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Hello again! I hope this chapter answers a few burning questions you all had. Enjoy.

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Chapter 88

~X~

And so the last few weeks of the hobbits' visit quickly slipped away. Much of their time was spent finishing up tasks, from last minute instructions to the dwarves on planting, to taking in all the knowledge they could about metal work before they left. The cultural exchange had been a success and no one could say that everyone had not benefited equally. Especially when Thorin gathered all the hobbits together and bestowed upon them far more than the agreed upon payment for coming to the aid of Erebor. Thorin called it a bonus for all the extra work due to the bumper crop, yet most guessed it had something to do with the fact that the project had brought Marigold into his life. Needless to say, every hobbit was leaving the mountain much richer than they ever imagined. Hamfast was extra pleased, knowing for sure that Horgath Goodchild would now be unable to look down upon his suit for his daughter's hand. As soon as he got back, he would propose to Bell and make her his wife.

Flinn and Frodo made the best of the time they had left, spending every moment they could in each other's company. Prim and Sier made sure that they were afforded every opportunity to do so before they would be forced to part…perhaps for a very long time. Ori had taken the time to sketch the two lads, gifting each with a copy to keep in their absence as a remembrance. The young scribe received two of the biggest hugs for his efforts, both Frodo and Flinn being deliriously happy over the thoughtful gifts.

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"And you promise never to forget me?" Flinn asked as the two sat on his bed playing with their toys.

"Never, ever!" Frodo assured him with a firm nod. "And you won't forget about me either, will you?"

"Not in a million, billion years!" the dwarfling stated with confidence. "And if you ever need me, all you have to do is say so, and I will be there as fast as I can. I mean…as long as my adad can bring me to the Shire. It is kind of a long way for me to come all by myself."

"Yes, it is," Frodo nodded, recalling just how long it took for them to get to Erebor in the first place. "And don't forget to write me and tell me what your mother has…if you get a brother or a sister."

"I will. What do you think yours will be?" Flinn asked.

"My parents hope it is a little girl, I heard them talking about it the other night," Frodo said with a shrug of indifference. "But I really don't care…either one is fine. As long as I have someone to play with, that's all that matters to me."

"Me too," Flinn nodded. "Although, my adad says that dwarves mostly have lads, not lasses, so I will probably get a brother."

"Make sure to have Mister Ori draw a picture of him or her, and send it to me, all right?" Frodo instructed.

"I will, but you have to find someone who can draw and do the same when you get yours," Flinn countered.

"I think Esme draws pretty good, I'll ask her," Frodo nodded.

"I'm going to be sad when you go home," Flinn announced, looking down at the toy in his hand. "I don't want you to go away."

"I'll miss you too," the hobbit assured his friend. "But I'm excited to be going home…I've missed the Shire a lot."

"Is it as pretty as they say?" Flinn asked.

"Really pretty! All green and quiet, with flowers and gardens everywhere," Frodo described, a happy smile crossing his face. "You gotta come visit, and see for yourself."

"I will…I promise," Flinn vowed. "My uncle says he will take Aunt Marigold to the Shire a lot, and I will come with them!"

"Good!" Frodo grinned. "I'll hold you to that!"

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As the day of the hobbits' departure drew close, Erebor was graced with the presence of the three elves from Rivendell once more. It was Fili and Kili who met them at the gates this time, along with Flinn and Frodo, all of them eager to welcome the fair folk back to the mountain.

"Hail, Princes of Erebor," Glorfindel called as they halted their horses and dismounted.

"Hail to you as well, My Lords," Fili said with a wide grin. He had been dying to find out how things had gone with their last little prank, yet the twins gave nothing away in their expressions. "King Thorin is sorry he could not be here in person to greet you, but he bid me to extend an invitation to dine at his table this evening."

"And we gladly accept," Glorfindel nodded.

"Indeed," replied Elladan. "We would greatly enjoy our dwarf friend's hospitality once more."

"Not to mention more of your fine brewed ale," Elrohir nodded.

"Did King Thranduil come with you?" Flinn asked, peeking around the three elves to see if anyone else was following behind them.

"Nay, young prince," Glorfindel said, kneeling down so that he was more at eye level with the lads. "Yet he bid me send greetings to you and Master Frodo…as well as give you these." At this he reached into his satchel and pulled out two magnificently carved wooden elks, handing them over to the wide-eyed youngsters.

"For us?" Flinn squealed, taking hold of his new toy and hugging it to his chest with glee.

"It looks just like the one the king was riding when he was here!" Frodo announced, examining it with wondrous care.

"He wanted you both to have a little piece of Mirkwood, so that you two would remember him as well," Glorfindel explained, enjoying the looks of excitement on their faces.

"Oh, we will never forget him!" Flinn stated adamantly, followed by a solemn nod from Frodo. The young dwarfling turned and held up his new gift. "Look, Adad! Can I keep it?"

"Of course you can," Fili laughed, ruffling his son's hair affectionately. "It was very nice of King Thranduil to send them." He then turned to the three elves and gestured with his hand towards the open gates. "Shall we go inside? Dinner will soon be served and I am sure you would like to store your things and clean up before then."

"Yes, that would be very nice," Elrohir agreed. "The ride was not difficult, but it was long."

"And I, for one, would like a chance to rinse off the dust," Elladan announced, eager to make use of the warm dwarven baths.

"Then right this way," Kili laughed, taking the lead as they all headed into the mountain.

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At dinner, while they waited for Thorin and Marigold to arrive, Fili and Kili sat across from the twins and the golden elf, laughing and talking about this and that. Flinn and Frodo had insisted on bringing their wooden elks to dinner, eager to show everyone their new toys. Dwarves and hobbits alike all agreed that they were very fine gifts.

"Speaking of gifts," Kili began, unable to stand the curiosity any longer. "What did you think of the items we gave you at our last parting?"

Here both Elladan and Elrohir looked away, a slight blush coming to their cheeks, yet Glorfindel began to laugh heartily.

"What?" Fili asked, looking from the twins to Glorfindel and back again questioningly. "What's so funny?"

"It would seem that my two companions here assumed that you had done something nefarious to the gifts you had presented them," the blond elf explained between chuckles.

"Oh, they did, did they?" Kili said with a wide grin. "Why ever would they think that?"

"You know exactly why," Elrohir insisted, giving Kili an embarrassed look. "After what we did to your rooms, we were pretty much expecting it."

"Aye, and well you should have," Fili chimed in, his smile as wide as his brother's. "That was quite a trick you played on us, and I think Kili is still working on setting his room to rights."

"Just when I think I have got everything fixed, I find something else turned upside down!" Kili agreed.

"So, tell us, what did you do to our gifts?" Elladan asked, again looking uneasy.

"You never found out?" Fili asked, a bit shocked that they had not yet discovered the truth.

"No…we never had a chance," Elrohir explained sheepishly. "You see, we were fussing over your packages so much, worried at what they might contain, that Thranduil got fed up. He grabbed them both from our hands and threw them into the lake."

"He said, 'There, problem solved,' and rode on without looking back," Elladan finished. "So…we never even got to see what was in them. We truly hope there was nothing of great value."

Everyone was silent for a moment while the two dwarves processed the mental image, but then Fili and Kili burst out in peals of laughter. When they at last were able to regain their composure, and breathe normally again, they set the elves' minds at ease.

"I assure you, my friends, there was nothing that merited such worry or concern," Fili told them. "They were merely trinkets and a few food items."

"And there wasn't anything wrong with them either," Kili added. "By the time we discovered your prank the night of the wedding, we were too tired to formulate any good form of revenge, so we just made you think we had. There was nothing at all amiss with what we gave you…we only led you to believe there was."

"Then all our worry was for nothing?" Elladan asked, a shocked look springing to his grey eyes.

"Absolutely nothing," Fili grinned. "Well…nothing other than our pure enjoyment."

"I must congratulate you, then," Glorfindel said, bowing his head to the dwarf princes. "For not only did you have these two here jumping at shadows and fretting over your gifts, you also managed to irritate Thranduil as well. Fine job, I must say."

"Agreed," the older twin nodded, his face breaking out in a wide smile. "That was indeed a very impressive form of revenge!"

"Thank you," Kili grinned. "Yet it was all Fili's idea…I just helped pick out what trinkets to put in your packs." He then stopped and got a highly amused look on his face. "You know what…about a month ago when I was in Laketown, I could have sworn that I saw one of the fishermen wearing the tacky medallion I had put in your bag, Elladan! I thought it was just a coincidence at the time, but now I bet he had fished your package out of the lake!"

This had all five of them laughing so hard that many from other tables turned and looked at them skeptically.

"Shall we call it a tie then, and allow the prank wars to cease?" Elrohir suggested. "I have enjoyed our sparring with you two very much, but I would wish to part on good terms when we leave this time."

"I believe it best," Fili agreed, not knowing when they would see the engaging twins again. "Yet…I was thinking that we should do something really special for Bilbo and the others who are leaving. Something big, to give the hobbits a truly spectacular send off."

"Oh?" Elladan responded, leaning in with an eager look. "You mean team up with you two, and play a trick on them?"

"Not really a trick…but something else I have in mind," Fili revealed.

"May the Valar have mercy," Glorfindel moaned, rubbing his hand over his face as he beheld his worst nightmares coming true. "Perhaps it is best if I do not know anything about this," he suggested, rising to his feet and picking up his glass. "I think I will visit with our hobbit friends until Thorin arrives, and let the four of you speak in private. The less I know the better. Just please…leave me out of it." And with that he departed, shaking his head in worry and amusement.

"Can I be your lookout, Adad?" Flinn spoke up, suddenly standing at his father's right arm with a hopeful expression on his face. He had apparently been eavesdropping on his father's conversation. "Pleeeeease?"

"Me too?" Frodo chimed in, the little hobbit never far behind Flinn.

Fili could not help but laugh at the two lad's request, recalling how Kili had once been so eager to help his big brother prank someone when he too was very small.

"Of course you can," he assured them. "Every good prankster needs at least two brave and resourceful lookouts."

"But you can't say a word to anyone," Kili admonished, pointing his finger at them as they both nodded reassuringly. "Especially not to Uncle Thorin."

"We won't tell anyone!" Flinn swore.

"Not a soul," Frodo agreed.

"Good," Kili said with a wink. He then turned to look at his brother. "So what are we going to do?"

"It just so happens that the other day, while checking out some of the store houses, I stumbled across something very interesting…something I think everyone forgot was there," Fili explained, leaning in and lowering his voice. "And I believe if we put our heads together, we can make the parting of the hobbits something everyone will remember for a very long time."

"You have our undivided attention, Prince Fili," Elrohir grinned, liking the sound of this very much.

"Please, go on," Elladan agreed.

"So, this is my idea…" And Fili proceeded to lay out his diabolical plan, watching as both excitement and delight filled their faces.

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Thorin and Marigold entered the dining hall soon after, the two of them having been busy with meetings all afternoon. The king and queen spotted Glorfindel speaking with Rory and Menegilda, and headed over to greet their elven guest.

"Ah, Thorin!" The blond elf gave them a low bow as they walked up. "I have just been informed that congratulations are in order once again. You are to be blessed with a child, how wonderful."

"Yes, it is," Thorin agreed, pulling his wife a bit closer to him as he smiled down with unabashed pride. "We are both overjoyed with the news."

"As you should be," Glorfindel nodded. "Children are a blessing to all races."

"So are you ready to escort our fine group of hobbits home, Lord Glorfindel?" Thorin asked, gesturing to his in-laws as well as the other halflings sitting nearby.

"Indeed," the elf agreed. "And looking forward to it. We promise to see them safely back to the Shire in record time."

"Not too quickly, now," Rory protested. "Our last trip was a bit rushed for my taste. And even though we had an easy go of it, I am much more suited to a lazier pace. Comfort above speed, is my motto."

"Not me," Saradoc stated. "I found I rather enjoyed the flying part."

"Me too," Esme agreed. "I mean, once you got used to it and all…it was very exhilarating. And the view could not be beat."

"It would seem that the younger generation of hobbits are a bit more adventurous than most," Glorfindel laughed.

"We blame Bilbo," Rory huffed, giving his son a perturbed look. "Ever since he came back from his adventure, he's been putting ideas into our youngens' heads."

"Oh, my…ideas, you say?" Menegilda gasped in pretend shock. "What's next? Will they start thinking for themselves? Pure lunacy!"

"Oh, hush now, wife," Rory scolded her good naturedly. "You know what I meant. I'm just not used to change, is all. I like things done the old way."

"Yet, change is inevitable, Master Brandybuck," Glorfindel informed them. "And I present your daughter and son-in-law as a prime example of that."

"Well…that kind of change I suppose I can live with," Rory said with a wide smile. "Yet I still believe that hobbits should remain firmly on the ground."

"I think that is one point few will argue with you, Rory," Thorin laughed, as everyone quickly joined in.

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Later that night, Fili slipped into his room, stripping off his outer clothes and sliding into his bed as quietly as possible.

"You were out late," Sier murmured, apparently not quite asleep yet. "I tucked Flinn into bed hours ago."

"I'm sorry," Fili whispered into her ear, breathing in deeply as he reveled in her scent. "Kili, the twins, and I had some business to take care of."

"Business…or a prank?" she asked, turning over and giving him a skeptical look.

"That is a secret, my nosey little wife," he laughed, giving her all the answer she needed.

"Fine, keep it to yourself if you wish," she huffed. "Just don't do anything that will upset Thorin - he has enough to worry about right now."

"What does he have to worry about?" Fili laughed, reaching down to rub his hand over his wife's stomach. "Just like me, Uncle is delirious with joy. I don't think we could do anything right now that would get under his skin."

"Perhaps, but don't push your luck," she warned.

"Don't fret, what we have in mind will be enjoyed by all," he then furrowed his brows in thought. "Well, maybe not all, but most everyone."

"You are not instilling much confidence in me, my love," she giggled, loving how excited Fili got when plotting. "But if you will not tell me what you are planning, would you instead tell me what is up with Kili? You promised to explain what he meant the other day when he mentioned elf maids. Is there a story to all that?"

Fili gave a heavy sigh. He had promised not to tell Thorin or Dis about his brother's fascination with the Mirkwood captain, yet Sier was different. She loved Kili almost as much as he did, and there was no way she would tell another soul if he asked her not to. Besides, having a female's perspective on things might be helpful.

"There is not really much to tell," Fili admitted at last, trying to decide how best to explain. "While on the quest we ran into a nest of Mirkwood spiders, all set on making us their next meal."

"Yes, I recall you telling this story many times," she told him, giving an involuntary shudder at the thought of those long legged monsters attacking her friends and family.

"Well, what I didn't tell you was that Kili got separated from us, and one of the vile creatures tried dragging him off." Now it was Fili's turn to twitch at the disquieting memory, the sound of his brother's cries for help still haunting him. "It might have succeeded too, if not for a well-placed arrow by Thranduil's captain of the guard…a red haired elleth, as it turns out."

"She saved Kili?" Sier questioned, instantly fully awake as she stared at her husband in wonder.

"Yes, and according to him, she did it with an amazing amount of skill and flair." Fili had to grin at the animated way his brother had later described the encounter. "She was part of the group that took us captive and imprisoned us on Thranduil's order, but when she later came down to check on us, Kili struck up a conversation with her. Thankfully, his cell was at the far end, making it difficult for any of others to overhear what was being said, but I could hear - and let me tell you…it was not exactly the type of discussion one would imagine between a guard and her prisoner."

"Kili was flirting with her?" Sier was now grinning from ear to ear. "Why that little scamp!"

"Well, I am not sure if flirting was what I would call it, but they struck up an odd sort of friendship, crazy as that sounds. We were imprisoned down there for nearly a week before Bilbo found a way to free us, so they had many opportunities to converse. At first I thought it was simply Kili's way to pass the time, or perhaps he was trying to gain her trust in order to help us escape. Yet the longer I listened to what they talked about, I could tell that he was genuinely interested in what she had to say, and it would appear that she found him equally fascinating."

"Well, of course she did," Sier said firmly. "Kili is a very interesting dwarf, she would have been a fool not to notice his worth."

"Yes, yes, Kili is a treasure," Fili laughed, waving off his wife's look of irritation. "Still, regardless of their apparent rapport, she was still our guard and we were still prisoners. And when we made good our escape, well, I am willing to bet that it did not sit very well with her. Kili worried that she might have gotten in trouble over it too, but there was nothing we could have done differently. We had to get out of there and make it to the mountain before Durin's Day. And that is just what we did, floating down the river in those wine barrels to Laketown, right under the noses of the woodland elves. From there we all made our way to the mountain and entered Erebor by way of the secret door."

"And has Kili seen this elf lass since?" Sier asked.

"Not really," Fili mused. "I mean, I know that she participated in the Battle of Five Armies, for we saw her several times fighting at Thranduil and Legolas' side. And we know she survived, since she was there when Thorin handed over the white gems to the elf king, before they headed back to Mirkwood. But since then, Tauriel has not come to Erebor, and we have not been invited back to Thranduil's halls - thus he has not laid eyes on her in over ten years."

"Tauriel?" Sier repeated, saying the name a few more times. "That is a very pretty name. Does it mean anything?"

"It means trouble for Kili!" Fili snorted. "Thorin has come a long way in his opinion of elves, but I hardly think he is ready to accept one as a mate for his nephew. I am undecided on what I think of it all, though I can't help but wish some pretty dam would just capture Kili's eye and heart and be done with it. Things would be much easier that way."

"And when has love…or anything else, for that matter…ever been easy for the sons of Durin?" Sier laughed, reaching up to caress Fili's cheek. "Kili must find his own way, and his own love. Yet still, he must indeed hold this Tauriel in high esteem to have commented so strongly when Flinn asked what female elves look like," Sier guessed.

"She's pretty enough, I guess…for an elf," Fili had to admit with a shrug. "Her red hair is very striking, and she has amazing skills with a bow and blade. I think that was what caught Kili's eye at first, seeing that they shared a love for the same weapon."

"Right…her weapons, that's what drew his attention," Sier scoffed, covering her lips with her fingers as she tried not to laugh.

"The point is, he's had this strange fascination with her ever since," Fili continued, ignoring his wife's little jab. "They would make a very odd pair, elf and dwarf, and the height issue alone would be an issue. Not to mention the differences in customs and traditions. It really makes no sense at all."

"Love does not have to make sense," Sier told him in a solemn tone. "Look at us. I was a maid, and you were a prince, yet when you find your one, you cannot deny the bond. Would you ask Kili to do so?"

"No, of course not!" Fili stated adamantly. "I would support him no matter who he chose to wed." He then got a concerned look on his face and had to amend his statement. "Well, I might have had to clobber him over the head if he had fallen for Bina…but other than her, I think I am all right with whatever lass he chooses."

"Agreed," Sier said with a shudder, not having thought of that evil hag Bina in quite a while. "Yet, I suppose if he has not seen this elf maid since, there is no reason to fret over what might have been."

"That's what I told him," Fili nodded. "If it was meant to be…it will be. If not, then no need to go borrowing trouble. For you know that is what they would be in for, a heap of trouble if Kili chose to pursue this infatuation. And yet…I would stand beside him no matter what."

"You are a true brother and friend to him, my love," Sier said with a loving smile. "He is fortunate indeed to have you on his side."

"That's what I keep telling him!" Fili laughed. "And I am blessed to have you for my wife. Now, we need to get some sleep, the hobbits will be leaving in just two days and there is a lot that needs doing before then."

"Things like your secret plan?" she said with a skeptical raise of her brow.

"Exactly!" Fili grinned, hugging her close as they both snuggled in, allowing sleep to claim them at last.

Well, there is the story of Kili and Tauriel's meeting and how much they saw of each other. Granted, I am sure Kili has more to tell, but he is keeping quiet at the moment.

And you also know what happened with Elladan and Elrohir and their 'gifts' ha ha. Thranduil knew how to solve the problem.

Did you like his gifts to the lads?

I think everyone should vacate the mountain now...with the dwarf princes and the elf princes teaming up...everyone is doomed!

Guest Reviews:

Kendall Merritt: I hope they were happy tears! Glad you liked the whole little Rose thing...Thorin put a lot of thought into the name and I think Marigold appreciates it.

dojoson41: ha ha, That would be funny, to have Thranduil come visit and be wearing the sword. ha ha. Thorin would kick his butt all the way back to Mirkwood and then have to make a groveling apology afterwards. ha ha. I thought the pig looked too cute for a war-pig, but what do I know. A razor back would have been good!

abc: Yep, babies for everyone! Just not all at once and one will be in the Shire. Ha ha, oh I am sure if it turns out to be a boy child, they will think of another name besides Rose. ha ha. Thorn? Cuz every Rose has its Thorns? ha ha, I made a joke! Fili is the best brother ever...and so is Kili. Tauriel will not show up until part three. So you will have to wait. I am just setting the stage here, she will come later.

Emrfangirl: Ehhh, she will get over it. ha ha. And Dwalin found out that he was going to be a father in front of everyone...so no worries. ha ha. Oh, you really do not think very highly of the Durin boys and their stamina when it comes to births, do you? But we will have to see who stays standing and who goes down...if any. ha ha.

Aranel Mereneth: Mostly I just wanted Marigold's parents to know about the baby before they left, and I didn't want Frodo to be alone for long, so he gets a sibling too. I am sure that Thorin changed his share of diapers with Kili...I think Fili was already in big boy pants by the time he had to do any of that. But he will be a very good father nonetheless.