ꪻ᭙ꫀꪀꪻꪗ-ꪻ᭙ꪮ

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Loreth swam just beneath the waters surface, where Thorin could still see the opal shine of her white tail. Even watching her swim was mesmerizing to the dwarf. Once again he would consider himself to be the luckiest man that ever lived to be able to call her his. But not only that, she was the mother of his unborn children.

Thorin truly wanted the best for his family and internally, he was at odds with himself over putting them in danger like this. It was an understandable worry that he had but he would never make it known to Loreth. They were so close to the Mountain now.

The bowman come to be named Bard, had nearly hit a stone pillar in the water. The water itself had grown cloudy and almost milky. A thick fog made visibility very low.

"Are you trying to drown us?" Thorin spat at Bard.

"I was born and bred on these waters, master dwarf, if I wanted to drown you, I would not do it here." Bard countered. Thorin didn't trust this man the least bit especially since they were naturally drawn to mermaids. Whether they wanted them dead or for some moment of sick pleasure. They were all the same.

Eventually Bard had instructed them to climb into the barrels which they reluctantly followed. Thorin had called to Loreth telling her to stay close but remain hidden.

Loreth swam underneath the boat, trying desperately to hear what was going on. Underneath the water was almost no visibility. The mermaid had never been in waters so cloudy like this and she had to squint to try and see. She felt the boat move again and let go, trying to remain close she moved with the boat.

The evening was turning to dusk before her very eyes it would appear. She didn't know how long she was under the water for, but her heart was racing for her friends above who run the risk of being found.

A rock in front of her made her have to let go of the boat, and swim around. When she came back her heart sunk. She had lost sight of the boat in an instant. She could tell they had neared town because the waters were slightly warmer. If she went to the surface she would almost certainly be caught.

Loreth swam a little further, but there was still no sign of the boat. This was definitely not good. They could be anywhere in this town!

The mermaid continued to swim, squinting to try and make out shapes in the water. She swam forwards and ran into something. A bunch of rope, carefully tied together. She tried to push it away but in doing so, an audible snap was heard in the water. Behind her the rope enclosed on her. She gasped and pulled on the rope, unaware that she was setting off a fisherman's bell alarm above.

She groaned as she tried to pry the netting apart but nothing was working. She had finally been caught by a fisherman.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Bard knocked over the barrels one by one, sending fish and dwarf all over his barge. They coughed and gagged from the mass of fish having been buried upon them.

Once Thorin was up he was looking to the water, "Do you see Loreth anywhere?"

At his question his dwarves looked over the docks and into the pitch black water beneath them. Muttering words of worry and mumbling that they did not see their future queen. Thorin felt a shiver run down his spine. Something wasn't right. She was supposed to stay close and she wasn't here. He turned around and looked the direction they had come. Out at the horizon of the lake as far as he could see. Just the ripple of black water in the frigid wind.

Dwalin took his friend by the arm, "let us get somewhere safe and then we can all look for her, lad."

As much as the idea pained him, he knew Dwalin was right. Perhaps she would turn up before then. He didn't know how he managed it but he turned away and each step of his boots felt heavier and heavier the further he got.

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