Chapter Text
You land with a definitive thud after having touched an object which at any other time would not have caused such a thing. Dazed and confused, you try to reorient yourself with the world around.
The leaves beneath your hands and the pricklier twigs scratch as you try to push yourself into standing upright again. However, you cannot bring yourself to your feet, regardless of what you do. Slapping the ground in frustration, you immediately shout afterwards but realize the error you made instantly.
Behind you, there's a rustling and a voice calling out, "Fíli, I think I found something."
You're not sure who this Fíli is, or what the stranger might want with you. However, you do your best to roll over and at least sit up, so as not to seem weak.
Moving is painful, but soon you are turned around and sitting up to face a tree line of tall birches.
The first individual to walk through the trees is easily shorter than you, which you can see even from where you are seated. Their appearance does give you pause, enough that you don't speak aloud. Your thoughts are disrupted when they do instead.
"Hello there. Were you the one I heard shouting?" they ask.
You consider them, roving your eyes over the stranger.
Wherever you are, it does not look anything like where you came from. Given that is the case, you will need allies. The stranger before you looks like they might be capable of becoming one; though you don't miss the amount of weapons they've got visible on their person. However, their ginger hair has purple ribbons weaved into their braids, as well as some beads, it looks like. Meanwhile, their face is not pulled into a scary or worrisome expression at the present, so you decide to take a chance.
You nod.
"Are you okay?" They inquire, after a few beats of silence have passed, and you have not audibly responded.
'Okay' is a relative term, one could say. You certainly would. You aren't dead, at least, so that is something.
You shrug but quickly follow that up with a wince as the pain makes itself known again through that simple gesture.
"Can I come closer?" the stranger asks, softly.
You purse your lips, but nod again.
Slowly, the stranger walks forward. Once they're crouched beside you, the scent of lavender wafts over you, and that calms your nerves just a bit.
Brown eyes gaze at you and you have to close your own for a moment, despite being faced with someone who carries an inordinate amount of weapons. Once that's through, you crack your eyes open again.
They smile, then say, "Ori, son of Vari, at your service."
Despite yourself and the strange address, you smile at Ori and say your name then pause. You begin again, with "Son of... Well, you wouldn't know him anyways."
It feels good to speak as you did and not have someone scoff at the assertion that you are in fact who you are.
Ori smiles before dipping his head.
"It's nice to meet you."
You grimace.
"I would say the same but given how I landed here that's not the case."
Ori frowns, his face creasing with what appears to be confusion.
"Landed here? Were you flung from a moving caravan or a horse?" he asks.
Horse or caravan? Just where… or when did you end up, you wonder.
It is best to leave certain details unsaid. At least until you know who to trust. So, you elect to tell a lie.
"Ah, I'm not sure. I can't remember much."
Ori grimaces.
"That's unfortunate. Well, whenever my husband is ready to leave, we'll get you back to our home and perhaps check you over for bruises. There's a healer we know who might be able to help you, as well."
Husband.
Oh.
Well, you can't be too upset that somehow you've landed near other Queer men, at least. If this is the past, they would have been ostracized more violently. It would be best to stick with those like you, at least until you know if they are trustworthy.
"Can I lift you?" Ori asks.
"You think you can do that?" you reply, while you size up the shorter individual before you.
"Do you know nothing of Dwarves?" Ori asks.
You look him in the face and realize there's a hint of amusement there. However, your mind is stuck on the fact that Ori just said the word 'dwarves'.
"Not as much as I thought," you murmur, hoping your shock isn't too noticeable.
Your mind briefly considers various tabletop games and video games you've played with dwarf characters, but nothing could have prepared you for someone claiming to be one. However, you decide not to discount the assertion, given you had just been flung by a seemingly normal object…. somewhere.
Ori nods, his braids and beads swaying with the motion as he does.
"Well, I've been told I'm a knowledgeable Dwarf, so if you have any questions, you may ask." He quiets for a moment, before amending, "Provided the inquiries are not too intrusive or regarding something that would be considered a closed practice for Dwarrow, that is."
"Of course," you say.
Afterwards, thin but strong arms lift you up, to your great surprise. "Oof", you utter, but soon settle in the expert hold, grateful not to be alone.
Ori walks slowly enough then into the tree line which you had previously only witnessed from the ground. Up close the scent of lavender is more prevalent, but not enough to overwhelm your olfactory senses.
You try not to look too closely at Ori though, because otherwise you might stare, wondering further about Dwarves than you probably ought to at the moment.
Soon, another Dwarf comes into view; at least, you think that is what they are. Dark blue eyes meet your form critically, while Ori says, "I found someone. He needs medical attention now."
Hearing yourself gendered correctly, a sense of euphoria fills you while cerulean eyes rove over you.
Shortly, the other Dwarf responds, "Óin shouldn't be difficult to find. He might be busy, but I'll see if he can make time."
"Thank you," you say, before anyone else can speak.
The blond glances at you then nods. "It is not a problem. Fíli, son of Víli, at your service."
Fíli bows down low then rises up to his full height again, which is still shorter than you are.
Between the pair, you are brought to a pony, which they lift you onto. Though it appears one Dwarf could have done it alone, if he had truly wanted to.
Afterwards, Fíli grasps the reins, gazing up at you. "Do you have experience riding a pony?"
You grimace, before shaking your head.
"May I climb on behind you, or do you prefer I remain on the ground?" Fíli asks, his voice even. "I can lead the pony from down here, though it means we move even slower."
You consider him, and while more heavily laden with weapons than even Ori is, there's a calm quality to Fíli's manner of speaking that puts you at ease. You find yourself saying, "You can hop on if you think the pony can carry us both."
Fíli grins, which softens his features well, you think idly. "This pony is built to carry Dwarves kitted out for battle. She'll be fine."
Battle? You shake that thought away then say, "Go ahead."
Briefly, you belatedly wonder how these Dwarves understand you as Fíli nods.
Following that, he has the steed move towards a rock and uses it to step up then swing on behind you. Unlike Ori, Fíli smells like smoke, as if he'd just had some Mary Jane or vaped. The scent, as much as the other Dwarf's, is calming.
"I'll need to reach around you," Fíli says.
You nod.
Well-muscled arms wrap around your body as you do your best not to shiver slightly in response. Though the circumstances are odd, your mind cannot help but notice that both Dwarves nearby are attractive in their own individual ways. However, they are married and you are not a homewrecker. So, thoughts of both of them become strictly platonic soon enough.
The ride is slow, but you are grateful for that as your body is still sore. There is not a doubt in your mind that you will need some sort of medical assistance, if only for something to relieve the pain. However, given the time period, you wonder just what that might be. Whether it will actually help or not.
Modern medicine only does sometimes, after all. Whoever the healer is, you hope they do not care about your form.
Eventually, everyone slows to a stop as a mountain comes into view. It stands alone amidst the vast landscape around it. There is snow at its peak but not on the ground below.
Fíli hops down from the pony and slowly leads the mount with you atop it closer towards the mountain. Suddenly, you are wondering why he would.
You glance around, noticing Ori is still riding beside you.
"Why are we going towards a mountain?"
Ori glances at you.
"The mountain is our home."
Oh. Well, that is unexpected.
However, Ori had said they are Dwarves.
Silly you.
It is in that moment you realize wherever you have landed is much farther from anything you had previously known. It might not be a question of when you have arrived, but where you have, instead.