"You know about poisons?" Bul inquired.

Bofur noticed the interested sheen that danced in the Feyd captain's coal black eyes, and deep discomfort settled within him.

"Well, yes," Nori replied, "I'm out in the wild a lot and I have to know what could kill or heal me. It's called the black rose by most. A bush with white blossoms that goes unnoticed most of the time. It's prized for its root. It's usually dried and when it does it turns black and gives off a distinctive aroma. It's most effective when introduced directly into someone's blood stream."

"Bo!" Bul chuckled, "Why didn't tell me yer friend was well versed in these matters?"

Bofur shrugged; "Slipped me mind," He said through clenched teeth, "Eh, Nori, didn't you uh…weren't ye goin' to see yer brother's?"

Bul chuckled and waved at them both; "Before you go" He started to say, "Have ye ever considered putting yer knowledge of poisons to…good use?"

Nori shrugged; "Not really," He replied, "Why?"

"Because he thinks ye would be an asset to…his cause," Bofur answered with sneer, "a means to earn Thorin's money more easily."

Nori arched an eyebrow. "You work for Thorin?"

Bul nodded; Oin made an impatient sound and Bul, without looking at the old pharmacist, said: "Aye, we'll be on our way then. I'll tell the lass, Nola, ye said hello."

As the three left the shop, they paused in the alley next to the apothecary.

"I'm sure Bofur has, even against my training, let ye know some things? What he's been doin' aside from toy making, am I correct?" Bul asked as he pulled his pipe out and opened his belt purse, "I-uh-can't help but ask if ye would be willing to…aide our cause and our King?"

Nori cleared his throat and looked over at Bofur who leaned against a wall and gave him shrug. "I told ye," He said, "It's really not all it's cracked up to be though, Nori and~"

"Bo," Bul interrupted, "Let Nori make his own decision."

"Sir," Nori said softly, "Yes Bofur has told me some things. Very little actually, but even so, I'm a criminal; besides that…I've heard of feyd from a very reliable source."

Bul chuckled; "who isn't a criminal in their own way? Also, it's not just yer knowledge of poisonous things that catches me interest; I noticed your talent with a dagger. The one, I'm sure, that's spun tales of feyd has refused my request for help- where weapons training is concerned. Ye might be able to help Bofur and Nola in that area. Their skills with weaponry aren't…up to par."

Nori hummed and looked over at Bofur whom said quickly: "Let 'im think about it fer a day or so," and He came to stand next to his friend.

"Fer now we're gonna head over to Nori's brother's café to say hello. Ye should head back over to the brothel as I'm sure the madam would like yer usual payment."

Bul gagged on his pipe and coughed out a cloud of smoke, much to Bofur's amusement; "Wa-watch what ye say!"

Bofur nudge Nori along and called over his shoulder: "See ye at home!"

I.

"What do you mean ye don't wish me to patronize yer whore house anymore?!"

The elderly, female dwarf recoiled from the snarling male for a moment, while the group of dwarf women under her employ cowered behind her.

"Th-this was the final straw," Stammered the old dwarf, "you…you scarred poor Karia for life!"

Bul, removing his fine hat, smoothed his sweat dampened hair and sighed; "I told ye," He countered, "That I have certain desires…and I paid ye well for the use of a willing partner."

The old matron snorted; "You'll be lucky if I don't ask the sheriff to look into this matter!" She threatened, "That poor girl, young as she is! You've completely ruined her! Besides that I didn't know you were…that sick!"

Bul's eyes narrowed; the look he cast toward the old dwarf caused her to take a few steps back when he shifted closer to her.

"Here," Bul hissed, thrusting a near-bursting purse at the dwarf woman, "What I owe…plus payment fer yer silence…and hers. Oh…and ye wouldn't make it to the sheriff, lass. I'd be quite sure o' that. Remember, after all, I am feyd!"

The matron moved to speak, but upon seeing the shining malice in Bul's eyes, she gave a curt nod.

"G'day!" He called over his shoulder with a merry laugh.

II.

"You aren't welcome here!" The elder dwarf spat, his cold blue eyes narrowing, "You've been gone far too long for me to forgive your absence…or your dishonorable lifestyle."

Nori shrugged off the accusing dwarf's protestations and sat himself at one of the café's tables.

"I've come to see Ori, not you," Nori pointed out, "Surely you won't deny him? After all he did wish I'd come and visit him. Really, Dori, would you upset him so close to his own birthday?"

Dori, the eldest of the popular Ri brother's, opened his mouth to speak but slowly closed it again and dropped his head.

Looking back up he said: "Come on in, Bofur, you might as well."

Bofur hesitated a moment, but when Dori gestured for him to follow his invitation, the dwarf came and sat across from Nori whom casually looked over the café.

Dori sighed again; "Sit there and I'll fetch us some food as well as Ori."

The elder dwarf disappeared into the kitchen; Leaving the two friends in silence for a moment.

"I wouldn't if I were you," Bofur said softly, "Yer already in enough trouble as it is I imagine. Ye shouldn't consider…Bul's invitation. And why would ye? Remember what ye had only just told me before we left Oin's shop?"

Nori offered Bofur a warm smile before replying: "Well, someone needs to keep the two of you safe. Besides, it'd give me a reason to stay in Ered Luin for a time."

"What for?" Dori asked as he appeared with a tray of food and tea, "You're only going to get into more trouble-ORI!"

Nori groaned; "Dori, please, can we at least pretend we've no bitterness between us? For Ori's sake?"

"Think of Ori," Bofur pointed out, "Think o' him and what it would do to him if ye do decided to join Feyd!"

"…what? What is all this about?" Dori asked, taking a set between the two other dwarfs. Nori shot Bofur a scathing looked while Bofur merely shrugged.

"Feyd?" Dori asked, "You're considering aligning yourself with Bul the handsome?"

Nori arched an eyebrow; "The handsome?" He questioned, and looking at Bofur asked: "Did you give him that moniker?"

Bofur, sipping some tea, cast Nori an offended expression; "Quiet!" He croaked, "And aye, Dori, Bul approached yer brother with the opportunity after he helped us figure some things out."

Dori ran a pudgy finger over his bearded upper lip and stared curiously at his sibling; "You realize what that would mean?" He said, "Once in…you're lucky to get out. Alive."

"You got out just fine," Nori replied, ignoring Bofur's wide-eyes.

"That's because Mummy died," Dori explained, "Ori was just a baby and you…well, you were…unable to care for him."

"You were in Feyd?" Bofur asked, "I would have never thought~"

"Nor would anyone think you or your sister was," Dori explained, "that's probably why you both are, in fact, operatives. By the way, I am sorry to hear about Boheeka's death. He was a good dwarf and He loved your mother."

Bofur pursed his lips yet said nothing on the subject. Instead he asked: "So ye got out alive? Because ye had yer kin to care for?"

Dori hesitated. "That's a bit true, but not entirely," He confessed, "There were…rumors. Well, accusations that had reached Thror and not even Kran~"

"Spinning tales again, Dori?" interrupted a voice at the entrance of the café. "I'm sure the lads don't care to here 'em!"

Bofur rolled his eyes and stood; "I wouldn't mind hearing them," He said, pulling his father's hat low onto his head, "They're just tales after all."

"You'd be happy to know that yer brother here helped us crack a difficult task," Bul said, ignoring Bofur's glare, "No doubt thanks to you and the knowledge you still hold from yer days as a fellow Feyd!"

Dori waved his hand dismissively; "He's a clever one," He explained, "He has to be, what with…how many warrants do you currently have, Nori?"

Nori groaned, rolled his eyes and stood just as the one He'd come to see walked out from one the back rooms behind the counter.

"Nori!" The young dwarf exclaimed and ran hard into his brother's arms; Bofur laughed at the sentimental scene while both Dori and Bul seemed quietly annoyed.

"Let's talk in the back, shall we?" Bul suggested, "I've much I need to discuss with you."

"Me?" Dori asked, and poked himself in the chest, "Why?"

Bul gestured toward the back, "It's private," He explained, "I'll tell ye everything then."

When they'd gone and Nori had released his little brother, Bofur readied himself to leave but not before saying to Nori: "Don't get offended by this but- eh- be careful what ye say about me, aye?"

Nori paused as he'd started to follow after Ori, who wanted to take him upstairs to where his room was and asked: "What do you mean?"

Bofur sniffed and jutted his thumb over his shoulder; "That crack ye made about Bul's nickname."

Nori formed and 'o' with his mouth but shrugged nonetheless; "Nothing to be ashamed of~"

"Dammit Nori just spare me tha' I got loads more to worry about at the moment!"

Before Nori could reply, Bofur bounded out of the café and headed home.