#norixbilbo

Bilbo knew when Nori Crooksmile showed up at his door that he would be off on another adventure. 

Of course, normally Crook didn't bring a whole passle of other dwarves...

"Nori, this is a bad idea."

"Think of it, Bilbo." Nori begged him. "Think of it." 

"A dragon, Nori." Bilbo said. "A genuine, fire-breathing dragon." 

"And the biggest haul of our lives." Nori said. 

"Stealing from a Ranger or an elvish caravan is different than stealing from a drake. I don't care about the money." 

"I know you don't but Bilbo. An entire. city." Nori took Bilbo's shoulders, a fire in his silvery eyes. "The heist of our careers. The heist legends are made of, Bilbo, Taking a horde from under a dragon, resitting a King on his rightful throne."

"Like a song." Bilbo said thoughtfully.

"The songs they sing in taverns from here to Harad." Nori agreed. "You remember Harad?"

Bilbo's smile was slight but it was there. "I remember."

"And so does the Tribe of the Two Headed Snake." Nori said. "Bilbo, this is bigger than the Two Headed Snake. This is bigger than the silver run through Dunland."

"Bigger than the Firebeard ruby job?" Bilbo asked, taking a pull on his pipe. 

"So much bigger." Nori said. 

Bilbo licked his lips. He looked out the window at the enclosing darkness of the Shire. His smial was warm and cozy and-

boring. 

"You get to spend time with my brothers." Nori needled. "And learn all kinds of embarassing things about me as a dwarfling." 

"You've told me every embarassing story you have." 

"We can pickpocket a king. AND a prince or two." 

"They don't have enough in their pockets to make it halfway worthwhile." 

"I'll share Dwalin." 

Bilbo purred. "Tempting." 

Nori grinned. "AND we'll make off in the night with the prettiest gems. As soon as we take care of the dragon." 

"Assuming we can take care of the dragon." Bilbo pointed out. 

"I heard a we." Nori said. 

"I didn't say we." Bilbo sniffed.

"Yes you did." Nori said. "I distinctly heard 'we' in that sentence." 

"You're delusional." 

"You said that right before we raided that trader's camp in Gondor." 

"And I was right." 

"Well, yes." Nori said. "But I'm the very best kind of delusional, aren't I?" 

"You are." The grin that spread over Bilbo Baggins' face would have done his mother proud. "Is the dragon alive?" 

"No one knows." Nori replied. 

"What's between us and the mountain?" 

"Oh, you know. Orcs, a great forest full of weed eaters, a moody King." 

"So I should pack Sting, then?"

"And the good silver, of course." Nori said piously. "The road goes ever on, after all." 

Nori/Dwalin: I ship this because it has all the dynamics I love. Ambiguous Morality vs. Lawman, Scoundrel vs. Honorable Warrior, Complicated Family vs. Well Adjusted Brothers (as well adjusted as Balin and Dwalin can be, anyway.) There are so many angles that can be played with, and with each changing angle comes a new end to the story. I love that Nori can play many parts and with each changing part Dwalin has to develop a whole new persona to battle and overcome it. The endings aren’t always happy, but the writing is always enjoyable.