A/N: And I thank the Valar that the readers are patient too!
Just riding a rollercoaster in my life these days, but writing helps me to keep sane.I hope you like this one, it is not a filler, albeit not everything expected has been written yet; I thought it better to post it at this point than to make you wait another week.
I'll love to hear from you, you keep me encouraged and give me strenght when all else fails.
Namarië!

Age summary:

Aredhel: Adult elf
Chao Li Baako: Younger memebr of the Sun Cheng delegation, shaman aprentice; H.A. 14
Dís: Daughter of Thráin, Kíli's mother; D.A. 209
Ellen: Sister of Wolfram, aunt of Lily and Iris, wife of Kíli; E.A. adult; H.A. 35
Ferumbras Took: Bilbo's cousin; HO.A. 53; H.A. 34
Gwendolin Browne: Common woman who to M.E. through the Mirkwood/Hogwarts Gate; H.A. 22
Iris: Daughter of Wolfram, sister of Lily, niece of Ellen, bethroted to Bilbo; Ho.A. 34; H.A. 20
Kim: Fifth child of Kíli, his second daughter; D.A. 4; H.A. 3
Liao Wang: Carriage dog of the Sun Cheng delegation, owned by Chao; Dog age 3
Lily: Daughter of Wolfram, sister of Iris, niece of Ellen; D.A. 74; H.A. 25
Tsui Wei Xiu: Sun Cheng delegation leader; ; H.A. 44
Ulfir, son of Ulfar: Human from Dale, in a trainee program as ward of the royal family; ; H.A. 28
Wang Wu Chao: Shaman of the Sun-Cheng delegation, father of Chao; ; H.A. 47
Wolfram: Brother of Ellen and father of Lily and Iris; ; H.A. 49

"You… you are my best friend!"

Dwalin smiled at the half drunken elf who greeted him with this statement as he got back to the table after the Durin's Awakening Song dance. The Iced Fire flask in the buckle of ice was more than three quarters down, and Aredhel's dizzy gaze transpired why. He pushed the buckle away from her reach as he sat down, with a gruff.

"Hey! Don't take my shots away, it is not fair!"

"It is not fair to stomp both feet in a watermelon, either, and that's what you're doing."

"You are funny!"

"I'm not funny, I'm a warrior."

"My wife was a warrior, and she was funny."

"I'm not yer wife."

Aredhel held Dwalin by the shoulders and looked seriously at him, as seriously as her drunken state allowed.

"No… You are not… You're my best friend, ever!"

"It is not possible that I'm your best friend ever, Aredhel. Ye sure found people to be good friends with along your don't-know-how-much-thousands of years."

"No!" She protested, a finger up to make her point stand out. "No friend ever danced dwarvish dances with me, and they are… (hicup!) fun!"

Dwalin beckoned the barman to him and got a jar of water, pouring her a cup.

"Here, you will thank me for this tomorrow."

She took a sip of water and wrinkled her nose.

"This is not funny! You don't like me, Dwalin; why don't you like me so much that you give me plain water?"

"Mahal, you're not making sense anymore. Now be a good lass and drink your water."

"No!" She protested again, pouting. "Water makes me sad; I cry so much for Nellas that her path to Mandos is full of water-lilies and lotus and thalias and she is wading through a swamp of my tears with irises and cattails all around her…"

Not knowing what to do with her statement, Dwalin took a sip of water himself, shaking his head.

"You!" His head shake was interrupted by the elf's hands that grabbed him by the cheeks. "You are… my best friend… really!"

"Ouch, come on, enough of this!"

But her hands held him in an iron grip.

"Who would even drink water with me if not my best friend?"

He saw the opportunity and grabbed it with both hands.

"Then, get your hands off my face and drink your water as a good lassie should, hmm? Just because you're my friend."

"Yeah! We will drink water together!"

"Aye, drink, lassie, drink it all down…"

ooo000ooo

The wards at the front Gate of Erebor made some stableman to take their ponies and horses and provided that their few belongings would be sent to designed chambers that were ready for weeks already. It was late at night but Bilbo had no intention of wasting time in Dale and they had headed directly to the dwarf kingdom with the transport they rented in the harbour in the north of the lake.

"Look at these pillars! And these vaults! Bilbo, you told us it was a mighty place, but no tale of yours really paid justice to this!"

Bilbo could only smile at his cousins' excitement.

"First time I was here it was all covered in dust and dragon filth, I could not tell you anything different from what I told. Then next year it was in its first steps to rebuilding, and very far from what you're seeing. Lake-Town has changed too, as it was rebuilt, but a town in the middle of a lake is a town in the middle of a lake, rain or shine. Dale is a wonderful surprise, too, as it was badly damaged, but I had seen little of it then, we were focused on Erebor, of course. But this…" He gazed around with arms open at the halls full of light. "This is amazing! What wouldn't Thorin give to see this place restored to its glory! What a shame he had to die in battle so soon after he reclaimed what was his birthright."

The memory of his former 'employer' tasted bittersweet, but there was nothing that could undo the past, for good or evil. Thorin was gone, as was Fíli, but life goes on and here he was to meet his bride and to marry her after all the years of waiting. He hoped she had already come through the Mirror Lake Gate, in the deeps of the mountain, else he would stay at its margins day and night until she came. His musings were cut short by an errand boy who came in a hurry towards them.

"Mister Bilbo Baggins?"

Bilbo bowed low.

"At your service!"

"Lórin, at yours and your family's! You and your company are expected; if you are not over tired of your journey, then the King Under the Mountain will be happy if you'll follow me."

"Expected, this late of the night? I'd expect everybody would be asleep by now!"

The boy smiled under his stubble of a beard and growing moustache that reminded Bilbo of a mix of Kíli and Fíli when they first met.

"Usually, sir, but tonight we are feasting several visitors, from Mirkwood and the North-Easterlingas, and our Queen's family that arrived yesterday. You and your Company have been expected for long, and even if there weren't a banquet the royal family would have been warned of your coming anyway."

They walked with Lórin for several minutes, being obvious the lad was excited to guide the famous Bilbo Baggins and his friends along the kingdom. A long set of stairs made them face a silver fountain sparkling with gems of different colours, the light of the torches dancing in the water, and not far from it they reached a wide hall from where they had been hearing music from a while already. The large doors opened to allow them in, and a pair of wards announced their presence, even if most of the guest would not be able to hear them at all.

"Prim, we're not dressed for a ball like this, not by far!"

Beryl elbowed her best friend, wide eyed at the magnificence of the place.

"We lost everything in the avalanche, and we didn't expect to be greeted like this; so, I think the simple gowns we purchased in Lake-Town will have to do, we being comfortable with it or not."

Most of the assembled dwarves was drunk enough to don't take much notice of them, but as they headed to the main table the strange group of tall elves and short hobbits begun to be more and more seen and greeted as long expected visitors. A pair of strangers, to most of them, stood up and greeted them warmly.

"Mae govanen, Elladan, Elrohir!" (1)

"Elen síla lúmen omentielvo, Legolas!" (2)

"Allow me to introduce you to Lady Tauriel, my fiancée."

The auburn haired elf curtsied with grace and a smile, and both brothers took her hand at the same time to kiss it, to the amusement of them all.

Figwit and Culuin waited their turn to greet the famous captain of the silvan elves guard and her prince (not that they were anyhow interested in said prince), but Estel kept his place as if he were a simple ranger of the north, as most people deemed his people. Not a minute later Elrohir grabbed him by the elbow and brought him to the front of the group, making him look a bit confused by the attention.

"I don't believe you have met my sworn brother, Estel, of the Dúnedain. Aragorn, Legolas is son of Thranduil of Doriath, son of Oropher and king over Mirkwood."

The rough man bowed low, but the elf didn't show any sign of pride for his titles nor scowl to the simple introduction to the human, and greeted him with a hand on his heart.

"The darkness that looms on the forest of my land has heard of you, son of Arathorn. No evil stays in the way of your sword, and for that our people acknowledges your skill."

"As my people acknowledges the people of Eryn Lasgalen for their stand against all kind of darkness, Lord of the Green Leaves."

Legolas half smiled at Elrohir.

"No simpleton would be raised by Lord Elrond Half-Elven, it is obvious."

"No one risen by Lord Elrond would be a simpleton, I dare say."

They all laughed heartedly, and headed for the table.

The hobbits didn't even notice the Big People's interaction, as a wobbling figure made for them propped on a cane.

"Ferumbras Took! Goodness, I've never been so happy to see a fool of a Took than today, my friend!"

"Bilbo Baggins! Of all strange adventures you've told us, cousin, I never dreamt that I would be part of the strangest of them!"

They embraced warmly, but Bilbo felt guilty seeing his cousin leaning on a cane.

"You're alive, but not unscathed. It is my fault, I should not have brought you with me, none of you."

Ferumbras shook his head.

"Never mind. I'm better off than Lady Nellas, and I'm so sad because of it."

"We heard about her being... lost..., though we don't know exactly what happened, it was one of Beorn's squirrels that brought us the sad news. How is Lady Aredhel? They were so... close..."

The sad look in his Took cousin face made Bilbo regret having asked, but seeing his discomfort Ferumbras took his arm and made him sit down along with him, resolution in his eyes.

"They were not close, they loved each other. We almost lost Lady Aredhel too, to grief. But a crazy healer in Mirkwood suggested a way to force her out of it, and Gwen – this is a human woman we found on our way, Gwendolin is her name – made her best to heal her, to make her change focus, and I believe she is slowly getting out of the darkness she was stuck in. She seems to be gone a bit crazy, though, but at least she is not spent on a couch crying herself to oblivion anymore."

"And your wound? We were so afraid of the poisoning."

"A small scar on my back, and a slight limp, that's all. I don't know if I ever will be free of this limp, but when I think that some days I could barely breathe, I must recognize I'm really blessed."

"When did you reach Erebor? Using the elf path you should be here long before us, who used the south road."

"Maybe, but we spent a lot of time in Thranduil's halls until I was able to travel again. You know, Bilbo, you said a lot of things about the elven king, but he didn't seem that bad to me. Just a little too proud, maybe."

"He is not bad. He just had the same greed that charged Thorin once. I hope he is healed the same as Thorin, though." Bilbo fingered his suspenders as he took a better look around. "Have you been here for long? Do you know about the… visitors?"

Ferumbras smiled at his cousin's obvious anxiety.

"We came in just today's afternoon; but if you are asking about a certain fire haired hobbit lass, I can tell you she is absurdly anxious to see you again, and if I had known her some decades ago I would surely contend with you on who should be granted her grace, you fool of a Baggins!"

Bilbo stood up and looked around wildly.

"But where...?

Ferumbras hooked him down with his cane.

"She and her father left some time ago, I don't know if they were tired or whatever; but eleven out of each ten words she spoke were about you, so I don't believe you should worry about her."

"Ferumbras, my friend, do you know what it is to wait twenty-eight years for someone and then she is not there? Can you imagine how I feel?"

Ferumbras scratched his chin and narrowed his eyes at him.

"I won't spoil your wedding, my friend, but do you know what it is to give up waiting because the one you love will never be there for you?"

Bilbo looked at Ferumbras under a different light.

"What...?"

The dark haired Took weaved him off.

"Never mind.

Just at that moment the remaining bunch of hobbits made to their way to their Took cousin, and everything was impossible to be heard and to be understood. Beryl, Paladin and Ferdinand made clear that Ferumbras was their hobbit and the Brandibuck side of the family had to fight hard to at least ruffle his hair; Drogo and Dudo Baggins quickly made friends with the bartender, so wine and ale were not a problem in that patch of the table anymore, and there was enough food left for even the hobbits' appetite.

"It is an unspeakable joy to be again in the company of so a courageous burglar, I must say!"

"Lady Dís!"

Bilbo bowed low and took her hand to kiss it, deviating from the innumerable rings and wristlets of every kind of precious metals and jewels. Her hair showed a bit more silver, but her face was brighter, lighter than he remembered, as was expected considering that last time she had just lost her firstborn and her brother. She had been happy to see her youngest getting married, even if to an elf, but her pain was still too fresh. Now it all was decades over, and the strong Durin heiress had overcome her losses, once again.

"Made a good journey, Bilbo?"

"As good as possible without your company, Milady!"

She laughed.

"Always charming, this daring halfling!"

"Mister Boggins!"

The known misspelling with his name made Bilbo turn around with a bright smile in his face, even if the bearded figure who stood before him resembled little the reckless dwarf barely come of age who rang the bell at his green round door ages ago. The dark beard was a tad longer than Thorin's by then, and moustache braids made him look like a brunette Fíli. His hair bore several braids, one for his choosing by Ellen, one for his commitment with the people of Durin as crown heir, one for his coronation, one for his wedding along with the one of his compromise. Not that his hair didn't look wild as ever, but it was quite different.

"Kíli!" They embraced warmly. "It looks like your fauntlings didn't give you a single silver hair yet, huh? For what Dwalin told when he visited, I'd expect you to be as bald as him by now!"

"I would, if I took them as seriously as Thorin took me and Fíli; but I know they are just children, and I don't pretend that I've never been one. Then it gets easy!"

Kíli headed Bilbo to his side on the table, where he was greeted by Ellen and Lily besides some of the members of the Company who lingered there, some tired of dancing, some enjoying the food and the drink, some simply rejoicing in their company. Bilbo felt more than welcomed by them, and more at home than he felt in the Shire since he came back from his adventure. Bofur was one who made sure Bibo had as much ale as he could dream about, and Balin head-butted him as if he were a family member.

To see Lily smiling was a gift, as he saw how hard the blow of losing Thorin had been on her, and the whole lot of children from Kíli, Bofur, Bombur and surprisingly Ori only made him laugh at their antics and efforts to catch 'Uncle Bilbo's' attention, mostly when they promised they'd play a staging of the Retaking of Erebor; unfortunately Kim, who would play his part, being the smallest one in their little troupe, had fallen asleep cuddled with the Sun-Cheng dog. Chao was dozing by their side, resolute in his promise that Liao Wang would do no harm to the little princess.

The Sun-Cheng delegation was astounded by the halfling party, as they had already heard about elves, but the Little People had been no more than a distant legend to them until then. The hobbits found out that the strange northern people was not something out of legends, too, and that is was rather interesting they had shared habits, like giving forth gifts at one's birthday and celebrating marriages with vows spelled under the knots of colourful ribbons. The marriage issue came out almost spontaneously when they heard that Bilbo was about to get married, and then he got aware that his fiancée was still not to be seen. Wang, the shaman, was very careful in explaining their habits, and Tsui very proud of having married Wang's first-born, Mei. Their difference in age was not exaggerated for human people, but Bilbo felt like that Mei woman had been almost a child when married to a man the double of her age, and it didn't seem right to him, even if Iris was now less than half his age; she had come of age, anyway, and was accounted as an adult by any standards. For what he understood, Mei had married a couple of moths past her fifteenth birthday, and he knew it was early even for humans. But then, living on the edge of eternal ice was bound to have a price, and maybe that was one of them.

"They must have a nest nearby if they are flocking in like this!"

"What?" Bilbo heard the harsh voice and turned his head to the ravens who were currently finishing a bowl with what looked like eye globes. Disgusting, of course, but then, with ravens...

"Of course not, chickie, don't you know some of them use to migrate according to the season?"

"But if it is autumn they should be migrating south, like the golden-eyed ones clearly did."

"You don't expect all walker races to be that smart, do you?"

"Pardon me?"

Only then the birds seemed to take notice that Bilbo was paying attention to their conversation, and tilted their heads at him to take a better look.

"Crrr. The small walker here seems to be the smart one of the hatch."

The hobbit smiled, amused, and bowed at them.

"Bilbo Baggins, at your service!"

"Rärc, son of Röac, and I don't need your service."

"Father! Don't be so harsh on the walker, if he is a friend to Durin's line, he is a friend of ours too." The younger raven turned to Bilbo with an apologetic look. "Don't mind my father, he's just snappish because Bombur didn't send him cookies as promised, but I was talking to him that there must be a serious reason for it."

"Really, I was wondering why he is not around when everybody is just enjoying the banquet. I don't believe he would miss it willingly."

"Bombur is a round fellow more prone to roll than to fly, but I wouldn't expect him to break a promise."

"But what worries me most is that I'm not seeing my bride anywhere. Did you, by any chance, se a hobbit lass this tall, red hair, sky blue eyes?" He asked, showing her height with his hand. If they were at the banquet since the beginning there was a chance they had seen her, as he was sure she would be at the main table.

"Crrr. A small thing to find in this crowd, but aye, she was here before."

"Hmm, and, ah, would there be any chance that you or your lovely daughter could help me to find them? You know, looking from above is always easier than to walking around among this bunch of dwarves, and I believe your eyes must be as keen as those of you father, the mighty Röac."

If the taste for cajoling was by any chance passed along from father to son, Bilbo didn't know, but it worked just the same.

"Of course we can! We are the most able for this task, by any measure!" Proud Röac turned to his daughter. "Crîck, you take a tour in this storey, if a walker is only lost somewhere it is more probable that it doesn't use stairs; I'll make for the royal wing, as the fire-crest is nested in the King's house; we come back in one hour straight."

And with that they flew, leaving a hopeful hobbit waiting for the one he waited so long already.

ooo000ooo

"Ah, Ulfir! I should know that if I want to find a pretty girl, I should look for you first. How is Lara faring?"

The ward off duty stood up and bowed to the elf.

"Mother is well, thank you very much, Lady Ellen; a little sore in the joints as she uses to be when it gets colder, but not worse than last year."

"I'm glad to hear it; she should ask the healer for a hot poultice, it might help, mostly in winter."

"Thank you very much, Milady, I'll tell her."

"Send her my greetings, too; I might pay her a visit next time I go to Dale, if the Lords can spare me some time."

"She will be most pleased, Milady, I'm sure."

The woman turned to the Earthling beside the ward, with a delicate smile in her face.

"So, here you are, Gwendolin! I hope you're enjoying the feast...?"

She had risen from her chair as soon as the queen approached them and had been fidgeting during all her talk with Ulfir, uncomfortable. It had been bad enough to be called a witch and be sent to the dungeons once in the day, she didn't want to seem disrespectful by any means.

"Sure I am, Queen Ellen, it is really the most astounding banquet I ever attended!" Unsure of what to say, she just rambled on. "Not that I have attended any real banquet that resembles this one in my life, but the church parties the nuns took me to used to have a lot of people too, at least."

"I'm glad; you'll enjoy my niece's wedding, then, as my brother will go back to your… kingdom… only some weeks after it; I hope you don't mind, but it is the only way we can help you to go back."

"I thank you very much, Milady." Gwendolin answered, mimicking the way she noticed Ulfir address the elf. "In the while, if there is any way I can make my presence here useful, I'll glad to help with anything I'm able."

"I don't know about helping." Ellen tilted her head. "But I'd like to invite you to spend the time you'll have to wait until my brother goes back to your kingdom hosted in my home, if you don't mind. I believe it will be more comfortable for you to be around people who know about those distant lands, if you take my meaning."

Gwendolin heard it, understood the meaning of the words, but found it hard to believe.

"You mean… your house… along with your family… I…"

"If you don't feel like being along my bunch of dwelfling brats I completely understand, dear, no problem."

"No, it's not it, I like children, I've helping with the younger ones in the orphanage for years!" All she didn't want to was to offend the woman and by any means risk to be sent to the dungeons again. "It's just that, you see, I'm just a Jane Doe, I don't know if it would be right for me to…"

"Just as it wasn't right for you to be dragged to the dungeons by my brother; so, if there is no other thing I can say to convince you, then, please, think of it as a compensation for the injustice done to you earlier today. I would not sleep in peace if by any means you're not assured you are welcome as it should." The blonde's jaw dropped just a little and the elf smiled as she said, just before turning around and leaving so Gwendolin could not reply. "I'll take is as a 'yes'. Bye!"

Ulfir, amused, touched her chin just enough for her to remember to close her mouth.

"What… in heaven…"

"You have been granted a great honour, I must say."

"I feel like in a rollercoaster."

"In a what?"

"Ah, forget it. I'm still trying to make out what all this is about."

"She is just that way, you'll get used in time."

Inside, Gwendolin hoped the queen really was just that way, but also that she would not have time to get used to it. Even welcomed as a royal guest, all she wanted was to be back home, to her costume drawing, her nuns and all those simple things that said the world she lived was real.

ooo000ooo

It took only the lapse of time for Dwalin to visit the restroom and when he was back Aredhel had taken the Iced Fire flask again, and her look was so funny he didn't know if he laughed of if he cried. Looking around for help and finding none available, he did what he would truly do if he were the best friend the elf insisted he was: made her to stand up and guided her to her chambers, first with an arm around her waist to keep her balance and later hauling her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, when it became obvious that she wasn't able to walk any further.

"Best friend, really!" He mumbled under his breath as he made for yet another set of stairs. "I'll show you your best friend once you are sober!"

The elf mumbled something incomprehensible as a answer and Dwalin opened the door of the guest room Legolas and Tauriel used to take when visiting and sought for a bedroom where Aredhel's spear was to be seen. Setting the drunken lady on an armchair whilst he pushed the bed covers aside, he was almost to slow to grab her when she slid down the chair, legs like butter underneath her.

"You are… my best…"

Aredhel was unable to finish her phrase as she retched all over Dwalin, who furrowed his brows and shook his head at the sick elf, his tunic and her gown completely messed up.

"Mahal save me from the friendliness of the elves!"

He poured water from a jar to a basin on the vanity and made his best to wash her face from the stinky mess. Not enough, he was sure, and made up his mind to do things right. He pulled his tunic over his head, taking care not to smear the filth in his beard and hair, and used what of it was still clean to wipe the worse off her gown, ignoring her incomprehensible babbling in high-elvish. Not enough, he thought again, and shook his head at the only option that would work.

"Not how I'd rather do it, but…"

Unable to figure out how to unfasten the fancy dress the elf wore, Dwalin took out a knife he used to wear in his boot and cut the gown open from shoulder to waist, so he could strip Aredhel of her nasty smelling clothes. Mahal help him she would not remember the sordid details by morning, but he would not put her to sleep in such an awful state. After laying the woman on the bed and covering her with a soft coverlet, he caught the shreds of her clothes and threw them to a corner, then got his dirty tunic and was making for the door when she spoke something understandable again.

"No… don't leave me alone, you're my… (hicup!) best friend, Dwalin!"

Pitying her state, he glanced back to the drunken elf.

"Sleep, lass. It is the best remedy for ye now."

"I can't! I can't sleep, Dwalin, please… Nellas always made me sleep, I have Nellas no more, how am I supposed to sleep?"

He could see she was crying now, but her voice was less drunk than before. Dwalin could stand many things but a crying woman was not one of them. He came back and sat down on the edge of the bed.

"How're ye sleeping since she… departed…?"

"I don't!" She sobbed, holding him fast and leaning her face to his bare shoulder. "I go on and on until I collapse for a couple of hours, or a healer drugs me, but I never sleep, I never have peace, when I doze off she haunts my dreams, my beautiful Velvet, with her crystal clear laughter, dancing in the dark, wandering among the water-lilies…"

The battle-worn warrior caressed her hair, massaging soothing circles on her back, rocking Aredhel back and forth like a baby.

"Hush, lass, hush, it will be all right, it will heal in time…"

Dwalin knew it wouldn't, but that was what he was able to do to his nieces when one of them took a tumble and a scratch in the knee, and this was all his experience in consoling women.

It was a long time until her tears dried and her breath evened again, and a longer yet until Dwalin woke up with the elf in his arms.

(1 – Welcome.)

(2 – A star shines in the hour of our meeting.)

Why you should not skip next chapter: Because I'm writing it just for you!