Toymakers Love (AtroxaxTrisscar)

Trisscar

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Joined
Mar 20, 2013
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US
The sight of the oddly shaped, fur lined hat bobbing through the busy streets of Erun Luid was a common and happy sight for the inhabitants of the city. For it meant that Bofur the dwarf had come to sell his wares once more.

Hefting the heavy wicker basket higher onto his broad sholders, Bofur wistled merrily as he went to his normal spot on the stone steps of the city's fountain. He had made a place for himself there, for it was wide and open and inviting for the children of the city to come and sit around him and play with the wares he brought to sell when he wasnt working in the mines.

Setting the basket down on the smooth granite step he popped open the lid, his merry wistle growing into a humm and that into a happy song as he pulled out metal clockwork soldjers and birds, wooden carved and painted horses, ponies, bears, rabbits and all manner of animals including a couple dragons from his pack. Stone figurines and small play sets inlayed with metal followed those and all made it onto the steps of the fountain.

Settling back with his flute, Bofur resettled his hat over his hair and flicked one of the curling braids over his sholder. Lifting the flute to his lips he began to play a flute version of the pipers song he had been singing to the children, inviting them to come and see what he had to offer that day.
 
Linnea North-Took came with her family every year to Erun Luid from the Shire, bringing with them a cart full of goods to sell. Mostly fruits and vegetables as the soil of the Shire was rich and fertile, perfect for tilling and farming. But so close to the Blue Mountains, the soil was rocky and hard, and not so suited for growing good things to eat. Which meant there was a market for fresh produce, and her family, being of the more adventurous sort of Hobbit, were happy to fill that niche.

They'd only just arrived, and Linnea was trying to help her parents get their stall set up, while also trying to keep an eye on her youngest brother, Brenhin, who was only eight, and very energetic it. Being the eldest sibling, her parents looked to her much of the time to take some share of the duties and responsibilities of their family. So while her brother, Callum, and father hitched their ponies and began carrying crates from the cart to the stall, Linnea and her mother and her younger sister, Flossie, went about trying to get things set up.

Linnea was like most hobbits, short and sturdy, and barefoot. She was a beauty though, with blonde curls tumbling down her waist, though currently it was all being barely held back in a braid, stray curls falling into her face on occasion, and large eyes the color of a Robin's egg, with a splash of freckles across her nose and cheeks. She looked a great deal like her father's mother, everyone told her.

It was in the middle of getting things set up when her mother lifted her head to look around, and let out a frustrated noise, pointing over Linnea's shoulder. “Linny! Your brother!” She said and Linnea looked to see Benhin trotting off down the street, before disappearing into the crowd.

Linnea held back a deep sigh and nodded, “I'll get him!” She said before she hurried off, her hands grabbing her green skirts and lifting them a bit so she could move more quickly, slipping between people and Dwarves as she went and eventually ending up in the town square, where a fountain was bubbling, and some one was playing a flute. She paused, looking around, and spotted her brother's curly blonde head as he slipped through two women going towards the fountain.

Linnea went after him, a scowl on her pretty face, and caught up with Brenhin as he reached a small ring children that had gathered about a Dwarf with toys laid out around him. “Bren!” Linnea whispered, grabbing his hand tightly.

The boy let out a wail and tried to pull free, “No I want to see!”
 
Bofur looked up over the crowd of children that had gathered around him and caught sight of the young hobbit lad and his older sister. Obviously the little one was not supposed to have gone jaunting off, but Bofur was glad to see one of the little people admist the swarm of human and dwarfling children.

Giving an energetic little twiddle on his flute to catch thier attention Bofur winked at the hobbit lad, for sitting on his knee was the carved wood knight and rider that had so caught the lads gaze before his sister had arrived. Finnishing the song Bofur tucked the flute into his belt and made his way to the pair holding the desired toy, he knew that non of the children would cause any mischief while he was in sight.

"Greeting to ye laddie, I seem to have found no one that would like to play with this here handsome knight, would ye do me the favor of doing so?"

A gentle smile lit up his warm chocolate brown eyes as he looked down at the stunned face of the fauntiling who's own gaze was transfixed on the toy being held out in the dwarfs grasp, and Bofur watched as the lad looked up at his sister with an imploring look. Adding his own look to the mix Bofur locked his own brown orbs with her blue ones, his voice quiet and no less gentle when he addressed her.

"What would be the harm of lettin the lad play for abit? He obviously likes the toy very much and i dont mind one more child to watch over while they play."
 
Brenhin and Linnea both looked up as the Dwarf approached them and offered the little boy a toy to play with, and the older sister was trying hard not to look down at him. The Dwarf wasn't helping either, and she let out a sigh, glancing down at her brother, who had fixed his face in an irresistibly cute way, his green eyes large and his lower lip sticking out a bit.

Linnea rolled her eyes and let out a sigh, “Oh fine!” She said and Brenhin let out a gleeful squeal as he reached for the knight and rider, but stopped when his sister jerked on his arm. He looked up to see her giving him a pointed, hard look and he blinked a bit before a look of realization hit his face.

He looked up at a the Dwarf and said, in a sweet tone, “Thank you!” before taking the toy happily and joining the other children to play.

Linnea sighed and looked at the Dwarf, “That was very unfair. He gets away with everything.” Her tone was good natured though, and she glanced back over her shoulder, “I... should get back to our booth.” She said, looking at Brenhin, who was absorbed in a game of knights and dragons with some of the other children. “If he gets to be a handful, we're right down there,” She told him, pointing down the street she'd come from. “I'm Linnea, by the way,” she told him, taking a step back before she turned and hurried off.
 
Bofur watched as Linnea fled the scene, a thoughtful look on his face. Shrugging lightly and trying to ignore the twinge in his chest at the sight of her leaving, the toymaker went back to the gaggle of children and brought his flute to his lips once again.

It was nearing the end of the day and the fauntling boy was still with him, the last of the children to be playing with the toys that Bofur had not sold that day. He was loath to pack up and leave the lad with nothing to do, so Bofur decided to escort him back to his family.

"Bren me bucko, ive got to get going, why dont we pack up the toys and ill get ye back to your family eh?"

Winking good naturedly at the lad at his crestfallen face at the thought of giving up the mounted knight, Bofur hurried to reassure him, as he piled the few remaining toys into the wicker basket.

"baring your knight of course. lets go laddie"

Starting off down the street, a happy tune still pulling itself out of his heart, Bofur walked down the cobbled road with the basket on his back and a tired fauntling trailing beside him. When he glanced back and saw the lad's drooping eyes and enormous yawns, he stopped and scooped Brenhin into his arm and let the boy lean against him. Bofur was sure that the booth couldnt be far now, and rounding the corner he caught sight of the family of hobbits that he was sure the lad belonged to.
 
Linnea and her family had busy all day. They were known well enough that once her father set up and word got out, more and more people came to buy the delicious produce and cured meats they had to sell. “The best in all the Shire!” Her father boasted. Her mother was quite the weaver as well, and would often have rugs and the like to sell alongside their fruits and vegetables. Her sister showed the same talent, and the elder of the brothers showed the same keen understanding of the earth as his father. And then there was Linnea.

What was she good at? She didn't really know. She'd never had the patience for weaving, and she was good enough with plants but that was not a woman's job. Her main skill, it seemed, was doing what her parents told her to do. Linnea was good at telling her siblings what to do, that was about it. And getting into trouble, she had a fondness for that. For every time she obeyed her parents, she seemed to go and do something she wasn't supposed to.

By the end of the day, everyone was ready to head back to the inn for the night, and Linnea was readying to return for Brenhin. Her mother had been very dubious about leaving her youngest child with a stranger, she was far more mistrustful of non Hobbit folk than her husband, but she'd let it be. Linnea had a small basket of fruits and vegetables on her hip and some coins in her hand, but when she turned to leave, she saw the Dwarf approaching them, Brenhin struggling not to fall asleep in his arms

Linnea couldn't help the small smile on her face, her brother could be a brat, but she loved him, and it was endearing how the Dwarf was so kind to him. “Master Dwarf,” she hailed him.

Her mother, who had the same color eyes as her daughter but with hair a dark russet color, came around the stall, laughing softly. “He's right tuckered out,” she cooed, taking the boy from the Dwarf, “Thank you so much for looking after him.”

Brennin woke up enough to show his mother the toy clutched in his hand, “Mumma, look.”

“I see Bren, it's a very fine toy,” She said, bouncing him gently, “Do you make them yourself?” Then shook her head a little, “Forgive me, my manners. I'm Fiona. And you've already met my daughter Linnea.” She looked at her eldest daughter, “Linnea,” She said, then nodded her head towards the Dwarf.

Linnea stepped forward, offering the small basket of fruit and vegetables, “That's a thank you keeping an eye on Bren,” She said, “And don't try to refuse, my mother will insist, and she's very good at that.” She laughed a little, her mother rolling her eyes, and then handed him the coins, “And that's for the toy.”
 
Bofur handed the boy off with a soft smile and a short bow, he set the wicker basket down and took off his hat so that he could give a proper bow to the hobbit ladies. Never would his parents be able to claim that thier son lost his manners when around the lassies of high breeding or not.

"Bofur at yer service. And he was no trouble at all. Its nice to see a fauntling once in awhile."

A cheery grin lit his face at the questions, Bofur had always been a happy sort, and he was always looking to make friends.

"ah now lassie ill not be needing the money, id be much happier just to see the lad enjoy my work than the coin. My brother will be delighted at the vegtibles though, he rarely gets to cook them. Thank ye."

He took the basket from her, replacing his hat and hoisting the basket once more to his sholders.

"Id best be getting off, it was lovlie to meet you all, perhaps ill see you and your brother at the fountain again sometime when i come to peddle eh?"

Winking at Linnea he saluted them and turned, jaunting his way down the street wistling his merry tune once more.
 
Hobbits didn't have lords or nobles, but they did have families in higher standing that others, and North-Tooks were a proud bunch. Descendants of Bandobras Took, they were proud of their lineage, and what they felt was a far more worldly outlook on life than most of their kin. Many Hobbits never left the Shire at all.

Her mother said all too often that Linnea took after her father's side far too much for her own good. She'd always had a romantic heart, with a love for tales of adventure and battles. If any of her family had had any skill with a sword she would have begged to learn, as it were though, they didn't. She did, however, have a fair skill with a bow, and often went hunting, against her mother's wishes.

Linnea withdrew her hand when he refused the coin, but was pleased that he accepted their small basket of fruit and vegetables. She nodded as he told them good bye, “I'm sure he'll be clammering to go every time we come here now.” And then he was off. Linnea lingered for a moment, watching him leave, before she heard her mother speak.

“Very friendly for a Dwarf, they're usually so gruff,” She said as she walked away with Brenhin asleep in her arms. Linnea just nodded slightly and went about helping her family pack things back up, her mind wandering back to Bofur on occasion.
 
Two weeks passed before Bofur returned to the fountain, carrying his once more now heavy laden wicker basket full of toys. Settling on the steps he set the toys out, a cheery smile on his face, but it didnt quite reach his eyes. They were tired, and sad, but he hid it well. the thing harder to hide was the healing cut on his cheek and the split lip, but he wasnt going to let that get his spirits down enough to affect the children.

Looking about during the first few hours of his day, Bofur found himself constantly looking for a sign of the hobbits. He couldnt get Linnea's robin blue eyes, her gentle smile, her freckles or the way her eyes sparkled when she was happy out of his mind. He feared he was going to go insane if she didnt come to see him again.

Pulling out his flute Bofur piped away, hoping that the sound would carry far enough to pull the attention of his favorite customers and hopefully bring them back to his humble little spot.
 
Her family returned, as they would often until the end of the harvest season, selling most of their extra produce while making sure to keep enough to carry them through the winter. As soon as they'd left, Brenhin had started talking about Bofur and his toys. So it was no surprise to Linnea when he grabbed her hand and started trying to pull her down the street.

She pulled him back, squatting down in front of him, “Brenhin, we'll go and see Bofur in just a minute, let me finish helping Mom and Da first though alright?” She asked and the boy nodded with a soft pout. He stood quietly, waiting as patiently as his small body could handle, before she told their parents where they were going. Brenhin grabbed her hand and pulled her off, and before long she could hear the Dwarf playing his flute.

Linnea smiled to herself, finding the tune pleasing, and went along with her brother towards the fountain. “Bofur!” Brenhin shouted as soon as he was in sight, tugging at Linnea's hand until she felt like he was going to pull her arm off.

“Brenhin stop pulling so much!” She sigh, letting go of him, “Go on then!” He ran the last bit of distance, blonde curls bouncing on his head. Linnea just shook her head, walking along after him, smiling at Bofur as she came. It was good to see him again, surprisingly, since their meeting had been so brief before.
 
Looking up at the jubilant cry of his name, Bofur grinned cheekily at Bren as he came running up, pulling his flute away so he could talk to the lad.

"well hello laddie. what a welcome surprise to see ya here. Ive got something for you today, a little companion for that knight of yours."

Reaching into the wicker basket, Bofur pulled a delicatley carved princess from the bag, her wooden features closley resembling a certain hobbit lass that was watching from outside the ring of children, little pointed ears and bare feet compleated the image of the toy. Leaning close to the lad ina conspiratel way, Bofur 'wispered' the secret to the fuantling.

"this is nor ordinary princess, shes a hobbit princess. figured youd like that"

Chuckling when Bren raced off to go and show his sister, Bofur stood and made his way over to the pair, taking off his hat and giving a deep bow acompanied by a mischevious smile at Linnea.

"And good morning to you Lass."
 
Brenhin grinned up at Bofur, and practically started jumping up and down when he was told there was something to go with his knight, grinning from ear to ear. He was surprisingly careful though when he took the little toy princess from the Dwarf, his eyes, which were more the honey-brown color of his father's, staring at her. He laughed though when Bofur whispered to him that it was a Hobbit princess, and bounced back to his sister, holding the toy up as high as he could for her to see.

“Look Linnie!” He laughed, “A Hobbit princess!”

Linnea took her wrist gently to get him to hold still long enough for her to get a proper look, though she looked at Bofur first, offering him a warm smile, “Good morning Bofur.” And then looked at the toy.

She blinked though when she got a good look at it, the similarities between the toy and herself not escaping her notice. Linnea tried to dismiss it though, she didn't look so dissimilar from many Hobbits. “Yes, it is isn't it?” She smiled.

“And she looks like you!” Brenhin added excitedly, “I'll call her Princess Linnie!”

Linnea blinked a little again, and the skin around her freckles colored a little, glancing at Bofur before looking back to Brenhin, ruffling her brother's curls, “A mighty fine name.” She pulled the knight and horse out of the pack she had on her hip and handed it to an excited Brenhin, “Go play then.” And he was off to join the other children, a toy in each hand.
 
Bofur chuckled softly as the lad scurried off to play, then turning back to Linnea he plopped his hat back onto his head, offering her a smile as well.

"and how are you this fine morning miss Linnea? Doing well i hope"

Bofur had his hands in his pockets, fiddling with a peice of wood that he had started carving that morning. He wasnt usually nervous around lassies, but the gentle beauty of the hobbit lass in front of him was throwing him off abit of his usual game. He soothingly ran his fingers over the not yet smooth edges of the wood, planning the next cut and stroke that would help the wood to take its form. He was also toying with the idea of inviting her to join him on the steps, but he wasnt sure she would take kindly to that idea.
 
Linnea nodded a little at his question, “Doing fine.” She answered, then noticed the healing cut on his cheek and his split lip. Her brows went up in concern and her hand reached out, taking his chin gently to turn it a little, peering at his cheek, “But what happened to you?” She asked, her hand falling away.

Having grown up with so many younger siblings, Linnea had a developed sense of protective concern. She didn't know Bofur very well, but he was kind to her brother, and to her as well, she supposed. And now this doll, why had it looked so much like her? Was it just because she was Brenhin's sister?

That he had remembered her and her family as well as that was curious to her. Surely he met people all the time, maybe not Hobbits, but there was nothing overly fascinating or interesting about them. Or so she was told.
 
Bofur blushed heavily when Linnea took ahold of his chin, inspecting the damage to his face. A thin smile worked its way up onto his face, not like the ones he usually had, this one was sad and abit resigned.

"Oh nothing much, my cousin just has some mental issues from a head wound and i care for him. he gets night terrors and sometimes he accidentaly gets me when im not fast enough to dodge is all."

Shrugging Bofur alowed the normal happy grin to take over his face, wiping away the bad memories like a duster to cobwebs.

"Im glad your doing well. my brother bombur wanted me to thank you for the vegtables, and he sends a thank you gift along as well."

Motioning to the basket that she had sent with the produce that was now full again, Bofur chuckled.

"I think hes just happy to have someone else eating his cooking"
 
Linnea frowned a little when he explained what had happened, she didn't really know what to say to that, so she just said, “I see,” and bit her lip a little. She saw his smile though, it was thin and sad, before it was replaced by the happier one he seemed to wear most of the time. He didn't seem to want to dwell on it though, so she didn't either.

She smiled though when he spoke of his brother being grateful for the fruit and vegetables, looking at the basket as he motioned towards it. “Oh?” She said "And what did he cook?", moving to sit on the steps of the fountain where he seemed to sit most of the time, glancing at her brother to make sure he was staying out of trouble while he played with the other children. She should be getting back to her family's stall, but she wasn't ready to leave just yet.
 
"Oh this and that, mainly sweets. Though theres a few vegtable stew pasties in there."

Bofur sat down on the step next to Linnea, pulling out the block of wood and his knife from his pocket and began to chip and carve away at the oddly shaped lump, helping the wood form into the peice he was creating. As they spoke the wood began to become what he was intending, which was a lid for a small box. on the top of the lid was a small flying bluebird in an open sky. Bofur had recently finnished the bottom of the box, that held a woodland scene of trees and flowers, with all manner of animals hidden in the carving. soon he could polish the peices and inlay the jewels he was thinking of, and paint it. Then it would be done...he just wasnt sure if he could give it to her.
 
“Oh, well Bren will be happy about the sweets,” She smiled as he sat next to her. She looked at the piece of wood he pulled from his pocket, watching curiously as he seemed to carve without even really needing to try. Linnea glanced back up at him though, tucking a stray blonde curl behind her slightly pointed ear, “So are you a miner then? When you're not making toys that is.” It seemed that most of the Dwarves were miners, but she didn't know if there were other professions.

Linnea glanced occasionally down at Bofur's hands as he carved the piece of wood, a little fascinated in all honesty as it began to take shape. She had no such skill as that, and had never seen anyone at work doing such a thing. It was as if the shapes had always been there and Bofur was simply uncovering them. She had no idea that the piece he was working on was the lid to a box that he was making for her.
 
Bofur smiled slightly at the compliment she gave his brothers food, and he chuckled softly. Glancing at her he blushed heavily, looking away quickly so that she wouldnt catch him staring.

"yes, i work in the mines when im not making toys. it puts food on the table and buys medicine, so i cant complain. What do you do besides your family's stalls?"

Bofur pulled out his flute when he was done with the lid, setting the finnished draft aside and blowing a few experimental notes on the instrument. It was nearing lunch time and most of the children were leaving with thier parents for the break, so the fountain was fairly quiet now.
 
She nodded slightly when he told her that he was, indeed, a miner, though she didn't know why he looked away and blushed, not having noticed him staring at her . Was he embarrassed by being a miner? She saw nothing wrong with that. One did what one had to to survive and care for their loved ones. Linnea gave a sigh at his question though, a slightly forlorn sound. “We farm, that's about it. That's what Hobbits are good at you know, cooking and farming and eating and sleeping,” She said it with a touch of sarcasm. It was clear she wasn't exactly happy with her lot in life.

“This is the only place outside of the Shire I've ever seen,” she told him, frowning a little and looking around, “And some folk think we're crazy for coming even just this far.” Linnea looked at her bare feet, still frowning a little, a slightly far away look in her eyes, “I don't want to stay in the Shire farming for the rest of my life, I want to do things.” She sighed and looked at him, “I'm sorry, I'm sure you don't care to hear my selfish whining. I've never really told anyone that before though.” She shrugged a little and looked away from him, a little embarrassed that she'd told him about that.

A moment later Brenhin came back over to them, a toy in each hand, “Linnie, I'm hungry,” he frowned a little.

Linnea gave a wry smile, “Alright Bren,” she said, ruffling his curls. She stood and looked at Bofur, “You should join us for lunch,” she told him with a smile, offering him her hand, Brenhin taking the other.
 
Bofur's voice was soft and sympathetic as he answered her lament, he could plainly see the longing in her eyes for something more than her family's farm, he understood it in a way. Except his longing was for a diffrent kind of adventure, the kind that came with the reclaiming of a home as the prize.

"Ye have it good lass, having a home to go back to every night. But i can understand your Need to go and do some adventuring, to make something of your life before it passes you bye. Ive the same sort of longing really, but its the longing that all of my people share. Our desire to get our home back, to be able to prosper again..it is a powerfull pull. You should go out and find a wee adventure or two of your own. Otherwise you may end up regretting your inactivity when your laying in bed awaiting deaths embrace."

Glancing down at the proffered hand after he compleated his speech, Bofur blushed crimson and tugged his silly hat down on his head, an embaressed smile pushing its way up onto his face. It had been a very long time since he had dared to hold a lass's hand after all, let alone one as comely as Linnea. Taking her hand anyway Bofur pushed the thoughts of what others would wonder away from his mind, trying not to let his fancies run away with him. it wouldnt do for him to start pinning over a girl he couldnt have after all.
 
Linnea had frowned a little at Bofur's small speech, feeling a bit childish and shallow now in comparison. She really didn't have anything to complain about. She had a home, a family who loved her, a roof over her head and food to eat... But still, she couldn't help but feel a deep longing to see the world outside the Shire and without the protective guiding hands of her parents to restrain her. So she felt a little better when Bofur seemed at least somewhat supportive of her desire for adventure. She was somewhat resigned to it never happening though.

She gave him an amused smile when his face turned crimson at the offer of her hand, a part of her starting to catch on that he maybe liked her a little. He was a kind Dwarf, and she would admit that he lingered in her mind more than he should, and that she was seeking any chance to have some kind of contact with him. Still though, she tried to make nothing of it when he took her hand, and looked at Brenhin, “Bren, come on,” she told him, holding out her other hand, “Time for lunch.”

The blonde child trotted over, jugging his toys a bit until he had a hand free to clasp his sister's hand with one of his own, then he noticed Bofur and gave a broad grin, “Yay Bofur is eating with us!” He piped happily, trotting along beside his sister as she walked them down the street. As they approached her family's stall, her younger sister, Flossie, was the first to see them, and got their mother's attention, who quickly turned to look at her approaching children and the Dwarf. The look she gave Linnea was clear when she noticed their clasped hands, she didn't approve. But Linnea continued to hold onto Bofur's hand for a long moment, refusing to let go as if she were some child who could be frightened into obedience by nothing more than a look. Brenhin galloped the last few yards once Linnea let go of him, the new princess doll held high for his mother to see, “Look Mumma! Bofur made me a Hobbit princess! She looks like Linnie!”
 
Bofur chuckled at the childs enthusiasm, and though he wasnt blind to the dark look that the hobbit mother gave him, he pretended he was for the sake of Linnea. Sweeping off his hat and bowing low to his soon to be lunch partners, Bofur smiled charmingly and addressed the mother.

"it is a pleasure to be in such fine company madam, i regret that i was not here in person to thank you for the fine vegtables that you sent with your daughter last time. I trust your family enjoyed the humble returns my brother made."

Placing his hat back on his head, Bofur smiled slightly to himself when he saw his charms work abit at the elder hobbitess, hopefully that would help smooth things over abit for the time being. as they neared the stall, Bofur gently squeezed Linnea's hand before he released it, hoping that she didnt see it as a retreat of some kind, for it was merely out of respect for the family peace at that time. Bofur was aware of his deeper feelings for the young hobbit lass, but he also knew nothing would be able to come of them for various reasons he cared not to explore at that time. For now he would enjoy the company of a happy hobbit family, and worry about the rest later.
 
Fiona, Brenhin and Linnea's mother, gave a small to her youngest child as he showed her his new toy, “I see, Bren, she's very pretty.” She patted the boy's head and looked at Bofur when the Dwarf spoke, the smile staying on her face, though it became more polite than genuine, “Is Master Bofur to join us for lunch then?” She asked, looking at Linnea, not really responding to his query.

“Yes, he is, I figure it's the least we could do given that he's given Bren two toys now for free,” She told her mother.

The elder Hobbit nodded her head a little, “Yes, I suppose that's true. Come then, we were just about to close up the stall enough to eat in peace.” She turned and started helping Flossie and their brother, Callum, put up the sides of the stall that was also their cart. Once everything was secure though the Hobbit family walked a bit down the street to the inn where they stayed most of the time if they were staying in town overnight.

“Ah, Master North-Took, I've got your table ready for you,” The innkeeper greeted them with a broad smile.

“Thank you Master Kelling, we'll be having a guest with us today though so we'll need an extra chair please,” Linnea's father, Ferdirand, told him, giving Bofur a bit of a smile.

The innkeeper hurried off and retrieved an extra chair, setting it at a large but low table that he kept just for Hobbits and Dwarves. The family sat down, with Brenhin making sure to sit on one side of Bofur, Linnea on the other side.
 
Bofur could feel the coolness that radiated twored him from Fiona, and while the smile on his face and in his eyes wavered not one iota, inside his rational mind was silently accepting the mothers clear warning. He didnt comment on the slight that she gave to his family by ignoring his question, unlike most higher born dwarves that would have had thier temper flare in fury at the insult, Bofur was a simpler dwarf, bred twored gentleness and understanding more than pride and self importance. So instead he turned to Linnea again, his face a unserious mask of hurt.

"You mean ive not been invited simply because you enjoy my company then? why if id known that id been asked just because of a few gifted toys i may not have accepted."

Winking at Linnea to show her he was just kidding, he alowed himself to be pulled into the resturaunt by Bren. When he saw Linnea's father Firdirand, he stopped long enough to give a respectfull bow and a murmered greeting of good health to the hobbit. This was whom he would need to speak to soon, Bofur mused to himself, clearly though Fiona was the louder of the personalities, the father was the one in charge due to the quiet strength that he could feel coming from the other man. When he was seated he gave Brenhin a wide smile, and Linnea a softer one of a diffrent but proper kind.

During the meal he could feel the politeness that kept the hobbit woman from outright asking him to leave, though he was on his best behavior the dissaproval radiating from the woman was enough to quell his spirits abit. But not once did the smile slip from his face, and it remained easy and carefree. When the food was gone and Fiona had carted off the lad for his rest, Bofur joined Firdirand by the inn's fireplace where the hobbit was lighting his pipe and sat down on the hearth near him. He could see Linnea a short ways off, and knew that he had a small while in which to speak to her father so he quietly cleared his throat to get the other mans attention.

"Sir if i might have a moment of your time, i believe their is a manner of importance that we both know needs to be addressed."

Gone now was his normal cheerfull attitude, instead he changed it out for one of seriousness and sincerity. He wanted the man to know that he was not in any way making light of the situation after all.
 
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