A/N
Woo chapter three.

I don't know how long this story is going to be? Long enough, I suppose! Not epic long, but I think I will take it up until Bofur leaves for the quest, with an epilogue of him coming home. I am not all that sure just yet. I'm having to much fun writing derpy dwarf feels.

Chapter 3
laurestine

Every day, Clover awoke to flowers left at her door for nine days in a row. They were daisies - plain, simple daisies, always tied with a ribbon and left for her to wake up too. And each morning, Clover would collect them and leave them on her table. She was touched by the dwarf's intentions, however, she gently tried to convince him that she was not the hobbit for him, and that he would be happier with a female dwarf instead.

And he would just smile, give her a flower, and continue on his business.

Shaking her head, she readied herself and went downstairs to help the pub open for the daily traffic. She threw on her apron and brushed her hair from her eyes before she began assisting the early customers.

Around early afternoon, her boss pulled her aside and gave her a small pouch of coins.

"Need somethings from the market. Onions, potatoes, and carrots. Can you go get'm? I trust a hobbit on this more than the cook." He said gruffly. "Be quick. Need it before the dinner rush."

So Clover grabbed her cloak and hurried out to the market, clutching the pouch and a basket close. Oh, how she loved the market. It made her think of the Shire, filled with the different foods and wares people had to offer. She knew she needed to hurry back, but her boss certainly wouldn't mind if she looked around just a little bit. Little Samwise had a birthday coming up, and she wanted to have a gift to bring him when she visited for it.

Bofur was having a delightfully busy day at his booth. Children were swarming him, asking for a story, or a song, or how a certain toy worked exactly. He delighted in the requests, telling a story of a singing chamber pot while demonstrating how a toy dragon with strings attached to it worked.

His story ended when the parents came to collect their children(and in some cases, purchase toys from him). He pocketted the coins before rearranging his remaining toys, humming a song to himself.

Another child approached his booth, eyeing the toy dragon apprehensively.

Bofur greeted him with a smile. "Well hello there, young sir! What can I interest you in today?"

The child pointed to the dragon toy, eyes wide. "Are dra'ons real?" He asked, eyes wide with a hint of fear, yet curiousity. Bofur smiled at the lad, picking up the toy to demonstrate it for him.

"Aye, they are. But no reason to fear them here, lad!" He exclaimed as he made the toy flap its mighty wooden wings. "Dragons prefer big mountains, and there are none like that here in Bree. And they do love gold, but thankfully there is none here, now is there!"

The lad smiled and nodded. "Aye! And if there was one, my da would slay it!"

Bofur chuckled and set the toy down. "I'm sure he would! Dragons are fierce creatures, but they do have a weak spot from my understanding. Unfortunately, I am no expert on dragons. I don't know if you kill them with kindness or a thump on the head."

The two talked for a few more minutes, swapping silly ideas on how to slay a dragon, until the lad's mother called him away. He waved to Bofur and ran off, laughing merrily. Bofur just smiled widely as he took a seat again, only to jump right back up when he saw Clover approach his booth.

"Well then, the afternoon became more pleasant now that I have seen you, Miss Clover!" He exclaimed happily. "What brings you here today?"

"You make toys?" She asked, picking up a few toys to inspect them. "Oh my, this one is quite lovely!" Clover picked up one of a rabbit, looking it over with a smile. "How much for the rabbit, Mister Bofur?"

He took her hand in his, closing her fingers over the rabbit. "Consider it a gift, for it is an honor to be able to court you, my dear hobbit." He said with a smile. Clover turned red as she fumbled for her own coin purse.

"Nonsense! I should pay for it, as it is a gift to my dear nephew!" She replied, frowning. Bofur just shook his head.

"I shall not take a single coin for that toy, Miss Clover!" He refused politely. Clover sighed and placed the toy in her basket. Despite only knowing Bofur for little over a week, she had already learned how stubborn he was early on. "However..."

She perked up a bit, looking at him. "However what?"

"The payment I will accept is this. What is your favorite flower?"

"Oh, dear Bofur..."

"No, no. I wish to know! You will not regret it." He assured her.

Clover smiled a bit and shook her head. "Very well. Sunflowers are my favorite, dear dwarf." She sighed. "But I do not wish to wake up to a cart full of those! They are to beautiful to be picked in such quantity!"

Bofur laughed softly. "I will remember that. Fear not, no sunflower will be harmed!"

~

Clover returned to the pub with the vegetables in tow. As soon as they were dropped off with the cook, she ran upstairs to deposit her basket and toy. Carefully, she placed it next to the picture of Samwise. It would stay there until her journey to the Shire in a month's time, which gave her plenty of time to purchase gifts for her brother and his wife as well.

She stared at the wood carving of the rabbit for a few minutes, frowning. Bofur was certainly going to great lengths, and she was starting to wonder if she was being cold hearted in the way she acted towards him. Why, he had brought her many flowers and even gave her a free toy! And she had not done anything in return. Then again, Clover was unfamiliar with the way dwarfs courted, and she was unsure who to ask.

Sighing softly, she spied the hairclasps that laid on the table next to the rabbit. She heard stories of dwarfs and their pride for their braids. Perhaps that was something she could do for him.