"BIFUR CALM YER SELF!"

Moaning and stopping behind the three that hurried inside their small home, Bul waited in the door way and listened to the sounds of intermittent crashes while their demented kinsman ranted wildly in their ancient tongue.

Bombur, it seemed, had been trying unsuccessfully to calm him as they'd approached their meager domicile, his cries had been heard half a mile away; Bifur, from what Bul could make out, was screaming for his assailant to come forward and finish what he had started.

"Ye best get 'im under control lads!" Bul called from the door way, trying hard to hide the laugh in his tone, "Ye know the constable could show up otherwise after what happened the last time and Thorin wants us back soon!"

There came no reply to Bul's order, but he listened contently as the growls, grunts, and curses softened and then completely ceased.

Bul stepped in just as Bofur, his arm slung around his older cousins shoulders, swept past him.

"Thanks fer the help," quipped the young dwarf, "Can ye at least go an' help in the dinin' room? Bifur was flinging dinner ware about."

Dinner ware? W-what do you mean? Bifur asked, as he leaned his head on Bofur's shoulder, Where am I?

"Yer home," Bofur replied, trying hard to sound cheery and reassuring, "Let's get ye to bed fer some rest, eh?"

Rolling his eyes at the mushy scene, Bul made his way into the dining room and when he did, he could not help but let out a great guffaw and hold his belly as he laughed heartily at the scene.

"It isn't funny!" Nola snapped, wiping what would have been their evening meal from her second oldest brother's scalded face, "Bombur or Bifur could've really gotten hurt!"

"Tha's why I keep telling the lot ye to put 'im away somewhere where he can't hurt people you silly girl!"

"Enough of that!" Barked Boheeka, as he kneeled down on one knee and began picking up broken bits of plates and cups, "We don't abandon our own kin. Not when they're in need."

Bul snorted but before he could reply, a soft and weak voice could be heard calling out to Boheeka whom stopped what he was doing and froze.

"I'll go," Nola said and started to hurry toward her mother, the one who continued to call from the bedroom where she'd been laid up for quite some time.

"No," Boheeka sighed and rose, "I'll go. Get your brother cleaned up and Bul; help them get the dining room cleaned up."

Though he sneered, Bul nonetheless decided to appease Boheeka and went about clearing the dining area of debris while Nola went about spreading ointment about Bombur's swollen face.

"What did ye do this time to set him off, lad?" Bul asked as he set a chair up right, "Sneak up behind him? Drop a ladle? Or was it~"

"I was chopping vegetables in the kitchen," Bombur explained, flinching as Nola applied the last of the ointment to his burning face.

"Ah, that would do it," Bul affirmed with a smirk, "Boy I tell ye! How many times is it gonna take fer ye to realize that any sudden, violent noises can cause this to happen?"

Nola sighed and shook her head as she put the jar of ointment in its place before turning her agitated face upon Bul.

"Leave him alone," She groaned, "Bifur has gotten better and his tantrums are less. At least this time he didn't bite anyone! How was Bombur to know Bifur would react to the sounds of the kitchen while he sat in here any ways?"

"Tha's neither here nor there," Bul countered, "That bloody axe has ruined him and so we should always be on our guard around him!"

"He is getting better!" Nola insisted, "Have you noticed his memory is getting better? He remembers Papa's name and mine now! Why even yesterday he was talking about Thorin!"

"He'll never get better," Bul said, his eyes full of mockery, "Ye would do well to surrender yer hope in this lest ye want to be disappointed."

"He's getting better," Nola pressed, "That's evident given that he remembers~"

"HE REMEMBERS NOTHIN'!" Bul shrieked so wildly and shrilly, that both Nola and Bombur jumped.

"HERE!" shouted Bofur whom bounded into the dining room, "Keep yer damn voice down! Bifur and Ma are tryin' to rest!"

Bul bit his lip, his fingers tracing his long, black plait, and he nodded slowly. "Fergive me," He offered, "I just…just hate to see the lot of ye givin' so much hope to a…hopeless situation."

Bofur sniffed and jerked his head; "Da says you and 'im better head back to Thorin before it gets too late."

PART TWO:

"I cannot possibly consider it! Before we even came here I'd heard about how loved he was amongst the people of Ered Luin!"

Thorin sighed, slouching in his chair; as he twisted the mug in hands he muttered: "There must be another way!"

Bul clicked his tongue, disguising his agitation with a façade of calmness. "It really is," He gently explained, "The only choice ye have now. Now that ye released that Torias fellow…Staric might plan to…try another means of disposing of ye."

Thorin looked at the dwarf sharply then at his companion, Boheeka whom had remained silent the entire time his king and comrade bickered back and fourth.

"What if your idea, should I allow it, what do you think will happen if you fail?" Thorin demanded softly, "That would mean, as I have stated before, the dwarves of Erebor again would be homeless. Perhaps, if I go to Staric with what I now know, there might be a way to ensure the peace we've maintained continues to be strong."

"I agree," Boheeka announced, "Let's not forget, also, that we've built our lives here as well. If we were to be discovered, thrown out, what do you think would happen to my wife?"

Bul sighed and threw his hands up; "I see what the both of ye are saying," He replied, " But keep in mind, we didn't fail ye when it came to capturing and gathering information from Dain's lackey. I just think you're risking far too much by not considering what I suggest. Brutal as it is."

Thorin huffed and sipped the ale, barely tasting it, as he slipped deep in thought.

"Even if I allowed it, how do you know that Dain will not try to use it as a weapon against me?"

Bul smirked and leaned his head to the side as he observed Thorin for a moment; "Dain will ally with anyone that can help gain him more opportunity for power and profit. Also, if you give Feyd yer consent…what we do will give you more power, Dain will see this, and more 'n likely become desperate to stay on your good side. He should consider this after that Torias fellow returns to him to report his failings."

Thorin looked over at Boheeka; the dwarf was pulling at his beard, staring worriedly at Bul.

"What say you, Boheeka?" He asked, ignoring the offended look from Bul, "You seem the most troubled by all of this."

Boheeka sighed, bowed low to Thorin and confessed: "I see both the pros and cons of each suggested action. I cannot tell you what to do but, if I may speak honestly and freely, we should test one plan out and if it fails…we should make a strike with the other."

Thorin's lips parted slightly; His eyes brightened as he took in what Boheeka had suggested.

"Excellent," Bul announced with a laugh, "Your tactics have always been clever ones! So ye suggest we let Staric know that we know what he's been up to with Dain and…what then?"

"Yes," Thorin urged, "What do you suggest then?"

Boheeka cleared his throat and shifted from one foot to the other; "We wait," He explained, "We watch and if there is any sign that Staric-or Dain-still means to betray you to steal what is rightfully yours to claim… again. Then, if you wish it Thorin, we follow through with Bul's plan."

Bul hummed and shook his head, his fingers twisting his long, black braid. "Too risky," He insisted, "If we wait, if at any moment we let our guard down~"

"I agree with Boheeka," Thorin interjected, holding up a single finger in Bul's startled face, "We give it time."

Huffing Bul's shoulder's slunk and after casting an angry glare at Boheeka, he sighed: "As you wish, Thorin."

(Author's Note: Filler chapter...and a sneaky one that I hope entices other's to follow this fanfic to its conclusion :-) )