Lili's, Vili's and Tulip's screams as well as Bilbo's and Daisy's yells alarmed the elves. They rushed to Fili's and Poppy's side as fast as they could and carried them away. All the remaining hobbits were seated into several carts and brought to the boarders of the Shire.

The elven warriors stayed behind to kill the orcs while Gandalf, Lord Elrond and several elven healers took care of the hobbits. Daisy and Bilbo sat together with Lili, Vili and Tulip. They were shocked themselves but tried to soothe the little ones. But it was in vain and so the elves gave them a light sleeping potion. They had seen and heard what had happened to their parents and were that distressed that they had trouble to breathe, so sleep was the best for them for now.

Some of Rivendell's best healers examined Fili while Lord Elrond and Gandalf examined Poppy who was their top priority. Luckily they could pull out the knife easily. The wound looked worse that it actually was. Poppy had lost a lot of blood and was still unconscious but the knife wasn't poisoned and the orcs hadn't injured any internal organs or the baby. Lord Elrond was sure that Poppy would be fine again soon.

Fili was a different matter though, eight arrows had pierced the young dwarf's back, legs and arms. Lord Elond was quite sure that they were no Morgul shafts but some looked poisoned and twisted. So he couldn't pull them out that easily. He gave him some potions and ointments but for a proper treatment he had to be brought to Rivendell as quickly as possible. Otherwise he'd die.

Soon the elven warriors arrived at the makeshift camp and informed their Lord that most of the orcs were dead but some had fled. Most parts of the villages and hobbit holes were destroyed though and there was no way that the hobbits could live there again anytime soon. Lord Elrond and Gandalf had already feared as much and decided that the remaining hobbits would be brought to Rivendell for the beginning. They couldn't stay outdoors in the wild since winter was approaching and they couldn't defend themselves.
The hobbits insisted that their dead friends and family members were buried at the boarders of the Shire for they believed that they could only find their right place in the Halls of Mandos if they were buried in the soil of their homeland. The elves agreed and started digging the graves.

Meanwhile Lord Elrond decided that he and Gandalf would ride to Rivendell with Fili. Their horses were the fastest and they couldn't loose more time. The Grey Wizard wanted to take Poppy, too but the elf declined. Poppy was in no real danger, the elven healers would look after her and it was better if she stayed with her children. In the end Gandalf agreed and they left for Rivendell with Fili after informing Bilbo and Daisy about their plans.

The elves stayed at the borders of the Shire for the next day to give the hobbits at least a few hours to mourn their dead and to let the healers examine every injured hobbit.

Bilbo sat down on a blanket with Vili, Lili and Tulip who were still asleep thanks to the sleeping potion. He stroked their heads and made sure that they were uninjured.
Daisy's family was well and so she stayed with her best friend. She put Poppy's head in her lap and covered her with a cloak from the backpack. She put a hand on her friend's small bump and checked her pulse like to elves had showed her.

A few hours later Poppy stirred and finally opened her eyes.

Daisy smiled at her in relief. "Poppy, you're finally awake."

Poppy looked around and frowned. "What happened?" She asked weakly.

"The orcs have destroyed our home." Daisy answered with tears in her eyes.

Now Poppy remembered everything that had happened and sobbed. She put her hand on her belly. "My child?"

Daisy smiled. "The elves examined you. You're little one is fine."

Poppy was relieved. "And Vili, Lili and Tulip?"

"Just a few scratches. They sleep over there. Bilbo looks after them." Daisy said and pointed at them.

Now Poppy panicked. "With Bilbo? Where's Fili? Where is my husband? What happened to Fili?"

Daisy took her friend's hand. "Fili, he... He was injured badly. The elves had to-"

Poppy started to scream. "Is he dead? Tell me that he's still alive. I can't live without him. I can't raise four children without him. Please Daisy, tell me he is still alive. He can't leave me, not now when we're going to have another child." She said in between sobs.

"Poppy, you have to calm down! Relax or you might loose your child! Please, Fili would not want that."

Poppy took a few deep breaths and tried to calm down. Then she looked at her friend with tears in her eyes. "Is he dead?"

Daisy shook her head. "The elves brought him to Rivendell to save his life. Remember the stories about them, Poppy. They are great healers and I'm sure they will save him."

Poppy nodded. "He's in Rivendell?"

"Yes, they will help him there. Tomorrow we will start to travel there, too. I'm sure he will be fine when we arrive and welcome you there." Daisy wasn't entirely sure if this would happen since Fili had looked more dead than alive. But she wanted to cheer her best friend up.

Soon an elvish healer redressed Poppy's wound and told her that he was glad that the bleeding had stopped and that it should heal nicely. The hobbit thanked him and then Bilbo came to her with the children. They ran towards their mother and she pulled them close against her chest and kissed heir faces and hair. Bilbo told Poppy that the girls had seen everything that had happened and that Vili had heard her screams. She told her children that she was fine and that their father would be fine again and that they'd meet him soon. They still cried and cuddled for a long time until they fell asleep completely exhausted.

The next morning the elves and hobbits started their journey to Rivendell. Most of them could sit in the carts but some of the uninjured males, like Bilbo, had to walk.
Bilbo remembered the last time he had walked to Rivendell. Most of the company still hated him back then. But this time it was much worse. He would exchange being hated against the lives of friends happily.
The hobbit stayed with Poppy and her family and made sure that they were as well as they could be. He tried to cheer them up but this was impossible. When they passed the famous trolls from his stories, they didn't even look at them properly.

One evening Poppy sat down next to Bilbo. "Would you adopt the children and raise them if something happened to me as well?"

The hobbit looked at his friend with wide eyes. "Poppy, I will help you like I did before but I don't understand why I should adopt them. Your injury healed nicely. You will live."

Poppy started crying and buried her face in her hands. "I can't do this without him, Bilbo." Poppy put a hand on her belly. "I can't live without Fili." Her voice broke when she said his name and she sobbed uncontrollably.

Bilbo wrapped his arms around his friends and let her cry. "Fili will survive, I'm sure. You will be happy with many children and you will raise them together."

He prayed that Fili really survived. He knew that Poppy was strong but at one point even the strongest would crumble.

A few days later the group finally arrived in Rivendell. They were welcomed by Lord Elrond, his sons and Gandalf. They told them that rooms and food had been prepared for them and that they'd stay in Rivendell until a new home was found. At the mention of food most of the hobbits smiled for the first time in weeks.

But Poppy didn't even seem to notice. She looked around the elvish settlement but couldn't find her husband anywhere. She sank to her knees and hugged her belly while tears rolled down her cheeks.

Lord Elrond saw her and frowned. He kneeled down in front of her and petted her arm. "Mistress Hobbit. I hope you feel better. We have to talk."

Poppy looked at the elf with teary eyes and took a deep breath. "Thank you for your help, my Lord. But where is my husband? Is he dead?"

The tall elf smiled down at the hobbit and helped her to stand up. "Come with me, I'll show you." Then he turned to Bilbo. "Mister Baggins, would you go to have lunch with Lili, Vili and Tulip, please? Lindir will fetch you later."

Poppy looked at her children, kissed them and told them to stay with Bilbo. Then she slowly followed the elf lord. He hadn't answered her question and now she wondered if she would meet her husband now or if Elrond would lead her to his grave.

After a few minutes they arrived in the infirmary. Fili lay in a bed and still looked rather sick but at least he was alive.

Thank you again for the follows, favourites and especially all those reviews! Of course I wouldn't kill off Fili and Poppy. I promised you a reunion with Kili and Thorin, didn't I? ;)