After the wedding and being out of her bed for the longest amount of time in many months, Milly was weak, pale and ill again. Arwen and Hana kept close to Milly, assisting her with all her needs and doing their best to make her comfortable.
Graig was going a little stir crazy himself, so Hrafn and Iomhar took him under their wing and included him on many of their activities. Graig started to accompany Hrafn when he would travel out to the beacon sites, taking the young father-to-be out of the mountain for a couple of days at a time.
Milly loved her husband, but he was driving her a little crazy too. She felt bad he was stuck in the house almost as much as she. He hovered over her and constantly worried over her health. She was very thankful to her brother and cousin for taking Graig out and have him go and do other things besides linger in their home.
For Fili, there was no honeymoon time with Hana. Two days after the wedding, they were right back to work. Fili was visited by a raven that morning to inform him travelers had been seen on the road - an elf, a dwarf and lots of not-dwarves in a wagon. Fili was amused how the ravens, who did not know about hobbits, simply called them not-dwarves.
They would arrive the following day.
Tauriel made sure the rooms and plenty of food was ready for their guest. She would be the one to personally greet them at the gates when they arrived.
The party from The Shire arrived with no problems. Tauriel was there to greet them and lead them to the reception hall, where they could have refreshments and freshen up before going to the king.
When the party was brought before him, Fili couldn't hide his grin. Hobbits. Lots of hobbits. They weren't his hobbit, but it was wonderful to see a hobbit again with their curly hair, colorful waistcoats and clothes, and of course, those large, hairy feet. There were three adult males and three curvy adult females. They were accompanied by eleven children of various ages, the very smallest clinging onto the adults.
Fili was slightly envious - eleven children. Oh, if his own people could so easily reproduce, dwarves would not be so few. The hobbits were wide eyed with wonder at Erebor's throne room. It was the best way to impress first time guests.
They came before him and bowed.
"Welcome, Children of the Shire, to Erebor. I am Fili, at your service." He bowed at them.
"I'm Samwise Gamgee," the first male said. He had a small boy in one of his arm and another child clinging to his other hand. " But everyone calls me Sam. This is my wife, Rosie, and our children, Elanor, Frodo, Rosie, Merry, Pippin, Goldilocks, Hamfast, Daisy, Primrose and Bilbo."
Fili grinned at little Bilbo. Several of the children smiled and waved. He waved back at them, the little girl in Sam's arms gave him a wide smile. He instantly fell in love with the child.
"And these are my friends, Merry Brandybuck and his wife Estella," Sam continued. Fili smiled and nodded at them. There were no children in their arms. "And this is Pippin Took, his wife Diamond and their son Faramir."
"Ah! You're one of the famous Tooks!" Fili grinned. Pippin looked a little taken back.
"I was named after him!" one of the young boys piped up.
"And I was named after Uncle Merry," another boy spoke up.
Fili chuckled. "It's wonderful to meet you all," he took little Merry and Pippin's hands in his and shook them like Bilbo had taught him many years ago when he first explained that hobbits did not head-butt each other. "I can't tell you how good is does my heart to see hobbits again. One of my dear friends from long ago was a hobbit." Fili turned to the elder Pippin. "As you are a Took, I'm guessing you are kin to Master Bilbo Baggins?"
"That's right," Pippin said, "and so is Merry. Frodo, Merry and I's grand-parents are first cousins with Bilbo's parents, on the Baggins side anyway, but Bilbo and I are more closely related on our Took side. We are second cousins, once removed."
Fili laughed. "Hobbit families sound as complicated as Dwarven families do. Ah! Speaking of families, here is my brother."
Kili was introduced to the Hobbits.
"Legolas, Gimli," Fili addressed the two taller visitors, "Thank you for escorting our friends safely from The Shire. Well, now, as you are all here, how about we get down to a little bit of business?"
The hobbits nodded their curly heads.
"Gimli and Legolas, you are welcomed to join us or you are free to go do as you please," Fili said.
"I'm interested to hear what you have to say, so if you don't mind, I would like to join you," Legolas said. He had never quite gotten over these being the very dwarves who had escaped his father's dungeons and Kili was the dwarf who had stolen away his best friend. Even almost a century later, he sill missed Tauriel's companionship.
Fili nodded. "Gimli? What about you?"
"Sit in a meeting about farming green things to eat? No thank you. I'll catch up with you at dinner time," Gimli grinned and walked off.
Fili led the party to his study, which adjoined the throne room. Refreshment were served, much to the hobbit's delight.
"Well now, I really can't express how happy I am to have such distinguished hobbits here," Fili said.
Sam looked uncomfortable with the compliment, but he blushed slightly.
"We were surprised by the invitation, but happy to help a friend of Old Bilbo's," Merry said.
Fili felt a tug on his coat. "Are there dwarf kids here?" one young boy asked.
"Hamfast, manners," Rose gently scolded. "Remember, this is a king and we are in his grand kingdom. You must behave."
Fili smiled at the small boy. "There are children here, although not many. I have two nephews who are probably like you in age. Their names are Klin and Keil and you will meet them tonight at dinner."
Young Pippin smiled and turned to his brothers, "Did you hear that? Friends!"
"Sit quietly now so we can talk," Sam told his children.
"Well now," Fili said, "last year, we decided it was time we started growing our own grains. We began this spring in a field north of the mountain. Some of Dale's farmers, that's the city of men not far from here, have been helping us. We have never grown crops before and really are quite unsure as to what we are doing. I had heard that Hobbits are very clever when it comes to growing things, so we hoped you could help us during this first year."
"We are happy to help," Sam said.
"We've had a home built for you," Kili said. "I was just there a few days ago. It's like a lodge. There are several sleeping rooms and a kitchen and dining room. It has been furnished, but if, once you get there, you find there is anything missing, all you need to do is ask and it will be provided for you."
"That is most generous, Prince Kili," Rosie said. "I already know of a few things that we will need. I require two iron pots, a wash tub and wash board. I couldn't bring mine from home. They were too heavy to carry."
"Of course, Mistress Gamgee. We will take those things out with us when we go there. Food will be brought out every other week. You should be well supplied, but never be afraid to ask if you have need of anything."
"How soon will we go there?" Sam asked.
"In two days, if that is agreeable," Kili answered. "We thought you could see more of Erebor tomorrow and rest a bit before the final stage of your journey."
"Where will we sleep tonight?" little Daisy asked.
"We have some nice rooms with soft beds already for you," Fili answered.
"We sleep in the big mountain?" Hamfast asked.
"That's right."
"Yippee! We sleep inside the mountain! The King say we sleep in the mountain!" Hamfast dance about. His three younger siblings picked up on his excitement and soon they were all dancing about.
"I have to admit," Fili said, "that I was surprised when I heard that you were coming with so many young ones."
"Well, Sam, Pippin and I weren't going to turn down the chance to go see the great dwarven city from Old Mister Bilbo's tales. We grew up on Bilbo's stories. Loved them as children, we did." Merry said.
"We even got to see the three trolls that were turned into stone when we were off on our adventure with Frodo, Gimli and Legolas," Sam said.
"Did you really?" Kili asked.
"Yes, and what a sight they were. Just as big and ugly as Bilbo described them," Pippin laughed.
"So of course, when Master Gimli told us of your invitation, we had to come. You and the Prince travelled with Old Bilbo, didn't you?" Merry asked.
"We did. We are the last two alive from that company," Kili answered.
"Are the children unwelcomed?" Rosie asked, looking quite nervous. "You said you were surprised that we would bring the children. Are they unwelcomed?"
"What?" Fili was caught off guard by her question. "No! Oh, my, no. The children are very welcomed here. I love children. It just surprised me, that you would travel so far with so many, that's all."
"Well," Sam said, "I wasn't coming all the way out here without my beautiful Rosie and we couldn't go off and leave the children, so you either get all of us or none of us."
"I want you all here," Fili smiled. "Thank you for coming so far."
"I didn't think dwarves would like children, begging your pardon, King Fili," Rosie said. "I've always heard that dwarves are hard hearted and unsavory, if you'll forgive me repeating what I've heard."
Fili knew the rumors other races spread about his own. They always made him angry, but at the same time, it usually kept other races from bothering them. Dwarves preferred to be left to their own devices, anyway. But, he would not turn down a chance to clear up misinformation to the hobbits.
"Dwarves love children very much. Family is very important to us. It's our race's misfortune that we are not capable of being able to produce children easily. That is why we have so few. It's not because we don't like them. Tonight, you will meet our family, except for my daughter. She is expecting her first child, but I'm afraid she is quite unwell."
"I'm sorry to hear that, but a grandchild, King Fili? That's wonderful," Diamond said.
"Yes, it is and we are very excited for it."
The dining hall was full that night. It was noisy and crowded and Fili loved every moment of it. Klin and Keil were introduced to all of the children and they became fast friends with young Frodo, Merry, Pippin and Faramir.
At one point in the evening, Fili ended up with Primrose, Sam's youngest daughter, in his lap. She wanted to feel his beard. They laughed how they had the same color hair and Primrose ask Fili if she could have a beard. Fili had laughed and explained if she were a dwarf, she would have a very fine beard, but hobbits don't have beards, especially tiny lasses like herself. As the evening wore on, he felt Primrose's petite hand curl around one of the braids in his hair. He remember Milly doing the same thing when she had been sleepy and it wasn't much longer before Primrose fell asleep in Fili's arms. Rosie tried to extract her daughter from Fili, all the while apologizing to the king, but he would not let Rosie take her away and so Fili held the tiny sleeping child until it was time for the hobbits to retire for the night.
Hana chucked as they got into bed that night. "You found yourself a little admirer tonight, didn't you?"
"It was like holding Milly again when she was just three. Little Primrose has the same color hair, even," Fili pulled Hana to his chest.
"Well, it was very sweet."
The hobbits were given a tour the following morning by Hrafn, Klin and Keil. It was complaint day for Fili and Kili had a line of commerce and trade meetings to attend.
As the last citizen left from complaint day, Fili put his hands over his face and rubbed at his head, trying to ease away the headache that had been forming for the past hour. He about jumped out of his skin and almost pulled out one of his pocket knives when he felt something grab at his leg.
A tiny hobbit had attached herself to him. Fili sighed in relief.
"Hello, Primrose," Fili said, lifting the little girl in his arms.
"Hello, King Beard," she said, her hand patting at his beard.
Fili laughed.
"Oh, Mister King Fili," Sam came rushing into the throne room. "I'm so sorry. She slipped from my sight. Primrose, what did I tell you about running off?"
"King Beard!" Primrose shouted with glee.
Fili was amused to se Sam's face blush. "My apologies, mister King, sir," Sam tripped over the royal titles, obviously not used to using them in the Shire.
"It's quite alright. I've taken a fancy to little Primrose here, and please, just call me Fili. How was your tour of Erebor?"
"It's very grand," Sam said.
"Have you had lunch?" Fili asked.
Sam shook his head.
"No elevensies, King Beard," Primrose said.
Sam looked embarrassed, but he nodded his head in agreement.
"What? No elevensies? Well, we can't have that can we? Let's go to the dining hall for lunch." Fili tossed the girl lightly over his head. She squealed in delight.
The children gathered around Fili and he watched them eat and listened to their stories about their favorite part of the mountain.
"Can we live in the mountain?" Hamfast asked.
"I don't know that little hobbits would be happy in the mountain for very long," Fili said, "but, you get to stay here one more night before going to your new home."
"I like our room in the mountain," Pippin said.
"I'm very glad," Fili smiled. "And I hope the new home is very nice, too."
Rosie wanted to meet Milly, so Fili took Rosie and her two youngest to Milly's home. Milly was delighted to meet the hobbit matron. Little Bilbo stayed in his mother's arms and Primrose would not let go of Fili.
Rosie was a kind listener to Milly as she talked about her difficult pregnancy. Rosie, while admitting she did not know what Milly was going through, was sympathetic to Milly's condition. Her pregnancy with her third had made her so queasy, she had only been able to eat three meals a day, which, in a race that eats six to seven times a day, only having three was practically starving.
Milly enjoyed Rosie's company. Arwen and Tauriel were nice, but they were elves, and while Milly liked Hana, Hana was her midwife and her father's wife. It was nice to sit and talk with Rosie, a little female company who was not there as one of Milly's caretakers. Fili wished Rosie could stay a while longer, just to keep Milly's spirits up. After a bit of talk, Rosie decided she would come to visit Milly every other week, when the supplies caravan came in to restock. Milly was happy to have something to look forward too.
The next morning, following second breakfast for the hobbits, the wagons that would take the hobbits to the farming site were packed. An entire wagon was full of nothing but children. Fili was sad to see them go, especially little Primrose, who had become his little shadow.
Fili could not make the trip with the hobbits since he had many items on his agenda for the next week, so Kili went with the hobbits and would return the following day. Dinner was so quiet that night. Klin and Keil had gone with their father to see the hobbits safely to their new home. After the past two days being filled with the noises of thirteen children, the dining hall was quiet and still. Someday, Fili reminded himself, there would be grandchildren and once again the royal halls would be filled with the sounds of dwarflings.
He felt a little sad that night about the loss of the sociable hobbits, but he was very thankful he didn't have to go to an empty home or an empty bed any longer. He tucked Hana into the crook of his arm and fell asleep with the scent of her hair in his nose and thoughts of children and grandchildren filling his head.