Chapter Thirty-six; Unexpected News

~Flashback~

Dis was worried sick. Kili had not eaten much for weeks, he barely slept, and Fili was wearing himself out trying to take care of him, Ered Luin, and find Lina. A messenger had been sent to Rivendell, another had been sent to the northern town, and Fili rode along Lina's trail in the evenings to look for anything that would give them a clue to where she was.

She felt bad for her sons, one of them wasting away for his friend, and the other trying to hide his worry for Lina and take care of his brother. She did everything she could to comfort the two of them.

One night Thorin came over, looking defeated.

"There's been no news of Lina at all. Fili's hired spies have found nothing. No red roan racing ponies, no shifty lasses, nobody with blonde hair, even. They made a list of everyone in the town, she's not up there. She can't be here, or someone would have seen her. My only guess is that she went back to Rivendell." He said with a sigh.

"Do you have any idea why she went?" Dis asked.

Thorin shook his head.

"Fili does, but he won't tell anyone. He says he swore to Lina that he would keep it a secret. I admire his loyalty."

"He's taking it harder than he lets on, you know. He doesn't smile very often any more."

Thorin nodded thoughtfully.

"I met Gandalf in Bree. He wants me to take back Erebor, and I've decided to do so."

Shock and panic coursed through Dis.

"Thorin, no! Think about Smaug, he's still in there! I've lost all my family but you and the lads. Please don't!" Dis begged.

"Think about it, Dis! Think about having our home back, rebuilding it, strengthening it. We wouldn't have to live like this anymore. You'd be treated with the respect you deserve, and you'd be free to do whatever you wished-"

"-I don't care about that! All I want is my family around me and a little happiness. If you go off to Erebor...I might never see you again."

"This is what Grandfather and Father would have wanted. They dreamed of the day when the Dwarves were rightfully settled in the Mountain again. I've sent word out to our kin; we are leaving for the Shire soon."

Dis bit her lip to stop the tears. This had to be a terrible nightmare. Thorin couldn't just go to the Mountain and expect Smaug to walk out quietly. There would be a battle and he would likely be killed.

"The lads want to join me."

Those words chilled her heart. She would sooner rip down the Blue Mountains than see her beloved lads leave on this foolish quest.

"No." She said firmly.

"Fili has a very convincing argument. Talk to him before you make this decision. They're growing up now, eager to prove themselves."

Dis shook her head, blinking away tears. She said nothing more, and Thorin left with a sigh.

A few days later she heard a knock at the door and opened it to see Fili. She hugged him and told him to come inside. He looked slightly uncomfortable and she realized what was wrong.

"Your uncle sent you, didn't he?" She asked, not accusingly.

"Yes, but I wanted to come anyway. Don't be angry with him." He said.

He took a deep breath.

"I'm sure you've noticed Kili's behavior lately. He's wasting away. This trip may be just what he needs to get over Lina and-"

"-Fili, this isn't just a little trip! There is a dragon waiting at the other end of it, and who knows what in between!"

"Mum, please let me finish."

She stopped, deciding it would be best to at least hear him out.

"He thinks it was his fault that Lina left, and it's destroying him. He needs to prove his worth, not only to others, but to himself. I worry that if he remains here much longer, he will fade to nothing.

Not to mention that regaining Erebor would be the highest honour bestowed on any Dwarf! Please, Mum!"

"And what if you die? Have you thought of that?" Dis asked.

"We won't, Mum. We know how to fight, and we'll look out for each other."

"You can't fight a dragon like you can a Dwarf, Man, Elf, or Orc. And you can't always look out for your brother."

"No, I can't, but Kili can take care of himself." Fili said.

She studied her son's expression. She saw determination, and considered his words. Granted, the lads were growing up and could take care of themselves. Fili wouldn't let Kili get hurt if there was anything he could do to prevent it, and vice versa.

"How do I know you'll come back? How will I even know if you're alive?"

Fili gave her a sympathetic smile.

"Because we're your sons, and heirs of Durin. We won't give up if there is an ounce of strength left in us, and we'll do everything in your name. We'll come back."

She did not know what compelled her to nod and give him her blessing. Kili came in later and thanked her. She took the runestone she had carved out of her pocket and gave it to him.

"Promise me that you'll come back."

"I promise, Mum."

Dis fretted away the months of their absense, which stretched to over a year, and still no word came. She began to depair, until she heard a knock at the door and opened it to see Thorin.

"We're back, Dis." He said, and she flung herself into his arms, sobbing.

She calmed a bit and pulled back, looking for Fili and Kili. They were nowhere to be seen.

"Oh, no. Please no. Where are they, Thorin?" She asked, fear creeping through her.

"They're fine, sister, just fine. They're putting away the ponies, I believe." He soothed.

Another knock reached her ears and she opened the door again to see Fili. He looked a little older and tireder than when she had last seen him, but happy none the less.

"Oh, Fili!" She cried, hugging him tightly. "You're back, you're really back! Oh, thank Mahal!"

"We're back, Mum. Perfectly well, in fact, more than well." He said, smiling when they broke apart.

She opened the door again to see Kili, and immediately pulled him into her arms, unable to stop the happy tears.

"Oh, I've been so you worried about you lads." She said. "Thank Mahal you're alive! I've missed you so."

"I missed you, too, Mum." Kili said. "Look who I brought back with me."

Dis released him and looked with disbelief on a face she thought she'd never see again.

"Lina? Oh, we worried about you so, dear!" She said, pulling Lina into a hug.

"I'm sorry, Dis. I'll explain later, it's a bit of a long story." Lina said.

~End Flashback~

Dis smiled as she rode westward to see her sons, daughters-in-law, and granddaughter. A granddaughter, of all blessings!

Within a few days she reached the town, and walked up the halls she had lived in for so long.

Lina could tell Fili absolutely loved his little niece. She cherished the memory of his expression when Luna reached out and grabbed his mustache braid for the first time. And then she started making noises and clapping, looking around, and smiling.

His endless grins grew even wider and he spent much of his time with Kili and Luna. If he wasn't there, he was working on a secret project he refused to tell anyone about. Lina found herself too busy with the baby to prank him into telling.

Kili seemed a bit overwhelmed at first, but he was getting the hang of being a father and doted on Luna.

"Our own little daughter. She's just as beautiful as her mother." He would say proudly.

There had been several parties in the town to celebrate Luna's birth, and gifts had been flooding in for weeks. Lina accepted them all gratefully and began to decorate the nursery.

Dis was expected to arrive in a few weeks, and Lina had someone make up a room for her and see that it was kept tidy until she got there.

Kili heard a gentle knock at the door and went to open it. The guards were all very careful when they knocked now, so as not to disturb Luna if she was asleep.

"My lord, your mother has arrived." The guard said.

"My thanks, Baldri." Kili said, and closed the door before going into the kitchen.

"Lina, Mum's here now."

"Oh, that's wonderful! Mora is taking care of Luna right now, let's go and greet her." Lina said.

They walked down towards the entrance and met Dis coming up.

"Hello, Mum!" Kili said, stepping forward to hug his mother.

"Oh, Kili lad, I've missed you!" She said, hugging him back. "And Lina, come here dear!"

She hugged her, too, and pulled back to look her over.

"You look quite healthy! Everything went alright then?" She asked.

"Yes, it was fine. You've got a beautiful little granddaughter now! We've named her Luna. Come on up and you can meet her!" Lina said with a broad smile.

The trio went up to Fili and Mora's rooms and Lina knocked. Mora opened the door and smiled.

"Hello, Dis!" She said, hugging her. "We missed you!"

"I missed you, too, dear." Dis said, returning the hug.

"Come in, Fili's here, too. I think he's ready to reveal his surprise." Mora said with a smile.

They all went in and sat down in the armchairs and on the sofa. Fili passed Luna to Dis with a smile.

"Oh goodness me!" Dis said quietly, tears filling her eyes. "She's beautiful, Lina. Oh goodness, this is too good too be true."

"That's what I thought when I held her for the first time." Kili said. "She's grown quite a lot since then."

Luna waved an arm and smiled, her big dark eyes wide. Dis smiled back.

"Now, I've finally finished it, so here's what I've been working on, Lina." Fili said, going over to an object in the corner with a blanket thrown over it.

"I know you've already got one, but Luna's starting to outgrow it, so I thought you might like this."

He pulled the blanket off to reveal a handmade wooden cradle.

"Oh, Fili, it's absolutely gorgeous!" Lina said, delighted, and Dis agreed with her.

Kili grinned and went over with Lina and Mora to inspect it closer.

"It's perfect, Fili! Thank you!" Lina said, hugging Fili tightly.

"You're most welcome." He replied with a smile. "I'm glad you like it."

They stayed at Fili and Mora's for the afternoon, chatting with Dis and having fun with the baby, who clapped and cooed and laughed.

Eventually it was getting near to dinnertime and Lina and Mora went into the kitchen to cook.

"Fili really loves children, doesn't he?" Lina asked, peeking through the doorway to see him holding Luna with a happy smile.

Mora laughed.

"I would say so! He's determined to be the best uncle ever." She said fondly.

"Well, I think he's doing a very good job of that. Luna loves him." Lina said.

"Unca Fili!" Luna exclaimed.

Everyone looked at her, surprised. Fili's eyes were wide for a moment and then he grinned.

"Why, hello, little one!" He said.

"So much for her saying Mum or Da." Kili said, grinning as well. "You're her first word, brother!"

Lina smiled as her daughter gurgled and grabbed one of Fili's mustache braids.

"Careful, there, little one!" He said, gently prying her hand off with a laugh.

Mora went over to Fili and took his arm with a smile. She shyly began,

"Well, since we're all here, I have some news to share."

Lina looked at Fili, who looked slightly confused. He put Luna in the cradle and stood beside Mora, watching her closely.

She turned to him with a smile.

"You're going to be a father, Fili."

Lina's heart soared with the news, and she looked at Kili, who was grinning, as usual. Looking back to Fili, she grinned, too. Fili laughed, twirling Mora around before hugging her.

"You've got a grin even dopier than when we got the letter from Lina!" Mora said with a giggle, turning to the others. "Just wait, he won't sit down for at least an hour, and only then for a few moments."

"Oh, goodness me, two grandchildren!" Dis said, tears in her eyes. "Now I'm going to start crying again!"

"He took the news much better than Kili did." Lina said, remembering Kili's startled face.

"I'll agree with that myself!" Kili said with a laugh. "Congratulations!"

Yay! Don't you just love awesome Uncle Fili? Soon to be a father himself! I still can't get the mental image of him reading Lina's letter, yelling, and then running around for hours shouting the news ;)

What are your thoughts on Luna's first words? I was dying of acute cuteness when I came up with that.

Well, see you all soon, three chapters to go!

Thoronsul Belegmegil