They come across a herd of deer the morning before they reach the ford, nearly two weeks after being separated from their companions, managing to fell one before the rest of the animals flee. There is some debate about whether they stop to skin and dress their kill there and then, or carry on, until Dwalin points out that it will be easier to carry a whole deer than divide it up between them. They have little idea how close to the ford they are but it cannot be all that much longer until they meet up with the rest of the Company. Stopping now will only delay them further and it does not take much to find a couple of saplings which they can cut down to tie the doe to so that they can carry it more easily.
They pause for lunch, since they know that they have food for the next several days whether they find the Company or not, eating the remains of the pigeons that Kíli had brought down the previous day with relish. For this short while, in these barely occupied lands with plenty to eat, Nori has been able to forget what waits ahead of them. The five of them simply walk together, hunt and forage together, and talk about anything and nothing in a way that she knows they would not be able to with the wizard nearby and Thorin brooding over any and every delay. She suspects that waiting to see if they will be able to rejoin the Company is testing the limits of Thorin's patience. He has never been what Nori would think of as the most patient of people, his temper is certainly quick to flare, and combining his desire to reach Erebor in time to find the hidden door with his worry for his nephews and cousin will have that patience teetering on the edge of a blade. It makes her wonder how many of his companions Thorin has lashed out at over the last couple of weeks, not that there is anything to be done for it.
The first to spot them on the approach is Ori, who dashes out of a small copse of trees with a shout of her name, flinging himself at her when he gets close enough and dragging her into a fierce hug. Dori is not far behind and though his pace is a little slower there is none of the stately decorum which she might have expected and his embrace is no less fierce, strong enough to make her gasp.
"I need my ribs," she reminds him with a breathless chuckle. "It's good to see you too, fusspot," she adds.
He shakes his head, then cracks his skull against hers, though it lacks the force of Dwalin and Balin's greeting with one another. The deer carcass is quickly taken by Bofur and Bombur, who are already discussing the best way to cook it with their limited supplies, although those are augmented by Briar's very full canvas bag of foraged berries, greens and mushrooms. Nori had never believed she would be so pleased to see green food as she has been the last ten days or so, has even spent some of that time learning a little bit more about the things that are safe to eat.
"Your hair is a state," Dori replies, lifting a partially unravelled braid.
"Been a bit busy trying to get back to you lot to worry about it," Nori shrugs. He scoffs at her. "I was worried about you as well," she adds in a low voice, then slings an arm around Ori's shoulders.
They would begin walking back to camp, Dwalin and Balin already are as they discuss what the younger of the pair had seen under the mountains, but her attention is taken by Thorin, who has pulled both of his nephews into an almost crushing embrace. She cannot see her king's face, but from the way that both lads have hidden theirs in his shoulder she suspects that he is as relieved as they are and no less affected.
"I am beyond relieved to see you both alive and well, my lads," she hears him tell them and something ugly rears up inside her before she stamps it down again.
Kíli is her lad, she thinks spitefully, she has done more for that boy in the last thirteen years or so than she has ever seen Thorin do. It is a dark thought, Nori has never really been one given to jealousy and she resents the fact that it has appeared now. There is no need for it. Her bond with Kíli is no less deep than his with Thorin, it is different, but a powerful one all the same. Instead of examining it further, although she knows that some of her anger at the statement is rooted in Thorin's treatment of the boys during her previous life, she lets Ori lead her away as he talks about Gandalf finally catching them up and the wizard's concern that their party had been split by the rockfall.
They spend the rest of the afternoon getting cleaned up in the river, the ford point giving them a safe area in the otherwise deep and fairly rapid river to bathe. While getting clean has not been a priority over the last several days, Nori will not deny the fact that it is nice to properly scrub the lingering dust from the cave in and the mud from their climb through the tunnels from her skin. Even if the river is cooler than she would like, something Briar complains about but she does not shy away from the group as she has in the past. Although the accepted convention among dwarves is that married and courting couples will not bathe with others, at times like this such things are easily pushed aside in favour of convenience and a need to be clean. Just because her people are happy enough working filthy jobs and will travel for weeks on end without the facilities to bathe does not mean that they actually like being dirty.
By the time they are clean and dry, Bofur has managed to produce a warming venison stew, thickened with some wild barley that Briar had located on their journey and kept even though they had nothing to cook it properly with. Mushrooms, small wild onions and sprigs of wild garlic, some tuberous roots which Briar had told them were similar to potatoes and wild herbs which had been growing in vast bushes have been added for flavour and bulk and it is not long before the entire Company is silent aside from the odd slurp and sound of appreciation as they devour their meal.
"It is a relief that we are all together again," Gandalf says when they have all finished. The sun is just beginning to dip below the horizon and the camp in the trees is bathed in the burning orange of sunset.
"Yes," Thorin mutters, "I have not the words to describe how it feels to have them among us once more." He does, Nori thinks, Thorin always has the words when he needs them. "But it highlights a few things that cannot be ignored further."
"Such as?" Gandalf's tone is mild, but Nori knows that his mind must be going a mile a minute while he tries to work out what is going through Thorin's head.
"We've got the hardest part ahead of us still," Nori says, still looking at her empty bowl. "We all know the dragon won't exactly be easy, but people have stopped using the road through Mirkwood for a reason. It's not going to be easy getting through there. We all knew it was going to be one of the bigger obstacles in getting to Erebor."
"Indeed," Thorin agrees, "it was there that my father went missing a hundred years ago. That aside, recent events have served to remind me of how easily one of us could be lost during this quest. If I could guarantee that the price of success might only be myself I would pay it gladly. But knowing that I cannot control whether any of us are killed in this venture and coming so close to it happening, so close to it being three of those I care the most about in this world… The loyalty of those who have come on this quest astounds me, but I would not think poorly of anyone who decided that it might be best that they return home. In fact, there are those I might encourage to consider it."
There is a long moment of silence, though everyone knows that Thorin is referring to Fíli at least. Indeed, the older prince seems to seriously consider it for a moment and Nori does not blame him. She knows from their conversation that he does not really want to be here, that he is here out of duty to his uncle and brother. Although perhaps she should replace duty with love. Fíli is here because he loves his uncle and he loves his brother, and he is not at home because even though he would have put all of that aside if Hela had asked it of him, the lass he has married loves him enough to recognise that this quest is where Fíli should be.
"I know what you are offering me, Uncle," the lad in question says, "and I thank you. I won't lie and say that the thought hasn't crossed my mind. I'd like little more than to be in Thorinuldum with Hela, but as long as you and Kíli are determined to complete this I will be continuing onwards."
"There will be no shame in turning back," Thorin tells him. "Not for you or any of the others should they wish to."
"Thorin," Gandalf leans forward, "Erebor must be reclaimed."
"And I will go forward with any who wish to continue," Thorin nods. "But recent events have made just how perilous this whole thing is abundantly clear and I would not have anyone continue forward who has any doubts, or who's heart is called home. Mahal has not blessed me with children of my own, Fíli and Kíli are the closest I have to sons. To lose either of them for the sake of the home of my youth would be too high a price, and I have lost too much in my life to add theirs to the total. If they or any of the others wish to turn back, now will be the time to speak. Once we have crossed the ford there will be no turning back."
Dwalin gives her a long look, aware of her doubts under the mountain. If Fíli and Kíli are going, however, there is no question at all about whether Nori will stay with them. She nods to him, they are staying if the boys are.
"Briar?" Kíli turns to the hobbit. "I know how hard it was under the mountains for you."
"I'm going wherever you go," she tells him. "If you want to carry on for Erebor I'll be with you."
"Then we're decided, Uncle," Kíli grins, "we're going with you."
There is a chorus of agreement from the others and Gandalf leans back with the kind of satisfied half smile that Nori wishes she could wipe off his face. As though sensing her irritation the wizard gives her a half nod and a wink.
"I don't deserve such loyalty," Thorin admits when the others have fallen silent. "But I am grateful for it beyond measure. I could not ask for better companions, and I'm certain that together we will reclaim Erebor for the sake of our children and all the generations to come."
Not to mention the treasure, Nori thinks while the others nod and cheer.
She does not miss the moment when Briar takes advantage of everyone else being distracted to approach Gandalf, nor the way that the wizard follows her away from the camp. It takes Nori a moment, the horrible little ring Briar had found under the mountain almost forgotten until now, but when she remembers she is relieved that the hobbit has not let it slip her mind. Idly, she wonders what the wizard will say, then pushes the thought to the side in favour of basking in being among her people and family once more. It is harder to worry about the path ahead of them when all she can feel is the relief of seeing for herself that her brothers are alive and well.