June brought word that Gimli and Legolas were on their way to Erebor with around seventeen hobbits: six adults and eleven children. Fili was shocked that so many hobbits were making the journey and with so many young ones, too.
Rooms were prepared in Erebor and another building at the farming site was constructed for the hobbits to live in.
July was hot, but thankfully not as dry as the year before. The storms brought the right amount of rain to their growing crops. Fili went out to see the farming fields once a month to check on their progress. The Dale farmers weren't optimistic. They said it would be a small harvest and that Erebor would still need to buy at least half of their grains from Dale.
Fili was disappointed in still needing to rely on Dale, but was very pleased that in their first year they were producing a good portion of their own food. He hoped the hobbits would be able to help them more.
"Hello, dearest," Fili kissed Hana as they met at their usual spot by the lake. They retreated to their little alcove.
"How was your day?" Hana asked as she snuggled down into Fili's arms. Fili sat with his back against the rock wall. Hana sat between his legs, her back against his chest. She let herself be wrapped up in his arms.
"Good actually. The library expansion is just about complete. We'll have a dedication ceremony in August. It will be called the Ori Wing."
"Ori? Wasn't he the first book keeper of new Erebor?"
"He was indeed. A good dwarf and a good friend," Fili dug his nose into Hana's soft hair at the back of her neck. "How was your day?"
"Tough. It was a tough day for Milly."
"What's wrong?" Fili asked, always concerned for his daughter.
"She's been stuck in her home for seven months now. She's got cave restlessness. She wants to get up, walk around, work her duties and be a wife again, instead of lying about in bed all day, weaker than a newborn. She is frustrated, tired and sad."
Fili sighed and watched the waterfall for several moments. "What can we do to cheer her up?"
"I don't know, but she needs to get out of her home for a little while. See the sunshine, the lake, anything except her bedroom walls. I know she is excited about Torsten's wedding, but that's not for another six weeks. She needs something to look forward too, and soon."
"Let's get married," he said suddenly.
"What?" Hana laughed.
"Married. I don't want to wait any longer. Do you?"
"Well, no," Hana said.
"That settles it. We get married, right here along the shores of Lake Carregsten. We'll get one of Torsten's old chairs. Milly can sit in it. She gets out of the house and we get to be married. It's perfect."
"It's all rather sudden," Hana turned around in Fili's arms.
Fili started trailing kisses along her jaw line. "What do you mean?" he spoke into her neck. "We've been talking about this for months."
Hana put her hands at the back of Fili's head and pulled him into her neck. He kissed her neck some more, making her squirm as he hit a ticklish spot. She managed a few kisses along his ear.
"Oh Mahal," Fili breathed. "Maybe I should go get Kili right now. You feel too good to give up."
Hana giggled as he dove into her neck again. Now she was getting too ticklish and she pulled away from him. "Tomorrow?"
His eyes lit up. "Really?"
She nodded and kissed him again.
"I think that can be arranged," Fili said. "Come on. We've lots to do." He stood up and helped her off the ground. They leaned in to kiss again. Fili's hand snaked its way down her back but she caught his hand in hers.
"Not yet," she scolded gently. "But, this time tomorrow, things will be very different. The wait will be worth it," she promised.
Fili sighed, but smiled at her. "Very well." He kissed her hand. "Come on, then."
Kili said it was the most ridiculous thing ever when Fili woke him up to tell him he was going to marry Fili and Hana tomorrow afternoon, but he happily agreed to perform the ceremony.
One of Torsten's old chairs was brought to Milly's apartment, which had been turned into the bride's room. Tauriel, Arwen, Milly and Hana brushed each other's hair, talked, laughed and compared their wedding days with each other. A beautiful gown of deep blue was pulled out for Milly and she relished wearing something besides her night dress.
With Hana being the only other dwarf, she braided Milly's hair the proper way as fitting of her rank and marriage. She wove silver beads with blue stones into the braids of Milly's hair.
Hana wore a simple gown of light purple that actually belonged to Milly. Milly had sewn it for herself years ago and had worn it a number of times to special dinners with visiting dignitaries. It fit Hana very well and showed off her female curves.
When it was just before sunset, the four women went to Erebor's front gate. Milly had not seen the sky in seven months and they watched the sun set over Long Lake. Milly cried.
They made their way to the lake's large cavern. All the lads of the family were there - Fili, Kili, Hrafn, Graig, Iomhar, Klin and Keil. Milly was wheeled to Graig's side. The family stood in a semi-circle around Fili and Hana. Kili stood in front of them all.
"You look beautiful," Fili whispered to his lovely lass.
"You don't look so bad yourself, King Fili," Hana smiled.
Fili gave her hand a squeeze and they turned to face Kili.
"It's always special when two people wed," Kili said. "Tonight we are here to see our beloved King Fili marry the wonderful Hana. May your lives together be long and happy. Fili, son of Dis, son of Durin, King of Erebor, will you promise to love, honor and protect Hana until the end of your life?"
"I promise," Fili said.
"Hana, daughter of Erigrom, Healer of Erebor, will you promise to love, honor and protect Fili, until the end of your days?"
Hana looked into Fili's eyes. They sparkled like blue topaz in the flickering firelight. "I promise," she said.
"As you have each promised to love and protect one another, you may place the marriage braid into each other's hair to bind your marriage."
Fili and Hana took turns braiding the other's hair before they kissed their first kiss as husband and wife.
Tauriel handed Kili his fiddle and he played the slow tune of the marriage dance. It had been a long time since either Fili or Hana had performed the dance, but they pulled it off and the end of the dance came with a kiss from the newlyweds and a cheer from the family.
After a few short speeches, made by everyone there, the wedding party departed for Fili's home. Before walking in with his bride, Fili turned to Milly. Her face was pale again, but she smiled at him. He placed a hand gently on her stomach, then kissed the top of her head.
"Congratulations, Adad," she whispered.
"Love you, princess," he whispered back.
Milly reached up and grabbed Fili by the neck in a hug.
"Now Milly," he spoke quietly, but firmly, right into her ear, "Don't go into premature labor tonight. I'd like the night with my wife to be uninterrupted."
Milly's cheeks flushed light pink. "I'll do my best, Adad."
Arwen and Tauriel took Milly back to her home, while Kili had Graig and all the lads to go to his home for a round of drinks.
Fili and Hana were left alone. Hana looked around Fili's home for several moments, once again taking in the fact that she had just married the King of Erebor. When she was with him, it was easy to forget his title. He was such a kind soul who loved his children, his brother, playing the fiddle, engraving works of metal, and reading.
She looked to him now and saw a look of worry in his face. She wondered if he worried that she wouldn't like his home. Their home. She smiled at him and blushed a bit. Fili took Hana by the hand and led her to his bedroom.
"Is this alright?" he asked.
"I wouldn't care if we lived in a tree house, so long as I'm with you."
"Oh!" he cried melodramatically, "not a tree house. Never a tree house. Remind me to tell you a story later about Kili and I as children and the tree house."
Hana laughed. She was nervous and she appreciated him making her laugh.
Fili relaxed in his laughter. He was nervous, too. He took her by the shoulders and gently turned her around, so he could tug at the laces that tied her dress together. They came undone and the dress loosened around her waist and shoulders. He pulled her close to him and kissed along her neck again. It was so soft and his favorite place to kiss her. He wondered if he could find other soft places along her body to kiss.
He snuggled into Hana's back and gave a great sigh of contentment. It had been so long since he had held a beautiful woman in his arms. He was amazed at how they fit so well together.
Sigrid had been beautiful and exotic with her long, lean, delicate, human body. He had loved her, but the difference in height had always made things a little difficult and he always had to be very gentle with her fragile body, not built as strongly and sturdy as his dwarven frame.
Being with Hana was very different, but it felt very right. She was all dwarf, with a body built to be compatible with his. Her small shoulders fit right alongside his broad ones. His hips were narrow where hers were perfectly wide. Her bones were as strong as his and they could handle each other's weight. It was the way Mahal had created his dwarves and it was perfect.
Fili closed his eyes, his arms wrapped around his wife's waist and pressed his face up against the back of her head. Never again would he go to sleep in a cold, empty bed. Never again would he have to be alone.