Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit-Imagines and Oneshots

Ori- Sunrise-Loving Shield-Maiden

Requested by Nuggetsorwhatever

"(Y/n)!" your mother chirped, dragging a handsome dwarf by the arm, as you secured your luggage to the back of your pony. "Meet Nori. He'll be going on the quest, too."

You looked at the dwarf, who looked you up and down and flashed a toothy grin. "Milady."

"Oh, and he's a gentleman, too!" Mother gasped and turned to you, her eyes twinkling with suggestiveness. "Don't see that in many dwarves these days, do you, (y/n)?"

You forced a grin and greeted Nori kindly. You expected him to leave you alone after that, but he helped you mount your pony, which you found very unnecessary and rather offending. You were going on a journey across Middle-Earth to save Erebor, for Mahal's sake, chosen to be part of the company by Thorin himself! Did Nori think you were incapable of doing so little a thing as getting on a saddle? 

The ladylike manners your pigheaded mother installed in you since birth kept you from scowling at him as you tensely said your thanks. Once he went to his own pony, your mother whispered excitedly into your ear. 

"He's a possibility, don't ya think?"

"No," you said flatly. She had been trying to marry you off for years now, and you had been trying to tell her to back off and let you handle your love life by yourself. But she was persistent- just as you were to other things such as saving your home, Erebor, which currently served as a nest for a fire-breathing dragon.  

Mother huffed, bid you farewell, and walked back to her home in the Blue Mountains where the dwarves of Erebor had taken refuge for the past decades. 

As you checked the straps of your saddle on last time, another dwarf approached you on his own pony. He was smaller than Nori- about your size, and wore braids like any other dwarf. His hair was a unique style, but you couldn't say that you didn't like it. 

"Excuse me, miss?" he said so softly you almost didn't hear him. He avoided eye contact, and seemed to cower under your attention. "I couldn't help but notice that you seemed rather... repulsed by my brothers gestures. I would like to apologize on his behalf. Please forgive him."

You were sort of stunned. This dwarf wasn't particularly strong or gallant-looking, but he had such chivalrous manners which weren't preformed with arrogance. Accepting the fact that he was shy, you would call him a gentleman. 

"That's alright," you said, not letting your thoughts show. You were a bold and noble shield-maiden; you couldn't just let your every emotion show. You had to be stoic. "That's considerate of you to apologize, though."

He did no more than nod before heading back to his brother and one more dwarf. Now that they were gathered together, you could see the resemblance. They were three bothers, all going on this quest together. You weren't excited to be the only female in the company, but it was a small price to pay if it meant reclaiming your homeland.  

You left before the others, not seeing much reason to travel with them. You were all heading to the same place, anyway. The wizard had said something about a hole in the Shire. Whatever he meant, that was where you and the other thirteen dwarves were headed. 

***

Five nights into your lonesome travels and everything was well. You had not yet ran into any trouble. You sang Khuzdul songs to your pony as he carried you along the path. Currently, you were camped under a stone ledge, toasting one of the forked sausages you packed over the fire.