Over the next few weeks Fili was very busy in the smithy. While Poppy was sick, he hadn't worked much. Now he tried to forge the weapons for Bree as good and quick as possible. He hoped to be able to bring them to Bree before their child was born.
Poppy often spent time with Daisy when she wasn't busy at home. Hugo didn't allow her to work again but she often visited her best friend at the Green Dragon Inn and sometimes helped with simple tasks like baking or filling mugs behind the counter. Fili was happy that she spent time with the other hobbits again and knew that she wouldn't do anything that might cause harm for the baby.
Fili and Poppy always spent the evenings together. Although they already had quite many, Poppy had started to sew some clothes and stuffed animals for the baby. At first Fili watched her and wanted to help, but he soon realised that he had no talent for such things and started to make some wooden toys again.
One afternoon Poppy visited Bilbo on her way back from the Green Dragon. They drank some tea and Bilbo gave her a letter from Dis. Poppy took it with shaking hands. She was a bit nervous since the letter would most likely be about the dwarvish pregnancy. Apart from the morning sickness Poppy was fine but Fili had told her that he was afraid to lose her. Apparently many dwaflings and sometimes also the mothers died in childbirth.
Poppy thanked Bilbo for the letter and went home. She opened the door to the smithy and stayed in the doorframe to watch her husband for a while. Fili wore only his boots, trousers and a leather apron and his golden hair was bound back into a ponytail. Poppy loved to watch the movement of his muscles when he worked and admired how he wielded his hammer like it didn't weigh anything. She could barely lift it.
Soon Fili noticed her standing in the doorway and grinned. "Do you like what you see?"
"Very much, my strong, beautiful husband." Poppy answered with a shy smile and took the letter out of her basket. "From your mother, it arrived this morning."
Fili put the sword in a water basin to cool down and extinguished the fire. Then he walked to his wife and took the letter. "Come, I have worked enough for today. Let's sit down and read it together." He kissed her nose and took her hand.
After Fili had washed and put on clean clothes, he and Poppy cuddled up in their favourite armchair to read.
My dearest Fili,
I'm relieved to read that you and your Poppy are going to have a child.
I worried about you. Your sounded so very sad in your last letter. You didn't say anything in your letter, but I knew that my letter and the blanket caused you even more sorrows. I felt terrible about that.
You can't imagine how happy I am about this grandchild although I will never meet him or maybe even her? I'd be overjoyed about a granddaughter, a little princess to cherish and treasure.
Speaking of princesses. It's good that you told Poppy about who you really are. It may not matter in the Shire, that you are a prince and were the heir to the throne of Erebor. But secrets are never good in a marriage. I'm sure you can support each other even more now that she knows what troubles you.
Here in Erebor things are as good as they can be. The king is happy that I'm with child. He also doesn't care about my letters to Bilbo anymore since I have fulfilled my duty as he says.
Dwalin is happy, too. He never planned to be a father and certainly not under these conditions, but he's looking forward to meet our child soon. Of course Thorin will want to train him as his heir as soon as possible. But I won't let the king take him from me completely. He nearly destroyed your childhood and neither I nor Dwalin will let that happen again. Dwalin says he should sire his own child and then he can do with him as he wants.
Of course I will try to help you as good as possible. I don't think that there has even been a child of dwarvish and hobbitish parentage. So of course your child, Dwalin likes to call it a 'Dwobbit', is an experiment. But I don't see any reason why it shouldn't work. I'm sure the Valar would have never let your wife conceive if it were too dangerous or impossible to birth the child. Dwalin and I sat together last night and wondered what a Dwobbit might be like. We don't know but we're sure that your child will combine the best traits of a dwarf and a hobbit.
Well, the morning sickness is normal for a dwarrowdam but it shouldn't last for longer than a few weeks. As long as she doesn't lose much weight, you don't have to worry.
The major part of the pregnancy shouldn't cause problems. After about 6 months you should be able to feel the baby's movements in her belly. This was a very special moment for your father. He loved to put his head on my belly and talk to you.
Of course, the last one or two months would be more difficult again. The baby is heavy and hinders her movemnents. Swollen feet are normal, too. You don't have to worry about that or tiredness.
I don't want to scare you but I also won't sugarcoat anything: giving birth is the most difficult and dangerous part of the pregnancy for a dwarrowdam!
Dwarflings are big and sturdy. Often they are also born facing the wrong direction. Then the baby might suffocate during the birth if the mother doesn't have enough strength to push him or her out.
The loss of strength combined with too much blood loss is the mayor danger for the mother.
The size of your baby is the thing I worry about the most since hobbits are much smaller and more fragile than dwarves. But I'm sure that the Valar will give you a child fitting a hobbit mother.
Please don't worry too much and enjoy every moment. I'm sure everything will be fine in the end.
I hope to hear from you soon!
Take good care of Poppy!
With love,
Your Amad
When Fili finished reading he looked at his wife. Poppy was pale and looked confused and scared. He hugged her tight and caressed her cheek. "Please don't be scared. I'm sure mother is right and everything will be fine in the end."
Poppy frowned. "I hope so! Fili, your mother didn't write about it but do you know how long a dwarrowdam is with child?"
"One year. Why?" Fili replied and kissed her nose.
Poppy gasped. "That's twice the time a hobbit carries her baby." Poppy placed a hand on her belly. "But know it makes sense. We should tell Pimpernel tomorrow."
This time Fili frowned. "Poppy, what makes sense? I don't understand."
"Pimpernel worried because I feel the baby but he or she didn't kick my yet. I guess I will be with child for more than six months and that's why everything happens later." Poppy said with a smile.
Fili placed a hand on her belly. "Yes, that makes sense. Let's talk to Pimpernel tomorrow." He leaned down to kiss Poppy's bump. Then he kissed her again and intertwined his fingers with hers on top of where there child grew.