It was a long journey to the Shire, made shorter by the speed of the two travellers both of whom thought haste necessary.

When they arrived they were treated with stony looks from the usually friendly Hobbits. When they asked for directions to Bag-End they were ignored by somewhat teary Hobbits. One even when so far as to openly chastise them "How dare you show your face around here after what you've done!" She shrieked "A disgrace, it is, do any of you Dwarves have any sense of decency?" quite a crowd had gathered to view the scene, a hobbit woman continued shrieking at the two Dwarrow until an old Hobbit intervened

"That is enough Lobelia!"

"But Thain Isengar surely…."

"No Lobelia, it is incredibly unlikely that either of these two Dwarrow are at fault. If they are coming to see my granddaughter, they are under my protection." Here he raised his voice and addressed the gathered Hobbits "now clear off, the lot of you, is this scene of such interest that you would miss elevenses?"

When the crowd had dissipated, the Hobbit turned and faced the two Dwarrow "you two must be Bofur and Bifur… I've heard of you from her stories" he added the last part when the Dwarrow gave him a look of shock "Isengar Took, Thain of the Shire and grandfather of the one you seek, at your service"

"Bofur, at yours"

"Bifur, at yours"

"I will take you to my granddaughter on one condition. You do not say anything of him, not one word"

Both knew which 'him' the old hobbit meant. The 'him' who had claimed to love the hobbit-lass passionately, had asked her to be his wife but had, on her attempts to protect them by using the arkenstone as surety in her negotiations with the Elves and Men, cut off he courting braids with his Sword and attempted to throw her off the gates of Erebor as she sobbed out her love for him, despite him madness. 'him who had not called for the hobbit after the battle, who had not lifted the banishment, had maintained the claim that the hobbit were to leave Erebor and its surrounds and that no friendship of his went with her. There was no doubt that when the old Hobbit spoke of 'him', he meant Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror, King Under the Mountain.