Hi! It's been ages ago since I updated the last chapter, but I'm back at FF and decided to finish this one as well. c;

Bofur couldn't help he was hoping for an enchantment. So that the dead of Bifur, the disappearance of Fili and the unconsciousness of Alyssae and Dwalin were nothing but an illusion. They had gone through so much those tdays that he didn't know how to keep his head above water anymore, while he normally had an optimistic personality. That was probably the reason why he clutched to a fantasy – the little hope that this was all a bad dream, which was planted in his head by fearsome creatures.
Because of their laden hearts the journey was even harder than before. In turns they carried Dwalin and Alyssae, but the time between was too short to find their strengths again. They made no jokes to ease the atmosphere. In fact they did not say a word, which caused the feeling they were drifting apart unintentionally.
His throat burned and he felt week because he had eaten so little. Even Dori and Thorin, the strongest of the group, moaned because of the efforts they made to keep their companions above the ground.

In the end it was Balin who proposed to rest. Bofur had not dared to ask himself, since Thorin was quite steadfast and the smallest statement could provoke a quarrel. Thorin however had always listened to the advice of the old dwarf and for that reason he lowered Dwalin carefully to the ground.
Oin viewed the injuries of the two in the dusk, but there was no water to clean the wounds and the plants that were growing here, were unknown to the dwarf. With a disappointed face he looked away, although nobody blamed his failing.
'What are you doing?' Kili, who had dropped down exhausted, jumped upright and walked to Thorin, who had kneeled down next to Alyssae.
'I will not hurt her, Kili.'
Thorin's voice was so weary it seemed to shock Kili himself. Bofur saw he took off his fur to drape it over the girl. Kili glanced at him with a dark look, but Bofur shrugged.
A while ago he had already noticed a certain tension between Thorin and Alyssae, which was anything but hostile. It was clear his king had sympathetic feelings for her and maybe even more…
The fact that Alyssae was now in this situation, was mainly due to Thorin's insolence, for Bofur didn't believe that Thorin was malevolent towards her. He could imagine Thorin was not helped by personal twist, since there was more at stake than his personal luck.

'With that he cannot make things right,' Kili grumbled when they took the first watch.
'He knows,' Bofur mumbled, who didn't like to talk about his king behind his back. He always had the feeling his words reached Thorin's ears anyhow. 'It was just a stupid accident.'
Bofur did not know what had happened in that barge, but he could not believe that Thorin had pushed the girl overboard on purpose, to save her later with danger for his own life. He was just a man who acted impulsively and sometimes made clumsy decisions at the social level. Despite all that Bofur would still follow him blindly, since he believed nobody only made the right choices and Thorin brought them very far.
In the beginning the quest had seemed impossible, but if the trees didn't took away their sight, they would be able to see the Lonely Mountain.
'I really don't get it why he hates her so much.'
'He does not hate her,' Bofur hushed, who knew Kili got very close to the elf since his brother went missing. Apart from that she had been the only one who could have led them to the elves, because of which he took up everything even more personal. 'Do you really think he would have sat next to her this way?'
Kili turned his head aside and followed Bofur's glance, which was pointed to a lonely shape, who sat attentively by Alyssae and stared ceaselessly at her.
The young dwarf sighed deeply and brushed his dark hair, while he had to agree with Bofur, although he somehow raised an aversion.
Bofur knew the man could hardly accept Thorin's decision to leave Fili behind, something that surely affected his current attitude against his uncle. Obviously Kili was willing to give up everything to find his brother, but Thorin was a king. He had to oversee the whole and set aside his own desires and wishes. The fact he was able to do that made him a such a respectable leader, who deserved to sit on the throne of Erebor. Everybody made mistakes – sometimes even with a price that was too high – but what Thorin differed from his ancestors was his ability to face his shortcomings.

Halfway the night – anyhow, Bofur was willing to believe that, since it seemed to be night here forever – they were taken over by Balin and Dori.
Bofur walked to Thorin, who was still sitting next to Alyssae. When Thorin heard his footsteps he moved his arm quickly and Bofur saw Alyssae's fingers slipped out of his hand.
'You have to sleep too, Thorin,' Bofur found, who acted as if he hadn't seen this tender gesture at all. 'We will find the elves only when we are all fit.'
A deep sigh escaped Thorin's lips, but the dwarf nodded shortly and lowered himself on the ground. Bofur did the same thing, but even before his head touched the ground he fell asleep.