At the gates the small group was joined by several guards and soon they finally arrived at the meadow near the River Runnning. They ate their lunch and afterwards the children started playing while the adults talked and adored baby Thorin.

King Thorin still felt a bit uncomfortable among the others and stayed silent most of the time. He sat a bit further away and watched the others. He was relieved that Fili's family were happy and had found such great friends despite everything he had done.

Ruby played with her siblings, Anor and Dwalis but often looked towards Thorin. She wanted him to play with them and didn't understand why the other children hated him. They had told her that he had been really mean before baby Thorin was born but the little girl couldn't believe that. She thought that the older dwarf looked quite sad and ran towards him to play with him.

Thorin placed her in his lap and played with her golden curls while she talked about her favourite games. She wanted to show her favourite toy to him and ran towards her mother to fetch it.

Meanwhile the older children played near the river. Fili and Dis had told them to be careful and everyone kept a close eye on them from the distance. They ran around happily and enjoyed the nice early summer day. They didn't pay much attention and suddenly were on the rocks at the banks of the river. Runor yelled at Vili to be careful since the stones were slippery but it was too late and the young dwobbit fell into the water. His, Runor's and his siblings screams alarmed the adults. Fili was currently holding his baby son in his arms and had to hand him over to Daisy before he could run to his older son.

Dwalin started running towards the river as well but Thorin was the first who arrived there since he sat closer to it. He jumped into the water and pulled the screaming boy close against his chest. "It's ok, Vili. You don't have to be scared. I've got you. Nothing will happen to you."

Vili was surprised to hear Thorin's voice. He was sure that it was his because he still heard it in his nightmares. He clung to his shirt and wondered if the dwarf who had taken him away from his family four years ago had really changed.

Lili, Tulip, Dwalis and Runor watched Vili's rescue out of the river. They were also surprised that Thorin had saved Vili. When Dwalin and Fili pulled both out of the water they ran towards them immediately and hugged Thorin. They thanked him and told him that they had finally realised that he was a good dwarf after all. Thorin was happy that all of Fili's children had finally accepted him but was sad at the same time because it had taken such a terrible event to achieve that.

Poppy wrapped Vili in a blanket and pulled him close to her. The little boy was coughing and shivering but didn't seem to be severely injured.

Fili was about to walk towards them when he suddenly noticed Runor standing there with tears in his eyes. He went towards the dwarfling and kneeled down in front of him and stoked his hair. "Runor, what's wrong?"

Runor looked down at his boots and sobbed. "Vili might have died if King Thorin hadn't saved him and it's my fault. I promised to always look after him but I didn't. I'm sure you'll hate me now."

Fili frowned and pulled Runor into a tight embrace. "Nobody hates you, Runor. I'm sure you did everything you could. And you are still a dwarfling. If there is anyone to blame it's me. I'm his father. I should have kept a closer eye on him. Come on, let's check if he's fine." Fili suggested and took his hand.

Runa, who was standing next to Poppy looked at her son sadly but than smiled and nodded at Fili to thank him. "Come here, Runor. Vili is fine. You don't have to be scared."

Runor looked at his mother and then wiped his tears away. He ran towards Vili and Poppy and threw his arms around them. He apologised again and again with fresh tears running down his cheeks.

Poppy embraced both boys and looked at the others with tears in her eyes. It made her sad that Runor blamed himself for something that wasn't his fault. Vili told him that he had warned him after all and that he simply hadn't been careful enough. After a long time and many cuddles Runor finally stopped crying.

"Where is Uncle Thorin? Vili asked after everyone had calmed down.

The dwarf king was surprised that the Vili had called him uncle and smiled a bit. "I'm here." He went towards him and kneeled down.

Vili threw his arms around Thorin's neck and put a kiss on his cheek. "Thank you for saving me, Uncle Thorin."

Thorin pulled him closed and stroked his hair. "Oh my boy, I'm so sorry for everything I have done to you. Will you forgive me?"

When Vili nodded everyone smiled brightly at the pair. All the children ran towards them and hugged them as well. Especially Ruby was happy that her siblings finally liked Thorin.

Dis looked at Dwalin and told her husband that it was probably finally time for them to forgive Thorin as well.

Daisy put a hand on her belly and dreamed of her own child. She hoped that he or she would be accepted and be a part of this wonderful family as well despite being a bastard. Bilbo and Runa seemed to sense her thoughts and told her that everything would be alright.

Fili smiled as well and put his arms around Poppy who was carrying Thorin. He put a kiss on her temple and his son's forehead. "I'm happy that they have forgiven him. Kili was here as well, we could finally be a normal happy family."

Poppy smiled. "I'm glad as well. And I hope this will finally help to keep Vili's nightmares at bay. He deserves a normal life. He's still young and maybe the scars on his soul can now heal completely."

Fili nodded in agreement and kissed his wife again.

After these events no one wanted to stay outdoors anymore and so they retired to Dis' and Dwalin's rooms since Fili's room was too small for all of them. Ruby was a bit sad that such a terrible thing had happened on her birthday. Her siblings finally accepting and liking Thorin was the best birthday gift ever though. They shared a huge birthday cake and later the children sat around Thorin who told them a story.

The next few days passed quietly. Despite being busy with his daily business and the renovations in the King's rooms, Thorin spent some time with his family and friends every day.

Soon Daisy moved to another room only a selected group of people including Dis, Fili, Thorin, Poppy, Runa and Oin knew about. She would stay there for as long as Kili and Tauriel were in Erebor. She didn't mind this too much since her friends could still visit her and keeping her baby safe was her top priority.

A few days later Kili and Tauriel arrived as the last of all guests. They were welcomed with all the respects they deserved since Kili was still a prince of Erebor but they weren't treated with much kindness.

Since Fili wasn't considered a member of the Royal family anymore after Thorin had cut of his braids, he didn't take part of the welcoming ceremony. But he and Poppy watched from the distance. He wanted to run towards his brother and take him in his arms but they had decided that this wasn't a good idea with Tauriel being around.

Tauriel saw them standing in the shadows and grinned at them arrogantly but Kili didn't even look at his brother.

The next evening after dinner all inhabitants of Erebor and their guests assembled in the throne room for Thorin's announcement. Everyone was excited since Thorin had told no one why they were there. Fili didn't understand why he and his family were supposed to stand quite towards the front of the crowd near Dis and Dwalin. He would have preferred to stay with Runa and Runor somewhere in the shadows without people starring at him.

Thorin stood in front of the throne wearing his royal garments and crown. Balin as his most trusted advisor stood next to him with a small box in his hands and smiled kindly. A few trumpets sounded to calm everyone down and then Thorin started to speak. "I want to thank everyone for coming to Erebor at such a short notice. I have been troubled by a terrible sickness for years but now I have finally broken free. I promise that quite a few things will change now."

At that the crowd cheered but Thorin quickly silenced them. " I have thought about the future of Erebor a lot and I have made a decision." Thorin took a deep breath. "I have asked you to come here because I want to announce the new Crown Prince of Erebor."

There were quite a few gasped and Dis looked at her brother with a frown. Tauriel smiled triumphantly since she was sure that Kili would finally get the tittle he deserved. There was no way that Fili or his useless half blood children would be king of Erebor one day after all.