Balance
This is a big, big time alternate universe story. It eventually leads to the original quest the way it should so be patient and read if you want to. This will have no slash at all within the tale for those who are not fond of that genre. Please review and let me know what you think, good or bad.
I own nothing. Poop!
Chapter Twenty
The first spring flowers began to bloom two weeks later and on a mild day Bifur took extra precaution and wrapped Bofur up in a blanket to walk outside to show him the blooms one afternoon.
"See the flowers, Sweetling?" Bifur asked as he held Nori's hand with his free hand.
"Purple," Bofur chirped pointing at the crocus, "Purple flowers."
"These are croaks," Nori insisted as Bifur held back a grin.
"Crocus, Nori," Bifur corrected as the child nodded, "Crocus blooms are one of the first signs of spring."
"Then birdies come and make nests and tweet," Bofur gushed as Bifur blinked, "I watched when…when I wasn't allowed inside and saw lots of pretty birdies and later baby birdies."
"That's right," Bifur agreed, "Winter is going away and spring is coming and…let's go back inside since it's might get chilly. Nori, take my hand. Let's go now."
"Kay," Nori agreed as Bifur took the boys back inside.
The trip outside was cut short due to an approaching wagon. A wagon that contained Bifur's aunt and uncle. Bifur had rushed the children inside so Bofur didn't see his old "Master" and "Mistress" which would make his boy absolutely terrified.
"Back so soon?" Lady Trunni asked as the trio entered the rooms.
"I was worried the wind would make Bofur chilly," Bifur said giving Dori and his mother a look to show something was up, "Down we go, Sweetling. You two go play in our room because I have to have grown up talks with Dori and Lady Trunni, understand?"
"Yes," both boys agreed and scampered off.
"They are here," Bifur gritted out once his boy was behind the bedroom door as he began to pace.
"Your kin?" Lady Trunni guessed and hissed when Bifur nodded, "Oh, dear. Did the little one see them?"
"No. I practically ran poor Nori's little legs off to get back inside," Bifur sighed going to the pantry and retrieving a pouch of dried apples, "I felt so bad. Nori!"
"Yes, Mister Bifur?" Nori asked peeking outside with Bofur.
"Here are some apples for you and my Sweetling to share," Bifur offered as Nori beamed and scrambled over to take the pouch while Bofur wiggled excitedly, "I'm sorry that I rushed you back inside so quickly, but it is not good for your Bo to get too cold yet, Nori. You two be good boys and share, okay?"
"Yay!" Nori cheered as his older brother and mother shared amused looks, "We'll share. I'd never not share with my Bo, Mister Bifur, and I didn't mind coming inside. I was pretending that we were racing and I won caused I crossed the finish line first."
"Did you now? You're a good boy," Bifur complimented as Nori glowed for a moment, "Go on back inside the bedroom with my Sweetling and play nicely while I finish talking to your mother and brother, okay?"
"Bo, hold this and I'll be right there," Nori instructed as the tot did so and Nori shut the door carefully and glared up at Bifur, "I know why we really came back inside, Mister Bifur. Bo's mean mama and daddy are here. I saw."
Bifur gasped as Dori snorted softly.
"You see too much, Scamp," Dori said gesturing for his brother to come to him and to be picked up, "I know you, Nori, you always know more than you should. Do you know what Mister Bifur is trying to do?"
"He going to dopt my Bo and love him forever with Bombie, but Bo's mean mama is trying to mess everything up," Nori grumped.
"I knew you'd been spying," Dori said rolling his eyes, "The word is 'adopt' and not 'dopt,' Silly. That is what Mister Bifur is doing and he won't let Bo's mother mess anything up. Have you been talking with Bo about this?"
"No," Nori denied, "Not want to make Bo cry. He'll ask what will happen if his Bif not allowed to adopt him and get upset and start having nightmares again. Don't want Bo's mean mama and daddy near my friend. Dori, beat them up."
"Nori!" Lady Trunni chastised as her youngest sulked with hurt looking eyes, "Okay, Love, tell you what, Dori will beat them up if they try to hurt your Bo."
"Really?" Nori perked up hugging Dori close as his brother chuckled, "Thank you, Dori! Down. Want apples before Bo nibbles them all up."
Dori smirked once Nori scampered back into the bedroom as his mother shook her head.
"Don't ever think of keeping secrets from that one," the dam groaned, "Nori somehow listens in on everything."
"He does, but he is wise enough to understand that Bofur needs to be sheltered," Bifur pointed out beginning to pace again, "I'll need…."
Whatever was going to be said was interrupted by a knock at the door. It turned out to be Balin, Thorin, Dwalin, and Eld.
"Your kin are here," Balin began before pausing as Bifur nodded.
"I happened to be outside with the boys and saw the wagon," Bifur stated crossing his arms, "I rushed Bofur inside before he could see his parents, but Nori saw them. I wish I had been told the day of their arrival so I wasn't outside with the boys. That would have been an ugly scene and Bofur would have had a meltdown."
"We thought your kin weren't going to arrive for another week," Thorin sighed, "They made better time since the weather has been mild and they weren't traveling with a large number of dwarves. We would have warned you if we knew."
"Why are you here, Dwalin?" Dori asked eyeing the warrior warily, "Nori still listens in on everything so watch your language."
"I've learned that the hard way, Dori. I am here to guard Bofur and Bombur," Dwalin admitted as Bifur sat up straight, "I will stay in the hallway if you prefer, Bifur, but Thorin, Eld, Oin, my brother, and I all agree that this precaution is necessary. Bifur, your aunt showed a…a…um…."
"Unhinged side of herself when you met her?" Bifur asked as the warrior nodded grimly, "Aunt Bartha certainly did show that. I hate to have you staying in the hallway, but if you stay in here Bofur will pick up on the fact that something is wrong and get upset. My boy is emotionally fragile despite how far he has come these last few months. I'm so sorry, but I do like the idea of another warrior being near in case of emergency."
"I don't mind staying outside," Dwalin assured, "Don't worry about that. So far there are no issues. Your uncle is calm and obviously estranged from his wife, but that dam has wild, angry-looking eyes. I feel safer being close."
"Thank you," Bifur sincerely offered taking Dwalin's arm in a warrior's grip, "I feel safer that there is another set of eyes watching out for my boys."
"There is no one that takes guard duty more seriously than my brother," Balin bragged looking proudly at Dwalin, "Nothing gets through him and so both of your boys will be well protected, Bifur."
"The whole of the party from your old village have strict rules of conduct," Eld began, "They have a boundary that does not allow them near town hall and we all think it would be best for you all to stay on your side of the line. As I recall, Dori, you do the shopping?"
"I do," Dori agreed.
"I have divided the market in half for the others with the butcher as the dividing line," Eld continued, "I was told that you had to get rough with a crowd of the villagers to protect your little brother and figured it would be better if you did not cross paths with any of that group, Dori."
"Good point," Dori nodded out, "Nori often comes with me and I don't want him near any of those dwarves. There is no telling what he'd do."
"Don't you mean that there in no telling what they'd do?" Eld asked as Dori snorted and Balin and Dwalin chuckled softly.
"Not at all," Thorin interjected, "Nori has quite a reputation for getting even if angered and the boy is angry at the dwarves who hurt his friend. It wouldn't be pretty."
"He doesn't…not trying to offend, Dori, but Nori won't teach Efie to do that, will he?" Eld questioned.
"No," Dori assured nodding in understanding to Eld, "Nori doesn't share his habit of doing his own unique form of justice with anyone. Your Efie is safe from any bad influence. Nori does what he does in secret and only to protect. He's wild, but a good boy."
"I am hoping my third child will be a little calmer," Lady Trunni admitted with a grin, "But I love my Nori. He is his own unique dwarf, I tell you. Bofur has been good for Nori to help my boy learn some restraint. Nori follows rules better to protect 'his Bo.'"
"I've also let the group know to have their meat purchases bought by noon so that you have the afternoon to go to the butcher without the fear of you meeting up," Eld continued as Dori nodded, "Once the two magistrates sit and meet we will have more information on how the hearing will go. Balin will keep you informed, Bifur."
"What if my kin ask to move here?" Bifur voiced one of his greatest fears.
"They will be denied," Eld soothed, "We have laws here in Ered Luin that protect dwarflings even from emotional distress. Bofur does not need to be exposed to his abusers. I, for one, believe this hearing is nothing, but a formality. The adoption will go through, but your aunt will kick up quite a fight. She will lose and be asked to leave. End of story."
Bifur sighed in relief and nodded to everyone his thanks. Dwalin took his station as Thorin, Balin, and Eld left. Bifur glanced grimly at Dori and his mother as he stood to pace.
"I don't like that my kin are even here so close to my boy," Bifur growled narrowing his eyes, "Sweetling will be terrified if he finds out."
"Then he won't find out," Lady Trunni insisted, "We need to act as if everything is normal. In fact, Nori needs to be made aware of Dwalin. He'll figure it out."
"He already has," Dori snorted opening the bedroom door as his brother tumbled out.
"Bofur," Bifur gasped hurrying to glance into the room only to see his boy sleeping on the bed with his bunny and blankie.
"I sang ta my Bo so he wouldn't hear nothing after we ate our apples," Nori admitted standing back up with his brother's help as Dori kneeled to brush dust off the child's coat, "I listened at the door once Bo was asleep. Mr. Dwalin is going to be guarding my Bo and his Bombie?"
"He sure is," Dori agreed, "Nori, you can't let Bo know about any of this."
"I won't," Nori nodded out, "I'm protecting my Bo too. I'll make anyone sorry if they try to hurt my friend. I will, Dori, and I don't care if I get in trouble for it. I don't!"
"I understand," Dori hummed lifting Nori to sit on his hip, "But allow Mister Bifur and I to handle it, Nori. I don't want you putting yourself into unnecessary danger. We won't allow anyone to hurt your Bo. You just tell us what you see and hear, okay?"
"Kay," Nori sighed.
"I am glad that you are my Sweetling's best friend," Bifur said patting the beaming dwarfling's head once Dori had sat him back on his feet, "However, I do believe that you should be joining your Bo for your nap."
"Aw," Nori whined as Dori pointed to the bed, "I'll be glad when I'm all grown up and don't have to nap."
"I'm glad that you are here to keep Bofur warm," Bifur insisted as he helped the dwarfling crawl under the covers to cuddle against the sleeping tot, "Want Wags?"
Nori nodded and accepted his toy with a crooked grin.
"I'll nap only for my Bo," Nori whispered, "I'm not very tired."
"So not tired," Dori chortled a few minutes later once his brother drifted to sleep.
"It's a dwarfling thing," Bifur snorted closing the bedroom door behind him and Dori, "I remember fighting naptime."
"I do too," Dori agreed, "However, you don't want to see my baby brother's behavior when he doesn't nap properly. Nori pitched a fit horribly one day when he was a little older than Bo is now about not napping and so Mother and I allowed Scamp to stay up."
"Worst day ever," Lady Trunni shuddered, "He was snappish, mulish, and overly tired and had tantrums for the rest of the day. Nori still needs a nap despite his denials."
"What are you doing?" Dori asked as Bifur pulled out his weapons.
"Preparing for the worst," the toymaker explained as he placed his weapons in hidden locations that couldn't be reached by dwarflings, "My spear will be placed in the stand here. I want to be able to get to a weapon quickly if there is a need."
"Good point, but I hate weapons being out with little ones," Dori groused while stowing his own weapons in different hidden locations, "The hearing can't come soon enough so your kin can pack up and leave. I don't want them near your boys or my Scamp."
Life went on normally and the older dwarves were very successful in making sure Bofur did not know what was going on. Nori also kept the tot entertained and oblivious to being closely guarded. Bifur was very grateful for the Ri family.
"Where ye goin'?" Bofur asked when Bifur was supposed to go and speak privately with his aunt and uncle, their representative, and Balin, "Can I come with my Bif?"
"I have to go talk with Mister Balin. Remember? I told you last night I'd be gone a little bit in the morning," Bifur instructed going to lift the babe in his arms, "Dori is going to watch you and I'll come back after your nap, Sweetling. Mister Balin and I need to talk about the adoption and it will be long and boring, but worth the trouble."
"That way everyone knows I Bif's Bo soon?" Bofur questioned.
"That's right," Bifur agreed, "I need you to be a good boy for me, Sweetling. I'll bring you and Nori a surprise as long as Dori reports good behavior when I get back."
"Kay," Bofur chirped nodding excitedly, "I be good boy."
"You already are a good boy," Bifur cooed kissing his boy's temple and setting him down next to Nori, "You just show Dori that. You too, Nori."
"I be good," Nori giggled looking excited, "I like surprises!"
Bifur was glad that Bofur was being calm and nodded at Dwalin as he exited his rooms.
"Keep my babes safe," Bifur both begged and ordered the warrior as Dwalin nodded, "Mahal, give me strength to have the patients to deal with my kin."
Balin met Bifur at the door of the conference room and nodded a greeting before they both entered. The toymaker remained neutral as Bomfur and his wife looked up at him.
"Baby thief!" Bifur's aunt hissed.
"I am no such thing, Aunt Bartha," Bifur denied taking a seat as his aunt's representative tried to talk her down.
"You took my infant," the dam spat angrily.
"I, tha father, gave Bombur and his older brother ta my nephew," Bomfur insisted, "I could not trust ye ta raise Bombur properly. Ye even threw a stone that could have hit tha babe when Bifur was holdin' tha wee laddie."
"You willing told me to keep Bombur which was heard by many witnesses," Bifur voiced feeling admiration that his uncle was finally standing up to his wife, "I have been taking care of both boys ever since."
"I could care less for the Balance," Bartha snapped, "Give me back my infant."
"He will not," Balin said, "Under all dwarven laws once a father or mother gives up claim on a child then the child is no longer under his or her care. Bombur stated that both children were Bifur's and you said, and I quote, 'Keep the babe. Without the Balance, Bombur will die anyway as Mahal's punishment for me not keeping the proper balance in my House. It is better not to grow too attached to the brat.' Those were your words, were they not? I have witnesses to those being your exact words."
Bartha glared angrily at Balin and refused to answer.
"I am Lady Bartha's representative, Yandon," the last dwarf in the room spoke up, "She was under great stress at that moment and could not be held accountable for her actions or words."
"Incorrect," Balin denied as the blonde Yandon sneered, "I stated the law previously."
"Yes," Yandon agreed with a smirk, "But under the new memorandum added to that law, I have already presented a copy of the memorandum along with my client's claims to you earlier, that change in the law creates a loophole."
"Only in cases of animals or material goods," Balin sighed looking down his nose at Yandon as the other dwarf gaped, "Dwarflings are protected with all force of the law with absolutely no 'loopholes' as you put it. Once it is questioned that the home environment is not sound, the children are taken immediately and fostered since a dwarfling is a blessing from Mahal within Ered Luin. It was good timing that Bifur discovered his cousins' plight before the situation grew worse or led to the death of your client's eldest son. Bofur and Bombur are in much more capable hands now."
"Balances do not have names," Bartha hissed as Bifur stood angrily.
"My child's name is Bofur and he is not a Balance," the toymaker hissed back, "The boy is my cousin, but I claim him as one of my sons."
"You can have the other creature," Bartha snapped, "Give me back my baby."
"The child you called 'Brat?'" Balin said pulling Bifur back down into his seat, "The baby you threw a rock near? I was hoping we could settle this today and not go to a hearing. I hope you realize how many witnesses I have to show that you willfully endangered two dwarflings' lives. Not only that, but there was another dwarfling at that unfortunate scene at Bifur's old shop that got caught up in the mess and his older brother had to intervene to protect the little one."
"Might the brother have been brought up on charges for not protecting the child by keeping him out of the fray?" Yandon asked drily.
"Should there have been the altercation in the first place caused by your client?" Balin questioned back as Yandon frowned, "The youngest Ri brother followed Bifur secretly wanting to protect Bofur. His elder brother and Bifur had to intervene to keep the child from being harmed even while Bifur was having to protect baby Bombur as well. Your client should be ashamed for allowing danger near any child."
"Look, the village allows the Balance system and Master Bifur took offence to this and removed the Ur House's Balance," Yandon began, "Let him keep the Balance and give a poor dam her infant back so this will be over and done with once and for all."
"Over my dead body," Bifur calmly stated, "Plus, stop calling my boy a Balance, Yandon. My eldest's name is Bofur. Show some respect for my family."
Yandon gaped once again as Bifur stared him down with an emotionless face. The toymaker was not going to allow himself to grow angry over dwarves grasping at straws.
"What say you, Master Bomfur?" Balin inquired as the dwarf looked up.
"I say Bifur keeps both children," Bomfur said once again, "Obviously, he has set up a good home for tha children and has a way ta provide for them. Bartha, we have no claim ta those boys anymore. Let this go."
"I won't! The infant is mine!" Bartha shrieked, "Give me back my child, Thief!"
"A dog shouldn't be in your care," Bifur sniffed leaning back, "How dare you touch Bofur the way you did! How dare you starve that babe! He is only a wee lad of three. Bofur's a baby and did not deserve what you did to him. You would eventually do the same to Bombur. You will not touch my boys."
"We will end this here," Balin stated rising as Yandon protested, "This is nothing, but a loop of insults being tossed about, mainly from your client, Representative Yandon. I look forward to seeing you three at the hearing. Good day."
Bifur rose with Balin and walked out as the shorter dwarf grabbed his arm once they were outside and dragged him into another room.
"Breathe, Bifur," Balin instructed as the toymaker growled, "You are bright red in the face. Calm yourself."
"She has no remorse for what she did to my Sweetling," Bifur snarled, "She has to be out of her mind. Can we not get her evaluated by a healer?"
"Good idea," Balin hummed, "It would be legally proper to have Lady Bartha examined. If she wants the boys, she needs to prove that she is sound of mind."
"She can't have my babies!' Bifur barked before calming as Balin raised his hand to ask for quiet.
"That dam is not sound of mind," Balin stated, "Any examine will prove that she no longer has any claims on those boys due to a mind illness. I won't allow her to take your children, Bifur."
"I'm sorry," Bifur sighed shaking himself, "I don't…Bofur especially cannot go back with my kin. Sweetling is just now really starting to blossom. Bombur is even happier with his brother around and I want all of that to continue. My boys need me."
"I can prove all that," Balin soothed, "Get some air and go back to your boys. I will inform you of any new developments."
Bifur went and had a nice walk through the woods before taking a quick trip to his new shop. He did some tidying and looked over his inventory that he had been setting up slowly, but surely. Once the warmer weather arrived, Bofur was ready to open. The toymaker trotted to the sweet shop and got some fudge for the boys. Bofur had heard a story that talked about fudge and had been asking ever since what fudge tasted like.
"Dori, are the boys sleeping?" Bifur asked as he peeked inside and got a nod from Dori, "Come in, Dwalin, I'm sure you want to hear how the meeting went too."
"I do," Dwalin agreed, "Balin put that dam in her place, right?"
"He did, but it was her representative that really needed a good kicking," Bifur admitted sitting as Dori and his Mother came over to listen, "Tried to pull up some loophold change to a law to say that Aunt Bartha was 'stressed' and could not be held accountable."
"Bullshit!" Dwalin snorted before cringing at dual glares from Lady Trunni and Dori, "Ah. I see where you get your stare from, Dori. You take right after your mother."
"No bad language in this home, temporary or not," Lady Trunni huffed, "Nori still hears everything and I have had to talk with him several times because of you, Dwalin, Son of Fundin. Watch your words."
"Yes, Ma'am," the warrior agreed looking cowed.
"I am so angry right now," Bifur admitted fiercely, "That…bad dam still has no remorse for what she did to Bofur. Dismissed him completely and has decided that she wants my Bombie. I will never hand over my youngest to her."
"Balin and Thorin will not allow that," Lady Trunni advised as Dwalin nodded firmly, "You and your boys will not be torn apart."
"What if they are?" Dori voiced as everyone stared, "Hear me out. We need to have a plan set up if the council tries to take Bifur's boys. Bifur, you are going to have to be set up to run."
"That is unlawful," Dwalin spat before quelling at Dori's glare.
To be continued…