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foxrun-fluffery · 6 years ago

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FIRST

Tag: @sdavid09 @walking-potter-davinci-games @sherala007

First

Bofur has been living in this modern Earth for a few years now, Riordan was in school, and doing quite well. His mother was an excellent tutor, and Bofur had found work on a production line. It paid well, was very straightforward, and left him plenty of time to spend with his family. Piper still worked at her coding job, but she was certainly out of her cave, as she called it, more often now. He could see that, for the two had taken up hiking in the mountains that rose behind their home, and he could see her body had gotten leaner, stronger, but had not lost its softness nor femininity. Mahal, she was a beautiful woman! Though he had been mildly surprised to see all the fuss she went through to color her hair the way she did. He thought it a silly ritual, for he didn’t care what color her hair was, he would love her if it all fell out. But she was happier with it this way. That’s what mattered to him, his family was happy, safe, and well provided for.

Everything was going well, in a pleasant routine.

Until that routine was interrupted. By the strangest little thing. It had happened nearly a year ago now. He pulled on his beard gently as he thought back on it.

Bofur had found it on the counter, and picked it up, still as curious as ever, turning it over this way and that. He wasn’t certain what it was, and went to find his lovely wife. “Piper?” He got her attention, and lofting his brows questioningly, held up the little... thing. He hadn’t a clue what else to think of it as.

“Oh!” Piper seemed startled to see it, and she jumped up, taking it from him and dropping it into the trash can under her desk. “It’s… well, I was just curious.”

“Abou’ what?” Bofur asked, in a patient tone he took on when he knew Piper forgot he didn’t know what something was. At first he had often gotten quite frustrated, but soon they had come to understand one another better. Now, at times like this, he knew he had to prompt her for explanations a little bit, and she did her best to quit assuming he knew how everything worked in this world. Now he just needed to discern why did she look so nervous. Was something wrong? Worry crept into his mind and his heart beat heavily in his chest.

“It’s… an ovulation test, I’ve been doing them for a while now.” Piper explained. “We talked about our family growing, and I went off the birth control, remember?”

Ovulation? He knew that term from the time he had asked her about her birth control, and gotten a very long and horrifyingly detailed explanation. It had been very educational. “Aye,” Bofur nodded, squashing down a giddy feeling starting up in him. She hadn’t said she was pregnant, but he was hopeful. “And…?” When she didn’t reply, he set the little thing down and stepped closer, reaching out to her. “Amrâlimê?”

Piper sighed and shook her head. “They keep coming back negative. What if I can’t have more children!?” She blurted out tearfully, her emotions she had bottled up over the matter sweeping over her in a rush. Bofur drew her out of her chair and into his strong arms and she cried on his shoulder.

“Don’t worry, I’d love ye no less if all we have is Rio. I love him as me own, ye know tha’.” That boy was as much his world as his mother was, and though they were not blood, they were family. He loved being a father.

“Aye,” Piper whined piteously, copying his accent as she did when she was being cute with him. It made her smile when he chuckled over it. “I love you.” And she meant it, so very much.

Now, sitting on the garden bench with his pipe, a habit he staunchly refused to give up, he smiled as he watched his wife walk over to him, bringing his thoughts back to the present. “Hello there, ye beautiful lass. Would ye loike t’ sit with an old codger?”

Piper laughed gently and rolled her eyes at him, sitting lightly on his lap. Her arm draped around his shoulders with comfortable ease and her fingers brushed along one of his thick braids. “Bo, I have something.” From her wooly knit cardigan pocket she drew out a familiar little test. “Look!”

Bofur set his pipe stem between his teeth, politely turning his head away from her slightly, to direct the smoke away from her face, he knew it made her cough. Taking the test, he eyed the little window on it, then raised a brow at her. “Aye…?” Did she expect him to know what these little symbols meant? She hadn’t once explained it to him, so he waited for her to clarify, though he had that rising giddy feeling again. But not wanting to disappoint her should this not be the answer he hoped, and longed for, he kept that feeling under a tight watch.

“It’s our first yes.”

“Yes?”

“Yes!”

The pipe fell as his mouth hung open. “Lass… ye mean…?”

“We can start trying again!”

Bofur laughed gleefully, sweeping her up into his arms and dancing around with her in wild circles. “Oh! I’ve never stopped!” He teased her, pulling her in and kissing her soundly. “Rio’s got class fer four more hours…” His dark eyes sparkled with mischievous lust, and he set her down only to pull her near, roughened fingers gently pushing the edge of her blouse up.

“That’s plenty of time,” She agreed, slipping off her cardigan and reaching for his belt.

They never even left the garden…

Some time later they discovered the dropped pipe had spilled its contents on the wooden bench, and they had smoldered a dark spot onto the finished wood. However whenever either of them saw it, they would just smile a little and leave it be.

#thegreatestdistance #day one #First

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foxrun-fluffery · 6 years ago

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The Greatest Distance Daily - FEAR

Tag: @sdavid09 @walking-potter-davinci-games @sherala007

Everyone has that one secret fear. What is your character’s, and how do they cope when they have to face with it?

FEAR

“Bottles are in the fridge, you know how to heat them. I stocked up the diaper caddy, she naps at three. Riordan’s snacks are in the fridge. Dinner can go in the oven at five.” Piper issued the same directions again, though they had gone over them twice already.

“Yer sure ye have t’ go?” Bofur asked, for the eighth time that day. He had Tabbi over his shoulder, patting her back, hoping she would burp soon before she got a gas pain. He knew the answer, he knew she had to leave. And he hated it.

“You got this, hon. Rio’s sleeping over at his friend’s house, so it’s just one kid to keep an eye on. And she can’t even escape.” Piper assured him. “I won’t be long.”

“Five hours!” Bofur objected, “Seems quite long enough!” Never in his life had he been solely in charge of a baby. Not once. Not even of Bombur. “Yer gonna have yer phone, aye?” He asked, watching her nod, following her to the door. “Drive safe.” With one last kiss, she was out the door to a regional meeting for her company.

It was around two minutes after Piper’s truck pulled out of the driveway that Tabbi began to cry. He bounced and patted her, rubbed her back and hummed her favorite lullaby. Nothing changed the howls. Was he a poor father? No, babies cried. Babies cried a lot. He just had to listen, to find the source. “Ah, now, me little gem. Tell yer Da-Da,” he had adopted using the human word as Piper and Riordan did, “what’s wrong.”

Tabbi whimpered and whined, for only a second more before letting out a tiny belch, though Bofur was quite proud. Then she hiccuped and gummed on his shoulder.

“Ah! That’s me beautiful little lass!” Bofur rubbed her back soothingly, smiling. Maybe there was nothing to be afraid of after all. He snuggled her, kissing her face and laughing when his moustache made her smile and giggle. Cooing to her, he smiled when she got a firm grip on part of his beard. It hurt, but he’d gotten used to it by now. “Look’t ye, me strong wee lass! Such a cute little pebble!” Blowing raspberries on her cheeks, he soaked in all of the laughter his precious daughter let loose.

Many hours, a horrifying diaper, one long fuss, a full tummy, a loud belch (from each of them), and one peaceful nap later, Piper returned home. She hurried up the step, knowing she could trust her husband, but still worrying to a degree. But when she opened the door, she saw Bofur laying on the couch, their daughter sprawled happily on his bare chest. Her tiny fist was balled in his chest hair, and his large hand rest on her back lightly. Both were sleeping continently. Walking over, Piper leaned down to kiss Bofur’s head.

He stirred and smiled up at his One. “Amrâlimê!” He whispered. “Ye home, I… musta fell asleep too.”

“So how was it?” Piper asked, perching on the edge of the cushion.

Bofur looked down at the little one sleeping on his chest. He had been terrified that somehow, someway, he wouldn’t be able to care for her on his own. That he would be a failure as a father, not only in this, but in general. All of that washed away as he looked at the little pudgy cheek smooshed against him, and his daughter’s content sleeping face. He was fine. “It was great.”

Piper leaned down and kissed him, “Wonderful! Because the meeting is being continued tomorrow, I’m afraid. So you’ll have to do this again.”

Smiling, he nodded confidently, “Any time.”

#thegreatestdistance #bofur #tale teller's daily writing challenge 2019 #fic #thehobbit

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foxrun-fluffery · 6 years ago

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TGD Daily - Self Care Saturday

Tag: @sdavid09 @walking-potter-davinci-games Sherala who I still cannot tag...

Indulgence. it is tempting, and you try to resist, and your character has been resisting well. But they finally broke down and gave in…what happened?

SELF CARE SATURDAY

Months. Bofur had been eyeing that pink effervescent bottle, and the box with the ribbons on it, for months. Even coming from a different world, he felt it was something very… effeminate. Not that he thought that made it lesser, just… not for him. Plus Piper guarded and tended to it so diligently, he was vaguely reminded of dragons. She would lock them out of the bathroom for hours, only to be interrupted for emergencies. And he hadn’t interrupted her, knowing on some instinctive level he wouldn’t survive it if he did, for anything less than absolute desperation. He and Riordan even had a tree for watering when they needed to use the toilet, when the downstairs bathroom was being redone.

Then, he had gotten a text, having finally broken down and gotten one of those complicated phones. She wanted a glass of wine, and he got to see what she did locked up in that bathroom. A bubble bath, with all the trimmings. Riordan had been at practice, and the baby was sleeping, so he stayed that one time, massaging his One’s shoulders and helping her relax. Knowing exactly what she was up to, he was happy to give her time to herself. But the look comfort and contentedness she had, had him wondering.

So it was, that when she packed up the kids to overnight with her cousin, he stayed home as he had inventory to restock for his shop, and two custom rush orders to complete, that Bofur took one night to break into that little basket full of goodies. He was grateful that everything was labeled and had instructions printed on them. The fizzing bath bomb was fun, especially poking it around the tub, and the bubbles smelled wonderful. Then there were something called sugar scrubs. Those most definitely should not be licked, lesson learned the hard way. But it made of face and beard feel so nice! And he used Piper’s shampoo and conditioner, the really nice ones, resting in the hot bath until he was nearly asleep. He crawled out of the tub, polished off the leftover pizza, pulled on his favorite night shirt and dropped into bed, swearing he would clean up the bathroom in the morning.

But morning went on without him, he slept and slept and slept…

“Bofur!” Piper yelped as she walked into the bathroom, looking at her self care things spread about and left open. Bath oil puddles on the floor, bubble bath oozed down the tub, there was sugar scrub on the tiles.

Bofur sat up, rolling over so quickly he completely tumbled out of bed. Landing hard, he looked around blearily. “I-whu-huh—? Oh! Piper! Amrâlimê! Ye back early!”

“Yes, the waterpark was closed so we couldn’t take the kids. We came home early to help you, but it looks like you’re doing just fine. What is this mess!?” Piper was trying to keep her temper in check, but this was a disaster. She watched as Bofur sat up, and her eyes widened for a moment. His hair was so full of glittering bath oil residue it was sparkling. And parts of it looked slightly pink and blue, she could smell the cotton candy scent from across the room. It was just too wild looking. She pushed her knuckles against her mouth, but it was no use, the giggles slipped out. “Well, I suppose it’s alright. But let’s get this cleaned up.” Shaking her head, she was happy to wrap her arms around him when he rushed to her side. “And next time we have a sitter… let’s have a night in. The tub’s big enough.”

“I loike de sound o’ tha’.” Bofur said before kissing her deeply.

#thegreatestdistance #bofur #fic #tale teller's daily writing challenge 2019 #thehobbit

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foxrun-fluffery · 6 years ago

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Spring

Tag List: @sdavid09 @walking-potter-davinci-games @sherala007 (tag pending...)

Spring has finally sprung where I live, and the first thing I do is spend a day outside enjoying the beautiful weather. What is something your character does when Spring has finally sprung?

SPRING

Spring! Spring was here! Piper was go happy to get out and be outside for more than a few minutes at a time. She looked up from her gardening to see Bofur and Riordan, her son was teaching the former dwarf the finer points of softball. Though since the boy didn’t really know much himself, it was a sort of wonky lesson, but they were getting quite a few hits in.Thankfully her husband had the sense to face away from the house for that.

“A’right lad, throw another one!” Bofur chuckled, readying the bat over his shoulder. He watched as the boy wound up and threw the ball, and he swung, a smug self satisfaction filling him as the bat connected with the ball. What he didn’t anticipate however, was that struck improperly, the ball went flying in an odd direction.

“Foul!” Riordan cried as he watched the ball sail up and behind his father. His eyes widened as it dropped into the garden. A pot broke and his mother yelped. “Uh-oh.”

“Aye…” Bofur agreed with a dread in his voice. He winced as he watched Piper walking towards them. No, he reasoned, she wasn’t walking. She was stalking like an angry dragon.

“Bo! Rio!” Piper growled as she walked over, holding the softball.”You broke the big strawberry pot!”

The two flustered, talking over one another as they tried to explain how their simple game had gone wrong, until Rio burst into tears and Bofur looked quite ready to join him. “Ah, it’s entirely me fault, my sweet flower, my darling dove…” He laid it on thick. “I uh, I wasn’t, I didn’t realize…”

Piper sighed and stuck the ball into his hand, shooing them both off for the other side of the property, away from the house. Watching the two walk, hand in hand, she smiled. A pot could be replaced, true, but it didn’t mean they needed to do any further damage. But those memories they were making, those would last.

#thegreatestdistance #bonus 2

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foxrun-fluffery · 6 years ago

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April Fool’s Day

Tag List: @sdavid09 @walking-potter-davinci-games @sherala007 who I still cannot actually tag.

It’s April Fools Day! What is the most epic/funniest prank your character has ever pulled of…or had pulled on them?

April Fool’s Day

“So… yer sayin’ it’s normal t’ do this on April first?” Bofur asked skeptically, watching his son. Pranks, an entire day dedicated to pranks? Nori would be having a ball. Stroking his beard in thought, Bofur slowly nodded, starting to get the idea that this could be a fun concept indeed. Piper was busy working now in her basement office, and that gave them plenty of time to plot. “A’right, what do ye have in moind?”

The boy grinned, a devious little smile he had gotten from his mother. And so the plotting began.

Piper came out of her office, carrying an empty coffee cup, and seeming quite distracted. As she walked through the doorway, she collided with something she couldn’t see. Stumbling back she flailed, almost dropping the cup. After a moment, she heard snickering and giggling, and spotted the source of her family’s amusement. Clear plastic wrap was stretched across the doorway. With a good natured chuckle, she checked her fitbit, seeing the date on the screen. “Ahhhhh okay you two, good one.” Peeling the plastic wrap off, she walked through, but her pranksters had already disappeared.

Bofur was grinning as he and Riordan ducked into the kitchen, and he placed the plastic wrap back into the drawer it had come from. “Where did ye learn that one, lad?”

“From Mom. She usually does it to me every year! But she had to get up early for work and we got her first!” Riordan was bouncing around the room. “We got her first! We got her first!” As he bounced, he made his way into the living room, and the two high fived before sitting down on the couch.

A loud noise erupted as they both flopped, and the two jumped up off the couch, scrambling to get away. Bofur had the boy up on his shoulder and was making it for the door when he heard it. Piper was laughing. Slowing down he stopped and turned back. When they had sat down on their favorite spot, it had pulled fishing lines attached to balloons on the ceiling, causing them to burst.”Well played. Ye set dat up early, didn’t ye?”

“Yep!” Piper giggled and walked over as Bofur sat the boy down again, and she kissed them both on the cheek. “I wouldn’t forget. Silly boys.” After a family hug, she smiled at them, “So, how about pancakes?”

“PANCAKES!”

Rio sat at the table, waiting for the pancakes, and watching his mother cooking while his father set the table. It was so nice to have a father now. Things were so much better. Even if he forgot to write his name the right way a lot. But he had a dad now, to talk about in class, though he couldn’t say everything. Strange as it was, the boy was still super happy. Soon he had pancakes in front of him, that had funny faces in syrup, whip cream, and berries, thanks to his witty father. “Oh cool!” Digging in, he stopped and grimaced, looking up at Bofur. “Ugggghhhhhh….”

Piper giggled around her husband’s shoulder as Bofur held up the tub of sour cream, and the can of whip cream. “Whoooppps…” Grinned the former dwarf.

“You’re gonna get too good at this.” Riordan surmised, narrowing his eyes as he gagged down pancake and sour cream.

“You taught him.” Piper reminded him as she set down a proper pancake in front of him, amused when the boy gave the whip cream a testing lick, not trusting them now. Once he discovered it was actually whip cream, he dug in with gusto.

Bofur and Piper returned to the kitchen, where the man pulled his wife closer, kissing her slowly. When he drew back, he smiled at the dreamy look in her beautiful eyes. “What a fun holiday. Though I prefer de ones we can celebrate… traditionally.” His bushy brows waggled as his hands snaked down to grip her backside.

“Oh we can, love, we still can.” Piper smiled and gave his mustache a gentle tug.

Groaning softly, Bofur smirked. “Tease.”

#thegreatestdistance #bonus story 1

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foxrun-fluffery · 6 years ago

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Day 2 Tale Teller’s Daily Challenge - May

Tags: @sdavid09 @walking-potter-davinci-games @sherala007

Prompt: Sometimes, your character let’s their mind drift away to ‘what ifs’ and ‘if only’. Write your character living in one of those scenarios.

CAST ON

Bofur made one easy decision that day.

He hated hospitals. Waiting rooms in particular. Now, granted, they weren’t being made to wait long, as Piper had given him a brief explanation of x-rays and why no one but the patient was allowed in the room, but that didn’t change the fact he hated this little room of all of five chairs. He hated the blandly painted gray-green wall that separated him from his son. How Piper wasn’t clawing her way to the boy was beyond him. Sure she was restless, she hadn’t sat down at all, but was pacing at the end of the room, casting nervous glances full of anticipation and worry at the gray metal door they had wheeled Riordan through.

“Lots o’ kids break arms,” Bofur reasoned. Not many dwarven children, they were a sturdier stock, but he knew a lot of human children did.

Piper just whined and huffed, too agitated to reply.

So the former dwarf sat back in his chair, his dark eyes watching the door. Piper insisted, even broken, the doctors here could fix their boy’s arm. Couldn’t do that back home, the thought flitted through his mind and without meaning toy, or wanting to for that matter, he latched onto it. What if they had been back home? What if they had been in Erebor when Riordan fell? The children there played all over, no dwarf would willingly harm a child, their own or otherwise, so the young were given much more freedom to explore. Riordan wouldn’t have even been nearby. What if they hadn’t found him soon? The swelling would have made it impossible to set the bones again, who knows how long it would have taken before they could have? Piper gave him the understanding it would be a quick matter here.

Still, he had his doubts, instilled in him by a deep love for his child and a fear for the worst. What if they couldn’t mend him? He tasted bile in his throat and tried to swallow it back down. This only set him into a coughing fit. He felt a gentle hand patting his back, and reached out to place his arm around his wife. By the time he was breathing normally again, casting Piper a sheepish and apologetic look, the door opened and a nurse came out. He and Piper, being the only ones in the waiting room, leaped to their feet. “How is me lad?” Bofur asked in a frantic rush.

“He’s fine. The painkillers they administered when he came in are working great, he’s not feeling any pain right now. And it looks like a clean break, but doctor wants to get him back right away to get things set and a cast on him.” The nurse explained.

“Of course, of course!” Piper nodded, sounding tearful, though her tone was relieved and grateful. They could help her baby!

“Just need a consent form signed.” The nurses handed it over and wasn’t at all surprised as Piper snatched it and scribbled her name at lightning speed. She had seen this all before. “Can I ask how this happened?”

“We took ‘im t’ the new playground,” Bofur explained, gently tucking Piper close to his side. “He was playin’ wit’ the other kids, an’ seemed to be havin’ a roight good time.”

“He climbed up on the monkey bars, with the bigger kids,” Piper continued, her voice sounding remorseful. “I should have told him not to…”

Bofur looked at her and kissed the side of her head. “Ye didn’t know. He was just doin’ what kids do.” He pushed all of the What If’s aside, and held his darling wife.

“Yeah, he’s the third kid in here since that park went in. But he’s the first with a broken bone. He’ll mend, don’t worry.” She smiled at them, glad they seemed like such attentive and loving parents. “As soon as they’re done with the x-rays, we’ll have him back in the room, and we’ll get you before we leave here.”

Sitting down again, Bofur pulled Piper down beside him and kept his arm around her as the nurse left. “Don’t worry ‘bout what coulda been, lass. What if’s don’t help a soul.”

Piper smiled at him and leaned her head on his shoulder. “I thought I was the wise one and you were the cute one.”

Bofur laughed and hugged her to his side. “Oh-ho! I think yer workin’ too hard if ye think tha’!” He was glad to see her mood was improving. They were both worried about Riordan, but the damage was done, and he was being treated. From this point he would just have to take the time to mend.

Soon they were brought by the same nurse back to the exam room, and Riordan was being fitted with a cast.

“Y’know, it doesn’t hurt much now.” Riordan said to his parents while they watched.

Piper chuckled, amused by her boy. “It better not, considering how much medication they gave you.” She was leaned against Bofur’s side.

“Okay, kiddo,” the doctor smiled at him, as she finished up the inner portion of the cast. “What color did you want?”

“Blue!” Riordan grinned, for that was the color his mother had her hair this month.

“Blue it is.” The woman smiled and started working again. “Now you have to be careful with this still, alright? Your arm won’t heal right if you’re not careful.”

Riordan nodded, “okay, I will.”

“Famous last words,” Piper murmured, hearing Bofur’s low rumbling chuckle.

Bofur did his best to sit back and let things happen, he wanted to sweep his boy up and see to him, but this was for the best. And soon they were discharged, with some medicine for Riordan and a boy with a blue arm. Things could have gone horribly wrong, he knew that, and though he couldn’t shake the unease that those thoughts brought up, he was relieved the boy was mostly unharmed and they would all be fine. “Maybe stay’n off tha’ particular toy until yer bigger, huh?”

“Yeah, dad.” Riordan said with a yawn from his booster seat in the back.

#tale teller's daily writing challenge 2019 #bofur #thegreatestdistance

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foxrun-fluffery · 6 years ago

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TGd Daily - Stork

Tag: @sdavid09 @walking-potter-davinci-games

What is your character’s best day of their life?

STORK

“Dad… you’re gonna make a hole in the floor.” Riordan watched his father, while fidgeting with his hands. He had his mother’s old handheld game console, but he couldn’t focus. His mother’s cousin couldn’t make it, so no one was able to watch him but his father. He could see that leaving his mother alone had made the former dwarf nervous.

“Aye… aye…” With a huff, Bofur sat heavily. He looked up at the clock, almost hating how accurately it kept the time, taunting him with each second. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Even his usually jovial attitude couldn’t keep him from worrying now.

Seconds… minutes… hours…

“Mr. Broadbeam?” A nurse asked, standing in front of Bofur. “You can come back now.” She smiled and ushered him to the room his wife was in. It wasn’t usual for husbands to wait these days, but she understood they didn’t want the young boy to have to sit in the delivery room with them too, and he couldn’t be left unattended. Her heart went out to this little family, who seemed to have no support with them, aside from themselves. But they had all of the things they would need, everything had been well planned and prepared, more than most parents. But they did have one child already, so it did make some sense to her. “Right in here.”

Bofur just about ran into the room, half dragging Riordan. “Piper!” He called, softly though. His eyes fell on his wife and the little bundle in her arms. He stared at the pink hat, and slowly crept around to see the little baby’s face. “Oh! Bless me beard!” With tears in his eyes he fell back into his native tongue, sitting on the bed beside Piper, speaking blessings and sweet things to them.

Riordan crawled up on the other side. “She looks squishy.” He declared shortly after giving his new sister a long look. He watched as the little bundled up and sleeping girl was handed to her father. “What’s her name?”

Piper looked up at Bofur and they smiled. “Tabitha. After your grandmother,” the sweaty and exhausted woman said. With her hands free now, she pulled Riordan up into a snuggle, kissing his head.

“Good job, mom!” He declared, for some reason thinking it was the thing to say.

Laughing, Piper kissed the top of his head. Out of the mouth of babes! “Thanks half-pint.” Looking over, she saw Bofur gently holding Tabitha up to his face, her tiny forehead against his own.

Her nose was touching his eyebrows, so tiny compared to her father. He nestled her in his arms and sniffled, lifting one hand to wipe his face. “She’s perfect, Amrâlimê, She’s perfect.” He did his best to keep quiet, but he still wept, so overjoyed. Riordan was his son, but this… this was a tiny miracle.

“Good, cuz I ain’t doing that again soon.” Piper groaned. Tabitha may look small compared to Bofur, but she was quite the hefty baby, and the woman had an inkling that her daughter would be a sturdy and strong girl. Which, Piper thought, was just perfect.

#thegreatestdistance #bofur #fic #tale teller's daily writing challenge 2019 #thehobbit

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foxrun-fluffery · 6 years ago

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Worst

Tag List: @sdavid09 @walking-potter-davinci-games

This one hurt

Everyone has a bad day. Your character has them too, but today is the worst of days.

WORST

Blood, red blood, running, pooling…

Blood, black blood, clinging, smothering…

It was in his face, in his mouth. His eyes burned with it. The ground, cold and unforgiving, met him with ferocity. The ringing in his ears drowned out everything. He stood, slow, painful, everything was passing by him, his body weighed down.

“Brother!? Brother where are ye!?”

Nothing.

“Cousin!?”

He knew he shouted, only because he felt it. He threw the words from him.

“Bombur!? Bifur!?”

Nothing. Not even the sound of his own voice. Slowly he pieces together the events from moments ago. The troll… he had been riding it, steering it like a goat. Then it was taken down and he fell. That explained the pounding in his head. Where was his family? Where were their friends? Where? He had survived. Had they?

Claws, a hand on his leg, he felt himself falling, dragged down the slope of the bank, icy water swallowing him up. He struggled and fought, flailing and kicking.

“Bofur!”

The monsters called for him.

“Bofur!”

Death called for him.

“BO!”

With a gasp, Bofur shot up, panting and wide eyed. He looked around the room, taking long moments before he recognized his surroundings. “P-Piper?” He shuddered, heaving a ragged breath, halfway to hysterics. His arms were shaking, as he reached for her and he sucked a sharp breath when she flinched from him. “Amrâlimê?” Reaching over he saw, as the dim light on the nightstand illuminated their bedroom, his worst fears.

Piper was huddled at her side of the bed, her face was already beginning to discolor, her nose and lip bleeding. She looked wide eyed and fearful, but gradually she was calming now that she could see he was awake. “The war dreams again?”

“Aye,” Bofur confirmed shakily, cradling his head in his hands. “Aye…”

“Do, do you want to talk about it?”

Bofur closed his eyes, shaking his head. “Ye don’t need t’ hear about it. Ye don’t.”

Rather than reminding him that she did know some of it, Piper wiped her face on her hand, gasping in pain, softly, when she saw the blood. “Oh…” A moment later, ansoft cloth was being pressed to her face, gentle as petal. She saw it was Bofur’s shirt. “Are you okay?”

Bofur hater himself, he had hurt her. His One, the woman he loved, the mother of his son, adopted but still, and, hopefully, the mother of his future children. He had hurt him. Him. His very hand, the hand that should cradle her, treasure her, protect her. He had hurt her. “Aye, I’m fine. I’m sor—!”

Piper placed her hand over his mouth. “Hush. I’m fine. You’re fine. It’s not your fault.” She pushed him back down and snuggled up to his side, rubbing her hand soothingly over his chest. “I love you.”

“I love ye.” He turned his head, holding her near, and kissed her brow. “More den I can ever say.”

#thegreatestdistance #bofur #tale teller's daily writing challenge 2019

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foxrun-fluffery · 6 years ago

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The Greatest Distance - Daily Challenge

Tag list: @sdavid09 @walking-potter-davinci-games @sherala007

Time sinks are great aren’t they, you just fall into an activity and time drifts away as you enjoy your activity…what is your character’s time sink?

Idle Hands

Bofur sighed, hating that he had these unplanned days off. But the production line was at a standstill after a fire in the building one night. Something about the electrical wiring. Beyond him, but he knew enough to know it was a problem that required professional repair, and he wasn’t qualified so he stayed home, while Piper worked and he had little to do. He had fixed the kitchen sink, and the back steps, and installed a new handrail in the front. With the two of them trying for a child, he wanted extra safety measures in place.

While he was puttering, he spotted the toy his cousin had made for Riordan and his heart ached for those he had left behind. It hurt, but not as bad as living without his One. Within the hour, though, he had wandered outside, to the very same oak tree, and had cut one of the branches to work with. Soon he had a small line of wooden toys, a couple of horses with moving legs and hairy tails, the old fake fur coat that Piper had thrown into the dumpster yesterday had been cut up. Then he added some other things, a detailed dragon, far too detailed he realized after looking it over and feeling a chill at the base of his spine. So he made happier things, bunnies and kittens, and one running dog. There was some weatherproof varnish for the deck in the garage, and he coated each piece in that, letting them dry outside. It felt good to have his hands on wood again, and it filled up three separate dull afternoons. After that he made some nice serving ware, a few bowls, a large serving bowl, and a ladle and spoons. Rather pleased with his creations, after a week of happily working on them, he found himself sitting on the deck, which he and Piper had built the year before, staring at them. Now what?

Coming out with a tray of iced tea, which Bofur swore would both intrigue and horrify poor Bilbo Baggins, Piper looked at the carvings again. “You know… the farmer’s market in town starts next week. It’s not very big, but I bet we could set up a booth and sell these, if you want to, that is.” There were two chairs, side by each, but she found she far preferred his lap and sat there instead.

“Tha’ moight be jus’ de thing I need,” Bofur readily agreed, his eyes sparkling with eagerness. “I do miss workin’ with wood an’ makin’ sellable items.” His thick hand rested on her hip as he kept her balanced on his knee. “Think folk would go fer ‘em?”

“Sure! We don’t see anything like these here.” Piper nodded, sipping her tea. “I’ll call the coordinator in the morning and get us a spot. Broadbeam Woodwork? Gotta call us something.”

Sitting back, he stroked one side of his mustache and thought about it. “Woodcraft.”

“Perfect.” Piper set her tea aside and curled up against him.

“But ye an’ Rio gotta come an’ help sell.”

“Of course!” Piper snuggled under his chin, letting his beard and mustache tickle her skin. “What else can you make in a week?” When he didn’t answer, she sat up to see a sparkle in his eyes and she swore she could see the gears turning. “We have to clear a space in the garage to keep it all until then.”

And by week’s end, he had added five child sized chairs, two foot stools, one milking stool, and a small rocking bassinet. Piper begged to keep that, in hope they would need it, but he insisted he would make a better one later. She was so amazed by what he could make, of such quality, and so quickly, she was in utter awe of her beloved husband. Riordan also had a number of new little toys, mostly puzzles, things to figure out and solve.

The market came and went, every single item selling, aside from one large spoon that Piper quickly claimed as a spoil of war. She had him engrave their name on it even.

“Piper…” Bofur mused from his deck chair, pipe between his teeth, a half finished carving in hand. “I made more at tha’ sale than I do in a full months paycheck.” How she had priced everything so well had probably helped, but it had all still sold, apart from her prize spoon. “Do ye think… I mean, is dere a market fer dis here?”

“I was just thinking that.” Piper said, setting her tablet aside, having been going through work correspondences. She looked out where Riordan was kicking his soccer ball around for practice. “I think we can do it. I can handle the sales, if you can make product, we have more than enough wood on the property to last us a while, until we have to buy more. And we can do local markets, and online sales.” She raised a hand, “I know you don’t like online shopping, but there’s a lot of buyers out there.”

He huffed a tendril of smoke out of the corner of his mouth, but couldn’t argue. She knew better than he did, so he conceded to her knowledge and hoped she was right. “Alright, we’ll do it yer way. I’ll need some more tools though.”

Piper nodded, “We can get those.”

His idle hands, and something to pass the time, seemed to have found him a far better niche in this world, and all in all, online sales included, he was quite pleased. It set something in his heart back into sorts and some of the discontent that lingered from his transition dissipated, much like the trailing smoke from his pipe.

#tale teller's daily writing challenge 2019 #bofur #thegreatestdistance #fic #thehobbit

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foxrun-fluffery · 6 years ago

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The Greatest Distance Daily #3

TGIF

Tag List: @sdavid09 @walking-paraadox @sherala007 GIRL I STILL CANNOT TAG YOU

TGIF! Thank God It’s Friday! Why does your character feel that way?

Friday hadn’t meant anything to him before, aside from a way to mark the passing of days. But now that he had come to understand that Friday meant the end of the work and school week in this world, Bofur anticipated them. It meant more time with his family, and he was starting to love this system. So Friday morning he and Piper saw Riordan off to school, the big yellow bus coming all the way out to get him at the end of their driveway. They were the last stop on the route. Piper kissed him and went off to her office, where she would typically hole herself up for hours, coming out to fetch something to eat, before she disappeared. Bofur caught a ride with a man from the plant, and he was off to works as well.

But Friday nights, those were the best. When he got home, Piper had finished her work, and Riordan had his schoolwork done, dinner was ready, and his family was there to greet him. Of all the blessings, this was the best, a happy home. Furthermore, he had been introduced to the marvel of board games. When Piper’s cousin came to visit, it was monopoly, when her aunt came, which was rare, it was cribbage, he secretly liked that one, it was simple and he didn’t have to try to pay attention through Karen’s unending tirades about whatever vague slight had happened to her recently. Bofur knew she was family, but the woman was horrid.

When it was just the three of them, the games were simple. Some were puzzle games, or interactive games, he favored the whipped cream game, that was tasty, or exciting. He excelled at Jenga, he soon discovered, and jacks. Riordan was getting old enough now that he could follow along and stay focused for games such as Clue and whatnot. Bofur had trouble with that one, but he plays good-naturedly anyway.

Then they would gather and Piper would read from a few storybooks, he was particularly fond of Narnia, and he and Riordan would sit together with her, everyone cuddled up on the couch. He knew by the boys restlessness though, this would soon lose the child’s interest. He was amazed the boy sat still this long already. Riordan was growing fast, faster than he was ready for, accustomed to the slow aging of the dwarven children. He held onto his family and every moment with them, for they were a more precious gift than most.

He looked down in his lap, where Riordan was sprawled, and chuckled, tapping Piper’s arm.

She stopped her reading and looked over at her husband quizzically, before she spotted the boy, sound asleep. “Since he joined the soccer team, he’s getting to bed earlier at least.”

“Aye, an’ he’s doin’ better on his schoolwork, his last report card was much improved,” such things simply weren’t a part of his world before. But it was one more thing he had learned and grown accustomed with. Still, he was clearly proud. He gently scooped the boy up and let Piper lead him to Riordan’s room, she opened the door for him, moved toys out of the way, and drew back the covers on the boy’s bed. Bofur lay his son down and affectionately ran his hand over the hair the child was growing out, adamant he must look as much as possible like his father. It would be long enough to braid soon. Watching as Piper kissed the child’s cheek as he pulled the covers up, Bofur’s heart swam with love for them. He and his wife slipped out of the room on silent tip-toes, and after one glance to one another, they absconded to their own room, for a little private time.

#tale teller's daily writing challenge 2019 #Bofur #TheGreatestDistance #fic

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foxrun-fluffery · 6 years ago

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The Greatest Distance

Summary: Thorin’s company is displaced in time by Gandalf, due to an emergency. They land in front of country girl Piper and her son. After recognizing them, mostly, she realizes that in no way can they be left on their own in this modern world, and now she has to cope with some of the strangest house guests ever!

OC/Canon ship to develop.

Tag List: @sdavid09, @fallnangelcreations

CHAPTER THREE

READ FROM BEGINNING | PREVIOUS CHAPTER | NEXT CHAPTER

A pillow fight and a drink with a king

Hours after everyone was fed, dressed in new clothes, Piper had let Riordan out to play in the yard, and he had dragged Fili, Kíli, and Ori out to play kickball, Piper went on to climb up to the little attic and bring down spare bedding, realizing that she might have house guests for some time. She pulled the ladder down from the ceiling door when she heard someone coming up. Seeing Bofur, in his brown flannel shirt and khaki pants, she grinned. He had kept his hat and scarf, and his gloves and boots, but the rest he had put aside for now. “Hey, Bofur. Whatcha need?”

“Jus’ came t’ give ye a hand if ye need it.” He replied, walking over to her. “Ah, that’s a good little hidey hole!”

“Mm? Oh it’s just attic storage. Spare stuff and whatnot.”

Bofur nodded, eyeing the construction of the folding ladder. Interesting. “I see. Did yer husband build it?”

Piper chuckled and shook her head. “My grandparents built this place. Then my parents had it, and we lost them two years ago, so I inherited it.”

“Oh! My condolences then.” Bofur took his hat off, holding it to his chest as he gave her a slight bow. “It’s a very nice place.”

She smiled, amused. “Thank you. I loved coming to visit here when my grandparents still lived here,” she explained as she climbed up the ladder. “Never expected to own it though. Guess it was logical, I mean, we paid off the land fairly early and my parents finished the few payments on the house my grandparents couldn’t make. So it was all paid up by the time mom and dad moved in.” Her voice faded some as she reached the top of the stairs, but she returned to peer down at him. “I’m gonna toss down blankets, ok?”

“O’ course!” He agreed, holding his arms out. “So your husband didn’t build a home for you?”

“Haven’t got a husband. Never married.” Came her muffled voice before a pile of dusty blankets dropped down on him.

“Wha—!?” Bofur started to question her but the dust got sucked into his lungs and he started coughing. When he looked up again, he spotted her head hanging out of the doorway, with a humored grin, and she giggled when she saw him looking at her. “Aye, just laugh at ol’ Bofur! Don’t mind me down here dyin’!”

“Oh, don’t be so dramatic!” She rolled her eyes, but was still chuckling. “Just dust!” Another pile of blankets and some pillows came tumbling down after that. One caught the dwarf in the face and he yelped and had thrown it back at her before he realized what he had done. Luckily she took it in good humor and began aiming pillows at him. It wasn’t long until most of the pillows were in a disarrayed pile around Bofur and they were both laughing. Piper was bringing the last few down the ladder when she stepped on the corner of a blanket draped over the rung. It slid and she went sprawling with a loud yelp, confused when she felt herself caught by strong arms. “Oof!”

Bofur, pinned under the woman, her legs across his chest, his arm behind her back in a desperate attempt to prevent her from striking her head on anything, winced when her shoe that had fallen off in the tumble, was wedged in his back. He was supporting her mid back, her rather nice rump on his shoulder, and he just smiled up at her. “Ye a’righ’?”

“Uh… yeah, yeah I am.” Surprised at their situation, she looked around, glad he appeared uninjured, if a touch squished.

Up the stairs thundered a number of dwarves, and they rounded upon the two heaped on the floor. Piper was looking up at the ladder, while trying to detangle herself from Bofur.

“I’ve never fallen on that… crazy.” Shaking her head, she looked back to see the crowd of dwarves, and gladly accepted Bifur’s offered hand as she stood. “Thanks, and thank you, Bofur. I bet you save me from getting hurt.”

The miner just grinned from his spot on the floor and reached behind him, handing her back the shoe. Everyone else but Bofur and Bifur gathered up blankets and pillows and carted them down to the den.

“For a dwarf who was nearly flattened, you look quite pleased.” Bifur smirked at his cousin, speaking of course in Khuzdul.

“You’re awfully mouthy!” Bofur shot back with a wide grin. Still, as much as he didn’t want to draw attention to the fact his cousin was right, he couldn’t even try to deny it.

Bifur reaches down and clasped his arm with Bofur, pulling the other dwarf to his feet. As Bofur swept his dislodged hat from the floor, dusting it off as though that might actually accomplish something, the older dwarf shook his head. “She’s married, cousin. Else how did she have that boy?”

There was a twinkle of light in Bofur’s eyes. “She’s not. Never has been.” He shrugged, unable to help the grin that was starting to spread on his face. “Even Gandalf said things were different here. Maybe it’s not unusual?” He sad, seeing the skepticism in Bifur’s face. “Ye know I’d be de last t’ judge.” When he had been near Fíli’s age, he had a wild streak in him that had involved certain ladies of a particular employment. No dwarven female would ever work thusly, so they had been females of the race of men.

The axe-headed dwarf heaved a breath and shook his head. “And here I thought you just had a particular taste in females!”

Scoffing, Bofur reached out to playfully cuff his cousin on the shoulder. “Hey now!” They both chuckled and made their way downstairs. Though at the top of the stairs they had heard a commotion, not one of any sort of panic or ill-naturdeness, and by the time they had come down and around the corner of the short hall leading to the den, they came into sight of an epic battle. Of pillows.

Riordan seemed to be the instigator in all of it. The young lad shrieked and giggled, laughing at he swung his pillow at unexpected nimble dwarves. Oin and Balin has wisely stepped away into the dining room adjacent this open room. Dwalin was standing guard in front of a glass case with fancy knick knacks, while Dori had been stationed in front of a large black rectangular thing. Kíli and Fíli were running about, both avoiding pillows either swung or thrown at them by the boy. Ori and Nori were whacking each other and occasionally Gloin. What surprised the two coming into this scene was Thorin was crouched, pillows in hand, jousting with Riordan as he came by.

As stoic and majestic as the king was, he has helped raise his nephews, and did greatly enjoy children’s antics and playfulness. Even if he didn’t get to indulge often now that the boys were grown.

“Where’s Bombur?” Bofur asked after a moment of watching the group playing.

“Went to the washroom.” Dwalin said, his eyes tracking the small child, even he was grinning. With so few dwarrowdams, a child was precious. Even in these strange circumstances, it did the hearts of the company good to see the boy, so full of innocent laughter and lightheartedness. Though they didn’t know it yet, this was turning out to be just the break they needed, better even than when they all nearly destroyed Bag End.

Wincing a little, Bofur turned and started towards the hall. “Which is…?”

“Two doors to the right, yeah down that hall.” Piper grinned at him, pointing him in the direction of the bathroom. She was promptly distracted by the backswing of Nori’s pillow as he tried to get his brother, and had hit her in the face behind him. This started a scuffle, that the woman gladly joined in. The dwarves, while accepting, were mindful of the woman and child.

With a grin at them, Bofur walked away to check on his brother. Whom he found just stepping out of the bathroom, with a disturbed expression. “What happened?”

“It’s pourin’ water everywhere!” Bombur hissed in quiet panic. He pushed the door open to show the water running out of the toilet bowl. “What do we do?!”

Bofur ran in, ignoring the splashing of his heavy boots. He gave the strange toilet a quick look over, not recognizing how exactly the device worked. “Mahal’s beard…” Turning to his brother with a helpless look, he shrugged, a gesture which Bombur repeated.

Soon Dwalin peered around the corner, rolling his eyes. “You two imbeciles are messin’ up the lass’s house!” He growled at them, shaking his head. Of course they were already making trouble. “Fix it!”

“We can’t!”

Gradually one after another, a dwarf disappeared from the romping about, until there were only a few left, and Piper, realizing something was going wrong, looked about. Where had they all gone? Then she followed the sounds of poorly hushed whispers, and found them crowded around the bathroom, and backed up toilet. One had the lid to the tank in his hand, and she had to muffle a laugh at the panicked expressions, and the pile of towels they were using to sop up the seemingly endless mess.

“Okay, okay! Boys! BOYS!” She called over the anything but quiet whispering. Going to the sink, she pulled the plunger from the cabinet, “Let me at it.” And in a few minutes she had taught most of the company of Thorin, how to plunge a toilet. Shooting the dwarves off to the den, she got the rest of the mess cleaned up, and bleached.

“Quite sorry about all of this, Mrs. Morgan,” came a quiet voice from the doorway. Bilbo smiled politely when she turned to him, just as she was putting things away. “They did rather the same to my toilet, with less of a… puddle.” He grimaced. “I hate to think what it may look like now.”

Piper chuckled, walking over to him. He was just the size of her boy, so finding clothes for him had simply meant giving him Riordan’s nice outfit. “I bet you’ll get it sorted just fine. You seem quite ingenious, and from what I hear of hobbits, there’s not much that can stop a hobbit from making a fine home.”

Under her praise, Bilbo stood to his full height, looking quite self satisfied. “Bag End is very much a fine home, if I do say so myself. I doubt it would be possible, but for whatever it means, I would very much like to show it to you. You’ve opened your home to us, Mrs. Morgan, it would only be fair.” He hesitated a moment before grinning, a touch of playful humor glinting in his merry eyes. “Though, perhaps after I’ve repaired my plumbing first.”

The woman laughed and gently clapped him on the shoulder. “I appreciate that, I really do, Mr. Baggins.”

“Bilbo, please.” He insisted.

She grinned at him, “Only if you call me Piper. And it would be miss, anyway. I never married.” Seeing his look of surprise she chuckled, “Different social structure. A woman doesn’t have to marry, not even to enjoy a man’s company.” She waited, amused by his further shock. “I’m not some wild party girl, but I did… get a little wasted and had a very good time. Rio’s a bit of a souvenir from that. It was tough at first, but I love my little boy, wouldn’t change history if I could.” There was a warm sort of smile on her face.

The hobbit fought to remind himself that this was a different time and a different world, but he saw the look of love on her face, and he smiled. “I can see how much you love him. I may be grown now, but seeing you two makes me miss my own mother.”

Piper smiled at him, nodding slightly, unable to deny she missed hers as well. “My parents died in an accident. I hate that Rio doesn’t have a grandma to spoil him, I hate not having her around to ask her advice. But… I hope she’d be proud of us.”

“I also lost my parents in an accident,” Bilbo looked up at her, the two sharing a moment of sympathy.

“Hey, c’mon, why don’t you come help me fix up a batch of tea, and you can tell me about your parents.” Piper motioned for him to follow her to the kitchen, a nice large kitchen with a bay window and long curved counter, double ovens, central island stovetop, deep sinks, and a number of nice contraptions.

A broad smile spreading on his face, Bilbo nodded, “I’d be happy to! And you must tell me about your family in return.”

And so the two went off to fix up tea, and a good sized plate of Milano cookies, for the company. By the time they had tea and snacks, the others had set up a living space for themselves and the absent hobbit, Bofur once more looking out for his little friend. All of her guests were happy to have a cup of tea, and they calmed from their bustling and joking about to sit and drink, even if a number of them would have rather had ale or the like, they weren’t going to turn down a freely offered cup. They took this time to chat amicably with their hostess, many telling her something about themselves, and answering her questions.

“This is quite nice!” Dori chirped up after a few sips. “What is it?”

“Orange spiced chai.” Piper replied as she sipped her own tea, now and then watching Riordan, who was laying across one of the dwarves’ claimed spots, on the supplied bedding, sound asleep. He had crashed after the pillow fight, when the plumbing disaster had struck.

Balin, quite enjoying this milk tea, looked up, licking his lip still, and spoke softly so as not to wake the boy. “Miss Piper, while we appreciate that you’ve taken us in, more than you could know, lass, dwarves are very hard to house and feed. You’ve already had to buy what I imagine was a great deal more food than you two would eat, and we seem to have made a mess of your toilet. Which I’m relieved could be repaired so easily.” He saw her starting to object, and held his hand up to hold her off for a moment. “There must be some way we can either make ourselves useful, or somehow take the financial burden off of you.”

Understanding how he, and likely the others, felt, Piper contemplated his words for a few moments. “Well… I had been thinking of going back into my grandpa’s trade. He was a logger, sold firewood mostly, to people who couldn’t go out to get their own. We’ve still got his equipment, and this place could use some tree thinning. A few good loads should give us some funds to keep you all fed.”

“Logging? Like some kind of—” Dwalin was cut off by his king.

“That would be perfect. We’ve felled trees before, at least some of us. It’s a good trade, and we can work fast.” Thorin said with a sense of finality. They had to do something to earn their keep. And it was highly unlikely they could use their skills that they were more accustomed to. He had neither seen nor heard mention of a forge. “We are smiths, miners, toy makers, and the like, but we can easily adapt to becoming woodsmen.”

“Typically we use the term woodcutter, but that works.” Piper assured him. “I dunno if you’ll be here long enough, but in two weeks we’re having a market sale, handcrafted items and such. I’m bringing my decorated candles to sell.”

“Yer a candle maker then?” Bofur asked, curiously, his eyes lighting up to hear she too worked handcrafts.

“As a hobby, I enjoy it.” Piper got up and walked around to a bookshelf, pulling down a colorful intricately carved and shaped candle. “See? I make these sort of things. People like to buy them for parties and special occasions, since we have electric lights.”

“The magic lights you mean?” Ori piped up, pointing up to the ceiling light. It wasn’t any sort of fancy chandelier, but a simple round glass covered light.

“Magic… well I suppose it might look like magic, but they’re far from. It’s electricity, uhm… kind of like harnessed lightning? Well… it’s created by machines mostly, but yeah.” Piper pursed her lips, the way they were learning she did when she wasn’t certain how to explain something.

“There is a lot of your world that is strange to us.” Balin smiled kindly. “We understand, it’s difficult to explain things one might take for granted.”

“Exactly!” Piper cried with a sense of relief, a bright smile dawning on her face as she felt pleased he understood her horrible attempts at trying to help them understand. “A lot of it is things I’ve never thought I’d have to explain, I don’t even understand how it works myself. The more developed we, as a society become, the more complex machinery and technology becomes. I’ve kept up with some of it, mostly what applies to my work, but I can’t tell you how everything works.” She half shrugged. “Happy to explain what I can,” she offered, tacking quickly on, “Within reason and not constantly,” as she looked over, seeing Ori had his mouth open already, and he snapped it shut sheepishly. “But for now, let’s take it slow and see if we can make this all work for us, okay? I bet you guys are all turned around and messed up, this can’t be easy for you!”

Bofur stood straighter, just slightly, feeling a surge of what he could only imagine was pride, perhaps a touch of happiness, to hear her so concerned about them like that. “Aye, ‘tis no’ an easy nor comfortable journey for us, but we’re lucky t’ have ye, lass.”

“Mmm say that when you see me tomorrow before I have my coffee.” She teased him. Her mind flitted about to how she would feed them the next day and what to do after that, so thankful she worked at home.

Thorin seemed to recede into his own thoughts, sitting on the sofa, watching everyone around him quietly. How long would they be stranded there? He was itching to continue his quest, his impatience allayed only by the remembering of the wizards words. They would return mere seconds after they had left. Still, to be interrupted so soon after beginning the journey! They had hardly left Bree, but four days ago. He couldn’t help but feel this did not bode well for the rest of the journey. After a moment he felt eyes on him, and looked up to find their hostess looking at him while the others had broken off into quiet conversations of their own. He was startled to see that she had a sort of encouraging expression, as if by some strange magic she could understand his thoughts. Then she made a subtle motion with her head for him to follow and she rose, excusing herself, and slipped away to the kitchen.

Waiting for the king, Piper pulled the step stool over and climbed up to reach her liquor cabinet. Heading his heavy steps and he walked in, she pointed over her shoulder, “Grab a couple glasses, huh?” Then she pulled down a bottle of old scotch she used to drink with her grandfather. It was still a favorite of hers, though she didn’t drink it very often anymore. “My grandfather and I used to drink this together, whenever I needed to get something off my chest.” Hopping down lightly, she went to fill the glasses. “You look like you need to say something.”

Thorin watched her for a moment, contemplating her offer. He picked up his glass when she did, and brought it to his face, first smelling the contents. His brows rose, and he looked down at the dark amber liquid. Bringing it to his lips he sipped it first, appreciating the slow burn and the spicy flavor, though the sweet after taste was a pleasant surprise to him. “You claim that our world is a story in yours. Tell me of it.”

“I can’t.” Piper replied in an adamant tone. “I wish I could, but I can’t.”

Raising a brow, Thorin lowered the glass, his eyes darkening in a faint scowl. “Can’t, or won’t?”

The woman sighed, cradling her half-filled glass in her hands. “Both? I can’t let myself tell you something that could possibly change the outcome, I won’t hurt your world. We have a theory in our world, called the Butterfly Effect. I don’t remember the exact details about it, but it’s something how the wings of a butterfly on one side of the world can cause a hurricane on the other.”

“Mmm… the echoing anvil. It’s not unique to your world.” Thorin nodded. He hated it, but he understood what she meant. “You fear telling us anything would become disastrous.”

Piper nodded, “I will tell you this much, the tales on your world do not stop with your time. There are other great tales, epic stories, or rather events for you. That will matter greatly to many, human, elf, and dwarf alike. I can’t tell you anything that would change your decisions now, because it could change even the littlest of details, which might have bigger repercussions in the future.” Her eyes met his imploringly, and she watched his expression as he thought it over, gradually softening.

Thorin sighed, taking a slow drink once more. “Very well. I will not push you on the matter further.” He relented, for now recognizing that she had a point. It didn’t, however, mean he wouldn’t try to find out information in other ways. He would speak with some of the others and work with them to discern as much as they could before they left.

“Besides,” Piper added, “It’s all written up as a story, who knows what details were changed to make it a better one.” She gave one of her half shrugs, and glanced towards the doorway. “I think I can tell you one thing, though, if you swear you won’t repeat it.”

“On my grandfather’s throne, I swear I shall not.” Thorin answered immediately, and he meant it.

“Gloin’s boy, Gimli? He will be a part of a great adventure, and do many wondrous things.” She told him in a soft voice, to be sure it didn’t carry to the other room.

Thorin’s brows rose again, and he glanced to the doorway before chuckling. “That dwarf is so proud of his lad. I’m sure he’ll be insufferable if that comes to pass.” He looked back at her, “I caution you not to mention his family unless you have an hour or more to spare.” The two shared a laugh, and finished their drinks to lighter talk of logging and what equipment she had to do it with, until Riordan had woken, and had convinced some of the others to go play outside, teaching them the finer points of kickball.

Meanwhile, Piper and Bombur, who was happy to volunteer his aid, worked on making dinner. She had bought, not long ago, very large roast, that she intended to cut up into smaller portions that evening, and store away in her freezer. But it seemed a perfect meal for the dwarves now. Plus she had a large box of potatoes in her pantry and they soon had the roast, cut in half, baking in the twin ovens. Bombur was delighted by them, and looked longingly at the devices. If only he had something like that to use! The potatoes were set to boil, and Bilbo had joined them, and he and Bombur debated seasonings, looking over the spice rack that Piper had.

When she stepped out to check on everyone, she found Oin had curled up on her couch for a nap, and Balin was perusing her bookshelf, holding one of her father’s old books about car repair. A certain set of books weren’t there, so she didn’t worry about him stumbling across anything he shouldn’t. Then she went to the window to watch the antics in her yard. Thorin and Dwalin had gone off to look at the trees on her property, to best discern which would sell well, she had indicated that there was a good sized stand of tamaracks near the back. The rest of the dwarves were happily engaged in what was becoming quite the unusual game of kickball. Shaking her head, she was amazed at the very strange turn her life had taken.

Then she turned her head when she heard muttering from the kitchen, in that language she didn’t know. Coming back, she found Bifur had joined them, but he was hiding something in his big hands, and was visibly upset. “What’s wrong?” She hurried over, hoping to help.

Bombur sighed, “Ah, lass. Seems me cousin sort of got carried away tryin’ t’ figure out how yer lad’s toy worked and… he can’t seem t’ fix it.”

Bifur turned to her, actual tears in his eyes, holding the little broken toy fire engine. He said something in a softer tone, glancing to Bombur to translate.

“He says he’s very sorry, an’ would like t’ make it up t’ ye somehow.” Bombur informed her, his accent not quite as thick as his brother’s but definitely there.

Piper saw the little bits of broken plastic, and quickly guessed the dwarf had never seen the likes of it, only to find it more brittle than he realized. She smiled, scooping it all up and dropping it in the trash can. “Don’t worry about it, accidents are bound to happen, and it was just a little toy Rio’s mostly grown tired of anyway.” Looking back at the language-bound dwarf, she saw there was still distress in his eyes, so she stepped up to him and took one of his large calloused hands in hers. “Tell you what, Bofur mentioned earlier you were a toy maker, so I’m guessing that’s what had you curious about this toy.” He rapid nod had her lips quirking into a smile. “Well then, why don’t you make him something unique to replace it? Then he’ll always have something to remember his new dwarven friends by.”

Bifur’s face lit up with her words, and he spoke, excited and animated, before he swept her into a nearly crushing hug, and dashed away to get his tools.

Piper ran to the doorway after him, calling out, “There’s a big oak behind the house, if you want to use that!” She turned back to find the strangest look on Bombur’s face. He seemed to happy, but his face was scrunched up with tears in his eyes. “Bombur?”

“Oh, lass, ye… he jus’... tha’ was very kind of ye.” With a sniffle, he turned back to the quiet hobbit and the boiling pot of potatoes. As he stirred them, he was smiling, seeing Bifur from the kitchen window, already running out to the oak tree and inspecting it. Yes, a kind lass indeed. As strange as their stay here was, he wasn’t too displeased by it. “Ah, lass, have we cream?”

“Hmm… just condensed milk in a can.” Piper replied, before quickly realizing she had more explaining to do. If someone calls me Lucy, I’m gonna scream.

While she was doing that, she missed a little pack of dwarves sneaking curiously into her garden shed…

Next Chapter

#TheGreatestDistance #TheHobbit #Thorin #Bofur #Bifur #Bombur #Balin #Dwalin #oC #Etc etc etc #Tale Teller’s Plot Bunny Challenge 2019

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