The next morning Fili woke up with Poppy's arms around him and his children cuddled up behind him. It was a weird feeling for him because normally Poppy slept in his arms and not the other way around but then he remembered everything that had happened. He kissed his wife's neck and stoked her waist until she woke up.

"Good morning, my love." He whispered when she opened her eyes.

Poppy smiled at him and kissed him softly. "Good morning."

Fili wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close careful not to wake the children. "Did you bring them here?"

Poppy shook her head. "No, they came here in the middle of the night after I fed Ruby. They know that something is terribly wrong and wanted to be close to you." Poppy said with tears in her eyes. Poppy hated the tears; she wanted to be strong but she couldn't stop them from falling.

Fili wiped the tears away with his thumb and kissed his wife's forehead. "Don't cry, my love!" He whispered and looked at Lili, Vili and Tulip. "We will have to tell them but I have no idea how." He sighed "But I want us to spend a happy day together today. The next few days will be difficult and sad enough."

Poppy agreed and together they thought about what to do.

While Poppy dressed the children, Fili wanted to visit his brother to apologise. But Tauriel stopped him in front of Kili's sickroom. She told him that Kili was asleep and that she wouldn't allow Fili to visit him. The golden haired dwarf didn't want to talk to the elf who had destroyed everything and simply left with a sigh.

On his way back to their rooms Fili asked one of the guards if he and his family would still be allowed to go outdoors for a walk and maybe a picnic. The guard had to ask one of his superiors but in the end they were allowed to go outdoors together with two guards who would keep an eye on them from the distance.

Fili met Bilbo, who suggested to prepare some food while Fili went back to their room to tell Poppy and the children about his plan. Lili, Vili and Tulip jumped in excitement, they loved the safe part of the forest with its flowers, butterflies and beetles. Poppy smiled and told her husband that this was a great idea.

After along walk through the forest they say down on a blanket in the middle of a beautiful meadow. While Ruby was asleep, her sisters played in the grass and watched some butterflies. Vili sat next to them with a lady beetle on his hand.

Poppy watched her older children sadly and stroked Ruby's golden curls. She prayed to the Valar that King Thorin wouldn't hurt Fili and the little ones or at least spare her children but she didn't seriously believe he would after everything that had happened. She even hoped that he would kill her as well because she had no idea how she should live without her family. She was that deep in her thoughts that she hadn't even noticed that Fili had renewed her braids until he pulled her back against his chest and kissed the top of her head.

Fili had started to braid Poppy's curls in an attempt to distract himself from his dark thoughts. He wanted to spent these last few peaceful days as close to his wife as possible and braiding her hair was a very intimate thing to do for every dwarf. When he had finished his task, he wrapped his arms around her and trailed his fingers over his wife's belly. "I wish you were with child again, my love. You could hide somewhere with Bilbo, so that none of the dwarves ever found out about the little one. It's a selfish thought but it would make me happy to know that a part of me stayed with you." He whispered and kissed her ear.

Poppy turned around and stroked his beard. "I wish you could simply all stay with me. I can't live without you."

Fili sighed and pulled her closer. "Promise me that you won't do anything stupid. Our friends will help you."

Poppy sighed and closed her eyes. "I really don't know if I can live without you, Fili." She whispered and out her head against his chest to listen to his heartbeat.

Fili held her for a few moments until Vili stood in front of them. He had found another beetle and wanted to show it to his parents. Fili pulled him onto his lap and held him close. Seconds later Lili and Tulip wanted to cuddle as well. So they sat on their blanket and held each other close until Ruby demanded food. Poppy let go of her older children and started feeding the little girl.

In the meantime Vili, Lili and Tulip picked a bunch of flowers for their mother. She thanked them with a smile and put s kiss on each of their cheeks.

Fili suggested that they could dry some of them in a book to keep them as a souvenir of their lovely day together. They children agreed happily and chose the most beautiful ones.

After lunch Lili wanted to make a necklace of the remaining flowers and of course the others agreed. Fili helped them while Poppy held Ruby in her lap and showed her some of the flowers and a lady beetle. She babbled happily and for a few hours they sorrows where forgotten.

Fili and Poppy never wanted this day to end but an hour before dusk the guards told them that they had to return to the Place of Mirkwood. There they spent the evening together in their room telling stories and cudling in front of the fireplace until everyone fell asleep.

The next morning Poppy and the children visited Bilbo and later Daisy. The children still didn't know what their uncle had done and Poppy had no idea how to tell them.

Meanwhile Fili set down in their room and wrote a letter to Kili. He felt terrible for hurting his younger brother. He wasn't allowed to apologise in person but he wanted him to know how sorry he was. He had never been good at expressing his feelings but after what felt like hours and many tears he managed a short letter. He went to the infirmary to ask one of the healers to give the letter to Kili but since Tauriel wasn't there, he was allowed to see his brother.

Kili was asleep on the bed though. Fili looked at him and put his hand in front of his mouth to stifle a sob. Kili's face was swollen, bruised and battered and he had a black eye. Fili had never meant to injure him that much. He thought that he probably deserved a severe punishment for his actions. No dwarf was supposed to hurt his kin. He unbraided on of his braids and put the bead in his brother's palm. I will always love you, Kili. But I don't deserve to wear this any longer. Forgive me!" He whispered and stroked his brother's hand. Then he put the envelope with the letter on the bedside table and left.

Back in their room the family sat together and tried to explain to Lili, Vili and Tulip what had happened a few days ago and that they had to go to Erebor now. They didn't dare to say what would most likely happen there though. At the mention of Thorin and his kingdom Vili started screaming. His parents held him close but nothing they did calmed him down. Hours later he fell asleep from exhaustion in his father's arms with his braids in his hands. His sisters where terrible scared as well and stayed close to Vili and their father. Fili held them close and told them that everything would be fine.

Daisy helped Poppy pack the backpack for their departure and later brought them dinner and a tea that would help the little ones to sleep.

After a sleepless night for Poppy and Fili, the family had to say goodbye to Daisy. She shed many tears and held her best friend close until the guards literally ripped them apart. The others also hugged Daisy and then they left. The journey passed rather uneventfully. Poppy or Fili carried Ruby in a sling in front of their bodies and held Lili, Vili and Tulip at their hands. Bilbo tried to help as good as he could and occasionally pointed at some beautiful flowers or animals but nothing could cheer the little ones up.

After about one week they reached Dale where they were met by a couple of dwarvish guards. Poppy shuddered and the children screamed in fear when they spotted the heavily armed warriors in their armour. Fili put his arm around Poppy's shoulder and told his children that they didn't have to be scared. Dwarvish guards always looked like that and they where simply there to protect them and guide them to Erebor.

Soon they arrived at Erebor's front gate and were led to the throne room. There, King Thorin sat on his throne surrounded by several guards; Dwalin, Dis and Dwalis stood next to him.

When Lili spotted Dwalis she smiled and ran towards her. Thorin glared at her and the guards even pointed their swords at the little dwobbit. Poppy screamed and wanted to run towards her daughter but Fili grabbed her wrist to hold her back while Bilbo made sure that Vili and Tulip wouldn't run off.

Dwalin quickly shoved the little girl between himself and Dis to make sure that she was safe.

Thorin didn't say anything about that but turned his attention back to Fili and his wife. He rose from the throne and walked closer to them while his eyes turned to slits. "So Kili wrote the truth. You have returned to the East. And you even brought your family with you. Have you forgotten about my warning?" he said in a threatening tone.

Fili pulled his shivering wife a bit closer and looked at his uncle. "We didn't want to come here, my King. But-"

"My King?" Thorin spat. "You haven't acted as if I was your king during the past few years. You were supposed to be my heir and marry a Lady but instead you decided to leave to mate with this halfling whore! No Son of Durin would act like that. And apparenly yout didn't even mangage to sire a son who isn't crippled and could eventually be shaped into an useful heir." Then he turned towards the guards. "Bring him to the cell behind the throne room! I will deal with him there personally." He commanded.

Poppy winced and looked as if she would collapse any second. Fili held his wife in his arms and kissed her. He wanted to say goodbye to his children but the guards dragged him away. He turned around and saw his children crying and screaming and Poppy kneeling on the ground surrounded by Bilbo and Dis. Then the door closed and he was alone with his clearly mad uncle in a small roomed that contained many weapons and was normally used to interrogate prisoners.

Im sorry for the late update guys! The nice weather kept me away from writing because there was simply too much to do in my garden.

Once again thank you for your lovely reviews. I'm so happy and grateful for them :)

I will try to update soon and I promise that there will be more of Kili in the future.