First off, I would like to apologize for how long it took me to post this. I've been very busy with work and socializing with people. But, on the flip side, my Mom has become one of the coolest people EVER! She asked me if she should watch Doctor Who or Sherlock first (and that, my friends, was a difficult decision to make) and then she watched The Hobbit (FINALLY) and loved it and just saw the Desolation of Smaug. She thought Bilbo was fantastic and her favorite dwarf is Kili because "He's cute." However, she hasn't read the book so I just know that she is not going to like the ending of the next movie...:( Neither am I. Once again, thank you to my lovely reviewers and I'm glad my decision to include little Estel was well liked.

Guest: Thanks for reviewing and yes, you are correct that Estel would have been older during the time of their journey BUT I thought it would be cuter if it was little Estel.

Kari: Yes, I thought it would be a bit adorable. Thank you for reviewing!

Anyway, enough rambling, HERE YOU GO!

Chapter 20

Eventually the three dwarves had made it out of the mountains, only they had a slight problem.

They were running out of supplies.

They found out this horrible truth as they made camp for the night. Bifur had already started a roaring fire and was busy tinkering with a toy project he had designed using resources he found in the mountains. Nori was rummaging through the packs looking for something to eat while Bofur was happily smoking his pipe. Nori's movements became more frenzied and erratic until they ceased altogether before he fell back, a look of shock on his face. Bofur paused from his pipe and asked, "What's wrong?"

"We're almost out of food."

"What? No, that can't be possible," Bofur muttered, moving so he could see for himself.

It seemed, however, that Nori was right. All that was left in the bag of provisions was some dried up berries, some bread and dried meat. Nothing substantial and nothing that was going to last a journey home. "How could we be running out of food already?"

"We didn't expect to be going so far West."

"Who's bright idea was that?"

"Yours."

Bofur shut his mouth instantly, remembering that he did, indeed, say they would find the lads in no time. As they sat and pondered about their options something caught Bifur's attention. Slowly he stood up, placing his project down on the ground gently before walking off towards whatever was making the sound that somehow the other two dwarves had not heard. As he got closer he could hear the unmistakable crackle of a fire and the voices of Men. When he got close enough to the source, his eyes caught sight of a group of four men who sat around a fire, their faces white as if they had seen a ghost. "I don't think we should stay here for the night. Don't seem right," one of the muttered.

"This spot is fine. No way could that curse spread to the opposite side of the mountains."

"We don't know that!"

Bifur quickly raced back to the camp. It seemed that the others hadn't noticed his disappearance. When he burst back into the camp his words were so frantic and quick that they jumbled together and not even he could understand what he was saying. Bofur looked at him quizzically as Nori asked, "Wait what are you saying?"

"I think he just told us there is a group of Elf-eating squirrels heading this way."

"If that's the case I say we lead them straight to Mirkwood. Let them deal with the Elven King."

Instead of repeating himself he grabbed Bofur by his scarf and pulled him away, Nori following close behind so that he wasn't left alone by himself. When they got near Bifur simply pointed. Bofur and Nori looked in that direction and their faces paled. "Are those bandits?" Bofur asked.

Nori squinted so that he could focus more. "Aye. It's a good thing Bifur found them. They look the type not to play nice."

"We should get moving then."

Bofur went to leave when Nori grabbed him by the arm. "Wait just a moment, this may be the very thing we need."

"What?"

"Thing about it, we need provisions and they have provisions."

"We can't just steal, Nori. Just because you're a thief doesn't mean the rest of us are."

"They're bandits, Bofur. They probably stole those provisions. We'd be simply taking what has already been stolen. Punishing them for their actions."

Before Bofur could argue anymore, Nori whispered, "Follow my lead."

Nori was up in an instant, cautiously stalking towards the bandits. The small group did not seem to notice the strange arrival of the dwarf, their focus more on the food cooking on the spit. Nori first arrived at the bags that had been thrown aside, rummaging through them to find anything useful. He looked over his shoulder at Bifur and Bofur and ushered them to come over and help. At first Bofur didn't move but when he saw his cousin stumble forward, he followed suit. Once they reached Nori the thief thrust two of the bags into their arms. Once secured he turned and looked at the men. "No, we got more than enough, let's go," Bofur hissed, figuring out what Nori was about to do.

"It will only take a moment."

"Nori!"

But Nori was already stalking his prey, his fingers dancing as they loosened the joints for easy pickings. His hand glided skillfully into one pocket and emerged with a small pouch of coins. He managed it a few more times until something grabbed his hand. Nori turned to see it was Bofur who had handed his sack of food off to Bifur. "Nori, that's enough."

"It will only be a minute."

"We need to go if we want to catch up with the lads."

"One minute is not going to make a difference."

Nori tried to yank his arm free but Bofur was having none of it. Without thinking Nori grabbed Bofur's arm and swung him free and into one of the bandits. The bandits were on their feet in an instant, their daggers drawn but when they saw the two dwarves their faces paled. "Dwarves!" one shrieked in fear.

There was a rustle from the bushes and suddenly Bifur appeared, having rushed back to the camp to drop off the provisions and returning to carry more. When the bandits saw the Orc axe embedded in his head and the wild look on Bifur's face that was normally their, their knives clattered to the ground. "It's the spirit! RUN!"

Nori and Bofur stood dumbfounded as they watched the bandits race away from the camp, leaving everything behind. As they disappeared, Bofur muttered, "Well that was unusual."

Nori stepped forward and picked up the discarded daggers. "I might have to drag Bifur along with me on my other jobs."

When he turned and saw the disapproving look on Bofur's face, he quickly added, "Only joking. Now come on, let's pack up the rest of what they left. Don't want to let it go to waste."

TBC...

So yes, a filler chapter with a bit of humor. No worries, we are going to see them catch up soon. Just so everyone knows, I'm working on Chapter 24 and am currently a bit stuck because of reasons so it is taking me a bit to write. It looks like this story is going to be about 26 chapters in length so you have another 6 chapters after this...if I can ever get chapter 24 DONE! Preview time!

Fíli continued to stand at the rail, his arms resting on the railing as he watched his brother's room. A small smile tugged at his lips for he could hear the conversation that had passed between Kíli and poor Bilbo. Oh how he wished he could have been by his brother's side when he woke. A guilty feeling was niggling at his conscious but he could not be there. For every time he saw the cuts, bruises and wounds his brother had endured at the hands of Bolg, Fíli instantly blamed himself. When he saw Elrond leave the room he dipped away from the railing. His brother was safe. His brother was alive.

Tonight, Fíli would ensure that he stayed that way.