AN: So I wanted to write a story about Bifur… Which I've never done before… I think Bifur is an interesting character. Honestly, I've never paid much attention to him until recently. In fact, it took me until about the 3rd time I watched the Hobbit to realize he had an axe in his head. So I've decided to write my own version of how Bifur got the axe in his head. Hopefully this won't be too similar to a story someone else has already written. If it is I'm super sorry, but it wasn't on purpose I can assure you.

By the way, I did actually do research of head injuries… And the side-affects and all that, but I have no experience or anything of how to treat injuries or anything of the sorts so I'm sorry if some of this doesn't make any sense.

Alrighty then… Enjoy!

Chapter 1:

Knock, knock, knock.

Bofur set his whittling knife down on the table, along with the chunk of wood he had been carving. He wasn't sure what he was carving yet, but he'd do anything to relieve his boredom. He pushed his chair out and walked to the front door to answer it. Swinging open the door, Bofur immediately smiled at the sight.

"Bifur!" He laughed, gathering his cousin in a tight hug.

Bifur chuckled and returned the embrace. Bofur pulled back, still grinning as he clapped Bifur on the shoulder.

"How've you been, cousin?" Bofur asked.

"I'm doing just fine." Bifur said.

"It's been awhile sense I've seen you." Bofur sighed as he looked his old cousin up and down. He noticed his beard had turned greyer; the skin below his eyes was just slightly more wrinkled. His hair was a lighter shade of black, but it was still frizzy and wild, like he had always seen it. His clothes were perhaps a bit more worn, and his boots had definitely seen better days. But after all, he was still his dear cousin, and nothing could change that.

"Why don't you come in?" Bofur said, parting to the side to let Bifur through.

"I see nothing's much changed with you." Bifur laughed. "You're still wearing that ridiculous hat of yours!"

"Aye." Bofur grinned, placing a hand up to feel the furry brim of his hat.

"Bofur, dear? Who's at the door?" Asked a voice from the living room.

"It's yer nephew, ma!" Bofur called to his mother, Bola.

Bofur's mother came in the kitchen a few moments later, smiling brightly at her nephew. She opened her arms as Bifur flew in to give her a hug. Moments after, she pulled back and looked over Bifur. "Go make yourself comfortable. I'll get the coffee going."

"That would be wonderful, thank you." Bifur smiled.

Soon after, Bombur walked into the room. "Bifur! What brings you here?" He asked as Bifur sat down at the kitchen table besides Bofur.

Bombur pulled out a chair across from his cousin and sat down.

"Well," Bifur began. "I've been thinking about both of you boys lately…" He paused as he noticed the brother's growing anticipation, and he grinned.

"I was thinking of taking you both into the woods on a hunting trip with me next week."

Bofur jumped out of his seat, beaming with excitement. "Oh thank you Bifur! Can we ma? Can we?"

Bola looked uneasy. "I don't know..." She started.

"I'd be on my best behavior! I promise!" Bofur pleaded.

"Well… How long would the trip be?" She asked.

"I was planning on it being a week, but you can adjust the time anyway you want." Bifur told his aunt.

"Bombur, you'd want to come too right?" Bofur asked his brother, interrupting his mother's thoughts.

Bombur seemed to think for a moment, he obviously wasn't as excited as his brother, but he didn't seem totally against the idea.

"I guess, I just don't see what help I'll be." Bombur sighed.

"Now don't be like that." Bifur said. "I wouldn't have invited you if I didn't think you should come."

"I think it's only fair if Bofur goes, Bombur goes as well." Bola stated, setting a glass of coffee in front of Bifur.

"I'll only slow everyone down." Said Bombur, looking down at himself.

"No you won't, I've decided to make this trip a lesson on how to hunt. This is a very valuable lot of information!" Bifur told them.

"I agree!" Bofur declared, "After all Bombur, we've got to learn this stuff sooner or later, and by this way we can learn while spending time with Bifur!"

"I suppose so." Bombur nodded. "Alright cousin, I'll tag along."

"That's the spirit!" Bofur smiled, reaching across the table to pat his brother's shoulder.

"You're sure you're okay with it, Aunt Bola?" Bifur asked.

Bola gave out a deep sigh, and cast a longing glance towards her sons. Finally, she held up her hands. "I'm okay with it."

The next week, Bofur could hardly contain his excitement. He was 56 years old now, he was an adult. He knew he could handle this. He'd been out with his cousin before, but never longer than two days at a time, and never in the woods. If he was truly honest with himself, he was worried about his brother. He didn't know whether Bombur would be able to handle seven days without eating as much food as what was in their pantry. Even so, He trusted his cousin to be wise enough to know if Bombur should go on the trip or not.

Bofur set his things by the front door. He had packed extra pairs of clothes, a pocket knife, and various other things for the trip. He had finished packing last night.

He stepped back and created a mental inventory of everything he brought, and if he missed anything.

Extra bandages? Check. Extra pair of shoes? Check. Sleeping roll? Check.

Once positive he was all set everything, he went back into his room to check to see what his brother was doing. Bombur was there, sitting on the bed, letting his legs dangle off the edge. His empty knapsacks were sitting at his feet.

"Bombur? What are you doing? Bifur is gonna be here any minute now, and you're not even packed yet!" Bofur asked, picking up Bombur's bags.

Bombur sighed and shrugged, still looking at the floor.

Noticing his brother's unease, Bofur knelt in front of him. "What's wrong?"

"Well… I don't know Bofur… It's just… What if I mess up? You and I both know I'm not exactly fit for this sort of thing." Bombur said, poking himself a little.

"Oh don't worry about it; this trip is a new experience for the both of us. After all, this is meant to teach us how to hunt, and I'm sure both of us will make mistakes. Bifur is a great hunter, and with his teaching, I'm sure the both of us will be great as he is someday." Bofur set a hand on Bombur's shoulder. "Besides, you're agile when you need to be." He smiled.

Bombur laughed and gave his brother a hug.

"It'll be fine." Bofur smiled, and pulled away. "You should get packed."

Bombur nodded, picking up his bags.

An hour later, they heard a knock on the door. When it was opened, Bifur stepped inside.

Bofur and Bombur walked in, along with their mother.

"Ready to go?" Bifur asked, grinning.

The brother's nodded, shouldering their packs as Bola gave them both a hug and a kiss goodbye.

"I'm gonna miss my boys." She said tearfully. Then she turned to Bifur. "Take care of them for me."

"I will protect them with my life." Bifur said, giving his aunt a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "We'll be back before you know it."

AN: As always… Not very happy with it. I have a million ideas for the other chapters… So they should be better than this one.

Thank you for reading. Chapter two should be up soon.

-Moose.