[Amanaduial the archer]

Flori grinned as Ori and Balin recounted the brief memory of Beorn and his horses - his brother had told him first hand much about his adventures with Balin and the others, including the curious little hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, and he had heard the tales from the others' mouths as well, an the elaborations; he almost felt as if he had been there, and wished he had, although at the time he had not been able to, and Ori had bid him stay back, saying it would not do for their parents to lose not one son but two. He shook his head slightly - he had come to regret that a thousand times over since, although at the time it had seemed only to be fair. Foolish, Flori...well, you shall not make such a mistake again. You did not this time, did you? The full glory of resettling Moria shall be yours as well as your brothers... The thought almost took the dwarf by surprise, and he was surprised by it, and felt slightly guilty - he had always told himself he did not grudge his brother the respect and renown he had gained from the journey to the Lonely Mountain, as it was then, and the battle of Five Armies in which he had fought at Thorin Oakenshield's side. Dain had won respect in his own ways,f of course, always more of a warrior than his brother, and he had of course fought in the battle of Five Armies at the side of King Dain. But had he really matched up to Ori, companion of Thorin Oakenshield, one of those who took back from the dragon what was truly dwarven... He shook away the thought angrily, infuriated and guilty at such ridiculous and jealous thoughts.

But his discomfort, apparently, was not over yet, as Balin drew Ori and him aside to ask them privately what they thought of the route through Mirkwood. Flori's temper, now inflamed, flared up inside. He simply means to put us on the spot, when he knows I don't agree...

He kept it in check though, looking slightly troubled before he opened his mouth to speak. But as he did so, his brother caught his eye, and shook his head very slightly, just out of Balin's sight as the elder dwarf's eyes were fixed at the time on Flori. Flori paused, then replied anyway, "I think it may still be provoking unnecessary trouble still, Balin. But-" he held up a finger as Balin went to speak again, and his expression became less serious and he smiled slightly, shrugging a little. "I trust your judgement, friend. And so long as you solemnly swear that you do not intend to ambush the elf king and put him in a headlock-"

Balin laughed out loud and Flori's smile turned into a wide grin as his friend clapped him on the back and the tense atmosphere relaxed. They continued walking, and Ori and Balin continued to recount their old memories, as the preciously debated of Mirkwood drew steadily closer. Flori joined in, of course, with his own comments on the tales he knew so well from his friends' and brother's mouths, and with tales and jokes of his own. But still he could not quite shake of that guilty, jealous thought of earlier...