A/N: And here it is. The final chapter. The wrap-up. I hope you all enjoyed reading it as much as I hope you did. I realize the word count on this is very long. It's double The Hobbit and then some. I hope I achieved what I set out to do. My original intent was to save the line of Durin. I think I may have done that. Sadly, there will be no sequel to this. I will not be continuing with them. I just don't have it in me to write any more of Holly's and Fili's adventures. I had thought when I was writing this that I would like to, but now that the movies have been over for so long, I just don't have the wherewithall to do anymore. It was a big struggle to pull the last three chapters out of me, as I had run out of wind. I hope these last chapters were up to snuff for all of you. I had intended a big battle scene with trebuchets and firebombs and all kinds of stuff coming from Holly's modern mind, but in the end simpler was better. She had a goal and that was her only thought, to save the line of Durin. And in the end, that was my only thought, too.

Epilogue

Holly sat on the stone steps that led up to the main gate of Erebor. She could feel the small life inside of her stir. She caressed the bump absentmindedly as she watched the lone figure walk alongside the river that flowed out of the waterfall that lie to the side of the main gate. Slowly the figure got closer, it gave Holly time to think about things.

There was trade set up now between Erebor and Dale. Things would only get better. The men of Dale now had room to grow their crops, both on this side of the river and the opposite. They had room to grow, a place to be. Home.

The two peoples lived in almost complete harmony. There were a few disputes about money and exchanges. But other than that...

Holly stood to greet the visitor. As recently crowned Princess of Erebor, it was her duty.

At the bottom of the steps, the visitor looked up. He had a familiar, yet unfamiliar face.

Holly frowned as she watched the stranger mount the stairs. When he turned to face her on the steps, she gasped and went down two.

The man smiled. "Holly?" he asked. "Is that you?"

"Papa?"

He nodded and smiled up at her. "Leithandrann," he said and bowed his head.

"No, papa," she said and held out her hand.

"No? You're not Leithandrann?" he asked and frowned. "I'd heard-"

"Yes, that is me, apparently," she said. "But don't bow... everyone bows now. I hate it."

Alatar frowned. "But you are Leithandrann, and a princess now too, I've heard," he said a smile hovered on his lips.

"You've heard?" she asked.

"Word travels fast to Gondor about the Heir taking a wife," he said and smiled.

"So you came to give congratulations?" she asked.

"I came because I knew it would be you," he said softly and smiled as he came up to her level on the stairs. He laced his arm with hers and they topped the stairs together.

He was the same, yet different. She marveled at him. He was so young! But she remembered an older man from her childhood.

They stepped into the long main hallway of Erebor.

"How?" she asked, interrupting her father's tales of how he had arrived there.

He chuckled. "I was reborn," he said and smiled. "Living in Gondor all these years. Waiting."

"Waiting for what?"

"You, of course," he said.

"You'll have to explain that," she said and looked down the hall to see Fili, her husband, rushing toward her. "But later. Over dinner?"

"I would be delighted," he said and nodded.

"I've someone I want you to meet," she said as they crossed the distance to a quickly moving Fili.

"Givashel," Fili greeted her.

"Amral," Holly returned.

"Hmm," Alatar said, appreciating what he was seeing.

"Who is this?" Fili asked as he eyed the stranger.

"This is Alatar, my father," Holly said.

"Truly?" Fili asked, eyes wide.

"Yes, truly," Holly answered and Alatar nodded with a smile.

"Mahal!" Fili said and bowed. "Welcome to Erebor, adad of my yasith."

As they greeted each other, and others came out from rooms all along the hallway, Thorin appeared.

"Thorin," Fili said. "irak'adad. Alatar, Holly's adad. Blue Wizard of..." He looked at Alatar then.

"Lately of Gondor, sire," Alatar answered and bowed to Thorin.

"Welcome to Erebor," Thorin said simply. "I trust you are well."

"Yes, very," Alatar said and nodded. "Now that I've found Holly again after these great many years."

"You must be weary from your journey," Thorin said. "Holly can see to your comfort, I trust?" He looked at Holly.

"Of course," she said and nodded.

"We'll have another for dinner," Thorin said as he watched the three walk away. He shrugged and turned, Dwalin followed on his heels.

It was late that evening when Holly, Fili, and Alatar sat in his newly assigned rooms. A hot cup of tea for each of them as they sat around the rough hewn table.

"I've missed that stone," Alatar said with a sigh. He'd just been told of it shattering.

"But we saved the pieces," Holly said.

Alatar shook his head. "It can't be mended," he said.

"But what will I do?" Holly asked, surprised it wasn't a whine that escaped her lips.

"A new one will come to you," he said. "You just have to be open." He paused. "Just like you were open to Fili coming in to your life."

Holly bit her lip. "I guess so," she said and shrugged.

"You've done well Leithandrann," the bell-laced voice said in the darkness.

"Thanks," Holly said. She didn't really know what else to say. What could she say? None of this really had been her choice. Not when she thought about it. Sure, she had decided to help, but she hadn't volunteered in the beginning.

She'd had two choices. Either help and change her life forever and possibly die in the process. Or don't help and go back to her life and feel guilty for the rest of her life. Some choices?

"You have saved them," the voice said. "The line of Durin will prosper now."

"Yes, I reckon so," Holly replied in the darkness.

"Your time here is done, Leithandrann," the voice said. "You may go back now."

"Go back?" Holly asked. For once this dream wasn't the same dream on repeat. It was different.

"Back to your world," the voice said with laughter. "Back to your own life."

"No!" she blurted.

"No?" the voice asked.

"I don't want to go back," she said and swallowed.

"I thought you'd want to return," the voice said.

"No, I carry Fili's baby," she said quickly, just in case this voice didn't know. But then if it did, her staying would be a foregone conclusion. But then not a whole lot of what had happened to her since she'd been in Middle-Earth made any sense. So separating a father from his unborn child would make complete sense.

The voice was quiet for what seemed like a long time.

"I will seal the portal between this world and that," the voice said finally.

"No!" Holly blurted. "I um... I'd rather you didn't. I'd like to visit my home occasionally. If you don't mind."

There was more silence. "Very well," the voice said. "You have our great thanks, Leithandrann, from all the Valar in the heavens."

It was mid-Spring. Holly was heavy with child, but the planting fields needed to be plowed. The rocks and weeds needed to be removed after so long a time being left to themselves. It was a job that required all of Erebor, even Thorin.

"Are you sure you should, Lass?" Bofur asked. He'd removed his hat in the warm sun. His shirt sleeves were rolled up, showing off thick forearms. In fact, all the dwarves had thick forearms. They were all stoutly made.

"Maybe this little one will come sooner," she said and patted her belly.

Bofur chuckled and nodded.

Holly went back to work, taking up the heavy rake again. She dug it deeply into the soil and tugged. And tugged.

"Oi, Lass!" Bofur asked. "What'd you turn up?"

Holly bent and picked up the big blue stone. She smiled seeing the familiar shape and hue. "A trusted friend," she said.

Bofur chuckled. "Great good luck, that is," he said.

"Aye."