"...Marry me?"
The words hung in the air between us.
I forgot to breathe for a moment and didn't even realize my eyes were beginning to water when I suddenly smiled.
"Yes!" I exclaimed excitedly before lurching forward and throwing my arms around his shoulders, causing the boat to rock precariously as my weight shifted so abruptly.
"Yes?" Bofur repeated almost doubtfully, though I knew there was no way he could have misheard me. I lessened my hold on him and sat back, but kept my hands on his shoulders.
"Of course I will marry you." I said, my voice hitching slightly with emotion as I was now somewhere between laughing and crying. "Now come here." I grabbed the collar of his jacket and pulled him up into a kiss.
He smiled against my lips, placing a hand on my cheek and when we parted he looked at me with such sentiment that I choked back a sob, laughed, and then wrapped my arms around his neck once more to hide my face.
"I can't believe you planned all this for me." I said happily, tears still running down my cheeks.
"You deserve it, and more." Bofur said, hugging me tightly.
I smiled and wiped a hand across my eyes, then at my behest Bofur again dimmed the lamp and we lay back as best we could in the small boat so we could watch the cave ceiling come to life once more. This time, however, my thoughts were loud and I found it difficult to focus entirely on the glowworms' mystic shine.
"I feel I'm in a dream." I whispered after a few minutes of silence.
"A good one I hope." Bofur replied, pressing a kiss to my temple and causing me to smile.
"The best."
I shifted about so that I was facing him, my knees tangled about with his. He took hold of my waist until the boat stopped rocking. I leaned forward and lightly rubbed my lips against his face. As it was so dark I wasn't quite sure where I was aiming, but I felt his moustache and so pressed a kiss against the side of his mouth.
"Your nose is cold. We should get you back soon." Bofur said quietly, but instead of moving to get up he slid his hands up to my shoulders, under my scarf along my neck and guided me to his lips, kissing me deeply and ardently. Before we became too lost he gently eased me back, helping me off of him so that he could step to the front to turn up the lantern.
He paddled us back to shore while I sat in contemplative silence, and then he took my hand and began to guide me back the way we had came.
As we approached the steep icy slope Bofur had lowered a rope for me to climb on the way to the glowworm cave, Bofur smiled and said the easiest way down was simply to slide.
I looked at him incredulously hoping he would offer an alternative.
"The ice is clean. You won't dirty your dress, besides, it's fun." He quipped and then sat down and edged forward. Before I could stop him he pushed off and I watched as he quickly slid down to the bottom, using his crampons to help stop the momentum.
He beckoned for me to follow and I hesitantly lowered myself to the ground, then I scooted forward and pushed myself over the edge. By the time I came to a gliding stop at the bottom I was smiling.
"Alright, that was fun." I admitted as Bofur helped me to my feet and we continued on.
I walked in silence, even though my mind was far from it, until finally I could take it no more and decided to vocalize a few of my thoughts.
"Are you certain you'll be allowed to marry me?" I questioned after working up my courage.
Bofur squeezed my hand. "I don't want you to worry about the details."
I stopped in my tracks and made him turn to look at me in the eye.
"But you know that I will." I replied with a small smile, lifting my shoulders. "I just need to know... Are you breaking the rules? Will you get in trouble? Will we be able to stay here? Are we telling people?"
Bofur chuckled and stepped closer to me, stopping my tirade of fretting. "Don't overthink it." He insisted, pressing my hand between both of his. "Yes I'm breaking a few... old traditions - and I'm sure I'll get an earful more than once in the near future. No, we won't be made to leave... And yes. I wouldn't dream of keeping it a secret." He added with a grin. "Satisfied?"
I dropped my shoulders in a small sigh but smiled regardless. "For now." I said, urging him to continue up the path.
Eventually we emerged into the main hallways of the mountain and after our extended time in the colder mountain depths, the familiar well-used areas now felt positively warm by comparison. I pulled off my mitts and scarf and shoved them into Bofur's bag as we walked.
"Shall we go eat?" I asked when we began nearing our wing.
"Aye, let's swing by the rooms first to drop the pack off." Bofur replied.
After reaching our quarters, Bofur set the bag down just inside his door. He then took my hand and led me to the common area adjacent to Balin's rooms. Before I could ask what we were doing he had swung the door open and pulled me inside.
"She said yes!" he announced loudly, and we were then met with an onslaught of excited shouting and mismatched yells of 'congratulations!'
I covered my mouth in surprise as I saw that the members of the company had been waiting. Tables had even been brought in and set for dinner. Before everyone could take their seats, however, the door flung open once more.
"How dare you all throw a private surprise engagement dinner for my friend without even inviting me!" Méra half-shouted before pulling me into a rough hug. "I had to force the information out of the cooks." she added more quietly as she released me. Then she turned on Bofur, holding up a threatening finger.
"You." she said exasperatedly, taking a step towards him. "You could have told me. I could have helped plan things you know."
After hugging him she turned back to me, fussed over my hair for a moment, and then ordered for the festivities to continue, after a place was set for her of course.
It wasn't until the initial fluster of excitement had died down did I notice the absence of Dwalin. I tried not to dwell on it, hoping his nonattendance wasn't personal. I wasn't ignorant to the fact that Bofur's decision to forgo dwarven tradition would not be a popular one, but I had hoped it would not insult our closest friends. It seemed, for the most part however, that the rest of the company fully supported us (even Gloin was present and gave Bofur a brusque clap on the shoulder) and for that I was exceedingly grateful.
I was surprised to find that under the lids of the silver platters was an array of fresh foods, something I had not seen much of as of late. When I remarked on the crisp greens, Balin explained that Bombur had arranged an order for tonight, which was fulfilled by negotiating a trade with Dale for some of the rations the elves had provided.
"Thought you'd be tiring of salted pork and canned potatoes." Bombur said with a shrug when I thanked him for the fine selections.
Soon we were all settled in to our plates and the conversations became loud and abundant. Bofur poured me a cup of wine, another boon thanks to Bombur since he knew I wasn't as keen on the ales the dwarves stocked.
It was only during the second telling of our engagement, when I was elaborating for a few of the dwarves more interested in that sort of thing, that I went into detail about the lead-up to the glow-worm caverns. As I described our descent into the depths of the mountain, mentioning how cold it began to get, I noticed Ori shoot a rather smug look towards Dori, who frowned back at his younger brother. When I finally mentioned the walls of frozen ice, Ori, now several cups in, let out a triumphant 'hah!' and pointed at Dori.
"I told you there were caves of ice in the mountain!"
Dori flung his hands out helplessly. "Well how am I supposed to know that? Besides, how can there be ice and hot springs in the same cave systems?"
I opened my mouth to try and get a word in edge-wise before they continued, to explain that the span of a few dozen stairs was all that stood between the ice caves, where all was frozen, and the glow-worm caves, where it was quite humid and the water had been surprisingly warm, but Bofur squeezed my hand to stop me.
"Best leave it be, dear. The more you put in, the more it burns, if you catch my drift."
By this point they were continuing their argument in quieter tones, so I bowed before Bofur's wisdom and kept out of it.
"They'll figure it out someday, I reckon." Nori piped in from his spot further along the table. "If Dori ever stops cleaning, that is... and if Ori ever stops reading about the mountain for long enough to actually get out and explore it." This subjected him to the quiet wroth of both his brothers, and illustrated Bofur's point perfectly. By the mirthful look on Nori's face, though, I suspected he enjoyed feeding the flames.
"A raven arrived to the mountain today." Balin said, leaning forward to better address Bofur. "A large regiment of Blue Mountain Dwarves is over mid-way to Erebor."
Bofur smiled then looked down to his brother. "Your wife will be among them, eh Bombur?"
Bombur set down his tankard and nodded. "The twins too I expect."
"Twins?" I questioned, raising my eyebrows.
"Aye, Bombur here has twin daughters. A rare thing it is." Bofur explained. "Not identical mind, they're as opposite as could be in fact."
I smiled and was about to ask more about them when the conversation changed course.
"Dís is with them." Balin added, his voice gaining a slight edge.
I noticed Bofur frown slightly.
"Dís?" I voiced questioningly, wondering who she was, and furthermore why it seemed like such dire news.
"Thorin's sister." Balin explained, while Bofur sighed and shook his head. I then understood why her arrival would be a sad one, and Bofur went on to elaborate.
"You've met Dain's wife, seen how she carries herself. Compared to her husband, she's as calm as an underground lake..." He paused and considered his next words delicately. "Let's just say between Thorin and his sister, Thorin was always more like Barís."
"She's going to be furious." Nori stated bluntly.
"Aye." Balin agreed. "She is with the first caravan, the one that left as soon as Thorin took the mountain. They will be here sooner than the rest."
Everyone nodded solemnly but soon the mood lifted once more as a few dwarves began discussing other members of their kin that would be arriving, those they were eager to reunite with.
Dinner continued late and I found myself wishing the night would never end. I helped myself to a fair few cupfuls of wine, I was the only one drinking it after all, and I soon felt my cheeks warm up. Sometimes I would catch Bofur's eye and he would twinkle and I would smile.
Eventually the food was picked over and the barrel of ale was nearly empty. Gloin and Óin left the gathering first with Dori and Ori soon after - Dori supporting his rather intoxicated brother as they wandered out, now best of comrades once more. Nori simply walked over to a couch and collapsed onto it face first.
Méra, though she had kept up with some of the male dwarves in terms of number of drinks, stood up gracefully, her balance still perfect.
"My afternoon tea will be interesting tomorrow, I can't wait to see the fuss the dwarrows will make of this." she said with a grin. "Come to me when you want to start plannin'." she added joyfully, placing a quick kiss on my cheek after seeing my worried expression.
Balin got to his feet after Méra excited.
"Please, stay as long as you like. I have an early meeting tomorrow." he said, he then placed his hands on the table and looked to Bofur and I. "I am happy for you both. Don't hesitate to ask for any help you should need as you move forward." With a kind smile he bid us goodnight and turned to leave.
Then it was just Bofur's kin (and a snoring Nori) left with us and the remaining small stumps of candles.
"One more drink, cousin?" Bofur asked, noticing Bifur had just finished his.
Bifur passed over his cup. "Never turn down an ale," he said with a wink as Bofur refilled it, "who knows if it may be your last."
Bofur topped off his own mug, and by the time he got to Bombur's he had to tip the cask forward to empty the last dregs of liquid. He slid the half-full glass down the table to Bombur, shrugging apologetically, but his brother didn't seem to mind. Bofur then asked me to hold his cup as he proceeded to balance the empty barrel haphazardly on top of the large pyramid of others, ending with a flourish. As he turned back to us, he eyes glinted mirthfully.
"I don't suppose any of you want to climb in, for old time's sake?" he asked as he reached back and patted the top of the pile, causing it to lose stability sending barrels rolling out on both sides of the pile. He winced each time one toppled down with a crack behind him, until finally the last one - the one he had placed - had touched down.
His family broke into laughter, and I did too, and after shooting a mocking attempt at a scathing gaze over his shoulder, Bofur joined in as well. For the first time since arriving at the mountain, I was truly beginning to feel at home, surrounded by these strange, outlandish, wonderfully crazy dwarves that I was growing to love.
I was surprised and pleased that Bofur led me right into my chambers that night - perhaps his consumption of ale, along with the general blissful atmosphere of the evening, granted him to completely ignore the rigidity of dwarven social allowances without a fuss for once. I, for one, knew the wine I had drunk was making me feel more emboldened than usual. As soon as we were inside with the door, I spun around and all but flung myself at Bofur. His arms circled my waist and he kissed me back with as much passion.
"You'd better watch or you might run me into the ground." he mumbled as I kissed down his neck, my hands helping him out of his coat.
"Well if you can't keep up, just say." I replied with a smirk, gently biting his bottom lip as I tipped his hat off his head.
"I think I can keep up." he answered huskily, grabbing my hips. "The dwarrows, with some of them it's not more than a few times a year."
"Is that so?" I questioned as I hastily worked at untying his pants.
"Aye." Bofur confirmed before kissing me again, his hand moved to begin undoing my dress. "With you, it's so much different."
"Well I am no dwarrowdam." I said with a sultry smile. "And I need you more than a few times a year."
I hiked my leg up alongside him and kissed him with an open mouth.
"Will that be a problem do you think?" I asked quietly, feeling his hand slide up underneath my thigh to hold up my leg.
"Problem? No." Bofur said with a grin and a glint in his eye. "More like a blessing."