Chapter Text
A bit after the interruption about the handkerchief, Bofur heard a pony sidling up to his own. He felt curious to turn around and meet Nori’s intent stare.
“Hullo,” he said.
Nori stared at him for a few long moments before replying.
“That was nice of you, to tear off part of your shirt for the Hobbit,” he said, but he sounded like he was asking a question. Bofur wondered if there was an underlying conversation he didn’t understand.
“Oh, just… helping out..” he chuckled nervously.
Nori cocked his head to the side- it kind of made him look like an exotic bird. “Don’t you think he should get used to having no handkerchief? It’s a hard road we’re walking, nothing like his cozy Shire.”
Bofur frowned at him. Was Nori trying to start an argument? Bofur just didn’t understand where this conversation was coming from. He thought that the two of them had gotten on well last night. “Well, that’s exactly why I wanted to help. He’s not used to hardship, this’ll be worse for him than it is for us. Why not be friendly?” He wondered if that last bit was a tad too pointed.
Nori nodded for some reason and looked very satisfied.
Bofur didn’t understand at all. Nori seemed to have understood something though, because he said, “Thank you for curing my curiousity, Master Bofur.” And then turned back to ride with his brothers.
The mane of Bofur’s pony received his confused expression.