Memories

Dori was impressed by the sheer quantity of tea Bilbo Baggings had. The two shelves were so full of different exotic scents that it immediately charmed the dwarf's nose. Yet he was wary of the little hobbit who had run after them, leaving his slightly lonely but lovely smial behind. It was his job after all, as the oldest to not give his trust easily. Dori didn't always have trust issues, but once his mother died after giving birth to Ori, it fell on his too young shoulders to care for his family. And if that hadn't been tiring. Dori hadn't been ready for such responsibility, yet if fell in him like a slap to the face. So yes, the eldest of the Ri's brothers didn't trust just anybody, especially not that sheltered child that had been called burglar by a mad wizard.

He was not blond, he saw the way the little creature tried yo make himself useful with hundreds of small tasks and favors for every dwarf that asked. It was, he guessed, a sweet intention but it did nothing to ease the tension he felt towards the hobbit. It started be easier to talk with Bilbo as his friendship with Ori and Nori grew stronger, but he was not interested in making small useless talk while he had to worry about his reckless brothers. It was after Bilbo saved Thorin, his leader, his king, when his own subjects couldn't, that Dori had his first true conversation with the burglar. " Why did you do it?" Bilbo blinked when the white haired dwarf approached him suddenly. "What do you mean?" He asked as Dori sat next to him on the grass.

They were on their way to Gandalf's mysterious dangerous friend and the hobbit sat to rest his strained and sore muscles. "Why did you endanger your life for someone who isn't even your king and who didn't stop putting you down from the first time he saw you?" Dori repeated, somehow frustrated at the lack of cooperation he was showing. Bilbo frowned and stared at the eldest Ri brother. "Are you asking why I saved his stupid ass or why I didn't worry about my own reckless behind?" Dori exhaled by the nose growing more and more annoyed. "Is it not the same question?" Bilbo smirked at that. "Obviously it isn't. But if you really want to know, I will gracefully answer both of your questions. I saved Thorin not for him, but for Kili and Fili. They already lost their father, I will not sit back and watch them lose their uncle as well. As for why I didn't care about myself as I heroically threw myself between your king and a massive dangerous pale orc, well simply because I would not be needed as much as Thorin will be. Well it was great talking to you master Dori but I heard a out a nice stream near and I would love nothing more than a bath. Until we chat again."

And with that he was gone, just like Nori when he knew he was in trouble. Dori was shocked and even more then that, he was gobsmacked. What did he mean by I would not be needed as much as he will? He frowned as his protective side wanted nothing more than to lock the irresponsible hobbit in a room and not let him out before at least 20 full years. Then they arrived at Beorn's and Dori kinda forgot about his conversation with Bilbo.

It was not before one fateful evening when a slightly tipsy hobbit told them he was only 50 years old that the white haired dwarf felt the pull to protect him once more. For Mahal's sake, he was just a child! Yes, he heard that hobbit came of age at 33 but it was still shocking for the whole company. The dwarrows came of age at 72 years so by dwarrows years, they had dragged a mere child on a suicidal quest. Isn't that just fucking great? Dori started fussing over the hobbit after that moment, even if he tone it done a little when Bofur, Bombur, Bifur and Bilbo showed off their family braids to the company.

It was at Mirkwood that the white haired dwarf and the little hobbit really grew closer than two comrades. The dwarrows were all locked up in the tree-shagger's dungeons while Bilbo was trying to find Thorin desperately without much success. It had been a week since they were captured and Dori saw how their burglar grew worryingly paler and thinner. The dark circles around his eyes were getting darker and thicker, he seemed so exhausted. If Dori didn't know any better, he would have said that it was a ghost and not his comrade. "Bilbo you have to eat and sleep." Dori scolded and Bilbo had the sense to look ashamed, cheeks reddening. "I can't eat, they would know I'm here. I have to be discreet. They will find me. They will find me Master Dori, they'll find me." Dori knew what was happening, the hobbit was having a panic attack. "Shh calm down, calm down Bilbo. Everything is gonna be alright. Just calm down. Breathe in, breathe out. In and out just like me. Do like me Bilbo, in and out. That's it. In and out. Perfect, you're doing perfectly." Bilbo was calming himself slowly, his tears calming a little.

Dori could recognise a panic attack, Ori himself had his lot of them each time Nori didn't come home the evening. He knew how to calm them, of course he knew. He had to learn or he would have lost his baby brother. But right now he just wondered how they could have left so much responsibility on a 50 years old. How he could have let that happen. He knew all too well how too much responsibility felt and how horrible it was for a child. Dori couldn't just let it pass. " Thank you Master Dori. I don't know what just happened to me. Could you... umm just not mention it to the others?... I don't want to worry them when there is absolutely no need to..." Bilbo asked shyly and the dwarf found himself nodding but internally promising he would never leave the hobbit alone. That he would always have a shoulder to cry on when the need arose. Bilbo Baggings always will have friends and family to lean on. Always, Dori swore, always.

Next: Nori

Sorry for the late update, school's been crazy!