I apologize for the long wait! My beta reader has been way busy, so if you see any mistakes/inconsistencies, please PM me & let me know!

& thank you for your comments! These characters haven't spoken to me as well as some others, so perhaps that is why my dialogue could be improved. If you have suggestions for that, I'd love to hear them! That's yet another thing I need to work on.

11. The Other Side of the Mountains

Meanwhile, the quartet successfully crossed the Misty Mountains. This time, however, instead of staying with Beorn, Radagast the Brown greeted them and invited them to his small home. They gladly accepted.

Sigrid had to withhold her feelings about the place; it was rather unkempt and she was not exactly sure of the safest place to step or sit; so many animals and birds everywhere! Not that she did not like the creatures, but rather was unused to them being in abundance and in the house. Bard had never allowed her family to have pets; not only could they not afford the upkeep, it also reminded him to much of his dear departed wife. She loved all creatures, great and small, and having one in the house would be much too painful. Sigrid understood, but unlike her father she wanted to keep happy memories of her mother. So she decided to talk to Fili about it.

"Fili, darling, what do you think about pets?"

"You know me. I love animals and if you want one I would love to have any kind!"

"Really? So we can have a cat and a dog?"

"Sure! As many as you want! Within reason, of course," he replied with a wink, then kissed her gently and embraced her.

At that moment, Radagast popped in from checking on the forest. Undeterred by their display of affection, he updated them on his whereabouts.
"Everything is just fine! I'm quite thankful for what everyone did to stay the orcs and other evil creatures. The spiders have migrated back to whatever hole they came from!"

The couple was slightly embarrassed but had already learned to take the strange wizard with stride. "That's good!" Fili answered, a bit unsure of what to say.

Sigrid walked over to the hedgehog Sebastian and picked him up. "That means this little sweetheart doesn't have to worry about going outside anymore!" Radagast had told them about the spider incident, which had timid Sigrid a bit concerned. However, everyone assured her she was well protected and they would not allow the giant spiders to harm her; after all, they had made it through Mirkwood the first time quite safely, thus no reason existed for them to not have the same luck befall them yet again.

Little did they know about Esmerelda's plan: she wanted to send her trained spider to bite Sigrid, carry her away, and eat her in the depths of the forest. Thus she would disappear forever and Fili would be the schoolteacher's man!

However, the company had no reason to worry right now. Radagast and his animal friends ensured their safety within his territory, and soon they would pass into Mirkwood, a place where Esmerelda would not dare show her lovely face for her great dread of the Elvenking.

Although Tauriel was sad to see how dark her beloved Mirkwood had become over the past few centuries, she could tell the evil was slowly leaving it. She was so excited to be back in her territory! Some of this mirth passed on to Kili, who was growing more worried about his wife each day. She kept on assuring him she was fine, and he tried to recall Elrond's words. The elf still had about four more months to go and thus they expected to get back to Erebor long before the baby came.

One night in the forest, the married couple snuck away from their sleeping companions for some private time together, something they rarely got but enjoyed immensely.

Kili caressed his wife and gently laid his hand on her extended belly. "Meleth" – he had taken up the elvish expression of affection – "our child is growing!" As if to answer, their unborn son kicked his father, and his parents laughed quietly.

"Yes, that he is. I feel he is an active and healthy baby. He will bring such joy into our lives!"

"Yes, considering how much we are enjoying him already! Just think of what it will be like when we finally meet him!"

They shared an intimate kiss and headed back to the camp, where Fili and Sigrid were none the wiser about this rendezvous, still fast asleep by the fire.

Several days later, the party arrived in at the Mirkwood palace once again. Tauriel was a bit worried about Legolas; she remembered how upset he was when they left and thought things would be more awkward now that she was pregnant with Kili's child. However, she failed to realize that he had left a few short days after her own departure and was now either with the Dúnedain or still searching for them.

Thranduil was certainly happy to see them. "Welcome to Mirkwood again, my friends! I trust your journey went well and you found whom you were seeking?"

"Yes, Fili and I found our mother in the Blue Mountains, your Majesty. Unfortunately, she passed away a few days after we arrived." This time Kili was the one to reply.

"I am so sorry, Fili and Kili. I too have lost my mother; she died bravely fighting beside my father, a long time ago in the War of the Last Alliance." Thus a new connection was made between elf and dwarf, who become friendlier with each passing day.

"How is Legolas?" Tauriel inquired; she still cared about her old friend and it grieved her to know how upset he had been when they departed.

"Shall we talk in private, or do you wish everyone else to hear?" the Elvenking was sensitive to his former guard's needs.

"Whatever you would like to say to me you can say to my friends, King Thranduil."

"Tauriel, you are well aware that Legolas fancied himself to be in love with you. I am afraid he has taken your marriage quite hard. In fact, even before I learned of your desire to marry Kili I advised him to take some time away from here; as far as I know he has joined the Rangers as I suggested. I think it will mature him and help to cure his wanderlust, and hopefully help him forget his broken heart to some extent, although you know I fully realize it will never completely heal. My own heart is heavy over the loss of my own dear wife, as you recall; I shall never forget her but have learned to cherish the happy memories we made together. And congratulations; I am glad Legolas is not here to see your condition; it would only serve to make matters worse. My heart hurts for him, yet he must figure this out for himself."

"Thank you! Both of us are so excited. I truly am sorry about Legolas; I wish there was something I could do. I feel so bad that I could not grant him what he wanted."

"Tauriel, my dear, that is quite kind of you, but I am afraid he will have to mature and realize one cannot always get his desires before he can truly heal. I do want you and Kili to know I do not blame you and wish your marriage and parenthood the best. My son truly does need to mature, and I am glad you realized this before you even thought about marrying him. The two of you would not be happy together as I see you and Kili are. I know your love is true and lasting, just like it was with my wife and I."

All four agreed with the wise Elvenking. He actually invited them to stay a few days, but they insisted one night was enough and the next day made their way back towards Dale.