The Loss of Smiles and Music
Still enjoying writing some dwarven tales.
This is an AU story. Centers around Bofur and his family. Please enjoy and let me know what you think either good or bad.
I own nothing.
Chapter Two
"Have you figured out the problem with the lad?" Gloin boomed so that Oin could hear him since the healer didn't have his ear trumpet up to his ear at that moment making Bofur cry out in deep pain and clasp his hands to his ears.
Bifur snarled at the red-haired dwarf as he reached to try and soothe his cousin. Bofur cried out again as he shook and curled into a ball.
"Brother, what?" Bombur gasped stroking Bofur's shoulder, "Oin, this isn't normal. Gloin's voice has never hurt Bofur in the past."
"Quiet," Oin hissed leaning back over Bofur to gently tug his hands from his ears, "Can you hear me? Bofur, can you hear me?"
Nothing. No sign of recognition as the toymaker tossed his head in apparent pain. A look of dawning realization came to the healer's face. Bifur watched Oin warily as he stroked Bofur's hair to soothe his ailing cousin.
"Bombur, has your brother been susceptible to ear aches in the past?" Oin asked, "Everyone use iglishmek. Do not speak."
"Not that I remember," Bombur gestured before stopping as Bifur looked up sharply.
"Very susceptible as babe," Bifur insisted with sharp movements, "Very sick as a infant many times because born two months early. Grew out of this tendency once began to walk. Not had problem since. Bombur not know this because not born yet. I remember. Cared for baby cousin often and my aunt had Bofur wear his hat to protect his ears. Bofur not know that."
Everyone stilled when Bofur groaned and tossed his head some more making Bifur grimace and continue to stroke his cousin's hair.
"What this mean?" Thorin asked as he watched Bombur frown and cover his brother's ears with his larger hands which seemed to calm Bofur.
"Bofur very sick," Oin admitted through reluctant signing, "Too much fluid in inner ears probably from infection. Not realize he ill. Pressure building and affecting balance and hearing. Noise too much. Hurting him. Also giving bad headache."
"Help him," Bombur signed as Bifur covered Bofur's ears, "Bofur does not usually show his pain like this. He hurts badly. How treat?"
"Need sesame oil to mix with castor leaf," Oin signed, "I have the castor, but not the sesame oil. We need work fast. Bofur will lose hearing if we don't."
Bifur glared at Oin with livid eyes and turned to Bombur to point frantically to the food supplies. Bombur understood the question immediately.
"None. No sesame oil," Bombur signed back with a sigh.
A gasp rang out making Dori start as his brother jerked his pack down from his pony and grabbed something from within. Everyone looked up in surprise as Nori hurried over and handed Oin a corked bottle.
"Nicked it from the hobbit's place," Nori explained looking worriedly at Bofur as he whimpered once more before calming as Bifur covered his ears again, "Dori likes a splash of this on his porridge sometimes. Thought I'd keep it as a peace offering when I piss him off. Never thought it would be needed for this."
"First time I'm ever going to say good job for sticky fingers," Oin signed, "I'm so glad you brought this."
Oin clapped Nori on the shoulder and instantly signed to his brother to start a fire. Ori and Kili hopped up to grab some firewood.
"No noise," Oin signed to the company, "Let the wizard and hobbit know. Silence. Bofur is calm for now and doesn't need any more sound to damage his hearing and cause him pain. Very fragile right now. Do not move about unless necessary."
Everyone sat and watched as the healer heated a bit of sesame oil and mixed the warm oil with crushed castor leaves. Bifur had blindfolded his cousin to keep the light from hurting Bofur's head and was urged to lean the ill dwarf up against his chest which made Bofur whine softly.
"Hurts. Dizzy," Bofur breathed shivering as Bifur looked pained that his cousin was in such pain and took his hand in his.
"Bofur?" Oin whispered as the dwarf stirred a bit to let everyone know that he heard this time, "You're suffering from some bad ear infections. I'm going to be putting some medicine in your ears. It's not going to hurt, but you won't be able to hear for a few days. You're going to be okay. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Bifur and Bombur breathed a little easier when their kin nodded slightly before hissing in pain for a moment. Slowly, Oin eased a few drops of medicine into each of Bofur's ears before using a bit of clean cloth to block each ear canal off. Bofur whimpered again as Bifur held his hand tight and rested his chin on the top of his cousin's head.
"We can talk softly now," Oin began a few moments later helping Bifur ease the ill dwarf down to get some rest, "No loud noises."
"I thought you told Bofur that he wouldn't be able to hear," Thorin stated looking at his downed company member in concern, "Why are we still watching our sound levels?"
"Not a lot is known about the ear infection that causes this type of symptoms," Oin sighed, "I've seen some dwarves recover, some become hard of hearing, and some go completely deaf. I think I've caught the infection relatively early. As long as we are very careful with Bofur, he should recover so I don't want any loud noises tipping the scale."
"Is this contagious?" Dori asked as most looked at him angrily, "I'm not asking to cause conflict, but we all have a right to know. I have two, little brothers I look after."
"Oh, for the love of Mahal," Nori groaned hanging his head as Ori turned pink in embarrassment.
"Hush," Oin urged covering Bofur with a blanket, "This isn't contagious. My thought are that when he helped Thorin drag his two menaces out of the water at the time they tried to drown themselves, Bofur got water in his ears which led to the ear infections that have been festering ever since. No one else is at risk."
Fili and Kili looked at one another horrified. The two had thought to put that nasty business behind them, but now look. Thorin swore softly as Bifur and Bombur gaped at one another before looking at the youths.
"We are so sorry, Bifur and Bombur," Fili blurted using his softest voice as he and his brother bowed to the two, "We did not mean to be the reason why Bofur is suffering like this."
"We will do anything to help in any way that we can," Kili added on looking terribly contrite, "I am so sorry."
Bifur shook his head in irritation and returned to stroking Bofur's hair. The dark-haired dwarf wanted his cousin to know that he was close even if he couldn't see or hear him at the moment. Bombur wasn't as charitable.
"See what recklessness causes," Bombur bit out as the two young princes hung their heads, "Do you see what not thinking through your actions have caused? Bofur may lose his hearing because you two didn't think. How could you two by so…thoughtless about the companions around you? Who are you going to cause harm to next with your rash actions?"
Fili and Kili bowed their heads with regret as Thorin sighed. Even he could not defend his nephews. Bofur would not be ill now if the two lads had acted more responsibly. Bombur was about to launch into another tirade before he grunted as Bifur slapped him hard on the shoulder and signed angrily with a deep scowl on his face.
Not helping. Bofur too sick to handle angry words. Leave it alone. Harm already done now. Give me hat.
Bombur handed his cousin Bofur's hat and watched as Bifur slid the hat on his brother's head and fold the flaps down to cover Bofur's sensitive ears. The ill dwarf sighed softly and seemed to relax more. There was no way to know if he was actually sleeping thanks to the blindfold, but Bofur's face looked peaceful. Bombur reached and rubbed his brother's chest as their mother had done for her boys when they were ill in bed as children. Bifur grunted and gestured.
Good. Bofur feel you close. Know we are here for him. Protect him while ill. Not need anger. Need calm.
Bombur exhaled loudly and nodded his head. With one last angry look at Fili and Kili, the rotund dwarf turned back to his brother to watch over him.
"Set up camp," Thorin ordered as the company rose to do as he requested, "Oin, how long will Bofur need to recover?"
"I am not sure," Oin admitted, "Ear infections can linger, but I am thinking I should know either way in two to three days. Bofur cannot be moved. The vertigo spells will destroy his eardrums. He needs quiet and rest."
"Gandalf, can you help Bofur?" Bilbo piped up as the company startled and turned to the wizard in question.
"I haven't the power to heal wounds like that," Gandalf sighed, "However, I too have seen ear infections like this before and I dear say that Bofur lucked up in the symptoms showing up early enough to get assistance before permanent hearing loss could set in. It was good that Oin has treated this infection before to know how to help the lad. Hopefully Bofur can make a full recovery."
Bifur grunted in agreement and settled more comfortably to watch over his cousin. Bofur's face was still too pale. He had felt something was off from the minute his cousin had woken this morning. The lad's face had been drawn. Bofur was usually all smiles, but not today. Bombur patted Bifur's shoulder to gain his attention.
Why I not told about Bofur being ill as babe?
Bifur blinked at his youngest cousin's question. Bombur seemed plainly confused and a little angry.
Your brother grew out of problem. Got stronger, but your mother still worry. Kept Bofur's ears covered as a child. Made his hat and then your father wanted one too. Bofur loved looking like his father so continued wearing his hat to this day. Not have any more issues and you not have same problem as babe. Not worth mentioning.
Bombur sighed and gestured down to Bofur angrily. Bifur understood. Bombur was pissed that he had not known about the earlier illnesses and was not aware to make sure that his brother's ears were protected.
This fluke. Bad fluke, but fluke anyway. Accident. He get better and we keep his ears safe. You and me take care of Bofur likes he cares for us, right?
Bombur sighed again, but nodded firmly. Both cousins blinked up as Ori hurried over.
"I was mad that Dori packed these for me to wear at night," Ori whispered in respect for Bofur as he handed Bifur some ear warmers, "I refused to wear them, but maybe these will help your kin."
"Yes they will," Oin agreed as he took the ear warmers from Bifur and removed Bofur's hat to slide them over his ears before placing the hat back on his head, "These will help keep the cloth from slipping from his ear canals."
Bofur shifted before settling back down as Bifur took Bombur's place at rubbing his cousin's chest. The older dwarf came to the conclusion that Bofur was truly asleep.
"Thank you, Ori," Bombur offered, "That was very kind of you. The ear warmers and his hat will muffle most sounds that can damage my brother's ears."
Ori beamed and went back to sit next to a proudly grinning Nori. Bofur slept for the rest of the day and then far into the next day before he began to stir when dinner was being prepared. He was leaned carefully up supported by his cousin. Oin removed the blindfold only to have Bofur hiss in pain and duck his head against Bifur's chest. Bifur snatched the cloth back to tie it firmly over his cousin's eyes.
"Bif?" Bofur murmured in confusion before pausing as his cousin took his hand and made a sign in his palm, "What?"
Bifur signed again as Bofur placed his other hand over his cousin's to try and feel what Bifur was doing. A toymaker's hands were sensitive and Bofur felt his cousin's sign and nodded.
"Dinner?" Bofur asked and grinned as Bifur took his hand to lie on his own face and nodded his head, "This is goin' ta be interestin'. Can't see or hear anythin'."
Bifur again made a sign for Bofur to feel and then another.
"Can I eat?" Bofur questioned as again he was allowed to feel his cousin nod, "I think so. Don't feel dizzy or sick. I just have a ringin' in my ears and feel real achy. Am I wearin' ear warmers?"
Bifur again nodded his head for Bofur to feel.
"Why?" Bofur asked and then patiently ran his fingers over Bifur's hands to feel the signs he was making bit by bit, "Protect my ears?"
"That's good," Oin complimented as Bifur nodded for his cousin, "At least Bofur has a way to understand what is happening to him. Keep him calm. Bombur is making your cousin some broth. I don't want a lot on his stomach until the infection clears up."
Thorin watched as Bifur sat his cousin against his chest a little higher while Bombur helped his brother sip some broth from a mug. Bofur was still pale, but seemed much better than the day of his collapse. He grimaced when Oin once again applied more drops of the medicine into Bofur's ears after he was done eating. The healer said that it wasn't painful, but Bofur still cringed as Oin worked. Bifur looked ready to launch himself at the healer and only Bombur's hand on his shoulder calmed the livid dwarf.
"How is the infection?" Thorin asked as Bombur soothed his brother and got him to lie down again.
"Little better for him to be able to sit up without dizziness," Oin stated, "I'm concerned that he reacted with pain just now. That means that the fluid in his ears is moving, but his inner ears are inflamed. Bofur isn't well, Thorin."
"I know," the prince groaned watching as Bifur stroked his cousin's hair from his face and held one of Bofur's hands to his lips so the ill dwarf could feel his cousin humming for him, "How long does Bofur need to recover?"
"At least a week," Oin offered, "I really need some yellowroot. If I can find that, the tea made from the root will help Bofur build immunity and prevent reoccurring problems with the infection. I looked around the campsite, but found nothing so far."
"I can find that easily," Bilbo chirped from nearby as Oin and Thorin whirled in surprise, "I'm sorry. I was just coming to check on Bofur and overheard you two. I wasn't spying. Hobbits drink yellowroot tea all the time. I can find the plant now. It's still enough light for me to search and it is a plant that I am very familiar with."
"Lead on, Master Baggins," Oin urged standing, "Bofur needs that tea without question. I will accompany you."
Bifur watched as the hobbit and healer hurried away in relief. Anything to help Bofur was much appreciated. It hurt to see him so vulnerable. Bofur was the caretaker of the family. He was the shield. Now seeing him unable to see or hear was painful. Bifur narrowed his eyes as he remained focused on his cousin.
"I'm here, Bofur," Bifur thought to himself as he continued to hum against his cousin's palm, "I'll take care of you. Just rest for me. I'm right here."
To be continued…
P.S. The sickness Bofur has is styled after endolymphatic hydrops also called Ménière's disease. I will explain more in future chapters.