"Wait wait wait….you mean to tell me Thorin, haven't-heard-him-say ten words, scarily intense Mr. Macbroody Thorin, plays harp? HARP?" Bri folded over on the wooden bench, helpless with giggles. Fili was sure it was past time to cut off her mead supply.

"If it has strings he can play it, but harp was his first." Fili's eyes twinkled merrily at the giggling girl. "In fact, most of us can play multiple instruments. Makes it easier to keep the performance going if one of us is out sick. Kili can play most wind instruments, as well as the fiddle. Frerin can play just about anything he picks up, and I can play chanter, fiddle, mandolin, and lute. Oh yes, and all of us can play the drum."

"What is that weird instrument, the one that looks like the love child of an accordion and fiddle?" Bri pushed herself back up, leaning heavily on the table for support.

It was Fili's turn to fall over laughing. 'Do you mean the hurdy gurdy?"

"It's called a hurdy gurdy? Mercy, it sounds like something naughty you do at a brothel." Briallen was once again helpless with laughter laid out in her booth. The laughter finally petered out as she gazed rather hazily up at Fili, an utterly unfamiliar serious expression sliding into place.

"I really wished I knew what was up with you. I just don't get this comfortable this fast with a guy."

Before Fili could answer her, a familiar shout had her turning to a figure nearly as round as he was tall. Which was saying something, since the man was six and a half feet, give or take a mile. "Briallen! You're here! Wondered when you'd meander in. Band's been hoping you'd do a number with them. " He had dark curly hair, slightly salt and pepper, a broad face with a prominent nose, and a mouth that seemed to know nothing but smiles peeping out of a truly impressive great curly black beard. Copious smile crinkles at the corners of bright black eyes seem to bear this assessment out.

Burly arms grabbed the still reclining Briallen in a very familiar and bonecrushing bearhug. "Beorn! Beorn! Bri can't breathe!"

He finally sat her back on her feet, and turned to assess the half risen Fili, who still wasn't sure what to make of the man that had just grabbed Briallen. "Beorn Sanders, meet my date, Fili Durinson. Fili, this is my grand old friend, Beorn Sanders." Bri's easy camaraderie was plain to see with the bear of a man, so Fili offered his hand politely.

"Pleased to make your acquaintance, sir." Fili wasn't a small man by any means, but Beorn's hand engulfed his. It was a highly unusual sensation for Fili, quite humbling.

"Aye, I've been keeping something of an eye on our Bri since she first found her way to the faire some years ago. Good thing, too. It's amazing the trouble she can find without looking." Bone deep fondness for the girl softened his rough features, prompting a blush on Briallen's cheeks.

"I don't look for trouble. I think it looks for me!" A pretend pout was put to the lie by her crinkled, laughing eyes.

"All the more reason someone should keep an eye on you." The assessing look Fili was subjected to left no doubt Beorn felt the jury was out on whether Fili was some of that trouble or not.

"So, Bri, how many have you had?" Beorn studied Briallen carefully, trying to determined just how drunk she was..

"Three, I think?" Her tone was less than reassuring, which worried Beorn.

"Do the test then. I know you." Her indignant huff impressed Beorn not at all, as he simply folded his arms and waited.

"Fiiiiiiiine." Bri proceeded to tap her nose with each finger, did a little jig, and then ended with a cartwheel that placed her neatly again in front of Beorn. Fili would never have believed it, if he hadn't seen it.

"Alright, then. I suppose you can go talk to the Band. But try to keep it simple this time, will ye?"

"I'm to silly; I makes no promises." Bri bounded off to talk to the band. Beorn watched her go, chucklin' to himself and shaking his head at her. Then that great wooly head turned to soberly regard Fili. It felt rather similar to that one time he was a few minutes late getting his date home during high school. Would he really look a coward if he hid under the table?

"Durinson," mumbled Beorn. "You're with that Mountain Thunder Armory that moved in this season?" When Fili nodded, a steely look settled over Beorn's countenance. "So, how long have you known our Bri?"

Yep, the inquisition had begun. Then, like an angel from heaven, Fili's salvation arrived in the form of Bri's performance. Instead of keeping his gimlet stare and foreboding attention on Fili, Beorn turned to watch Bri, who was singing from the railing surrounding the rather large and rather live tree in the middle of the tavern. However, she didn't stand still for long. Bri was soon dancing and jigging on the bloody two by four railing all around the tree, playing up to the crowd as she sang some fast song in what sounded like welsh. He would have never guessed she was even slightly intoxicated. Her huge smile and flashing legs were truly a sight to behold, and Fili didn't much care for some of the looks she was garnering.

Bri bowed to the crowd when it was over. They immediately requested she sing another. The band started to play one he knew well, 'Drunken Sailor". On the third chorus of 'Weigh, Hey, and Up she rises' Bri turned too quickly and was plummeting. Fili dove for her, catching her up and clutching her tightly to his chest.

"Jesus, Bri! You scared the life out of me!"

"Weren't too good for my nerves, either." Bri heaved a heavy enough sigh he felt her ribcage push against his. 'Can we go outside to catch some air?"

"Yes."

"Can you put me down now?"

"No."

"Fili?" There was Beorn, looking strangely hesitant.

"Yes, Mr. Sanders?" Fili stood tall with Briallen held tight to his chest. For someone that claimed to look out for Bri, encouraging her to dance and sing while intoxicated bespoke a staggering lack of good sense.

"Ye done good, son. Next time you're here, mead's on the house."

"Thank you." Fili answered as cordially as he could with Bri breathing on his neck. He was thankful her skirt was full enough to cover his increasing discomfort. He gave a respectable nod to Beorn, and carried Bri out to a bench under a large shade tree that looked to be the big brother to the one Briallen danced around.

By the time he got her settled comfortably on the bench, her phone had signaled her she had a text. It was all sorts of amusing watching her scrunch her face in consternation trying to answer it. He was pretty sure he was wearing a rather sappy expression at her puckered lips and lowered brows. He mentally shook himself and hunted her some water.

"Anything important, love?" He sat himself down next to her and rubbed her back. She purred and bowed into the caress. Fili could only shake his head. Leave it to him to find the one actual catgirl in existence.

"Wren and Balin are headed this way. I think. Why is it alcohol always seems to hit me harder once I actually DO something? Oooowie. Thanks for the water, by the way." Bri then tried to swallow the entire twenty ounce bottle in one swig. She got three quarters of the way. He was impressed.

That was the scene that met Balin and Wren as they came upon them: Bri chugging the bottle of water, and Fili rubbing her back. Wren would be smirking for a solid week over this.

"Dancing or shooting peeps?" Wren was entirely too smug for Bri's comfort. This from a woman torn between two brothers, and having to hide behind Balin's snowy white beard?

"Dancing. I was impressed," Fili was only still living at this point because he was making her back feel like heaven, and his chuckles made her knees weak.

"A shower would be nice," Bri mumbled, anything to get them to hush. It also didn't hurt that Wren was once again wearing a very deer in the headlights look. Bri wondered why that was.

A/N: Don't forget, kkolmakov 's page for the companion piece "Faire and Square"

I personally think hers is much more interesting ;)

All songs mentioned are real songs you can look up on youtube. The 'fast welsh song' is easily searched under "Felyon" and is a lively rendition of "Dac'w Nghariad"

Also, anyone familiar with A. A. Milne's work is laughing at the last name Beorn is sporting. It's another very famous bear we all know and love.