Hey everybody! I'm back! This is a treat for all of you from me 'cause it's my birthday! Yay for everyone!
(Though I'm also hating it and pitying the Americans because, if my info was correct, Trump is swearing his oath today and that just sucks. No offense to anyone, but why did anyone vote for him?)
Anyway, enjoy my mathom from me to you!
Disclaimer: Despite the fact it's birthday, I don't own this book and I highly doubt Tolkien would gift this to me.
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I.
Bofur gazed hard at the Hobbit as he tried to sleep but all he was doing was tossing and turning in his sleeping pack. Master Baggins was shivering as well. The poor thing didn't have a pillow either (nor did he use his bag as a pillow).
He looked at the hat on his lap – the same hat that was given to him from his Amad when he was just a wee lad. It was warm and comfy and generally mood-lifting despite its (ridiculous) appearance.
He didn't really want to lend it to the burglar but the wizard had explained that it would be his first time out of the Shire, and Bofur knew how it felt to leave a home. It would be so terribly lonely and frightening, especially when he knew no one. Besides, he scared and made the gentle being faint when said being fed, watered, and gave the Dwarrows a place to sleep, despite the fact they were obviously not invited in the first place.
He owed the Hobbit, and plus, he could make the lad see that not all Dwarrows were bad.
He stood up and went over to the shivering creature, who was away from the group. Master Baggins sat up as he neared him.
"C-Can I h-help you, Master Bofur?" he stuttered, teeth chattering.
The toymaker shook his head. "Nay, lad. It's more like I help you. I noticed yeh were cold and I wanted to lend me hat ta yeh." He held out the hat.
"No, no! I couldn't do that!" The Hobbit waved his spindly arms around. "It's your hat and you'll get cold later!"
Bofur laughed. "We Dwarrows are hardier than you lot, Master Baggins. Jus' take tha hat – it'll make meh feel better – an' it's jus' fer one night."
The shorter being hesitated but Bofur was patient. Master Baggins eventually accepted the floppy thing, especially after a strong gust of wind that shook him. He fell asleep after a few minutes.
Bofur went back to his family and his sleeping pack, smiling. It felt great, the feeling he got from lending his hat to one who needed it.
He'll be sure to do it again.
II.
He plopped his hat on Kíli's dark head. The brunet started from his (most likely dark) thoughts.
"Dun' be sad, laddie, tha trolls weren't yer fault."
"But it was!" the prince protested. His face was scrunched up as he continued, "If I just looked after the ponies like I should have, if I didn't send Master Boggins to the trolls, if I was just being careful, none of this –!"
Bofur interrupted the prince. He didn't like seeing the barely-grown adult sad. He was one of the happiest people around (he should know, traveling as he did as he looked for work) and the toymaker knew the lad when he was a wee babe (close enough, anyway).
"It's 'what ifs,' Kíli. Yeh din't know 'bout tha trolls. We're all at fault too."
"But –"
"No buts, Kíli," the tinker said seriously, unlike his usual attitude. "Now, 'ave I ever told yeh 'bout the time me 'n' Dwalin joined tha Great Brawl of the Proud Lion in tha city of Gondor?"
"No, but Bo–"
He continued, pretending that the youngest prince was speaking, "Well, it started like this, yeh see…" He told the story with precise memory, enrapturing Kíli, Fíli, Ori, and Bilbo's attention with his details.
He relished the fact that Kíli was being comforted by both his words and the ridiculous-looking hat on his messy mane of a head.
III.
Bofur hesitated before approaching the blond Prince. Fíli was numb to the bone and was most likely shocked that he nearly fell to his death. Master Oakenshield didn't give comfort to the blond, as he was busy ordering around the other members of the Company, and Kíli was being attended to by Oin because of a rather nasty gash on his arm.
"'Ow are yeh doing, lad?"
"Fine, Bofur," Fíli replied dully, staring at the dirt. "…I almost died."
The toymaker nodded. "We all almost died out there."
"…I didn't realize that we might die before we reach Erebor."
Bofur didn't know how to react to that. The thought crossed his mind once or twice every time they encountered danger but it never occurred to him fully that some might not survive theend of the perilous quest. It scared him.
"Do yeh want me hat? Fer tonight?" At the look Fíli gave him, he explained, "Me Amad gave it ta me. She said it gives off happy thoughts 'n' the like. Yeh look like yeh need it more than me."
The Heir Apparent gradually accepted it with a small smile. Bofur gave another smile before he left for his guarding post.
IV.
Bofur cuddled his big-boned (he would not say 'fat' unless in jest) brother.
Bombur almost didn't make it at the forest with the wargs and felling of the pine tree they were in. He was distraught and both Bofur and Bifur were comforting him.
The toymaker's hat was nestled on the head of the orange-haired Dwarf. Bofur didn't care a bit. Bombur used to try out his hat when he first got it and still had a habit of stealing his headwear when he was upset.
Bombur fell asleep with his cousin guarding and Bofur singing softly an old Dwarvish lullaby, hat comfortably nestled on his head.
V.
Ori was panicking, crying out for his brothers who were in their own cells. Bofur didn't stop him, wanting to cry out for his own family unit too, but refrained as it would only frighten the scribe more.
He had to be the responsible adult now when it was the two of them. The other members were no help as they were all scattered around the Elvish dungeon.
When the 'Ri's throat was hoarse from crying out and his eyes were red, Bofur finally moved. He draped an arm around the lad's shoulders, bringing him close.
Bofur talked. He talked about Erebor. He talked about his travels. He talked about his friends, his jobs from before the quest, his family. He talked about his dreams and hopes and the future. He lulled and soothed the shy and unnerved Dwarf.
When they fell asleep, neither noticed that Bofur's hat had migrated to Ori.
1
Bofur sighed, reaching up to tug at a floppy hat ear only to tug at nothing. Oh yeah, he lost his mother's gift during the Battle a few days ago. He was miserable; Thorin, Fíli, and Kíli died; and his hat wasn't there to comfort him.
He was going to miss them so much. The lads were his favorites when they were younglings and he even managed to befriend and open up Thorin (that was mostly Bilbo's doing, though)! He was going to miss their pranks, jokes and smiles, and Thorin's brooding and rare laughs.
Barely adults (he meant the Princes) and had just reclaimed their homeland, the King and Princes under the Mountain were dead.
A familiar weight landed on his head. He reached up to find his hat. In front of him were his brother and cousin.
Bifur spoke in Khuzdul, "We found it near the corpses of the wargs."
"We knew you would want it back," Bombur added softly.
Tears rushed into his eyes and he lunged for his brother and cousin, trapping them into a hug. They hugged back just as hard, ignoring the tears.
Bofur knew at once that these two, he could always count on them coming back to him. If they were in any danger, the toymaker would ensure that no harm befall them. He would gladly murder anyone that should dare to harm his family.
And that was the truth.
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Bofur: 'Ow come Thorin, Fíli and Kíli doesn't get ta be alive, lass?
Shadow: It would get boring if they always survive, no matter how much I want it tty of be otherwise. And I want people to suffer like I did. Hehe..
Bofur: Lass, yer one evil child, 'specially in yer special day.
Shadow: On the contrary, Bofur, I'm not evil according to my sister. I'm mild at best. And anyway, you and your family gets to live, don't they?
Bofur: Touch them an' yeh'll get a taste of me mattock, yeh hear?
Shadow: That's the spirit, Bofur! Think of all the things that could have happened. Please excuse me while I try not to cry for the Durin's horrible deaths.
(I'm horrible for doing this to myself and to you, readers. Please forgive me. I don't deserve reviews, but as it is my birthday... I hope to get some as a gift! *puppy eyes*)