Chapter Text
From The Journal Detailing The Events Experienced By Thorin's Company
Bombur was married to his One. Bombur stated that he missed Païa quite badly, along with his children. Bombur professed that he often feels guilty for leaving them behind, but he couldn’t let Bofur and Bifur go without him.
From Ori's Sketchbook, Vol. 4
Bombur and Païa. Portrait done on Durin's Day TA 2943, two years anniversary of Erebor's reclamation.
From Ori's Sketchbook, Vol. 7
Bombur's Dwarflings in their twenties. TA 2962.
Author’s Note: At the time, Bombur only knew of Anaïa and Caïa. Anaïa was too young to carry a weapon (even by Nori’s standards) and Caïa a babe in arms. He—and the rest of our merry company—would learn about Vaïa after the reclamation of Erebor. Enclosed is a more recent depiction of Bombur's family.
From The Journal Detailing The Events Experienced By Thorin's Company
Bifur’s whole family died during the War of the Dwarves and Orcs. Bifur was part of a group of Ones, which makes less sense in the common tongue, but the concept is surely not unheard of among non-dwarves despite the linguistic lack. He and his
azaghal barufshield-brothers had been a team for many years, since long before they reached sixty.Author's Note: Why that translation? It would be very different, were they brothers. And 'brothers' in such a usage implies one of the human genders, does it not? Warrior family does not sound very good, either. Writing in Westron was a terrible idea.
Bifur swore himself to his unit of warriors, for they all felt the Pull toward their group. Together they fought better than most groups, but it was not enough to protect from war. After they buried the first member it was as if the—spirit of the bond itself began to fade, leaving the members feeling... drained, depressed. The rest of them fell before the Battle of Azanulbizar, which Bifur did not expect to survive, but, he assures us, he is grateful he did, as he has met his cousin's children and found a cause at Thorin's side.
Author's Note: And for some phrases there is no translation at all, so the elaboration 'spirit of the bond' will have to suffice. Furthermore, no adjectives quite encapsulate the feeling of losing a One, but that is true in our language as well.
When Bofur translated Bifur’s words into Westron, Bilbo solemnly rested his hand on Bifur’s shoulder.
“I’m not sure if all hobbits have Ones, nor indeed whether any ever have, for we generally don’t experience any sort of Pull, though—well. Anyway, if there have been any hobbits found exactly who they were meant to spend their time with, it was my parents. When my mother died… well, it takes a very strong person to go on without their love. My father followed her soon after. I’m sure your Ones would be proud of you, Bifur—and you as well, Óin, and any of the rest of you in similar positions—for pushing on. For taking… for taking care of yourself, and finding joy in life, where you can.”
Bilbo delivered his sentiment earnestly, and for this he earned a great hug from Bifur, who (along with several other members of the company) wept.
[Personal Note: I remain unsure whether all the members wept, as I was among those brought to tears. Master Baggins has a way with words which would ensorcel any dwarf, so ’tis likely they did weep, save Nori, who—quite understandably, given tonight's revelations—had a bit of tunnel vision regarding the whole concept of Ones. I am certain that Master Balin shed a tear, for he blew his nose loudly before his own story.]
Master Balin patted Bilbo on the back.
[Personal Note: I know I decided not to use titles, but it feels far too weird to call Master Balin anything else. He was my teacher, after all. I dropped Dwalin and even Thorin’s titles long ago, by virtue of being friends with Fí and Kí, but Master Balin simply cannot be anything else.]
"No, Master Bilbo. You've got it wrong, though just slightly. Although the pull draws us to a significant relationship, it is my experience that it should not be equated with courtship and marriage."
Master Balin informed the group that his relationship with his One did not last long. They bonded before their courtship was over—not unheard of, but the ceremony is practically mandatory for members of the house of Durin—but broke things off before they were betrothed.
It was then that Nori elbowed Ori, and muttered something unintelligible to all others. He suspected Ori of planning to bond with the princeling, but his attitude toward bonding with or even pursuing courtship between Ones was overwhelmingly negative.
[Personal Note: For once, Nori's snooping hasn't paid off. I have already exchanged Names with Fíli before the courtship rituals and proper ceremony. We are on a quest, after all, and what if he got hurt? I must be able to find him. That's why we did not mention the Pull before we set off. Between Dori and Lady Dís, we would not have been allowed to leave until we were fully courted, bonded, betrothed, and probably married, too. I cannot say I regret it. Even if Fí and I did break things off, I'd want to see him.]
Master Balin married another and had a good marriage, though it ended some time before Erebor was lost.
Master Balin said that both his One and his spouse are in the Halls of their Maker, and he looked forward to seeing them again.
Then he placed his pipe in his mouth as a signal that he was finished speaking. It seemed just about everyone was left with questions, but nobody dared ask.
[Personal Note: It was more than he had ever shared before. I did not even know he had married! Even Thorin and Oin looked a bit surprised that his spouse had not been his One. The only dwarf who looked unaffected was Master Balin’s brother, and I'm honestly unsure whether that was because he was previously aware of what Master Balin shared or because Dwalin was more focused on what he himself was about to reveal.]