The quiet one (Thorin Oakenshield love story)

Chapter 17: Tension on the Barge

Violet POV

I looked at Bilbo worried before looking back at Kili. "Anything behind us?" I heard Thorin ask. "Not that I can see." Balin replied. "I think we've outrun the orcs." Bofur added. "Not for long, we've lost the current." Thorin said. I walked over to him mans stood by him about to tell him about Kili. "On your feet Kili." He said before I could speak. "Kili's wounded. His leg needs binding." Fili said. "There's an orc pack on our tail, we keep moving." Thorin replied. "To where?" Balin asked. "To the mountain! We're so close!" Bilbo said. I turned. "There's a lake between us and that mountain..." I said quietly, hardly audible. "Well we go around then." Bilbo said. " The orcs will run us down, as sure as daylight. We have no weapons to defend ourselves." Dwalin said. "Bind his leg quickly. You have two minutes." Thorin said. I looked at Kili concerned and went to his side as they binded his leg. As I sat beside him I suddenly felt his hand grasp mine. I felt surprised...but didn't let go. Guessing he grabbed it because he was in pain. I glanced over at Ori who was standing by the getting the water out of his boot. Though what caught my eye was the man aiming an arrow at him from atop a rock. "Ori!!!" I shouted. My shout caused Dwalin to jump infront of Ori armed with a wooden tree branch. The man shot the arrow, embedding itself in the middle of it. Suddenly Kili lifted a rock, only for it to be shot out of his hand. I froze and looked at the man. "Do it again and your dead." The man snapped. The mans sight suddenly darted to me. My eyes widened and I averted his gaze. Suddenly Dwalin pulled me behind him before Balin began to speak. "Excuse me, but, uh, you're from Laketown, if I'm not mistaken? That barge over there, it wouldn't be available for hire, by any chance?" Balin asked. Dwalin pulled me gently and stood me beside Thorin. I looked up at him only to see Thorin's gaze solidly on the man. "What makes you think I will help you?" He asked. "Those boots have seen better days..." I said quietly. Balin seemed to have heard me, "As has that coat. No doubt you have some hungry mouths to feed. How many bairns?" He asked. "A boy and two girls." He replied sharply. "And your wife? I imagine she's a beauty." Balin said smiling. "Aye, she was." He said. I suddenly felt very bad for the man. "Oh I'm terribly sorry, I didn't me-" Balin was cut of by Dwalin. "Oh, come on, come on, enough with the niceties." He snapped. I looked at the dwarf shock at his rudeness. "What's your hurry?" The man asked. "What's it to you?" Dwalin snapped. "Well he would need to know some of it in order to be willing to help us." I whispered sarcastically only to be nudged by Thorin, who shook his head. I blushed and looked at the ground, hiding a tiny grin. "I would like to know who you are and what you are doing in these lands." He said. "We are but simple merchants, journeying to see our kin in the Iron Hills." Balin replied. "Simple merchants?" He asked. "We'll need food, supplies, weapons. Can you help us?" Thorin asked. I noticed he started looking at the barrels we traveled in, "I know where these barrels came from." He said. "What's of it?" Thorin asked in a slightly harsh tone. "I don't know what business you had with the elves, but I don't think it ended well. No one enters Laketown but by leave of the Master. All his wealth comes from trade with the Woodland Realm. He will see you in irons before risking the wrath of King Thranduil." He said before boarding his barge and tossing the rope to Balin. "Offer him more." Thorin mouthed to Balin but he seemed to be at a loss of words. I thought quickly and ran to the side of the barge. "I bet there's a way you could get us into that town unseen...please sir...we really need your help." I said sweetly, giving him a innocent look. He looked at me with his eyebrows creased. "Aye...but for that little girl...you would need a smuggler." He said. My jaw dropped at his words, "and for that we'd pay double." Balin said. The man sighed and nodded, we all began to board however I stayed still. Thorin placed a hand on my back, "what is it?" He asked. "Did he seriously just call me "Little girl"?" I asked. A small grin creased on his face, "well, you are a female, and small in size...save for um...two assets of yours." He said before passing me and getting onto the barge. "Wh-what?!" I asked shocked crossing my arms over my rather large chest before Bofur pulled me onto the barge and sat me down next to him.

I sat quietly with my knees pulled to my chest as we rode. Thorin kept glancing at me...I felt uncomfortable under his gaze because of what he had said. "Ye alright lass?" Bofur asked who hadn't left my side. "Yeah...I'm alright." I said keeping my eyes on the wooden boards of the boat. Suddenly we notice the barge going for a glacier. Bofur grabs ahold of a rope and wraps his other arm around me to keep me from falling from the mans sharp turn. "Watch out!!" He said. Thorin growled, "what are you trying to do?! Drown us?!" He asked. "I was born and bred on these waters, Master Dwarf. If I wanted to drown you, I would not do it here." He said. I smiled slightly, Dwalin huffed, "Oh I have enough of this lippy lakeman. I say we throw him over the side and be done with him." He said. I noticed Bilbo glare at him, "Bard. His name is Bard." He said. "How do you know?" Bofur asked. "Uh, I asked him." He said. "That's a nice name." I said quietly. Bofur looked at me and hugged me closer noticing I was shivering from the cold air around us. For once I didn't recline, I nestled closer, he was a warm dwarf...that's for sure, and one I knew wouldn't hurt me. "I don't care what he calls himself I don't like him." Dwalin said to Thorin. Balin sighed, " We do not have to like him, we simply have to pay him. Come on now, lads, turn out your pockets." Balin said. I pulled a bag of coins out of my bag. "Will you give this to him for me?" Bofur asked. I nodded as Bofur handed me his to give to Balin as well. I crawled over and handed the money to the elderly dwarf. "Violet I didn't know you that this kind of money on you." He said surprised. I then realized he thought both bags where mine. "Oh, no one is mine, the other is Bofurs." I said before crawling back over to him and sitting close to him like before. I looked to look over the boat edge only to catch a glimpse of Thorin looking right at me...with a jealous expression. I averted my gaze and looked over the edge of the boat to see fish swimming in the water. "Be careful lassie, don't want ye falling over board." Bofur said smiling. I nodded and touched my fingertips into the water. "How do we know he won't betray us?" Dwalin asked. "We don't." Thorin snapped. His icey tone gave me chills...I knew it was probably my fault though. "We're ten coins short." Balin said. "Gloin, come on. Give us what you have." Thorin said holding his hand out. "Don't look to me. I have been bled dry by this venture! And what have I seen for my investment? Nothing but misery and grief and-" I cut Gloin off by standing up. "Hey...I-isn't that the mountain?" I asked pointing into the distance. I felt Thorin's intimidating presence next to me and his strong hand on my shoulder, Though Bofurs hand was still around my waist. "Aye.." He said quietly. I looked up at him...his strong jaw was solid and his gaze was set in stone at the mountain. "Bless my beard..." Gloin said, I turned and saw Gloin with a shocked look. "Take it! Take all of it!" He said before tossing his money to Balin. I suddenly felt Thorin's hand slap Bofurs off my waist. I looked at both of them surprised, Thorin's glare was deadly and Bofur looked...slightly protective. I felt myself being crushed under the two dwarves glaring contest. "The money! Quick give it to me!" Saved by the Bard. His words pulled Thorin's attention, "We'll pay you when we get our provisions, but not before." He said. "If you value your freedom, you'll do as I say. There are guards ahead." He said. Thorin growled and Balin gave him the money. "All of you, get in the barrels. Now." He said. They all jumped into one and I realized I was left without one. "Violet, you can share with me!" Bofur said smiling. "No. She will come with me. Violet come here." Thorin snapped. "You can't order her around like that! She should pick." Bofur argued. "Fine, Violet pick who you want to share with." He said. His heavy gaze made my heart drop to my stomach and Bofurs gaze was sweet but protective. I squealed when suddenly Bilbo lifted me into his barrel. "Now that's enough from you two!! Putting the poor girl in that kind of position. Shame on you both." He snapped before crouching back down. "I cannot thank you enough right now Bilbo..." I said thankfully. He nodded and we stayed quiet as we felt the boat stop.