Filius' POV

I was helping mum carry the food to a courtyard. We set it out. Soon Gloin and Gimli appear. Mum gives Gloin a hug as Gimli looks at me in awe. "Welcome gentlemen, food is ready" I tell them. We all sit down.

"So Bilbo, Gandalf and I left after the funerals. We headed for Rivendell, it took us three weeks to get there. Along the way I started to get sick" Mum starts to explain. "So when we arrived, I had Lord Elrond give me a health check. Discovered I was pregnant with Filius" she states.

"Then what happened?" Gloin asks.

"Bilbo and I stayed a few days. Then continued on our journey home. When we arrived we saw all our stuff being auctioned off. As everyone thought we were dead" mum says with a small laugh. "We got everything back, I tried to write to you all many times. To tell you, but after everything that happened I just wanted my child to have a peaceful life. To not feel pressured to take the throne of Erebor" she explains.

"It's been sixty years Astrid" Gloin tells her.

"Better late then never" she says sheepishly.

"She didn't mean to keep me a secret, she planned on going to Erebor with Bilbo to tell you" I tell them.

"I did, but then Bilbo didn't feel up to the rest of the journey. So we stayed here in Rivendell, finished our book" mum states. "I was going to write a letter, ask you to come here. But Lord Elrond told me about the council. So I decided to wait until whoever arrived and tell them in person" she explains.

"If you left Filius to guard the Shire, why is he here?" Gimli asks.

"You'll find out why tomorrow at the council meeting" I tell him. "Lets just say my cousin decided to go on a life threatening adventure like Uncle Bilbo did sixty years ago. And like my mother before me, I followed my cousin to protect him" I state.

"I say a lot of your mother in you and your father" Gloin tells me.

"I wish I had known him. Along with uncles Thorin and Kili" I tell him. "I'd love to learn more about them and dwarf law. Their history, language, traditions and everything" I state.

"Will you be coming back with us? Become the king you were meant to be?" Gimli asks me.

"I don't know" I admit. "I mean, I've been training three others to protect the Shire in my place. But I don't know if I'm worthy to be your king. I know so little about dwarves" I state.

"We'll teach you what we can while you're here" Gloin tells him.

"Then if you come with us, we can teach you more" Gimli adds.

"What do you think Mum?" I ask her.

"You're an adult now Filius, it's up to you what you do from now" she tells me.

"You're welcome to come with us" Gloin tells her. "The others would love to see you" he states.

"I'd love to see them" she tells him. "I'll think about it and decide by the time you leave" she states. "For now, tell me how everyone is doing" she says. They begin to catch up on the last sixty years.

"I've heard about you, mum told me your dad carried a locket with your and your mother's photo in it. Through out their whole journey" I state looking at Gimli.

"Aye, I remember sitting for that photo. It was very boring" Gimli states. "Would of much rather been with him facing that dragon" he tells me.

"So would I, if I had been around" I tell him. "Though I guess technically I was there for the battle of the five armies. I just wasn't born yet" I state.

"Aye, that's true" he says with a smile. "Do you smoke a pipe?" he asks me.

"Of course, Uncle Bilbo gave me one of his" I state. "So what's your weapon of choice?" I ask him.

"An axe, yourself?" he asks.

"Axe also" I tell him with a smile. "Maybe we can spare sometime" I state.

"Aye and I can show you some dwarf fighting techniques" he tells me.

"I'd like that" I tell him.

"You two ate you food before it gets cold" mum tells us.

"Yes mum" I say. Gimli and I ate our food. After dinner I helped mum clean up. Then went to check on my pony and find it with Billy. A pony Sam had found and befriended. I fed them both.

Then go visit Frodo, who is awake. "Shouldn't you be sleeping?" I ask him as I sit down in a chair.

"Been sleeping for days" he reminds me. "How was your dinner?" he asks me.

"Educational" I state.

"Think you'll leave with them?" he asks.

"I have to ensure you and the others get back to the Shire safely first. But we'll worry about that later" I tell him. "Try to get some sleep, we have an important meeting tomorrow" I remind him. He nods his head. I left and went to my room. Calling it a night.