Chapter Text
Ori woke to silence, and looked around, unsure of the time. He stretched out in bed, and chose his clothes for the day, still marveling over the quality of the cloth and the detailed embroidery decorating his clothes.
He walked out of his room quietly, and slowly made his way into the main area. The empty room did have a timepiece, a mechanical one, not a candle with notches in it that he would have used at home; instead, a large water clock on a pedestal in the corner of the room. He stood for a while, appreciating as the water flowed slowly from one vessel into another, and examined the ticks indicating the hour. He estimated that he had awoken a full candle mark before he was used to rising.
Ori stepped back from the time keeper, and moved towards the kitchen. There was a full stove, and the fire was burning low. Ori threw some coal into the fire, then examined the shelves and cupboards, smiling when he found the tea. He looked around the kitchen, eyes stopping on a stone basin with a drainage hole, with a spigot on top. He went there to fill the kettle with water. He wondered if he could find any books on the construction of the water system within the mountain, relieved he would not have to lug water from a local well as he had to do in Dale.
He kept the whistling cap off of the spout of the kettle, mindful not to wake anyone yet, and continued his search for breakfast food. He found dried oats, along with some dried fruits and nuts, and decided on making a simple porridge. It was easy enough that Ori felt confident making it. He added the fruit in with the water at the beginning, allowing the sweetness to soak into the oats as they cooked. He found a wooden board and a knife and chopped a wide variety of nuts - some of which Ori had only ever seen at the market. If they had nuts at all, it would be chestnuts that grew all over Dale, or sometimes walnuts as a gift from a farmer who came to Dori every year to sharpen his farming tools.
He heard a door open and the sound of someone walking down the hall. There was a pause. After a short moment, the footsteps continued, and Dwalin entered the kitchen. The dwarrow was fully dressed for the day, though his shirt was not buttoned all the way to the collar, and Ori"s eyes were drawn to where he could see Dwalin’s chest hair through the gap in the shirt. Dwalin cleared his throat, and Ori’s eyes snapped back up towards his face.
“I hope you found all you needed,” Dwalin said, still standing by the door. Ori hummed affirmatively, then said, “I wasn’t able to find the teapot.”
Dwalin walked into the kitchen, and opened one of the higher cabinets, “Do you have one you’d like?” he said, gesturing to a variety of pots.
One was white ceramic with a silver geometric pattern painted across the bottom, and Ori pointed to it. “That one looks nice,” he said.
Dwalin reached up for it, and as he did, Ori couldn’t help but stare once again as Dwalin’s sleeve rode up and Ori could see how muscled his arm was. Dwalin took the teapot over to where Ori had left the canister of tea, and added the leaves and boiling water to the pot. Ori had looked in the tin earlier, and was not surprised to find the tea leaves were of a much higher quality than what Dori could afford - whole leaves, dark and aromatic - not the bits and pieces Dori tended to buy.
Ori continued to watch as Dwalin went to another cupboard and pulled down some mugs that matched the teapot. It was only when Dwalin turned around that Ori looked through the cupboard for some bowls, and moved the porridge off of the stove.
Dwalin moved out of the kitchen, into another room Ori hadn’t been in before. Ori followed with two bowls of porridge and some spoons. He found himself in a rather grand dining area. Dwalin was at the foot of the table, pouring tea into the cups.
“This was my mother’s tea set,” Dwalin explained as he pushed a cup towards the seat next to his. Ori sat down and placed a bowl in front of Dwalin.
“The pattern on it is very fine,” Ori replied. Dwalin smiled softly, and Ori felt himself start to stare again. He mindlessly took a bite of his too hot porridge, and winced as it made its way down his throat.
“Nori looked well,” Ori commented, and he took small breaths trying to cool his mouth down subtly.
“If he’d stay out of poppy dens, he’d stay that way,” Dwalin replied, then his eyes widened, and he continued, “Well, I mean - or I didn’t mean-”
“He’d be stealing less, if he had less of a reason to steal,” Ori said, then sighed. “I suppose that’s why he would disappear for days on end. He didn’t want us to know.”
“Oin, a doctor - he’s been called to a number of cases where I’ve arrested someone under the mountain dealing. There has been an issue with some of the lower nobility’s sons who came home from when they didn’t bring Thror back,” Dwalin said, looking at his bowl and away from Ori.
“If Nori can talk with him, there are some herbs that can help. Poppy holds onto the soul as it leaves the body, or so I’ve heard. Oin has had some success easing the pain as the poppy lets go.”
Dwalin ate his porridge. If it was too hot for him, he gave no sign of it.
Ori looked at Dwalin and fiddled with his sleeves. “I know most folks, they think those caught in poppy smoke are too lazy, too selfish to find a trade and stick with it.”
“Poppy has its uses. It can stop someone from screaming in pain during surgery,” Dwalin said.
"It just seems so, so stupid of Nori and he’s so smart,” Ori said, surprised at the anger in his own voice. “He knows as with theft it comes with a price from the law. It’s just so risky and for what? An afternoon in a haze you can hardly remember?”
Dwalin shrugged. “I was hurt badly once, and drank one of Oin’s tonics. Most of my pain went away soon after. The pain was there, dulled, and yet it meant nothing. Maybe Nori’s looking for peace of mind and he’ll take a mockery of it.”
Ori felt his eyes sting, and he quickly wiped them with his sleeve, biting the inside of his cheek and willing the warmth in his eyes to go away. He looked away from Dwalin, and heard the other dwarf move.
“May I?” Dwalin said quietly, and Ori looked over to see the older dwarf"s hand hovering over his. He nodded, and Dwalin covered Ori’s hand in his own.
“I have seen dwarrows and dams caught up worse in the poppy, and their families cast them out for it. Nori won’t end up one of those folks, not with brothers like you and Dori,” Dwalin didn’t smile; his face was still serious, but there was a kindness in his eyes that made Ori look away for a moment.
Dwalin continued,“Oin thinks folks use it to dull their lives because there’s a pain they don’t know what to do with.”
“I - I’m so mad at him, for getting caught stealing over this - for risking so much for something he should know better than to do. He never talks about anything, and I don’t know what he was thinking - or why he didn’t just ask for help.”
“You’re also scared for him, aren’t you?” Dwalin asked, tightening his hand slightly, “I’m not supposed to know this - Oin’s worked with one of the judge"s sons over the poppy. He’s one of the judges who is taking a look at pardoning Nori,” Dwalin said. “I think with a good advocate, and if he’s willing to work with Oin, he could get past this.”
Ori took a shuddering breath in and smiled tightly. “You don’t have to - I know it must cost a lot to have a doctor from under the mountain to take a look at Nori - let alone a lawyer’s fees.”
Dwalin squeezed Ori’s hand briefly. “Gold"s only good for what it can get. Keeping it for the sake of keeping it doesn’t do me any good.”
Ori looked over at where their hands touched, and turned his hand so his palm faced Dwalin’s. Dwalin kept his hand atop of Ori’s, linking their fingers together before gently squeezing his hand once again.
“Thank you Dwalin, I really -” Ori felt his throat go tight, and he cleared his throat trying to speak again. “Nori doesn’t -” he heard his voice squeak out, and he swallowed around the lump in his throat.
“Nori isn’t really someone I’d think of as the bad sort,” Dwalin said when Ori went quiet, “He’s not on a good path, but he’s also not one for needless violence. He’s never been arrested for violence against a child or a sweetheart. The only fights I’ve pulled him out of - well, he didn’t throw the first punch. His biggest risk is to himself.”
“He doesn’t think things through,” Ori said quietly. His hand was very warm where it connected with Dwalin’s. He tightened his fingers briefly, and was rewarded with a sad smile from Dwalin.
“No, that he doesn’t,” Dwalin agreed, sounding sadder than Ori had expected. “Though it can’t have helped growing up where you did, with a father like yours.”
“Not that I’d know much about that,” Ori said with a sigh. “Nobody talks to me about him.”
Dwalin frowned, and said, “If you’d like, I tell you what he’s been arrested for, or why the guard is interested in him. I’ve only dealt with him personally on a few occasions.”
“I am surprised the captain of the guard has dealt with a petty thief as much as you have,” Ori said. He was surprised when Dwalin started to turn pink around his ears.
“Nori - well, he was a bit of a special case. The city guards - we’re trying to crack down on them adding to the bail costs to line their pockets,” Dwalin said before looking away. “And I knew your family was tight for money. They don’t do it with the higher ranking guards around - and - well,” Dwalin looked back at Ori, “I wanted - I hoped…”
“You wanted the chance to talk with me?” Ori asked, and Dwalin nodded, and his shoulders drooped.
“Aye. Though I know now that’s not good grounds for getting to know someone.”
“I was grateful, whenever I saw that it was you,” Ori said looking again at where their hands connected, “The other guards can be - unkind.”
Dwalin looked at Ori for a long moment, nodded, then looked as though he was going to say something. Whatever it was, it was interrupted by sounds from the hall. Dwalin squeezed Ori’s hand one last time, then withdrew his own hand.
“That’ll be Balin. You should get started on that” Dwalin gestured towards Ori’s bowl, “I’ll let him know we’re having breakfast in the dining room,” Dwalin said, getting up, leaving a half finished bowl of porridge. Ori looked down at his own breakfast, lump still stuck fast in his throat. He sipped at his tea until Balin entered the room, bowl in one hand. Dwalin followed soon after, smiling as at Ori as Balin went to take his seat.
“So, lad, what do they have you doing at the library?” Balin asked, and Ori swallowed one last time, before explaining his new studies.
Breakfast passed quickly after that, with Ori explaining what he liked best about the library. At the mention of Kylasa, Balin gave Dwalin a significant look across the table. Ori paused for a moment, and continued after neither brother said anything.
After Ori had exhausted his library gossip, Balin explained the rather intricate details of a trade treaty he was involved in, and Dwalin let out a loud sigh. Balin ignored him, and continued on with painstaking detail.
Dwalin gathered up the breakfast dishes, and left them by the sink as Balin explained they would be having a maid come in to clean and do laundry. Ori nodded at the appropriate moments, only half listening. He was more focused on the look exchanged earlier by the Longbeard brothers.
He heard murmurs between the brothers as he went to gather the quill and quill knife given to him by Helg. Dwalin’s uncle had been most generous at ensuring Ori had only the best equipment for his work.
Balin smiled at him once he returned, though Dwalin was absent. Ori looked down the hall and noticed that the door to Dwalin’s room was closed.
“He’s just getting ready,” Balin said, following Ori’s glance. Ori nodded, and fidgeted with the corners of his sleeves. He stopped himself when he felt Balin watching him.
Dwalin came down the hall, dressed for a day with the guard. Ori saw Balin raise an eyebrow and Dwalin, who did not respond to whatever his brother was trying to communicate. Ori could feel frustration building inside his chest as he watched them. It reminded him of when Dori would talk with the journeymen at the shop about him while he stood well within earshot.
“Well, we’d best be off,” Dwalin said, gesturing to the main doors. Ori nodded and followed him. They walked the halls in silence, watching as well dressed dwarrows passed them by.
“About Kylasa,” Dwalin began after some time walking in silence.
They were alone in the corridor. Ori could feel his frustration leak into his voice when he said, “Yes?”
Dwalin sighed loudly, and said, “I don’t expect you spent time studying the genealogy of the noble families under the mountain.”
“No. If it wasn’t something to bring bread to the table, it tended to go by the wayside,” Ori replied, readying himself for an argument. He tried to catch Dwalin’s eye, but Dwalin was looking at the wall well away from Ori.
“I know you’ve spoken with some of your cousins,” Dwalin began, still not quite looking at Ori, “I thought I should warn you, she’s one of them.”
Ori stopped walking, and after a moment Dwalin noticed and turned to look at him.
“We’re related?” Ori asked, and Dwalin was finally looking him in the eye.
“Your mother was blessed with many brothers,” Dwalin said, “your cousin Rimuk, the one who used to drag Nori out of trouble - he mentioned once any of the cousins younger than Dori don’t know they had an aunt. Your cousin said name was erased in Riias’ home, and they were told never to mention her. Kylasa likely doesn’t know.”
Ori felt his chest tighten at the thought of how that must have hurt his mother. He took a few steading breaths, frustration battling hard with sorrow and joy.
“You ought to know, when Riias finds out you’ve joined the library’s staff, it might get messy,” Dwalin said, reaching one hand out, and stopping short of touching Ori’s shoulder.
“Why does he care, after all these years - children are not so common you can just - just throw them away,” Ori replied angrily.
Dwalin was watching him carefully, his hand withdrawn back to his side. Ori could hear footsteps approaching him from behind. He stepped closer to Dwalin, and Dwalin shifted, hiding him from whoever was about to walk past. There was a long silence as another dwarrow walked down the corridor. They seemed to slow as they approached, and Dwalin turned and glared at them. Ori couldn’t really see much beyond their fine clothing, though he did see the dwarf speed up once Dwalin looked over at them.
“Honor among noble dwarrows is not - it’s not a thing of sense. It’s all hot emotion and pride,” Dwalin said once they were alone again. “What happened to your family - your mother was cruel.”
“Will Riaas - could he get me removed from the library?” Ori asked, clenching his hands. Quickly, Dwalin shook his head.
“He’d have to fight Helg, who likes you. If worse came to worse, Thorin would step in for you.”
“Why would a king’s son step in for a mother’s son?” Ori asked, willing himself to stop himself from clenching his jaw. He could feel the tension bleeding into his teeth.
“I’ve saved his life in battle,” Dwalin said, a note of sadness in his voice. He shook his head, his eyes focused on the wall behind Ori’s shoulder then looked back, straightening himself once more.
“You’ve joined my family. He and I are brothers in arms. He’d do what it takes for my sake. And,” Dwalin continued on in a lighter tone, “I’ve also heard that Helg has refused to fire a number of young scribes at their parents" requests. I think he takes some joy in keeping them on.”
Ori did not reply, instead his thoughts focused back on his mother. A long silence stretched between him and Dwalin, only to be broken when Dwalin said, “I didn’t know how to tell you - I know you have a lot to think about right now.”
“It"s better to know then be caught by surprise,” Ori replied and sighed, “we’d better go, I’ll be late if we don’t leave now.”
The rest of their walk was a silent one, though Ori found himself watching Dwalin, wondering if he should say something. When they arrived at the library, Dwalin nodded at him. Ori caught Dwalin by the wrist as he began to turn.
“Thank you,” Ori said quietly, and Dwalin smiled slightly. “Have a good day Ori.”
Ori made his way through the entrance to the library, past the reception area, through a series of bookshelves, and down a few flights of stairs to the area the seventh level scribes worked.
He saw a few of them exchange sidelong glances as he passed, and the tension in his jaw returned again. He sat at his desk, and looked at the two notes left for him. The first was a note of instruction for him to copy a lengthy piece of legal text. The second he refolded after reading the first few words - mother’s son.
Mechanically, he took the folded paper and tucked it into his pocket, careful to avoid the eyes of those around him. He opened a ribbon around the legal papers, and pulled out his quill to write.
He lost himself in the writing, focusing on the shape of his letters and the monotony of the excessive legalistic language the judge had used in their reasons for deciding the case. He drowned out the sound of whispers thinking each word loudly in his mind and ignored the hot feeling of shame spreading across his cheeks and outward to his ears. Ori kept his head down, hoping it was less apparent how red his face must be.
The whispering stopped suddenly, and Ori assumed another senior librarian must have entered. He heard someone walk up to him, and when he turned to see who it was standing by his desk, he saw a young dwarrow in finely made clothes. Jewels gleamed in his braids, and Ori recognized him as a librarian of the same rank. He must have been around Ori’s age - or maybe a bit older.
“Is it true then?” the man asked, and Ori looked sidelong at the other scribes whose quill scratches had gone silent.
“Is what true?” he asked dully.
“What they say about how you snared Dwalin, son of Fundin.”
“I suppose it depends on what they are saying.”
Ori heard a chair scrape against the floor as the dwarrow said, “That you tricked him into lying with you while still an apprentice so that he could get your journeyman’s braid.”
“I have been a full journeyman for two years now,” Ori replied sharply. He felt frustration bubble up in his chest, unsure of how to get this dwarrow’s attention off of him quickly. In the Dale, he knew how to deal with merchant’s sons who thought he’d have no standards for a casual encounter when they discovered his mother’s legacy. He knew nothing was more embarrassing than a scene, and getting loud would get them all hushed by a senior journeyman.
What this dwarrow wanted, however, was less clear to Ori.
“So you tricked him into sleeping with you while you were underage? Is that why he married you?” the dwarrow asked, tilting his head as he examined Ori. He smirked, and Ori didn’t think before saying, “Are you jealous of the praise I get for my work, or for the quality of my husband? I can give advice on how to improve your work. I’m sorry - I’ve only been married once and I can’t offer much advice in that regard.”
There was a moment of silence, where Ori wondered briefly if his thoughtlessness was going to cost him. He felt relief when he heard quiet laughter coming from many of the desks around him. A few of the fellow librarians looked soured, but just as many looked gleeful at his comment.
Kylasa whistled from her desk, the sound was slow and low. She looked the dwarrow up and down before saying, “He certainly needs help when it comes to romance. I’d love to know Hurkra, what was it that scared away the match you were so certain your family would make last month?”
“I’m sure your father would be happy to hear you’re friends with a mother’s son.” The dwarrow replied, and Kylasa looked at him sourly.
“My father’s anger has no impact on the quality of my work - you seem to be wasting time you could spend improving your penmanship - though maybe you enjoy the frequency with which you’re asked to rewrite passages.”
Ori heard one of the dams laugh loudly, rising about the nervous giggles, and say to her companion, “You can always count on her to say what’s on her mind.”
“At least what’s on my mind is the truth. Your brother is in the guard, isn’t he? How do you think it will go for him when Master Dwalin gets it in his head that your family is a threat to his new husband.”
“I don’t care what some dishonored son says about me or my family,” Hurkra replied, though he took a step away from Ori, who took a moment to think. Hurkra was staring at him, and before the other dwarrow could speak again, Ori said, “If you leave me alone, I’ll leave you alone. Sound fair?”
Hurkra just glared at Ori, then sat back at his desk.
The older scribe, Albinur, returned before their lunch break. He scanned over Hurkra’s work with a sigh, and made a few comments to some other scribe’s works. When he came to Ori’s work station, he smiled at Ori.
Ori smiled back, letting the comfortable feeling of a job well done loosen the tightness in his shoulders.
“You have remarkably consistent lettering,” the older dwarrow commented as he read through Ori’s papers, “and I’m sure these kinds of cases are not ones familiar to you, and yet not a word appears to have a mistake.”
The older dwarrow returned the papers and said, “Well, Helg wants to make more than a copier out of you. Next week we’ll be working on some of the more academic pursuits - the study of history and writing history - I think we can go at a faster pace with you than usual, since we often start with dwarrows in their final years of apprenticeship.”
“Thank you,” Ori smiled at the older dwarrow, who smiled back with a wide crooked smile.
“I enjoy historiography, and I hope you will as well,” Albinur said, before moving alone to the other dwarrow’s work.
Ori looked at how own work and Albinur’s words, both to him, and what he was saying to others. Some of his colleagues also were praised, and Ori looked over his own work feeling proud.
He heard someone mutter “stupid mother’s son,” behind him, and the tightness in his jaw and shoulders returned. He squared his shoulders, and looked straight ahead, grinding his teeth together - when the memory of Dwalin blocking him from the view of a passing by dwarrow returned to him. He thought about it for a long moment, then turned around and saw Hurkra glaring at him. Ori met his eyes, then Ori looked at his own work, then to Hurkra’s. Still making eye contact, Ori gave him a pitying glance. Hurkra turned, and Ori shrugged before returning to his own work.
The rest of Ori’s day passed quickly, Albinur spoke with him over lunch more about the course of study he’d like Ori to pursue, leaving him no time to speak with Kylasa. She caught his eye at one point and winked, and Ori returned her gesture with a smile.
At the end of the day, Ori waited for the other young scribes to leave before getting up from his desk. Kylasa was also still at her work station, reviewing some of her work. Ori looked around, noticing they were alone in the work room.
“Thank you, for earlier,” Ori said, and Kylasa turned to look at him.
“Hurkra is about a smart as a donkey, and less useful to boot,” Kylasa replied. “I’ll have to get you caught up on all the gossip, you landed a good scolding.”
“Most people wouldn’t stand up for a mother’s son -”
“And most people are boring and judgmental,” Kylasa cut in. "If I’m going to be judgmental, it should be based on someone’s work ethic, not who their mother was. And I certainly don’t want to be boring.”
Ori smiled at that. “I don’t think you’re boring.”
“Good - I think you’re very interesting. I know enough about the dwarrows I grew up around and have to socialize with at various parties. I’d like to know more about you.”
“There’s not that much to tell, honestly,” Ori began, only to be cut off by Kylasa again.
“You might not think there’s a lot to tell, but I loved hearing about your life outside the mountain - and besides, Dwalin was a serious bachelor as far as everyone at court knew - up until he met you, it seems. From everything I heard about him, I assumed he’d made oaths to his craft.”
Ori felt himself start to blush as she spoke about Dwalin.
“He is very dedicated to his work - he does like being a part of the little family Dis - Lady Dis - has created for herself.”
“That’s another thing! The princess seems like she’s got to be an interesting person to spend time with and I’m strictly forbidden from ever speaking to her,” Kylasa said, getting up from her desk and packing away her things, “And since it’s forbidden, I should probably learn more about it.”
A sharp smile cut across her face as she spoke, and Ori for a moment was reminded of his own mother, when she’d come up with a game to play.
Ori tried to stifle the laugh that started rising in his throat, but found he couldn’t.
“You don’t agree with me?” Kylasa asked, and Ori shook his head.
“Oh, I agree with you. Dis certainly is someone worth knowing.”
“Good, I’m glad. One day you’ll have to introduce me to her.”
Kylasa looked around for a minute, then spoke in a lowered voice, “I’m due to visit my brother - I’ve managed to twist his arm into agreeing to let me visit while he’s working in Dale - maybe we could meet up there?”
“That would be nice,” Ori replied, “though - would it cause trouble with your brother - I am a mother’s son at the end of the day. He might not approve.”
“I’ve never let disapproval stop me before,” Kylasa said, leaning towards Ori, “I”d like to see the city as you see it - not the way my brother does.”
“I-” Ori looked around the room, then back and Riika. Hope sprung up in his chest, soothing his racing heart.
“Ah - Alright, what day are you going? I can talk to Dwalin, he’s been very flexible with his time with helping me settle in. I think if he’s there, it might help make things more - ah - proper.”
“Yes! Oh - this will be fun! I’m supposed to see him on our second day off this week. Last time he tried to pawn me off on his colleague, a guardswoman,” Riika waggled her eyebrows at him, “A very broad shouldered, one at that. I’m hoping this time she lets me tag along, then we won’t have to deal with my brother blustering about appearances and what will grandfather say” Kylasa said, her voice lowering in mockery of her brother.
Ori grinned even as thoughts raised in the back of his mind about their shared heritage. Ori wondered if the brother she spoke of was the cousin who dragged Nori home when Nori was still a youth.
“Alright, I’ll talk to Dwalin, to be sure things will work out.”
Kylasa"s sharp smile returned as she finished gathering her things, “I look forward to it!”
They walked out of the library together, and Kylasa followed Ori to where Dwalin was waiting for him. He bowed at Kylasa, who bowed back.
“Master Dwalin, I want you to know your husband has a way with words that I admire,” Riika said and Dwalin smiled at her in response.
“That he does,” Dwalin replied, and Ori reached out to wrap one hand around Dwalin’s wrist. Dwalin looked over to where their hands connected, and Ori said, “Let’s go home, I had an interesting day I’d like to talk with you about.”