"Good, I see you found him." Thorin welcomed his nephews. Kili, much to Fili's relief had calmed down and his mood had lightened a bit. Of course, a pit stop to say hello to their mother, Dis, helped his mood a great deal.

"Yes, Uncle," Fili replied, "Now what was is that you wanted to see us for?"

Dwalin chuckled at Fili's lack of ceremony and turned to await Thorin's reply. "Very well, since you are in such a rush, I actually have some news that the both of you might enjoy."

Kili's eyebrow canted up at that, for Thorin did not usually discuss anything to do with having fun.

"Well, don't look so surprised," Thorin scoffed, "If you must know, Bilbo sent word of his impending arrival to the celebrations."

Fili and Kili's eyes brightened immediately at the news of Bilbo. The hobbit usually made time to come to the mountain for the annual celebrations, but they have heard no word of him thus far for the year. "Bilbo's coming?!" Kili input happily, "That's great!"

"Yes, yes, honestly, I can't believe he made the trip on his own. His letter said he should arrive this afternoon, so I wanted you to go meet up with him and escort him to Erebor. Both of you." Thorin shook his head, "He could have at least requested our presence in his travels. It would have been safer."

Dwalin agreed, only really minorly interested, "Aye, the lad almost died his last trek he made alone up here."

Thorin nodded, "I remember. If Bofur and Bifur had not been nearby, things might have turned out very differently. But the hobbit insists." Fili wasn't exactly sure what instance they were talking about. Apparently, none of them had bothered to share.

Kili nearly jumped in excitement. And Fili was glad to see his brother in such high spirits. "We'll go right away! Fee, grab that pig of yours and let's hurry to meet him!" He grabbed at Fili's furred sleeve and pulled him towards the door, and before Thorin could even properly dismiss them, the two brothers were off, with light hearts, for they finally had some time to spend together, even if it was on an errand.

So, they were on the road again that day, Fili on Tusk and Kili on Clip, his temperamental pony, and they rode, racing each other here, chatting happily there, and simply enjoying the other's company. Fili felt their bond rekindle easily and it did his heart good to see that they still shared a special brotherly connection despite the time they spent apart. Their talks and easy teases were so normal, just like before the Quest and the Battle. The timelessness of their kindred spirits comforted him profoundly.

So, on they went until their merry jaunt was pierced by the welcoming sound of a pony's whinny. Fili and Kili urged their mounts forward in anticipation and as they rounded the bend, the dwarf princes saw Bilbo astride a little bay pony. Surprisingly, another horse walked beside him carrying a dark figure garbed in a dark green cloak. Fili could not see his eyes, but he chatted companionably with Bilbo, with a soft-spoken tone, as he smoked a finely crafted pipe.

"Ho, there, Bilbo!" Fili called out, while at the same moment, Kili called, "Mr. Boggins!"

Bilbo's gaze sharply turned towards the brothers as he caught wind of Kili's alternate moniker for him and he waved enthusiastically, surely recognizing the dwarven princes, "Fili! Kili! How very good it is to see you two! I do hope you are keeping out of trouble!"

The stranger who rode beside the hobbit kept silent.

"Bilbo, you should know better than that." Fili said and Kili finished, "Trouble finds us without our help, trust me."

"Ah, yes, of course." Bilbo agreed. Fili thought he looked very well since last he saw him. Though, perhaps a bit rounder around his middle. He was a hobbit, after all.

"But, Bilbo, who is this who rides beside you? I was under the impression you were traveling alone." Fili looked warily at the stranger unnerved by his quiet demeanor and hooded face.

"Oh! Where are my manners?" Bilbo replied, exasperated, "Well, I was until I came through Rivendell, of course, but then, my good friend, Ara- a, Estel, convinced me to let him come along. He is a good fellow, and has been a very good friend to me since I first met him five years ago on my return journey from Erebor, actually."

"Indeed," interjected Estel, who lifted his hood to reveal a young face. "Though, Estel I am only called amongst Elves." The twenty-five year old puffed his pipe and blew out a near perfect smoke ring, "Some men call me Strider, though, I have not been amongst dwarves very much at all to be given any title by them."

"Elves?" Kili asked curiously, "You are among them often then?"

Estel laughed at the young dwarf's wide eyes. "Yes, master dwarf. In fact, I was raised by them in my childhood, and I often dwell among them still."

Kili's fascination grew tenfold by then and he quickly led Clip so he was riding side by side with the stranger, but Fili remained somewhat unconvinced, "Why then, if you are such good friends with our hobbit, do you go about hooded and cloaked like some vagabond? If you'll excuse my description."

Bilbo looked horrified by Fili's inquiry and hurriedly asked Estel to forgive his brash young friend, but the man held up a calming hand and laughed, "Do not worry, my friend. I take no offense. I suppose I did deserve that, given my chosen apparel."

"It is merely travel-worn," Bilbo huffed, flustered, "Well-used, and I am surprised at you, Fili, given how we were dressed during our own journey. I do recall you in nothing but an old shabby tunic, trousers, and boots after we left the elves in Mirkwood. You have no place saying anything about what Estel wears. He is called Strider for a reason after all."

Kili tried to smother a laugh towards Fili due to Bilbo's sudden outburst and Fili sent his brother a rude gesture. "I meant nothing by it Bilbo." To Estel he said, "I am sorry, though. If Bilbo trusts you, then I do as well. Come, let us lead you to Erebor, greatest of the dwarven strongholds.

"You are forgiven, master dwarf, and in explanation for my shabby dress, I can only say Bilbo is right. I travel very far and very often. I am a Ranger, you see."

If the title of Ranger drew any recognition from Fili, he did not show it, and in fact, Rangers were not spoken of very often at all where Fili and Kili had lived as children, so they did not understand how queer and peculiar Rangers, as a rule, were. Fili only nodded, as if that cleared up everything, though in truth, he was still a bit suspicious of the man despite his polite demeanor. Kili, on the other hand, naïve, and trusting Kili, seemed completely won over by the man and began a conversation with him about his time amongst elves. When they began discussing Sindarin, the Elven tongue, Fili only sighed.

Thorin would not approve.

While his brother was busy with the stranger, Fili matched Tusk's pace with Bilbo's bay as the hobbit listened quietly to his two friends connecting. "Bilbo?"

"Yes, Fili?" The hobbit asked contentedly, so very happy to be in the company of the most amicable dwarves he knew.

Fili shifted in his saddle and spoke softly, "Why did Estel wish to come along with you?"

Bilbo noted his cautious tone, as if he were afraid the hobbit would be offended by Fili's disapproval, but he only smiled, "Fili, I would never have brought a complete stranger along with me to your Uncle's Mountain. Estel is a very honorable man, I assure you. Put your mind at ease. And if you must know, as I already said, he enjoys traveling, so I welcomed the company. The road, you know, is very long when traveled alone." Bilbo leaned over and whispered privately, "Just the same, he has an old friend here who lives within the Mirkwood. I'm sure you recall the son of King Thranduil? We encountered him when the spiders attacked, yes?"

Fili's eyes widened at that. How did this ragged stranger come to be good friends of an elven prince? "Surely not, Bilbo!" Fili whispered, amazed.

Bilbo only readjusted his seating and smiled widely. "Indeed."

Please Review! Thank you all so much for reading! Just hang in there. I'm sorry if it's a little boring, but it's getting there! Tell me what you think! Feel free to post any suggestions or ideas! Thanks!