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And congratulations to "Fililover95" and "Nice Guys" for guessing the name of the game as 'Pooh-sticks' from the old Winny the Pooh stories. Good job!
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Now, I know you are ALL terribly worried over Freya and her little jaunt, so here is the next chapter to ease your minds. And hopefully make you laugh.
Thanks
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Chapter 159
~X~
Bard, Bain, and Dunner had all saddled up quickly upon receiving Fili's request for aid, not quite sure what to expect, so they brought a full battalion of soldiers with them, racing for the mountain at great speed. The king of Dale knew that Thorin was still away in the Shire, and that Prince Fili was currently in charge. And while he trusted the young dwarrow to rule with wisdom, he also realized that with the king away, now would be a perfect opportunity for an enemy to strike. Thus he was more than willing to offer assistance should Fili require it…he only wished he had sent more information as to what the crisis consisted of.
However, as he and his men rounded the bend in the road and went to cross the stone bridge, Bard instantly became aware of what the issue might be. For there, standing in the middle of his path, was Princess Freya, Fili's youngest and most adorable child.
"HOLD!" Bard yelled, raising his fist into the air as he forced his troops to a halt. Once they were all at a standstill, with everyone staring at the dwarfling with great curiosity, Bain leaned over and whispered quietly to his father.
"Is that…Princess Freya?" he asked, not having seen very much of the lass, for it appeared that Fili kept his most precious treasures well hidden.
"Aye," Bard nodded, able to easily recognize the crown prince's features, as well as Sier's, in the little lass. "And I'm willing to bet she's the reason we've been called to the mountain." He then made to dismount, eager to speak to the child and find out what might have caused one so young to be out and about all alone. Yet the moment he did, it seemed to startle the dwarfling, for she took a step backwards, held up her hand in protest and yelled at him.
"NO!" she cried, turning around and running back across the bridge as fast as her chubby little legs could carry her.
"Wait!" Bard called, cursing under his breath as he watched her try and flee from him. "What did I do?"
"Obviously you frightened the little thing," Dunner laughed, he and Bain dismounting as well, as the three men took off at a run after her. The soldiers, unsure of what to do, took hold of their leader's horses and followed at a slow pace, remaining at a safe distance.
"No! No!" Freya called, hearing the footsteps behind her drawing closer and closer. She had reached the end of the bridge and veered off towards the woods, hoping to find a place to hide. Yet a little child of only three summers was no match for the long-legged men, and very quickly she was overtaken. Bain raced ahead of her, holding out his arms in an effort to corral the lass, while Dunner and Bard approached from behind.
"There's no need to be afraid, Freya," Bard said in what he hoped was a kind sounding voice. "We aren't going to hurt you. Don't you remember me, lass? I'm King Bard, a friend of your father."
Freya didn't care who this man thought he was, and she was not about to let him, or any of the others, anywhere near her. Yet when she turned to face Bard and Dunner, Bain saw his chance and grabbed her around her waist, lifting her up into his arms with a look of triumph.
"Got her!" he cried out. Yet a second later he was crying out for a whole different reason! For the dwarfling was not without a weapon, as Bain soon discovered, when she bent her head forward and sunk her tiny teeth into his arm, biting down as hard a she could. "Ouch, you little wildcat!" the prince of Dale hissed, dropping her to the ground as he grabbed his arm in pain.
Now free, Freya ran straight for Dunner, giving a high piercing scream as she ducked between his legs. The younger man just about tumbled over in an effort to get a hold of her, but she was too quick for him. Bard, who was now trying not to laugh at how one small child could so easily outwit two grown men, raced around to get in front of her once more.
Seeing her way blocked once again, Freya turned and jumped up on a nearby tree stump, taking the high ground as she held both her hands out in front of her in a signal for them to halt.
"NO! Stop!" she screamed, her stern tone causing them to freeze in their tracks. "Go away!"
"Freya…we can't go away," Bard insisted. "Your adad would not be happy with us if we left you out here all alone."
"No…I'm gunna find Flinn and Frerin. You can't stop me!" she stated firmly, crossing her arms over her chest in defiance.
"Wanna bet?" Bain muttered under his breath, rubbing at the deep indentations her teeth had left in his arm. Thankfully she had not broken the skin.
"Bain, you're not helping," Bard growled, wishing to silence his son for fear of frightening the lass more.
"But she bit me!" Bain retorted, holding up his arm as evidence.
"That's what you get for grabbing little girls who don't want to be picked up," Dunner laughed, now happy he had not managed to catch her himself, thus saving him from a vicious bite as well.
"Silence, both of you!" Bard ordered. "We need to figure out what to do."
"I would say one of us should ride to Erebor and bring back her parents," Dunner suggested. "If she won't listen to us, maybe she'll listen to them."
"That's a good idea," the king nodded. "You two stay here, guard her well, and don't let her out of your sight. I will return as quickly as I can."
"You? Why do you get to go?" Bain protested. "It should be me, after all, I'm the wounded one!"
"No, you and Dunner need practice dealing with children, since Brenna is due to give birth this winter, and Tilda, I hope, will not be too far behind." Bard explained, grinning wickedly at the two men's pained expressions. He had been beside himself with joy when he heard that Bain and his wife were expecting. The idea of being a grandfather once again, and this time with the prospect of watching the child grow on a daily basis, had the king of Dale very excited. He knew that Tilda and Dunner were hoping for one as well, and couldn't wait until they too were expecting. Bard knew that becoming a father was not something he had been prepared for either, when Sigrid was first born, so maybe spending a little time dealing with Freya would be good for Bain and his son-in-law. And if not…well, it was still rather humorous. So, with a final wave, Bard walked back towards the road, giving the dwarfling on the stump a wide berth. The rest of his troops were patiently waiting there, and he signaled for three of them to accompany him, while instructing the rest to remain with Bain and Dunner.
"What do we do now?" Dunner whispered to Bain, eyeing the little princess nervously.
"How would I know?" Bain asked, still inspecting his dwarfling bite.
"Well, you're the one who grew up with sisters," the other man explained. "All I had was a brother."
"Oh sure, rub it in, why don't you?" Bain huffed.
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Back at the mountain, Fili and Bofur searched the stables while Nori and Ori thoroughly inspected any other building Freya might be hiding in. None of them turned up anything. Fili found himself wishing that Storm was still in Erebor, thinking he might have been able to enlist the aid of the smart little pony a second time in locating his missing child. But since he was in the Shire, with his two sons, Fili resigned himself to questioning the guards at the gate for the third time.
Yet when he had received no further information that might have been the least bit helpful, Fili made ready to head for Raven Hill, to enlist the aid of their feathered allies in hopes of locating his child. He had put off an aerial search till now, imagining they would find Freya hiding inside the mountain, yet as each torturous moment ticked by, Fili was now eager to widen the search.
However, when he heard the sound of riders approaching, he quickly turned, pleased to see it was Bard, responding to his call for aid. Once the man had drawn near, halting before the gates, he dismounted quickly, striding straight over to the worried looking prince.
"Bard, thank you for coming," Fili began, the concern in his voice telling the king of Dale all he needed to know.
"You wouldn't by any chance be missing a little dwarfling princess, would you, Prince Fili?" Bard asked, taking pity on the frazzled looking father. "About yay high, with an attitude twice her size?" He held out his hand, gesturing at how tall he figured her to be.
"FREYA?" Fili gasped, his eyes growing wide in anticipation. "You've found my daughter?"
"He found the princess?" Bofur asked, coming up behind Fili and catching the last bit of Bard's words.
"Where in Middle Earth was she?" Nori and Ori asked in unison, gathering around as well.
"My men and I came upon her at the bridge just before Dale," he answered. "We found her walking all by herself, and apparently in no mood to be halted on her journey to find her brothers."
"To find Flinn and Frerin?" Fili cried out, now feeling a mixture of relief, confusion, and anger flood over him. "What on earth got into her mind to go find them?"
"I might have asked her the same thing, but she did not seem to be in any mood to divulge her plans," Bard chuckled. "In fact, she mostly told us NO!"
"Yes…that is one of her favorite words," Fili said with a sigh, leaning forward and placing his hands on his knees, taking a few deep breaths as his heartbeat began to slow for the first time in hours. After a moment he straightened up, his eyes full of gratitude. "I am eternally grateful to you for locating her, Bard. I'm sure you can imagine how upset Sier is at the moment."
"Aye, I guessed as much," he nodded. "I would have brought her back with me, but she wouldn't let anyone get near her. She has taken position on a tree stump near the stone bridge, and refuses to budge."
"So you just left her there?" Nori asked, his eyebrows furrowing a bit at the idea.
"Of course not. She is being well guarded, by Bain, Dunner, and most of my regiment," Bard corrected, he then got a smirk on his face. "I would have just picked her up and carried her to my horse, but after she bit Bain, I was a tad leery about getting near the lass."
"She bit Prince Bain?" Ori asked, covering his mouth with his hands to stifle a laugh.
"Hard!" Bard nodded, chuckling a bit himself.
"I will be sure to apologize to the prince for his pains," Fili assured the king, closing his eyes and shaking his head in exasperation. And here he thought Flinn and Frerin were his biggest worries. Little did he know. He then turned and ordered one of the guards to go saddle his pony, having it and two others brought to him. As the dwarrow ran off to fulfil the prince's request, Fili looked over at his friends. "Ori, will you please find Sier and inform her that our wayward child has been found, and have the mountain stand down from alert. Bofur, Nori, and I will ride there now and fetch her."
"With pleasure!" the younger dwarf grinned, racing back inside the mountain, eager to deliver the good news.
"You know, Fili…I've noticed that you seem to have a very hard time keeping track of your children," Bard teased, watching as the prince's ears turned a bit red.
"Just please, don't tell Thorin about this," Fili begged, before a look of defeat crossed his face. "However, my mother already knows all about it, so my uncle will undoubtedly find out anyway. I swear…I will never live this down, will I?"
"Not a chance, laddie," Bofur laughed, taking hold of the reins of the pony that had just been handed to him. And with the sound of snickering ringing in his still red tipped ears, Fili and the others mounted up and headed down the road for Dale.
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Freya had stood there, stubbornly refusing to move or speak for a long time, until she grew tired and sat down in a huff, eyeing the two men menacingly.
"She looks like she wants to slit our throats," Bain whispered to Dunner, trying not to make eye contact with the little lass.
"Probably just yours," Dunner whispered back with a sly grin. "Can I be there when you tell Brenna how you got your battle wound?"
"Oh, stop," Bain hissed, already dreading how he was going to explain this to her. "You don't think she will see this as a direct reflection on what kind of father I will be…do you?"
"Hard to say," Dunner mused. "You never know what a woman is thinking, and they can twist things around in their minds at times. But don't worry…you will be a great father, I just know it."
"I wish I had your confidence," Bain sighed, wishing his father would return soon.
Freya, figuring that her little adventure was soon to come to a close, especially if that other man had gone to find her adad, reached into her bag and pulled out her last cookie, munching on it as she began to inspect her surroundings. Taking out her doll, she held the half eaten treat to her stitched on lips, offering her a bite, before returning the cookie to her own mouth.
"That looks very tasty," Dunner commented, trying to make friendly conversation. "If your dolly does not want a bite, may I have one?"
"No!" Freya told him, turning away just a bit as if protecting her food from a hungry warg.
"Oh, she'll give you a bite all right, but not the kind you would want," Bain told Dunner, holding up his arm once more as proof of his wound.
"Then you do something!" his friend insisted. "This is getting rather tedious."
"Fine," Bain huffed, looking over at the child. "Would you like something to drink? I have a canteen full of nice fresh water."
"No!" came her automatic response.
"If you come back down to the road with us, I'll give you a ride on my horse," Dunner offered next. "He's really nice and very gentle."
"No!" was once again her reply.
"Do you think she only knows how to say that one word?" Dunner asked, getting a bit frustrated.
"Let's find out," Bain suggested. "Hey, Freya…do you think I'm ugly?"
"Yes!" the dwarfling informed him, this time sticking her tongue out at him for emphasis.
"Well, that answers that," Bain chuckled, suddenly enjoying the little verbal battle he was having with the child. However, he still breathed in a sigh of relief when he heard the sound of horses coming down the road from Erebor. "Looks like help has arrived," he told Dunner, when he caught sight of the blond dwarf prince, who quickly dismounted and raced up to where they were standing.
"Freya!" Fili called as he hurried to his daughter. "What were you thinking by running away from us like that?" Yet before he could draw near, the child stood up and held out her hands once more in a gesture to stop.
"NO!" she ordered, halting Fili in his tracks. "No, Adad…I'm gunna find Flinn and Frerin. I don't wanna go back!"
"What…why not?" Now the prince was confused. He knew she missed her brothers, but he never realized to what extent. "Freya, your ama is worried sick about you, not to mention Nara and your N'ama Dis. We all miss you, please, come home with me."
"No! You and Ama have Lili to play with…not me," she huffed, a little sniffle escaping as she tried to sound firm. "I'm gunna find Flinn and Frerin and bring them home so I will have someone to play with."
"Oh, Freya…is that what you think?" Fili asked, his heart sinking in his stomach at the idea that his daughter had felt neglected. "That your ama and I don't have time for you?"
"You played with Lili, and ama brought her home last night to stay, but there's no one to play with me," she insisted, a little tear now escaping and running down her rosy cheek.
"No, my kitling," Fili said with a groan, ignoring his daughter's protests as he came up and took her into his arms. Sitting down on the stump himself, he placed her on his lap, his arms wrapped gently around her. "Never think we don't love you or want to play with you. In fact, your ama came home at lunch time to do just that, but you were already gone. We will always make time for you, no matter what, and we are so very sorry that things have been so busy lately. And with your brothers gone, I can see how you might feel lonely, but we never meant for you to think we like playing with Lili more than you. She's just a baby…while you are a big lass and we love you so very much."
"Promise?" she asked, no longer fighting the tears that came running down her cheek.
"I promise," he stated, hugging her tight as he kissed her cheek. "Do you know how scared and sad we were when we found you missing? Nara and your ama were in tears, they missed you so much. And me, well, I couldn't even think straight because of how worried I was. If King Bard had not come and told me where to find you, I would have gone crazy."
"I'm sorry, Adad," she mumbled, feeling badly for all the trouble she apparently caused. "I didn't mean to make you sad."
"And we didn't mean to make you sad either," he assured her. "How about we make a deal. Your ama and I will try not to be so busy from now on, and you promise to tell us when you are feeling lonely. That way, no one will feel sad and you never have to run away like this again. All right?"
"Yes, Adad," Freya nodded, a small grin coming to her lips. "And you will look at my dolly's new dress?" she asked, reaching over and picking up the cloth toy, holding it up for her father to see. It was only a long swath of red fabric wrapped around the rag doll in several directions, but the little princess couldn't have been more proud if it had been a hand-stitched ball gown.
"Oh, it's so pretty, Freya!" he complimented. "You did a fine job on it."
"I have lots more at home too," she announced, her excitement bubbling over.
"Then why don't we go home and you can show them all to me," he suggested.
"But…but if I go home, how will I find Flinn and Frerin?" she asked, her countenance falling. "I walked a long, long way, but I couldn't find them."
"You would have to walk for days and days and days before you got to where they are," Fili explained, reaching up to smooth down her hair in a comforting manner. "Do you really miss them that much?"
"Uh-hu," she nodded sadly. "I don't like being alone. I want them back."
"Me too," Fili told her. "And they will be home soon, but until then, how about we fix it so you can play with Tae a bit more?"
"She's too busy with her baby brother," Freya sulked. She then got a look of excitement. "Can I have a baby brother too? Then I will have someone to play with that's all my own!"
"Oh, Freya…" Fili began, feeling very uncomfortable having this discussion with her, especially when Bard, Bain and Dunner were still standing so close, not to mention Bofur and Nori. "I'm afraid that it doesn't work that way. It would take a long time for your ama and I to make you a baby brother, and by then, Flinn and Frerin would already be home."
"But I want someone to play with now," she whined, her lip sticking out and trembling slightly.
"If you don't mind me offering a suggestion…" came the uncertain voice of Bain, as he took a cautionary step forward. "I mean, I know it's not a true sibling, or anything, but I happen to know that the cat at the stables in Dale has a litter of kittens that are just now ready to leave their mother."
"A kitten?" Fili asked, not at all sure how a cat would like living inside a mountain.
"Yes," Dunner agreed, stepping up beside Bain. "Cats are quiet, not hard to take care of, and it could grow up to be a good mouser too."
"Can I please, Adad?" Freya cried, turning to her father with a pleading look.
"Well…" Fili was torn. On one hand, he felt silly rewarding his daughter for running away like she did, but on the other, if it kept her happy and stopped her missing her brothers so much, what was the harm? And besides, anything to make his daughter smile was well worth any ribbing he might get on the subject. He only hoped that Sier would be keen on the idea, and not banish him to the sofa for making the decision without consulting her first. Still…he figured when he arrived back at Erebor with their daughter in his arms, his wife would be too happy to object about anything. "Well…I suppose it wouldn't hurt to go look at them."
"Yaaaahhhh!" Freya squealed, clapping her hands with glee.
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So, they spent the next half an hour watching as the little princess sat in the hay, playing with five little kittens, doing her best to pick out the one she wanted. It was good to see her so happy, and Fili would have let her have all five if only to keep that smile on her face. She really did have him wrapped around her finger.
"You did a fine job at being king today, Fili," Bard told him as the four males watched the laughing dwarfling.
"Oh, and how is that?" Fili asked, eyeing his friend skeptically.
"Well, first, when a crisis presented itself, you didn't panic, but instead took charge of the situation. You also sent out a call for aid, utilizing your resources and allies, which shows that you were not too proud to ask for help."
"Which I am glad you answered," Fili told him, giving all three a warm smile. "For had I not, you might not have found her and we would all still be searching."
"And then, when faced with your child's reticence to return home," Bard continued, "You entered into negotiations with her, settling on a fine compromise, just like a seasoned ruler. Thorin would be very proud of the way you handled yourself today, Fili. As am I."
"Even if I can't seem to keep track of my own children?" he asked, reminding him of his words at the gate.
"I think it just proves that your offspring have very strong wills, and that they are highly intelligent," Bain commented. "After all, it takes brains and skill to sneak in or out of Erebor undetected these days. I know for a fact that both Dwalin and Tauriel have trained your guards to be on high alert ever since the invasion last year."
"Well, apparently not well enough," Fili laughed. "Spies and traitors they can spot a mile away, but one little blond haired lass…well, that apparently escaped their notice."
"Yet, she's back now and all is well," Dunner reminded the dwarf. "And if my suspicions are correct, I think she's picked her favorite."
And sure enough, the rolly-polly little grey one with the white chin and feet was the one she chose, holding him up for her father to inspect.
"This one, Adad," she announced. "I want this one."
"Very well, he seems as good as any," Fili smiled, scratching the kitten on the top of his head. "And what will you be calling it?"
"Gandalf!" she announced, holding it close to her chest as she gave it a kiss.
"Gandalf?" Fili laughed. "And why is that?"
"Because it's grey with a white beard, just like the wizard!" Freya informed him, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Can we go home now so I can show Ama my new kitty?"
"Of course," Fili told her, stepping aside as she marched her way out the door and towards where Bofur and Nori waited with the ponies.
"Oh, the grey wizard is going to just love that," Bard laughed, as the four males followed the dwarfling outside.
"Especially when he finds out that the kitten she chose is a female," Bain spoke up, with a wide grin on his face.
This caused them all to burst out laughing, imagining the look on Gandalf's face at the news.
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Bard, Bain, and Dunner accompanied Fili back to Erebor, all of them wishing to see the happy reunion and how Sier would take to the news of their new pet. They didn't have to wait long, for as soon as they were within sight of the gates, they saw the frantic princess running out to meet them, followed behind by many of the others who had been searching for the dwarfling.
"Freya!" Sier called, not even waiting for Fili to set her down, and reaching up to pull her child into her arms. "Oh, my sweet baby, you're back! I was so worried! Don't you ever, ever do that again!"
"I won't, Ama," the child assured her. "Because Adad got me a kitten to take care of and play with, so I won't be lonely any more with Flinn and Frerin gone."
"A kitten?" she asked, as if noticing the little grey fluff ball in her daughters hands for the first time. She then stared at her husband in confusion, who had just dismounted himself. "Fili…what's this all about?"
"Freya has been feeling a bit lonely and left out with us so busy and her brothers gone," he explained, coming over to hug the both of them, placing a kiss on his wife's cheek. "She had decided to go find them and bring them back, all on her own. But after talking it over, she agreed to never do such a thing again, and I thought a kitten would keep her busy and happy."
"Oh, you did, did you?" Sier questioned, raising an eyebrow at her husband.
"Well…it was all Bain's idea," Fili quickly stated, pointing at the prince of Dale in defense.
"Hey!" Bain huffed, suddenly wishing he had stayed back in Dale.
"Thank you Bain," Sier told him quickly. "I think it is a wonderful idea and you are to be commended for your thoughtfulness. Brenna is a lucky woman to have a husband such as you, and you will make an excellent father when your own bairn is born."
This made the young prince smile proudly, his chest sticking out just a bit more.
"And thank you again for finding her and alerting us to her whereabouts," Fili added. "I also wish to apologize for the wound you incurred in the process, Bain." He turned to Freya, giving her a stern look. "I think you need to tell Prince Bain how sorry you are for biting him like you did."
"I'm sorry," the princess told him, looking very repentant over her actions. "Did I hurt you a lot?"
"Nah, I'm fine," Bain told her with a grin. "But you did a very good job of defending yourself there, lass. One day you will be a fine little warrior."
"Oh, no, not this one," Sier stated firmly. "I already have far too many to worry about with Fili, Flinn and Frerin. Freya is going to learn to weave, or sew…anything that does not involve swords or weapons. And that is final!"
"Then we wish you good luck with that, Princess Sier," Bard laughed, signaling that it was time they headed back to Dale. "And should you ever need our assistance again…do not hesitate to send word, Fili."
"I won't," he nodded. "Just as long as you promise to do the same, for we are ever at your service, King Bard."
And with a wave, the three men and their guards turned their mounts and made their way down the road.
"See my kitten, N'ama!" Freya called, seeing Dis and Flinn standing a few paces back, having given the little family a moment to themselves. "His name is Gandalf!"
"Her name," Fili whispered into Sier's ear, making the dam giggle at the idea.
"Oh, what an adorable little thing," Dis cooed, coming over to inspect it, her daughter Lili still in her arms. "How did you come by it?"
"Adad let me pick him out from the stables in Dale," she explained. She then held the pliant feline up, showing it to the baby. "Look, Lili…isn't he sweet? You're too little to play with him now, but when you grow up, I'll let you hold him. I promise."
Fili gave Sier a relieved smile, happy that his daughter didn't seem to hold any grudges against the babe over the attention she had been getting from the two of them. And while he knew he would still want to spend time with his new little sister, Fili understood that above all else, his own family needed him first. He would never make that mistake again. Nor would he allow the crown to monopolize so much of his time that those he loved felt neglected. He wondered if Thorin had come to the same conclusion, having to find a way to juggle rulership with his personal life. It was a lesson hard learned for Fili, but it was one he would never forget…nor repeat.
"Why don't we all go inside and get Gandalf settled," he suggested, placing his arm around his wife's waist, as he led them back through the gates. "We'll need to find it a bed, and some food…as well as fix up some kind of privy for it to use."
"Gandalf can sleep in my bed!" Freya announced. "And I bet he'd love some of Nara's cookies!"
"Well…we'll see about that," Sier laughed, hugging her daughter tightly as she looked up at her husband, offering him a loving smile. "Thank you for bringing our daughter home, my love."
"It was my pleasure, my one," he nodded, a wave of peace washing over him as he stared down at his two favorite lasses.
Oh, how he loved them both.
Well there you have it, another crisis averted by Fili's quick thinking and aid from his friends. See, he had to use his brains, his wits and a bit of quick negotiation to get Freya home safe and happy. Great King material, that one. ha ha. Thorin would be so proud.
Did you enjoy Freya's little 'tude? How she bit Bain? Her famous answers of NO! And how she named her kitten Gandalf...her FEMALE kitten. ha ha.
Hope you enjoyed your peek back at Erebor...but now how are things going in the Shire?
Guest Reviews:
dojoson41: Yes, Fili's kids do have a bit of wanderlust in them...that and a lot of guts. ha ha. Yes, let's hope Tauriel instill some brains in little Ithil...but with Kili's blood too, well, never can tell. And you are right, ravens can do flying searches...Fili thought of that at last, but too late to be of use. ha ha. Thanks.
abc: And believe me, when I am all done and I am getting no reviews to respond to each day...I WILL GO NUTS. ha ha. Feedback is addictive. ha ha. Fili and Sier do nothing half way, and they are going to be awesome rulers...but they need to manage their time better and not try and do everything themselves. Freya is taking after her brothers in a way her parents don't really appreciate. ha ha. But she is cute, so who cares. Thanks.
Aranel Mereneth: Yes, we know that Fili will not fail in finding his daughter, and of course he will feel terrible, he is an awesome dad. I do not see her getting punished too badly for all this...in fact...she got a KITTEN OUT OF IT ALL. Talk about sending mixed signals. ha ha. Fili is always adorable, but glad you liked how he acts with Freya and Lili too. Thanks.
Guest: Yes, but as you can see, all turned out just fine...except Bain might need a band-aid for his boo-boo. ha ha. Thanks.
darkone7142: Yep, just like her brothers. ha ha. Good guess that it was Bard, but as you saw, her rear was not very happy and didn't WANT to go back. ha ha. And as long as they lock her in with her new kitten, she will be just fine. Thanks.