Hobbit OC : Kelda's Tale : Chapter 13

Kelda knew she was close to the source, the singing was louder now. But she didn’t wish to startle the composer, so she stood behind one of the trees, and peered out from behind it.
Her eyes lit up like stars, as she realized who it was.
“If I had money enough to spend, and leisure time to sit awhile. There is a fair maid in this town who surely has me heart beguiled!
Her laughter brings such joy to me.  Her smile, no fairer I…recall? Hmmm, does that sound good? Twill have ta do fer now.”
Bofur scribbled the words onto a parchment quickly, and then played a few more notes of the tune. His back was turned to where Kelda was, and he was deep in thought.
“If I had money enough to spend, and leisure time to sit awhile. There is a fair maid in this town who surely has me heart beguiled!
Her laughter brings such joy to me.  Her smile, no fairer I recall. So gently rise, and softly call. Goodnight and joy be to you all!”
The dwarf played the chords once more, and wrote them down on his parchment quickly.
He didn’t hear Kelda come out from behind the tree, nor did he hear her step closer to where he stood.
“….Bofur?”
Kelda’s soft and gentle voice startled Bofur immensely, and he turned very quickly to her.
“MISS KELDA?!” he cried in terrible surprise.
He was startled so greatly, that upon seeing her standing there, he tried to step back a few steps. However, his satchel was directly behind him, and he tripped over it. Bofur fell backwards, landing on his bottom clumsily.
“Bofur!!” Kelda exclaimed.
She ran over to him, and knelt down, hovering over him like a concerned mother.
“My goodness! I am so very sorry I startled you so!” Kelda apologized frantically. “Are you alright?!”
Bofur’s hat had fallen forward, covering his eyes when he fell and landed. He quickly lifted it from his eyes, and when he looked up, Kelda’s gaze met his. Her eyes were full of concern, but they still shone like sapphire gems to Bofur. Her cheeks were flushed, for she felt ashamed she had frightened him so. But to Bofur, they looked even more lovely for it. The sun had touched her hair so that it had a glow to it, and the breeze had moved the locks ever so gently from her face.
She was so beautiful to the dwarf just then, despite the fact she was not smiling. He felt his heart race, and he knew his ears were bright red, thank Mahal for his hat that covered them!
“Bofur?!” Kelda said again, even more fear in her voice now. “Are you well?!”
Bofur blinked, trying to collect his thoughts and words, still staring up at her.
“Aye…Lass...” the dwarf managed, his voice quiet. “Aye…I’m…fine.”
“Are you certain?” Kelda inquired. “You did not strike your head, did you?”
She moved one of her hands to the back of the dwarf’s head quickly, to feel for a bump.
“N-no…” Bofur replied softly, a dreamy smile coming to his face then. “I’m…I’m quite wonderful...”
Kelda looked at him with a puzzled expression for a moment, but his clumsy grin made her giggle. And she smiled back at him.
“I am very relieved,” she said softly. “I would never forgive myself if I hurt you.”
And Kelda meant those words in more ways than one, though Bofur did not know it.
Kelda then helped Bofur to his feet, and brushed him off.
“Might I ask,” Kelda began sweetly, picking up his flute and handing it to him. “What you are doing in the gardens?”
Bofur took the flute from her hand and chuckled.
“Well, some days, if I have finished my quota in the mines early, I am permitted to come here for the rest of the day,” Bofur explained cheerily. “I compose songs to sing in the market here.”
Kelda smiled in delight.
“I heard you singing and playing your flute,” she said sweetly. “You sounded lovely.”
Bofur bowed to her, taking his hat off, just as he had done when they first met.
“Why, thank ye, Lass!” he replied with a chuckle. “Tis a part of my trade, I suppose! Music is very important to us dwarves. We use it to tell the stories of our past and of greatest warriors and kings, and if ye be good at it, ye best use it!” he concluded with an affirmed nod.
Kelda nodded in agreement.
“Absolutely!” she replied, giggling. “And, if it’s not too bold of me…”
Her eyes dropped to the ground, and her smile became very shy.
“Who…who was that song…about?”
Bofur’s smile suddenly vanished, and his face showed great alarm. He realized suddenly that Kelda had HEARD the lines to his song for her!
“Oh! Uh…” the poor dwarf began to stutter, as he desperately tried to think of something to tell the girl. “It’s was, uh…it was…a song….for, um, foooor…myyyyyy b-b-brotheeeer,” he answered, finally.
Kelda clasped her hands in delight.
“You have a brother?!” Kelda beamed.
“Aye! Aye, I do!” Bofur replied happily, and with great relief. “And well, he is terribly in love with a dwarf lass, back in Erebor. But my poor younger brother, Bombur, he’s no good when it comes to writing songs, especially not love songs. So, I’m writing a ballad for him to sing to her the next time they meet!” Bofur concluded, proudly nodding.
“That is wonderfully kind of you, Bofur,” Kelda smiled sweetly. “What a lovely brother you are.”
Bofur grinned widely at her.
“Tis the least I can do for me only brother, Lass,” he said nodding. “And, what might ye be doin’ here?” he asked curiously.
“Oh!” Kelda began, suddenly remembering her books in her satchel. “I am just here to read, and practice my Sindarin, as I read.”
The girl pulled out her books to show Bofur, and he smiled gently at her then, for she was like a child showing him some of her favorite things.
“Ah! Sindarin, eh?” he began, coming over to her to look at the books more closely. “Tis a lovely language for certain!”
“Yes,” Kelda nodded. “I was reading my favorite Elven tales,” she said shyly.
“Ah, I see!” Bofur nodded. “And what’re your favorites, Lass?” he asked kindly.
“The tale of Luthien Tinuviel and Beren,” Kelda replied, still smiling. “It is the greatest love story I have ever heard, and I’ve read it at least a thousand times.”
She giggled at the silliness of that statement, and Bofur felt his heart skip a beat at the sound of her sweet laughter.
“Well, I know a few tales of the dwarves that I wanted to hear a thousand times or more, meself!” Bofur said, chuckling. “That just shows ye it’s a good story!”
Kelda grinned and nodded.
“You’re right!” she agreed happily. “I also love to read about the Valar, Elbereth Gilthoniel. She is my favorite of Valar.”
“Ah yes!” Bofur said thoughtfully, scratching his chin. “I do remember tales of her! Though, we dwarves speak mostly of Mahal, our maker,” he smiled.
Kelda nodded happily.
“I have read about him too, his name by the elves was Aulë, I believe,” she commented, thoughtfully.
“Oh, aye,” Bofur agreed, still smiling. “I have heard him called that.”
They fell silent for a moment, not knowing what else to say to one another. But neither wanted to leave. Kelda was so happy to have found Bofur here, knowing that she could spend all afternoon with him, without the stress of her brother coming to look for her. Bofur was also elated that Kelda was here, he had wished so much to see her again, without the business of the market.
“Would…” Kelda began, very timidly. “Would you like to read these books with me? If you have time that is!” she added quickly.
Bofur smiled brightly at her, but then became very embarrassed.
“Well, I uh,” he began, rubbing the back of his neck. “I can’t…I can’t read Sindarin.”
Kelda looked to the ground for a moment in dismay.
“I know a few phrases a’ course, for greeting, and trading at market. But that’s it,” Bofur concluded, his eyes to the ground too.
“Well…” Kelda began again, shyly. And her eyes slowly came back to his. “I could…I could read it to you? It would help me practice translating it aloud in common.”
Her smile was so sweet and sheepish, Bofur could feel his ears get hot again. How could he refuse her?
“I’d…” he began softly. “I’d like that, Lass.”
Bofur smiled so warmly and gently at Kelda then, that Kelda felt butterflies form in her stomach.
“Wonderful,” she beamed. “Come and sit here with me. And I will read of Beren and Luthien.”
Kelda sat on the nearest stone bench, and Bofur quickly joined her, with his whittling knife and a block of wood in hand. Kelda would read a few lines to herself, and then translate aloud to Bofur in common, though she knew the story by heart. Bofur whittled quietly, and listened to her gentle voice, a soft smile on his lips the entire time.
If one were to look at them there, sitting together, one might think…they were a couple.