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Sorry for the late posting, I meant to do it last night, but I had company all weekend and last night I literally fell asleep in my recliner when I should have been in my computer room posting this!

Now, let's see what happens next!

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Chapter 186

~X~

In time, the Shire returned to the way it had always been, with farmers bringing in their crops, gardeners harvesting their vegetables, and everyone meeting at the Green Dragon for a mug of ale and a story or two when the days' work was done.

It was to this idyllic scene that Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin, and Dwalin's family arrived in the Shire, it being a chilly afternoon on the first day of November. They had traveled with Gandalf most of the way, stopping in Rivendell for a nice visit with Bilbo, remaining there for a bit before pressing on. Everyone knew that Dwalin was more than anxious to get to the Shire and see Torin and his family, so no one minded the rather hurried pace the dwarf had set for the group. At the edge of the Old Forest, is where Gandalf took his leave, wishing to pay a long overdue visit with Tom Bombadil, but assured them all that this was not the last time they would meet.

Thus, the small group of hobbits and dwarves rode through the meadow and down the paths that led to Hobbiton, gaining many strange looks from those they passed. The travelers were all dressed in fine clothes, sporting emblems of Gondor, Rohan, and Erebor, and each had a weapon or two strapped to their sides or back – even Bergie.

At first many of the hobbits appeared ready to sound the alarm once again, still rather nervous about strangers after the incident with the ruffians. However, even though both Merry and Pippin had seemed to have shot up in height since leaving the Shire, most recognized the group well enough, and word spread quickly about their return.

When news reached Bag End at last, in the form of Freddy Bolger beating on their door in excitement, Flinn and Frerin leapt out of their chairs next to the fire and raced outside. The two excited dwarves could already see the party of eight making their way up the path.

"FRODO!" Flinn called, racing down to meet them, unwilling to wait a moment longer. "You're back! You're all back!"

"FLINN!" the hobbit called back, halting his pony and leaping down as the two sword-brothers came crashing together in an exuberant embrace. "Oh Flinn, it's so good to see you! And Frerin too!" He laughed, watching as the younger dwarf caught up with his brother. "It's so wonderful to be home!"

"Uncle Dwalin!" Flinn cried, now just seeing the bald warrior among the group. And while technically Dwalin was his cousin – be it a bit distantly – Flinn and Frerin had been referring to him as their uncle since they were very young…and it continued to stick. "Aunt Bergie! And Talin and Balin as well! What are you doing here?"

"We came to see our new grandson, and then to escort you two wayward scamps back home!" Erebor's war-chief stated, leaping down from his pony and engulfing the two lads in a monstrous hug. When Flinn released a hiss of pain at the pressure put on his shoulder, Dwalin stepped back, eyeing him suspiciously. But Flinn waved him off, not wishing to end the happy moment by talk of such things. The dwarf captain, taking note of the lad's reluctance to elaborate, chose to respect Flinn's wishes and continued on as if nothing had happened. "Fili and Sier were fit to be tied by this little side trip of yours, but I think they understand your motives well enough now."

"So, we won't be locked in the darkest dungeons the moment we get home?" Frerin asked, looking a bit sheepish.

"Well, I won't guarantee that…but I think it's relatively safe for you to come home," Bergie laughed, as she, Balin and Talin also climbed down from their mounts, giving the two princes each a warm hug.

"Everything appears just as we left it!" Sam broke in with a wide grin, the disturbing visions he had seen in Galadrial's mirror having weighed heavily on his mind for several months now. He was especially happy to have seen the party tree still standing, and not lying across the meadow in pieces, all scorched and burned. "No harm has come to our beloved home."

"Well…I wouldn't exactly say that, Sam," Flinn admitted, his look of joy quickly replaced with sorrow and shame. "We did have a bit of trouble about a month back."

"Oh?" Frodo asked, looking at Flinn questioningly, though his sword-brother would not meet his eye. "What happened?"

Yet before he could respond, there came a loud cry of joy from down the road, and all turned to see Torin racing towards them, his face alight with excitement.

"ADAD! AMA!" he cried, nearly knocking his parents over as he threw himself into their outstretched arms. "It's so good to see you!"

"Oh, my little lad!" Bergie squealed. "Just look at you! You've gotten so big!"

"It's all that fine cooking of Holly's!" he laughed, patting his ever-growing waist line. "If I'm not careful, I'll be as round a Bombur before you know it."

"Yet it looks as if you've not neglected your training any, I swear your arms are as big as a barrel of ale!" Dwalin stated, referring to his son's muscular build and bulging biceps. "Or might you have acquired those from lifting barrels of ale to your lips?"

"A little of both," Torin laughed, turning next to embrace his sister and uncle. "I just can't get over that fact you are all here! What a wonderful surprise!"

"We thought about sending word that we were coming, but decided it would be more fun to see the look on your face when we just showed up," Talin laughed, tickled to see her twin brother once again. "And I say it was completely worth it."

"But what's all this about some trouble a month back?" Dwalin asked, looking from his son to Flinn and back again. "Anything we need to be worried about?"

"Perhaps it's best if we head up to Bag End and talk there," Flinn suggested, not wishing to upset his friends where they could not sit down, should they need to.

"But…I'd like to see my old Gaffer before I take my ease," Sam broke in.

"And we'd never hear the end of it if Frodo, Pip, and I didn't say hello to our parents as well," Merry pointed out.

"Then go on up and get comfortable," Talin told the bunch, as she leapt back onto her pony. "I'll go fetch everyone's families right away and send them up to Bag End. I've spent enough time in the Shire to know my way around by now," she laughed. "Then we can all have a right good reunion, and get out of this chilly weather."

"Just don't you be lolly-gagging, or stopping to visit with every one you meet along the way," Dwalin instructed. "I've already waited far too long to hold that grandson of mine!"

"Yes, Adad," Talin said with a roll of her eyes. "I'll hurry." And off she went.

"Well, now that that's settled…how about we get under cover," Pippin grinned, shivering just a bit from the nip of winter in the air. "I hope the pantry at Bag End is well stocked, because I'm starving."

"Well," Frerin began, looking a bit embarrassed. "I'm afraid that we've been doing most of our eating at the Green Dragon, or Torin's house. You see, a couple of single dwarrows like us have no idea how to make anything more complicated than scrambled eggs…and even that we manage to burn half the time. So I'm sorry to say the cupboards are a bit bare."

"Well, fear not, Flinn," Bergie said, grinning at the two inept lads. "I've long ago discovered the secret of making something out of nothing. Let's go see what you do have."

Everyone agreed, and soon they were making their way inside the comfortable little hobbit hole, happy to be out of the weather. All the while, Frodo had been keeping an eye on his sword-brother, searching his face for any clue as to why his friend appeared so somber.

"At least it looks like you two learned how to clean," Balin joked, taking note of the neat and tidy hobbit hole.

"Indeed," Frodo stated, looking around with a smile. "The place appears no worse for wear. Bilbo would be very pleased with the way you've kept it up."

"Well, we learned the importance of picking up after ourselves from our mother a long time ago," Flinn admitted, his ears turning a bit red in embarrassment. "She would have our beards if she thought we'd been dirtying up your home."

"So, why don't you all take a seat and get comfortable, while I fix a pot of tea," Bergie suggested. "Then I'll see what there is in the larder." When Sam rose and offered to help, she told him to sit right back down. "You've done enough already, Samwise Gamgee, you just rest. I'm more than capable of fixing something on the spur of the moment. It won't take long for Talin to spread the word, and then all your folks will be hurrying up to greet you." And off she went, whistling a happy tune, happy as a lark to be back in the Shire.

"So…tell me, Flinn," Frodo insisted as soon as Bergie had left. "What's happened that has you so down in the mouth. Nothing appeared to be amiss when we rode in."

"Well, other than the fact that we were given a lot of strange and concerned looks by most of the residents," Sam spoke up, having thought the reaction to their arrival had been a bit odd.

"And with good reason, too," Torin nodded, looking rather sad himself. "For you see, we had a bit of a run in last month, with not only a passel of ruffians…but a wizard as well."

"A what?" Dwalin barked, not liking the sound of that at all.

"His name was Saruman, or so he said," Frerin began, but Merry cut him off.

"Saruman? Oh, he ain't no wizard…or at least not anymore," he told them with a look of disgust.

"That's right!" Pippin added. "Gandalf took care of that! Revoked his powers and broke his staff, he did!"

"Really?" Flinn asked, quite relieved to hear that. "Well, no wonder he didn't just strike us all down in an instant. Yet, what he did do was bad enough."

"And what was that?" Frodo asked, reaching out and laying a hand on Flinn's arm, still keenly aware of his friend's reluctance to open up.

"He and a band of ruffians invaded the Shire," Flinn revealed at last. "Led by none other than Lotho Sackville-Baggins."

"LOTHO?" Frodo gasped. "It can't be! I knew he and his mother were mean and spiteful…but never to this extent!"

"Well, to tell you the truth, I think Lotho kind of got in over his head," Torin explained. "From what we gathered, it all began simple enough, with him trying to make a bit of money by selling pipe-weed to outsiders, and then buying up property near the borders and allowing big-folk to camp there when they were traveling through. I'm not sure how he got mixed up with the likes of Saruman, but the next thing Lotho knew, he was in up to his neck with no way out. Still, he followed their lead and didn't even think to ask for help in getting out of such a mess."

"So, what happened when they stormed the Shire?" Merry asked, now worried about all those he had left behind.

"A lot less than would've happened if Flinn and Frerin hadn't been here," Torin told them all with a confident look. "Ever since arriving, those two have been training any hobbit who wished to learn how to fight. We got ourselves a right good army now for the Thain to lead, but during the battle, it was Flinn and Frerin they looked to for direction."

"Now don't you go selling yourself short, Tor," Flinn insisted. "You trained them just as much as we did, all the while keeping up your business and taking care of a family." He then turned and looked at Dwalin. "You would have been very proud of Torin, he might prefer to spend his time digging in the dirt and planting crops, but he can still wield an ax better than anyone I know…besides you, of course."

"That's my lad!" Dwalin stated, slapping Torin on the back with pride.

"Anyway," Torin continued, blushing slightly over Flinn's words of praise. "When that vile wizard tried to use his creepy voice to persuade everyone to go along with their plans, Flinn, Frerin, and myself were the only ones not effected by it."

"Gimli didn't fall for that trick either," Pippin laughed, recalling how he had said Saruman's words were standing on their head, as twisted and wicked as they seemed to his dwarf ears.

"Dwarves only speak the truth, thus they can recognize a lie from a mile away, magic or no magic!" Dwalin said sternly, folding his arms over his chest.

"Thankfully, Flinn was able to stop the other hobbits from falling victim to his persuasive speech, and rallied them once again," Frerin told the eager group. "And when Lotho's pleas for compliance didn't sway anyone to their side either, it came down to a battle…us against them."

"And since I don't see any signs of that cantankerous wizard, or any invaders, am I to assume you all won?" Frodo asked, looking hopeful.

"Yes…we won," Flinn nodded, yet still looked sad. "But we lost a number of good hobbits in the process." He went on to list the fallen, with more than a few shedding tears over the names he revealed. "It tears me up inside to think I could have done more, trained them better, or protected them somehow," the dwarf prince said with a heavy heart. "It shouldn't have happened at all…it just shouldn't!"

"Flinn, you have no reason to feel guilty," Frodo insisted, placing his arm over his friend's shoulder. Yet when he jerked away, a look of pain crossing his face, Dwalin was not about to let it go a second time.

"What's wrong with your shoulder, lad?" he demanded, studying Flinn with his keen eyes. "Did you get wounded?"

"I'll say he did," Frerin spoke up, knowing his brother would not. "That fiend, Saruman, tried to kill Flinn, and after he was willing to let him leave with his head still intact too. Took out a dagger and threw it right at him, but thankfully Flinn was able to dodge it…well, mostly, and took it in the shoulder, not the heart."

"WHAT?" Bergie cried, having come back into the parlor just then with a tray full of tea and biscuits. Setting the refreshments down on the end table, she rushed to his side. "Does it still hurt? Did it damage your sword arm? Let me take a look!"

"I'm fine, Aunt Bergie," Flinn insisted, brushing her off as best he could. "Frerin and Doctor Boffin both had a go at it, and they say I've nothing to worry about."

"And even though he grumbles like a bear, or whines like a little lass whenever I take a look at it, he is indeed healing very well," Frerin assured them all, earning a glare from his brother over the remark.

"So, what happened after he stabbed Flinn?" Sam asked, concern in his eyes for is friend. "I hope you gave that villain what for!"

"Oh, we wanted to," Torin assured them. "Frerin and I were ready to tear that honor-less scoundrel apart, but Mister Diplomatic here wouldn't let us." He jerked his thumb towards Flinn with a huff of frustration. "Thankfully, the sniveling rat the wizard kept at his side, ended up doing the job for us. When he dismissed the wounded man, Grima, refusing to help him, the pitiful creature slit Saruman's throat, killing him right there."

"Then…he's dead?" Pippin gasped.

"Near as we can tell," Frerin nodded somberly. "His body just withered up and blew away, like ashes in the wind. There was not even enough left to bury."

"Yet the ground upon which he fell was stained black and has remained so, nothing will grow there, no matter what," Torin informed them. "We've even tried digging it up and putting fresh dirt over it, but nothing helps. It looks just as scorched and dead even a month later."

"And what about Lotho?" Frodo asked, never having liked the fellow…but in the end, he was still family.

"He survived," Flinn told him. "The Shirrifs have him locked up in jail, and I don't think he'll be seeing the light of day any time soon. At least not if the families of those who died have any say in the matter."

"What about Lobelia?" Merry asked. "I'm sure she's been ranting and raving over this."

"Oh, she has…but not in the way you might think," Torin said. "She's been one of the biggest supporters about keeping him locked up. Turns out her pride outweighs any scrap of family loyalty, and she's disowned the scallywag."

"Well, it's all a crying shame, and that's no lie," Sam stated, turning to look at Flinn. "Yet, I have to say, what we have come home to is a lot better than what it might could have been, had you and Frerin not come at Frodo's request. And I can guarantee that had you not stood up against Saruman like you all did…the whole Shire would have been plum ruined!"

"How do you know that, Sam?" Torin questioned, never having known his friend to have the gift of foresight.

"I was given a peek of what might have happened, thanks to some elven magic, you see," the sturdy hobbit told them. "Galadriel let Mister Frodo and I look into her fancy mirror, showing us what might come to pass, as she explained it. When I saw the Shire in ruins and all the hobbits no better than slaves in their own lands, not to mention the party tree uprooted, Bagshot Row dug up, and my Gaffer turned out on the street, I had a good mind to march home that very moment! But I just couldn't stand the idea of leaving Mister Frodo…not to mention, I'm certain I would never have made it home on my own. So we have you three to thank for saving the Shire from being destroyed."

"I…I…" Flinn stammered, apparently not sure what to say to such things. And all this time he had been blaming himself for what did happen…not thinking about what might have taken place had he not done what he did. "Thank you for saying so, Sam," he said at last. "I truly hope we did make a difference."

"From what I've heard, I would say you saved the day, lads!" Dwalin told them, nearly bursting with fatherly pride over his son and the two young princes.

"And just think, if you had gone with us, like you wanted, we would have returned to find nothing but devastation…and that would have been the deepest wound of all," Frodo stated, placing his hand gently on Flinn's good shoulder. "You have done more for me by staying, than you ever could have by going…my brave sword-brother."

Flinn was now choked up, but before he could think of anything to say, his eyes fell upon Frodo's hand, noticing for the first time that the third finger on his right hand was missing!

"Frodo! What happened to your hand?" Flinn gasped, taking hold of it and inspecting it carefully.

"That too is a long story," Frodo said with a half-hearted chuckle. "But maybe that one can wait until we've had our fill of Bergie's fine tea and biscuits."

Flinn might have protested, wishing to hear the tale behind his friend's wound, but the sound of the front door opening with a bang, caused all conversation to cease. Drogo, Prim, Saracoc, and Esme all came bursting into the parlor, squeals of delight filling the room as the hugging and kissing commenced. Frodo and Merry were quickly engulfed in loving arms, and before any of the others could feel left out, in came Hamfast and Bell, with Paladin, Elli and all three of their daughters not far behind, heading right for Sam and Pippin. By now the noise in Bag End was near to deafening, but no one seemed to mind a bit.

"Oh, my darling boy!" Prim cried, unable to let Frodo out of her arms. "I can't believe you're home!"

"And just look at you, Pip!" Paladin said in a shocked tone. "Taller than me by half a foot at least!"

"Merry too!" Saradoc laughed. "What've you been eating on this trip?"

"Not eating…drinking!" Pippin exclaimed. "In Fangorn forest we were given what Treebeard called Ent-draughts! Just look at how much Merry and I have grown!"

"Treebeard?" Esme asked, looking at her son with eyes of wonder. "I think we are going to have to lock you all in one room and let you speak for a month, just to hear all the tales you have to tell."

"Two months is more like it! And even that might not be enough!" Sam laughed, hugging his Gaffer and mother for the tenth time at least.

Yet before any more talking could be done, the last of the expected visitors came in…Holly and little Fundin.

"Well, it took a little searching, but I finally found them down at the market!" Talin stated proudly, gesturing to her sister-in-law and young nephew. "And believe me, I hurried as quickly as I could, but Holly is not really made for speed right now."

"Adad, Ama," Torin spoke up, stepping over placing his hand on his son's shoulder. "May I present to you, your grandson."

The young lad, that looked more hobbit than dwarf, stepped forward and bowed at the waist.

"Fundin, son of Torin, son of Dwalin…at your service," he said, a wide grin spreading over his face.

And while the correct response would have been to bow in return and offer their services back…instead, Bergie and Dwalin raced forward and caught the lad in-between them with a large hug.

Torin was a bit shocked, obviously worried that his son might be frightened by their overly exuberant greeting, but Talin elbowed him in the ribs and leaned in to whisper in his ear.

"Don't worry, I warned him that our parents might act this way," she chuckled quietly. "I think he was adequately prepared."

Bergie, though completely mesmerized by little Fundin, managed to release him just long enough to step over and give Holly a warm hug.

"Oh, my dearest!" she cooed, stepping back and taking a look at her protruding stomach. "Just look at you! The picture of health and beauty, and almost ready to pop too, by the looks of you!"

"Not soon enough for my liking," Holly laughed. "I feel like I swallowed Farmer Maggot's prize-winning pumpkin, and can't wait to be able to see my feet once again."

"And we plan on staying in the Shire long enough to be present for this birth!" Bergie assured her. "As well as spoil our grandson rotten! I would say it is long overdue."

"All right brother," Balin huffed, wishing for his turn to meet his littlest nephew. "Step aside and let me at the lad. Now come here, Fundin, and give your Uncle Balin a squeeze!" He was tickled when the child did indeed step forward and offer up a warm hug. And no one had the heart to tease the white bearded dwarf one bit when he broke out in tears of utter joy.

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The rest of the evening was filled with much talking, laughter and eating, once most of the wives had returned to their own homes and brought back enough food to feed an army. They all stayed late into the night, listening to the four hobbits telling tales of their adventure, until even Pippin began to nod off, signaling that it was time for bed.

Dwalin, Bergie, Balin and Talin all headed to their little home down at the end of Bagshot Row. Pippin and Merry of course went home with their families, with Sam doing the same, as Hamfast and Bell had already tidied up his room in preparation for his return. Frodo, being the only one who had lived on his own before going on the quest, would remain in Bag End, but promised to take breakfast with his parents the following morning at their family home.

So, after seeing the last of them off, Frodo shut the door and made his way back into the parlor, only to see Frerin sound asleep on the sofa, having been too tired to even make it to his room.

"Are you sleepy yet, Flinn?" Frodo asked, looking at his sword-brother questioningly.

"I should be, I suppose…but no, I'm not," he admitted, appearing wide awake.

"Care to join me outside for a smoke?" Frodo asked.

"Sure…if you can stand the cold," he agreed.

"I think my skin has toughened up a bit over the past year," the hobbit said, giving Flinn a little grin. He then reached up and took one of the pipes off the mantel, and grabbing a thick cloak, he headed for the door.

Flinn did the same, pocketing a bag of Old Toby and a few matches as well, and out they went, finding a comfortable spot on the bench just outside the door. Once their pipes were lit and they bundled their cloaks around them tightly, they just sat in silence, blowing smoke rings and watching them drift off over the darkened hills.

"I've missed this," Frodo said at last. "The peace and quiet of the Shire."

"I'll miss it as well when it's time to go home," Flinn admitted. Though he dearly did long to be back in Erebor, with his family, he knew his time spent here would stay with him forever. "There just something special about this place…but I suppose you've known that all your life."

"Yes, it is special," Frodo nodded. "And it's not just the green field, or the babbling brook…but the people, and the slow, lazy way of life. I honestly don't know what I would have done if I'd come home only to find it destroyed like Sam had feared. It would have broken my heart, Flinn. Broken it to pieces."

"Then I'm glad I was able to help save it for you," he said quietly. "You know I'd do anything for you, Frodo. Anything."

"Just as I'd do anything for you," he assured him back.

"And we'll always be sword-brothers, no matter what," Flinn stated firmly, secure in the knowledge of that.

"Yes…always," the hobbit replied, though for some odd reason Flinn detected something he didn't like in his voice, causing him to eye Frodo with suspicion.

"What's wrong, Frodo?" he asked, sensing that something troubling was on his mind.

"Nothing is wrong…and yet…everything as well," Frodo said with a long sigh. "I'm not the same hobbit I was when I left the Shire, and I sometimes wonder if I can ever truly be happy here…or anywhere…ever again." He looked over at Flinn, and his eyes were filled with tears. "I've seen things, Flinn. Seen and done things that I wish I could blot out of my mind forever. I had no idea there were so many dark and deadly things in this wide world, and now that I know they exist…or existed…I don't know how to put them behind me…how to be happy again."

"Oh, Frodo!" Flinn cried, reaching out and pulling his friend to him as he did his best to comfort him. "I can't even imagine what you must have endured. I don't know what to say…truly I don't. But remember when I was so upset about killing those wolves? The ones that tried to eat you, me, Holly and Frerin all those years ago?"

"Yes," Frodo said, wiping at his eyes as he tried to focus on Flinn's words.

"I too wished I could wipe that memory from my mind, hating the idea of having been the one to take a life…even if it was in self-defense and to protect those I loved," he continued. "But do you remember what my Uncle Thorin told me? He said that a good warrior doesn't go looking for a fight, but neither does he run from one when the lives of those he loves are in danger. He also told me that it's hard to live with…and it hurts you right here," Flinn reached out and placed his fingers lightly over his friend's heart. "And though they never truly go away, in time, those feelings will fade, and you will find a way to live without such memories constantly reminding you of the sorrow. Or…at least I hope you can, and I'm right here to help if you need me."

"I know you are, Flinn," Frodo smiled. "Sam has pretty much said the same thing, and I do intend to try, honest I do. It's just all so new…so different right now. Maybe after some time I can pick up the pieces and make sense of it all once more."

"If anyone can, it's you, Frodo," Flinn said with a reassuring smile. "Hobbits, I hear, are remarkably resilient," he chuckled. "Though I've found they're most fond of the comforts of home."

"Just like dwarves are known to be stubborn and have terrible table manners?" Frodo shot back, earning a wide grin from his sword-brother over the long standing joke.

"You'd know best," Flinn huffed. "Since I taught you everything I know!"

This got the both of them laughing, and they spent the next hour smoking and talking, enjoying the quiet of the evening.

"Hey, did you hear that Pippin might have an admirer?" Frodo asked, looking up at Flinn with a wide grin.

"Pippin? Really?" Flinn asked, having always figured the young hobbit a bit too flighty to ever catch a lass' attention. "Who?"

"Your Uncle Thorin's daughter…Raina," Frodo revealed, laughing even harder when Flinn began to choke and cough, having apparently swallowed a gulp of pipe smoke in shock.

"WHAT?" he sputtered, clearing his throat a few times and wiping away the tears that had sprung to his eyes. "Oh, that has to be the funniest thing I've heard in…in…well a very long time! I bet Uncle Thorin is fit to be tied over this. What does Pippin think?"

"I'm not even sure he's figured it out just yet," Frodo laughed. "But I think given enough time, and a few well-placed hints, he'll catch on. What he will do about it, well, that's anyone's guess."

"Well he better tread lightly where Raina is concerned, or he might find himself strung up by one angry dwarf king…not to mention a few of her other protective relatives," Flinn chuckled, though there was a hint of a threat in his words as well.

"Still, if she's chosen a hobbit, at least Pippin is not in any way closely related to her, and he'll one day inherit the title of Thain from his father. That should please your uncle," Frodo pointed out.

"I don't think any lad, be he hobbit, dwarf, or king of all Middle Earth, will please Thorin," Flinn assured him. "Raina is his youngest daughter, and I think we all know just how possessive dwarves are over their treasures."

"Well, it'll be fun to watch and see what happens with that," Frodo snickered, putting his pipe to his lips once more and taking a few long puffs.

The two sat there enjoying each other's company for a long while, until their noses began to turn red from the cold and they were forced back inside. Each one retiring to their own beds to get a much-deserved good night's sleep.

Well, Frodo and the others are home now and they didn't have to come back to a ruinied Shire.

Flinn, Frerin and Tor did good! Dwalin is very proud, Bergie is concerned, and Fili and Sier will probably blow a gasket. ha ha.

Awwww, they got to meet little Fundin at last! And they will stay long enough to see the new baby born too.

Poor Frodo, he is so traumatized and does not know if he can ever be happy again. Well, I think we all know what will help him in the end.

And yep, Thorin will NEVER be truly happy with anyone his daughters choose. ha ha.

Guest Reviews:

Guest JC: I left a note for you in chapter 100, but just in case you already read past that, I wanted to say I got your review for chapter 95 and am very pleased that you are enjoying it, and that you are OK with my story taking over your life. ha ha. Happy reading and I hope you catch up to here very soon. Thanks!

Emrfangirl: Yep, I guess you did, but thanks for the anonymous review anyway, ha ha. I too like things NOT being destroyed. I mean the destruction of the trees and stuff hurt Sam badly. Tor is for sure Dwalin's boy, and he can fight like the best of them, even if his heart is in planting. ha ha. Dr. Frerin would never let anything bad happen to his brother! Never! Thanks.

abc: (for chapter 184) RL will get us every time, won't it? Yep, I had fun with Raina and Pippin. I just hope Pippin wises up! ha ha. Thorin might chop his head off if he hurts his little girl. ha ha. I don't think he is quite ready to let any of his kids go. ha ha. Thanks

abc: (for chapter 185) Glad you enjoyed the battle, and yes, Flinn and Frerin can fight, and so can Tor. They were all trained by the best. Poor Flinn, hurt in the shoulder but now more worried about what his mother will say! Eeep. Bye Bye Saruman...and Grima! As you saw in this chapter, Frodo and his party made it to the Shire, but Thorin went home already, he only traveled part way to Rohan and then headed North with Thranduil and Bard. Thanks.