Bilbo Baggins hadn't known just exactly what he'd been expecting to occur on this adventure, but a stomach ache was not that. It was rare among hobbits and only occurred when they were especially sick. Even hobbits had their limits on how much food they could ingest.
Bilbo just wished that he'd known his. Entering that contest had been rash, perhaps the worst idea that he'd ever had.
He laid down on his back, staring at the night sky. The buck had been a lucky catch, the best food that Bilbo had eaten since Rivendell. Funny how the elf city seemed like a dream by then, though it surely should have been only two months since they left.
Bofur sat beside him, quietly smoking at his pipe. His hat was bent to where the shadows coming off of it covered his eyes, but there was a slight smile on his face. Bilbo hoped he wasn't smirking at his moment of weakness. Fighting off orcs was one thing, but this was another.
Ever since the contest had ended, Bofur had quietly rubbed his stomach with one hand. Bilbo had been too in pain to question it.
"Why are you doing this?" Bilbo questioned, disturbing their silence.
He pulled his hand away. "Would ye like me to stop?"
"No!" He was surprised by the way his own voice sounded; this truly was a disorienting night. "It felt good."
Bofur grinned, showing off his teeth. "Really?"
"Really."
"Then may I continue?"
"Yes, of course."
Bofur continued doing so, rubbing circles gently into Bilbo's chest. "You know, it was an honorary thing, what ye did. I thought no one could beat Bombur, but ye proved him wrong. 'M proud of you, Bilbo."
"Well I'm not."
"Once the pain goes away, you should be excited. Bombur will never forget it."
"Are you trying to say that he'll challenge me again?" That certainly didn't help to calm his nerves!
"Maybe," Bofur said. "Or maybe not." He chuckled. "Either way, I congratulate you for this. But then again, could I expect anything less from our heroic hobbit?"
"You make me sound better than I am."
"And you doubt yourself. There's nothing that ye can't do." He continued rubbing circles into Bilbo's chest. "And don't ye ever tell me otherwise, or I will have to tell ya otherwise."