How Fili 'Courted'
The liveliest room in all of Erebor was without a doubt Thora and Bror's playroom.
With the light shining in and bouncing off of every coloured surface, it looked as though a band of fairies had burst in and painted with all the colours of the rainbow and made a whirlwind with all the toys, before quickly departing and leaving it for the children to see.
Thora LOVED her playroom, because she, Rana and Dis had spent a whole morning planning the decoration for what was to go in there.
She'd chosen the beautiful tapestries with Unicorns and wild beasts and the comfortable rug covered in pillows, where she would sometimes fall asleep whilst reading.
She also loved all the toys and gifts people had given her over the years, some rocking horses being taken away only to be replaced by even BIGGER ones!
And of course, Bror loved it also.
They had colourful blocks and stuffed toys for him to play with and even a little 'cooking station' that was mostly made of pots and pans. He loved to cook and make tea for people, though Dru was always glad he was only ever given water.
She didn't mind pretending to eat a ham and jam sandwich, but she had a feeling if it was real, she'd have a harder time pretending she actually enjoyed it.
Dru loved the room because not only did it mean her own room and their bedroom was tidy, but that it made them happy.
She was sitting on the floor with them, her legs tucked under her as she listened to her daughter read from her favourite fairytale.
Bror was half-listening but kept getting distracted by his blocks and since he wasn't in a sharing mood, Dru found it best to leave him.
She contently rested her hand on her belly where her third child lay and Thora turned as she let out a small gasp.
"Does your tummy hurt, mummy?" Her daughter asked, her voice thick with concern.
"No, she just kicked me, that's all," she looked down at her belly and smiled, "she's just like you, you wouldn't stop wiggling around in me either."
"How do you know they're a she?"
"Because I know."
"Mummy," Thora rolled her eyes and asked again, "how do you KNOW I'm going to have a baby sister?"
Dru decided it was best NOT to tease her daughter since she was asking her seriously.
"Well, little things, mostly. I feel the same way now as I felt when I had you in my belly. And it was a little different with Bror. Sometimes, I'd crave jam and pickle sandwiches with Bror, but you and this little one make me crave fish pies and custard."
"Ooooh," Thora nodded her head as if completely understanding what her mother meant, "what will she be called?"
"Hmmm...something pretty. I and your dad have a few names picked out. Agneta. Freyja. Dagmar. Kaia-"
"Hmmmmmmm...I think Freyja is very pretty!"
"I will let your dad know you think so. That was mummy's choice," she winked and felt a little smug, considering she'd chosen the name specifically because of the 'F' for Fili.
He'd only want Dagmar since that had been Dru's proper first name, but she'd been adamant she wouldn't name her daughter that since her mother always called her Dru anyway.
"Mummy," Thora looked back down at her book so Dru couldn't see her face, but her tone was very curious as she asked, "how did daddy court you?"
Dru blinked a couple of times, wondering what brought that on.
And where her daughter had heard the term 'courting'.
"Well...what do you mean by that sweetheart? Where did someone tell you about us courting?"
"Nobody did, it's in the book," Thora held up the item in her hand and showed off the writing on the page, "was it like in the fairytale? With the Princess and the knight and the dragon?!"
'Ah. That explains it.'
Dru got herself a little comfy and thought about the times she and Fili had indeed courted.
And knew none of the first times were appropriate to tell her daughter, considering she and Fili had always declared their love in private and most of the time their 'dates' ended rather intimately.
But...she supposed she could tell her of the one date they had.
"Well, funnily enough, I and daddy never stepped out until after we were engaged. It was all because mummy opened her silly mouth," Dru giggled and her daughter mirrored it when she pulled a funny face.
"What happened?"
Xx Fili's Study xX
Fili was deep in thought in his warm study when he felt...a familiar disturbance.
He decided not to call it out just yet, but he'd spent enough years with two younger siblings to know when someone was sneaking up behind him.
He already had a feeling who it was, but he'd wait until the last moment.
He carried on sorting through the letters that Thorin had given him, passing on 'congratulations' for his pending nuptials, looking busy.
It was when he felt the figure right behind him and he felt the tension rise, that he knew they were ready to strike.
So, dropping the letters down on the table, he turned suddenly, grabbed their wrist and tugged them forward.
"Gotcha'!" He laughed as Dru shrieked in surprise, especially when she tried to tug herself free AND regain her balance.
"Ah! No fair, you bloody cheated!" She pushed against the table for leverage, but his other hand shot out and grabbed her around the waist.
"Trying to scare me?! All's fair!"
Both laughed as they had a tug of war, but Dru only let Fili win to get close to him. She allowed him to tug her forward and 'fell' against him, getting herself comfy as she sat on his lap.
As soon as she was close enough, he pulled her into a playful kiss and swatted away at her hands when she tried to tug at his braids in revenge.
"When did you know I was there?" She pouted as she pulled back, wondering when her beloved had become so keen sensed.
"When you opened the door and pressed up against the wall," he smirked smugly, "your beads crackled against the stone."
"Bah," she glared at him but pressed forward to kiss the corner of his mouth, "do you have time?"
"For you?" He slipped his arms around her to hold her in place, reluctant to let her go even if he was busy, "Always."
Dru chuckled and leant her forehead against his.
"I mean it, I don't want to bother you if you're busy. We can just spend time alone later like always."
Fili thought about this and let his fingers draw lazy circles over her clothed back, longing to touch her naked skin.
"True, but not until after dinner."
"Why after?" She drew her eyebrows together, confused.
"Because we won't be alone."
"We are engaged now. I'm sure we can be together at dinner," she mistook 'alone' for him wanting to sit next to her but he wiggled his brows.
"Not...together, though."
Finally, catching on to his flirtatious meaning, she pulled back with an amused gasp and lightly slapped his shoulder.
"Oh, behave! We'll be with family, none of that!"
"I know, I know," held up a hand apologetically and offered her something else, "we can have our date after though if you like?"
"That is fine. Don't really fancy kissing you silly in front of everyone though," her own hands moved over his strong shoulders and she smiled, "even if we are engaged now, we can still keep our dates private. If you want?"
"Why would we do that? We can go anywhere we want."
Dru was slightly taken aback.
They were engaged...so there was no need to keep all their dates private.
"Oh...that's true," she reached up and scratched her nose as she thought out loud, "We could go on our first proper date."
Fili was silent for a while and she realised just HOW that sounded.
"Publically, I mean. We've always been secret, haven't we?"
His eyes went momentarily wide and he realised she was right.
"True. We haven't actually gone anywhere...I haven't even taken you out for walks and held your hand."
She snorted at him and grabbed hold of his hand with purpose, lacing their fingers together.
"Not in a ROMANTIC sense," she had a playful glint in her eye as she questioned him, "you've been reading Kili's poetry again, haven't you?"
Whilst he did smile, he still had a small sadness in his eyes that she recognised.
"Oh, I didn't mean to upset you," she mentally kicked herself for opening her big fat mouth and gently held his face as she said sincerely, "it's not a big deal. I enjoyed our secret picnics. Still do."
He shrugged, but the sadness left his eyes to be replaced by curiosity.
"Well...if we hadn't have been secret, what would you want to do?"
"Oh?" She pulled back a little and thought for a moment, "normal stuff I suppose. Go for a walk, hold hands...all that silly romantic nonsense."
She looked back at the papers on his table and sighed, heavily, "I'd like to try it before I outrightly dismiss them. Maybe something silly we can do, one day. Just for a test."
Fili did not miss the little hope in her voice. He knew she had thought about it and know that she was thinking about it again...he couldn't disappoint her. But as for 'one day' he'd surprise her. Sooner than she thought.
The Next Morning...
Breakfast with her family was normal.
Her Mam, Thorin, Kili and Fili were all seated around, eating, drinking tea and chatting about today's activities.
Dru was shovelling her bacon and eggs into her toast and happily listening as Dis teased Kili about 'wasting his day' in his room, writing letters to his one true love, rather than actually being out.
"You know, if you go and do something interesting, then you'll have something to write to her about," Dis gave her youngest boy a pointed look but Kili just rolled his eyes, more like he was fourteen again.
"Mother, I DO lots of interesting things. I just want to write to her about other...things," he coughed, pretending to grab a drink as he thought quickly, but rescue came in the unexpected shape of Fili.
"Sorry to interrupt, but I'd like to ask you something if it pleases you, mother?"
Dru took a big bite of her toast and munched slowly as she watched him stand and walk the short distance to stand before Dis.
"And what would you like to ask me, my little lamb?" Dis said sweetly, sipping her tea, but she already had the familiar amused air of a mother that was about to say no to their child when they asked for a dog.
Fili surprised everyone when he formally bowed his head and greeted her as though they were not related.
"Lady Dis, I would like your permission to take your daughter out for this evening."
Dru had a perfectly reasonable response to that.
"Fili?!" She sputtered and swallowed instinctively, though some of the wood went down the wrong pipe and she ended up choking and coughing out most of her sandwich.
Luckily, Thorin sat beside her and reached over, quickly patting her on the back to help dislodge any more food that was stuck down there.
Once Dru calmed down and was able to glug some of her water, Dis turned her attention back to her eldest and raised one elegant brow at him.
"Oh, and what are your intentions?"
Fili straightened up and seemed very sincere as he spoke, but Dru recognised the amusement he was suppressing by the way his cheeks dimpled.
If she hadn't nearly choked on her egg, she'd have lobbed her breakfast plate at him.
"I wish to take her for a date. A simple walk around Erebor to get to know her and perhaps some food. With your permission?"
'Oh, you're so dead,' Dru suddenly felt herself flush a hot red, HATING the traditional way he was going about this.
The embarrassment only grew when she caught Kili looking at her with a big grin. If he'd been closer, she would have kicked him.
"Hmm," Dis took a long sip of her tea before answering him, "well, I'll allow it, you seem decent. As long as you have her back before midnight and don't snog each other's faces off."
Of course, when everyone turned to look at Dru, she only had one response.
"Oh, MAM," she grimaced and quickly shoved her plate forward to bury her face in the table.
This was going to be a long day.
A few hours later...
Of course, once Dru had gotten out of the dining room and taken the time to cool time, she found she wasn't TOO embarrassed, nor was she really that angry at Fili.
He was just sneaky and she'd get him back later.
But once her emotions had levelled out and her head had cooled, she realised that she was going on her first outing with Fili as a couple.
And of course, her mother turned up to help her out.
Whilst she'd joked about 'getting herself dressed up', her mother was adamant that she at least wash her face, brush her teeth and braid her hair back.
The latter was because her mother believed she needed to show off 'that pretty face'.
Dru had to admit, just being clean and having all her hair tied back did make her feel better and it showed off the collar of her dress, knowing that Fili would appreciate having access to her neck (since he'd stated her hair usually got in his mouth when he did attack her sensitive skin).
Since she had lunch to herself and had a few errands to run, she managed to keep herself busy, but at two o clock, Fili sent word he was on his way.
And just before three, he turned up at her door with a small bouquet of yellow daisies, her favourite flower.
For some reason, this made her feel a little shy as she took them from him, sniffing them.
"Thank you, they're wonderful."
"So are you," he smiled seriously at her and she couldn't help but flush again.
"Thank you again. And you look handsome," she noted his quick change to a simple tunic and coat, his hair neatly brushed and tied back. He did look quite dashing.
"Well," he held out his arm and just had a little hint of teasing as he asked, "would you care to join me, my lady?"
"Oh, you're a silly sod," she laughed and felt her shyness melt away as she slipped her arm into his.
He led her through Erebor and thus, their day began. They talked as normal, though Fili insisted he 'question' her to make sure she still had the same tastes as she did last he checked.
"What? Like yesterday I may have liked jam sandwiches but today I prefer marmalade or ham?" She teased him back but he just nodded.
"Exactly. Got to know who you're marrying," he pointed out and threw out his own list of likes and dislikes, "for example I still hate when my toast is burnt, even if I do it myself, I dislike ale that's too weak and-"
"And you hate it when it rains, but only when the rain isn't cool and refreshing, but hot and murky?"
He turned his head and nodded.
"EXACTLY," he leant closer and lowered his voice so only she could hear, "and that's why I'm marrying you. Because you know me very well."
Dru turned away to hide her slightly satisfied and smug smile, pretending she was sniffing the daisies as she did so.
Fili led her deeper down until they were on the market levels and walked about the stalls, just as some of the evening shops were setting themselves up.
Some sellers sold only in the morning, some just after lunch, some in the evening and some at night.
But Dru LOVED coming here at this time.
They'd string up paper lanterns with tiny candles in them and they were so pretty, she couldn't help but stop and admire them.
"They look like they're full of fireflies, don't they?" She tilted her head, waiting for a response, but Fili was silent for the longest time.
He stepped slightly forward and looked into her face.
"What?" She asked, wondering what had got his attention so.
"The light's reflecting in your eyes," he beamed at her, "it's quite captivating."
"Romantic old sod," she whispered but felt herself blush none the less.
What was happening to her?! He was making her feel...well, giddy like a girl in love!
'That's what you are, Dunderhead!'
Fili led her onwards, stopping with her at certain stalls when people wished to greet them and congratulate them. Some even offered free items for the Prince and Princess, but they graciously declined.
Both needn't say anything, but they felt they needed nothing on top of their love.
Although, they DID happily accept some sticky buns from Henrik since his business had boomed due to Dru's daily walks to see him.
Once the market was done and their sweet treats consumed, they walked all the way back upstairs and continued to talk.
But Dru noticed something strange.
The first time Fili had leant in close to her, she had expected a light little kiss. But then...he diverted and instead whispered something in her ear.
'Odd,' she thought.
The second time he did it, she thought it must be her mind playing tricks on her.
The THIRD time he did it, she knew he was being a cheeky sod and teasing her for some reason.
But his eyes were full of warmth and promise so maybe he was just making her wait for it.
Whilst they had had a sticky bun for a snack, it was drawing closer to dinner and Dru was about to voice that they needed to go eat, when he actually led her towards one of the dining rooms the family used.
But surprisingly, when they entered the room, the large table that could easily seat eight had been replaced by a much smaller round one, with two chairs.
"Where is everyone?"
"They've already eaten. Hopefully," his arm slipped from hers but only far enough to take her by the hand and lead her towards the table, "it's just you and me."
Whilst her daisies were slightly wilting, she still held them in the air so they wouldn't accidentally get squished between herself and the table as she sat down.
"Thank you," she laughed lightly when Fili even helped move her chair out and in for her to sit down, "very romantic."
"Do you approve?" He moved away and took his own seat just opposite her, though was close enough that she could reach out and grab him if she wanted.
"I do," she placed her bouquet on the edge of the table and saucily said, "and I'll approve even more once I see what's for dinner."
Almost as though they had been strategically placed on the other side of the door, a couple of servants came in with two plates of food and Dru shut herself up with any more witty comments when she saw it was her favourite dishes.
Cheese and Crackers with thick dollops of pickle sauce for the start.
And Fish and Chips with peas and tomatoes.
Simple, but of course, she felt her heart swell.
"You planned very well," she was tempted to reach over and grab him from his side, but thought she'd tease him herself since he hadn't kissed her yet, "is the wine-"
"Sweet, but not sour. Grapes," another servant appear and placed two goblets down, the red liquid sloshing against the sides, "though mother picked it out so it's not going to be too strong."
"I have no complaints," Dru picked up her goblet and raised it between them, "cheers. To...a great day?"
Fili met her own goblet with his and gently 'clinked' them together.
"I'd say a grand day."
Once they'd toasted, Dru eagerly wolfed down her portion of food, both sitting in companionable silence as they enjoyed their food (though Fili took a more sedate pace, as he always did).
Once their plates were cleared and Dru thought that was the end, she was about to utter, 'I can't eat another bite!' when, of course, dessert was brought out.
Two bowls of fresh strawberries and cream were placed in front of them and they seemed to swap appetites as Fili began to eat his as though he hadn't eaten anything before that and Dru took her time, savouring each bite.
But when he'd finished his and Dru got to the last one, she surprised him by picking it up between her fingers and holding it out.
"Want half?"
He couldn't help but grin.
"If you had told me, sixty years ago, that you would be offering me your last strawberry, I'd be-"
"You'd be taking it without a word," she almost shoved the strawberry into his open mouth to shut him up, but resisted since that probably would have ended badly for her, "so shut up and take a bite."
Fili did as he was told, though she could feel the amusement rolling off of him and mentally dared him to say something.
She'd put the strawberry up his nose if he carried on.
Once he'd bitten his half, she brought it back and bit off the rest, shutting her eyes as the last of the cream, sugar and strawberries went into her mouth.
Fili watched her and his thoughts filled with all sorts of images of her, especially when she accidentally smeared cream on her top lip and didn't notice.
"Look at you," he chuckled and shook his head, but she just finished munching and arched a brow at him.
"What?"
"You've got cream on your lip," he brought his finger up to his own lip and pointed it out, "there."
Dru stuck her tongue and wiped over her top lip, getting just a corner bit of the cream.
She looked at her husband expectantly.
"Got it?"
"Miles away," he laughed at her pout but watched with growing interest when she leant closer and tilted her head at him.
"Well? Are you going to get it?"
"Good question."
He let the innuendo sink in for a moment, but he saw the little sparks of desire in her eyes.
'Oh dear,' he thought to himself, 'have to keep control.'
If he carried on flirting like that, he knew they wouldn't make it make to her room before...well, he didn't want to think about it because that would lead to more issues.
So he reached out and carefully wiped the top of her lip, cleaning the cream away.
But just as he went to pull away, Dru turned her head and caught his thumb in her mouth, quickly sucking.
A thrill went through him at the wonderful sensation, but he still had to keep control.
"Oi!" He tried to sound stern, but his voice was a little rougher than he would have liked.
Satisfied that she'd gotten him, she pulled back with her arms folded and lifted her chin triumphantly.
"That's your punishment."
"What did I do?!" He sounded scandalised after treating her to a nice day out, but once she told him, he couldn't help but grin.
"Well, for starters, you haven't kissed me once today. Are you bored with me already?" Her eyes shone with a mischievousness and he had a feeling she was baiting him.
"Ah, but I'm building up to that. Got to have a keen sense of anticipation."
She gently poked him in the knee with her foot and shook her head in exasperation.
"I'll give you some anticipation in a minute," she looked ready to say something else, but stopped when she listened, "what's that sound?"
It was a little faint but someone had started playing...music from the next room?
When she looked at Fili for an explanation, it all became clear.
He smiled that know-it-all dazzling smile and stood up, offering her his hand.
She allowed him to lead her away from their table, but just before they got out of the room, she had to dash back and grab the daisies off the table.
"What do you think will happen if you forget them?"
"I don't want to lose them, that's all," she stuck the tip of her tongue out at him but put it back when they entered the next room and the source of the music came into view.
Bofur was sitting in one of the little alcove's, happily playing away at his flute.
But surprisingly, the sweet little voice she heard humming was, in fact, Sigrid, humming along to a familiar tune.
"Is that-"
"Yep," Fili pulled her into the centre of the room and nodded his head at them as a greeting, "Bofur has very kindly lent us his services for the evening. As has Sigrid, though she volunteered in place of Mam."
Dru waved at her friend, but before she had a chance to say any form of greeting, Fili quickly grabbed her around the waist and pulled her close.
"For all the dances we missed. For all the times you were 'forced' to dance with me and Kili and...we never danced like this," he kept their joined hands close to his chest but rested the side of his face against hers.
Dru shut her eyes and let the music and the words wash over her as she swayed with him.
She'd wanted this for...so long.
Those festivals and parties where they had indeed been forced to join in, but never to a slow song.
"The stars, forever unchanging,
they guide us on paths unseen,
and you were written in my story,
destined to collide with me.
x
They say you stole me in moonlight,
but Love, I was already yours,
for we were written in the starlight,
as the wolf belongs to the moon.
x
Like the rain meets the river,
like the trees meet the sky,
we were born to be together,
you and I.
x
Like the fish need the water,
like the birds need the sky,
we were made to need each other,
you and I."
Even before Sigrid had finished singing, Fili turned his head ever so slightly to whisper against her ear.
"I love you. And I cannot wait to marry you," his lips pressed one fleeting kiss against the shell of her ear before he pulled back, "my Dru."
"My Fili," despite not wanting to crush the daisies, she moved her arm from his shoulder and placed it around his back, holding him close, "always."
"The stars, forever unchanging,
they sent your love to me,
but cruel, how late in my story,
you came to collide with me."
X
Like the rain loves the thunder,
like the waves kiss the sky,
we were born to love each other,
you and I.
x
Like the fire consumes the timber,
like the flames kiss the sky,
we were made to be together,
you and I.
x
The stars, forever unchanging,
they guide us on paths unseen
and you were written in my story,
destined to collide with me.
Destined to collide with me."
When Sigrid finished singing and Bofur played his last note, everything else seemed to stop for Dru.
Fili pulled his head back, just far enough that his lips were so close.
This was it.
It had to be.
It was perfect-
He pressed a quick peck to the tip of her nose and grinned at her.
"And now, we must depart for the long walk home."
Dru blinked a few times before she glared softly at him.
"Oh, you're in so much trouble."
A 'long' walk later...
After bidding goodbye to both Sigrid and Bofur, Fili escorted Dru slowly back to their rooms.
She began to playfully berate him for his behaviour, lowering her voice to all the 'wonderful plans' she'd have to cast aside if he continued, but he didn't actually seem to rise to her teasing.
It wasn't until a moment of quiet contemplation on how she could next get him to grab ahold of her and kiss her silly, that she realised they were perfectly alone.
Not just walking along the hallway, but turning about she saw that there were no guards on their floor, nor near any stairs that she could see.
It was very suspicious, especially since people would usually be walking off dinner by now.
As they came to stand in front of the door to her rooms, she looked about one last time.
"Why is it so quiet?"
She looked at Fili and he shrugged, though there was a mysterious twinkle in his eye.
"Oh no ...don't tell me," she stopped and stood in front of him, pointing her bouquet under his nose, "did you plan for us to be alone when we walked here?"
Fili pushed aside the daisies and winked.
"Maybe. But we got back to your rooms without anyone hearing what exactly you 'had planned for me', so there's an upside."
"Oh, you cheeky git," she went to lightly slap his arm, but he caught her hand and tugged her forward, "what do you want now? Trying to cop a feel again?"
The tip of his nose brushed against hers as he ducked his head low and shook his head.
"No. I just wanted to look at you and hold you like this," he bared his teeth in a wide smile, "I'm going to be able to hold you like this for the rest of our lives. And no one will keep us apart."
Dru softened in his arms and rubbed their noses together as she waited for him to press his lips to hers.
"Thank you for a lovely day. I really enjoyed it," she said sincerely, even if that did mean admitting she liked the 'silly little romantic ideas'.
"Our first proper date. I'm glad you enjoyed yourself."
"Not our FIRST proper one. Our first one will always be the little picnic you prepared in our secret room."
"Mmm. I won't lie...I think I quite liked the secret ones," his voice went a little husky and his eyes shut and she knew exactly what he intended to do.
"Me too," she shut her own eyes and slowly, he lowered his face to hers and...
"And then...daddy and mummy kissed like this!"
Dru dove forward and began to peck her daughter all over her face, making sure to make them extra loud.
"Ahhh!" Thora cackled helplessly and fell away to lay on the floor, "mummy, no!"
Dru leant over her daughter and proceeded to kiss her daughter quickly, blowing raspberries to send her into a fit of giggles.
She only stopped when Bror laughed and looked up at him as he eagerly clapped his hands together at the show in front of him.
"Oh?" Dru gently poked her daughter to get her attention, "I think Bror wants kisses too!"
Both females crawled over and whilst they were a lot more gentle with him, they still managed to get him to fall onto his back, slurping and giggling happily at the attention he was getting.
Once they were all laid out on the floor, laughing at the silliness of it all, Thora sighed happily and looked at her mother.
"That sounds like a lovely day. Though he didn't give you a nice ring."
"Oh?" Dru pushed herself up so she was leaning on her elbows, looking down at her two children.
"A cakeseek," Thora stated as she played with Bror's toes, making him giggle and gently kick at her hands.
"Memento, dear. Keepsake," she smirked, though didn't tease her daughter out loud, knowing she was still young and would get words wrong and muddled up, as she had done."
"That's it! The princess had given the knight her handkerchief so he could keep it. He said it brought him luck in the book."
"Well, I don't have a Hankie, but...do you know the little white book over there? The one mummy told you was very special?"
"And I wasn't to play with it," Thora sat herself up and looked at the little bookcase, "that I didn't read it until I'm older."
"Well, that's because it has something VERY special inside," Dru nodded her head towards the book, "would you go and get it for me please and I'll show you if you like?"
As Thora hurriedly scurried up and across the room, Dru lifted Bror back up and helped him stand, just narrowly avoiding one of his wildly waving hands that clutched a block in it.
His sister came back over, clutching the book to her chest as though it was already precious to her.
She placed it on the floor in front of her mother and Dru gently lifted the cover.
"The Tale of the Elf Mother?" Thora read the words on the first page, her eyes widening as the very letters seemed to shimmer in the light.
"Your granny read me this story when I was very little. It made me brave and strong. And when I and daddy got married, Gandalf gave us a copy of this book," she carefully lifted a few more pages to reveal just what it was the book held, "and I thought it would be a very good place to keep-"
"HUH! DAISIES!" Thora's eyes went wide and she giggled happily at the small cluster of pressed daisies in between the pages.
"Yes. Treasure," Dru smiled at her daughter, glad she appreciated such a small, simple thing, "very special. So you have to take really good care of this book and-"
"Oh, I will! I promise!" Thora actually shut the book back on the daisies and picked it up carefully, "I won't even read it! I'll just look at them sometimes! But I'll go and put it back and keep it safe encase Bror sticks it up his nose!"
"No!" Her baby brother shook his head vehemently, apparently unhappy with the idea he was going to put anything up his nose, "no nose! Only blocks!"
As Thora made her way back over to the case, Bror actually followed her, though stumbled a couple of times when his foot landed on another toy.
"Do you two want to give that floor puzzle a go?" Dru offered and when they both smiled and nodded, she pointed around her, "well, clear up what toys you took out of the box and we'll start."
Thora, having placed the book carefully back in its place as though it were made of glass, took her brother's hand and began to point out what toys went where and how it'd be easier if they split up the workload.
Bror was just excited by the idea of a floor puzzle and eagerly lobbed toys in anywhere he wanted.
"Evening," a voice called to the side and in strode Fili, his smart coat and boots forgotten in the other room, "I came to see where everyone was, you're a few minutes late for lunch."
"We're about to play a puzzle, daddy!" Thora pointed out as she jammed a stuffed cat toy in her toybox, "come and help us!"
"Come on, let them play a little, work up an appetite," Dru patted the empty space of floor beside her for her husband to sit, "plus if worst comes to worst, I know someone has a secret stash of gingernut biscuits."
"Shh," Fili sat down and playfully glared at her, "they're not supposed to know about those."
As Fili rested his arm behind her and leant in close, he couldn't help but reveal what he had heard.
"So...we kissed like that, did we?" He smirked at her but she casually shrugged her shoulders.
"Yes. I thought it was an accurate description."
"You didn't tell her how the night ended."
"What? We kissed and I went to bed," she answered as innocently as she could, but Fili just chuckled.
"Mmm. And then you accidentally rolled us out of bed and I bruised my backside."
"What can I say?" She turned and beamed at him, almost proud of her past achievement, "too much sugar on my strawberries. Besides, I kissed it better for you."
"Mmm," Fili made an agreeable noise and leant in close to her, "but my feelings are hurt now. Will you kiss those better?"
Dru could only smile in a very cat-like way.
"No. I'm letting you have a keen sense of anticipation."
She laughed and laughed when his forehead dropped to her shoulder with a frustrated groan and it didn't help when Bror and Thora came along and 'tackled' them both to the ground.
'This...this is perfect.'
XxXxXxXxXx
Destined/Written in the Starlight by Karliene.
