.

She's back! And with three...count them THREE...new chapters to add to my hoard! And long ones too!

Just like this one, which is almost 5,000 words! Boy, someone is sure long winded!

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Chapter 28

~X~

The next evening, just as Fili promised, he asked Kili to come sit with Flinn while he and Sier made their way down to Dwalin's rooms, fiddle in hand. The crown prince was very impressed with his wife's ability to master the complicated steps in only a short time. If he had realized she did not know the dance, he would have happily worked with her night and day, if that was what it took to make her feel at ease. Just as Sier had said, Dwalin was indeed surprisingly graceful on his feet, which was not something that Fili had expected. However, now that he thought about it, one needed a great deal of agility and finesse when engaging in battle, and often many of the moves one learned in sparing was almost like a dance. Still, the sheer number of threatening looks leveled at him by his old mentor, left no doubt in Fili's mind that should he speak a word of this to anyone, or he might not live long enough to regret it.

They had gone through the dance several times, beautifully accompanied by Fili's fiddle, which Sier claimed made things go much more smoothly. By the time two hours were up, she truly felt ready…or at least as ready as she would ever be. When it was time to leave, she wisely chose not to bid Dwalin farewell with her usual kiss on the cheek, not wishing to add any fuel to a fire that was hopefully put out. Dwalin only chuckled when he noticed her hesitation, giving her a knowing wink.

As they walked back to their apartment, they met Thorin in the hallway, also on his way to the royal wing, looking to turn in for the night.

"Long day?" Fili asked, having not seen much of his uncle lately, with all the duties they both had in getting ready for the celebration.

"I keep reminding myself that it will soon be over, and things will return to normal," he nodded, giving a heavy sigh.

"Ahhh, but by then we should hopefully be housing a number of hobbits," Fili pointed out. "And while they should hardly be bothersome, there is sure to be some excitement associated with having them here."

"If they would ever arrive!" Thorin muttered, obviously still stressed about the lack of word from the caravan. "For a race of beings who thrive on the written word, Bilbo seems woefully lacking in the ability to correspond!"

"I am sure they are just fine, and Bilbo will have a very logical explanation for their lack of messages," Fili said, doing his best to alleviate his uncle's concern.

"I certainly hope so, all this is only adding to the grey hairs you and Kili have given me over the years," Thorin groused, flashing Fili a slight grin at his jab.

"Oh, sure, blame it all on us," Fili laughed back. "While I am certain that battling trolls, orcs, wargs, and a fire breathing dragon, had nothing to do with it!"

"Perhaps one or two…but the rest I ascribe to you!" Thorin shot back, now sounding much less tense. They had just arrived at Fili and Sier's door, his own being further down the long hallway, but still he paused. "Perhaps I might come in for a moment and visit with Flinn?" he asked almost hopefully. "It has been days since I have seen him, and a few minutes with the lad would do wonders for my disposition, I am sure."

"Of course," Sier nodded. "He would be thrilled to see you."

"He has been asking about you, as a matter of fact," Fili agreed, gesturing to the door as if inviting him to lead on.

Thorin's smile was genuine as he stepped forward and grasped the handle, turning it and pushing it open in one swift action. Unfortunately the smile quickly faded as an entire bucket of cold water came splashing down over his head, drenching him from top to bottom.

Sier let out a small squeak and jumped back, both she and Fili only catching a few drops, while Thorin had taken the brunt of it all. As they looked past the sopping wet king, they spied the culprits, both of them standing in the middle of the room with mouths wide open and eyes full of fear.

"Oh…Thorin!" Kili gasped, obviously not having expected their uncle to be the one to enter. "It…it was meant for Fili…I swear!"

"KILI!" Thorin roared, his hands balling into fists as he glared at his petrified nephew…as well as his equally frightened great-nephew.

"Run, Uncle Kili!" Flinn shouted, giving him a little push. "If he can't catch you, he can't kill you!"

It only took the space of a heartbeat, and Kili was through the door in a flash, slipping past Thorin before he had a chance to even grab for him.

"Thanks for letting me sit with Flinn!" he yelled back as he disappeared around corner, off to hide himself until his uncle cooled down.

Once the younger prince was out of sight, everyone just stared at the king, not sure exactly what to say. Finally it was Thorin himself that broke the silence.

"Is there any doubt still left in your mind that you and Kili are chiefly responsible for aging me beyond my years?" he asked, sighing heavily as he reached down and tried to wring some of the water from his tunic.

Fili could not help himself, and even though he knew it could easily mean his life, he burst out laughing. Sier looked shocked at first, thinking her husband more than foolish, but when she too saw the spark of humor in Thorin's eyes, she let a giggle slip out as well. It was then that Flinn stepped forward, his fingers laced behind his back as he stared up at his king and uncle quite repentantly.

"I'm sorry you got all wet, Uncle Thorin," he apologized. "Uncle Kili said it would be a good joke to play on Adad…but we didn't know you was coming over." He shuffled his feet and stared forlornly at the floor. "Is you mad at us now?"

"Well, Flinn," Thorin began, going down on one knee as he tipped the lad's chin up. "I won't lie…I am not very pleased with either of you at the moment." Yet after seeing the slightly quivering lip on the lad before him, he gave a heavy sigh and added, "But, if I let your uncle and your father live this long after all the jokes they played on me in the past…I suppose I can overlook this one as well." With his final words he gave the little dwarfling a sly wink, letting him know that all was forgiven.

Forgetting that Thorin was still sopping wet, or not caring in the least, Flinn threw his arms around him and gave his uncle a big hug.

"I love you, Uncle Thorin!" he said, sounding both relieved and sincere.

"And I love you too, Flinn," Thorin answered, embracing him right back.

"But…it would have been a good joke…if Adad had walked in first," Flinn added, a sly little smile gracing his lips. "Don't you think, Uncle Thorin?"

"Yes," Thorin laughed, ruffling the little dwarrow's hair affectionately. "Yes, that would have been a very fine joke indeed."

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As it was, Thorin stayed for at least half an hour longer, regardless of his wet attire. The main reason being, in Fili's mind anyway, to reassure Flinn that he was truly not upset with him. Sier had fetched Thorin a towel and sat the king by the fire to help him dry off while he spoke with his great-nephew. Fili wondered if he should be the one upset, since apparently he had been Kili and Flinn's intended target. But just as Thorin had proven, it was next to impossible to remain angry with such a repentant little dwarfling as Flinn.

By the time Thorin did head off to his own chambers, everyone was smiling once again, including Flinn. Still, Fili felt it was important to have a little father and son chat about all this while he was tucking him in for the night.

"Now, Flinn," Fili began, doing his best to sound authoritative. "You need to understand that while pranks can be fun, they can often get you in trouble as well. And even if it was Kili's idea…that does not mean that you have to agree to go along with it."

"Well…it wasn't all Uncle Kili's idea," he confessed, looking a bit sheepish. "He was the one who said it would be funny to trick you…but it was me who thought of the bucket of water."

"I see," Fili nodded, wondering what had put his brother up to this.

"But we never thought Uncle Thorin would walk in!" Flinn was quick to point out.

"No…just me," Fili hummed in an accusatory tone. "But what if your mother had come in first? Did you and Kili think about that?"

"Oh, no!" Flinn seemed genuinely upset by that idea. "Ama would have been so mad at us!"

"Well, she is still not very happy at the moment, I can assure you," he chuckled, before quickly schooling his expression. "What Kili fails to do when dreaming up a joke, is to plan for all the things that could go wrong. That used to be my part in all our pranks."

"What do you mean?" Flinn asked, his brow scrunched in confusion.

"It was my job to plan for the unexpected. What to do if things failed to go as planned…like the wrong person coming through the door," Fili tried to explain. "I was usually the look out, the one who made sure that no one would get hurt by what Kili was planning."

"Oh…we did not think about that," the little dwarrow admitted.

"And that is why Thorin got all wet, and not me. Understand?" Fili said with a nod of finality. "So…what did you learn from all this?" He sat back and waited for his son to say he had learned his lesson, and that he would never do it again. Unfortunately, that was not what Flinn took away from the conversation.

"I learned that Uncle Kili should not be in charge of the pranks," he said, sounding completely serious. "And that you should always have a look out to stop someone else from walking in the middle of it."

"That's it?" Fili asked, looking shocked.

"Ummm," he said, thinking really hard. "You should never prank Uncle Thorin…his face turns really red!"

Fili did not know how to reply to that. He had to admit that everything his son said was the truth, but still not exactly the answer he had been looking for. In the end, he decided that maybe this was one of those life lessons which would take more than one conversation to get straightened out. Best leave that for another day. So, kissing him goodnight he turned down the lamp and closed the door, only to find Sier out in the living area, silently laughing so hard she had tears streaming down her cheeks.

"And just what do you find so amusing, lady wife?" he asked, crossing his arms over his chest with a scolding look.

"Oh, Fili…if you had seen your face when that bucket fell on Thorin!" she gasped, unable to stop herself. "I am really sorry, and I don't mean to laugh, but it was simply priceless! And to think…it was supposed to have been you!"

"I know! And that is the part that worries me," Fili stated. "With both Flinn and Kili teaming up…I don't stand a chance!"

Sier, who had at last seemed to get a hold of herself, stood up and came to stand in front of him, giving him a sympathetic smile.

"Don't worry," she said encouragingly. "I promise to watch your back. You will always have me on your side."

"You and me against them, is it?" he asked, a sly grin crossing his lips.

"They'll never know what hit them," she nodded, conspiratorially.

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Fili was dreaming, he knew it for a fact. Not only by the almost weightless haze he seemed to be floating in, but from what lay before his eyes. It was Sier, approaching through the mist, smiling at him and holding out her arms. She was beautiful, her long raven hair blowing slightly in a breeze, and her radiant smile beckoning him forward. But what caused his eyes great joy, was the fact that she appeared to be heavy with child, her stomach extended in such a pleasing manner. This must have been what she looked like while carrying Flinn, he guessed, unable to take his gaze off of her. Oh, how he wished he could have been there during that time, to help her and offer assistance while she nurtured his son.

But then another figure came into view…Flinn! He appeared to run past where he was standing, scurrying forward until he reached his mother's outstretched arms. Their little blond dwarrow hugged either side of Sier's stomach with his hands, placing his ear right in the middle, as if listening.

"Can you hear the heartbeat, Flinn?" Sier asked, allowing her fingers to sift through his hair.

"I can hear something," he nodded, shutting his eyes tightly as if straining to listen. "What is it?"

"We do not know yet," she laughed. "What would you like it to be?"

"A puppy!" Flinn shouted, looking up at his mother with a wide toothy grin.

"Well, now…I don't know about that," Sier chuckled, but suddenly she stopped, placing her hand on the side of her stomach with a look of pure wonder.

"What was that?" Flinn asked, apparently having felt it as well.

"I think your little brother or sister was not happy to be called a puppy," the startled mother speculated. She then looked up, turning her gaze directly at Fili. "Come here, my love, and feel your child kicking."

His child? Sier was not speaking about Flinn! Was she once again carrying his seed within her? Fili did not understand…how could they? How?

Before his dream-self had time to ponder this mystery, he woke, sitting up in bed as he did his best to catch his breath. It was still late at night, his internal clock telling him so, as well as the fact that the fireplace now burned low, leaving only a few red coals to offer illumination. Turning, his eyes fell upon the dwarrowdam sleeping beside him, his sudden movement thankfully not having disturbed her slumber. His eyes were keen, as most dwarves were, his kind having dwelt so long in the darkness of mountains and caves, and he could easily make out the soft features of her face. Leaning back on his elbow, he studied her for a while, tracing each curve and line with his eyes, though his fingers ached for the privilege as well. She was beautiful. Stunning. Everything his heart deemed perfect. And yet, here he lay, inches away from her…and yet a world apart.

What was it that he felt for her? He had experienced such a gambit of emotions since he first laid eyes on her five years ago. Amazement, respect, sympathy, pride, and most recently, extreme possessiveness. He had admired her from the start, for all that she had been through, and perhaps at first that was how he had chosen to define his unresolved feelings…but now, he knew there had to be more. He now had deeper feelings…ones he felt compelled to explore.

After all, if a dwarf found a vein of gold, did he remain content with what he saw on the surface, or did he dig deeper, delve ever farther until he hit the mother-load? Of course he went in search for more! No dwarf worth his salt would be satisfied until he had discovered the source! And Fili was a true dwarf, a son of Durin, descended from one of the seven original children of Mahal.

Yet, that one fear still held him fast, clawing at the edges of his mind like a ravenous warg. What if he were to test out his feelings, his growing suspicions, and it took him where he did not wish to go? The two paths before him were either to that of love, acceptance and untold joy…or bitter despair. Shattering all that he and Sier had so tentatively built up over the past few months. Part of him said to leave well enough alone, to be satisfied with what they had…while the other part - the greedy dwarf part - cried out to his soul. Dig! Search! Discover!

Unable to reconcile the conflicting voicing in his mind, Fili threw back the covers and slipped out of bed, finding himself in the living quarters as he paced back and forth in frustration. He could not go back there. He did not trust himself to lie at her side one moment longer without doing something he might come to regret. He could not simply test the waters on his own, no, he needed her consent. Fili wanted her to agree to the exploration of these overwhelming emotions he was battling with. And he had already determined to wait until Durin's Day…to hold off until then to learn the truth. It was only two more days away…he had to find a way to make it until then. But how?

His eyes fell upon the door to Flinn's room and he struck upon an idea on how to get himself safely through the night. Entering quickly, he pulled back the blankets and scooped his son up into his arms, causing the lad to stir.

"Ada?" he mumbled with a sleepy yawn, his eyes barely opening as he snuggled into his warm embrace.

"Shhhh, Flinn," Fili encouraged, slowing heading towards the room he shared with the lad's mother. "Go back to sleep."

The little dwarrow did not argue the point, and was soon breathing evenly once more, oblivious to all that was going on around him. Fili settled the tyke in the middle of the bed, placing him as that secure barrier between him and Sier, insuring that nothing would take place this night. Crawling in as well, Fili gave a sigh of relief, turning on his side as he watched them for a while. They were both so dear to him…so very, very dear.

What had his dream meant? Was it just wishful thinking on his part…or some sort of hint to the future? Of what might be…if he but dare? Fili was resolved, knowing that he owed it to himself, as well as his son, to explore the boundaries of his and Sier's relationship! He was no longer afraid to try, not even afraid that he might fail…at this moment all he feared was never knowing for sure!

And with that idea fixed firmly in his mind and heart, Fili fell asleep, confident in his decision.

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The morning dawned, bright and sunny as the light filtered down through the crystal filled tunnels carved into the mountainside. It was now only one more day before the celebration, and Sier had a mountain of things to do. She had been working hard on the special coats for Fili and Flinn, wishing to have them both finished in time for them to wear. She knew that Kili would sulk, but he was next on her list, and he would simply have to wait. Opening her eyes, she began to rise, wishing to get started, and not waste a moment of the day ahead of her. Yet when she moved, she became aware of a warm little body pressed against her, and turning, she discovered her son lying beside her. That was strange…she did not recall him coming in to sleep with them last night. Had he crawled in and she had not even noticed?

As if he could hear her unspoken thoughts, the dwarfling yawned and looked up at her, smiling that adorable smile she loved so much.

"Morning, Ama," he said, curling into a tight ball as he pulled the blankets snuggly around him.

"Good morning, Flinn," she answered back, still a bit puzzled. "Did you have a bad dream last night?"

"I…I don't remember," he confessed, now looking as confused as she. "How did I get in here?"

"That is what I am wondering as well, my lamb," she smiled, leaning in to kiss is furrowed brow.

"Breakfast anyone?" Came Fili's voice from the door, causing all her thoughts of Flinn's night wanderings to flee her mind.

"You are up early," she smiled, finding the feast before her eyes far more appetizing that the offer of mere food. Why had his form become so appealing to her lately? It was not as if he had changed…yet perhaps she had.

"Busy day, lots to do," he grinned.

"Yes, I imagine so, with Durin's Day being tomorrow and all," she nodded, knowing she had her own list of duties to tend to as well.

"Durin's Day! Durin's Day!" Flinn yelled, scrambling to his feet as he began to jump up and down on the bed. "What do I need to do?"

"First you eat breakfast, then you take a bath, and get dressed," Sier informed him, causing him to flop onto his back with a groan at the mention of the bath.

"Whyyyyyyy?" he whined, acting very much like the dwarfling he liked to claim he was not.

"Because I said so!" Sier insisted, falling back on that tried and true answer she had told Thorin worked wonders.

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After breakfast, a delicious combination of eggs and sausages, hand cooked by Fili himself, Sier headed off to get dressed, leaving Flinn in his father's capable hands. Yet when she emerged, she found her little son running around the room half naked and squealing with unbridled glee.

"Flinn, come here this instant," Fili ordered, pointing at the spot in front of him, while trying his best not to let a smile form on his lips.

"No! If you can't catch me…you can't wash me!" he cried, altering the words that Kili had used on their Uncle Thorin in the practice ring. He then scrambled behind the sofa and could be heard wiggling his way underneath it.

"Flinn, if you do not come out from under there right now, I will…" Fili was not quite sure how to go about finishing his sentence. He had never threatened punishment on his son before, and he certainly did not wish to start now. Besides, the lad was not truly being maliciously disobedient, just a bit willful…and what young dwarrow had not done the same to their parents from time to time?

"You will what?" came a very curious voice from under the furniture.

"I will…" he paused, trying to dream up something horrible, yet so ridiculous, that no one would ever suspect he was serious. "I will…carry you down to the stables and have Storm lick you clean with his tongue!" Fili watched as Sier covered her mouth to stifle her laughter, telling him that he had hit upon the perfect balance between threat and fun.

"Really?" Flinn asked, sliding his head out from under the sofa, his eyes wide with excitement, as if he truly wanted his father to do such a thing. "Can we go now?"

Taking advantage of the moment, Fili leaned down and grabbed hold of his son, dragging him the rest of the way out and scooping the dusty lad up in his arms.

"No!" he laughed. "I was only teasing, and you know it. But now that I have you…you will take your bath, and not give me a moment's grief while you do!"

"Uuuuuugggg," Flinn groaned, going completely limp in his father's arms, as he shut his eyes in defeat.

Fili, having practically invented the 'boneless' technique when he was a dwarfling himself, did not let it faze him. He simply threw the child over his shoulder like a sack of oats, and strode happily into the washroom.

"I will take care of this," he nodded to Sier as he walked past, making Flinn squeal with laughter as he began to tickle his little feet.

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Sier had busied herself for a while with making the bed and gathering a few things she would need to take when she met with Dis later on. Yet the sound of splashing and laughter drew her to the open door to the washroom, and she couldn't help but be mesmerized by what she saw.

Flinn was once more in the barrel that Fili had turned into a bathtub, still one of the few ways the little tyke would agree to being scrubbed clean. But just as in most cases, more water appeared to be outside the barrel than in…and a good portion was covering Fili. As she watched, the older dwarrow reached up and tugged his damp tunic up over his head and tossed it on the floor, leaving his upper body bare to her greedy eyes. Sier caught her breath as she let her gaze roam over his damp skin, his strong, sculpted muscles and the one or two battle scars visible from her vantage point. He had told her how he had acquired them…about the wounds he had incurred during the infamous battle of the five armies, fought on the plains just outside Erebor. It was there, on that war-torn ground, that Thorin hoped to plant the crops that would not only heal the land…but feed the mountain in the years to come. If only the caravan with the hobbits would arrive.

Yet, as she watched Fili grab the soap and lather up a rag to wash his son, it was not haflings or battles that filled her mind…it was visions of him, her husband. Over the past five years, Sier had done all she could never to recall the night the two of them had obviously shared, fearing what it might reveal. But now…now she wanted to know, desiring to remember what his touch might have felt like, to know if he had kissed her. Closing her eyes, she allowed her thoughts to wander, imagining his hands running up her sides, and then caressing her back, pulling her against his rock hard chest as his lips sought out the spot just below her ear. She would let her fingers bury themselves within his hair, feeling the braids and beads brush against her skin as she held him to her tightly, not wanting him to ever let go. Would his kisses be tender, or full of fire, matching that of the flames that surged inside her whenever he came near? What words would he speak? Would he whisper sweet lines of poetry as he swept her into his arms, or other things that would turn her bones to liquid and set her skin ablaze? She could almost hear him whispering her name, over and over, as the passion began to engulf her.

"Sier?" Fili's voice made her jump, her eyes flying open as she realized she had been caught in the throes of a daydream. Oh, but what a dream it had been! "Are you feeling all right?"

Mortified that she had been thinking such thoughts, Sier nodded stiffly and hurried into the other room, not even daring to look in Fili's direction. Besides, as he was, standing there shirtless and glistening with water, he was far too enticing and she could feel her resolve beginning to weaken. How could she possibly continue on this way, with such a temptation placed before her day after day? She would either break down and make an absolute fool of herself…or go mad! Sier wondered which one might be worse.

"Sier?" Fili questioned again, following her into the living quarters with a worried expression, as a dripping dwarfling wrapped in a towel trailed closely behind.

Just then, a loud banging at the door interrupted them all, making Sier and Flinn jump at the noise. Fili gave his wife one last look of concern before striding to the door and pulling it open.

"My Lord Prince," the sentry that stood there began, giving the customary bow to his superior. "Your presence is requested by the king in his council chambers…immediately!"

"I will be right there," he assured the dwarf, shutting the door as he raced back in his room to grab a dry tunic and his weapons. Thorin did not summon others in such a way on a mere whim. Something was seriously wrong. As he hurried back through the room, heading for the door, he stopped for a moment to glance at his wife and son, both of them standing side by side and looking justifiably frightened. "Stay here until I return, and bolt the door!"

And with that he was gone.

WHY do things keep happening to stop them from confessing their feelings? it is almost as if someone is sabotaging them on purpose! *blinks innocently*

Yes, yes, it is a cliffie, but at least I am not leaving you on a Friday and making you wait all weekend. So hold your horses, more is coming on Tuesday. ha ha.

Hmmmm, did you like her day dream? How about his dream? Kili's prank...that backfired? Fili and Flinn's talk? How about Fili's idea to have Storm lick his stubborn dwarfling clean? ha ha.

Wonder what has Thorin all in a snit? More pranks by Kili? ha ha.

Keep those reviews coming...I do love them so.

Guest Reviews:

enilorac44: Hoped you liked Kili's revenge...since it gave you another wet Thorin, ha ha. That poor dwarf is going to get all pruny soon if he doesn't get a chance to dry off. Thanks.