#axedwarf

[quiterespectablyyours]

Bofur joined me in my evening delivery rounds. Between the two of us we delivered meals to all of the patients’ families. Bofur also gave the children toys that Bifur made. 

All of these people are still waiting on their inoculations, so they are not allowed to see their sick family members. I made sure to have Bofur take messages from them to be passed on to the infirmary.

Bofur is doing well these days, and has developed into quite a tinkerer alongside his cousin. He is hoping to introduce a new spinning machine to the textiles guild for their approval. Though we did not part as close friends as I would have liked, my return to the Mountain has made him happy. I hope he finds happiness in his work and his family for all the days to come.

[quiterespectablyyours]

Bifur managed to find me. He pressed into my hand a bead before patting my head and leaving.

[quiterespectablyyours]

Bofur came to the kitchens, ostensibly to sneak out a couple treats for himself and Bifur. After all, the children have been making buns and rolls these past couple of days, and I’m sure anyone walking past the kitchens have been tempted by their wonderful smells.

Bofur came and talked with me about the notes, as apparently Thorin has notified the Company of them and would like them to keep an eye out for my well-being. I said that I thought they were probably just empty threats, and that I wasn’t scared of a couple words on a sheet of paper. He told me to take care, which was sweet of him.

[quiterespectablyyours]

Bifur was excitedly telling everyone about the progress on his various projects for Khebabnurtamrâg at supper tonight, which led, as things tend to in this Company, to a competition of some sort, as Kíli then interrupted with a description of the circlet they were fashioning for Tauriel, and then Bofur cut in with the box he was making for Bifur and Tilda’s toys, and then Nori started talking about the scarf he was knitting with Ori’s assistance. However, the very sturdy material makes me think it has more uses than just warming Dwalin’s neck on cold winter nights.

[quiterespectablyyours]

I went to check on Bifur’s work. He has had a small room cleared out for him as a workshop, and it is already quite full of toys and musical instruments and other curiosities. Tilda is there, too, helping sew buttons onto a rag doll’s face. Bofur was also there, whittling at a box for some of the toys. I asked him how things were going, and he grinned and said that he was making good progress and hopefully all the children would get new toys by the end of Khebabnurtamrâg.

[quiterespectablyyours]

Bifur took me aside as we were leaving after supper, and with a little bit of gesturing and some help from Ori, told me that he was thinking of making beads for the entire Company for Khebabnurtamrâg, on top of the toys for the children — which he says he’s close to finishing, apparently. I have to say, Bifur has a work ethic I can only aspire to.

I told him that I was sure everyone in the Company would love having new beads made especially for them. He seemed very happy at that thought, if his excited gesturing was of any indication, and asked if I would let him incorporate a design of Bag End’s door into the design. I told him he was certainly welcome to do so, though I was curious as to why. He replied that he wanted to design it so that Bag End was on one end, and the Mountain on the other.

I think that’s a very charming design, and I told him as much. He seemed pleased with my answer, and began asking Ori for more drawing paper.

[quiterespectablyyours]

While we were trapped together, Tilda and Bifur had continued to make toys for the children of Lake-town who are refugees in the Mountain. I had almost forgotten about these children, some of which Bombur and I had fed when we were the Master’s guests. I must pay them a visit soon, so that they won’t think I have forgotten them.

[quiterespectablyyours]

On the way back from getting fresh air out on the battlements I ran into Bifur, who saw me and then promptly strode away in a different direction.

Odd.