Understandings
This will be an AU/Slash/Mpreg tale. Sorry for those that don't like that genre, but this story has been itching to be written. Give it a shot if you dare.
This veers off of canon a lot. Sorry for canon lovers. Quite a twist in the story of the Ri brothers' pasts too so be warned.
Please review and let me know what you think, good or bad.
I own nothing. Poop!
Chapter Twenty-One
Slowly time ticked, and Dwalin felt like ripping his beard out in chunks. He gasped suddenly when a loud cry of an angry infant rang out an hour later.
"My daughter is born," Dwalin whispered as cheers rang out around him, "Balin, do you hear her cries? She is a warrior!"
"I do," Balin grinned out, "Jocelin sounds just like you did as a babe."
"Are you feeling anything from Nori?" Dori demanded looking anxious, "Anything at all?"
"No," Dwalin denied, "I sense no pain or discomfort at…uhn!"
The warrior gritted his teeth as icy pain shot straight through him. Something was wrong. Something was happening to Nori. He heard voices shouting before looking up when the door to the healing wing slammed open.
"Dwalin, get in here now!" Oin shouted with an apron stained in a lot of ruby, red blood, "Hurry!"
Dori shouted questions while Dwalin plowed through the crowd and into the room as Oin shut the door with a slam.
"There is no pretty way of putting this, Dwalin. Nori is hemorrhaging," Oin barked jerking the larger dwarf over towards the operating table, "Bolster his energy quick, but not all at once. Nori can't handle that. He's too weak. Focus and do your duties."
Dwalin couldn't see his husband's body as he moved to do as the healer asked of him. Nori was covered with a raised blanket from his neck down and Oin and Lord Elrond was doing something behind it. The warrior hissed at the pool of blood around the table.
"What have you done to him?" Dwalin growled as he rested his hand on his pale mate's forehead to give him energy while stroking his other hand down Nori's long braid, "Why is this happening? I thought you two have done surgeries like this before?"
"Shut up! We are doing our best. There are complications working against us," Oin snarled, "Elrond, the blood is stemming now. Hurry with the afterbirth."
Dwalin grimaced and laid his forehead to his husband's as he slowly helped to keep his Nori going. What the hell did Oin mean by "complications?"
"I'm here, Magpie," Dwalin whispered to Nori, "I'm here and our daughter is too. She is still crying loud. Our treasure is strong and announcing her birth to the mountain. Hold on for Jocelin. Hold on for me too, Nori. Just keep remembering that there is much that you still needed to do here with me and our babe. Don't leave me alone. I need you, Nori. I love you."
The warrior continued talking softly to his husband for several long moments before he was told to be silent.
"I am just reminding Nori of why he can't leave," Dwalin bit out feeling more stressed than when he had faced Smaug.
"Let Lord Elrond work," Oin instructed, "The rest of Nori's care rests with him."
The warrior blinked at this. He never thought he'd ever have to rely on an elf for anything. Dwalin narrowed his eyes when Lord Elrond began to chant as the smell of athelas filled the room. What was this?
"Come, Lad," Oin urged as he pulled Dwalin away, "Let the elf lord work. Come meet your daughter."
"I don't want Nori left alone," Dwalin denied looking torn, but wanting to meet the newest member of his family, "I-I don't feel right about this."
"Nori needs elven magic to heal properly. There was more going on during that surgery than just assisting your daughter to greet the world," Oin admitted as Dwalin looked at him in surprise while the healer practically shoved him out of the healing ward and into another room, "Dwalin, Nori had scar tissue that was ages old that was causing some of his strain. The elf and I removed most of it, but the worst bit led to Nori nearly bleeding out. You gave Nori the strength to pull through, but now your husband needs Lord Elrond's attentions."
"Scar tissue?" Dwalin echoed before growling, "His mother's doing?"
"Yes," Oin agreed as Dwalin snarled where he stood, "Enough of that now. You'll frighten the baby. Come meet your lassie. She is truly one of the most beautiful, wee dams I've ever had the privilege of helping to deliver. Come see your pride. Sit in that chair right there."
Dwalin reluctantly settled down, but eagerly took the squirming bundle that was handed to him from a nearby bassinet. The lassie was screaming her unhappiness in loud wails of indignation while here face shone red in anger. It was the most beautiful sight Dwalin had ever seen in his life.
"Mahal," Dwalin gasped while he looked upon his daughter marveling that she fit neatly in his two hands, "Treasure, you are so beautiful. Is the little lady not happy? I hear you, Darling. There, there, Treasure. Calm down. I'm here. What a pretty little dam I have. Yes you are. Look at your perfect hands and gorgeous eyelashes and…oh! Look, Oin. Yes, Treasure. That's my beard. What a strong grip you have."
"Now I do believe that sets a new record," Oin chuckled as Dwalin gleefully endured the yanking on his beard, "Reached right for you from the beginning. She's something."
"Yes you are, Jocelin," Dwalin hummed rocking his daughter as he stroked one tiny fist, "There, there, Pretty Girl. You have your da's hair. I'm so glad."
Jocelin's mane was thick with Nori's ginger-brown locks. Dwalin bounced his babe and smiled even brighter as his own eyes looked up at him from his daughter's face. She had the softest skin and still cried loud at being up rooted from the warmth the babe wanted again.
"Hello, Jocelin," Dwalin cooed bouncing his daughter as her cries stemmed, "You have my eyes. There, there, Love. I'm here. Papa's here. You see Papa? I know you see my beard because you're yanking on it hard. Strong just like a warrior of the House of In. Papa's so proud. I'm your papa and I'm going to keep you safe while Da heals up good. You hear that, Treasure?"
"She is smaller than she should be since she is early, but healthy," Oin reported as he worked at untangling the babe's fingers from Dwalin's beard, "She's got Nori's features, but that nose is neither your mate's or yours."
"That is my mother's nose," Dwalin admitted kissing the button nose of his daughter as she regarded him with big eyes and trembling lips, "What a beautiful girl I have. I have the prettiest lassie in the world. Yes, I do. Lads will want to covet my lassie and I'll break every single one of their skulls. Yes, I will, Treasure. Only the most worthy lad can ever woo my daughter. Only perfection for my perfection. Isn't that right, Jocelin?"
Dwalin grinned even wider as Jocelin hiccupped and cuddled against his chest. A great gush of pride and love welled up so strong in the warrior's chest that he thought he just might burst at the seams. Now he just wanted his Nori to be here too and the world would be perfect.
"I pity any lad that tries to woo your daughter," Oin chuckled as Dwalin glanced at him, "She is a thing of beauty, Cousin. Congratulations."
"Thank you," Dwalin whispered looking back to his babe in awe as he tucked the blankets around her snugger, "Welcome to the family, Daughter. I love you so much, Treasure."
Dwalin's head snapped up as Lord Elrond stepped silently into the room.
"How is my husband?" Dwalin demanded.
"Master Nori's incision is stitched and healing," the elf began, "Master Dwalin, your mate had an extremely hard time during the surgery. He is very weak, but still fighting. Master Nori has been placed into a healing sleep now. I have hopes that he will wake."
"Have hopes?" Dwalin questioned standing with his daughter, "What are you talking about? I thought you said Nori was in a healing sleep? Healing means he'll be okay, right?"
"Dwalin, Nori had been torn up inside pretty badly," Oin sighed, "There is no guarantees in anything in life and you know this. Hopefully Mahal has need of Nori to stay here and not be called to His halls. We'll have to wait and see how things go."
"My husband won't leave," Dwalin decided feeling strangely calm, "He fights through anything. Nori won't leave Jocelin and I alone. He'll wake."
Oin and Lord Elrond looked at one another and nodded. Really only time would tell anyway.
"Go introduce your daughter to her extended family," Oin pushed, "Keep her calm and bring her back in a few minutes. Go on through that door there. Lord Elrond and I will settle Nori into a clean room while you are gone. One step at a time, Cousin."
Dwalin sighed and then nodded firmly. He refused to believe that Nori would ever leave his new family. Dwarves looked up when he stepped outside a different door from the one he had entered.
"Keep quiet, but come meet Jocelin of the House of In," Dwalin proudly ordered as everyone scampered his way, "Keep your voices down, but isn't she beautiful?"
"Gorgeous," Balin sighed smiling at the babe's little grunts and sniffles, "Hello, my niece. She has our mother's nose, Dwalin. Aren't you so pretty? Has she shown her strength yet?"
"Yanked my beard practically off my face first thing when she and I met," Dwalin bragged as quiet cheers rang out while Bilbo looked confused, "Someone explain to the hobbit what I'm speaking about."
"Bilbo, dwarflings show their strength for life by how quickly they find and yank on their parents' beards," Bombur explained as the Halfling nodded in understanding, "I thought my youngest was one of the fastest dwarven babes to show his strength, but Dwalin's daughter even beat my son's record. Baby Jocelin did not waste time on making her presence known. She will be something as she ages."
"She is already a lovely lass," Bilbo offered shyly as Dwalin puffed up feeling even more proud.
The others dwarves pushed forward to look and compliment the tiny babe. Bifur grinned when Dwalin pulled out the stuffed bunny from his coat and tucked it next to his daughter.
"Jocelin looks a lot like Nori," Ori chirped with glowing eyes, "Hello, Pretty Girl. I'm your Uncle Ori. Dori look at our…Dori?"
"I'm your Uncle Dori," the eldest Ri sobbed as he stroked a small fist, "You look so much like your da did as a babe, dearest Niece. You will know only happiness, Sweet One. Dwalin, how is Nori? What happened to him that you were needed? I saw the blood on Oin."
"My mate hemorrhaged and lost a lot of blood," Dwalin sighed placing his daughter on his shoulder to pat her back as she began to grizzle unhappily, "Nori is in a healing sleep right now. He'll wake when he gets stronger."
"Let me," Thorin ordered as Dwalin laid his daughter into the King's waiting hands, "Welcome, Jocelin, daughter of Dwalin and Nori of the House of In. Your king and cousin greet you and accepts the kinship of your existence. You are a blessing from Mahal and will be cherished as the jewel you are. Long may you grace these halls with your beauty, Little One. She is lovely, Dwalin. You must be so proud."
Jocelin looked up for a moment before fussing softly. Dwalin smiled and took his daughter back in his arms to settle her.
"I am beyond proud, but I need to take her back to Oin now," Dwalin reported as whines rang out, "Jocelin and I will be waiting for her da to wake. Thank you all for everything, but I need to stay with my family now. I…Mahal! I'm a father. I'm really a father. Excuse me."
Chuckles followed as Dwalin returned through the door he had exited. Oin immediately took Jocelin with reassurances that she was going to get an exam and then be brought back to him. The warrior grew grim when he was led to see Nori. The dwarf's hair was loose now and fell around his head revealing the extent of the ginger that dusted his chestnut locks.
"Magpie," Dwalin moaned seeing his mate pale and still, "You've done so well. Our lassie is a vision. You rest and get better for her. I'm here."
Dwalin whispered quietly to Nori as he held his husband's hand. His mate was obviously weak, but still breathing and fighting to remain so. The warrior poured more energy bit by bit into Nori to try and help.
"That's good, but enough," Oin insisted handing Dwalin his sleeping daughter and leading him out of the room, "You have no more strength to give. You've done well by Nori, Dwalin. He could have asked for nothing more during the pregnancy."
"Don't say that like…like Nori's leaving," Dwalin bit out, "It's like you and that elf have given up on my mate. Are you letting Nori die?"
"Of course not," Oin hissed before calming, "I would never give up on a patient. Nori's just…Dwalin, his case is complicated. His mother did a lot of internal damage that hadn't healed well. If Lord Elrond wasn't here, Nori would have died."
Dwalin stepped back as he cradled his babe and closed his eyes for a moment.
"Focus, focus, focus," the warrior coached himself, "Stay calm. No anger. Nori can't handle that. Neither can your treasure. Focus. Breathe."
"Dwalin?" Oin asked as the larger dwarf looked back up.
"How bad?" Dwalin asked finally.
"Not that bad now," Oin answered, "I've removed bone shards and scar tissue that had impeded some blood flow. He's a survivor. Nori's system rerouted some arteries over the years. Your mate also has some mild nerve damage that he has learned to deal with. Nori probably doesn't even recognize that his left shoulder is a bit weaker than his other side."
"I did," Dwalin gasped, "I thought it was from an old injury. I guess in a way that is the truth. I've tried to reach him through our bond. Nori's mind is completely closed."
"That is because I have given him a very strong sedative," a voice said as Lord Elrond walked into the room, "I have found that if an individual's mind is not active, then the body can concentrate on healing without influences from emotions. Your mate is merely deeply asleep. He…."
The elf lord trailed off as the door to the infirmary hit the ground.
"What the hell is going on?" Dori bit out as he walked in trailing struggling dwarves trying to hold him back, "Where is my little brother? Unhand me, Fools! Dwalin, where is Nori?"
The warrior stared in shock at the eldest Ri. Jocelin chose that moment to wake and fuss loudly.
"That is a hungry cry," Dori pointed out, "Has my niece eaten yet? Have any of you even bothered to request some warm, goat's milk? Nori will have your heads if he knows that his daughter is not being cared for properly. Have to do everything myself! I'll get the bottle and then I'm going to see my little brother and no one better get in my way."
Dori stomped back the way he had come as Jocelin whimpered hungrily.
"I was just about to do that," Oin groused staring angrily the way Dori had left.
"You can't stop him when he gets like that," Ori sighed from the floor, "Pitched a fit when he thought too much time had gone by when he and I should be allowed to check on Nori."
"Flattened tha lot of us," Bofur chuckled as Bifur pulled him from the floor, "Sorry about your door, Oin."
Dwalin snorted as Lord Elrond raised an eyebrow.
"Dwarves," Thorin huffed dusting himself off as he glared at the elf, "We don't mess about. We make things happen."
"I see," Lord Elrond voiced with a hint of amusement in the twitch of his lips.
"Are you hungry, Baby?" Balin cooed to Jocelin as her cries grew louder, "Uncle Dori is fetching your milk. Hush now. Dwalin, we'll need a seat so Dori can feed the darling once he gets back. My niece is so hungry, aren't you, Jocelin?"
"My daughter is hungry and I will feed her," Dwalin insisted rocking his crying babe as he pulled up a chair, "Dori will not take my daughter from me. Not happening."
Dori came back at a run and handed the warm bottle off to the warrior. Dwalin smiled as his daughter chugged hungrily at her first meal.
"A proper dwarven appetite," Bombur chuckled, "She's healthy."
"Hold her head a little higher," Dori ordered as Dwalin adjusted Jocelin, "Tell me about Nori. How is my brother?"
"Sedated," Dwalin admitted as Dori hissed, "Dori, let Jocelin eat and I will explain everything in a moment. Don't distract me from my lassie. Right, Treasure?"
Dori nodded tersely and all watched as the new babe finished her first bottle and gave her first belch after eating as her father patted his daughter's back.
"Big sound from a tiny babe," Dwalin chuckled as Jocelin drifted to sleep.
"There is a crib in Nori's room," Oin instructed, "Take her in there with Dori and Ori."
"Plus my brother and our king," Dwalin nodded out, "Let's go."
The group was led by Dwalin into Nori's room and all were silent as the warrior laid his daughter into the crib and tucked her in with her bunny.
"Mahal," Dori moaned with a fist to his mouth as he stared at his brother, "He's…Mahal, this is the way he looked after Mother nearly killed him. Nori was so still and so pale. Dwalin, tell me about my brother."
Dwalin did. He explained everything that had been found during the surgery as Dori and Ori choked and shook.
"Oh, no," Balin breathed closing his eyes, "What more can that dam do to try and destroy her own son even no longer being here? Even in death her touch still lingers."
"He'll not give up," Ori whispered trying to soothe Dori as he silently sobbed, "Nori never gives up. Not my brother. Nori will wake again. Dori, he'll wake again, right? Nori will wake up and raise his daughter and be with Dwalin and be happy, right? He will, right?"
Dwalin blinked as the eldest Ri brother tensed and straightened as if a lever had been released. Dori whole focus changed and he was all business again.
"Nori will be fine," Dori reassured firmly and stomped over to kiss the still dwarf's forehead, "You just rest and heal. I'll be back, Nori."
Dwalin, Ori, Balin, and Thorin watched as Dori marched outside calling for Oin and Lord Elrond to "explain everything about Nori, dammit, or I'll rip off limbs."
"Dwalin?" Ori called looking up at his brother-in-law.
"Nori will not leave us," Dwalin insisted, "Go after your brother. You are the only one that can control him at the moment."
Ori nodded and darted over to kiss his brother's cheek before taking off after Dori.
"He looks awful," Thorin sighed walking over to gaze down on Nori, "However, there is tension here. Do you see it?"
"I do," Dwalin agreed coming over to stroke his mate's hair back from his face, "I can't feel Nori through our bond, thanks to the sedation, but I know my mate. Nori's fighting. He'll not leave unless his body gives out and I'm here to give him strength."
"Except for the fact that you will be unable to do that a few days from now," Balin sighed as Dwalin grimaced, "Remember that a sire can only share strength for five days after the birth of a babe and then that ability ends unless another pregnancy occurs."
"No more pregnancies," Dwalin denied tersely, "Our lassie is good enough for me. Nori's too tiny and his system has been through too much to go through this again. I will feed him energy for as long as I can."
"Let's hope that is enough then," Thorin encouraged, "Dwalin, you just watch over Nori and feed him energy. That means that you need to look after yourself too. Nori and your beautiful daughter are resting now. You should do the same."
"Okay," Dwalin agreed already noticing a cot that Oin had set up in the corner near the crib and Nori, "Balin, you will stay and watch over my family? I don't want to be sleeping if a need arises."
"Of course," Balin agreed pulling up a chair, "I'll wake you if you are needed."
"Thorin, you'd better hunt down the other two Ri brothers," Dwalin pointed out before leaning over his mate, "I'm here, Nori. I'm right here and so is our lassie. You rest and come back to the two of us. I love you, Magpie. You have done such a good job so far. Keep up the good work."
Dwalin checked on his babe and reached to stroke the downy head before crawling onto the cot and falling into an anxious, but exhausted sleep.
To be continued…