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Congratulations to those who found the movie quote in the last chapter. It was Thorin saying "I would take them over your whole army any day, Hagen. For they fight for me out of loyalty, honor and a willing heart…" I have loved that quote since Thorin said it at Bag-End.

Thanks for all the wonderful reviews.

Onward!

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(Pssst, Lithuiwen2016, Time to wake up and read)

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Chapter 124

~X~

"Might I join you, My Lady?" Flinn asked, having approached Tauriel, who was still sitting by the fire after Kili's departure with his brother. "I would very much like to speak with you."

"Of…of course, Master Flinn," she offered, gesturing to the spot next to her. "Please, have a seat."

The weary warrior did as instructed, the warmth of the fire quite pleasant after having spent so many cold nights huddled in the corner of the prisons, praying he would live to see the next day. He was fully aware of what Tauriel had done for them back in the caves, how her well placed arrows had turned the tide in a battle where they had been hopelessly outnumbered. And as he looked into the kind eyes of the red haired she-elf, Flinn could not deny that his son had chosen wisely.

"How are your wounds, lass?" he asked, noting that her left arm was in a sling, there was a fresh bandage wrapped around her thigh, and a small one on her forehead. Yet even banged up, he could easily see why she appealed to Kili. Strong dams were coveted by dwarves, and Tauriel was as tough as they came.

"They are doing well," she assured him, looking down at the bandages thoughtfully. "Oin says that I will heal quickly, I just need to take it easy for the next few days…and no target practice for at least a week."

"Ah…wise advice, I'm sure," he nodded. "Yet, you do not appear to be the type to sit around idle, are you, lass?"

"Nay, master dwarf, I am not," she said with a sheepish grin. "Yet I will do all I can to follow the healer's orders…to a point."

"Well, good for you," he laughed, liking her more and more. "So, tell me a little about yourself, Tauriel," Flinn encouraged, not sure how long they might have before Kili felt compelled to return to her side. And if truth be told…he didn't blame his son one bit. "From where do you hail?"

"From the woodland realm of Mirkwood," she answered, yet she felt a surge of worry as Flinn's eyes grew wide.

"You're one of Thranduil's elves?" he asked. Well, he had not exactly expected that! Sure his grandsons had told him that the elves had aided them in the battle against the orcs, and had been tentative allies ever since…but that she came from Mirkwood was a bit of a shock.

"Yes, I am the captain of his guard," Tauriel once again replied, no sign of shame in her tone. "I was also among those who captured Thorin and his company and threw them into prison on the order of my king. Does this now make me distasteful in your eyes, master dwarf?"

"No…it does not," he assured her. "Though I admit it does surprise me…but that's all. You have more than proven your loyalty to this company, as well as my sons and grandsons. They all speak very highly of you, and I have witnessed your skill and bravery first hand."

"Then…then you do not object to Kili declaring me as his one?" she questioned hesitantly.

"Object?" Flinn barked out with a laugh. "Mahal, no…I encourage it!" When he saw that she looked shocked by this, he reached out and patted her hand gently. "I will admit that I once harbored a dislike for elves, same as most who had been forced to flee from Erebor. Yet, it was not your kind who brought the dragon who stole our home, and since that time I have met an elf that changed my opinion greatly. That one saved my life, for without his healing skills, I would have perished on the battlefield just as everyone thought I did. I never knew what became of him, yet I hope he escaped and found his way over the sea at last, for he was a credit to your race."

"I am sure he would appreciate your opinion of him, wherever he may be now," Tauriel told him respectfully. "And I am glad to hear that you do not find me offensive, as some dwarves still do."

"From what I am told, times are changing, and even Thorin now accepts elves within the walls of Erebor…something he had sworn would never happen," Flinn laughed. Oh, how he missed his stubborn friend, and couldn't wait to clap eyes on him once more.

"Lord Glorfindel has done much to heal the rift between our peoples…and I believe that Lord Thranduil is softening to the idea as well," she said with a smile. "At least I hope so, otherwise Kili and I will have much opposition to overcome. And I fear that some of it might come from our closest family and friends."

"Tauriel…you saved my Kili from some giant spiders, you fought to defend our people against an army of orcs, you pushed my youngest son out of the way of a cave in, and you stopped Gorbash from taking the life of little Flinn," he stated, ticking off her accomplishments on his fingers. "After all that, you can rest assured that I will stand up for you, and give the two of you my complete consent to this courtship. I would be a very poor father indeed if my first act of parenting in nearly ninety years was to object to my son's happiness! Dwarves might be stubborn…but we are not stupid!"

His light and teasing manner was infectious and Tauriel found herself laughing along with Flinn. It felt good to be accepted by more of Kili's family, for she had already considered Fili and the two dwarflings to be on her side. Dwalin, Nori, and Bofur appeared to be in her corner as well, and yet she knew the biggest obstacles would come in the form of King Thorin and the Lady Dis. Not to mention Thranduil…oh, she could not even imagine what he might have to say about all this! Still, he was her king…not her father or her kin, so other than possibly relieving her of the duties, or banishing her completely…he had very little to say on the matter. Yet she couldn't lie and say that what he might say didn't matter, at least to her.

"Am I intruding?" Kili asked, having slipped up behind them.

"Not at all," Flinn assured him, gesturing to the open spot next to Tauriel. "I was just telling your one how pleased I am that you two found each other. It is indeed a gift from Mahal."

"That's how I feel as well," Kili nodded, reaching out and taking hold of his elf's good hand and giving it a little squeeze. "I was a fool all these years not to recognize these feelings for what they were…love."

"And I too was unwise to have stayed away for so long, expecting what I felt for you would eventually fade," Tauriel confessed. "Denying the desires of your heart only leads to misery."

"Then why deny them any further?" Fili spoke up, also coming over to sit around the fire, having put his two dwarflings down for the night with the aid of his brother. "I say, embrace them!"

"Only I would refrain from doing any embracing in the physical sense, at least for the next few days," Oin chimed in, as he, Bofur, Nori and Dwalin all shuffled over and rounded out the fireside group. The four of them had been seeing to the needs of the former slaves, getting them settled with plenty of blankets and warm fires to sit around, in hopes of making their first night of freedom more comfortable. "The lass needs time to heal, you see."

Kili blushed slightly at this, though he never did release her hand.

"I don't know, Tauriel, if I were you I would think twice before pairing up with this rapscallion," Dwalin stated, sitting with his back against a fallen log they had dragged over for leaning purposes. "He might be a prince and all, but I wouldn't be the first to call him a royal pain in the arse." And while his words sounded harsh, everyone could see that they were only meant in jest.

"Perhaps," Fili mused with a twinkle in his eye, ever one to come to his brother's defense. "But I believe that Bergie found the sight of his arse quite intriguing…didn't she, Dwalin?"

This had long been a sore subject with the bald warrior, mostly because it had been due to his and Thorin's manipulation that his wife got such an eyeful. And Fili's jest caused Dwalin to open and close his mouth several times, attempting to come up with a proper retort.

"Oh…well, you're one to talk," he said at last. "Wasn't it you who got it in your head that your wife was being unfaithful…with me?" Dwalin leaned back with a smug grin on his face as he saw Fili's cheeks turn a lovely shade of red. "Now, who's the one sitting pretty, eh Fili?"

"Personally, I thought you were the one who looked rather fetching when I caught you sitting on the floor wearing Bergie's apron and straw hat while you played tea-party with Talin and Rose," Kili spoke up, also willing to stick up for his brother…even at the risk of his own life. And it might truly have been in peril, had Flinn not decided it was time to intervene on his sons' behalf, leaning forward and placing his hand in front of Dwalin, before the irritated warrior could rise in retaliation.

"Now, now, old friend," the older blond dwarf soothed. "I think it is safe to say that we have all done some rather embarrassing things in our time." He then looked over at his sons, giving them a wide grin. "I could tell you tales from our youth that would curl your beard." As if to prove the point, he turned back to his bald friend. "Do you remember that little incident at that tavern outside of Ered Luin, Dwalin? The one with the barmaid named Hilda, the roast chicken, and that mangy goat? If I recall, it all started when you, me, and Thorin…" Yet Flinn never got to finish his story, as Dwalin sprang forward and covered the blond dwarf's mouth with his hand.

"Not another word!" he growled. "In the name of Mahal's mercy…not another word."

"Then lay off teasing my sons," Flinn laughed, as the old warrior returned to his seat. "It just goes to show that none of us has much room to talk when it comes to idiotic things we have done. And yet…here we are, despite all the odds."

"Hear, hear!" Bofur agreed, holding up the mug in his hand and then drinking deeply from it. "Besides, ain't none of the Durins free of blunders, if you think about it. Thorin denied his one simply because he feared he was too old for her, Dwalin married Bergie not two hours after their first kiss…which took place in a linen closet no less, and Fili spent the first few months of his marriage thinking a potion had awakened him, instead of his lovely bride!"

"Bofur!" Nori chided, elbowing him in the ribs and causing his mug of ale to slosh over the side.

"What is this?" Flinn asked, looking at a now red faced Fili, who did not dare to even glance in his direction. "You married a lass who you did not believe to be your one?"

"No! I…I mean…yes," the blond prince said with a heavy sigh. He shot a murderous glance at Bofur - who was suddenly very interested in what was at the bottom of his mug of ale - before he swallowed hard and began to explain. It was a rather embarrassing subject to talk about, especially to his father, and with Tauriel sitting there listening as well. Yet he would hide nothing, stressing the point that Sier had indeed been his one all along, and that no matter how their relationship had begun…it was strong and true now, and he wouldn't change it for anything.

"This Bina sounds like a truly wretched girl," Tauriel stated, once Fili was finished with his story. "To drug you both in an attempt to slander your name and reputation. I hope she currently rots in the darkest dungeons of Erebor!"

"Darkest dungeons of the Iron Hills, actually," Dwalin corrected, turning to spit on the ground at the mention of that horrid lass.

"I'm sorry you had to go through that, my son," Flinn said, leaning over and placing his hand on Fili's shoulder. "And I'm also sorry I wasn't there to instruct you in the way a dwarrow can identify his true mate from Mahal. If I had been, things might have gone easier for the two of you."

"You can't blame yourself," Fili insisted. "It wasn't as if you chose to be captured and held prisoner all this time. And Sier and I know for sure that we are each other's ones…three amazing children are proof enough of that." That last part he said with a great deal of fatherly pride. "I can't wait for you to meet Sier and Freya, you will love them both. Although, my little lass is a bit shy, so it might take a while for her to warm up to you."

"Aye, that persnickety little princess of yours still won't let me come anywhere near her," Nori said with a slight look of irritation. "What's wrong with her?"

"She apparently has good taste," Dwalin snorted, quite proud that Freya had recently begun to allow him into her small circle of friends. Granted her acceptance had only come after he had gotten down on the floor and played dolls with her for several hours one day when Bergie was asked to mind her. It had been a high price to pay indeed, and a bit of a blow to his pride when his wife laughed at him, but it got results.

"I'm simply pleased that both of you have found the ones you were meant to be with," Flinn nodded, a broad smile spreading across his face as he looked at his two sons. "And if I know your mother, Kili…and I hope I still do, she will be just as happy as me."

Kili and Tauriel exchanged nervous glances, and Flinn could tell that the idea of telling Dis…and most likely Thorin too…worried them. And if he was being honest, it greatly concerned him as well.

What would they say about all this?

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~XXXX~

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"STAND FIRM! Hold your ground!" Thorin shouted as the mass of enemy dwarves advanced. He stepped forward, meeting his first opponent, and wasted no time striking him down. All around him he could hear the clash of swords, the cries of pain and the grunts of exertion as they fought. Yet even as he bested his third adversary, he knew they would not last long. He hated to admit defeat, and yet…if he didn't, he would run the risk of losing those around him. And he couldn't let that happen.

Yet, just as he was contemplating declaring a surrender, to plead for the lives of Dis, Sier, Balin and Dori…there came a whizzing sound through the air and the dwarf directly in front of him fell to the floor…shot through the heart with an arrow. An elven arrow!

Looking up, Thorin was beyond surprised to see King Thranduil himself, standing on a balcony overlooking the room, a bow in his hand. What in Middle Earth was he doing here? And what was even more surprising was the dozens upon dozens of elves flanking him on either side.

Thorin quickly did the math…and he wondered if this would hence be called The Battle of Four Armies. He supposed it might technically have been only three…seeing as how their enemy consisted of dwarves as well, but they still made up four separate armies, even if his own was quite small in comparison.

As more arrows were loosed, finding their mark every time, their opponents began to dwindle, and the pile of bodies began to rise. Still, not to be left out, Thorin battled his way forward, slicing through each dwarf as if they were nothing, all in an attempt to get to the one he truly wished to kill…Hagen!

The Blacklock dwarf was starting to panic, for suddenly he could see that his meager army was no match for the elves who had mysteriously appeared. As he looked around, his eyes locked with those of Thorin Oakenshield, and he could see the murderous glint in them as the dwarf king steadily approached.

"HAGEN!" Thorin roared, singling him out in a commanding tone. "Face me, you coward!"

While Hagen harbored many, many faults, his sheer stupidity was only matched by his stubborn pride. And so, even though it was painfully obvious that he was hopelessly outmatched, he gave no consideration to surrender, and raised his weapon as he charged at Thorin. The two dwarves came together in a thunderous clash of swords and wrath filled cries. Hagen was fueled by rage and ambition, while Thorin burned with the fire to regain and protect his kingdom. All around them the battle continued, with more and more of the enemy dwarves falling to either sword or arrows, yet the two combatants were oblivious to all but their own fight.

Hagen was a competent fighter, though not at all a seasoned warrior like Thorin. Still, he was holding his own faily well, though unable to hold is ground as the dwarf king continued his advancement. Thorin swung his sword upwards, slicing through the air as he brought his weapon down onto the awaiting steel. The force of his blow drove the other dwarf to his knees as he fought to keep the blade from removing his head.

"Do you yield? Admit defeat and I will spare your miserable life," Thorin growled, his teeth clenched as he maintained the force needed to subdue his enemy.

"I would rather die than to surrender to the likes of you!" Hagen spat back, twisting his sword in such a way that the steel slashed across his opponent's wrist.

Thorin pulled away, his hand now sporting a deep cut across the back, as blood dripped down onto the hilt of his sword…Frerin's sword. Hagen took advantage of this distraction and launched himself at the dwarf king, almost knocking him off balance as he came at him. Grabbing his sword by the hilt with one hand, and the end of the blade with the other, Hagen tried to force it across Thorin's throat, but the heir of Durin was too quick for him and brought his own sword up to block.

"Last chance! Surrender or die," Thorin offered, as the two dwarrow glared at each other, their faces only inches apart as their muscles strained to continue the standoff.

"Never!" Hagen continued, his face twisted in rage and exhaustion. "You who would willingly taint the blood of Durin with an inferior race! You have no right to call yourself the king of Erebor!"

With a strength that took the Blacklock dwarf by surprise, Thorin pushed him back, his sword coming at him as if it were alive, ripping the weapon from his opponent's hand. He then grabbed Hagen by the shoulder and pulled him forward embedding his sword deep in his enemy's gut, the two of them chest to chest.

"I have the only right!" Thorin hissed into his ear, before violently pushing him backwards, allowing his sword to slip from the dwarf's gut as he fell to the floor. And as he watched the light fade from Hagen's shock-filled eyes, Thorin felt a wave of satisfaction wash over him. It was finished. Well, not exactly…since there was still a battle going on around him, one that he quickly moved to take part in once more.

Yet as he looked to his left, and then his right, there appeared to be very few enemy dwarves still standing, and the few that were would not be for long if Dis, Sier, Balin and Dori had any say in the matter. It relieved him greatly to see that they were all still fighting, none of them appearing to be overly injured or in mortal danger. And as he glanced around the room, Thorin had to admit that most of that was thanks to Thranduil and the elves who continued to loose arrow after arrow into their enemy.

And then, as quickly as it had all begun, the battle was over. With only the five dwarrow standing alone amongst a sea of fallen adversaries. Some moaned out in pain, too injured to rise, while others stared up at them with eyes blank and lifeless. All was still…all was quiet.

Until the silence was broken by the sound of hurried footsteps rushing into the room. Thorin and the others turned, ready to face another wave of the enemy, only to see Gloin, Gimli, Dena and Bard racing into the room, a host of men at their heels. When they too saw the fallen enemy, they stopped and looked around.

"Couldn't save any for us, could you?" Bard asked, doing his best to sound affronted, yet everyone could tell he was happy to see that all were safe.

"You apparently took far too long in dealing with the few I left you with," Thranduil said in a lazy manner, striding down the steps from the balcony to join them on the main floor. "It is hardly my fault you didn't come any sooner."

"Next time I'll make a point to hurry, then," Bard laughed, finding no offense in the elven king's words.

"Besides, should we have delayed any longer, Thorin and his company might now be dead," Thranduil added, turning and giving a slight head nod to the dwarf king. He then pulled a blade from the scabbard at his side, revealing the very weapon that Dis had gifted to him several years ago. "I must say, King Thorin, this is a very fine sword, one I am honored to fight with."

"Of course it's a fine sword…I made it!" Thorin stated gruffly, the whole thing still a thorn in his side.

"And we are eternally grateful you chose to use it on our behalf," Balin responded, fearing what Thorin might have said in rebuttal. He was leaning heavily on his own sword, the battle having taken a lot out of the older dwarf. The others around him appeared equally as weary as well, but as Dena approached, Dis and Sier encircled their fellow dam in a warm embrace. "We owe you and King Bard our most sincere thanks."

"Yes…" Thorin nodded, looking first at Bard and then to Thranduil. They were hard words for the dwarf king to say…yet even he was not so proud that he could not express his gratitude when it had been so obviously earned. "Erebor owes you a debt…both of you. You have each truly earned the title of ally and…friend, this day."

Bard simply smiled at Thorin, not exactly realizing what a difficult thing that had been for the proud dwarf. Yet Thranduil understood perfectly, and raised both eyebrows in surprise. Friend? This truly was a momentous occasion.

Yet the moment was broken when from overhead, on the far balcony, a voice was heard, raised in panic.

"THORIN!" came the call.

All looked up in time to see Ori come racing towards the railing, dangerously leaning over as his eyes sought out the king. When he saw him, standing in the middle of the group, he shouted the message that Bergie had sent him to deliver.

"Thorin! Marigold is having her baby…now!" he yelled down.

"Mahal…no!" Thorin gasped, taking a stumbling step forward. "It is too early!" And just like that, all thoughts of Hagen and the battle melted away, quickly replaced with abject fear. His Marigold was in labor, and several weeks too soon. After everything they had gone through the past few days, he could not now lose his beautiful wife, or their unborn child.

He just couldn't!

OH dear, Thorin is worried now.

So how did you like Hagen's end?

Thranduil saving them...and then teasing Thorin with his own sword. ha ha.

Did the Flinn/Tauriel talk go well.

And what do you think happened with Thorin, Dwalin, Flinn, a roast chicken, a barmaid named Hilda and a mangy goat? Because I have NO CLUE! Dwalin won't even tell me!

Guest Reviews:

Emrfangirl: Yep, you found the movie quote again...if only you had an account I could have rewarded you with your snippet. Yep, I couldn't help myself, I had to use the bell. I do love Gimli...and both his parents are tough. Ori is trying so hard, but even a dam and two little kids can take him out. ha ha. Marigold was due in a month at the start of the story and it has been a few weeks now, so no, not TOO early. Did you like the Flinn/Tauriel talk?

abc: Again...I do aim to please. ha ha. Drastic times calls for drastic measures...hence, the bell. ha ha. Yes, it is always good to know who is about to kill you. ha ha. Oh, Fili supports his brother better than anyone, but he still has to get some teasing in as well. Glad you enjoyed it...even the cliffie. ha ha.

Aranel Mereneth: Thanks and how was that for soon?

Feu d'Argent: Sleep is highly over rated...or not. ha ha. True, Thranduil needs some cudos...and without little Flinn there to give him a smile and a wave, he could use some love. ha ha. Yes, sorry, it does mean this story will have an end...but at least you know I won't abandon it and never finish it...right? was the chat to your liking? Thorin loves Sier, she is like a niece to him. Hold that thought about Thranduil and Marigold...OK? And you know, if you keep saying such nice things about my writing I am going to get a swelled head and none of my hats will ever fit me again. ...SO WORTH IT. ha ha. Thanks

gginsc: OH, he will...or should I say HE DID. ha ha.