Banes, Bears, and Scares

This is an AU/Slash story. Eventual Bofur and Nori. I hope you like and tell me your opinions either good or bad.

I own nothing.

Chapter Ten

The hobbit had trouble sleeping and ended up silently walking back to Beorn's bed to watch over the sleeping lovers late in the night. Bofur was curled against Nori, but Nori…he was…it was hard to explain. Nori seemed to not be aware of the world around him at all. Usually, Nori would wake at feeling eyes on him for too long, but now the injured dwarf didn't even seem to sense that Bofur was so close.

"You too?" Dori whispered as he came up beside a startled Bilbo, "I couldn't sleep either. I close my eyes and see my little brother bloody on that table again. Let's sit up on the end of the bed. This thing is huge. Master Beorn is one tall skin-changer."

Bilbo crawled up as Dori settled himself next to the hobbit. Together the two watched over Bofur and Nori. The Halfling didn't remember falling asleep. He only remembered fingers carding softly through his curls.

"Sneaky," Bilbo accused as Dori grinned down at him the next morning, "I bet you learned that trick conning your little brother's to sleep when they were little."

"Maybe. Do you honestly think that only Nori can be conniving in this family?" Dori laughed as Bilbo grinned, "Nori was a nightmare to get to sleep at night as a babe since he had so much excessive energy. He would use his eyes against me. I always fell for those eyes of his. Nori's eye color is very rare among dwarves. I learned many tricks to get him sleepy enough to fall asleep. Mahal, now I'd give anything to see him not sleep."

"Me too," Bilbo agreed, "At least Gandalf might be able to help that happen now. We just need Bofur to wake up so Gandalf can get the ball rolling."

"I…I hope that Gandalf's plan works," Dori stuttered hugging himself for a moment, "It is not the same without Nori here. I need…I need to see those eyes again. I miss seeing those eyes of my brother's and hearing his teasing. Mahal, help Bofur bring Nori back to us. I beg you."

"I'm just a hobbit," Bilbo voiced as Dori looked over at him, "I would much appreciate if you would hear my prayer and help Bofur bring Nori back too, Mahal. I hope you're not offended that it is not a dwarf praying to you."

"Mahal would never be offended that someone is praying to help save one of his people," Dori insisted as Bilbo breathed a sigh of relief, "Thank you for that prayer. That really means a lot to me, Bilbo. You are a kind being. I'm glad you came with us on this quest."

Bilbo grinned feeling a little better before both he and Dori glanced up when they heard approaching footsteps.

"Anything?" Ori asked hurrying over as Bilbo and Dori shook their heads while the younger dwarf wilted, "Beard knots! I was hoping that maybe by some miracle that Brother would wake on his own."

"I want that too," Dori sighed as Ori nodded while the two gazed at their kin, "Nori's in a never-ending sleep, Ori. He can't wake up on his own. We'll have to rely on Bofur to bring our Nori back to us safe and sound."

"So Nori is trapped?" Ori questioned as he nervously fiddled with a loose thread on a sleeve.

"Basically," Dori agreed as he reached to stroke a hand down Nori's cheek, "Brother is trapped within his own mind. I don't even know if he can hear us, but, Nori, you must stay strong for us. Don't leave Ori and I. We need you, Brother. Bofur is coming to get you soon. We love you, Nori."

The company gathered for breakfast leaving Bofur to wake on his own. The toymaker was getting better, but was still pale and rested a lot to regain his strength. Bilbo had to force Dori and Ori over to the table to eat something. Excitement ripples through everyone when Bofur began to stir and wake.

"Now what's all this?" Bofur asked once he woke and Beorn carried him over to sit at the table supported by Bifur and Bombur, "I feel like a child who's stolen a biscuit from tha biscuit tin and has been caught by me mother. What are ya all starin' at me for?"

"There is much to tell you," Thorin began as Bofur glanced over at him, "There might be a way that you can help Nori wake."

"What?" Bofur demanded, "Tell me everythin'! Now!"

Gandalf immediately began to explain what his thoughts had been the night before as the toymaker ate his breakfast.

"I can really help Nori wake up?" Bofur demanded seeming stunned, "How? Tell me how. I'll do anythin' that me lad needs me ta do ta help him wake back up."

"With physical contact, I can use a spell to help your soul reach Nori's mind," the wizard began as Bofur listened avidly, "You will probably reach barriers, but if you can find the lad then you can help lead him back so he can wake."

"Let's do this," Bofur insisted, "Right now. What do we do first?"

"First, let us get Nori on the table once again," Gandalf continued, "I think both you and he should be near the fire to keep you warm. When I link you two, your bodies will grow colder until the link is ended. The fire should keep your bodies from going into a hypothermic state."

"Hypothermic state?" Bombur repeated looking concerned, "Bofur."

"I'll be fine," Bofur stated, "Someone get me lad. Don't ye dare hurt him."

"Agreed. Don't jostle him too much when Nori is moved," Oin called out, "The stitches will rip in his shoulder and his broken arm has just started knitting."

"I'll do it," Dori decided before halting at a large hand on his shoulder, "Beorn?"

"Allow me to move Little Bird," Beorn declared standing from the fireplace, "I am big enough to be able to support him completely. You are strong, Grumpy Hen, but I am stronger."

"Fine," Dori snorted, "But stop calling me a 'hen' and I am not grumpy, Skin-Changer."

"Grumpy enough," Dwalin murmured before turning away as Dori swiveled to glare at him, "I didn't say anything."

"Be careful with me lad," Bofur ordered looking concerned while the skin-changer walked towards where Nori slept as Beorn nodded.

Bofur watched as the company padded the table down with several furs before Beorn ever so carefully carried Nori over and set him down. Nori was completely limp and unresisting to any and all movement.

"You've done well, Little Bird," Beorn murmured as Dori covered his brother with a blanket, "Now it is time for Little Love to look after you. Listen to him so you can return to your kin."

"What now?" Bofur asked looking to the wizard.

"Bifur help your cousin up on the table by Nori's head," Gandalf instructed, "Oin remove the bandage on Nori's forehead. There can be nothing around his head when doing a link to his mind. Even a bandage can do harm."

"But his wound has not healed yet," the healer fussed, "What if infection sets in? Beorn and I just recently got the infection from the warg claw marks cleared up; Nori is too weak to handle another bout."

"Let's see the wound and then we'll figure something out," Gandalf decided as Oin gently unwrapped Nori's head and revealed the cut on the dwarf's temple, "Looks like it is healing well, but I see what you mean, Oin, there are areas that haven't closed yet."

"I can hold a bandage to Nori's temple while Bofur is talking with my brother. I can sit at the table so I won't be in the way and keep the wound covered," Ori suggested, "That way infection can't set in, but there won't be a bandage completely around Nori's head. Would that be alright?"

"I think that is a splendid idea," Gandalf agreed as the youngest Ri looked happy to help, "Bofur, up you get."

The toymaker grizzled a bit at being too weak to stand, but allowed Bifur and Bombur to assist him to crawl up on the table where Nori lay. Bofur stroked Nori's hair back from his face and marveled that his eyebrow braids had stayed immaculate despite everything.

"Still got your dwarven pride, don't ye?" Bofur thought as he continued stroking Nori's hair in hopes that his lad could feel that he was near, "I'm coming ta get ye now. Ye wait for me. I'll be there real soon, Nori."

"Bofur, sit behind Nori. That's right. What you need to do is place your hands under Nori's head. Support his head gently. That's right," Gandalf ordered as Bofur did as he was asked, "Ori do not touch your brother's or Bofur's skin while you are holding that bandage. I don't want you drawn in as well. That would be extremely dangerous for all of you, do you understand?"

"I do," Ori nodded out as he looked worriedly at Nori, "I'll be real careful."

"No one interfere," Gandalf barked out as the company looked at one another uncomfortably, "Mind links are not a pretty sight, but I have everything under control unless you tip the scales by touching anyone within the link. Are you ready, Bofur?"

"I am," the toymaker agreed as Dori looked up at him anxiously, "I'll brin' our lad home, Dori."

"You do that and I'll be eternally indebted to you no matter how much this scamp drives me nuts," Dori offered as he stroked his brother's good arm before stepping back, "Bring him home, Bofur. Nori is needed here with you and his family."

"Here we go," Gandalf said as he stood behind Bofur and closed his eyes.

Bilbo watched as Gandalf began chanting words that he didn't understand as Bofur glanced to Bifur and Bombur giving them a nod of reassurance. The toymaker looked down at Nori before his eyes squeezed shut and he arched suddenly with a gasp of pain.

"Don't," Thorin ordered as Bifur froze from reaching to his cousin, "Trust Bofur and Gandalf. They are the only ones that can do this. Gandalf said not to touch them. Be at ease, Bifur, Bofur is starting to calm."

Bifur growled and watched as Bofur relaxed and leaned almost wearily over Nori with his eyes still closed. Gandalf's chanting continued as the toymaker tensed and stilled completely.

"The link has been made," Beorn's voice rang out making everyone jump, "It is in Little Love's hands now."

"Mahal be with you, Brother," Bombur whispered as everyone settled to wait and see what would happen next.

Bofur grimaced when he became aware of himself again. Slowly, he opened his eyes and groaned as he found himself in inky blackness again.

"I'm getting' mighty sick of darkness," Bofur sighed looking around, "Hello? Nori? Can ye hear me?"

There was no answer back as the toymaker huffed.

"I need light. I can't see me hand in front of me face," Bofur decided and then jumped as a lantern appeared, "Um…Gandalf?"

The light flickered cheerily making the dwarf realize that the wizard was helping him the best way that he could. Bofur lifted the lantern and gaped at where he was. It looked like Nori's old home as a child in Ered Luin.

"So your old home, huh?" Bofur asked aloud, "Now where would me lad be in his old home? Hmm."

The dwarf walked to the room that Dori and Nori had shared and found nothing.

"Ah," Bofur nodded out remembering and headed up to the attic where he and Nori would play for hours, "Nori? Are ye here?"

No answer, but Bofur gasped when he turned the lantern and found Nori sitting in a corner curled up with his face on his drawn up knees while his hair hung long around him like a shelter.

"Nori? Lad, it's me. It's Bofur," the toymaker began as he moved forward only to hit what felt like an invisible wall a few feet from the other dwarf, "Nori, can ye hear me? I can't get through this so I need ye ta listen. I'm okay now. Ye and Bilbo did a good job. I'm healin' real good and now I need me thief ta heal too and come back with me."

Nori didn't move and so Bofur got as close as he could and kneeled. The toymaker wanted to see the silent dwarf's face so badly, but Nori couldn't or wouldn't look up.

"Nori, I've missed ye so much," Bofur continued trying to draw the other dwarf out of his silence, "I'm so glad ta know that ya still love me because I've never stopped lovin' ye ever. It was so hard thinkin' that I had done somethin' or been flawed in some way and…."

"Not flawed!" Nori interrupted looking up and Bofur gasped at seeing the head wound at Nori's temple still dripping blood, "You were never flawed."

"Good ta know," Bofur smiled out as Nori looked back down, "Let me in."

Bofur frowned when Nori shook his head so hard his hair went flying.

"Can't. I can't," Nori choked as he backed further into his corner of the attic, "You deserve better. I've mucked everything up. I hurt you and my brothers. I didn't want to, but one thing led to another and I was just so…so stuck. I don't deserve you, Bofur."

"Now I'll be decidin' for meself who deserves me, Laddie," Bofur snorted as Nori looked up at him again, "Things did get a bit mucked, yes, but ye and me, we're goin' ta start anew. I've already gotten permission ta court ye from Dori and that is just what I'm goin' ta do."

"No. You can't," Nori denied, "Nobody can love a thief. Go away, Bofur."

Bilbo paced as he watched Bofur trembling as he remained in the link. The dwarf didn't look well and Beorn was sitting with one leg over a screaming Bifur to keep him from reaching for his cousin.

"Dwarves are troublesome creatures," the skin-changer sighed as Bifur began to bite the leg that was holding him down, "Thorin, tell your Goshawk to stand down."

Thorin snarled as he bit out an order to Bifur in the dwarven language. Bifur snarled back kicking for all his worth as Beorn sighed again, not seeming to be moved by the struggling dwarf.

"This would be laughable if this wasn't so serious," Balin remarked to Bilbo as he passed, "Bifur, calm yourself. Bofur will be fine."

"Are you sure?" Bombur asked looking up at his brother, "Bofur looks awful."

"Mind links are very draining," Beorn explained as Bifur began biting him on the leg again, "Your brother is taxed, but doing fine. Goshawk, your teeth are strong, but my skin is tougher."

Thorin barked a laugh before trying to pull Bifur's jaws apart to release Beorn's leg. Fili and Kili were laughing up a storm as even Dwalin looked amused. Bilbo face-palmed at the whole thing. Dwarves were surely stubborn, odd creatures.

Bofur would have laughed at Nori's bothered expression if this wasn't so important. The toymaker had started singing every tune he knew to annoy Nori into speaking with him again. The lad had clammed up and refused to say another word after denying that anyone could love him.

"Shut up already," Nori whined as he shifted away from Bofur, "Why can't my mind stop playing these tricks on me? I'm sick of being tormented by the memory of you."

Bofur blinked at the knowledge that Nori didn't realize that he was real and frowned seeing the head wound bleeding even worse than before. His lad wasn't doing well and he had to do something quick to reach Nori.

"Nori, it is really me," Bofur insisted as the thief grumbled, "Gandalf is the one that helped me reach ye. Nori, ye are in a never-endin' sleep. Your wounds were pretty severe and judgin' by tha one on your temple, that is the one that is causin' tha most problems for ye. I'm here ta take ye back with me."

Nori looked up sharply as Bofur nodded at him encouragingly. A flash of hope lit up his lad's face before Nori's usual mask slipped into place. Beorn had been correct. The thief hid himself well in plain sight.

"Can't be true," Nori sighed curling in on himself, "I hurt my Bofur in order to protect him. How could anyone forgive that? You are not real."

"Ye did hurt me real bad," Bofur agreed sitting on the floor, "Never loved again though. Had some flirts here and there, mind ye, but they weren't me Nori. No one ever measured up ta me thief. Ye say no one can love a thief, but I love me thief very much. I'm not leavin' without ye."

Nori looked up then and cocked his head studying Bofur carefully.

To be continued…