Author's Notes: Tommy Merlyn has become quite adept at throwing me curveballs. I shouldn't be surprised, he comes by it honestly … his father does the exact same thing. In case you hadn't realized it (which I'm sure you have), Malcolm is … maybe the best way to put it would be, out of character? While I'm sure that some of his training courtesy of the League included dealing with nightmares, he's getting hit with a double-whammy here … the murder of his wife, combined with Frerin's death and the horror of Smaug's attack on Erebor (maybe that should be a triple-whammy). In any event, he's not entirely awake and his defenses are down … Tommy is all he has left, and he'll now hang onto that with everything he is. Also, yes, it's my own personal head canon that Tommy's full name is Thomas Malcolm Merlyn. Chapter title comes from Boromir's words to Aragorn, about the return of the Lords of Gondor to the White City. They never entered the White City together, but the Lords of Gondor have returned. In this chapter, Tommy reveals that he knows a lot more than what he's saying; Slade prepares for the coming assault against the bad guys; while three members of the Fellowship are reunited. Oh, and yes, Skender is 'played' by Graham McTavish and Grigore is 'played' by Ken Stott.
Chapter Nine
The Lords of Gondor
Romania (formerly Erebor)
The first time Tommy Merlyn's life was forever altered, he was eight years old and a police officer told him that his mother had been killed … that he would never see her again. He lost his mother and his father at the same time, for all intents and purposes. That was the day he saw the light die in his father's eyes, that was the day the loving daddy who was one of the centers of his world vanished, to be replaced with someone Tommy didn't recognize. Gone was the warmth, gone was the laughter, leaving an ice cube in the form of a man in his place. A short time later, his body followed his spirit, and the man who eventually returned to Starling City and to Tommy was unrecognizable. What followed was the worst two years of his life, made bearable only by the Queen family in general and Oliver Queen in specific. What made it even worse was Tommy's secret fear that he somehow drove his father away. Was he a bad boy after his mom died? He didn't understand what happened to change his father.
His life was to change again when he was twelve. His father was home from one of his many 'business' trips. Tommy got up in the middle of the night, needing to both use the bathroom and get a drink of water. The bathroom was halfway between his room and his father's, and it was as he was leaving the bathroom that he heard it. A choked back cry of "Rebecca!" Rebecca. Tommy's mother. The boy stood stock still, hearing his father weeping. His father never cried, not even at his mother's funeral. And that was when it really became strange. His father began speaking in a strange language, weeping all the while.
No one ever wants to hear or see his parents cry. It was just … it was scary. And it didn't get any easier as you got older. Even with their relationship so strained (to the breaking point), it was terrifying to the twelve year old. Listening to his father having a nightmare and hearing him cry out in a language Tommy didn't recognize? That was even scarier. But the pre-teen pushed open the door to his father's room, to find his father thrashing about on the bed, the covers tangled around his body. He heard his father moan again, "Rebecca," and Tommy blinked back tears, because for the first time, he knew his father missed his mom as well. But that lasted only a moment, because his father began to scream in a way Tommy never heard anyone scream before. And it terrified Tommy.
The boy ran to his father's bed and began shaking him, trying desperately to wake his only remaining parent, the only family he had left, crying, "Wake up, Dad … Daddy, please, wake up!" Tommy would realize much, much later that what he'd done was incredibly dangerous. He hadn't known at the time that his father was far more dangerous than anyone realized. He'd only known that his father was hurting and it was scaring him. What he'd done was dangerous … but it worked. Malcolm Merlyn awoke with a start, to be greeted with his son's tear-stained face.
Father and son stared at each other for several moments, and Tommy wasn't sure what to expect. But even with his greatest hopes, he could have never imagined what actually came next. His father choked out, "Tommy?" And then for the first time since his mother's death, Tommy found himself in his father's arms, as he was swept into a fierce embrace. Tommy held on for dear life, because he had missed his dad so much. In truth, they were wrapped around each other so tightly, it was hard to know where one began and another ended. At last, his father whispered, sounding more like himself than he had in the last four years, "What are you doing up, kiddo?"
He should have told the truth. He knew that. But instead, Tommy heard himself saying, "I had a nightmare … I dreamed that you and Mom died at the same time." It wasn't entirely a lie, as it was a nightmare Tommy had in the past … just not that particular night. Maybe that was why his father believed him (when it always seemed in the past that his father could tell when he lied. Or maybe he was just exhausted). As it was, his father's face seemed to crumple and Tommy whispered, "I know I'm twelve, and I shouldn't ask … but can I stay with you, Dad?"
"Yes. Yes, maybe we can keep the nightmares away together. Just can't make a habit of it, okay, Tommy?" his father answered hoarsely, and Tommy wasted no time crawling into bed with his father, huddling against him and taking comfort in the familiar arms closing around him. The boy didn't speak any more after that. But his father began talking, telling him about the wonders he'd seen during his travels. Tommy didn't much care about what he talked about … just hearing his father's voice and the beat of his father's heart comforted him.
The next morning, his dad didn't speak of the previous night when Tommy stumbled downstairs for breakfast … but the ice wasn't back, either. Instead, he found his father making breakfast in his suit and tie. It was just toast and bacon, but it was better than the most elaborate meal he'd had in the last four years, because his dad made it for him. And … even better, as the grumpy, still-sleepy Tommy made his way to his seat, his father ruffled his hair … smiling when Tommy protested (more as a formality than because he was actually irritated).
The peace wasn't to last, of course … Tommy was heading into his teens, and all that entailed, but now Tommy had that memory to cling to … the night he realized that his father really hadn't stopped loving him. About three years after that game-changing night, Dunstan Holley came into their lives. And for the second time, Tommy eavesdropped. He learned a lot from that conversation that he wasn't supposed to hear … including the name of the language his father was crying out in when he had that nightmare. Khuzdul, it was called. He learned something else. His father was the reincarnation of a prince who was killed in a horrific battle.
Dunstan Holley was also a reincarnation. And for the first time, he heard of a hobbit. He knew what dwarves were, of course, but he'd never heard of hobbits. And Tommy was enough of a fifteen year old boy to be thoroughly amused by the idea that his father (who was tall) was the reincarnation of a dwarf prince. However, he stifled his laughter and listened intently. Tommy encountered the first great change of his life when he was eight and he lost his parents. He was twelve when he went through the second great change, and he got his father back. And he was fifteen when he began the journey that eventually led him here, to Romania.
During that time, he continued to listen in on his father's conversations with Dunstan Holley and learned that the real reason they were excavating here was to find the tomb of his father's brother during that first life, more than thirty thousand years earlier. What he didn't learn from eavesdropping, he learned from asking questions of Skender Petrescu and his much-older cousin, Grigore Petrescu, a high-ranking official in the Romanian government who looked like a kindly grandfather and treated Tommy as a grandson. The two men were delighted by the questions asked by the young man and answered whatever they could. It was from them that he learned about Thorin Oakenshield and the quest he led to reclaim their home from the dragon Smaug.
It became clear to him, as more of the blanks were filled in and he learned more about his uncle Thorin, that Tommy Merlyn would need to grow up. Not because he had to fill the ginormous shoes of Thorin Oakenshield, but because he was steadily realizing that the closer they came to finding Erebor, more of Frerin of Erebor was rising to the surface. Tommy had to grow up, because his father would need him. His father, much as Tommy now knew that he loved him, was still somewhat distracted and didn't notice the changes in Tommy. Someone, however, did. His best friend Oliver, and Tommy faced a choice … hide who he was becoming or risk losing his best friend. He chose the first option, because when he had nothing and no one else, not even his father, he had Oliver. At least, in the beginning, that was the choice he made.
But Tommy Merlyn was once more changing, and he couldn't be the same boy he was when he left Starling City with his father all those months ago. Not after hearing about his uncle from the reincarnations of those who loved him most, who followed him halfway across Middle-earth (how was that different from Earth?). Now, they went by the names of Grigore Petrescu and Skender Petrescu, but then, they were the sons of Fundin, Balin and Dwalin, and they were the cousins of Thorin Oakenshield. That made them family to Tommy as well.
Which was why he asked them to start teaching him Khuzdul. That provoked a quick conversation (in Romanian) … evidently, outsiders weren't normally taught Khuzdul. However, as Skender explained once they announced their decision, he was the son of Frerin-reborn. While he wasn't a dwarf, he was family. Tommy fist-pumped the air before throwing his arms around both of his new cousins, much to their amusement. So, while he didn't understand everything that his father and new uncle were saying, he knew enough to realize that his father was explaining what Uncle Thorin would find outside Erebor. He also knew enough to start talking to his other new cousins, Fili and Kili. He was delighted that in dwarf terms, they were around his age … and they were delighted to have a new partner-in-crime.
He was eight when his life changed the first time … twelve when it changed the second time … and fifteen when Dunstan Holley entered their lives, changing things yet again. Now, at the age of twenty, his life was getting ready to change again. And Thomas Malcolm Merlyn? Oh, he couldn't wait to see how things would change. Whoever said that people never heard well of themselves when they eavesdropped? They didn't know what they were talking about.
LOTRLOTRLOTRLOTRLOTR
Just outside Campbell, NC
It was getting time to move … Slade Wilson could feel it. For the last hour or so, things had been quiet while Jason Wellington rested in the corner, his daughter curled against his side. She really was a cute little girl. Made him miss his own kids all the more. About five minutes earlier, Slade heard the first stirrings of trouble. He wasn't sure yet what kind of trouble … it could lead to Sauron's lackeys coming back in here and beating the shit out of Jason for looking like Thorin Oakenshield or because he absolutely insisted on protecting his young daughter.
It wasn't. It was another kind of trouble, the kind of trouble what could get them all out of this. It began with shouting, followed by shooting, and Slade kicked Azog to the back of his mind when the Defiler started snarling. Shut up, asswipe, Slade warned, remember, I got no problem with offing myself if you go too far. And if I die, so do you. In fact, I may even make sure that you get to die at the hands of Thorin Oakenshield's reincarnation if you don't behave.
As ever, the threat was enough to silence Azog … or maybe it was the knowledge that Slade would follow through with his threat. Regardless, there was a good chance that Sauron's minions would come in here to use Jason or Natalie as a human shield against the good guys. Slade knew he couldn't protect the father and daughter one hundred percent, but even if he died, he'd go down fighting. He would always go down fighting.
He was proven correct only a moment later, when the door all but imploded. And no, that wasn't really an exaggeration … the door was literally almost removed from its hinges by the force of the impact. Natalie Wellington awoke, crying out, even as her father tried to comfort her. But her surprise turned to terror as she was ripped from her father's arms by one of the goons who'd beaten the crap out of Jason Wellington earlier. He snarled something in what Slade only barely recognized as the Black Speech, kicking Jason hard in the chest when the man lunged to take back his daughter. Natalie screamed again, seeing her father collapse.
Okay, these guys were really starting to piss Slade off! He lashed out with a kick to the back of the goon's knee, and the bloke wailed, dropping Natalie. Slade grabbed the little girl, and much to his surprise, she held onto him for dear life, burying her face in his neck. Slade held her tightly, angling her body away from the goon. But the arse had other trouble coming, in the form of pounding feet. Both he and Slade looked toward the doorway, as three figures appeared. All three were armed and all three looked ready to kill. But that wasn't the surprising part. No, the surprising part was that two of the newcomers were … Elves? Dear God, Slade thought, feeling almost dizzy as he realized what he was seeing, they're actually the Firstborn! Azog growled again, and Slade shoved his previous self into a tiny Azog-box. He looked again … yes, there were a pair of Firstborn flanking a Man? There was something strange about the man, too. Something that Slade couldn't place. Not until …
He smells of Gondor, Azog hissed and Slade would have rolled his eyes, because seriously, could this dumb-arse not buy a clue? Even so, he knew that Azog was right. He wouldn't have put it in those terms, but the Man was definitely Not From Around Here. Azog went on, sounding thoughtful instead of disdainful (a sure sign that something had piqued his curiosity), There is only one of him, not two. Not like us. Well, that made things interesting, to be sure. Someone of Middle-earth who wasn't a reincarnation. What the hell did that mean?
However, there was no time to ask, for the blond Gondorian said only, "He's mine." The Elf to the Man's right hesitated, then nodded and turned to face Slade, motioning him forward. Or maybe he wanted Slade to give him Natalie. Not happening, blondie. Not happening. Slade pushed himself to his feet (and any medical expenses he incurred thanks to these thugs were going straight to Merlyn), barely suppressing a groan. The Elf actually rolled his eyes, but allowed Slade to carry Natalie from the room, before turning to help the other Elf.
Outside, he found two young women, along with a young-ish man (around Slade's own age, maybe a little older), a slightly older woman, and an older man. The fair-skinned girl cried out, "Natalie?" The little girl froze briefly, and then in a gesture Slade really should have been used to by now, lunged out of his arms for the woman. His fear that she would let the little girl fall was for naught as she caught Natalie with the ease of someone who had done it many times before. She held the child tightly, "Oh, sweetheart, it's over … Legolas and Haldir are going to get your daddy, and then we'll take you both home to your grandfather. Thank you so much for looking after her. I'm Detective Megan Rafferty and this is my partner, Detective Elena Gutierrez." No doubt, the Detective Megan and Detective Elena whom Natalie mentioned.
"Slade Wilson … believe me, the pleasure is all mine," he replied. Except when it wasn't, but it would hardly be mannerly to say that now. The other detective was stroking Natalie's hair and rubbing her back as the little girl sobbed into Detective Rafferty's shoulder. Poor kid, it had been a rough day for her. Slade continued, "You'll need to take her father to hospital, he …"
He didn't have the chance to finish the sentence, because the thug who'd beaten Jason Wellington literally somersaulted through the doorway … but it wasn't under his own steam. No, that steam was provided by the blond Man, who was almost literally shaking with rage as he stormed out of the room after the thug. The older blonde woman with the two detectives took one look at the Man, grabbed a shoulder of both detectives and dragged them back out of the probable line of fire. The blond Man took note of the action and inclined his head, before turning his attention to the cowering wretch at his feet. Damn, Slade didn't have any popcorn! This would be an arse-kicking of Middle-earth proportions. Except, it wasn't. Damn.
"I know you want to beat him within an inch of his life, Boromir … but now is not the time. Besides, he's technically in police custody, and if you do beat him, it'll reflect badly on Megan," the dark-haired, young-ish man said quietly as the two blond Elves emerged from the room with Jason Wellington between them. Boromir continued to stare at the now-mewling goon, green eyes flashing with rage. Again, the man spoke softly, an odd cadence in his voice when he spoke the Gondorian's name, "Boromir. We must go. Jason is in need of medical attention. I would not let him die, just as I would not have let you die."
Azog murmured, Another two in one. They knew each other. That part, Slade figured out on his own; however, he would hold his own counsel while Azog was behaving himself. At last, the Man named Boromir inhaled deeply and said, "My death was not in your hands, my King. And you know I would die once more before I allowed anyone or anything to hurt Megan." King? Slade shook his head, because even before he heard Azog growl, he knew that this wasn't the reincarnation of Thorin Oakenshield. He just … knew it.
"Then come, my brother … we have thirty thousand years of catching up to do. Legolas … Haldir. It is so good to see you both!" the dark-haired man said, beaming at the two Firstborn, and now Azog did growl at the first Elven name. Slade could feel a headache coming on, a really bad headache, and oh dammit to hell, he should have known better than to think that Azog would continue behaving himself …!
Help came from an unexpected place, as a blow connected with the back of his head, momentarily silencing Azog … but a moment was all Slade needed to push Azog back into his box. He turned to thank whoever it was that just performed a cognitive recalibration on him, to find the other detective smiling at him faintly. He inclined his head to her, and that small smile grew into a mischievous grin. She said, gently nudging her partner forward, "C'mon. Let's get the hell out of here and get everyone the medical attention they need."
LOTRLOTRLOTRLOTR
When Legolas caught sight of Boromir for the first time in thirty thousand years, his breath actually caught in his throat. It was a reaction he wasn't expecting … and that was a surprise in and of itself. He had known that Boromir was alive once more … he knew that it was Boromir himself, not a reincarnation (as Aragorn was, and oh, it was so good to see his friend again! It had been far too long!). But until he saw the blond Gondorian, it wasn't truly real to him. The last time he'd seen the Man, Boromir was lying in the boat that would carry him down that Anduinn. And yet here he was … strong and healthy and oh so very alive. His hair was a little shorter than the last time Legolas saw him, but he was unmistakably Boromir.
And the slightly taller, black-haired man at his side was just as unmistakably Aragorn. His face had changed, but his spirit had not, and he smiled at Legolas as the small group of reinforcements marched up to meet him, Haldir, and Detective Gutierrez in front of the compound, and not a moment too soon. The end of the hour had just about arrived. There were no introductions, but Legolas took note of the warmth between the two detectives, and the way Boromir's eyes never strayed from the new detective (Megan Rafferty) for too long. He knew from his emails with Ronan that both young women helped to take care of Boromir upon his arrival in this world, but evidently, he had some special feelings for Megan Rafferty.
With everyone assembled (and it took all of Legolas' willpower to keep from rolling his eyes when Detective Gutierrez cracked a joke about Avengers assembling … really, did she think he hadn't spent some time in the mortal world since the advent of comic books? It was almost insulting), they swept through the compound, encountering just enough resistance for such a place (also just enough resistance that each of the humans were at least able to punch someone. Also kick. Sometimes even shoot, although Legolas still hated guns, and probably always would. Entirely too loud).
And then they reached the room where the Wellingtons were being held, along with another man (who Legolas eventually realized was Australian). Legolas had to give the minions of Sauron their due … they did fight to the last man. But that last man made a very stupid mistake … he threatened the lives of the two police detectives. Boromir gave a low growl of fury, and rather than hold back his returned brother-in arms, Legolas hung back a little as the Gondorian drop-kicked the other man backward and into the door. Truly, Legolas was impressed, even as he winced at the force of the kick. Boromir hadn't held back. Not at all.
Adding insult to injury, their last remaining man yanked the terrified Natalie Wellington out of her father's arms, kicking him back when Jason Wellington tried to fight for his child. This time, it was Haldir's turn to growl menacingly. Even now, so many years later, Haldir still reacted … very badly to seeing children in danger. But she wasn't in danger for long, as the other man snapped a kick to the back of the last man's knee, and snatched the small girl out of his arms. She clung to him, burying her face in his neck, even as Boromir said in a very cold, very quiet voice, "He's mine." Legolas wasn't about to tell him 'no.' Even if he was wrong about Boromir being in love with Megan Rafferty, she still saved his life … she and her partner … and for that reason alone, Boromir would feel a particular duty to her. However, all that being said, Legolas didn't think that he was wrong about Boromir's feelings for her.
As the unknown man carried Natalie from the room, Legolas and Haldir flowed around Boromir to pick up Jason Wellington and carry him out of the room. What happened next wasn't something Legolas saw … however, Aragorn … Gavin …did see, and did nothing to stop their old friend. The man carrying Natalie was surprised (a little) when the child lunged out of his arms and straight into Detective Rafferty's. The woman held the little girl close, and her partner stroked her hair and her back, both comforting the terrified child. As soon as the compound was secured, Captain Anders called Gimli inside, with another man acting as an escort. He was another soul from Middle-earth, though Legolas wasn't entirely sure who he was.
Ronan and the other man were still on their way when Ar-when Gavin talked Boromir out of beating this last man to a pulp, reminding him that he was now in police custody (well, not really) and that anything bad that happened from this point forward would reflect badly on Megan. Legolas still wasn't sure of the relationship between Megan and Gavin, although Legolas realized she was quite important to him. What was particularly telling to Legolas, however, was Boromir's reaction … he backed down, inclining his head to Ar-to Gavin.
Legolas exhaled slowly as Boromir hauled the man to his feet, accepting the handcuffs provided to him by Detective Gutierrez. The minion spat out something in the Black Speech, and Gavin back-handed him. He explained, "I asked Boromir to stand down. That doesn't mean I'll tolerate threats to my little sister or to my town." He added in Westron, making Sauron's man freeze, "I may not be a king any longer, but I will still protect those around me. Do not mistake kindness for weakness."
"Right, let's go then. Ronan and Dad should be meeting us roughly halfway, because I know that Dad was going to call Dr. Wellington as soon as he was sure that we had Jason and Natalie," Detective Rafferty observed. Legolas, meanwhile, was still recovering his wits from the revelation that the woman even now carrying Natalie was the younger sister of his reincarnated best friend. He really hadn't seen that coming, but maybe he should have. Or not. He would worry about that later. Boromir shoved the new prisoner over to Gavin with a bit more force than was probably necessary, before turning his full attention to the other man's sister. She smiled at him, and even Legolas could tell it was a bit forced. But she said, "I'm fine, Boromir. Really, I am. Still trying to adjust to the news that a) my father is the reincarnation of a pre-medieval version of a prime minister and that b) my older brother, who was my cousin for most of my life, is the reincarnation of a king. Takes a little getting used to."
"You are not fine, Megan. But you will be. This, I swear to you. And the obstacles you fear can be overtaken," Boromir answered quietly, and if Legolas had any doubts about the Gondorian's feelings for the sister of their king, those were now gone. She smiled at him, the expression seeming a little more natural, though there were still shadows in her eyes, and followed her brother and Haldir from the compound. Legolas thought about what she just revealed. She only just learned that Gavin was her brother, when she spent so much of her life thinking that he was her cousin. More than that, she learned that he was the reincarnation of the king, and that their father was the reincarnation of a prime minister. What would that … oh. The answers clicked into place for Legolas. Prime Minister … Steward. But which one? Gondor had a number of Stewards over the course of its history, it could have been any of them. And truly, it wasn't that important. Was it?
Normally, Legolas stayed out of the romantic entanglements of other people. They were none of his business, and they tended to be hopelessly messy. But there was much he wasn't told, and much he was trying to understand. Besides, focusing on this gave him time to sort other things out. He could tell from the looks which Gavin's sister gave Boromir that she shared his feelings. So, what could be the sticking point? Boromir's words kept repeating in his mind, 'the obstacles you fear can be overtaken.' What kinds of obstacles could they be? What obstacles could prevent two people from being together? It didn't seem that Megan was concerned about Boromir being from another time entirely, so that wasn't it. She seemed fine with that, actually. She seemed more off-balance about the revelations involving her brother and her father.
Her father, the Steward. The reincarnation of the Steward of Gondor. A sudden, insane possibility occurred to Legolas, and he asked Gavin, "Your father is the reincarnation of a Steward of Gondor?" Gavin offered him a wary look as they moved slowly toward the rendezvous point, mindful more of their injured than of the prisoner being dragged along by the former King of Gondor, but nodded anyhow. Legolas asked, "Did you … did Aragorn know him in that lifetime?"
Gavin's expression gave credence to Legolas' theory and the Elf prince went on slowly, "He was Denethor, was he not? And that is why Megan sees obstacles to a potential relationship with Boromir, because he was Boromir's father and now he is hers." Gavin inclined his head in agreement, and Legolas exhaled. Well. That was one mystery solved, in a town full of them. Including, of all the cities and towns in the world, why was Sauron striking first at this small city in North Carolina?
Or was that the reason why he was striking first here, because it was small? Because he assumed that no one would care? Legolas thought of Frodo and mentally shook his head. If that was the case, then Sauron had learned nothing in the last thirty thousand years. However, Legolas had. As had Aragorn and Boromir and Gimli. Four members of the Fellowship were back together. This time, they would make it through to the end, together all of them. He would never admit it outright, but there was a part of him that was daring Sauron to take another strike at Campbell while the Fellowship protected it.
He wouldn't, of course … he would strike elsewhere, before returning to Campbell. Legolas could only trust that Sauron's next victims were hardy souls, and able to survive whatever he threw at them. Legolas would use the time by helping to prepare Campbell for what was coming. And it was coming. Legolas didn't have the gift of far-sight, but he didn't need it. It wasn't necessary to have far-sight, to know that Sauron was returning, assuming he wasn't already here. He was coming, and they would be ready for him.
That didn't mean, however, that Legolas couldn't help play matchmaker, once he was sure that Megan Rafferty was good enough for his old friend. He was, as they said nowadays, quite capable of multi-tasking!
TBC
Additional Notes: I have to apologize … the reunion between Legolas and Boromir was anti-climactic. But this is how the boys wanted it … down to business, sentiment could wait until later. When all is said and done, Aragorn, Boromir, and Legolas were all soldiers, and while soldiers (sailors, airmen, Marines, Coasties) are among the most sentimental people around, they also believe in getting the job done first. So. We are heading into the home stretch. We return to Romania in the next chapter, as Thorin reunites with three members of his company (along with Kili and Fili). There will also likely be a section in Campbell, as the injured get taken to the hospital, and everyone deals with the aftermath (including Slade). As things stand now, there will be an epilogue in which we find Sauron metaphorically licking his wounds and lashing out in response. Depending on how things work out with the next chapter, we may also find some resolution for Megan's concerns and finally get those two together. Oh! And before I forget, some itty-bitty spoilers … I have chosen Kristin to be Fili's lady once the Durins and company get to Campbell. Any thoughts for Kili's lady (and sorry, I'm not even considering Tauriel for Kili in the modern age. I have her earmarked for someone else)?