Ori, as head scribe of Erebor, knew that he could not leave at the drop of a hat so he used his influence to get Bofur and Bifur permits to leave the mountain. Ostensibly for a trip to the Blue Mountains to visit their kin, only Ori knew otherwise. At least Ori thought he was the only one who knew otherwise.

When the company stood at the gates of Erebor, having just said their farwells to the travelling pair, Bombur pulled Ori aside "tell me the real reason my brother and my cousin are leaving the safety of our mountain?" Ori just gaped at him "what do you mean? They are going to the Blue Mountains to visit kin."

"Don't give me that Ori, I may not be smart, but I know the only kin we three have in the Blue Mountains is our second cousin Bufar, whom both Bifur and Bofur hate with a passion. So spill"

"You are aware that Bofur, Bifur and I correspond with Billa?"

This time it was Bombur's time to look surprised "No, If I'd known I would have asked to be remembered to her and if I could have the recipe for those delicious honey cakes we had back at her hole in the ground. Do you remember Ori… the beat honey cakes I'd ever tasted, with just a hint of nutmeg and…."

"Yes, I remember" interrupted Ori impatiently. When Bombur got to talking about food he could go on for hours and Ori did not have that time to spare "The point is that Billa's letters are like clockwork, they come once a month, every month, without fail for the past five years and then suddenly they stopped"

Bombur looked at him with horror "and you think?"

"Yes, Bofur, Bifur and I think that something terrible has happened to our Hobbit.