Fili decided that he wouldn't work in the forge this morning. He didn't want to become sweaty and dirty before he'd meet Poppy. He spent the morning cleaning Bag End and packing a basked with the food he had prepared.
He dressed in some of his nicest clothes and checked his braids again. He had been with several lasses in Ered Luin but this was something completely different and he was unsure about how to behave.
Finally it was time to walk to the Water. Poppy was already sitting on a blanket waiting for him. She wore a beautiful green dress that highlighted her soft curves and blue-grey eyes. For Fili she was the most beautiful person in the world. She waved and Fili smiled. "Good morning, Poppy! I'm so happy that you're here. I made some food. I hope you like it." Fili put the basket onto the blanket and Poppy looked into it.
"Oh Fili, did you make all of this on your own?" Fili simply nodded while Poppy started to unwrap the food. "You made apple cinnamon pies and raspberry chocolate muffins? They are my favourites." she exclaimed in delight and tried them immediately. "Hmmm, these are yummy! Thank you, Fili! You're wonderful!" Poppy blushed. "I... I brought some Sackville Apple Cider. It's the best the Shire has to offer. I thought that might be a delicious and refreshing drink on such a nice late summer day."
"Thank you! I'm glad you like them. I'm not a good cook but I tried my best. Cider is a great idea." Fili replied. He wasn't sure what to say. He wasn't used to being praised.
Fili also took an apple pie and they started to eat in silence.
After a while Poppy started to speak "Fili, when I visited Bilbo a few days ago he told me about your adventure. You traveled through half of Middle Earth to reclaim this mountain. He said, that the dragon was killed in the end and you fought in a big battle against orcs, goblins and wargs." Tears formed in her eyes at the thought of Bilbo and Fili being killed but she quickly wiped them away. "I don't understand why you are here now. You nearly died there. Why did you leave the mountain just a few months later?"
Fili looked down and played with the hem of his tunic. "I...I thought you were happy to see me again. I thought you liked me and that we could be friends." He stammered and was scared of her answer. If she said that she didn't want him to be there, his whole world would be falling apart.
Poppy took his hands and smiled "Fili, of course I'm happy that you are here and that you consider me a friend. I simply don't understand why you didn't stay."
Fili was relieved but unsure how to explain the situation. He didn't want to lie but he also didn't want to mention that his uncle was the king of Erebor. This wasn't important in Hobbiton. Here he was Fili, a simple blacksmith.
"Hmm... umm... well... That's difficult to explain. I grew up with stories of Erebor. My mother and uncle had been born there. They had always dreamt of living there once again. That's why I went on this quest. I wanted them to spent the rest of their lives in their true home and not in exile far away." Fili sighed.
Poppy, who was still holding his hands, squeezed them lightly "That's an honourable thing to do. Not many people would be that brave and risk their own life for their family. Normally you should be living there with them now."
"Yes, normally I should be happy there. But after the dragon was dead everything turned sour." Fili stifled a sob. He couldn't hide his feelings any longer but he also didn't want to look weak. "My uncle, he, umm, well... Maybe I should explain something first. Every member of our company had been promised a part of the treasure as a reward and payment. Some dwarves go mad when they are around too much gold." Fili sighed in distress.
"That's what happened to your uncle?" Poppy asked completely shocked. Fili nodded "Yes, and as far as I know there is no cure for this sickness."
"Oh Fili, I'm so sorry! That's horrible!" Poppy exclaimed, still holding his hands. Fili looked like he would break down any minute. She knew that she would most likely hurt him even more but she wanted to know "What happened to your brother? When I first met you at the Green Dragon, you seemed inseparable."
At the thought of his brother the tears finally started to stream down Fili's cheeks. He was glad that they were on a meadow quite far away from the road. The hobbits wouldn't see him cry like a dwarfing. Poppy moved closer and laid an arm around his shoulders.
"Kili doesn't care about me anymore. He had been injured by a poisoned arrow. An elf from Mirkwood safed his life. It was as if she had bewitched him. Since that day he has had only eyes for her. He didn't talk to me for once since we had won the battle." Fili took a few deep breaths and wiped his tears away with the sleeves of his tunic.
Poppy held him until he had calmed down. Then she took his hands again and looked into his eyes "I'm sorry, Fili! I didn't mean to hurt you. Sometimes I'm simply too curious."
Fili tried to smile "No, it's fine. I could have said that I won't answer your questions. It was good to talk. When I first woke up after the battle and no one of my family came to visit, I mentally asked Aule why he didn't take me to the Halls of our Fathers. I wished I had died. But then I realised that there are other things and people that are worth living for."
Poppy squeezed his hands again. "I'm glad you didn't die and I hope you'll find the peace and happiness you are looking for here in Hobbiton." Her smile turned into a frown and suddenly she groaned "Argh! I don't want to leave you now. But I have to go back to work. I'm so sorry but the innkeeper will be very angry if I stay away much longer."
"Don't worry! I don't want to cause any trouble. I'll be fine. It was nice to spend lunch with you. I hope we can do that again one day." He stood up and helped her fold the blanket.
Poppy smiled "I would like that very much." She took it and kissed his cheek "See you soon!"
Fili stood there unable to move. Kissing one's beard was a very intimate gesture among dwarves. Of course Poppy couldn't know that but he still took it as a good sign that she liked him a lot.
