A Journey I'll Always Remember (Kili x Reader)

Lake-Town

The air was bitterly cold, penetrating the thin layers of my clothes, and the lake we glided across was close to freezing over. Thorin was talking to Bard with Bilbo by his side; most likely to save Thorin from getting us thrown off this boat. Kili, who was sitting down at the head of the barge, sat perched on the wood in clear discomfort so I decided to approach him. "Hey," I sat down next to him "How are you?" I looked down at his leg that made me cringe at the sight "It hurts, bad," Once he looked up and saw my frightened expression he shook his head "But I'm okay, I promise."

"Why did you do it?" I asked. "Do what?"
"Get out our barrel," I clarified "You were shot; you were nearly killed." He looked at me as I reached up and pushed the dark hair from his face. "Or else we'd have all been killed by orcs. I'd rather me than the entire company." His words were a warning in my mind; his bravery is admirable but I feel his courage will lead him into danger, and he'll receive worse than an arrow in the leg.

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"Everyone empty your pockets." Thorin demands.
Everyone turned out their pockets. I patted down my pockets but they were empty; I didn't exactly think to grab my spare change before I left the door. Everyone had laid down their money, some random coins and others in tiny sacks, but Balin didn't look satisfied as he flipped through the coins. "We have a wee small problem. We're ten coins short." Thorin only stood there and crossed his arms; looking off into the distance with a knowing look. "Gloin. Come on, give us what you have."

"Don't look to me," Gloin raised his voice in protest, his stronger more prominent than ever "I have been bled dry by this venture," He pointed his finger down at the floor "And what have I seen for my investment? Naught but misery and grief and-"

"Gloin," I interrupted as I gazed ahead "Just one moment." I said as the dwarves all rose to watch the fog part and the long-awaited Lonely Mountain was ahead of us. We've made it. The mountain stretched farther than the eye could see, snow etched on the peaks with the remains of Dale only a few miles away from it. "By my beard. Here take it all." Gloin finally handed over his money that landed onto the wood with a loud thump. "Hm." Nori side eyed Gloin with the suspiciously big sack of money in his pockets.

We stood there to enjoy the moment, absorbing the beauty of the mountain which we fought long and hard to get to until Bard marched over to us in desperation. "The money, quick. Give it to me."
"We will pay you when we get our provisions. Not before." Thorin narrowed his eyebrows. "If you value your freedom, you'll do as I say," he looked up as he furrowed his brows "There are guards ahead."

We had made it close enough to see ahead to the village on water; Lake-Town. Fishing boats had been anchored into the water with a wall of wooden houses behind it which was the village which had certainly seen better days. Everything was gloomy and the air was misty; much different from the shire. Back in the Shire there was vibrancy, full of life and sunshine but here none of that has been seen.

"All of you get in the barrels now." Bard demanded us, we were hesitant but we did it. Kili and I cautiously climbed into the barrel with haste. "You alright?" I asked, my voice bouncing off the barrel walls as he adjusted himself and pressed his hands on either side of the barrel. "Yeah i'm fine." He bit out from his teeth, his face in obvious pain. It greatly concerned me but I chose to stay quiet as we approached Lake-Town.

"What's he doing?" I could hear Dwalin speak from another barrel. "He's talking to someone," I could hear Bilbo in another "And he pointing right at us! Now they're shaking hands."
"The villain! He's selling us out." I could hear the anger in Dwalin's voice; like he would rise out the barrel any second and smash his fist upon Bard's skull. We all braced ourselves as the men approached but my face curled in confusion as something wet and slimy dropped onto our heads. Fish?