Chapter Text
Dori was stone. Ori was a gem. And Nori was the fire in the forge.
Dori was known for being one of the most unmovable dwarves in Ered Luin. More stubborn than a mountain people would say, especially those who tried and failed to court him. He was also known for being impassive, hard to impress, sometimes even rudely dismissive. For a long time only his brothers, and then later those of the Company, knew that he wasn't always like that. That sometimes he could shatter as easily as bad rock, come tumbling down as quickly as a landslide. He wasn't soft, no one would ever call Dori, even with all his curves and beauty, soft, but he could be unstable. Even unstable though, no one would think twice about going to him if they were in need. The earth was life to dwarves. A father with open arms that embraced all his children. Dori was the same. He was loving, caring, nurturing. Sure he could also be cruel and harsh with those he cared about, just as the earth was when it shook, sending buildings toppling to the ground and killing those who loved it dearly, or when it fell apart, but above all Dori was good and solid. A constant steady presence. Dori was stone.
Ori was perceived by most as simply the nice one of the House of Ri. The good natured youngest one who probably couldn't do much. Nice to look at, nice to have around, and useful but only for a small set of things. Gems are perceived much the same way. Nice to look at, nice to have around (to establish wealth or to feel important, whichever reason you prefer), and useful for a small set of things like accessorizing or becoming wealthy. But people forget that a gem is still a hard object, capable of hurting someone as good as any rock if used properly. People forget that it's uncaring like any other rock, not sharing the kindness others put towards it. People forget that a gem is more than just a pretty rock….Ori was strong. Deadly, with the proper weapon. He'd killed Orcs, fought in a war, stood his ground defending the Heirs Under the Mountain. He did not always show the same kindness others put towards him because when someone treated him as nothing more than a child instead of the war hero he was, he didn't think they deserved it. Ori was far more than just a pretty dwarf. The youngest of the House of Ri. Ori was a gem.
Nori had never been like his brothers. Where they were solid, at least somewhat predictable, he wasn't. He was constantly changing, twisting. Where his brothers would go for at least some diplomacy he did no such thing, preferring to burn right through any person or thing that got in his way. And he did it perfectly. Destroying things was easy to a thief. One had to know such things when they were being chased by guards. Knowing how to trip a landslide could save your life. He didn't always burn though. Sometimes he illuminated. Shined light on problems others had been having trouble with, with only a few short softly spoken words to nudge them along. Sometimes fire doesn't have to be that hot to change the shape of something. Nori was bright even without proper schooling, consuming knowledge almost greedily like a fire consumes logs or coal. And he had such energy. Gorgeous energy that awed and even blinded those who got a glimpse of it. It could go out of course but it took a lot. He could shrink but it took either a strong force or endless patience to blow even the final glowing ember of Nori's heart out. He was warm to those who cared for him and he bit at those who didn't. He was fierce and dangerous and delicate (wind is ever the flame's enemy). Nori was the fire in the forge.