.

Wow...I woke to over 20 reviews! I think you all deserve a BONUS chapter! I better hurry and write a new one then on my day off today to keep me far enough ahead of you all.

Thanks so much - you are awesome readers!

Chapter 23

~X~

The rest of the afternoon was spent walking around the bazar, with Sier and Fili on either side of their son, both holding one of his hands as he skipped along. Sier had managed to steady herself after witnessing her husband's battle, and soon she was back to enjoying their time in Dale. Both the sword fight, and the insulting man in the market, long forgotten.

Kili participated in a contest of his own, testing out a bow and fancy new arrows of a fletcher who had eagerly pressed them into the young archer's hands. Once the crowd saw how well Kili did at hitting the target – every single time - sales at the booth doubled, leaving the owner more than pleased.

Bofur preferred to beg his samples off of the local ale makers, testing out half a dozen different kegs before he settled upon one he liked well enough to actually buy a pint…or two. By the end of the day, the happy miner was swaying a bit, leaving Kili and Nori with the task of keeping him upright and walking straight.

When it was at last time to depart, Sier and Tilda hugged each other like long lost friends, promising to visit on a regular basis. Bard and Bain mounted their own horses and gave them a royal escort to the gates of Dale. There the king and his son said their farewells, sending greetings and well wishes to Thorin upon their return. It had been a very enjoyable day, and Flinn was already bending his father's ear with a million questions as they headed up the road and back to Erebor.

Sier had been very pleased with her purchases, already planning on making a coat not only for Fili, but a smaller version to match for Flinn. She was quite lost in her thoughts as they rode along, hardly noticing any of the travelers they passed on the way out of Dale. Yet suddenly, one in particular caught her attention, causing her eyes to narrow as she stared at the man who had insulted her earlier that day.

He was off to the side of the road, apparently having some trouble getting his pony to move along, for he was standing in front of it, tugging quite forcefully on its lead rope. Sier felt her ire rise to the fore as she watched the poor pony fight against him, wishing there was something she could do. She glanced ahead, seeing that Flinn had been so engrossed in his conversation with Fili, that he had thankfully not seen what was happening to his left. Fili too had missed it, but she was almost certain that if she brought the abuse to his attention, he would indeed stop and do something. It was simply not right to allow such a horrid man to own an animal when he chose to mistreat it in such a way.

She had just made up her mind to ride ahead and speak to Fili, begging him to go back and confront the man, when from behind her she heard a loud crack, followed by the cry of pain from the pony. Turning her head around, she saw the horrid man raise a riding crop into the air again, meaning to bring it down across the neck of the grey one more time. That was it! Sier wheeled her pony and kicked him into motion, startling those around her as she barreled back through the guards following them, heading directly for the man.

Fili, having heard the noise as well, spun around just in time to see his wife take off at high speed. He was not sure what was going on, but he was not about to let Sier do it alone. Turning his own mount around, Fili handed Flinn off to his mother as he passed, galloping quickly in pursuit of the enraged dam. Kili, Nori and Bofur were quick on his heels.

Sier did not even slow down as she approached the man, determined to get to him before his second strike fell. He looked up only moments before the seething dwarrowdam launched herself off her moving steed and tackled him in midair, sending him crashing to the ground with her on top.

"HOW DARE YOU!" she screamed at him, making sure her knee ended up in the middle of his gut, knocking the wind out of him. She was about to pull back and deliver a blow to his face when Fili suddenly appeared at her side, pulling her up and off of the man with a firm but gentle force.

"Sier!" he called, trying to get her to simmer down, as her arms flailed about in an attempt to strike at the horrid man. "What has gotten into you?"

"She is mad, I tell you! Completely mad!" the scoundrel on the ground cried out, holding on to his midsection as if in pain.

Good! Sier thought to herself, he deserves that, and more!

"I am more than simply mad…I am outraged!" Sier shot back. "You aren't fit to care for a blister, let alone a pony! How dare you treat him so cruelly…just look at him, he is half starved and ready to collapse!"

"What is this?" Fili asked, looking from the man on the ground to the beast of burden that was hitched to the wagon. When he did indeed see its condition, his face grew hard and he stared down at the man like he was an insect he wished to step on. "This is your pony?"

"Of course it is mine!" the man huffed, attempting to sit up, but only made it as far as being supported on his elbows before Fili drew his blade and pointed it at his neck, forcing him to freeze. "I…I bought and paid for it, all legal like…the pony belongs to me."

"And yet from the condition it is in, one would have to be heartless indeed to allow it to remain in your possession," he growled, quickly understanding Sier's rage and her wish to do him bodily harm. He turned to one of the guards and quickly instructed him to ride back inside the city and fetch King Bard. Once the dwarrow had taken off at a gallop, he gestured for Kili to watch the prone man, while he moved to inspect the pony a little closer. Yet as he approached the skittish beast, it reared up, apparently untrusting of any males - man or dwarf. Sier hurried to the head of the animal, and in a soothing voice, calmed him down enough so that Fili could approach from the side, for he had noted that it appeared to be favoring its right front hoof.

"There, there," Sier spoke softly to the grey, rubbing her hand up and down his head in a gentle fashion. "No one is going to hurt you."

Fili carefully lifted its foot and instantly saw the reason why the pony had been unwilling to continue to pull the cart as the man demanded. Beneath at least a week's worth of mud and grime, was a sharp rock, lodged in the soft under-padding of its hoof, having caused a cut, which swelled and festered. With great care, Fili removed the offending stone, yet he knew it would need medical attention if it was ever going to heal properly.

"And I suppose you did not notice your animal was wounded, and hardly able to walk?" Fili barked back at the man on the ground.

"What?" he fumed, not liking Fili's tone, or the fact that the dark haired dwarf's sword was now at his neck. "The old nag is just lazy, that is all. He can walk just fine!"

"Perhaps we should remove your boots and jam this shard into your foot, just to see how far you might wish to walk," Fili suggested, holding up the offending stone in his hand, before throwing it at the man's head. Unfortunately he was able to duck fast enough so that it did not hit him.

Just then the group was approached by King Bard, Bain, and a few of the guards from Dale, all being led by the dwarrow who had been sent to fetch them.

"What is the meaning of this?" Bard asked, stopping his horse and leaning forward as if to inspect the man on the ground. "Tom Ferny, why am I not surprised to see you in the middle of all this trouble?"

"I am innocent, I tell you!" he blustered, still very warry of the sharp blade near his throat, and the very angry looking dwarf pointing it at him. "It was that little she-devil there that attacked me…right out of the blue!"

"Are you claiming that the Lady Sier, princess of Erebor, attacked you without provocation?" Bard asked, raising a skeptic eyebrow.

"P-p-princess?" Ferny gasped, his eyes growing wide as he stared at the spit-fire who had tackled him to the ground. "I…I had no idea she was a princess!"

It was then that Flinn shocked everyone by speaking up…quite loudly.

"He is mean to his pony, and he was mean to me and Ama too!" he shouted out from where he sat in front of Dis. "He called me a rat, and Ama a hoor!" He then turned his head a bit and looked over at Nori with questioning eyes. "What's a hoor?"

"We will tell you when you are older, lad," the normally easy-going dwarf said with a look of rage on his face, all of it directed at Tom Ferny.

"You most certainly will not!" Dis was quick to forbid.

"YOU CALLED MY WIFE A WHAT?" Fili roared, stomping forward and grabbing the man by the collar, pulling him up off the ground until his face was only inches away from the enraged dwarf.

"I…I swear I didn't know who she was!" he cried, shutting his eyes and cringing away.

"I don't care, you filth!" Fili fumed, giving the man a hearty shake, strong enough to rattle his teeth. The blond prince then raised his fist, ready to deliver a punishing blow, but his brother's hand held him back. It took several tense moments, and a few deep breaths, before Fili could calm himself. But in the end, he pulled out of Kili's grip and flung the sorry excuse for a man to the ground.

"Le'me at him!" Bofur spoke up, doing his best to focus his bloodshot eyes on the villain. "I'll run him though, I'll beat him to a pulp…him and his twin brother!" He then swayed in the saddle, gesturing widely at the multiple visions before him.

"Shut your pie-hole and sit still," Nori ordered his tipsy friend, reaching out to steady him better on his pony.

"And I suppose the fact that you merely thought her to be a normal dam, excuses you from showing common courtesy when speaking to a lady?" Bard asked, sounding just as upset as Fili appeared to be.

"He is also mistreating his pony," Sier interjected, more worried for the animal than any offense she might have been offered. "Trash such as this does not deserve to own a living thing!"

"I find that I agree with you," Bard said, glaring down at the man with cold eyes. "I have had to warn you more than once against causing trouble in Dale, Tom Ferny. And now you dare to insult the royal family of our closest allies? I do hereby forbid you to do any trading between Dale and Esgaroth. Both cities are closed to you from now on, do you understand?"

"But…but where will I go? How will I make a living if I have nowhere to peddle my goods?" Ferny gasped.

"Try going south, to the kingdom of Rohan," Fili interjected, his tone still biting. "Though I would not let any there see you mistreating a pony, for the men from that land value horse flesh more than gold. You would be drawn and quartered if they were to witness what you have done here today."

"And the only thing they value more than their horses, are their women," Bard added. "So I would also watch your mouth as well, if you know what is good for you, Tom Ferny." He then looked over at Sier, who was still petting the fidgety animal, speaking low and soft to it. "And as a means of apology for your insulting words to the princess, I think gifting her your poor unfortunate pony just might smooth things over, and keep you from wasting away in the dungeons of Erebor. Wouldn't you say, Prince Fili?"

"While would much prefer to see him skinned and gutted…I suppose that form of compensation might suffice," he nodded, seeing the look of excitement in Sier's eyes at the mention of her getting the pony. He then turned back to Ferny with a glare of death. "Yet should you ever show your ugly face around this mountain again, I will personally see that you rot in the lowest mines of Erebor, do you understand me?"

Ferny was smart enough to appear frightened by this statement and he nodded readily. But then he looked over at his cart, loaded down with what was left of the goods he had not sold at the bazar.

"But…who will pull my cart? How can I even think of making it to Rohan without a pony?" he stammered.

"You should have thought of that before you mistreated the one you had," Bard scolded him. "From the looks of him, he would not have made it halfway there before dropping dead. It appears that you will be pulling it yourself."

"ME?" he cried, suddenly outraged at the idea. "I can't pull something that heavy!"

"Then I suggest you lighten your load," the king of Dale ordered, "for pull it you will!" He then turned to one of his men. "Spread the word to all in Dale, no one is to sell this man any beast of burden, and send the same message to Esgaroth. If he wishes to move his merchandise, it will be done under his own power. Perhaps then he will learn his lesson to treat animals with respect…" he paused there and gave Sier a wink. "As well as feisty princesses. Lady Sier, I just knew that you and my Tilda would get along splendidly."

.

.

It took only a short time to unhitch the pony, sending a grumbling Tom Ferny off alone, tugging his heavy cart behind him. Bard once more extended his heartfelt apologies for the offense the man had caused, even if it had been no fault of his. Fili assured them that there were no hard feelings between the dwarves and Dale, and they all parted in friendship. The little pony seemed pleased to be following his new mistress, though to be honest, Sier imagined he would have went with just about anyone, if it meant getting away from Ferny. They traveled slow, allowing the grey to nurse his wounded hoof, though now that the rock was removed, and he no longer had to pull a heavy cart, the going was considerably easier.

"Why didn't you tell me what that man had said to you in the marketplace today," Fili asked as they rode side by side. Flinn was still in the care of Dis, with Kili riding nearby, keeping the lad's attention occupied.

"In truth, I had completely forgotten about it after I was informed of your battle with that burly man," she confessed.

"Well, in the future, you need to inform me if you are ever slighted in any way, by men or dwarves," Fili insisted. "When others speak out against you, they are in essence speaking against me, and all the house of Durin. I will not let such an offense slide. You are my wife, Seir, and I take care of my own."

His words caused her to blush slightly, for the idea of him claiming her as his own…well, it almost felt as if he were calling her his one. She was not sure why she suddenly desired that above all else, but she could no longer deny that she did. And hadn't Dis describe her reaction to the touch of Fili's father as a kind of fire? Had she not felt the same thing herself when he touched her? Still, it was all together possible that only she had felt it, leaving her husband completely unaffected. Dams were not like their male counterparts, made of stone and only awakening at the meeting of their one. She had been attracted to other dwarrow before, but never like this. Before it had been a fleeting attraction to a handsome face, or a fine physique, yet nothing of substance that seemed to last beyond the moment.

But with Fili, just the sound of his voice made her feel week in the knees, his smile causing her stomach to do flip flops, and his touch…well, that seemed to set her whole body aquiver. And the way he had stood up for her, defending not only her honor, but taking her side about the pony as well, had left her light headed and warm hearted. There was no longer any way to deny it…Sier, the new princess of Erebor, was having very strong, and very real, feelings for her husband!

"Not that I imagine anyone would ever dare to insult you again," Fili continued, apparently unaware of her sudden revelation. "For after word of your little escapade back there spreads – and it will, like a wildfire – no one will even dare to look at you cross-eyed!"

"That beast had it coming!" Sier huffed in defense. "He is just lucky you pulled me off when you did, for he was just about to learn what a crazy mountain lass can really do!"

Her words, as well as her threatening tone, left Fili laughing good naturedly.

"I have no doubt about that, lady wife," he said, turning to look over at her with a bright smile that matched his eyes. "And I for one, hope that you never find reason to be upset with me." He then reached out and took her hand in his, bringing it up to his lips to bestow a gentle kiss across her knuckles.

The small amount of contact caused that familiar spark to set her whole body ablaze, and in a stunned silence they both halted their ponies, the two of them almost frozen in time. Staring at one another, they became lost for a moment, neither one knowing what to say, and yet the silence seemed perfect. Unfortunately, the moment was broken by the sound of Flinn, calling back to them from around the side of Dis.

"Look, Ama!" he said, pointing at the great mountain before them. "Erebor…we are almost home!"

Fili released her hand, and a shy smile crossed his face before he spurred his pony on and rode up to take Flinn from his mother, leading the way for the rest of the journey. This was fine with Sier…for in the back, leading her brand new little steed, she had plenty of time to think. Flinn was right about one thing though…Erebor was indeed now their home. For as the old saying went, Home is where the heart is.

Points to anyone who knows where I got the name for the sleeze-ball man who does not deserve to own a pony!

Well, was Fili 'protective' enough?

Did you laugh when Flinn asked what a 'hoor' was?

Don't ya just love Bard?

Yippeee, now Sier has her own little pony to love and care for.

Guest Reviews:

I ran through the reviews really fast and tried to pick out any ones from Guests so I could answer your questions here. If I missed anyone, I will respond to you in the next chapter.

Guest: Well it WORKED! Thanks for the review and yes, it is like we are right there falling in love with them...if only they would HURRY UP, right? ha ha.

Guest: Of COURSE I could not let him get off AT ALL. He had to pay! And as you can see, he did. I hope it all turned out like you hoped it would. We do love Fili in 'protective' mode. ha ha. And my muse has not gone to sleep on me for sure...if anything it won't let ME sleep. I had to get out of bed the other night at midnight and scribble down five pages on a notebook of ideas for upcoming scenes and lines that just would not get out of my head. Anyone want to borrow a muse for a few days so I can get some rest? He is really cute, short, blond and has sexy mustache braids. ha ha.

Guest H: The pony has been saved! And this was not just stuck in as a way to make Sier look nice either...there is a point to all this. Trust me. And I am so glad you enjoyed my other story! I have learned a lot about Fili and the gang since then, and thank you so much for following this story as well. Fear not, I understand shy, and it is just nice to know you are out there reading along! come up for air every now and again though, nice to hear from you!