Bofur awoke that morning to the sound of the work bells. The bells would sound every morning for the minors to start their shifts, or for the dwarves who needed to sell their wares to leave for the market. Bofur stretched and got dressed, taking breakfast with Bombur, which was always delicious. Bofur hardly ever cooked a meal, because Bombur enjoyed it so much. And that didn't bother the older brother a bit to not cook! He and Bombur made their way to the mines after breakfast.

Today, both Bombur and Bofur were assigned to the sorting area. Bofur took his seat next to Bombur, and took off his hat and placed it beside him..

Bofur sorted and examined each stone under the giant magnifying glass, and whistled to himself cheerfully. The dwarves around him were used to this, for Bofur was always whistling and humming merrily when he worked in the mines. But this whistling was especially loud, and especially merry.

Gloin, the head Treasurer to the King, was walking behind each of the sorters and inspectors. He often would come down and observe the workers, just to make sure everything was running smoothly and organized.

He could hear Bofur's whistling from a distance, and he approached Bofur with a smile.

"Master Bofur, my lad!" Gloin greeted him heartily.

Bofur turned around to face Gloin, and he smiled brightly at the older dwarf. Gloin was a red-headed dwarf, with a thick and course beard. His hair was like a lion's mane, and his beard was braided in several areas, with silver beads placed at the end of each braid. His eyes were dark and wise, and his nose was stubby, but his bearing was noble and proud.

"Master Gloin!" Bofur greeted in reply, nodding in respect. "Forgive me if my whistling was too loud!" he apologized.

"Not at'all, lad!" Gloin replied, shaking his head. "But you seem to be in a most merry mood today! More than usual! What has you in such good spirits?"

Bofur's smile grew and he shook his head.

"Not 'what', me lord," he began cheerfully. "It's more of a 'who'."

Gloin raised and eye brow, and a curious look was in his eye.

"Oh?" he asked with intrigue. "A 'who' you say? Ah, then I know that smile and that twinkle in yur eye! It was the same twinkle I had when I met my wife!" Gloin chuckled, winking at Bofur.

"Well then, who's the lucky dwarven girl?" Gloin asked grinning.

Bombur, over hearing all of this, smiled to himself, but kept to his work. Bofur chuckled too, and looked a little sheepish.

"Well, she's not a dwarven girl," Bofur began. "She's a human girl, but she's a special human lass for certain," Bofur nodded, still grinning from ear to ear.

"She must be a very special human indeed to make you so merry, Master Dwarf!" Gloin chuckled.

Bofur laughed happily.

"Aye, me lord!" he replied. "That she is."

Gloin patted Bofur on the shoulder.

"I wish you luck, lad. May she be the mate you've been searching for," the old dwarf said kindly.

Bofur nodded in gratitude for Gloin's well wishes.

"Thank you, Master Gloin," he replied happily.

And with that, Gloin left Bofur to work. Bofur continued to whistle and smile, and Bombur enjoyed listening to his brother's merry tune. Time past, then Bombur spoke.

"I think she is," Bombur said quietly, still looking at a gem he was inspecting.

Bofur looked up from his own work and to his brother.

"Is what, Bombur?" he asked curiously.

Bombur looked to Bofur, with a smile in his eyes.

"The mate you've been searching for," he said softly.

Bofur looked at his brother for a moment, and then smiled happily to him.

" I don't know that just yet, Bombur," he said softly. "But I'm hopin' you're right. I surely am."

Bombur nodded and beamed at his brother, and they both resumed their work.

The day continued as thus, and Bofur wondered what Kelda was doing that day, and if she had thought of him as much as he was thinking of her now.

Kelda awoke that morning with mixed emotions. She was very excited to see Odel's horses, for she missed her own dearly. But she also was sad that she couldn't see Bofur for a few days. So, she didn't smile very brightly when Brena came in to dress her.

"I know, my darling," Brena said, as she went over to the closet to pick out a dress.

"I'm sorry, Brena," Kelda apologized, sighing heavily. "I don't mean to be so discontented. I will be better collected as the day goes on."

Brena smiled a sympathetic smile.

"It's alright, my darling," the nursemaid replied kindly. "I understand."

Kelda dressed herself, Brena did her hair up in a braided bun, to keep it out of her face while riding. Her dress was the color of pink rose petals, soft and delicate. Brena brought Kelda her riding boots, and Kelda paused a moment, before putting them on.

"I haven't worn these in…years..." she said quietly, practically to herself.

Brena nodded, her eyes full of sorrow and memory.

"Yes," the old woman remarked in a whisper. "But your father would've liked you to never stop wearing them."

Kelda smiled a sad smile to Brena, as she laced the boots.

"I know," she replied softly.

Kelda rose to her feet then, and both made their way downstairs. Bron was in the hall, ready to inspect Kelda to make sure she looked suitable for Lord Haethorn.

"Ah!" he greeted Kelda and Brena, walking up to them. "You look lovely, my dear sister!"

He took her hands into his, and kissed her cheek affectionately. Kelda gave him a small smile.

"Thank you, my brother," she replied.

Within a few moments, Lord Haethorn's carriage arrived to take Kelda to his estate. Haethorn was not in it, which wasn't a surprise to Kelda. She suspected he was getting the horses ready for their ride, or perhaps he was finishing up some business before her arrival. She waved goodbye to Brena and Bron, and soon she was off.

Lord Haethorn's estate was beautiful and large. His mansion was on a large piece of land, on the west side of Dale. He wasn't as close to the mountains as the other estates, for he needed a large plot of land for the livestock. Erebor was still seen from his home, but it was as close as it was from Kelda's bedroom window.

Kelda stepped out of the carriage with assistance from a servant, and Lord Haethorn was waiting for her in front of the house.

"Hello, Lady Kelda!" Haethorn greeted her, his smile bright and happy.

Kelda couldn't help but smile brightly in return, Haethorn looked so happy to see her, how could she be distant to him?

"Hello, Odel!" she replied, smiling as happily as she could muster.

He met her half way from the carriage, and took her hands into his. He gently kissed them, and Kelda curtsied.

"You look very beautiful today, Kelda," Haethorn complimented. "You are wearing your riding boots, I trust?"

"Thank you, Odel," the girl replied sweetly. "And yes, I am. I am very excited to meet all of your horses."

This was very true. Kelda had not been around horses for a few years now, and she missed it so much. She immediately thought of her two beloved stallions, Daran and Turion, and she wished more than anything she could see them right then.

"I am delighted to introduce you to them all," Haethorn chuckled. "But first, might I show you around my home? If we are to share it someday, I should like you to be familiar with it before hand."

As he said this, Kelda could see tenderness come into his eyes, and she knew that he earnestly wanted her to be his wife. Kelda continued to smile up to him, but her heart felt a tug of pain and guilt in that moment. But it left quickly, as Kelda was distracted by the beauty of Odel's mansion.

They walked side by side, Kelda's arm locked into Haethorn's arm, just as the night before. Kelda was shown every room of interest, and there were many spare rooms they didn't even go into. Kelda found herself imagining what it would be like to live there. Without even realizing it, for a few minutes, Kelda entertained the thought of being Lord Haethorn's wife. She imagined her reading in the huge library he possessed, and she saw herself riding horses day in and day out.

Horses…

Then Bofur's face came to her mind's eye abruptly, but not harshly. His soft smile, his warm and gentle eyes, and the image of him holding out a toy horse to her. It all rushed to her, and her smile vanished, and a sudden shame filled her eyes.

Haethorn noticed this, and he stopped abruptly.

"Kelda?" he asked worriedly. "Are you unwell?"

Kelda looked up to the kind man quickly, and she blinked, as if to hide the guilt in her eyes. Then she chuckled, and nodded.

"Oh, yes, Odel," she replied sweetly. "I'm so sorry, I was just…thinking about my…the horses I used to have. Bron…Bron had to sell them to pay some of the debt."

Haethorn looked down to Kelda, and his eyes filled with sadness.

"I am so sorry, Kelda," he said softly.

Kelda shook her head, and smiled sadly.

"Forgive me, my lord," the girl replied quietly. "I should not have brought it up."

Haethorn placed his free hand onto Kelda's, and squeezed it gently.

"It's quite alright," he said kindly. "While I cannot return the horses you have lost to you, I can introduce you to those I do have. And they would love to meet such a wonderful girl like you."

And Haethorn's eyes were happy again as he grinned at Kelda . Kelda's sweet smile returned to her face, and her eyes lit up with excitement.

"Oh yes!" she said excitedly. "I would be honored to meet your horses, Odel!"

Haethorn chuckled, and gestured for them to head towards the stables.