The next day I pointedly ignored looking at Kili, finding that if he ever caught my eye he wouldn't be able to stop himself from smirking. I had spoken to him the evening before, calling him a scoundrel and trying to explain what had happened so he didn't get the wrong idea. He had, after much sniggering, assured me he had seen my unceremonious fall and to stop worrying. I scowled at him in response, secretly blaming him for the reason why my cheeks now felt warm every time I glanced at Bofur.

We continued travelling higher in elevation and the landscape was becoming less vegetated and more rugged. We crossed by another cold waterfall before lunch, the rocks underneath it shiny and dark as it trailed down over the edge of the cliff face. Thorin allowed us a quick break soon after - though Bilbo and I were the only ones that actually looked tired from the ascent.

I leaned against a large rock outcropping next to Bofur and Dori. Bofur carefully set up his mattock against it as well.

"Is that very heavy?" I asked curiously.

"Very." he replied, smiling cheekily.

"Can I hold it?"

Bofur glanced around, raising an eyebrow.

"You're welcome to hold my hammer if y'like... are you sure that'd be appropriate though, what with the others around?" His smile remained just as sweet, but his eyes glinted mischievously from beneath the brow of his hat.

My mouth opened slightly though I was unsure how to retort. No doubt he only wanted to deter me, to spare me the embarrassment if I couldn't lift it at all and dropped it on my foot and maimed myself for the journey. Still, I took the bait. Pushing myself upright. I stepped over to it and looked at Bofur pointedly as I slowly ran my hands along the handle of his weapon. I grinned at the roguish smile he gave me, and then made to grasp and heft it up. To my surprise, it was much heavier than it actually looked, and my arms were straining to keep it aloft after a mere few moments.

"I don't know how you can haul this around all day." I exclaimed as I gently lowered and balanced it back against the rock. I sometimes bemoaned the weight of my own small travel pack and yet all the dwarves seemed to have over double the supplies I did, along with their bulky weapons. I idly wondered how muscular Bofur was under all his thick clothing, but quickly chased the thought away before it made my cheeks redden.

"Ah, it's nothing compared to some of the others. Dwalin's axes probably weigh about as much as you do." Bofur said, shrugging up a shoulder.

I snorted in disbelief.

"It's true." Dori piped in. "I bet Dwalin could even lift you with just one arm!"

Dwalin must have overheard his name, as he began heading towards us.

"I don't think he's keen to prove it." I mumbled, looking away quickly as he stopped in front of us. He was the tallest of the group, appeared to be the strongest by far, and often looked rather surly. I had yet to even speak to him.

"What's that you're sayin' about me now?" he growled. I looked at Dori and Bofur with a small amount of panic, trying to implore them with my gaze to tell him it was nothing and send him off... but it was too much to hope for with those two.

"Oh, Dori was just betting me you couldn't lift up the lass here with only one arm." Bofur commented, his eyes twinkling.

"Both, I'd wager." Dori quipped, playing along. "But not just one."

I rubbed my forehead, embarrassed.

"You've got to be joking." Dwalin rumbled, looking from Dori to Bofur as if they were touched in the head.

"Well, can you?" Dori questioned theatrically. Dwalin glowered at us and I expected him to storm away but instead he sighed.

"Well, come here then." he commanded in his gravelly voice. It took me a moment to realize he was actually addressing me.

I stared at him blankly and then began to object. "I'm heavier than I look, I don't think-"

But he suddenly grabbed my forearm and tugged me away from the rock face. Then in one smooth motion he bent down slightly, reached behind my legs and then just scooped me right up. I smiled in surprise as I felt my feet leave the ground and leaned slightly into his shoulder to balance. From my vantage point I noticed Thorin looking our way with discontent.

"You're light as a feather." Dwalin said, his accent pleasantly lacing his rugged voice. He set me gently back on my feet then looked at Bofur and Dori scathingly before leaving us. I smacked both of them on their shoulders as they chuckled.

"See, he's not as mean as he looks." Bofur pointed out after a moment, seemingly oblivious to my embarrassment. I snuck a quick glance at Dwalin's receding figure - mean or no, he was not a dwarf I would want to aggravate needlessly.

The following afternoon, just as the sun was getting low in the sky, Kili managed to shoot down a mountain goat, which put the dwarves in a rather merry mood. It seemed that Thorin was willing to allow the group to enjoy a more relaxed evening after the days of haste and hiding to stay ahead of the wargs upon leaving Rivendell. Seats were made from logs and rocks about a generous campfire and a few flasks were passed around as the meat was cooking. Kili kept handing me one, and after he insisted it was for sharing with everyone, I took a drink. They all laughed at the look my face as I tried to swallow the harsh liquid. It was a very strong mead and it burned going down. Ori laughed by far the hardest, but I somehow doubted he could tolerate it much better. Bofur patted my back and handed me a wineskin, telling me to stick to it instead.

I allowed myself to have a fair helping of goat meat since there was more than enough for everyone to eat their fill. The noise level of the group continued to rise dramatically as the night proceeded, especially when everyone was done eating but the drinking continued.

And eventually there was music. Fili pulled out a small fiddle (though I couldn't fathom why he would have wasted precious pack space on such an unnecessary item) and started to pluck out a tune. A few more joined in with small instruments of their own. Bofur also stood up, pulling out a tin whistle from inside his jacket, and began an intricate melody that complimented the others and showcased his obvious skill. I couldn't help but feel a little envious of their talents, and outright admired Bofur as he made playing a complex musical refrain look positively simple. As the music began to speed up to an exciting pace, I clapped and tapped my foot with the rest of the group. Finally they ended with a great flourish, and everyone shouted and applauded.

I found that I was beginning to have a very hard time indeed keeping my eyes off the dwarf with the floppy hat and easy smile. He was a little rough around the edges, to be sure, and his teasing innuendos sometimes left me nursing a bit of a blush, but I knew they were simply harmless, light jokes to try to make me laugh. In fact he seemed to delight in keeping the spirits of the entire group up - though sometimes his quips were met with eye rolls or groans, he usually succeeded in at least making a few members smile, even during otherwise dreary circumstances.

He eventually noticed me watching him and came over to join me. I scooted over as best I could on my small log to allow him to sit down.

"Well this is nice." he remarked as he settled close beside me. "Good food. Good company. One could almost forget we happen to be on a dangerous mission towards a dragon infested mountain."

"Almost... Would one dragon really be considered an infestation?" I countered with a grin, causing him to chuckle. We both then fell into what felt like a comfortable silence while I sipped at the wineskin I was still holding. When we were both seated the height difference between us was negligible, and I couldn't help but look sidelong at the dwarf next to me. The firelight cast a warm glow over his features and I studied his face for a few moments. Though his appearance did not possess the more obvious fine qualities like that of Thorin, Kili or Fili, I had grown to find his features quite pleasant, comforting in a way, and actually rather enticing when the side of his mouth quirked up showing a hint of his teeth in a playful smirk, his bright eyes taking on a smouldering effect in the flickering light.

"You're staring." he pointed out coyishly.

"So are you." I replied, though my eyes darted away. I looked to the dancing flames for a few minutes and couldn't believe how far I'd come in a few short weeks. I had stopped looking over my shoulder, stopped fearing my past, and was finally going home. I eagerly anticipated reuniting with my family, my mother.

"What are you thinking so intently about?" Bofur asked.

I smiled and looked back at him. "Home. And how lucky I am to be here right now with you." I looked away. "-All of you, I mean." I added quickly, inwardly cursing myself for my slip of tongue..

"Bofur, you take first watch." Thorin's rough demand sliced through our conversation. I noticed the slightest hint of displeasure play across Bofur's features before he pulled out his pipe from his coat.

"Ah, looks like I get to enjoy the last of the leftovers myself tonight." he commented idly as he got to his feet.

"I'll stay up with you awhile." I offered with a small smile, not quite wanting to leave his company yet. I expected him to turn me down - to insist I get to sleep, but instead he nodded slightly and beckoned me to join him.

We patrolled the perimeter outwards from the camp as the rest of the company settled in. For a while we walked in silence but eventually, when we were out of earshot of the group, he spoke.

"I'd like to know more about you - if you'll tell me." He began, slowing his steps to a more leisurely pace.

I looked at him and lifted a shoulder in a little shrug. "There's not much to know."

"Oh I find that hard to believe. You're…" he pondered for a moment, peering at me from under one of the flaps of his hat, "not like other women, or at least, you're not like any dwarf women I've ever known."

I smiled at him ruefully. "I'm not sure if I should take that as a compliment." I trailed off, thinking for a moment and then coming to a decision - perhaps emboldened by the wine I'd consumed. "I feel I can be honest with you, and so if you wish it, I will tell you more of the details that led me to run from Bree."

I paused as Bofur tucked his pipe away. He then stepped forward and lightly took hold of my fingers, leading me towards a few boulders near the edge of a slight rocky drop-off so that we could sit and still have a view of some of the surrounding area.

"Why don't you start at the beginning?" he asked after we were settled. I took a breath and nodded, staring down at my hands a moment before looking back up at him.

"Well, I told you once that I was born in Laketown..."

I told Bofur nearly everything, and it happened like an avalanche. At first I stumbled, still hesitant to be so truthful with someone I had only known for a few weeks, yet eventually I began simply letting my words flow freely, and then I found I could barely contain myself after years of wearing a face, of lying and pretending to be someone I wasn't. Finally I was able to tell someone my true story. Finally, based on all the experiences I've had, I could try to make someone understand me - what drove me, what scared me, what inspired me - and it was liberating.

After I finished my last account before the company had found me that fateful day, I took a deep breath and glanced at Bofur, now worried that it had been altogether too much for one sitting.

Bofur looked at me, concern etched on his face. "The man, the Innkeep, he hurt you?" he asked softly, leaning in a bit to keep his voice low.

I looked down. Though I had been wholly honest with my account, I had purposefully left out some of the more personal details, yet there was no point in lying anymore. "Not at first… but yes, that's one of the reasons I was so desperate to leave."

He made a motion, as if to reach out to me, but then seemed to think better of it and dropped his hand. "I'm sorry." he said instead. "I didn't understand when you tried to tell me, back in Rivendell, I feel like a fool-"

I shook my head. "No, please, don't worry. I know it didn't make much sense at the time."

"Do you think he'll still try to find you?"

I frowned, looking out at the rugged and unfamiliar moonlit landscape in front of us. "No. I can't see him putting in the effort now. I didn't steal more than what he had taken from my earnings."

I didn't want our conversation to linger on the Innkeeper and so I backtracked and told Bofur a few stories from before my time in Bree, happy tales about small adventures I had with my father, and relaxing afternoons spent with my mother.

"I haven't seen her in many long years. I don't even know if she'll recognize me." I said wistfully.

"She will." Bofur responded, finding my hand and squeezing it reassuringly.

I looked at him once again, and I noticed that though his kind eyes were framed with laugh lines, they had a sadness in them as well, almost hidden... maybe I was just imagining it. Yet I knew now that there was so much more to these dwarves than met the eye, and I meant to ask Bofur more about himself, but didn't quite want to distract him from the fact that he still had hold of my hand. I took a slow breath than slowly entwined my fingers in his, ever so slightly, and when he did not pull away I felt a sense of contentment and peace settle over me.

The rational part of my mind, however, began nagging me, cautioning me. I had vowed to never put myself in a vulnerable position again, to harden myself against the charms of men that would selfishly use me only to later toss me aside. I slid my hand out of Bofur's and stared down at my feet, feeling suddenly tense. There are still good men out there, I reminded myself. I forced myself to meet Bofur's eye once more. He was regarding me kindly but with a crease of worry across his brow.

I let myself relax, Bofur did not elicit the same feelings of mistrust in me that other men did. He felt more genuine somehow. I wanted to take up his hand again, to show him that I trusted him, yet perhaps the wine was wearing off as I no longer felt I could be so forward.

Instead I got to my feet, feeling the draw of sleep start to take hold of me. I hoped someone would be along soon to take the next watch so Bofur could get some rest as well. I offered him a small smile, wondering if he still thought well of me after everything I did, and everything I told him this evening.

"I'll make you some more tea in the morning." I promised simply, unable to think of anything more profound to say in farewell.

"I look forward to it." he responded quietly.

I spared a final glance out over the dark ridge. The moon had long since set, and I suddenly wondered how long we had been talking.

I awoke the next day feeling slightly embarrassed. The alcohol I consumed the night before had perhaps spurred on some bolder words and actions than what might have been normal. Regardless, I quickly readied Bofur's tea, as promised, but made it in a larger pot of Bombur's so that there would be extra. I reckoned a few of the others would be waking up with a dull headache and could do with a cup as well.

Bofur smiled at me brightly when he got up and didn't seem to be acting differently, so I returned the favour and didn't act sheepish around him. I heard a few grumbled compliments about the hot beverage at the ready, and noticed Dwalin, Fili and Nori (all looking a bit worse for wear) pour themselves a mug full.

The day passed without incident, though it was becoming harder to find areas to camp overnight. The paths were becoming narrower and more uneven the higher we travelled. Thorin wanted to simply push on, but was reminded by Balin that both the hobbit and myself did require regular sleep. Thorin shot us each a scathing glance. Bewildered, I looked to Bilbo who seemed just as nonplussed to have his sleeping habits on trial. I then wondered how long dwarves could go without - surely they hadn't been taking nightly stops all this time strictly on our account, in fact many of them seemed just as keen to tuck into their bedrolls each evening.

Still the leader of the group led us onward well past dark. I was starting to drag my feet and stumble with exhaustion when he finally allowed us to stop for a few hours, though he posted two dwarves on lookout as we were rather exposed, being unable to find a more hidden area off the path.

The winds became stronger as we continued to gain elevation, and the next morning I put on almost every layer of clothing I owned to help combat the cold. I was tired, and was beginning to sorely miss Rivendell and its luxuries, especially as Thorin was becoming more relentless, pushing the group on faster and allowing fewer breaks.

By midday I was lagging at the back, my body unused to walking - and sometimes even climbing - uphill. I began to wonder if I had made a mistake in deciding to journey with the dwarves, and fantasized about what it might have been like to be tucked cozily into a horse-drawn wagon for the journey, something that may have been arranged if I had just bid my time with the elves. I was beginning to forget what drove me to such a hasty departure simply to reunite with Thorin's company.

Bofur looked behind his shoulder and stopped, waiting for me to catch up. He smiled at me with such warmth that I felt my breath hitch, and though I could perhaps blame the wind, I couldn't fully deny that he was one of the reasons I decided to rejoin the group.

I looked at him apologetically as I fell in step beside him.

"Thank you for waiting." I said, glad to not be bringing up the rear all alone for a while.

"It's no trouble lass, figured I'd best rest up a bit anyway - after all, never know when we will have another warg pack bearing down on us. Thorin's being a bit of a taskmaster anyhow; can't have those pointy eared layabouts catching up with us now can we?"

I fought down the urge to argue that the elves of Rivendell had hardly seemed to care whether I stayed or went, and so it seemed even less likely they would give chase to the dwarves. Fortunately for me, any response he may have expected was interrupted as he had to quickly put a hand up to hold his hat secure as a particularly strong gust billowed around us.

"Where did you get that, anyhow?" I asked after it had subsided, glancing up towards his peculiar headwear. I had never seen him without it, and speculated that it was perhaps an heirloom of sorts.

I wasn't expecting the visible change in Bofur's expression at such an innocent question. He frowned and seemed to tense, his eyes becoming guarded.

"I've always had it." he replied in a controlled tone that I suspected was meant to come off as nonchalant, but was much too clipped.

I shut my mouth and cast my eyes back to the path ahead for a few paces. Bofur remained quiet and an odd tension grew around us. I snuck a quick sidelong glance at him a few minutes later and saw his face was troubled. Just as my confused curiosity became unbearable and I was about to question him, the hobbit fell back and grinned tiredly at us both, clearly wishing to join our slower pace at the back.

Bofur struck up a light conversation with him, all traces of his previous unease suddenly gone. I frowned, perhaps I wasn't as good at reading people as I thought and had imagined the whole thing. Though when Bofur made no further effort to speak to me - in fact he barely seemed to look at me - I knew I must have upset him somehow. Feeling a bit jaded that he wouldn't be honest with me when I had so recently opened up to him, I promptly picked up my pace to catch up to Ori, not bothering to look back. I decided, since he would not talk to me, that I would just have to ask one of the others in private if they knew anything about his strange hat.

We came across a sheltered glade with relatively flat terrain in the early evening, and even Thorin couldn't argue the fact that it was an ideal location to overnight at. It seemed that Bilbo and I would be graced with another opportunity to get our inconveniently required sleep.

As we sat about the fire after dinner, everyone - save perhaps Thorin - was relatively happy after a decent meal and fairer weather, as the tight cluster of trees around the clearing kept the persistent winds down to a gentle rustle. Bofur, who had been sitting next to me for most of the evening, had seemingly forgotten the awkwardness of earlier (or was keen to ignore it), so I let the subject lie for the moment. When he left my side to help Bombur get his cooking equipment cleaned and repacked, I was left alone with my thoughts and began to speculate as to something I had not considered before - something about Thorin's personal account of the fall of Erebor that didn't quite line up in my head.

"Kili?" I addressed him quietly as he was walking by, figuring he might be a good dwarf to ask a personal question of without getting affronted.

He stopped and looked to me inquisitively, and grinned when I hesitated. He stepped a bit closer towards me and so I proceeded with my enquiry.

"If you don't mind me asking, are you very much younger than your uncle?" I questioned as innocently as I could manage.

"Ah, I think I know what you're asking." His grin grew wider as he grasped the true intentions of my question. "Go on then, give it your best guess - how old do you think I am?" he retorted, his mirthful voice drawing the attention of Fili and a few of the others nearby. They looked towards us, awaiting my answer.

I pondered it, studying him for a moment. "Around thirty?" I offered tentatively, feeling somewhat unsure now that I was being put on the spot.

He guffawed and slapped his leg. "Aw, come now, surely I don't look that young? It's the beard thing isn't it?" he asked in mock seriousness, frowning and rubbing his hand against his stubbled cheek.

I smiled but tilted my head, rather confused. Balin leaned forward in his seat towards us.

"You forget, aging is quite different between humans and dwarf-kind." he told us in a very scholarly sort of voice. Before he could elaborate, Bofur cut across him and sat back down, looking at us all thoughtfully.

"What do you mean?" I asked, turning to appraise Kili once more. "How old are you?"

"I'm 77." he announced with a smile.

It was my turn to laugh, but Balin looked serious.

"No. That can't be right." I remarked, my smile fading as I looked over the young dwarf more earnestly.

"And Fili is 82." Kili added. "Why, how old are you?"

I grimaced slightly, seeing many eyes now upon me. "Well… now it may sound… odd..." I mumbled and trailed off, looking down at my hands. "I'm 24." I finally admitted.

I felt Bofur suddenly shift in his seat beside me and some of the others made noises of astonishment. Kili's eyebrows shot up.

"She's just a child." Fili commented. I opened my mouth to object but Balin explained for me.

"No, no, lads, by human reckoning she is considered a fully grown adult." he stated calmly. I nodded in agreement, sitting up a little straighter in attempt to look more grown-up. They seemed to accept this and, after gawking at me a few moments longer, my cheeks burning all the while, they eventually all settled down and went back to their seats without further questioning. I picked at my nails rather anxiously.

"So how old are you then?" I quietly asked Bofur, not looking up but turning my head slightly so he could hear me.

"Are you sure you want to know?" he replied, after a pause that stretched on longer than normal. I wondered if this was another sensitive topic of his, but then, if I had to worry about hurting his feelings every time I asked a personal question, maybe pursuing a friendship with him was overrated.

I nodded, trying to brace myself for an answer I knew was sure to change things.

"142." He answered in a nonchalant, matter-of-fact sort of way, turning to face me fully with a wry grin.

I gaped at him in shock. "One hundred and forty two?" I repeated with disbelief. "I will live, grow old and die in far less years then that" My head was reeling as I met his eyes - which I was surprised to see held some amount of sadness despite his lightened words. "How long do you all live?" I then asked.

"Most of us over thrice that of men." Bofur explained after tilting his head from side to side in thought. He then raised his eyebrows and continued. "Some even make it past 300, but that is a rare occasion."

I shook my head slightly, completely overwhelmed. I felt like a fool for being so ignorant of the differences between us. Now I didn't know what to think, or what to feel. I got up suddenly and clumsily excused myself, not hearing Bofur call after me as I stalked out of the ring of firelight and into the darkness. I needed to clear my head.

The moon was up and so once my eyes adjusted I was able to see quite well. I picked my way through the few sparse trees and found a tiny spring trickling down over the rocks. I filled my water canteen and sat down. I knew I shouldn't be upset. They were dwarves. He was a dwarf. And I was human. We weren't meant to coexist so closely. It was just the way of things. Bofur's silly charm had chasing away my common sense. Whatever I had been feeling,or even thinking about feeling, had to end.

I heard a rustling nearby, snapping me out of my reverie. I stood up and drew out my sword (I had been practicing a bit and so didn't make a complete botchery of it).

"Oh, it's just you." I said with relief, lazily flopping back to the ground as Kili stepped out of the shadows.

"Just me? Ouch." he remarked playfully, walking over and sitting down beside me. "Bofur sent me to check on you... he figured you might not want to see him right now?"

I sighed. "No. It's not him. I just needed - Well, time to think, I guess. It is strange for me. I already feel like I am too old, I should have long since been married and with children. Yet you look near my age and have already lived longer then I likely ever will. If I do make it to 77, I'll be frail and weak. But look at you." I gestured generally towards his chest. "That's just not fair." I grinned slightly.

"Don't be like that! You are not old and I'm sure you will live a great life." Kili said, smiling assuredly. "You just need to cram your years a little fuller is all."

I nodded, offering a weak smile then glanced to the sky; the stars were shining without obstruction. Kili looked up as well and then eased himself onto his back, one arm behind his head. He tugged at my sleeve with his other hand. I smiled and fell back as well, relaxing into the ground, admiring the night's sky.

"He cares for you." Kili continued in a more serious tone.

"Who?"

He made an exasperated gesture. "Bofur of course. He was right pissed when Thorin made us leave without you."

I was silent for a moment, unsure what to say in response, but feeling somewhat pleased by Kili's confirmation of Bofur's feelings towards me. We settled into a not uncomfortable silence for a few moments, and in the stillness my thoughts wandered to a different topic that had been nagging on my mind. "Do you know anything about his hat? He never seems to take it off." I enquired, trying to keep my tone light.

Kili didn't answer straight away. "That's... a sensitive subject." he finally said. I knotted my brow in confusion and propped myself on an elbow to look at the dwarf.

"What do you mean?"

Kili looked conflicted on whether or not he wanted to continue talking. "Well… I heard his wife made it for him." he admitted slowly after a moment.

I swallowed. "Wife?" I repeated, my voice barely audible.

"Before she died." Kili continued, propping himself up as well and looking at me gravely. "I don't know any details really," he said, "But I have heard that's who gave it to him. He never lets anyone else wear it, and I reckon there would be trouble if someone snagged it as a joke and tried it on."

"I don't understand though." I said sadly. "He always seems so..."

"Happy?" Kili offered. I nodded. "Yeah I know. Maybe it's a farce. Or maybe he just has a remarkable outlook on life." he shrugged and then leaned back, hands returning behind his head. "He's a good guy though."

"Yes." I agreed, lying down as well to look back to the stars. I remembered the sadness I had seen hidden behind the laughter in his eyes, and felt an uncomfortable weight settle on my chest. "He is."

I was torn between wanting to ask Bofur about his past and never wanting to bring it up to him. I wondered if he wanted to talk about it, to open up to someone, or perhaps he'd rather not revisit painful memories. In the end I decided it was not my place to ask him. He would tell me if he felt he needed to.

As it was, I didn't notice I was sort of tiptoeing around him, trying to act too natural, whereas in reality I was coming across as just behaving oddly. I didn't notice… but eventually he did.

After a few days of it, as we were walking at the back of the group together while I tried to talk about the most impersonal subjects I could think of, he suddenly grabbed my arm and stopped me as the others rounded a bend, leaving us out of their sight.

"Alright, spill it, what's going on?" he asked, looking up at me.

"What? Nothing." I replied casually, my voice perhaps a little too high. "Why do you ask?"

"You've been a tad… tense around me lately." He pointed out.

"Phht. No. I haven't been tense. I'm fine." I bit my lip, knowing he was seeing right through me.

"Did finding out my age the other day frighten you that much?" he asked quietly, frowning and averting his eyes.

"No!" I exclaimed loudly. "No." I said again more quietly and in perfect earnestness, forcing him to look at me once more. "Honestly. It's not that."

In truth, I hadn't really thought much about the monumental age gap between us since speaking with Kili. It was rather odd, as truly the only indication of their many years lived was when they displayed their well-practised skills. They had prowess and stamina beyond what regular men could ever attain, but otherwise most of them did not seem old. I knew it was still something I would have to come to terms with, but had been too focused on concealing that I knew anything about his tragic past to worry about it.

Bofur seemed to ponder in silence for a moment, then indicated for me to keep walking with him so we didn't get left too far behind.

"So... who told you then?" he asked in a tone more serious than I've ever heard him use before. I looked towards him, knowing perfectly well what he was referring to.

"Kili." I replied with a sigh after a few paces. "...He didn't really mean to."

We walked in forced quiet for a while longer until the group became visible up ahead.

"When did it happen?" I asked meekly, staring pointedly at the ground.

Bofur didn't respond right away and I could feel the air grow thick. "Before your lifetime." he finally uttered, his voice a maelstrom of pain and fury. It startled me and I stopped in my tracks, but he kept walking.

"Bofur, wait!" I pleaded, taking a few small, unsure steps towards him. "I shouldn't have asked... I'm sorry… If you want to talk about it-"

He spun around so suddenly that I froze once more as he closed the distance between us.

"I don't want to talk about it." he seethed, his hand cutting through the air between us with finality, causing me to flinch despite myself. Without another word, he turned and left me standing there alone, until I worked up courage enough to follow.