When Fili was dragged away from Poppy, she trembled in fear and was barely able to stand. Luckily Bilbo was right behind her and steadied her. After he made sure that Ruby was still safe in the sling, he helped her kneeling down on the ground because he couldn't hold her any longer.

Dis rushed towards her daughter-in-law and kneeled down in front of her her. She wrapped her arms around her and held her close. Dwalin followed with Dwalis and Lili and held Vili and Tulip who still cried and screamed.

After a few minutes Dis suggested to bring them to their rooms. Dwalin and Bilbo agreed and so they slowly went to Dis and Dwalin's quarters. The dwarrowdam helped Poppy sit down on a sofa and took Ruby to put her down on a fur close to the fireplace. Lili, Vili and Tulip ran towards their mother and hugged her.

The little ones, especially Vili, were still extremely scared and cried. They didn't understand why their father had been taken away from them and clung to their mother. Poppy held them close and and stroked their backs and heads. She tried to stay calm for them although she wanted to cry herself. "Shh, shh, everything will be fine. We are safe here." She whispered to them and looked at Dis and Dwalin with pleading eyes.

Dwalin left the room and Dis came closer to her son's family while Dwalis watched the sleeping Ruby. Bilbo stood behind Poppy with tears in his eyes but didn't say anything. He was still too shocked about what had become of Thorin.

The dwarrowdam sat down next to Poppy and wrapped her arm around her shoulder. She tried to smile at her grandchildren and told them that everything would be fine. She and Dwalin would do everything they could to help them.

Soon Ruby started crying again. Dis pulled Lili, Vili and Tulip closer to herself to allow Poppy to comfort and feed her youngest daughter. She enjoyed a few moments of peace but suddenly Vili started shaking and screaming for his parents in Dis arms. The hobbit handed Ruby to Bilbo and ran towards her son. She kneeled down in front of him and held him in a tight embrace. "Shh, shh, Vili. It's ok, Mama is here." She whispered into his hear.

Vili clutched his mother's marriage braid but wouldn't stop crying. "I want Papa! Where is Papa? Please, I want my Papa and I want to go home!"

Poppy kissed his forehead and started crying herself. She wasn't sure if they saw Fili ever again and she couldn't lie to her children any longer. "Vili, please calm down. We can't go home because we don't have a home anymore." She said in between sobs. Vili started screaming once again and nothing Poppy, Dis and Bilbo tried would calm him down.

Soon Dwalin returned with Oin and some food. The guards had told him that Fili was still in the interrogation room with Thorin and that the King had yelled at his nephew for a long time. The healer checked on Vili and said that they little boy had an anxiety attack after everything that had happened today and his bad memories of his last stay in Erebor. He would need both of his parents to calm down and relax. Poppy had already thought that something like that might have happened and sobbed.

Dis pulled the hobbit against her chest and rubbed circles on her back. "You have to calm down. Your children need you more than ever. We will help you but they need you the most, especially Tulip and Ruby who don't know at all."

Poppy looked at the dwarrowdam and wiped her tears away. "Thank you! I won't give up. Fili wouldn't want that." She turned around and smiled at her children. She sat down on the couch again with Vili in her lap. Lili, Dwalis ans Tulip sat next to them. Dis talked to her daughter and grandchildren and tried to make them eat some of the sandwiches Dwalin had brought. Oin watched the family sadly and prepared a tea that would help Poppy and her children to sleep.

Later that evening Dis helped her daughter-in-law to make to little ones ready for bed. Suddenly the door opened and Fili stood in the room.

Dwalin and Dis looked at the younger dwarf in shock and the latter pressed her hands in front her of mouth to stifle a scream.

"Fili, you're back!" Poppy whispered and smiled at him. Then she let go of Vili's hand.

The little dwobbit ran towards his father shrieking in joy. "Papa, Papa! You're back! Don't go away again. Never!"

Fili embraced Vili and kissed him. Seconds later Lili and Tulip stood in front of him as well. He kneeled down to be able to embrace his three children and hold them close. He buried his face in their hair and sighed in relief. "Papa is here. Everything will be alright. We will have to stay here but nothing will happen to us." He kissed his children and looked at his wife.

"Really?" Poppy asked with a frown.

Fili nodded. "Aye, we will have to stay here. I will have to work as a miner and we will be forced to live in one of the miners' communities down in the mountain. We also won't be allowed to leave it except for special occasions."

Poppy bit her lip. They wouldn't be allowed to go outdoors anymore. She had no idea how to live without seeing the sun. But nothing would happen to her family and that was all that mattered. She smiled and then looked closer at Fili's face and gasped. "What happened to your beard and hair?"

Fili sighed. "I'm no Son of Durin any longer. I'm just a simple miner who isn't allowed to wear such braids. So he cut them off and shaved off my beard. Like that every dwarf will know that I have been cast out by my family." He explained with tears in his eyes. Then he added with a smile. "But I was allowed to keep our marriage brais." Fili knew that he would have to live in disgrace form now on but Poppy didn't have to know that now. The day had been difficult enough for her.

The hobbit walked towards her husband and kissed his cheeks. "This is all my fault. Dis once told me how important the beard is for a dwarf. You will have to live in shame because of me. I'm sorry!"

Fili got up and wrapped his arms around Poppy's neck. "Yes, it's a sign of shame. But I don't care as long as we can stay together and nothing will happen to any of us. My beard will grow again and I won't have to shave it off again. And please don't blame yourself. None of this is your fault!"

"I love you, Fili!" Poppy said and placed her head against Fili's chest. "I guess our life won't be easy now but we'll manage."

"Aye, we have each other and that's everything that matters." The young dwarf said and kissed the top of his wife's head.

Dis and Dwalin looked at each other. They were still shocked about what Thorin had done. Fili was still alive but he would have to live in shame and disgrace as a miner in one of the worst parts of Erebor. They hoped that some of the dwarves still remembered that Fili was a good dwarf and wouldn't make his life to painful and difficult. "We will help you as good as we can." Dis said finally but Fili shook his head.

"No, you can't help us. The King said that everyone who will support is with food or gold will be severely punished." Fili explained.

Dis shook her head. "We will find a way to help you."

Fili smiled at her and then looked at Bilbo. "Bilbo, thank you for coming with us and supporting Poppy. The King says you may return to Mirkwood or stay here. You will be given a nice guest room in the royal wing."

The hobbit smiled at his friends. "I will stay here and help you as good as I can."

Fili thanked Bilbo and looked at his children who yawned. "Let's go to bed. It has been a long day."

Everyone nodded and Fili and his family retired to Dis' guest room. They were allowed to stay there for a few more nights until Fili would start working as a miner. Fili laid down on the bed with Vili, Lili and Tulip cuddled up to the right side of his body. Vili laid between his sisters and clutched his father's tunic.

Poppy laid down on Fili's left side and put Ruby between their bodies. She placed her head against Fili's cheek and they talked about everything that had happened that day in a low voice because they didn't want to wake up their children. Then she trailed her fingers over her husband's face and kissed him.

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