on my own for a bit." Again, before Bilbo could reply Nori had already moved away, moving quickly and quietly through the trees. Bilbo sighed and started back to his house.

Nori returned just in time for the reading of the question. Bilbo glanced anxiously at the master spy's haggard appearance but said nothing. He instead looked down at the sheet and read out loud.

"Who this day shall share a tale of love that ran as deep as gold?"

"I met Thorin in the day Fili and Kili got in trouble after drinking their first pints of ale. The young dwarf princes had taken on a challenge from a group of men and had bitten off a little more than they could chew. I knew them by sight. Not only because knew of their linage but you could see in the way they walked and the way they talked, that they were royal blood. When I saw Thorin fuming over them but still looking worried, it touched my heart," here Nori paused and glanced over quickly to Dori then continued, "I knew that he would be a good King if he would care for his people the way he cared for his kin. Our friendship was sealed that day, with a handshake and words that said what we needed to say without actually saying them. I understood him and he understood me. And in that moment I knew I would follow him where he led me." Nori flicked out his knife then stuck it back in the sheath deliberately. Bilbo realized that the knife cleaning was a nervous habit of Nori and the dwarf was trying to hold himself together.

"I kept an eye out for his nephews and his sister, but our paths never crossed until months later when I led him on his vendetta against a man that had almost killed Fili. I understood his desire, for I would have done so myself, if someone had hurt my brothers," Nori said, "I watched him fight and I saw him pour his fear and love into each blow, but what I didn't understand was why he didn't kill the man. He paused at the final blow and Fili and Kili got to him before he could. How could he not do it? Didn't he understand that if he let the man live his kin could be hurt again?" Nori seemed to be speaking to himself more than to the others.

"Just like I cannot understand why he would let Fili and Kili stand and die before him. Why? Why would you want to see your kin die in front of you? It is a thing more painful than death. It…" suddenly Nori voice stopped and Bilbo looked up to see Dori holding a trembling Nori against him.

The elder Ri bother was rubbing circles against the middle Ri brother's back , while Nori was holding onto Dori's tunic so tight, that his knuckles were white. For some reason Bilbo immediately thought of his little cousin Frodo and the ache in his chest started to throb. How many times had he held Frodo in that same silent hold, rubbing the child's back while Frodo wordlessly cried into Bilbo's chest?

"I don't understand Dori," Nori said brokenly, "I can't watch you and Ori die." Dori shook his head and Bilbo saw unfallen tears glistening in Dori's eyes.

"Well, it's love really," a soft somewhat musical voice said. The company tuned to see Ori get up from his seat and sit on the floor by his brothers.

"It's love Nori," Ori said, "If the positions were reversed, we would not leave you either, no matter how hopeless is was. Because love gives you hope. If there was one small breath in you , Dori and I would fight to make sure you keep breathing. Even if it meant giving our lives. Because we love you. Your life is more important than ours."

"But what is life without your love in it?" Nori said dropping one hand to his side. Ori took the hand and squeezed it.

"A life that you better keep on living for us, if you knew what was good for you," Dori said trying to sound gruff but the words came out brokenly, "Or do you think yourself unworthy of being our brother?" The silence that followed was almost deafening. Nori sniffed and Dori flung back and looked his younger brother in the eye.

"Nori?" he asked and Nori shifted his gaze away from Dori questioning one. Dori's face screwed up as tears fell from his eyes.

"Oh Nori!" Dori said pulling his brother back to him, "Nori, I'm sorry. I didn't mean for you to feel like that. Nori. Forgive me." Nori shuddered and then with a guttural groan hugged both his brothers and began crying. Bilbo turned his face away from the scene. He could hear the three Ri's muttering to each other softly. Everyone sat quietly until the moment had passed and hen Nori leaned back sniffing and still managing to look pompous.

"I may not still understand why he let them die," Nori said softly, "But I do understand why they let themselves die now. I would die too if it meant keeping my family safe."

Dori patted Nori's head and the gesture was so familiar that Bilbo knew Dori had done that same gesture for many many years to comfort his brother.

"Thank you Nori," Bilbo said, the seventh question has been answered."