As the trio made their way to their destination, Bofur and his old friend chatted as though the event just minutes ago had never occurred while Bul, walking behind the two, remained silent and observant.

"What brings ye back to the Blue Mountains?" Bofur finally asked, "Don't tell me ye got into another pickle again!"

Nori, his long hair in a single plait down his back, chuckled and shook his head; "Ori's birthday is a day from now. Thought I'd pop in and surprise the lad."

Bofur chuckled himself and lightly punched Nori's shoulder; "Not only are ye a sneaky thief, yer a loving' big brother!"

"And? What will ye be doin' after yer business here is done? If ye don't mind me askin' that is."

Bofur looked over his shoulder and cast Bul a suspicious glance; "Probably on his way back to…where have you been staying Nori?"

Nori shrugged haphazardly and muttered: "Here and there."

Before Bul could ask the question again, he noticed their desired stop and called for the two ahead of him to stop.

"Ah! Just in time! I see he's taken his lunch early!" Bul exclaimed merrily and bounded into the shop, ordering Bofur and Nori to follow him as he did.

"The apothecary?" Nori inquired, "Why are two stopping in here? Is someone sick? Eh…is-is your sister, Nol, alright?"

Bofur smirked; after all the long years spent apart, he realized, Nori still carried a torch for his youngest sibling.

"Aye," Bofur assured him, and relief instantly flooded into Nori's light blue eyes. "She's been doin' us proud. Thorin, the king, He's taken a fancy to her."

Nori's eyes, now empty, seemed to deepen. "Oh…" He sighed, "She…she's being courted?"

Bofur moved to speak but, knowing and seeing the deep hurt in his long-time friend's eyes, He offered only a shrug.

"Fer now," He said, "Ye know, or I'm sure ye've heard his liaisons don't last so long."

"Are the two of ye gonna stand around yapping all day?"

Bofur and Nori looked over at Bul who stood in the shops door; "C'mon! Yer wastin' precious time!"

Rolling his eyes and making a face at Nori, whom smiled in return, Bofur urged his friend to follow him inside.

The apothecary was as it always was; in disarray with bulging shelves containing medicines, herbs, knick-knacks, and other things Bofur couldn't identify as he instinctively began breathing through his mouth.

The apothecary smelled uncanny; a scent that still made Bofur's stomach churn, as it did when he was boy.

Judging by the soured expression of Nori, the scent also bothered his friend; Bul, however, seemed unaffected as he navigated his way to the back to find the one he'd come to speak with.

"The two of ye stay here, just in case," He ordered over his shoulder, "I'll be along shortly."

Coughing, Bofur groaned and leaned against the counter, offering Nori a smirk.

"Why exactly are the two of you here?" Nori inquired, "It must be important if Bul's willing to suffer the smell."

"Uh…" and Bofur pressed his lips together, hesitating and uncertain where to begin.

"Well…it's like this…Our parents, eh, me mum died~"

"Mahal…I'm sorry Bo!" Nori whispered shrilly, "Had I known I would've come sooner. How is your father holding up?"

"He's dead," Bofur said sharply, ignoring the wide eyed and shocked expression Nori gave him.

"Geez…" Nori sighed, "What the hell?"

Bofur squeezed his eyes shut; wondering just what he should reveal to the dwarf that stood waiting for him to explain.

"We think it's murder…I found 'im at our mother's burial site. F-Feyd ye see…it's well up and runnin' again. Me father and Bul…Me and even Nola~"

"What?!" Nori exclaimed, "You allowed your sister in?"

Bofur shushed Nori instantly, clapping his hand over the other's mouth, he jutted his head in the direction Bul had gone in.

"No," Bofur explained in a low voice, "She chose. At the time…we were in a bad way and Thorin promised to pay us for any services we rendered. Had I a say…I would've never allowed it."

Nori pushed Bofur's hand away; observing his friend with deep concern; "That's why that oaf tried to attack you?"

Bofur nodded and Nori's shoulders slumped; "Damn! Bo…stories of Feyd operating during the reign of Thror still exist today…some of the darkest tales I've heard…well, they involve that Bul fellow. I mean I've heard bad, bad, bad things about him! and I'm a thief and hoodlum ! What's more, from what I understand once you join~"

"Yer a target for constant harassment and alienation," Bofur finished with a sigh, "I know. Obviously, you know we're already feelin' some of that hatred. Funny isn't it? We dwarves are said to be some of the greediest and most selfish creatures any person could hope to meet yet~"

"That's not entirely what I meant!" Nori pointed out, "They say once you're in there aint any getting out of it! You and Nola should take your leave Before it's too late!"

Bofur pinched his nose and shook his head slowly; "Nori…I can't. I can't ask for leave. Not now; my father was murdered and I have to use what tools I have to find out who and why…I need my position in Feyd. Fer now any ways."

Before Nori could argue, the owner of the shop came bounding into sight looking frustrated, with Bul fast on his heels.

"I've told I do not carry such a thing. I've never even heard of a poison that has such effects!"

Bul looked just as flustered, struggling to re-braid his hairs as he continued to plead with the elder dwarf.

"I'm not talking about poison, not entirely!" He insisted, "Perhaps, in one of those dusty old books ye keep behind yer counter, surely, you could find something…any thing that would match the poison that killed Boheeka! I've heard certain medicines, sometimes, can be used for other things rather than their intended purpose. Are ye certain ye can think of~"

"Nope!" interrupted the shop owner impatiently.

"Poison?" Bofur and Nori spat in unison, "Bul…how…why didn't ye tell me?"

Bul, looking from Nori to Bofur, sighed and threw a hand up dismissively; "Slipped me mind."

"He could have very well poisoned himself!" the owner of the shop griped, "Over dosed himself-I don't know!-But I do know that I've nothing in my shop-nor have I ever-carried anything, pesticides or otherwise, that would have caused the discoloration and spotting you mentioned!"

"Spotting?" Bofur demanded, "What spotting? What discoloration?"

Bul shrugged; "I examined yer Da's body," He explained, "He hadn't…hung long. Rigor mortis had not yet set in, correct? Actually…you said he was still warm."

Bofur flinched; the promise of tears bit at the backs of his eyes and he looked down, struggling to regain his composure. Yet all he could muster was weak nod.

"When I examined the body-Bul ignored the sharp glare Bofur gave him-I noted how the palms of his hands had turned black. His feet and lips also had seemed to be discolored as well. Then there were the very tiny, hard to see, black spots under his finger nails.

and it's a poisoning. Probably by, well no, it was administered with a needle…somehow. I noticed the pin prick just behind his left ear. I just…have no idea what kind of poison was used. I, me self, 'ave never seen these after effects; which is why I'm trying to get the help of Master Oin, if he would just look-in-a-book!"

The old dwarf huffed and cleared his throat as he turned to the shelf behind him; he ran his finger down a shelf of several thick books before yanking one from it's spot and tossing it upon the counter, with a loud thud, in front of Bul whom completed his braid.

Bul looked at the cover, wiped some dust off with the thumb of his free hand, and sighed. His other hand delicately stroking his braid.

"Thank ye," He said to Oin whom sneered at his offer, "Is there…no other book you can lend?"

"We're goin' and gettin' no where!" Bofur protested impatiently, "All yer gonna find out-if anythin' is that more 'n likely someone gave Da' a massive dose of something that is usually used as a medicine but~"

"There's no need to look in the book. I know what it is."

All eyes turned and focused upon Nori whom looked at Bofur nervously;

"It's…common. The root of tree only found in the west. I think. It's used as a pain killer…well, in low doses that is."