"Those shoes have seen better days, and that coat." Balin observed, moving to stand near the man. "I'm sure you have a few hungry mouths to feed, too. How many bairns?" He asked the man, hoping his assumption was right and he did indeed have children or this could be difficult if they offended him. Thankfully Balin was right and the man answered him as he kept loading the barrels onto the barge.

"A boy and two girls."
"And your wife?" continued Balin confidently. "I imagine she's a beauty!"
The man went quiet as he nodded sadly. 
"She was..."
Balin blinked and quickly stumbled over his words to apologise. 
"O-oh...I-I'm sorry...I didn't mean to..."