The Navigator

Epilogue

A few years later...

"...3, 2, 1. Ready or not, here I come." Vistial opens her eyes and looks around the garden. "Hm, where could they be?" A quiet giggle erupts from some nearby bushes. Vistial smiles and sneaks over to the bush.

"Gotcha!" She shouts, peeking around the bush. It was empty. "What?"

"Argh!" Vistial disappears beneath a heap of fur. The little dwarfling laughs loudly as he sits on top of his mother, his green eyes twinkling and his father's fur-coat swishing behind him, which was so big that he was almost invisible in the mound of fur.

"Mum!" The dwarfling's sister appears and her chocolate brown eyes land on the scene. She runs over and pulls on her older brother. "Get off Mum, Ketin!"

"No way! I defeated the dragon!" Ketin stands, holding up his wooden sword. "You can rule by my side, Belmina!"

"Not if the dragon gets you first." Vistial rolls over and her son goes down with an "oof!" Vistial stands and laughs as she watches her daughter tackle her brother. Strong arms wrap around her waist and a mound of hair buries itself into her neck.

"Morning, love." Vistial smiles.

"Good morning, Kee." She replies, kissing her husband.

"Ew! Gross, Mum kissed Da!" Ketin cries, grabbing Belmina and covering her eyes with her hands.

"I wanna see!" She shouts back, pulling on Ketin's hands.

"I came to retrieve something of mine." Kili says, looking at Ketin.

"Run, Ket!" Belmina shouts, planting herself in between her father and Ketin, arms wide. "I'll protect you." Kili easily sweeps up the girl, who giggles as he tickles her belly. Ketin runs behind his mother.

"Mum, save me and my coat!" He cries, looking up at Vistial.

"Oh, I don't think I could save you from the big bad wolf." Vistial pretends to think, tapping her chin with her finger.

"But you're the dragon! Dragons beat wolves!" Ketin exclaims frantically.

"Not in this case." Kili sweeps Ketin off his feet. Vistial laughs as Kili tickles the boy, who erupts into laughter.

"Now, I believe you learned your lesson from stealing the wolf's coat." Kili snickers, flipping Ketin upside down.

"Mum, save me!" He cries, reaching to his mother. Vistial smiles and shifts into a small form.

"Yay! Mommy Dragon!" Belmina claps her hands as Vistial stalks up to Kili.

"Oh no! The dragon! What will I do?" Kili pretends to cower in fear, running behind a tree with Ketin still in his arms.

"Put the boy down, dwarf." Vistial grins playfully.

"Yes, dragon, whatever you say." Kili sets Ketin down, who immediately runs to Vistial and hides under one of her wings. Ketin peeks his head around and sticks his tongue out at his father.

"See, dragon beats wolf." Vistial shifts with a laugh and picks her son up.

"Not all the time." Vistial smiles. Kili walks over and kisses Vistial on the cheek before looking at his children.

"Let's head back inside. Uncle Fili should be here by now."

"Yay! Uncle Fili!" The two children run throughErebor's halls, their parents walking after them. Vistial smiles. She had foundher purpose. She was exactly where she was meant to be.