I'm back! Thank you so much for the lovely reviews to the last chapter, especially Hermione Granger (Thank you, and I have no intention of giving up!) I Just Won A Free Toaster Oven and the two guests to whom I could not reply personally to. It means so much to have your support for both this story and myself, and I will never be able to thank you enough.
Anyhow, onto the story. Sorry about the wait, they shouldn't be as long from now on ;)
Forgive any mistakes, please my dears :D
Read. Enjoy. Review.
Chapter Eighty Two # I Know You #
Bofur's heart was pounding so hard that it felt like his ribs were going to crack under the pressure. His grip around the pony's reigns and his mattock could not have tightened if he had tried and his breath was stuck in his throat.
He knew who that was. The face may still be unrecognisable, but he knew exactly who that was. Those two frightened screams told him all that he needed to know. He kicked his feet into his pony's rumps and urged her to speed up.
"Wolf!" he called, trying not to allow his voice to waver too much. "Wolf, come back here, come on!"
The she-wolf turned back to the frozen figures who were growing closer and closer, and Bofur's heart stumbled. Then, behind him, Kíli whistled sharply.
"Hey! Here, girl, come here!"
Incredibly, the wolf wheeled around and sprinted to Kíli's side, though she looked continuously over her shoulder as she did so. Bofur spared a quick glance over his shoulder – Kíli looked as surprised as Bofur felt at the wolf's obedience – but then the older dwarf turned his gaze forward and urged his trusty little pony to ride as quickly as it could.
"Bofur!" he heard Nori's bark, but it meant nothing to him. Only later would Bofur consider that he could have been barrelling headfirst into danger; all that mattered now was that his sister-in-law, nephew, and presumably his other nephews and his nieces, were there before him and in danger from his own party.
As soon as he was close enough, Bofur leapt off of the pony and ran the final few feet. The bow fell out of Marta's grasp completely as her hands flew to clasp above her mouth in what Bofur would guess to be a prayer. Knowing Marta it was a prayer. Bofin, however, let go of his mother's legs with yet another scream and shot into his uncle's arms.
Laughing in relief, Bofur grabbed the boy up into his arms and hoisted him into the air, showering him with kisses. It had been far, far too long since he had seen his nephew, and now that the adrenalin was loosening its grip on his heart he felt it swell with joy. Bofin squeezed his uncle tightly, and buried his face in Bofur's neck.
"Uncle Bofur!" he whimpered over and over again. "Uncle Bofur, Uncle Bofur, Uncle Bofur!"
"Bofur," Marta's whisper was only just audible as she staggered forward, collapsing into a one armed hug, since it did not look like Bofin was going to get off his uncle's hip anytime soon. "Oh, thank the Valar, thank the Valar, I thought you were... I thought we were going to…"
"Evening, lass," Bofur murmured with a big grin, pressing a kiss onto the top of her golden hair.
"Bofur?" the indignant tones of Glóin's wife drew his eyes to Dana. "What the – you scared the living daylights out of us! Why are you travelling with wolves? Why are there so many of you? What-"
"It's good to see you too, Auntie Dana," Fíli called as the rest of the group caught up, interrupting Dana's troubled rant. The wolves hung back, lingering around the wagons, with the exception of Luno – as per usual the undeniably loveable wolf was all but woven around Kíli's legs.
"Oh, by my beard Fíli, look at your face!" she gasped in reply. "What on earth have you done to yourself, child?"
Bofur smiled to himself and squeezed Marta's shoulder. He was not sure that many could get away with calling their crown prince 'child', but then again not many could get away with calling Dana, daughter of Dalla 'Auntie'.
"I was so worried about you, all three of you." His sister-in-law murmured. "We went so long, with scarce any word and…"
"Last I saw Bombur he was well as can be." Bofur assured her.
Marta's relief chased the worry lines away from her forehead. "And Bifur?"
"Bifur was…well, Bifur."
Marta nodded.
Stifling a yawn, Bofur made his way through town. He was still struggling a little to find his way in the Blue Mountains – every time he tried to go exploring some sort of emergency came up. It was usually Bifur causing problems, though not purposefully. Folk here just were not used to him yet, and the journey across from the Grey Mountains had shaken his cousin, especially the orc attacks.
As if his conjured to life by his fears, a huge commotion began to boil in front of him. Alarmed by the shouting and Bifur's unmistakeable growls, Bofur pushed his way through the crowd in an attempt to reach the front. As he drew nearer he could hear his cousin yelling in Khuzdul so fast and fierce that Bofur himself had no idea what Bifur was saying.
Bofur did not have to imagine hard to know how terrified strangers would be of this. He doubled his struggles to get through the throng of stupidly stubborn onlookers.
"You'll never get through that way." A nonchalant voice informed him, and Bofur looked over his shoulder.
"What're you talking about?" he replied to the auburn haired stranger.
The dwarf pulled his pipe out of his mouth. "You don't stand a chance muscling your way through there."
"Well, thank you for the input." Bofur shook his head and turned away.
"You'd get to your cousin quicker if you cut around the outside then go in by the bakery – crowd's not as tight knit over there."
Surprised, Bofur glanced over to see that the stranger was right. He looked back at him. "Thank you… Who are you?"
"The name's Nori. Don't thank me now. I'll call in the favour later." With a wink, Nori disappeared into the backstreets and Bofur wasted no time in struggling around the outside of the group.
By the time he reached the bakery the shouts were loud enough to deafen him. Men were yelling, woman snapping and children crying, and above it all Bofur could hear himself calling out for his cousin.
All of a sudden, silence fell. Bofur's latest cry broke midway through, and he finally burst through the crowd to see what was happening.
Bifur was backed up against their stand with knife in hand, cowering away from several others, including a youth with a bloody nose. A circle had spread out around him of people unwilling to get too close – with one exception.
A small, slender dwarven woman with dirty blonde hair was slowly approaching Bifur in a crouch. Her hands were stretched out in front of her, slowly signing in Iglishmêk.
"All is well," she signed, her hazel eyes trained on Bifur's. "I mean you no harm."
Bifur shifted slightly and Bofur held his breath.
"No one means you any harm," she murmured aloud in Khuzdul as she stepped closer and closer.
His eyes flying to the men by the side, Bifur snarled quiet, vicious words and the hand with the knife spasmed violently. Before Bofur could so much as call out, the woman was talking again.
"No one means you any harm," she repeated, signing as she went.
Bifur was breathing heavily, but then his eyes fell on Bofur and he jolted slightly.
"What're you doing, Bif?" Bofur called out gently. "What happened?"
"The lad over there with the bloody nose was playing a game with some friends," the woman explained gently, bending down to pick up the coin scattered across the floor on her way towards Bifur. "Their ball struck your stall and Master Bifur panicked. He struck the lad, whose father saw and thought that Bifur was attacking his son with no reason – there was much noise and much confusion, but it was all just a misunderstanding."
As she finished, the woman walked all the way to Bifur's side, unflinching at his erratic movements, and pressed the coin into his hand before taking a little step back.
"I saw everything." She insisted. "No one is at fault. It was just an accident."
The father of the bloody nosed lad yelled out. "A jump scare is no reason to strike someone-"
"Can you not see that Master Bifur has been involved in warfare?" the woman said gently. "It is not uncommon for a brave, injured warrior such as he to suffer from Soldier's Heart, and that can make one afraid of sudden noises and the like, they think that they're being attacked."
Almost instantly, the man's face changed. "In that case, I apologise."
Slowly, the crowd dispersed and Bofur, Bifur and the woman ducked away into Bofur's home.
"Thank you," Bofur said sincerely, reaching out to shake her hand. "On my honour, lass, I can't thank you enough."
"Oh, rubbish," she scoffed. "I did nothing more than what any decent person would do."
"In any case, thank you." Bofur bowed. "We are Bifur and Bofur, and we are at your service and your family's."
"It is lovely to meet you both," the woman curtsied. "I am Marta, and I am at your service also."
When Bombur had met the tiny woman he had been instantly besotted – which in true Bombur style meant avoiding her at great costs, until finally Bofur forced them to stand in the same room together. Marta showed the same gentleness and patience that had won over Bifur in the midst of a panicked episode to Bombur, and soon all three members of their family were wrapped around her little finger, so to speak.
At Dana's side, the young Gimli pulled off his hood. "Aunt Dís! Fíli!"
"Good afternoon, Gimli," mother and son grinned identical grins.
"You can come out now!" Bofin yelled loudly, and before he had even finished, Bróin, Orla, Ola and Bodin tumbled out from behind a large rock and charged at their uncle.
"Hello everyone," Bofur laughed, his heart warming at the sight of each and every one of them. Orla clambered right up his left side, settling onto his other hip without any help from her uncle whatsoever, while her identical sister latched herself onto his leg. Bróin was climbing up Bofur's back, while Bodin was content with trying to morph into Bofur's boot.
"You've been missed, Bofur." Nori commented dryly.
"Not quite as much as this one, though!" Dana grinned, nodding at the younger of Dís' sons. "It's good to see you, Kíli."
With a smile, Kíli bowed. "At your service, ma'am."
In true Dana fashion, the woman scoffed. "Oh, grant your service to someone who wants it and come down here and give me a hug! It's been far too long since I last saw you!"
Kíli glanced at his brother and Fíli grinned at him, before dismounting his own pony to hug Dana himself.
"Is your name Kíli?" she raised her eyebrows even as she hugged him back fiercely.
Taking his cue, Bofur grinned. "I think some introductions are in order!"
"Aye," Fíli pulled away from his cousin's wife and began pointing out the members of their company. "This is Saradoc and Esmeralda Brandybuck, Paladin and Eglantine Took, Bilbo Baggins, and you all know Nori and Bofur. Oh, and that's Kíli."
"Of course it is," Dana shook her head. "My name is Dana, daughter of Dalla. This is my son, Gimli and that is Marta, wife of Bombur. The munchkins are her children – Bofin, Bróin, Ola, Orla and Bodin. And last but not least we have Alfr, Soren and Bragi."
Bofur noted the three young dwarves as they nodded and waved. He knew Alfr – his father, Lord Arnor was a lord who was leading the Blue Mountains in Thorin's absence. Though he thought that he recognised Soren's face, Bofur could not say that he knew the lad.
"I'm glad we ran into you," Marta said. "Maybe you can help control your nieces and nephews."
"What are you talking about?" Bofin looked indignantly at her.
"Yes, Amad," Ola and Orla chimed in unison. "What are you talking about? We're practically perfect in every way."
Nelly's unexpected voice replied. "Well, that's just creepy."
Bodin screamed and sprang at his mother, climbing all the way up until he was as far away from the ground as possible.
In response, Pippin – who had somehow managed to remain quiet on his sister's back as she had snuck all the way from the wagon to Bofur's side – screamed back with a vengeance, tightening his grip Nelly's neck.
"Ack!" she gasped, smacking him. "Pip-can't…breathe…lights…fading!"
As Nori swiftly pried Pippin off of Nelly, Bofur tried to calm the terrified toddlers. "Alright, calm down, calm down!"
"Dey-dey-dey just came out of nowhere!" Bodin protested with a quivering lip. "Dey're monsters!"
Nelly's curious expression morphed into pure fury. "Excuse you! Don't be so rude! There's-"
"Pimpernel!" Paladin and Ellie called.
She turned to her parents, eyes bulging in exasperation. "I didn't do anything! He's the one that's being rude! He called us monsters! That's rude and mean and-"
"Nelly!" Ellie warned.
The child's nostrils flared as she clamped her mouth shut. The glare she sent to Bodin had the poor little boy hiding behind his mother's hair.
Pippin looked puzzled. "He's scared of us?"
"Aye," Bofur laughed. "You made him jump."
"He made me jump." Pippin nodded, before waving. "Hello!"
"Bodin, there's nothing to be scared of. These are Paladin and Ellie's children – Nelly and Pippin." Bofur explained.
"And I'm their older sister." Pearl declared, emerging from behind a nearby pony. "Pearl."
"Ooh," Orla's eyes lit up. "That's a nice name."
"Thank you," the hobbit grinned, dragging her youngest sister out of hiding. "This is Pervinca."
"How'd you do?" the shy girl murmured, before ducking back behind her sister.
"I'm Merry!" the boy announced, leaping down from a wagon.
"Frodo, at your service." Bilbo's nephew waved. "And this is Sam!"
"Are you all brothers and sisters?" Bróin looked as though he was counting on his fingers.
"Nuh-uh." Nelly shook her head adamantly. "All us girls are, and Pippin's our baby brother. Merry's a Brandybuck –he's our cousin – and Frodo's a Baggins. He's Bilbo's nephew, and he's our cousin too! Sam's a Gamgee and he's Frodo's neighbour."
"Well, it seems that there's an awful lot of catching up to do, and it's getting too late to travel much more." Dana glanced at Dís. "We were just about to put a pot over the fire – care to share some dinner?"
"We would love to," Dís smiled, gracefully sliding down from her pony. "It will be lovely to travel on with family."
Nelly dropped her jaw. "What are we, chopped liver?"
"Nelly, that's enough." Ellie insisted. To anyone else, her voice would seem as gentle as a lullaby, but Bofur could hear the firm tone beneath.
Apparently Nelly could, too. She bit her lip and ducked her head close to her chin. "Sorry, Mama."
Bofur smirked as Ellie smiled in satisfaction. "Good girl."
Soon enough, they were all settled around the fire. Bodin scampered into Bofur's lap only to scream and try to clamber away.
"Woof!" he cried as Bofur's arms wrapped around his waist. "Woof, no, no Unca Bofur woof, help woof!"
"No, no," Bofur assured the child, reaching out to tickle Luno's ears. "This is a good wolf. His name is Luno."
Bodin looked at him as though he had grown another nose. "Good woof?"
"Yes, Luno's a good wolf." Pippin piped up shyly as he wiggled into Fíli's lap.
Kíli plonked himself down between Bofur and Luno and winked at Bombur's youngest son. "A very good wolf – he's saved our lives more than once."
Shyly, Bodin leant his face into Bofur's chest and put his thumb in his mouth.
Fíli smiled wryly at the exchange and began to play with Pippin's curls. After the scare of the morning it was a great relief to realise that the threatening figures on the horizon were not just friends – they were family.
Gimli ladled some stew into a bowl and passed it to Fíli. "So, how'd you get that handsome scar then?"
"Was it in the Battle of the Five Armies?" Bofin leaned forward excitedly, his auburn fringe falling over his eyes.
"Aye," Fíli nodded and Pippin twisted around, reaching up to trace his fingers along the jagged line.
"The bad orcs hurt him very much." Pippin explained sombrely.
"I can see that," Bragi sat down next to Fíli and passed a bowl to Pippin. "I think that's a conversation for another time, don't you Gimli?"
Catching Bragi's meaningful look to the younger children, Gimli nodded. "Ah…yes, of course."
Pippin's attention had been utterly stolen from the wound, however, as his eyes fell on Bragi. His little mouth fell open slightly and his eyes widened to a comical point. Luckily, Fíli noticed and managed to cover the boy's mouth before he blurted out something embarrassing. However, Bragi was a perceptive dwarf and he noticed right away.
He smiled wryly. "I look rather strange, don't I?"
Gasping at the realisation that he had been found out, Pippin looked nervously up at Fíli.
"It's alright," Bragi assured him casually. "I'm not blind, I know what I see in the mirror."
"Bragi's an albino," Fíli explained. "That's why his skin's so pale and his hair is so white."
"Al-bi-no…" Pippin ran the unfamiliar word over his tongue.
"Don't albinos usually have red eyes?" Nelly wiggled in place, looking directly at her parents as she elaborated. "I don't mean to be rude, Mister Bragi, I'm just asking."
"Not at all," Bragi replied. "I've had people ask the same thing in a horribly rude way. Albino animals sometimes have red eyes, but not people, not usually."
Sometimes Fíli had to remind himself just how striking Bragi's appearance was to those who did not know him. His long, straight hair was as white as snow, but not in the way of the elderly – it was smooth and strong, and Bragi took great pride in it. His skin was pale and his eyes (though not red as Nelly had pointed out) were pale blue, almost violet, in tone. Though his beard was on the wispy side, his harsh masculine features made him rather attractive to many about the Blue Mountains, and he was as strong a warrior as Fíli – in fact Fíli would even argue that Bragi was more skilled than he was!
Pippin seemed to be mulling over this information as he ate his dinner. "Why are you an albino? Can I be one?"
Bragi laughed lightly. "Well, that's a new one! No, little one, I'm afraid you can't be one. I was born this way, and no one knows why."
"Oh," Pippin pulled a face and tugged on his curls, inadvertently smearing stew over his face.
Fíli tutted gently, wiping it off. "Messy little pup."
"That's not my name, my name's Pip!" the hobbit protested.
At the sound of the word 'pup', Luno stood up from Kíli's side and padded around sniffling around Pippin's feet. Fíli knew exactly what was going on – the wolf wanted food. Luno laid his head next to Pippin.
It did not take long for Pippin to realise exactly what was going on.
"No!" the hobbit yelled, hitting the wolf clean on the nose. "My food!"
Every one of the newcomers looked up in shock and fear, but Luno's hasty retreat was accompanied by a sad little whine and no sign of aggression.
"Bad wolf!" Pippin growled, curling around his bowl.
"Pippin," Fíli warned. "You shouldn't hit the wolves. It isn't very nice."
The toddler paused, and then fished a chunk of carrot out of his bowl and offering it to Luno. "I'm sorry!"
"That wasn't exactly what I…" Fíli trailed off as Luno reached out to gently take the food from the toddler's hand.
"My word," Marta breathed, staring at the scene. "You must trust the beasts greatly."
"They've given us no reason not to," Kíli pointed out, "And Luno's friendlier than most lapdogs I've met."
The conversation soon bubbled down to friendly chatter, and when Fíli laid his head to rest that night he could not help but smile. It seemed that things were finally going their way.
And there I will leave you for tonight! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, do let me know if you would like to.
As a side note, I know that there are a lot of new characters here, so I'll give them more distinguishing characteristics soon.
The wait for the next chapter shouldn't be too long – I'm now free from uni work until October! Yay!
Anyways, thanks for reading :D
