Say Anything

Summary: Since the accident, Bifur was isolated in his own mind. He had given up all hope of being close to his family and friends again. The idea of forming a new relationship was nothing short of an impossibility, but a young, over curious prince may just prove him wrong.

Chapter 2

When Kili awoke, he had to grumble, not finding the same comforting warmth he had fallen asleep with. He peaked one eye open, seeing that it was still dark outside, especially now that their fire had depleted, and the rain had not let up at all. He didn't move, not want to let the warmth he'd captured under his blanket escape. He let his eyes scan across the camp, seeing everyone sleeping normally, and everything as it should be.

He started counting the company, wondering who was on watch. He noticed everyone accounted for in front of him, expect for Dwalin, and Bifur. He lifted up quietly, and noticed quickly that a bedroll was on his right, a but away, more than arms length, but still perfectly lined with his and its position had placed him right in between the sleeping dwarf, and the fire.

He assumed it must be Fili. Who else would do something so corny as to shield him from the stormy night? He slowly stood, and stretched, wondering how long he'd been asleep. He fumbled in his pack for his pipe. He found it, after a bit of difficulty thanks to his dreamy state, and started walking back to the large boulder he and Bifur had conversed on the day was then he noticed that the sleeping dwarf beside him, had dark hair. Obviously, not his brother.

The young prince tilted his head, and scanned around the camp again. A smile crept across his face as he realized that it was Bifur. He was a bit confused, and more than a little curious as to why the warrior artist had decided to place his bed there. He had never done so before, or had Kili never noticed? He shook his head a bit, and quietly moved away. He glanced around, and noticed Dwalin standing over by the boulder he had been heading for.

"Ya should be sleepin'." The warrior said, without even looking, before the prince got too close.

Kili couldn't help but smile. "I've been asleep." He teased, jumping up on the large rock. He sat, letting his legs dangle off the edge, his knees level with Dwalin's shoulders.

"Hm."

Kili didn't mind the warrior's blunt way. He knew him well, and had become endeared to it. He lit his pipe and puffed away, feeling unreasonably happy. Dwalin looked over and gave him a suspicious look, but said nothing. The prince attempted to hold the silence, really, but his mind just didn't work that way. Quiet caused his mind to wander, which caused him to be talkative.

"It's raining a lot." He said wistfully.

Dwalin just sort of shuffled, and said: "Aye."

"I hope it's not an omen." The prince said with a laugh.

Dwalin cracked a smile. "If it is, I'd see us prove it wrong."

Kili felt a pride rise in his chest, and he smiled brightly, but held in any words, for fear he'd speak too loudly, as he was prone to do. He enjoyed his pipe and watched the rain fall. He suddenly found himself thinking of Bifur, and how he had sheltered him from the stormy night. He smiled warmly over his pipe, but it faded, and he couldn't hold in his words any longer: "Why did Master Bifur decide to help us?"

"What?" Dwalin sounded as if he had completely forgotten the prince.

"Master Bifur. Why did he join the company?"

"I don't know everythin'." Dwalin said, taking the pipe Kili offered to him. "Why don't ya ask 'im?"

"I don't know." Kili said, but he did, and he added immediately: "I feel rude. It's not my place to ask him things like that."

"I don't think he'd find it out of place. It is yer family's quest, after all."

Kili nodded. That made sense, but he still didn't feel right about it. Bifur wasn't very difficult to speak to, but he was unpredictable, and though he never got angry when his mind was clear, he could get very nostalgic and spaced. He didn't want to cause him any discomfort. He broke out of his thought when Dwalin held his pipe back out to him.

"Why'd ya wanna know?"

Kili shook his head. "No reason."

Dwalin huffed in his way, but didn't press it further. Kili glanced behind him at the company, and smiled. He could see the relationships forming, simply in the way they chose to sleep. Fili was close to Blibo, though they were not holding each other, they're foreheads were nearly touching. Thorin was sitting up, and lightly sleeping against another large rock, and Bofur was lying with the top of his head a couple inches from the king's thigh, sleeping soundly. Ori was sleeping beside Dori, of course, but Kili couldn't help but feel that the scribe was uncomfortable. Suddenly, Kili noticed that there was no place that Dwalin would have been sleeping, and he finally looked back to the warrior, and spoke again.

"Where are you sleeping?"

"No where now. Already packed up."

"Where were you sleeping then?"

"You're full of questions this morning, princeling. What's into ya?"

"Nothing." Kili lied, or did he? He felt like he was, but he wasn't exactly sure how to answer the question even if he had wanted to. He was just... changed. He felt more adult, and a bit elated. Like there was something wonderful that he had been expecting that was right around the corner.

The warrior shrugged him off, and turned back toward the camp. "It's time to move."

...

As the day went on, it did not go as smoothly as Kili had felt that morning. As much as he had hoped, there had been no time for lessons, or talks with Bifur and Ori, but he certainly had not expected to be hunted by orcs atop wargs, and chased by an impossibly large bear-man-beast-sorcerer-thing, and end up spending the night in the very being's living room, surrounded by animals, and a very tired, shaken company of dwarfs.

Needless to say, the young prince was exhausted and felt no interest at all in learning anything once they had all settled and finished eating some quickly prepared dinner. Kili lied down on his stomach, propped on his elbows, smoking away at his pipe. Ori sat beside him, with his legs crossed, going on about the basics of the language, and it's origin's and other things that had really nothing to do with actually communicating. It was all going right over Kili's head as he allowed himself to get lost in the fire again, though making sure not to fall asleep. There was no music this time, as Bofur had disappeared to the loft some time ago.

He allowed his eyes to drift around the room. He wasn't quite sure what he was searching for, but when his eyes came full circle from and back to Ori, he felt dissatisfied. Bilbo and Fili were sitting together, speaking of the different traditions held by dwarfs and hobbits. Bilbo was rambling on so much, he was completely oblivious to Fili's slack-jawed stare. Kili smirked. His brother was definitely fascinated by the hobbit.

He searched for his uncle, suddenly curious to see if he had noticed the growing bond, and found him not among the men. He furrowed his brow and lifted up, looking around. Ori stopped talking suddenly and look over at the prince.

"Something wrong?" The young scribe asked.

Kili did not look to him, but answered quickly: "Thorin. Where is he?"

Ori glanced around. "I'm not sure, though I'm certain he's close."

Kili nodded as he started counting the surrounding company, and found everyone accounted for other than Bofur and Thorin. He found himself incredibly confused. He knew that Bofur had gone up to the loft not long ago, so where was Thorin. He stood, handing his pipe to Ori, who looked at it in shock, and sat down by the prince's other belongings.

"I'll be right back." He said quickly and strode over to where his brother was sitting. He couldn't help but smirk at the annoyed look his brother shot him. "Pardon me, Mr. Baggins." He knew addressing the hobbit would only further annoy his brother. "But I must steal my brother for a moment."

Bilbo smiled. "Of course. I wouldn't keep him."

"Perhaps I'd rather be kept." Fili had to break his frustrated expression when Bilbo tilted his head in an innocent fashion. He then silently stood, and bid the hobbit a momentary farewell.

As they moved away from the hobbit, Kili broke the tension before he brother could complain. "Have you seen Thorin?"

Fili looked around. "No, why?"

"I have a feeling he's up in the loft... with Bofur."

"Bofur?" Fili looked confused for a moment, and then a smile crept across his face. "Now, that would be interesting."

Kili nodded. "Shall we see for ourselves?"

The brothers grinned at eachother. They headed over to the ladder, Kili leading the way. As they slowly started to climb, Bofur's voice faded into the night: "I guess that's one way to tell them."

"Tell them what?" The two jumped visibly as Kili lumbered up the ladder, followed by his brother. Kili couldn't help but notice that Thorin was almost shaken, and the look Bofur gave his uncle was full of ... something. They walked over and knelt down beside them. Fili beside Thorin, and Kili beside Bofur. The toymaker looked to Kili and smiled, and the prince couldn't help but return it. He seemed happy, more so, in fact.

"You two should be sleeping." Thorin said, not even trying to hide his frustration.

"You should be, too." Kili said.

"We couldn't sleep." Added Fili.

"Nope."

"Too hot."

"Too many animals."

"Floor is hard."

"Yes, very."

"This hay looks much nicer to me." Fili plopped back onto the hay where Thorin had been, and snuggled into it, clasping his hands behind his head. Kili smiled brightly, and did the same, sufficiantly amused at how well they were annoying their uncle. Obviously, there was something to this. Thorin and Bofur looked at each as the brothers got comfortable. Bofur couldn't help but smile, and Thorin couldn't help but scowl. Then the toymaker took a deep breath, and Thorin gave him a curious look, but didn't stop him as he started talking.

"Lads?"

The brothers each perked. Fili sitting up, and Kili, turning on his side, and resting his chin in his hand to look at the toymaker, both moved quickly, and in no way like they had been ready for sleep. Kili wasn't sure what he was waiting to hear, but he knew whatever it was would either confirm, or disprove his suspicions.

"Um..." Bofur seemed to be stumbling for words, which wasn't like him. Kili watched intensely, wondering if they had pushed too far. "We were up here for a reason." He said finally, but the brothers looked at each other, and then back to him, waiting for more. That wasn't exactly an explanation. Bofur looked to Thorin, with desperate eye. Kili felt the guilt again, and looked to Thorin, but the king just shook his head, and looked away. Finally,the toymaker sighed deeply, and said: "For privacy..."

The brothers locked their eyes, and Kili knew that Fili was saying 'You were right!'

"Oh." Fili said blankly, looking back up at Bofur.

Kili sat up slowly.

Then suddenly Fili's face crept into a smile. "Ooohh..!" Kili was right behind him, and immediately started giggling, but it wasn't a mocking laugh. The brothers were laughing in shock, and happiness. They had waited for so long to see their uncle give in to some kind of love, but here? Now? Bofur? It was as humorous as it was captivating.

Then suddenly Fili shot up, and helped his brother to his feet. "Understood." He said with a grin. They turned and started going for the ladder, but just before Fili's head went below view, Thorin spoke.

"Fili."

He stopped.

Thorin placed his finger to his lips, and gave him a look. Fili smiled in a way that Bofur almost found wise, and nodded. Bofur could tell by the look in his eye that he understood, and wouldn't say anything.

When the brother's got to the bottom of the ladder they looked at each other with a mixture of shock and humor. Fili sighed and ruffled his brother's hair. "Looks like your feeling what right."

"I'm glad." Kili said, but the emotion that started to wash over him, made his statement untrue. He felt sad, almost lonely. He was jealous, though he would never admit it. His heart was swelling for Thorin and Bofur. The more he thought of it, the more sense it made. The problem was... he envied it. Finding someone to fit with you so perfectly, it was undeniable fate. The young prince couldn't imagine someone fitting with him in that way. How could they? He was all over the place. He didn't know himself, let alone someone else being able to understand him.

"Kili?" Fili's voice was sudden, and it was apparent he had been trying to regain his attention.

"Huh? Yes?"

"I asked if you were alright."

"Oh, yes, I'm fine. Just-"

"Shocked?"

"A bit." Fili smiled at him, but Kili couldn't help but notice he was distracted, and it suddenly reminded him that his uncle wasn't the only one finding love. The youngest prince smirked: "Where do you think he is?"

"I'm not sure. He was by the fire but now I don't see him."

"Why are you so concerned?" He teased.

"Concerned about what? I'm not concerned."

"Oh yes, you are. You told on yourself the moment you didn't ask who I was speaking of."

Fili couldn't help but grin, knowing he'd been caught. "That obvious?"

"To me."

They lingered for only a moment longer before Kili excused himself, allowing his brother to seek out the hobbit before they had to sleep.

Kili turned and headed to the large window, hoping to catch a sight of the stars, but as he made his way, he heard breathing to his left. He glanced over to see Bifur sleeping, far from everyone. He stopped and stared. He seemed to be sleeping deeply, but not comfortably, and Kili wondered why he had decided to sleep so far from the warmth of the fire. Perhaps it wasn't his intention to fall asleep there. The prince started walking over to him, deciding he should probably wake him, and have him move closer to the camp. He would be more comfortable.

Once he reached Bifur, he found himself hesitating. There was something about that simply fascinated Kili. He was mysterious, like Thorin. Loyal, like Dwalin. Understanding, like Bofur. Intelligent, like Ori. Yet, he could barely communicate. Something about him was incredibly captivating.

The prince took a shaky breath, before reaching out, and gently gripping the warrior artist's shoulder.

When a sudden pain shot through his wrist, Kili's eyes shot up, certain an unseen assailant had sunk up behind him, but when he saw nothing, his eyes feel back down to Bifur, who was gripping his wrist, and staring up at him with hot intensity.

"Bifur?" Kili said, releasing his shoulder, and returning his gaze with concern. He tried to stand, but the warrior was strong.

The look in his eyes was completely foreign Nothing Kili had ever seen from Bifur, or any other dwarf, for that matter. It was completely... animalistic. Just as the young prince was starting to loose feeling in his hand, the warrior shoved him back. Kili found himself staring down a sight he'd never seen before. Bifur's hair was nearly on end, and he was eying the prince as if he were a starving wolf ready to pounce on an injured deer. The warrior took two steps forward, and then without warning, there was flash in his eyes. A change. For just a split second, Bifur looked worried. Frightened almost, and then he turned, gripped a large bench, and threw it with ease, and incredible force onto the wall behind him. The crash was sickening and Kili nearly jumped out of his skin. The prince fell down, fear, and deep concern, gripping his heart. He backed away on his hands until his back pressed against the wall.

He didn't understand. He had witnessed Bifur's episodes before, but nothing like this. He was completely lost. Not himself. Of all the emotions that fell over him, there was one the shook him to the core. Something he couldn't explain.

Kili was heartbroken.