Hello everyone! First things first, WHAT THE ACTUAL **** I HAVE OVER 2000 REVIEWS HOW DID THIS HAPPEN OH MY MAHAL I CAN'T BELIEVE IT IMMA CRY AND SQUEAL AND JUST ASDKF LADSJFLAKDJS FLAKDJ I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY!

Other than thank you, that is. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for every single review that every single one of you has ever left. They mean the absolute world to me, they really do. If it wasn't for the amazing feedback (from praise to constructive criticism to the occasional kick up the arse) that I have received for this mammoth story I would not be where I am today – not in uni, not as confident and possibly in a state of much worse mental health. All I can say is thank you. You are absolutely amazing, each and every one of you, and you all have a HUGE part of my heart.

In particular thank you for the lovely response to the last chapter :D A special shout out to my unnamed guests, High King Gil-Galad, Hermione Granger (that's fine - thank you so much!) And Whovianeverlark17 - question as much as you like, I love to hear questions and ideas! Nori and Dori will talk soon, I promise :D

Secondly, I am truly sorry for the long wait. I had seven university deadlines in just under four weeks, and things have been absolutely crazy, so unfortunately Strangers had to take a backseat :( On the plus side, the provisional grades that I have received so far are pretty good, so that's a little relief.

This chapter was supposed to be longer, but because I haven't finished the second part I decided to post this little titbit so that it will hopefully tide you over until the next proper chapter comes.

Thank you so much for sticking with me, I am truly very sorry about the wait :D

Read, Enjoy, Review!

Chapter One Hundred and Four # The Tea Party #

"Please, please, Mama, I want to come with you!"

"Not today, Vinca," Ellie murmured, looking into the mirror to slide the final pin in her hair. To her annoyance it pushed more hair out of place than it fixed. Final pin indeed… "This is a tea party for big girls. You get to go to school again today."

"But… but I don't want to go to school."

Ellie paused, glancing at her daughter. "Why ever not? You enjoyed it last week, you said that your teacher was lovely."

"She is…" Vinca curled her toes into the carpet. "But… but…"

Ellie dropped her arms. "But what?"

Vinca sucked on her lip for a moment before replying. "'s scary."

"Scary?" Ellie reached for her daughter's hand. "What's scary about it?"

"There's a lot of people," the girl mumbled. "Lots of people."

"And what's scary about that?"

Vinca's eyes flickered up to meet hers. "Anything could happen, Mama."

Ellie crouched down to the little girl's level. "Yes darling, anything could happen. That's very true. Good things could happen, or bad things, but whether you go to school or not they will happen. You're safe as can be there, you've got Ola and Orla in your class and you've got your sisters and cousins right down the hall. Alfr's there to make sure that nothing can harm you, and there are other guards there too."

"I know…" Vinca sounded utterly miserable. "But Mama I don't want to go. It's still scary."

"I know," Ellie tried to smile, but it was difficult. Seeing her shy little daughter afraid of spending merely half a day away from home was heart-breaking. "But listen. Doing things that scare you is what will bring you the greatest joy in life. Think about Kíli – he left to go on a big scary quest and found all his family and this beautiful place."

Vinca's lower lip wobbled. "But what if something does happen?"

"Then Mama and Papa will come running. You are so brave, Pervinca. So, so brave."

"'m not," she hung her head. "'m scared of everything."

"Which is just what makes you brave. A person who does not fear anything is stupid. But a person who feels fear and goes about life regardless is brave. Just like you." Ellie poked her daughter's nose gently, eliciting a little giggle from Vinca.

"Really?"

"Really," Ellie nodded. "So go and have some fun today, my darling. Then come and tell me all about it when you come home."

"If I can just talk over Nelly."

Ellie laughed. "Yes, if you can talk over Nelly. Would you like to help me get ready while you wait for Papa?"

Vinca nodded enthusiastically. "I'll help, I'll help!"

"Perfect! Now, first things first, what do you think of my hair?"

"Pretty!" Pervinca declared. "But needs a braid."

"A braid?" Ellie glanced back at the mirror and the tousled bun on the back of her head. "Where?"

"Here!" the little one reached up and took one of the loose ringlets around her mother's face.

Ellie managed not to wince as her daughter weaved her hair together in a surprisingly well formed little braid, though admittedly some of the stiches were larger than others.

"There!" Vinca clicked her tongue happily as the braid hung against her mother's cheek.

"Beautiful," Ellie praised, bringing it up to pin it into the bun. "Do you want to do the other side?"

"Mmhm!" Vinca skipped around and began braiding.

"You're a very clever girl," commented Ellie. "I'm very proud of you."

"Thank you," Vinca sang. "You look beautiful, Mama."

"Aw, thank you sweetheart."

"Mama, why do dwarves even go to school the way that they do? And why do we do that now?"

"Because we live here now, and I like the idea of school. I used to go to the schoolhouse on the Brandywine when I was a girl; that was just a smaller version of what they have here. In fact, the only reason that we did not send you to a schoolhouse before was that there isn't one in Hobbiton at the moment."

"Oh…" Vinca frowned. "Why not?"

"I don't know. The trend in Hobbiton is to educate your children at home."

There was a quick tap on the door and Paladin walked in. "Oh, wow, Ellie, you look gorgeous!"

"Thank you," she smiled, blushing like a tween.

Paladin smiled at her for a few moments, and then held his hand out. "Come on, Vinca, it's time to go to school."

Vinca took a deep breath and met Ellie's eyes.

"You can do it," Ellie nodded, kissing her daughter on the forehead and bringing her over to her father.

Taking a deep breath, Vinca reached out and took her father's hand. Paladin smiled at her, then kissed Ellie on the cheek.

"Have fun at your tea party, Ellie," he said. "I'll see you later."

"Bye Mama!" Nelly yelled as she ran to the door.

"Nelly!" Ellie yelled back. "Get back here and give me a hug, you ungrateful child!"

Nelly laughed and raced back, flinging herself into her mother's arms. "Goodbye, cruel, cruel Mama!"

"Goodbye wretched, wretched girl," Ellie replied, kissing Nelly's face over and over again. "Have a terrible day."

"Have a horrible tea party!" Nelly beamed.

Laughing, Ellie kissed her one more time. "I love you, sweetheart."

"Love you too, Mama." Nelly skipped over to wait by the door.

Pearl ran up next and Ellie hugged her tightly. "Goodbye Mama. See you after school!"

"I'll see you later," Ellie nodded. "Have a good day, darling. I love you."

"I love you too!" Pearl kissed her mother's cheek and then joined her sister at the door.

Finally little Pippin came over, and Ellie lifted him onto her hip. "Goodbye, Pip. I'll see you this afternoon, alright?"

"Mmhm," Pippin kissed her nose. "Ba-bye Mama. I love you!"

"I love you too," Ellie hugged him for a long moment, before lowering him down to the floor.

Unlike his sisters and cousins, Pippin would not be going to school. He would go with Bodin and the handful of other toddlers in the mountain to Hlín's arena for supervised play and simple lessons, while the older children spent more time in the classrooms of the school nearby.

It had been difficult to figure out where the hobbit children should fit in the slick dwarven school system with their ages being so vastly different, but with Dís' help they had agreed to simply put them with children who seemed to be the same age and simply go with the flow.

"Bye-bye Mama!" Paladin led the chorus of children, and waved until the door closed behind them.

Looking in the mirror one final time, Ellie took a deep breath and touched her messy braids before smiling at her reflection and clapping her hands together. It felt strange to leave without a bag full of toys and snacks and other supplies, but she did not need any of that today. She could just up and go.

There was a long pattern of knocks on the door, and Ellie answered with a grin.

"Ready to go?" Esme asked her immediately.

"I am indeed," she grinned.

"Ooh, this is exciting!" Esme beamed, looping her arm through Ellie's and dragging her – a little unceremoniously – through the door. "I haven't been to a proper tea party in an age!"

"Oh, me neither… Even before we left the Shire."

"Where did Dís say that the tearoom was?"

Ellie nodded down the corridor. "I think it's that way, but…"

"Are you lost, ladies?"

"Dís," Esme greeted the princess cheerfully. "I wouldn't say lost, I'd say temporarily unsure of our imminent direction."

Dís laughed. "Has Fíli been giving you lessons in talking out of your backside?"

Esme gasped and put a hand on his chest. "I'm quite offended! I learnt how to talk malarkey all on my own, thank you very much."

Ellie rolled her eyes, and Dís shook her head with a smile. "This blue door, just on the right."

"Oh!" the hobbits followed Kíli's mother through said door and into the most gorgeous tea room that Ellie had ever seen.

A large glass table was at the centre, with a display that would probably bring her female relatives to tears. A six tiered stand sat in the middle, topped with a huge teapot. The next tier housed tea cups, the one beneath that smaller teapots, the next cups and so on. Each was delicately and beautifully decorated – in fact the whole room had a surprisingly delicate feel.

"It's beautiful, isn't it? I longed to be allowed in here as a child, but it is strictly reserved for ladies who are either of age or close to it. There are other rooms and even stores of a similar nature, but this one is specifically for guests of the women of the royal family." Dís explained.

"Yes, the constantly late royal family," drawled Dana from a chair.

"I am never late," Dís replied with a sweet smile. "Everyone else is simply early – as you are now. If you'll care to read the clock you will see that we are in fact three minutes early."

Dana looked at the clock on the wall and narrowed her eyes. Then her eyes flew wide open and she cursed. "Iklifumun mê, Glóin! That idiot's changed our clocks again."

"Changed your clocks?" Esme frowned, taking the seat that Dís was gesturing to. "Why would he do that?"

"Because he thinks it will teach Gimli to be punctual if the lad believes the hour is later than it is." Dana rolled her eyes. "I think that the lad should just wake up like a real dwarf."

Ellie considered that for a moment. "I can see the merits of that method…"

There was a soft knock on the door.

"Come in," Dís called.

It was Elza who opened the door, followed rather quickly by Marta, Thora, Rúna and young Ari.

"So, Dís," Thora said, her voice softer than her wispy brown hair. "What are we doing here?"

Dís smiled at Ehren's mother. "First things first, we are having tea."

"Oh, come now Dís," Rúna snorted, tossing a long braid over her shoulder. "You have never hosted a tea party for the sake of having tea, not once in your life. So tell me – what is the ulterior motive today?"

"Sit down, everyone," the princess ignored the seamstress and gestured to the table.

Taking a seat beside her sister-in-law, Ellie decided quickly that these were the comfiest chairs that she had ever taken tea in.

"Hello, Ellie," Aria smiled as she sat down beside her. "How are you today?"

"Very well, thank you," she replied eagerly. "How are you – I haven't seen you in a while!"

"I'm very well, thank you," Aria beamed proudly. "I have finally convinced Jari and Dori to let me out of the jewellers and I have a job all of my own in the stables."

"Oh, congratulations!"

"Thank you," the young woman's eyes were sparkling. "I have you to thank, really."

Ellie blinked. "Me?"

"Yes," Aria laughed. "I'd finally wheedled Jari around but Dori did not think it was appropriate 'for a young lady to work in such a position without accompaniment…'"

"Please, Dori. It means a lot to me," Aria tried to keep her cool, knowing full well that shouting would get her nowhere.

"I know, lass, but you're under my protection for a reason. It's not that-"

"Dori?" Nelly interrupted from the table, her drawing lying forgotten beneath her fingers. "Did you say that she can't do it just because she's a girl? Because that's really stupid."

"Aye to that!" Nori nodded, leaning against the wall.

"Shut up, Nori," Dori sighed. "No, Nelly, not because she's a girl. It's because I can't protect her if she's in the stables, it's too far away."

"Yeah, but you'd let Austen and Auden go if they wanted, wouldn't you? You let them go to the training arena all the time and you don't even go with them." Nelly protested.

"I know," Dori smiled sadly. "I know that it seems unfair, but there are two of them and their fighting abilities are much stronger than Aria's are."

Nelly wrinkled up her nose and turned to Nori to whisper. "He's using logic, what do I do?"

Nori shrugged. "Use your head."

Despite herself, Aria smiled at the look of intense concentration on Nelly's face. Then the child gasped.

"I got it, I got it, I got it! Oooh, I know exactly what to do!"

It looked like Dori was trying not to laugh. "You do?"

"The wolves!" Nelly declared smugly. "If Aria takes the wolves with her to work no one is gonna even try anything, and if they do they will be elvis-grated!"

"Elvis grated?"

"She means eviscerated," translated Nori.

Dori spluttered. "How on earth do you know that word?"

"Never mind," Nelly waved her hand dismissively. "What's important is that my plan is amazing. The wolves love Aria, and they won't let anything happen to her, she can go off and live her dream and you won't even have to worry."

"After he'd managed not to die laughing at how business-like she was Dori decided that he couldn't really argue with that, so Lani and Kenai are staying with us for the time being." Aria finished her story with a contented smile, to the amusement of the whole table.

"I do not know whether I should be proud or exasperated…" Ellie sighed, smiling.

"I've noticed that they've started settling, the wolves," Esme nodded. "It always seemed like they were trying out several different routines to see what fit them best. Denahi's been sleeping on Merry's bed for the past week, and I hope he decides to stay there. I've got a wager on with Saradoc as to how long he'll put up with the munchkin's tossing and turning."

"If you want to bet on the wolves, I'll throw in a wager," commented Dís. "Koda will return to Bragi's quarters and he will stay there."

"No," Dana shook her head. "He's been over at Marta's for a while now."

"He has many beds to choose from, no matter if I want him to be on the beds or not," agreed Marta.

"No, I'm with Dís," Esme declared, turning to Ellie. "If you were a betting woman, which I know you aren't, what would you say?"

Ellie considered her options for a moment. "I have no comment."

Esme rolled her eyes. "Of course you don't."

At that moment there were a few taps on the door and a serving woman walked in, pushing a cart with a huge urn on top.

"My ladies," she bowed her head and stepped between Thora and Rúna, lifting the lid from the teapot on top.

Ellie watched, fascinated, as the serving woman used a golden jug to fill the huge teapot with steaming tea. The golden liquid flowed through a set of glass pipes that Ellie had not even seen, pouring elegantly into the pots on lower levels.

"We have a variety of different spices and flavours today my ladies, but this top pot will be full of plain tea if our flavours are not to your liking," she said, lifting a stand full of cakes, biscuits and other baked goodies onto the table. "I hope you enjoy. Is there anything else that I can do for you today?"

"No thank you, Arna. I presume that the items I asked for are…?"

"In the chest on the other side of the room my lady."

"Thank you," Dís bowed her head. In response the serving woman bowed and took her cart out of the room again. "Now, please, all of you – dig in!"

Ellie decided to try one of the flavoured teas first, and she was incredibly happy that she did, though she could not quite put a name to the taste. She was halfway through one of Bilbo's famed cupcakes when Dís tapped a teaspoon against her cup.

"Now, as Rúna so eloquently pointed out, I have called this meeting as a reason. It may interest you to know that today Bofur plans on exploring a tunnel he found beyond the lower mines. No one else has been there in centuries, even before Smaug, but Bofur believes that he and Nori have found maps to a secret set of chambers created by the first kings of Erebor. He seems to think that the dragon's damage has exposed the way down, so the pair of them are planning a little 'expedition' with some of the lads – including my sons – something that they meant to keep from me."

"Why?" Esme frowned. Ellie guessed that her sister-in-law was more concerned with why she had not been invited.

"Oh, because they all 'know' that there is no way that Thorin and I would allow my sons and their friends to explore so old a passage, and they've felt the draw of the forbidden now. Unfortunately for them they were 'plotting' in the Company Room while Pervinca was hiding in the cupboard for hide and seek, and Ellie's wonderful daughter told me right away."

"Good girl," Ellie commented, wondering where this was going.

"So," Thora raised an eyebrow. "I expect Ehren's in the middle of this nonsense – are we going to catch and humiliate them?"

"Even better," Dís grinned an evil grin and took a sip of tea from the delicate cup, before placing a worn out map on the table. "We are going to beat them to it."

So, I hope you liked this chapter! It was initially supposed to be longer, but I thought I would give you a little something to keep you going while I keep writing :D

Thora and Rúna have scarcely been mentioned before and they are still very minor characters so don't worry if you don't really recognise them, but they are both friends of Dís.

I really hoped you liked that chapter, and fingers crossed the wait will not be so long for the next one.

Thank you so much for reading, please let me know what you think if you can. I really appreciate it :D