Noticed
Summary: Bofur had always loved to make his friends smile, but there was one dwarf in particular that he longed to keep happy for the rest of his days. Bofur knew, however, that a dwarf like Thorin could never notice him.
Chapter 3
Bofur gripped at the stone below him, and tried desperately to pull himself across the floor, but a large hand wrapped around his ankle, and yanked him back. He flipped over quickly to see the large, armor-clad elf reaching out to grab his other leg. He kicked furiously, but the size of the large elf made his hands wrap perfectly around the toymaker's ankles. He was caught.
They all were, but Bofur found his situation a bit more dire.
The young elf prince had noticed on the way to lock up his Dwarven captive, that the one known as Oakenshield seemed particularly interested in keeping his eye on one dwarf over the others, not of his kin. Once this had been mentioned to Thranduil, he had ordered that the guard retrieve him immediately after returning Thorin to his own cell. Luckily for the guards involved, Thorin did not have any way to see or hear that Bofur was being taken, as Legolas has made sure to put them on opposite ends. He had to quite literally drag him to the throne room, and threw him down harshly in front of the Elven King. Bofur didn't look at him, and stared straight down, his heart thumping, and a desperate need for Thorin rising in him.
"Who are you?" The majestic king asked, as he sat lazily on his throne, drinking from a cup decorated with jewels.
Bofur did not answer.
The king stared down at him for a moment and then looked up at the prince standing tall behind him. "You believe this one to have the king's favor?"
"He watched him closely as we went through the wood."
The king nodded, stood, and walked down to where Bofur sat on his knees, staring at the ground, reminding himself to breath. Thranduil was silent, and made a very slow circle around the dwarf, and his son. He was thinking. Conspring as to how he could use this to his advantage, if it was, indeed, as the prince had guessed. "What is your relationship with the king?"
Bofur didn't look up, or speak. He couldn't let them know. There was no way of knowing the horrors of the consequence. The toymaker wondered if Thorin would jeopardize the quest for his sake. His heart was torn about it. Of course he wanted his lover to risk everything for him. His love would certainly be proven, but at the same time, he knew what this journey meant. Not only for Thorin, but for his entire people. One simple toymaker was in no way worth it's conclusion.
"Answer me, Dwarf."
"He is my king." Bofur said simply.
"Why do he look upon you with such care?" Legolas spoke before his father could.
Bofur worked to keep his face still, and breath at a normal pace, but he wasn't a warrior. He was a toymaker. One who just happened to be desperately in love. The elven king leaned down close to him, but did not touch him. He turned his head to the left, as if he were listening for words. Bofur backed away a mere inch, and Thranduil lifted up sharply.
"Leave us." He said firmly to Legolas. The prince stared blankly for a few seconds, before bowing and walking out the door in a hard stride. Without a second of hesitation, the king spoke in the same firm voice. "You're lying." Bofur's head shot up, and the first true look he got of the king was not at all what he had expected. He had expected a hard beauty, and in that, he had been correct. What surprised him was the softness of his expression. He seemed amused, almost relaxed. He walked up to his throne, and lower himself down just as elegantly as Bofur would expect. He had always been fond of the elves, in a curiosity that was somewhat dark.
"I'll ask you again." He started, know holding Bofur's gaze. "What is your relationship with Thorin Oakenshield?"
Bofur couldn't help the deep breath that filled his lungs, but he caught himself quickly, and said again: "He is my king. I'm serving him on this quest."
"It's quite odd that you would not realize how obvious you are. You straighten when you hear his name. Your heart falters. I hear it. When I listened, you backed away, a clear sign of a hidden feeling." The king leaned forward a bit in his chair. "You are in love with him, are you not?"
Bofur's jaw dropped.
Thranduil smiled, leaned back in the throne comfortably, and took his jeweled cup once more. "Your eyes answer for you. Your king was far more elusive." Once again contemplation came to his face. He smirked, finally, and snapped his fingers. A guard stepped forward.
"Bring Thorin Oakenshield."
Soon, Bofur found himself pacing back and forth in the small room just to the right of the throne room waiting for the guards to return with Thorin. There was a guard there with him, with specific orders not to let him give away his presence, and Bofur need no more convincing than that to be quiet, but it didn't stop him from rushing to the door, and listening intensely when he heard his lover's voice outside.
"Have you reconsidered my offer?" The elven king asked.
"You have my answer." Thorin said sharply.
"And what if I told you I could change your mind?"
"I would tell you it can not be done."
"So arrogant, Oakenshield. Tell me, how many of those that love you have been hurt by it?"
Thorin didn't answer.
"Give me your word that you will return the White Jewels to me, and I can promise that ... for now... there will not be another."
"Stop the riddles."
Bofur heard a loud clap, and suddenly he was yanked up by his arm. As the guard gripped the door, Bofur realized what was going to happen. He jerked with all his weight, and broke free, but only for a second. The guard took him by the back of his coat, and opened the door quickly, shoving him out. The toymaker tried to whip around to see Thorin, and to tell him that he had told them nothing, but before he could even finish his turn, the guard was on him again. Bofur heard the elf king give a command in a language he didn't understand.
The guard gripped him tightly by the front of his shirt, and thrust his arm up, lifting the toymaker off of his feet. He took one large step, and dangled Bofur over the narrow path. Bofur didn't mean to, but he found himself looking down, and saw no end to the hollowness of the column. He couldn't see what he would land on, but that meant it would certainly kill him. His hands shot up and wrapped around the elf's wrist.
"Wait!" Thorin's voice brought Bofur back suddenly, and even though there was fear gripping his heart, his conscious, and loyalty took over his words.
"Thorin, don't promise him anyth-." The guard jerked his hand and the toymaker lost his breath and words, gripping his wrist tighter, and trying not to look down again.
"What do you say now, King Under the Mountain?"
When Bofur didn't hear Thorin speak, he closed his eyes tightly, certain that he had simply turned so he didn't have to watch him fall. Preparing to shed a tear for a mere casualty of the quest. Then, his king, and lover spoke, and he knew his voice was revealing far too much: "Put him down. He had nothing to do with this."
"Oh, that's not true, dwarf."
Then a sound came the shadows a yell. Bofur recognized it suddenly as Bilbo. He could hear him, but he didn't see him, but suddenly the guard the was holding him was shoved away from the ledge, causing him to stumble, and practically toss Bofur into the door of the other room as he fell. Once free, Bofur scrambled to his feet, and felt an unseen hand grab his own. The door to the small room opened seeming on it's own, and he was yanked inside. It slammed quickly, and forcefully, and the latch fell into the locked position by itself. Then, Bilbo simply appeared right in front of him.
Bofur had to shake his head and rub his eyes. "Bilbo?"
"My goodness, are you alright?"
"Wha..? I'm... I'm fine... Bilbo, how did you do that?!"
"Never mind that. We have to get out of here."
Bofur looked around quickly. "How?"
Bilbo opened his mouth to respond, but stopped suddenly as he realized he had no answer to the question. "Umm... I didn't really get that far in my plan."
The toymaker couldn't help but smile at the hobbit as he looked around frantically. Suddenly he jumped, and rushed over to a seemingly normal rug in the corner of the room. He threw it over his shoulder, and surprisingly, a trap door lie under it. Bofur remembered what Gandalf had said about a hobbit's senses, but it had continued to amaze him.
"Come on. Hurry." He threw it up with much difficulty.
"What about Thorin?"
"He can take care of himself, Bofur. The elf king is using you against him, you have to get away from here."
Bofur knew he was right, and followed him quickly. There was a ladder of metal inside. Bilbo went down first, with Bofur close behind. The toymaker pulled the trap door closed above him. He saw a latch with a hook to place a lock. He quickly latched it, pressed his flute, the only thing he had, into the lock hook and jerked with all his might causing it to snap, leaving a perfectly sized block of wood wedged in the latch.
They rushed down, and Bilbo did his best the speak over their footsteps, but still be some kind of quiet. "I have the keys. If we hurry we can release the other, and I have a plan for escape, but now we have to make sure Thorin is safe."
As they made it to the bottom of the ladder, Bofur stopped Bilbo quickly. "Go get the others. I'm going back for Thorin."
"No!" Bilbo gripped his arm, and only after dragging him a few paces did Bofur stop.
"Bilbo, please..."
"Bofur, no! Thorin Oakenshield can handle himself. I need your help! Think rationally!"
"I am, Bilbo... I love him. I can't just ran away from him like that!"
Bilbo had to stop and take a breath. The sudden emotion that came over him brought Bofur back to the moment at hand, but the hobbit buried it quickly. "I know how you feel, Bofur... However, we have to do this. We will go back for him. Together - if we have to." He gave the toymaker a soft smile, and with that, he surrendered, and rushed towards the dungeon with the burglar.
...
They managed to get to the dungeon undetected. Easier said than done. The first cell they reached was Bifur and Dwalin. Bofur whistled lightly, and Bifur perked at once. He rushed to the bars, and gripped them. When he saw Bofur, he smiled, and his hands signed frantically: /Escape. Hurry. Our leader. Where is he?/
"We're not sure." Bofur answered as Bilbo fumble with the keys, finally finding the correct one, and releasing them.
Bifur quickly started looking his younger cousin over for injuries, and Bofur had to tell him twice in Westron and once in Khuzdul that they didn't have time, and he was fine. They rushed down the line, releasing the dwarfs two by two. The last were Fili and Kili. Bofur rushed forward as Bilbo unlocked their door and checked the last cell on the row, but it was empty. Thorin was not among them.
The turned back around to see Fili capture Bilbo in a quick embrace, but it ended quickly, which a bright blush on both of them. Kili walked to Bifur and though there were no words, or contact, there was something between them that seemed like sparks. No one in the company had time, or care, to question either of the young brothers as Bilbo rushed them all deeper into the cellar.
Bofur ran quickly to the burglar, and spoke as they moved through the paths, obviously a planned route: "I have to go back."
"You can't Bofur. You'll get lost. We have to stay together."
"We can't leave him, Bilbo."
"We won't. I promise. Please, be quiet. All of you!" He turned and placed his finger to his lips. "Quick, but step lightly!"
The company managed to sneak their way through the cellar, passed the sleeping guards. Luckily for them, or they would have been alerted a long time ago. They all climbed into the barrels, but Bofur was frantic. "I'm not leaving without him, Bilbo."
"We aren't."
The hobbit found the lever to the trap door under the barrels. Just before he pulled it, a voice came from the barrels. It was Fili: "Bilbo, wait... You have to come with us!"
Bilbo had to bite his lip for a moment, before saying with a sad smile: "I'll catch up."
"No, wait!"
The hobbit yanked the lever, and the trap door fell open. The barrels and dwarfs dropped quickly, with Bofur and Bilbo watching, but then from the shadows a guard lunged out. The dwarf and hobbit jumped back. Bofur tossed his half-flute at the assailant without thought. The elf flung a real dagger in retaliation. They both dodged the blade, but Bilbo stepped too close to the half open trap door. As he fell, he reached out for Bofur, who was still recovering from his own movements, and before either them could stop it, they both tumbled down the trap door, and into the rushing currents.
The toymaker tried desperately to grab a rock, or branch. Anything to stop himself. He was leaving him behind. He, and the rest of the company were rushing toward freedom with their leader, his lover, left behind them. They quickly caught up with the barrels, and Dwalin quickly noticed the toymaker and hobbit kicking, and struggling in the water. He lunged out, and grabbed Bofur's wrist, while yelling to Fili to recover their burglar.
With much effort, and a few tumbles, they managed to squeeze into the barrel together, but Dwalin suddenly realized that Bofur had been trying to jump out. "What the hell are ya doin', lad?!"
"Thorin is back there! We have to go back!"
"Dwarfs!"
The thundering voice caught everyone's attention. The waters had calmed, and it was then the company noticed the battalian of elves standing above the locked gate that led to freedom, with the elven king Thranduil standing in front of them. Thorin was standing in front of him, tall and regal as ever, even with twelve bows pointed to the back of his head.
"Thorin..!" Bofur gasped, and started to move again, but Dwalin held him still.
"Surrender now, or your king dies! Even you brutes can understand that!"
The company looked around at one another, and to Thorin, unsure of what to do. Bofur was shaking, his heart was either going to escape from his chest, or stop completely. He knew if he kept staring at the large piercing arrowheads aimed directly his love, he would go completely mad, but he could not look away. He was completely frozen. They all were.
Just as the elves started to advance on the company, something occurred that no dwarf would have ever thought would be good fortune. A black orc arrow flew threw the air and connected with the elven king's sword with a loud metallic sound. Orcs breached the walls immediately after. The elves scattered, and Thorin used the moment of confusion to dive into the river, and back among his company. Kili and Bifur were on him instantly, pulling him up and untying his hands.
The company sprang into action. Kili jumped as high as he could, and gripped the edge of the bridge. Bifur was under him instantly and pushed him. He snatched up a bow and some arrows from an unfortunate elf. He started shooting as many orcs as he could, making his way to the gate release.
Bofur dove out of the barrel, even with Dwalin's protests. He swam quickly toward the others, making sure to watch his sides for any attacking orcs. Just before making it to Thorin, who had yet to notice him for watching his nephew, an animalistic yell came from above them. An orc jumped from the bridge, aiming to land directly on the king. Thorin caught him as if it had been planned, and threw him roughly into a tree, snatching his sword from his hand expertly. With a smirk, Bofur gripped the side of his barrel. The king whipped around, sword raised but stopped quickly.
"Your majesty." The toymaker teased, smiling, despite the chaos around them, for a moment nothing else existed Thorin yanked him into the barrel, and they held each other tightly for only a few seconds.
"Kili!" Fili's voice brought them back to reality. They both stared in horror as the young prince fell to the stone, a large black arrow lodged into his leg, mere feet from the gate release. Before anyone else could react, a loud roar came from a barrel in front of them, and Bifur tipped it completely, swimming to the edge with incredible speed. He tackled the closest orc to him, savagely stealing his blade, and running it through his chest.
He rushed to the prince, hacking and slicing through the enemies that engaged him. Despite his injury, Kili made his way to the lever and pulled it. The gate gave way, and the dwarfs and barrels started flooding under the bridge, now a mere after thought to the battling elves. Thorin and Bofur watched as the young prince fell lifeless on the stone.
"Kili!" Thorin desperately tried to stop them but he could not reach the bridge, they were moving too swiftly. "No!" Bofur had to pull his lover back to keep their barrel from tipping them into the water. They watched with their hearts thumping in their chests. Then, to their incredible relief, Bifur dropped down into the river, a lifeless Kili in his arms. The water was going so quickly, but the orcs were on them relentlessly. Thorin protected Bofur easily, trying to count his company, and make sure no one had been left behind.
Soon, as the river slowed, so did the attack, and the dwarfs and hobbit found themselves floating in and amongst barrels toward a rocky bank. Thorin reached the shore first, planting the sword into the gravel, and holding it steady as they both climbed out. The king fell onto the rocks, and the toymaker was on him instantly, pressing their lips together despately.
Thorin gave in only for a second before turning his head. "The company-"
"Oh, hush." The kiss continued passionately. The company hadn't been directly told just yet, but there were enough whispers that it might as well be known. Words started to flow from the toymaker as the emotions rose in him. "You're so ... You could have ended the whole quest! For me! Don't be so ... so ..."
"In love?"
Bofur froze and stared down at him. Hazel eyes meeting blue.
Thorin gave him a very serious look, and cupped his face in his large hand. "I'd give up every piece of gold in Erebor if I knew you would be safe."
"Your people need you, Thorin. I'm not ... worth that."
Thorin let out a small scoff, but then placed another soft kiss to the toymaker's lips. "You are to me."
Before Bofur could speak the rest of the company started filing onto the beach. Bofur stood quickly, realizing that what they were doing wasn't exactly appropriate. He helped Thorin up, and the king's attention suddenly fell to his injured nephew, who was no being carried up the embankment by a frantic Bifur. The toymaker rushed to his cousin's side who was speaking so quickly in Khuzdul he couldn't make out a word of it.
"Bifur! Slow down..."
Finally the warrior calmed down enough once Thorin took Kili from his arms to tell Bofur that he had been poisoned and that he needed medicine right away. The king started to dress the wound, addressing the company loudly: "Everyone! We have to move quickly... Salvage what you can!"
Bofur did everything he could to keep his cousin occupied while Thorin prepared Kili for travel. The toymaker couldn't remember seeing him so worked up. It confused him a bit, but this was no time for interrogations. He had to keep Bifur calm if they didn't want a whole other problem on their hands. The others rushed around, assisting Thorin, and started watching for any pursuers.
They were down, but not out, and now they were one injured. They needed supplies, food, and rest, but they were together, and very much alive, which Bofur considered a successful escape. They were all shaken, but they knew recovery had to be swift. None of them would have guessed that salvation would come in the form of a fisherman named Bard...