It would probably be quite a sight, Bofur would later reflect, watching as twelve dwarves ran as fast as their little, but still very strong, legs could carry them. In the moment, however, the dwarves were all terrified, though most would deny it. It didn't escape anybody that Fili came for help alone, and that Bilbo and Kili were not around. Plus, their unpredictable wizard had left earlier in the evening, and there was no telling when he'd be back.
When the dwarves neared the small clearing in which three ugly trolls had a fire lit, and a cauldron of some sort of soup-looking food item, the adrenaline they all suddenly felt pushed them all straight into battle. Despite any trust issues between members of the company, or current arguments or grudges (Bilbo and Thorin definitely come to mind here, Bofur thought to himself) the dwarves worked as a team from the second the fight had begun, to the second it ended. Or rather, until Ori made a very undwarf-like sound, as he hit the ground after being tossed by one of the trolls. While turning to see of the youngest dwarf was alright, a few of the company members quickly took notice of the little burglar being held in the air by the trolls. Anyone who hadn't already seen it did immediately, as Kili shouted a frantic and desperate "Bilbo!"
Thorin held his nephew back, not wanting to continue the fight if it meant unnecessary harm to what was supposed to be a very necessary hobbit. He looked concerned, Bofur noted, but probably because if Bilbo got himself hurt, or killed, Gandalf would have some serious words for them all.
"Lay down your arms," one of the trolls' voices carried through the troll camp, "or we'll rip his off." There was a moment, though it felt like much longer, where the dwarves all looked to Thorin for his reaction. Bofur didn't know what he had expected Thorin to do, but he didn't think it would be to throw down his sword in surrender. But, whether it had been expected or not, that is what happened, and everyone swiftly followed in the action, tossing any and all weapons aside.
Well, that could have gone better, Bofur reflected, as he found himself tied down between the legs of Nori. I definitely didn't imagine this happening while a fire is lit beneath us. It took a minute to catch up to his own mind, but he soon corrected himself. I haven't thought about like that at all, not once. Not ever. This is not right. I should be figuring out how to get off this damn roasting spit! He knew his struggle was useless, however. He couldn't move his arms to untie knots with, nor did he have a knife to cut through the thick ropes. He also couldn't reach the ropes with his mouth to try and rip the knots apart with his teeth, not that it was helping Thorin any. Even if he had, he never would have been able to get down and run to safety without the trolls catching him. He was quick, but he wasn't that quick.
Slowly coming back from his own thoughts, he barely recognized the dull voices around him as those of the trolls, who currently seemed to be caught within a debate with none other than Bilbo. Shaking his head and listening to what the hobbit was saying, Bofur almost missed it as Dori cut in the conversation, shouting "You can't reason with them, they're half-wits."
"Half-wits? What does that make us?" Bofur caught himself saying, before he mentally slapped himself. Just let the burglar do what he needs. He's probably more clever than all of the rest of us put together! But Bofur soon founding himself doubting his burglar's own ability, as Bilbo was shouting instructions on how to cook a dwarf the proper way. He's insane! Just completely mad! The trolls were trying to argue with Bilbo, and before anyone could even say anything about it, Bombur was being lifted and dangled above one of the trolls' disgusting mouths. Bofur wasn't sure exactly what was being said, as he was definitely more aware of the fire heating is body the whole of his body and threatening to cook him, but he knew he heard the word 'parasite' thrown around a few times. Kili's voice carried well through the troll camp, his shouts doing nothing to help the situation.
If he weren't restrained, Bofur was sure he would have jumped at an unexpected roar of "The dawn will take you all!" The was a flash of bright white, and Bofur wondered if the fire had killed him, but only for a moment. But as the trolls twitched and cried out, he knew that the light was only daylight and they had been saved, the trolls turning into much less intimidating statues. As the roasting spit turned one last rotation, he could clearly make out the silhouette of one large, grey wizard. Gandalf, the voice in Bofur's mind said, in the same unamused tone Bilbo had used when the majority of the group had literally fallen through the door of a hobbit hole at Bag End. Of course, the voice was also telling him that they were all lucky that Gandalf had even chosen to appear. After all, he did leave the company earlier that day, mumbling about the troubles of dealing the dwarves.
An hour later, the last of the dwarves previously tied to the roasting spit was helped down, all of them still trying to regain feeling in various limbs (the roped were tied pretty tight, you know). Bofur was kneeling on the ground, happy and appreciative that he was actually, definitely on eth ground and alive. They were all alive, mostly uninjured, and it was all thanks to a very heroic act from no other than Bilbo Baggins, the burglar who wasn't a burglar at all.
"Surely we must be really close now, Master Bofur," said Nori from somewhere beside him. "Hours spent with you between my legs would do that, you'd think" He laughed, clearly making a joke. Bofur stood up joined in, his own laughter taking over his entire body, though he detected a bit of nerves in Nori's chuckle.
"Aye, a couple hot, sweaty hours, too," Bofur added, "and not even from the fire, eh Nori?" He winked, and Nori's soft laughter came to a slow stop. A violent red crept up Nori's necks, settling over his entire face, and a matching pink painted over Bofur, rising from neck to hat. He reached out to the other dwarf, a hand landing on Nori's shoulder, steadying the both of them after an abrupt embarrassment. His other hand nearly found itself on Nori's chest, but Bofur caught himself before he allowed that to happen. "Master Nori, I'm so sorry if you took offence. I meant none, of course. It was just me being, well, me. I apologize with all my being, Mast-"
"Bofur," Nori's voice was as quiet as Bofur had ever heard, or strained to hear, really. In fact, if he hadn't been able to see the other dwarf's lips move, Bofur may not have known he was even speaking. "It is fine. I just wasn't expecting it, is all." He shrugged Bofur's hand off of his shoulder, a small, forced smile coming to rest on his face. It was at this time that the pair began the walk back to their own camp, preparing to ready the ponies and continue the journey to Erebor. It only took a short while, and they all continued their conversations as they gathered all of their belongings and packed them up.
"What weren't you expecting, exactly? I mean, it's in my nature to joke. Certainly it must have been expected." Nori's smile quickly changed into a sly, knowing smirk. Bofur took note of the thief's ability to change moods and expressions in the blink of an eye, probably to cover real emotions.
"Maybe I wasn't expecting you to catch on to my attraction, Bofur," he said with a wink of his own. The dwarf didn't even give Bofur a chance to respond, but instead left him open-mouthed and in shock, as he mounted his pony and joined the rest of the group at the end of the camp. With a quick shake of his head, Bofur cleared his mind, mounted his own pony, and hurried to catch up.
Talk about unexpected, though Bofur with a smile.
Regardless of many of the dwarves, and possibly even the hobbit, still being shaken up about the confrontation with the trolls, they moved with speed through trees and shrubs and tall grass. Thorin was speaking with Gandalf about a troll cave. Dwalin, Balin, and Oin were all on what looked like a very serious lookout, trying to spot the cave. It seemed, though, that they had been travelling in circles for a few hours, knowing that the cave couldn't be too far from the troll camp. The company in its entirety did not want to be journeying, not so soon after a late-night battle with large and dangerous, although slow and stupid, creatures.
Much sooner than they would have on any other day, the group took a break from their scouting, and all hopped down from the ponies, wandering into bushes and behind trees likely to relieve themselves. Just as Bofur retied his trousers after finishing his business, he heard what sounded an awful lot like crying. Looking around, Bofur counted most dwarves just walking about, possibly still searching for the troll cave and it's treasures. Not caring that there would be one less pair of eyes seeking out this possibly non-existent hoard of goods, Bofur began his own quest to find the creature the cries belonged to.
He did soon find where the soft sniffling was coming from, as crouched in the bushes was a smaller-looking than normal Ori. Not sure if he should try to console the poor dwarf, he hesitated in moving any closer to him. He did, however, move out sight when two more dwarves ran towards the saddened youngster. Bofur knew he didn't even have to look at who it was to be sure that Dori, Ori's oldest brother, would be there. It didn't surprise him to see, when he did eventually peek, that the other dwarf was Nori. The Brother Ri, huddled close, the two oldest each holding one of Ori's hands (although it looked more like Dori was clinging to him, as if were dying).
"It'll all be alright, Ori. Come here, come closer," Dori cooed, but his attempts to hold his brother ultimately failed, Ori pulling away in discomfort.
"How could you say that? How could you say it's alright when you don't even know how this feels?" The youngest could barely stop crying long enough to speak, but he now sounded more angry than upset. "You've never been in love, Dori. You could not possibly know." Ori's head tilted back the tree trunk behind him. Dori's eyes widened almost comically, not ready to hear the words coming from his littlest brother's mouth.
"So, is that what this is?" Nori asked. "You love Dwalin then?" Ori looked to the middle Brother Ri, nodding his head in such a way that showed his sadness about his situation. Though Bofur knew Nori disliked Dwalin, hated him even, Nori looked as though he understood Ori's predicament. He pulled the young scribe into his arms, and Ori let another set of tears fall from his watery eyes.
"I love him so much, and he just pushed me away. Even before Fili ran by, he was already pushing me and my advances away from him." There was a long silence as Ori nearly choked on his tears, but he continued, pulling away from the embrace, but still staying close. "I know you don't like him, but he's so much to me. I see a kindness and a gentleness in him that no one else sees. I talk to him a lot, when you two aren't breathing down my neck. Did you know he used to like the library in Erebor? I do. He told me he used to visit quite often, whenever he could, because he loved hearing and reading of adventures."
"Ori, I know you care for him. Don't think I haven't seen you looking at him, and I definitely did not miss that kiss you gav-"
"You saw that?" Dori screeched. "You saw that and you didn't say a word. What, do you also approve of this? That dwarf is dangerous! He is bad news!" Ori's tears were flowing freely again. Nori looked just about done with this conversation.
"Of course I approve of this. I may not like Dwalin, and he may be dangerous, but if you haven't noticed, so am I." He shrugged at his own words, but he, too, looked very sad, almost on the edge of tears. He looked down, pulling his hands into his lap and folding them together. "Besides, I know what it's like to love but not be loved." Dori lifted his hands into the air, in frustration and disbelief. What? Nori loves someone? Is it someone back in Ered Luin?
"I still don't understand your fascination with him, Nori. He has, over and over again, ignored your advances. He isn't as nice as he comes across, and you know it. Deep down, you know he'll never give you the attention you deserve." Dori was standing at this point, and it only took him until he was done his speech to storm off, leaving his two brothers behind. Ori was beyond looking scared, but held onto Nori as if he life was dependant on it.
"He'll love you, Nori. I know it." Ori stood, Nori following closely behind. "Thank you, for everything."
"Don't give up either, little one. Love will find a way if it's meant to. Forget about Dori," he laughed, though it still sounded upset. The brothers gave one final hug, before Ori set off to find and speak to (probably scream at) the oldest Brother Ri. Nori shook himself off, readying himself to face the company again, before stepping forward, and turning toward a rustling in the bushes nearby.
A second too late, Bofur realized that he was the one in the bushes, hidden from the brothers' sights. He froze as he watched Nori's expression turn from curiosity at a simple sound, to plain fear, with his eyes wide and mouth open.
"B-Bofur?" he whispered.