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Happy Monday!

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Chapter 47

~X~

Kili and Marigold returned to the dining hall a little later, and though he longed to stop and eat, the dwarf prince simply passed his charge off to Bilbo, and headed off to find Fili. Kili had been very confused by his uncle's behavior, both towards him, as well as the hobbit lass. He had thought Thorin enjoyed her company, or at least it appeared so from the way he had originally greeted her, and their actions at the Durin's Day party. But then again, what did he know, and his uncle was often in a grumpy mood when too many worries pressed on his mind. Kili gave a visible shudder, he was certainly glad that he would never be king. Fili was welcome to it, and with his blessing, freeing him up from ever having to shoulder that mantle of responsibility.

Arriving at his brother's door he knocked firmly and then waited, the door opening very quickly to reveal an excited looking Fili.

"Nadadith!" the crown prince greeted him, stepping aside as he let him enter. "I was starting to think you'd forgotten about me."

"Sorry, but I got tied up giving Miss Marigold a tour of the mountain," he explained, his eyes coming to rest on the two little scamps playing in the middle of the room.

Flinn had every toy Bifur had ever made for him strung out over the floor, with little Frodo right in the middle of it all. They were apparently embroiled in a fierce battle, the wooden dwarves and ponies matched against some undisclosed enemy – being played by an adorable stuffed rabbit and a carved little pig. Kili knew that Sier had requested that the toymaker not gift her son with anything that resembled actual orcs or wargs.

"But I am here now, and more than willing to take these two off your hands for the rest of the day…if I can interest them in coming with me, that is," Kili said, looking over at the children still playing on the floor. "Hey Flinn, how goes the battle?" he asked loudly, catching the attention of both youngsters, who looked up at the dark prince with wide eyed enthusiasm.

"Uncle Kili!" Flinn called, jumping to his feet and rushing over to greet him. "Do you want to play with us?"

"I would love to, but how about we go play in my quarters for a change?" the younger prince suggested, trying to make it sound as appealing as possible. "Frodo too, of course," he quickly offered, looking over at the little hobbit who grinned widely.

However, this is where Flinn's smile disappeared and was replaced with a look of hesitancy. The little dwarfling's gazed flickered between his uncle and his father, as if trying to decide what to do.

"But…what if while I am gone, Ama gets…scared?" Flinn asked. "Shouldn't I stay here to take care of her…to keep her safe?"

Fili, recognizing his son's way of disguising his own fears from when he first arrived in Erebor, knelt down before him, once again playing along.

"I promise that I will look after your ama while you are off having fun with your Uncle Kili," he assured him. "But if for any reason, she gets even the least bit scared…or you even think she might be, you just tell Kili and he will bring you back here right away to check on her."

"He…he will?" Flinn asked, looking up at Kili questioningly.

"In the blink of an eye," his uncle assured him, holding up his hand in a swearing position. "However, with as much fun as we are going to have, I doubt you will even have time to worry about your ama."

"Really?" Flinn asked, his eyes beginning to regain some of his lost excitement. "What are we going to do?"

"Well, first I thought we would head to the kitchens and see about getting something to eat, since I missed out on lunch," he began, ticking their activities off on his fingers. "And while we are there, we can get some carrots and take them to the stables to feed to Storm. Then, I have just been itching to build a fort in my room using all the furniture and bedsheets I can find…does that sound like a good idea to you two?"

Of course his suggestions were met with a round of cheers from both lads, jumping up and down with excitement.

"I already spoke with Drogo and Prim, and they gave permission for Frodo to go with you, as long as you promise to have him back at their apartment by bedtime, which is eight bells…sharp," Fili told him. "Sier and I will make sure to be done with our…umm, activities, by then as well."

Kili gave a nod of understanding, though he felt his face heat up at the implications of his brother's words. He was happy for him, truly he was, but he would rather not have to think about what would be going on in these chambers during Flinn's absence. Some things were best left to the imagination…or a time long into the future, when he himself might wish to imagine them.

Sier entered the room just then, and catching sight of her brother-in-law, her expression brightened. Apparently Fili had already filled her in on the plans as well.

"Well, shall we go then, lads?" Kili suggested, leading them towards the door.

Flinn still looked a bit uncertain, but Kili's fun filled itinerary soon won out. Still, he quickly ran over to where Sier stood, the little dwarfling throwing his arms around his mother and giving her a big hug.

"I will only be gone for a little while, Ama," he assured her bravely. "I will be back soon, so you don't have to be scared."

"I will do my very best to be as brave as you, my darling," she told him, her eyes growing misty as she embraced her son back. "But don't you worry, your adad is here, and he will protect us both. So you go and have a wonderful time with Kili and Frodo."

Giving a solemn nod, Flinn stepped back and smiled courageously. "I will, Ama." He then turned and raced towards the door to join his uncle and friend.

Sier, being the dutiful mother she was, quickly grabbed the lads' coats and gave them to Kili before they made it too far.

Looking back at the now almost teary eyed adults, the younger prince wisely asked, "Any final instructions?"

"Bring them home alive and unharmed," Fili told him with a forced grin, his tone telling Kili he was only half joking. "And have fun. All of you."

"You too," Kili said with a sly wink as his brother shut the door behind him. Well, that would go without saying, he thought to himself.

"Hurry, hurry," Flinn begged, grabbing Kili's hand as he began to drag him towards the stairs. "I want Frodo to meet Storm!"

"All right…but lunch first," Kili insisted. "I am starving!"

"Me too!" Frodo spoke up, the idea of a second helping of food sounding very pleasing to him.

"Then it is settled," the adult dwarrow concluded. "Kitchens first, then the stables!" And off they went.

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Bergie, having stopped in her room for a bit in order to draft out her plans for the renovations on the storage rooms, was now making her way to Balin's office, prepared to submit her designs. She was making recommendations for better ventilation in a few of them, cooler temperatures being ideal, and a lot more shelving to house the harvested food. She also had a few ideas on refitting one of them as a proper brewing room, something she looked forward to working on herself. She was so wrapped up in her thoughts that she failed to notice the two dams blocking her path until she had practically run right into them.

"Oh, pardon me," she said, giving them a little curtsy and apologetic smile. Yet when they did not return the greeting, or the sentiments, she became confused. "May I help you?"

"Aye," the taller one of the two, spoke up, yet she did not appear happy in the least. "You can tell us exactly what your intentions are towards our friend, Dwalin."

"Oh?" came Bergie's reply, now seeing exactly where the winds had shifted. She thought she recalled seeing these two at the Durin's Day party, perhaps wives of a few of the dwarves she had been introduced to, but she was not sure. Still, undaunted by their obvious misgivings, the hobbit lass stood her ground, not giving an inch, and looked the two stern faced dams directly in the eye. "That, I'm afraid, is none of your business."

Her unexpected response caused the shorter, chestnut haired dam to give a little squeak of shock, looking from the hobbit to her friend, and then back again with wide eyes.

"That is where you are sadly mistaken, lassie," the tall blond contested. "As wives of one of his dearest friends, and his cousin, it is our business to make sure that no gold digging upstart from the west takes advantage of him. We are a tight knit group, and even though Dwalin might seem like a gruff bear on the outside, underneath he has a heart of gold and more honor than most you will find. So we ask again…no, we demand to know, what are your intentions?"

Here Bergie gave a heavy sigh, one that was a mixture of frustration, confusion, and resignation. Obviously they were not going to give up, and if she was forced to admit it, she could tell they were truly only looking out for his best interests. Even if they appeared to be doing it quite rudely.

"You want to know what my intentions are?" she asked, feeling more than fed up with explaining herself on the subject…especially to the dwarf in question. "Well, I can assure you that I am not after his money and wealth, whatever that may entail. Gold and jewels mean nothing to me, and I wouldn't care if Dwalin were a lowly foot soldier without a penny to his name. I simply find the dwarrow fascinating, intriguing, and so damn irresistible that I am not ashamed to admit that I desire him above all others. And that includes any hobbits, dwarves, men, and elves I have ever chanced to meet. I mean him no harm or dishonor, and all the fellow has to do is tell me nay and I would leave off my pursuit. I am not some desperate lass with starry eyes and a heart full of unrealistic romantic fantasies. I am practical, level headed, and just happen to know what I want! And I will not give up on him until he refuses me of his own accord, and not through two busybodies like yourselves!" She gave a huff and looked at them with narrowed eyes. "Now, I hope that satisfies your rather inappropriate curiosity."

After her little rant, Bergie stood there, waiting for them to lay into her with more accusations, but instead, much to her surprise, the two dams' faces suddenly brightened.

"Well…that changes everything," the shorter one said, uncrossing her arms and placing them on her hips as she gave her companion a look of amusement.

"I like her spunk," the taller blond agreed, nodding to her friend. "She might be worth his time after all…not to mention us getting to know more about her as well."

Bergie, who was a bit taken aback by this sudden change of attitude, opened her mouth to speak, but the darker haired dam cut her off.

"But what do you mean gold and jewels don't interest you?" she questioned.

"Is that a hobbit thing…or something specific to you?" the taller one asked. When Bergie looked confused by her question, she quickly explained. "I only ask since this might come as a shock to Dwalin, since should he choose to pursue you, he will undoubtedly try and impress you with gifts like those…it's a dwarf thing, after all. I mean, where do you think the term 'gold-digger' comes from? We coined that phrase, my dear, and proud of it."

"So...all of a sudden you are fine with me chasing after him?" Bergie queried, feeling rather bowled over. "Just like that?"

"Well, maybe it would be best if we did get to know you a little better," the blond suggested. "But from the answers you just gave, and your sass in doing so…I think that perhaps you and Dwalin are quite suited as a pair." She then stuck out her hand in a belated greeting. "My name is Ilin, by the way, wife of Bombur."

"And I am Dena, Gloin's better half, and cousin to Dwalin by marriage," the shorter dam with the brown hair announced.

Still a bit flustered, Bergie shifted her rolls of parchment under her arm and shook hands with both lasses.

"Well…I thank you for your vote of confidence, yet I fear that it might all be a bit premature," she replied with a touch of regret. "For you see, even though I am actively pursuing Dwalin, he has yet to show any signs of returning my suit."

"What?" Dena asked, sounding almost shocked by this news. "Is he blind as well as grumpy? Why would he not be falling over himself to pursue a fine lass like yourself? What is he thinking?"

"I only wish I knew," Bergie gave a slight moan. "I asked him that very thing, and all he did was mumble something about still being unsure, that he did not have enough signs yet, or some nonsense like that."

"Oh," the two dams replied in unison, as if this made perfect sense.

"You understand what he meant?" Bergie asked, eyeing them both in irritation. "Care to fill me in?"

Ilin and Dena looked at each other with worry and concern on their faces, then turned a sympathetic gaze on Bergie.

"I think this explanation will require a bit more privacy," Ilin told her, taking the confused hobbit by the hand as the two dwarrowdams led their new acquaintance down a few halls and into a little chamber with a multitude of tables and chairs.

"This is one of the tea rooms used by the dams, but hardly anyone has time for such niceties these days," Dena explained. "Still, it will suit our purpose for now."

"And what purpose is that?" Bergie asked, taking a seat across from the other two when motioned to do so.

"To fill you in on dwarves…at least the male variety, to be specific," Ilin said in a low whisper. "Now, we dams are not as tight lipped about these things as our counterparts."

"Oh, yes, Mahal forbid that they even mention such intimacies outside their own bedchambers," Dena agreed with a roll of her eyes.

"And it would appear that only a royal decree could get them to talk about it among themselves as well, or so I was told," Ilin laughed, the two dams sharing a private joke between them, before sobering and returning to the matter at hand. "Now, not everyone knows this…in fact, probably very few outside our own race, but the truth is, dwarrows are different than most males. They do not flirt, or chase after dams, like you will see those of the race of men do."

"Well, I have seen Prince Kili flirt a bit, but nothing serious," Dena broke in, mentioning the one concession.

"But, you see, until a dwarrow meets what we call our ones, that mate created just for them, they are…well, made of…stone." Ilin finished.

"Ones? Stone?" Bergie repeated, understanding very little of what was being said.

"Yes…just as Mahal made the first seven fathers out of stone from the mountains, they remain in that state until they are brought to life by the meeting of their intended mates," Dena helped clarify. "They are unresponsive…uninterested …stone!" This time she put great emphasis on the final word, hoping that her meaning would be understood. Thankfully, by the way Bergie's eyebrows shot up into her hairline, the two dams got the impression that they had finally made their point clear.

"S-s-stone?" the hobbit stuttered, this time her words coming out in a funny little squeak. Surely these two were pulling her leg…they could not be serious!

"Now that is a figure of speech, mind you, not literal," Ilin clarified. "But the results are the same…nothing going on down there at all."

"Not one blessed thing, until they meet their other half, the part of them that has been missing since their creation," Dena continued. "So when Dwalin said that he still didn't know, that there had not been any signs…"

"He meant that he was still in his stone-like state?" The light of understanding was finally getting through to the hobbit lass. She leaned forward and placed her head in her hands, letting out a low moan. "I feel like such an idiot! Here I have been throwing myself at him, and he has been doing all he can to politely put me off. Why didn't he just say something?"

"Well…from what I have heard from Bofur, I am willing to bet that he doesn't want you to stop chasing him," Ilin surmised.

"Oh, if a dwarrow has no interest in a dam, he will say so immediately, trust me," Dena informed Bergie, offering her a bit of hope. "Yet, Dwalin has not told you that, has he?"

"Well…no, not in so many words," Bergie replied after a moment of thought. "But neither has he told me yes either."

"That is a good sign!" Ilin stated happily. "It means he is considering it, that he is interested in you, and just waiting to see if you two appear compatible. That you…well, you know." She nodded her head and made a gesture with her hand as if she wanted Bergie to follow her line of thought. "But if it does happen, then you are guaranteed a mate for life, one who will dote upon you and cater to your every wish."

"Who will make it his life's goal to please you in every way possible and never tire of doing so," Dena added with a wide grin and a contented sigh.

"And this is true with all males of your kind?" the Shire lass asked, feeling a bit out of place.

"Afraid so," Ilin nodded. "So even if we find ourselves attracted to one of them, it is pretty much up to them to let us know if there is a chance that we are a mated pair. I thought I would go crazy waiting for Bombur to make up his mind…or his body to make it up for him! I knew he was shy, but I had to practically spell it out to him before he would even speak to me!"

"You mean…you chased after Bombur?" Bergie was starting to like this dam a lot.

"Well, just like you said, I knew what I wanted and since he was not going to make the first move, I figured it was up to me," she huffed, thinking back on that long frustrating month she spent visiting the kitchen where Bombur worked. "Granted, I made it appear as if it had been his own idea – males need to retain the illusion of being in control – but it was all my doing, that is for sure."

"Not me," Dena laughed, her face turning a bit red. "Gloin was the one who made the first move in our courtship. I knew instantly that he was the one for me, and I could literally feel that he felt the same…if you take my meaning." Here she waggled her eyebrows up and down a bit, making both Ilin and Bergie giggle at the implications. "I think it had to be that kiss that did it…or perhaps when I slapped his face? Either way, I was engaged the very next day!"

"And once a dwarf is no longer…well, stone-like," Bergie concluded, doing her best to get it all straight in her mind, "then, and only then, does he know that he has found his one?"

"There are a few other signs to look for before that happens, like the dreams, or the fact that they will fixate on one certain aspect of our physique," Dena informed her. "But pretty much, that is the deciding factor for a dwarrow. I mean, why bother pursuing a dam if there would never be a chance for…well, marital congress?"

"And besides love and companionship, having children is a main reason for finding your one," Ilin stated, extremely proud of the fact that she and Bombur had produced three.

"Children?" Bergie sat up straight and looked as if she had swallowed a bee. "I…I never thought that far ahead in all this. Dwalin would expect…children?"

"Well…yes," Dena nodded, suddenly looking worried. "Is that not something hobbits long for as well? For dwarves it is most desirous, since there are so few of us, compared to other races. We females number only one third of our population, so you can imagine what a blessing it is to find your mate, and then be gifted with dwarflings."

"Yet…I am nearing the tail end of my childbearing years," Bergie informed them. "I am not even sure I can have children…though, I suppose there is no specific reason why I couldn't, either."

"Do we even know if dwarves and hobbits are able to have children together?" Ilin asked, looking at Dena as if the idea had suddenly struck her. "Or…can hobbits actually be a dwarf's one?"

"I don't see why not," Dena spoke up quickly, eager to put any such fears to rest. "It may not be widely known, or even talked about, but according to Gloin, way back in his family tree, one of his ancestors actually married a daughter of men."

"No! Really?" Ilin gasped, this being news to her.

"Oh, yes, and they had children too! And that is just the one example I know of, I am sure there must be more, even if they are not spoken about." Dena nodded enthusiastically, then turned her attention to Bergie. "Now I can imagine there was a bit of a height issue, unless this woman was a rather diminutive lass, but that should not be a problem for you and Dwalin. Hobbits, of all the free peoples, are the closest to us in size. And don't your folk claim Yavanna as their maker?"

"Yes," Bergie nodded. "She is the giver of fruits, the Vala responsible for all the growing things in Arda, something we hobbits love dearly."

"And she is the wife to Mahal, the maker of the dwarves," Dena pointed out. "So if both our creators chose to be a mated pair…why not their creations? Makes perfect sense to me."

"There you have it," Ilin nodded, apparently convinced by her friend's logic. "No reason why you and Dwalin can't be each other's ones."

"So…what do I do now?" Bergie asked, wondering if she had been going about this all wrong.

"Just keep doing what you have been doing. Let him know you are interested and drop as many hints as you can," Ilin instructed. "And from what Bofur says, you are doing a marvelous job of it so far."

"And don't underestimate a little bit of physical contact, either," Dena added, her cheeks turning a bit red. "Nothing scandalous, but a hand on his shoulder or arm, whatever seems appropriate at the time. Skin on skin is a marvelous catalyst, if done properly."

"This is all a lot to take in," Bergie said, sitting back in her chair with a dazed look in her eyes.

"Yet, you still feel that Dwalin is worth the effort…don't you?" Ilin asked, hoping she had not read this feisty hobbit lass incorrectly.

"Of course!" Bergie assured them both, rather firmly. "Never let it be said that Bergamot Bracegirdle backed down from a challenge! This only makes things more…well, interesting."

"That's the spirit!" Dena laughed. "And remember, the harder something is to obtain, the sweeter the victory when achieved!"

"I will keep that in mind," the hobbit laughed, getting to her feet. "But now I must go, I need to get these plans to Balin's office. I do thank you both for your insight on the matter though, you have given me a lot to think about."

"Any time, Bergie," Ilin nodded. "Please do not hesitate to come to us if you have any further questions."

"Or to let us know if there are any further developments!" Dena added, getting an excited look on her face. "We will be rooting for you!"

And with a final word of thanks and farewell, Bergie headed out, on her way to deliver her renovation plans.

"So…what do you really think?" Ilin asked her friend once they were alone.

"Just what I said," Dena told her with a self-assured nod. "I think Bergie and Dwalin would make a perfect match."

"And you really believe it is possible for them…for a dwarf and a hobbit to be each other's one?" she pressed.

"Stranger things have happened," Dena shrugged. "And we are living in very interesting times."

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Alone in their bedchamber, the sunlight filtering down though the crystal filled shafts, Fili held Sier close to him, his hand making lazy circles on the bare skin of her back. Oh, how he cherished these quiet moments, with just the two of them, both exhausted and sated by the activities they had just engaged in.

Fili had to chuckle at their impatience, the two of them almost tearing at each other's clothes the moment he had closed and bolted the door. Kili did not realize just how grateful they both were that he took the children off their hands for a few hours, giving them the much desired privacy they so desperately needed. Granted, this had only been their third time engaged in this activity – four if you counted the very first time, which neither of them clearly recalled – but he knew for a fact that this was quickly becomeing his very favorite pastime…ever! Unlike before, this time had been wild and frantic, as if they could not wait another moment to become one. The kisses had been extra heated, every touch full of purpose, until they had achieved the rush of passion that left both of them limp and exhausted, barely able to breathe, yet unimaginably happy.

"Are you awake?" he whispered, not wishing to rouse her if she was not.

"Barely," she murmured, her voice muffled against his chest. "You?"

"I feel as if I could sleep for a year," he laughed, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her closer. "Yet I know we only have a few hours left before Kili brings Flinn back, and I do not wish to waste a moment of it on slumber."

"Oh?" Sier asked, rising up and bracing herself on her elbow as she looked at her devastatingly handsome husband. How had she been so fortunate to have found her one in him? Mahal only knew. Yet here she lay, wrapped in a cocoon of their love, feeling as if their two hearts beat as one. How had she possibly lived all those years without him? And how could they both have been so foolish to have not seen, or in their case, purposefully ignored, this instinctual bond between them? The fact that they shared an amazing dwarfling between them should have been evidence enough of their compatibility, and yet they had irrationally allowed their fears to blind them to the obvious truth. And might they have just created a new life between them? Oh, she hoped so, desiring nothing more than to bless Fili with yet another son…or daughter. "And what exactly do you wish to do with our time then?"

Fili chose not to answer…at least not with words. Instead he rolled her over onto her back and stared down at his ravishing bride, the look in his eyes leaving no doubt in her mind of his intentions. And so, the crown prince of Erebor proceeded to demonstrate, in maddeningly slow and intricate detail, everything he had in his wicked and lustful mind.

Much to Sier's infinite pleasure.

Well, it looks like Bergie has two more in her corner rooting her on. And with the information she just received...Dwalin truly does not stand a chance now!

Sorry no Thorin and Marigold in this chapter, but he is acting like such a dolt that I couldn't stand to even look at him right now. ha ha.

I hope you enjoyed more Flinn, Frodo, Fili and Sier...and Kili of course. Don't want you to think I forgot about them.

And for those of you wondering, no, I will not be dragging out Thorin and Dwalin's stupidity for very long. Even THEY will catch a clue pretty soon. So hang in there...the fun is on the way.

Guest Reviews:

Emrfangirl: Ahhh, you caught up! Now you have to wait for chapters just like the rest...so sorry. I hope you saw my responses to your previous reviews back in chapters 24 and 41. I feel so helpless when I get reviews from guests and I have no way of letting them know I am getting them. So now I can reply to you here at the end of the chapters I am currently posting. To answer your latest question...I do have plans for Bilbo, but they do not involve Dis. They are just friends and will remain so. In my head cannon, Dwarves only get one one. That is why it is so important that Dwalin and Thorin recognize this and go for it, since they will never get another. And since Dis already found her one, she and Bilbo can't happen. Sorry. Also, don't worry about Fili...I will be addressing the issue of succession in chapter...um...let me go look...51. So hang on, answers are coming.

dojoson41: I agree. Dwalin is probably the last dwarf you would think would fall in love...well, maybe Dori is less likely...but I think Dwalin also deserves it the most. After Thorin, Kili and Fili...I think I have read more awesome Dwalin romances than any other from the company. But still, they are few and far between. So let's get that handsome war-chief hitched!

enilorac44: I am deeply flattered that you postponed your necessary morning ablutions just to read my story! Wow. And as you have just read, there was no 'smack-down' between Bergie, Ilin and Dena. But as to who WOULD have won...I have no idea, dwarf lasses are tough, but hobbit lasses are quick and wirey. Let's just be glad we never had to find out. ha ha.