Ch 26

The following two weeks past in a blur. Maggie had lessons with Balin for two hours a day and was doing well learning Khuzdul, Gloin also began working with her an hour a day explaining dwarf culture. To everyone's surprise Liz was also coming along with her lessons. She was having difficulty learning to use a bow but that was mostly due to her and Kili talking and joking around. Dwalin was making sure she could use a sword and Thorin had personally worked with Liz twice. The second of those times Fili and Maggie happened to be present since they were walking around.

"Look at that, I think uncle has feelings for your sister." Maggie bit her lip.

"I think that's mutual. She has that look in her eyes. Fili, we shouldn't encourage them." She said walking away.

"Why not? I have actually seen my uncle smile in her presence. He takes time out of counting gold to be with her." Maggie turned on her heel.

"He's still in love with Darla, did you see how he was in Laketown when she came through? That almost broke him."

"Maggie, I think this is all because you and Thorin don't get along. Let them be happy." Fili was flushed and Maggie's face turned red.

"She is my baby sister and I can only see her getting hurt, Fili it's a bad idea. You see it yourself, Thorin is getting consumed by the gold sickness."

"You have no idea what your talking about!" Fili yelled.

"Liz is fragile, she might not act like it but if she gets too attached to him I'll be the one picking up the pieces. Have you ever had to sit with Kili while he cried his heart out?!" Maggie was all but shaking she was so mad. "I have held my sister too many times and I know this is a bad idea!"

"Well I think your wrong." Fili said crossing his arms.

"Fine." Maggie turned on her heel and walked away muttering under her breath.

"What is going on here?" Thorin asked with Liz as his side.

"Nothing." Fili said looking away.

"You two got into your first fight." Liz said with a knowing smirk. "Good luck with that one, she's not the easiest person to talk to when she's upset." She added as Thorin shook his head.

"Take the day off and deal with your wife, we're going to continue to train." Liz looked surprised by this but followed Thorin back to the training area.

Fili stood there for a few moments before walking away. He was still mad himself so he walked towards the treasury knowing the only dwarf he could ask for advice was Gloin. Gloin had been helping organize the treasury and move the coins into a separate area.

"You look like your having a bad day." Balin said looking up from his notes. Fili didn't answer. "Thorin orders?" Balin asked as Fili shook his head.

"You've gotten into a fight with your wife." Gloin said as Balin looked surprised. "What happened?" Gloin said taking a seat.

"We were walking, having a nice day until we started talking about Thorin and Liz."

"The blossoming relationship." Balin said with a grin.

"I think it's good, it's nice to see uncle smile but Maggie thinks it's a bad idea."

"Why is that?" Balin asked as Gloin spoke.

"She wants to protect her sister." Fili nodded.

"Thorin is an honorable dwarf, she could not ask for a finer match. Sure he can be moody but I think with the right woman by his side that could change."

"Maggie said her sister was fragile and she thinks that Thorin is still in love with Darla." Gloin started to pace.

"Asabelle has a fine temper just like Maggie. I would give her some time to cool off. No doubt you should find somewhere else to sleep for the night because you will not be welcome in your rooms." Fili's eyes widened.

"This is ridiculous. It was just a fight-"

"It's never just a fight when it comes to women. The last time Asabelle and I had a row, I was forced to sleep on the floor in Gimli's room for a week."

"A week?" Fili asked as Balin patted him on his shoulder.

"I have heard of fights lasting longer." Fili sat and listened to Gloin talk about several arguments that he had with his wife before deciding he needed to distract himself. Luckily Thorin and Liz had left the training area. Fili looked around and spotted Dwalin looking over the weapon inventory.

"Train with me?" Dwalin nodded. The pair fought for over an hour.

"I heard about you and your lass."

"I really don't want to talk about it."

"Maybe Gloin can offer some help." Fili frowned. "Oh you've already been." Fili and Dwalin continued to fight until it was dinner and they made their way to the dining hall. Everyone was present except Maggie.

"She's not coming." Liz said as Fili sat in his seat.

Dinner was silent and after Bofur sang and the others played instruments, everyone was in a good mood except Fili who sat in the corner arms crossed glaring at the wall. A small smile crossed his face when Liz grabbed Thorin's hand and made him dance with her. Fili wandered off and walked to an extra room and laid on the bed staring at the ceiling. In their rooms Maggie was staring at the letter she had received, she was still upset with Fili but now her attention was focused on the news from her friend. Maggie sat staring at the letter, her uncle had passed away. Her hands shook as she continued to read and a picture fell out. There was a message written from her close friend, Darren, he and his wife had a daughter and named her Margaret. Maggie grabbed a pillow and yelled into it. Fili felt something wrong as he lay in bed that night. The next morning Liz noticed Fili sitting quietly at breakfast.

"Where's Maggie?" She asked and he shrugged. "This isn't like her at all, usually after a few hours she'll cool off and be back to her normal self." Liz stood and walked in the direction of Maggie and Fili's room and she threw open the door without knocking to see Maggie sitting on the floor her eyes swollen and the room was a mess.

"Mags?" Maggie motioned to the paper on the bed and broke out in a new round of sobs. Liz snatched up the paper and read it as tears rolled down her eyes. "Maggie, why didn't you come and get me?" Liz said sinking down next to her sister as they cried together. At breakfast everyone was sitting around waiting for Liz to return.

"It's been too long." Kili said motioning for Fili to go.

"I'll go." Bilbo said walking to the room. The door was open and the two women were sitting on the floor crying. "Oh boy." Bilbo said under his breath as he ran back to the others. "Something happened, they are both crying."

"Why?" Thorin asked.

"I don't know, the room was a mess and there was a letter on the floor but…." Bilbo trailed off. Fili stood up quickly knocking the chair over as he walked down the hall. Kili waited a moment and followed him as did Thorin. The others all sat around.

"They were crying?" Balin asked.

"Yes, not the typical crying that some girls do but they were sobbing." Bilbo said pacing. Fili reached the room first and Maggie stood with shaky legs and rushed into his arms sobbing. Kili stood in the door way and Thorin pushed through as Liz stood.

"He's gone, our uncle." She said wiping at her eyes as Thorin took Liz's hand and led her out of the room. Kili returned to the group with the news.

"Their uncle passed away." He said sitting down.

"The poor lassies, Maggie spoke so highly of her family….well not her parents but everyone else." Balin said.

"Her uncle…. he was her godfather and was married to her aunt, Maggie was very close to them. They wanted her to live with them when she was young." Bilbo said repeating some information that Maggie had spoken of one night.

"That would explain it then." Gloin said shaking his head.

"Where is Thorin?"

"With Liz." Kili said as Liz and Thorin walked back to the table. Her eyes were red but she was no longer crying.

"We're sorry for your loss." Balin said as the others nodded.

"I need to be strong for Maggie, this is going to be really hard on her."