and oh where the road then takes me, i cannot tell. we came all this way, but now comes the day to bid you farewell
-The Last Goodbye, Billy Boyd
You didn't realize how much you missed Rivendell until it appears in your sight once more. It's sunnier and greener than you remember, even in the quickly fading light—though you mostly remember the nights in the valley.
Juniper wiggles in front of you. "We gonna see elves?" she asks, her eyes sparkling. Your hand darts forward to steady her in the saddle.
"Mostly we're here to meet your Uncle Bilbo," Fíli corrects. He pulls back on his pony's reins, who's trying to move forward and nip at the tail of Kíli's pony. "I don't care for elves."
"Elves are bad?" Juniper furrows her brow. "But Tauri…" The young girl can't quite form the name of Erebor's newly-declared elvish ambassador yet.
"Fíli, we are not setting her against the elves. Don't confuse her," you scold. "We do like elves, Junie. Your adad just disagrees with them sometimes."
Fíli snorts. Ahead, Kíli gives his brother a hard look over his shoulder from beside Tauriel. If the elf heard the exchange, which you know she did, she says nothing. However, when she moves aside a branch along the path, she lets it whip back into Fíli's face. He nearly falls from his pony as he ducks to avoid it. You snicker.
"Hail!"
Your ears perk up at a call from up the path. You tap your horse's sides to speed her up, nudging past Kíli.
A tall, dark-haired elf stand at the gates leading into the valley. Elrond nods at you, but his eyebrows crease when he spots Juniper. The little dwarfling doesn't seem fazed, staring wide-eyed at the elf.
"Well met, Princes Fíli and Kíli of Erebor. Lady Y/N, good to see you again. And it is not often we see our Mirkwood kin this side of the mountains. Welcome to Rivendell," Elrond sweeps his arm out, beckoning you forward.
Your party dismounts. You carefully place Juniper on the ground and take her hand.
Her eyes haven't left Elrond. "He's tall," she whispers.
Fíli inclines his head coolly. "Hello, Lord Elrond. And it's Princess Y/N now, actually," Fíli corrects as you stroll deeper into the valley. He ruffles Juniper's hair proudly. "This is our daughter, Juniper."
That renders Elrond speechless. He looks from you, to Fíli, to Juniper toddling beside you. Kíli smirks at the elf's dumbfounded expression.
"I'm so sorry," you mutter. "We wanted to surprise Bilbo—it didn't occur to me that we shouldn't surprise you as well."
"And speaking of Bilbo…" Kíli points up at a low-hanging balcony, where a little figure paces.
You let go of Juniper's hand and run up the stairs. "Bilbo!" you shout, seizing the hobbit in a tight hug.
He sputters out a muffled protest. With a grin, you bring him back down the steps and set him on the ground. He straightens his waistcoat, patting a tiny pocket. The gesture doesn't escape you—he's carrying the Ring.
"It's good to see you too, Y/N," he puffs out.
Kíli wraps him in a bear hug, lifting him off his feet. "Mister Boggins!" He puts him back down and gives an exaggerated bow. "Prince Kíli, at your service."
Bilbo smiles. "And plain old Bilbo Baggins at yours. I'm terribly sorry I couldn't make it for the coronation. Is Thorin…?" He looks past Kíli hopefully.
Fíli shakes his head. "He'll be along in a few weeks," he explains. "But we come with news." He steps aside, revealing Juniper. The three-year-old is sucking her thumb.
You return to Fíli's side and nudge her forward. "Bilbo, this is Juniper. Junie, this is your Uncle Bilbo, the one we told you stories about!"
"Uncle?" Bilbo questions. "I don't know about uncle—" He stops as Juniper looks at him closely, then wraps her arms around his leg.
"Uncle Bi'bo!" she cries, fumbling over the l in his name.
"I suppose uncle is alright," he finishes lamely.
Fíli claps him on the shoulder. "Good to see you, Master Burglar. Juniper, you can let go now."
She plops down on her bottom instead.
"The stubbornness of dwarves," you remark with a smile.
"I am sure you are weary after your travels. The table is already set if you would like to join us," Elrond offers, observing the reunion.
That gets Juniper's attention. She clambers to her feet and tugs on your riding pants. "Mama," she whispers, as if telling you an important secret. "I'm hungry."
You've been looking forward to this dinner for months. You sit with Fíli at the long banquet table, sipping on sweet wine and admiring the stars. Juniper is on Fíli's lap, sneaking bites from his plate when he's not looking. Tauriel and Kíli chat casually with a few elves you don't recognize.
"She looks like Fíli," Bilbo comments. The hobbit sits across from you, already on his third plate.
"Yeah, but Kíli's been a bad influence on her. I couldn't find her the other day, and you know where she was?" You pause for dramatic effect, folding your arms. "In the armory, with Kíli, 'trying on' armor and seeing if she could lift a sword. I swear, there's two children running around the mountain with him around."
Kíli flashes a mischievous smile at you from his seat next to Tauriel.
You roll your eyes. "So, what've you been getting up to? Any adventures?"
"Well…" Bilbo says slowly. "I wouldn't call them adventures, but I've been going on a great deal more trips outside the borders of the Shire. Just to Bree and such places. You see, I don't believe any adventure will ever compare to my first."
"Don't be so sure," you remark, swirling your wine around.
"And Thorin, how is he?"
"Oh, he grumbles, but he's mostly savoring being back home—"
"And giving me all the work!" Fíli butts in with a wink.
You swat at his arm. "I think he still can't believe it, you know? He spent so long away from home that it doesn't seem real."
"And… and you?" Bilbo asks quietly. "You've, ah, you've been away from home quite a long while now." His gaze is kind, if concerned.
Under the table, Fíli's hand finds yours and gives it a squeeze. You haven't had to answer that question in such a long time, you're not sure what the answer even is.
You give it some thought. "I'll put it this way," you sigh. "In my world—my old world—everyone has to leave the nest at some point. Everyone has to find their way in life, find a new home. And… everyone has to deal with losing family, sometimes friends."
Another squeeze.
"I guess I just did it earlier than most, and more permanently than most." You pause, eyes sweeping the table, from Kíli, to Tauriel, to Juniper, to Fíli. "And I've found my own new, weird family here."
"Mama," Juniper leans over and pulls on your hair, interrupting your musings. "Mama!"
You give Bilbo an apologetic smile. "Yes, little sprout?"
She just yawns in response.
You reach over and lift her from her father's arms. "Looks like someone's ready to turn in for the evening," you comment. "Good night, Bilbo." Shifting Juniper onto your hip, you put a hand on Fíli's shoulder. "Join me later, my love?"
He smiles and pecks you on the lips. "Wouldn't miss it for the world."
You're awoken by a gentle hand. You squint against the moonlight with a groan. Fíli stands over you.
"What is it?" you mumble, propping yourself up on your elbow.
"It's one a.m." Fíli is smiling mischievously. "I was wondering if you would join me for a walk?"
"What?"
He waves a hand towards the window. "It's a beautiful night in Rivendell, and no one's around…" he wiggles his eyebrows at you and extends his hand.
You stare at him as your mind slowly processes his request.
Oh. Oh.
With your own sly smile you take his hand. He pulls you from bed and you take the same path to the river you'd taken four years ago. You breathe in deeply, savoring the warm summer air. Everything seems a little more vibrant in Rivendell, a little crisper. The placid river stretches before you, starlight glimmering on the surface. But this time, instead of sitting down on the rocks, Fíli immediately pushes you into the water. You come back up with a sputter and shake out your hair.
"Revenge is sweet," he declares.
You cross your arms and pout. "Get in here, you asshole."
He pulls his nightshirt off with a grin and kicks off his pants, leaving him in just his braies. You duck when he jumps in, nearly sending you back under with a wall of water.
"Ssh!" you hiss. "They'll hear us!"
Fíli doesn't heed your warning, splashing water at your face.
"I swear, you're no better than a twelve-year-old," you laugh, splashing him back, and putting up a hand as a shield when he keeps up the fight.
He grabs your wrist, then the other when you raise it as well. With both your hands trapped, all you can do is squirm helplessly. Fíli smirks, using the opening to lean in and brush his lips against yours. "Bringing back memories?" he breathes.
"Not quite," you reply softly. "I kissed you first."
"Blast. Thought I remembered it perfectly." He gently pushes you toward the shore, and you let him. "But I do remember you had a naughty idea…" Fíli hoists you onto the bank and pulls himself out. Before you can say anything, you're scooped up in his arms and carried back to your chambers. He doesn't even stop to grab his discarded clothing, which you're sure will be an awkward discussion in the morning. Fíli gets straight to work, slowly peeling off your soaked nightclothes. You shiver as the air kisses your wet skin. Fíli grabs the blanket and wraps you in it, pushing you onto the bed.
"What are you doing?" You inhale sharply as he eagerly pulls your hips towards him.
"I want another one," he growls, nipping at your neck.
"Just one more. Maybe two," you concede with a giggle. "I'll have to invent Middle Earth birth control if we keep coming here. Rivendell's practically an aphrodisiac."
But you give in, pausing only to roll on top of Fíli and envelop him in the blanket as well. His skin is warm under your lips, and ever so slightly rough. You let his hands wander up and down your legs, your back, gently caressing your curves. Your nails dig into his shoulders with pleasure when he nibbles on your ear.
"You're even more beautiful than when I first saw you," Fíli murmurs.
"Shut up and get to it," you whisper.
And the only sound in the valley is soft panting as you relive that night from a lifetime ago.
In years to come, they'll sing songs about you. The queen of the dwarves, who came from a strange land and brought with her a book of prophecy. A daughter of Man who lived the long life of a dwarf, mother of the revived line of Durin. Who advised King Thorin in the War of the Ring, urging him to send a delegation to Rivendell, and join the forces of Gondor before the Black Gate. And who died a peaceful death shortly after her king, passing the throne to her eldest daughter.
And oh, how wonderful the songs will be.