Disclaimer: I do not own The Hobbit. Never will.

A/N: NO FLAMES! Not accepted.


Chapter Seven – Family

They may not have seen each other for 60 years but they were still family and somehow Karla knew that if she didn't spend every minute with them she could at Beorn's she may regret it later. So it came to pass that she cornered Fíli to talk to him.

"I forgive you." Were the first words out of her mouth.

"Oh…you have." He seemed surprised.

"Uncle said you had already forgiven yourself your indiscretions so it's time I did." Karla said. Fíli smiled at her; that always present genuine smile that she hadn't seen in 60 years and it made her heart beat faster.

"I'm glad; also I am sorry for my words the other day about your skills with a blade. I knew you were skilled – all I meant was that you already had so much skill with your bow." Fíli grinned.

"I know what you meant. I guess I was still angry at you over all those years you spent teasing me." Karla pointed out, "I know now that they were just jokes you just have to remember that sometimes they hurt. More than you mean them too."

"I know." Fíli said. Both knew that they couldn't keep these secrets to themselves all the time. They had to tell the other at some point, but Karla knew she had to feel it was time and she still wanted to spend some more time with Kíli and Thorin. Not to mention she wanted to get to know Bilbo a bit more too. The Hobbit was by far much nobler than he first appeared to be. After leaving Fíli alone to his thoughts, Karla found the Hobbit outside sitting with Thorin, both smoking their pipes.

"Mind if I join you gentlemen?" She asked sitting down without a response.

"You have spoken to Fíli?"

"Not of that, Uncle. No. But I have forgiven him and he knows." Karla said, "Master Baggins? I wish to apologize for my words to you when we first spoke. I should not have spoken as I did."

"Saying I was noble or stupid?" He asked after blowing a smoke ring.

"Both. Should wish you well on your quest and keep such comments to myself. I had no right to call you stupid. I only meant to say that not many hobbits would go on such a journey." Karla said, Bilbo nodded.

"You speak many truths, My Lady. I wish to ask you…why did you not stay in Ered Luin. Was it because of Fíli? Or was it to prove to him and to yourself that you really did have all those skills that he said you didn't need?" Bilbo asked.

"Mostly because of Fíli. Have you ever been told you cannot do something and then wanted to show them you can do it?" Karla replied.

Bilbo glanced at Thorin, "On this quest it had been a fact until the battle with Azog." Karla smiled and nodded.

"My Uncle is certainly one that needs convincing. But I heard you preformed nobly and you did not have to protect him, however you might like to know had my Uncle not been saved by you, then Fíli would have become the default leader. As Thorin's heir, it's just how it is." Karla explained. Bilbo nodded.

"I was aware I believe Balin explained it to me that way at the Carrock." Bilbo said, his tone wasn't as warm as it had been back when they'd first spoken, but it was warmer than it had been.


It was much later when a cookie appeared in front of her face while she stared into the flames in the main dining area. Looking up a pair of brown and a pair of blue eyes met her with matching cheeky smiles.

"Boys, I think your mother is going to start to notice the missing cookies." She said taking it from Kíli with a smile.

"Oh well, she doesn't miss them, I swear. Plus she sent me off with extras just in case we met you. She always hoped you were still alive." Kíli told her, Karla laughed.

"I told you I would see you again one day, Kíli. I never told you I was going on a suicide mission, though in hindsight it probably was. I ran out of arrows halfway through my journey and had to use my sword the rest of the time. It was tiring but Beorn was good to me. He helped me settle here and gave me a home. But somehow I always missed Ered Luin and I suppose I'll get to live in Erebor if this crazy quest Uncle has you on is successful." She said.

"You believe it to be folly?" Fíli asked

"I believe it to be stupid and suicidal." Karla corrected. Kíli grinned at her.

"Don't worry. Uncle won't let anything stand between him and getting the Mountain back." He said, "And he won't let anything near us. He knows we can handle ourselves but he'd rather we didn't have to fight at all." Karla laughed again and this time leaned back against the chair behind her.

"I know he knows you can handle yourselves. But I'd rather you didn't have to fight either. I mean if I can disarm Fíli then what's to say an Orc couldn't?" She joked; Fíli took it the wrong way.

"Nice to know you care, Cousin." Fíli said a little too coldly.

"I meant nothing by it, Fee." Karla replied with a smile.

"I know you didn't. But sometimes it still hurts." Fíli pointed out, Karla nodded she knew. Her jokes about his skill hurt just as much as his had done. Fíli got up and made his way to his room to retire.

"You're going to have to tell him before we leave here. And you know he told me…he feels the same way. We find it hard to keep secrets. He doesn't know I know but he trusts me not to tell you." Kíli said.

Karla cocked an eyebrow, "Then why did you?"

"Because you deserve to go in there knowing how he's likely to respond. And that is with feelings in kind to yours." Kíli told her. Karla gave her cousin a hug and thanked him for telling her although she wouldn't recommend him doing it all the time. As if Fíli trusted him then he should respect that.

"I had to tell them what I knew when you ran away." Kíli said softly.

Karla smiled, "That's one promise I'm so glad you broke, Kíli. But promise me this," Kíli nodded.

"Of course," He promised, he knew he couldn't break this one.

"Make sure you; Fíli and Uncle are alive when I make it to Erebor. I do not want my heart to be ripped out." Karla said, Kíli smiled and nodded.

"I'll try my best, Cousin." Karla kissed his forehead before allowing him to retire himself.