Hey everyone! This story is something I've been planning for years, but I needed a break of multi-fic writing for awhile. This is my sequel to The Hobbit story I wrote, which is about Fili, Kili, and my OC (their little sister) Brynn. So if you haven't read that you could, but I don't think you really HAVE to. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it! This chapter might be a bit boring since it's the first chapter and it's the set up but please stick with me!

(This is a HUGE time jump from The Hobbit, as you know, so Fili is 35, Kili is 34, and Brynn is 29!)

The plains of Edoras were empty, save for five weary travellers. Three dwarves and two children of men were making their way to the city in the hill.

Brynn, Fili, and Kili had met Eothain and Freda on their way to Edoras, and had taken care of them. The children were starving, thirsty, and exhausted. They had explained that their village had been attacked by village men, and that they were separated from their mother. Now, Fili rode on the children's horse with a sleeping Eothain in front of him, Kili was carrying Freda in his arms with her head on his shoulder, and Brynn was walking beside them.

As they got closer to their destination, they saw two men amongst the lily covered tombs. One Brynn recognized as King Theoden, whom they were there to see, but the other took a minute.

"My land, Fili, is that..." Brynn trailed off, not wanting to sound foolish.

"It couldn't be!" Kili exclaimed.

But it couldn't be anyone else. The 'unknown' man was really a very well known (by them, anyway) wizard. A wizard whom they loved very much.

"Gandalf!" Brynn shouted, running towards him.

He turned, confusion of who was calling his name evident on his face before recognition set in. He smiled widely at her, opening his arms to accept the hug Brynn threw herself into. Perhaps it wasn't the type of behaviour she should have been displaying - especially in front of a king - but she was too excited to be formal, and it made Gandalf laugh.

Brynn took a couple steps back from their embrace.

"Princess Brynn, I nearly didn't recognize you, you've grown so much." Gandalf remarked.

"No surprise, considering how long it's been since you've visited Erebor." Brynn scorned playfully, hands on hips.

Gandalf laughed. "It has been long. Unfortunately, fate has gotten in the way of my plans. Though I was hoping to see you at Bilbo's birthday party."

"Ah, we did visit The Shire, Gandalf, but a few days before the event. It was the only time we were able. We must have just missed you."

"Gandalf!" Kili called, now close enough to join the conversation. "Either my old age is affecting me, or something very interesting has happened. Correct me if I'm wrong, but you used to be grey."

"If you are old, Kili, I shudder to think what that makes me. But my change of appearance is a long story, one we will save for another time. I suspect your trip here was not a vacation."

"No," Fili said. "We need to speak with you, King Theoden, but first these children need food and rest."

"Of course." Theoden said, the first time he'd spoken since the trio arrived. "Come with me."

They walked the short distance to the castle, the trio saving their conversation with Theoden for when they weren't moving. The city on the hill was a beautiful spot. You could see for miles around, the sun casting golden rays across the plains. If the trio had to live anywhere other than a mountain, it just might be there. The living was simple and that was what they enjoyed.

"Gandalf, may I ask why you are here?" Brynn asked, stepping out of the way of a child running across the road.

"That is a very long story as well. But really, I've been in the centre of this business because of Bilbo."

"Bilbo?"

"You remember how skilled he was at moving about unseen?"

"Of course. You said all hobbits could do that."

"Not like Bilbo could. You see, Bilbo found a special ring in Gollum's cave that made the weary invisible. In reality, it is attached to Sauron. To destroy him, we must destroy the ring in Mount Doom."

"And Bilbo has this ring? That puts him in much danger." Fili said, worried about their friend.

"No, he does not have it anymore." Gandalf replied. "He gave it to Frodo, who is now on his way to destroy it."

Brynn gasped. "Frodo? But he's so young!"

"Young in age only." Gandalf corrected.

"Do this whole war could be ended by a tiny ring?" Kili asked, shaking his head in disbelief.

They climbed the steps of the castle after giving the horse and the children into the hands of servants to be taken care of. Brynn marvelled at the intricacy of the carvings on the posts of the Golden Hall, the detail so gorgeous you didn't want to miss it.

"Until the ring is destroyed the war will continue in strength, and we must be prepared to fight." Said Gandalf, pushing open the doors to the hall. Huge tapestries lined the room, depicting scenes of battles fought long ago. In the back of the room was a throne, set up about a foot off the ground.

"Agreed." Said Fili, turning to Theoden. "And that is why we are here. Our uncle-"

The trio froze, all of them staring at the back of the room.

"Gimli?" Brynn questioned.

The red haired dwarf spun around, his face lighting up with joy. "Fili! Kili! And little Brynn!" He embraced them all, making them laugh.

"Will you ever stop calling me 'little Brynn'?" Brynn asked. "I'm taller than you are!"

"Ah, but still younger." Gimli replied, a gleam in his eye. "Come, meet my companions of late!"

The trio froze once again when they saw who he was referring to. One was a man. Though slightly strange, not unheard of. Even they had partnered and become friends with Bard the Bowman of Dale. But the other was an elf, who was very familiar, and not well liked by the trio.

"Prince Legolas." Brynn stated, her

voice a mix of shock and hostility.

"Princess Brynn." Legolas replied, his tone matching hers.

"Gimli, this is your companion?" Kili asked, obviously unimpressed.

"Aye." Gimli nodded. "I wasn't pleased either at first, but he's alright."

"You do realize that this is the elf that took one look at your picture - which he stole - in Mirkwood and thought you were an Orc mutant?" Fili said.

"I remember the story. But was it not you three that described him as a lanky willow with the fighting skills of a chicken?"

Kili hesitated. "We did say that, yes." He consented.

Fili sighed. "I suppose if Gimli says he's alright then we have to be a bit more open minded." Though he didn't sound at all happy about it.

In fact, none of the trio looked happy about it. Really, it wasn't unreasonable for them to be a bit prejudiced towards the elf. There was just something they couldn't get over about him capturing them, allowing his father to even begin slitting Brynns hand for information (though he did stop it and they remembered that), and trying to steal their mountain.

Theoden cleared his throat and the trio remembered why they were there.

The king looked amused, though slightly impatient. "I believe you had something to tell me."

"Yes!" Fili put the shock of the last two familiar faces behind him and turned to business once more, along with his siblings. "As I was saying, our uncle doesn't want you to think we've been ignoring what's happening in your land or the other lands of men. The reason we haven't sent help is because we've been attacked in waves almost since the war started."

Kili nodded to what his brother was saying. "We've needed every soul we have who can fight at least somewhat well. The fact that Sauron can breed fully functioning creatures every day has a damper on our odds. But we've managed to hold our own for now."

"Because we've been consistently winning - or tying, if you would - without too many losses, King Thorin decided he could risk sending us to Rohan." Brynn said. "We are here to fight for you, my lord. In whatever battle you find yourself in."

Theoden was at a loss for words for a minute. "He sent us three warriors?"

That was not the response the siblings had been expecting, and they were certainly not impressed. They hadn't wanted to leave Erebor and their friends and family. Thorin or Dis could be dead at the moment and they wouldn't know. Erebor was their home - they wanted to defend it. They had left because Thorin had asked them to, and they would go to the end of the earth for him.

"Well, if you'd like, we could go defend our own home." Kili said, trying his hardest not to be snippy.

"No!" Theoden said, realizing the rudeness of what he had said. "Forgive me. Three does not seem like much in these circumstances."

"If every warrior thought their one did not count you would have no army." Brynn said.

"I know. I am sorry. Please stay."

"Of course." Fili said, offering a smile.

"We head to Helms Deep in two days."

"Then we will go as well."

"We will feel right at home in the mountains." Brynn smiled. "You will see the very best fight in us."

"I will look forward to it." Theoden said. "Now excuse me, I must help my men prepare."

And with that Theoden and Gandald left. Brynn waited a full five seconds to make sure they were gone before speaking.

"Three does not seem like much? Uncle Thorin and Dwalin took down a hundred goblins by themselves. And does he not see the worth in uncle sending his three heirs?"

The man - one of Gimli's friends - stepped up. "King Theoden does not know how fiercely skilled dwarves are on the battlefield. But he will learn soon enough."

Kili furrowed his brow. "Who are you?"

The man smiled. "My name is Aragorn."

Fili raised his eyebrows. "Son of Arathorn? I thought you were in hiding."

Aragorn opened his mouth to answer, though he didn't know how he would do so. Before he could, Gimli interrupted.

"Lads, lass, you must be hungry and thirsty from your travels. Let us eat, and I'll tell you what's happened since I left Erebor, for there is one part of my journey you need to know."

Gimli's face darkened as he spoke, and the trio knew whatever he needed to tell them about was not good. They had no guesses about what it was though. And that worried them.

Gimli and his cousins found a quiet spot to talk. Gimli explained how he had joined the Fellowship of the Ring and then went on to describe their journey. The tale of the attack on Caradras had the trio in awe, and gave them flashbacks to when they were going through the Misty Mountains on their own quest. Attacks by orcs or other things were easily handled. When nature itself turns against you, all you can do is hold on.

It hurt Gimli to see his cousins eyes light up when he said he suggested going through Moria. He didn't want to say what he knew he had to.

"We went through Moria, entering by the secret door." Gimli spoke, keeping his voice even.

"Oh, that must have been fun." Brynn said, a warm smile on her face. "Balin must have given you a feast to remember."

Gimli took a huge breath. "No, he did not. My friends, Moria was taken by orcs. There were no survivors."

Brynns face, along with her brothers, went blank. She knew what they words meant but they were so shocking they wouldn't make sense.

"What are you talking about?" Fili asked, his voice low.

"They're all gone." Gimli said, looking down at the table.

"Balin and Ori... They're de-" Brynn broke off, unable to say the word. Her eyes filled with tears and she bit her lip, struggling to keep her composure. Her attempts were fruitless, though, when Kili hugged her. Tears poured down the siblings faces, heart wrenching sobs ripping from their throats. Fili joined his siblings in the hug, trying to hold them together while falling apart himself.

Balin had given all three of them private lessons. They'd be the first to admit it was probably the hardest task he'd ever taken on. It wasn't that he didn't like them (because he loved them) and it wasn't because they didn't like him (they adored 'Mister Balin'). It was just that they were easily bored. They were all glad when they finished their lessons and could spend time with Balin without boring history. Now, though, they'd give anything to be back. They wanted to go back in time to the room that smelled like old books and parchment, and Balin trying to make things as interesting as possible for the young heirs of Durin. It didn't seem real. Just weeks before they had left for Rohan they had gotten a letter from him. The date on it was long past, possibly from the year before, and they had assumed it had gotten delayed or lost at some point. While they were reading his words about how exited he was for Moria, he was lying in a tomb.

It took the siblings a long while before they figured they could move. They forced themselves to stop crying, though they very easily could have continued. After that they went their separate ways. They all needed to be alone for awhile, to go through their thoughts. This was not how they had expected their arrival in Edoras to go.

And that's that. I know it was a super lame chapter but I promise they get better! This is just the set up. So please stick around for Chapter 2, which will come when I get a review! (Give or take a couple days :P)

So please please please let me know what you think! I really hope you like this, cause I do!

The next chapter will move into more exciting things, I promise.

Have a nice day!