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Dori and Nori had discussed what they would ask Dwalin to do the day before and they were both up early in the morning waiting impatiently for Dwalin and Ori to arrive. Dwalin was dressed for battle when he walked through the front door of the inn but he looked more relaxed that Dori would have expected. A few of the patrons turned to look at the warrior and the younger dwarf standing next to him but it was too early for hobbits and most of the beings there did not want to be involved in anyone else's business.

Dori nodded at Dwalin and then led the way to the small sitting room that Thorin has organised for the sole use of his dwarves. The dwarf king was nowhere to be seen as they took seats around the table. A few minutes later food and drink were placed on the table and they all set themselves to eating.

Dori was displeased to notice that Dwalin was not affected by nerves as he ate heartily. He also noted that the warrior placed all of his apple onto Ori's plate and Ori shared his ham in turn. Dori found he could not focus on the food in front of him with Dwalin and Ori across from him. Ori's elbow was pressed into Dwalin's as they were using their outside hands to eat. They were sitting close, not truly paying attention to one another but they appeared to be always aware of the other next to them. It was not the way that Dori had believed Dwalin would act. The warrior was not one to participate in physical contact. While they had been journeying he had kept his distance from everyone if there was not a fight to be had and yet Dwalin did not seem to notice, nor care, that the youngest Ri brother was within his personal space. Everything Dori was seeing made him wonder what had altered the dwarf. The Head of the Royal Guard was steadfast and immovable – he had no compassion for anyone that was not his brother. Dwalin had not cared what cause a dwarf had for doing something nor the severity of what they did as he would never bend enough to be lenient with anyone. He had once arrested Fíli with no care to the fact that he was the King's heir; though both Thorin and Dís had agreed with his actions and had even made Fíli remain in the gaol for longer than was required for so minor a misdemeanour. Dwalin had never been known to spend time with anyone and there had never been even the hint that he would allow someone close enough to get past the wall that he had erected to keep him from other dwarves.

Yet here he was sitting so comfortably with Ori as though they did it constantly, as though they had spent a great deal of time together when it was obvious that they could not have – that they could not have hidden such a deep comfort from everyone for so long. Dori could not believe that his brother would manufacture the comfort he was in with Dwalin and yet Dori did not know how he could have been deceived by him while they had been at home in Erebor. They were too at ease with one another – acting more like a couple long bonded than two dwarves that had barely been able to spend time together. They did not act like dwarves that were only physically intimate and yet Dori found it hard to believe that his brother would lie to him if he was truly in love and in a relationship even if it was with Dwalin.

Dori did not understand.

"Are you not hungry, Dori?" Ori asked, yanking his older brother out of his musings.

"No," Dori said, pushing his plate away.

Ori frowned at him for a moment and then turned to catch Dwalin's eye. Dwalin smiled at him with a little lift to his shoulders. Ori turned back to Dori, ignoring his own food. "Are you well?"

"Quite, just…how long have you been involved with Dwalin?"

Ori's frown deepened. "Since the night that Bilbo left."

"And which of you proposed the…relationship?"

"I did," Ori explained. "I could not watch Bilbo walk away from the dwarf who he had loved but had been treated so poorly by without at least telling Dwalin that I had feelings for him. I was lucky that he returned them."

"Impossible not to," Dwalin said gruffly, not looking away from Ori.

Something heavy and foul began to settle in Dori's stomach. "So it was you that chased Dwalin?"

"As I tried to tell you," Ori reminded, but there was no heaviness in his tone.

Dori nodded but kept silent and after a few minutes everyone returned to their eating. As soon as they were done Dwalin stood up and looked at Dori and Nori in turn.

"I believe you have a task for me to complete."

"Yes," Nori said, rubbing his hands together.

Dori knew that Nori was looking forward to a little revenge on Dwalin but Dori was not sure what to say now that he was faced with the realisation that he may have been wrong about all of this.

"We have decided that you need to create something," Nori said.

Dwalin frowned at him. "What?"

"It is no secret that the House of In has not been graced with a great skill with metal. You have to create something that will win Thorin's Royal Tinker Contest." The two Ri brothers had discussed ideas for a task at length but they were all too easy, too quick. Dori was sure that Ori would think he had to help Dwalin and that meant that they could not pick anything physical or intellectual. It had not been easy to decide on something but in the end they had found something that would take enough time for Dori to try and convince Ori he should rethink his decisions about Dwalin. It would also give them time to see if perhaps Ori had made the right choice – Nori had been most insistent that they did not discount that possibility.

Dwalin looked truly stunned and Ori glared fiercely at both of his brothers. "That is not fair."

"I will do it," Dwalin agreed readily.

"Dwalin," Ori said, turning to the other dwarf. "You do not have to complete this task."

"I will."

"I do not care if they give me their blessing, I will bond with you regardless." Ori stated, glaring at his brothers.

"I know," Dwalin said softly. "However I do not want you to deal with the tension that would then exist between you and your brothers."

Ori's face softened and he darted forward to kiss Dwalin. Then he turned on his brother's with a glare. "I will be helping him."

"You have my support," Dori said before he had even really thought the words. He could not tell who looked more surprised of the four of them but he knew it must be him.

"Dori?" Nori and Ori asked together.

Dori paused to collect his thoughts and then looked at Dwalin. "If you hurt him I do not care if you are the Head of the Royal Guard or the most well-known warrior in Erebor I will find a way to have revenge."

"As you should." Dwalin said, looking at Dori carefully.

Dori nodded, pleased. "However, now that I have seen you together you have my support."

"Oh, Dori," Ori said, standing to embrace his brother. "Thank you."

"You still need to complete our challenge," Nori said. "I do not think I will give my support until you have."

"Nori," Ori reprimanded just as Dwalin agreed readily to do so. Ori sighed and turned to Dwalin. "You do not need to do that."

"If it will completely prove to them both that I am serious then I will." Dwalin said, folding his arms across his chest.

"We will be bonded by the time the contest starts." Ori argued.

"I do hope so but I will do it anyway." Dwalin conceded, smiling softly.

Ori threw his hands up with a huff. "Oh, Mahal, save me from stubborn dwarves."

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