The Gathering Storm. The Hobbit fanfic. A Thorin Oakenshield love story.

Chapter 67: Entering Laketown.

After some back and forth dealing, with Taryn keeping her mouth shut. The man finally agreed to take the Dwarves, Taryn, and Bilbo across the lake and smuggle them into Laketown. The man finished loading the barrels down the middle of the barge and then they were off. Most of the Dwarves and Bilbo all sat at the front of the barge in front of the barrels. They were all busy counting their money. Dwalin was standing at the head of the barge leaning on a barrel facing Thorin. Who was standing on the side resting one hand on a barrel and propped one foot up on the edge of the barge. Taryn was standing in front of Thorin, resting her head on his shoulder.

Taryn groaned and squeezed her eyes shut, trying her best to keep calm. She was still livid about the rumors that had been spread about her by her own father. Thorin wrapped his right arm protectively around her waist and kissed her forehead, as he sensed that she was upset. The waters that the man was sailing the barge through was calm yet icy. The barge would push aside big patches of ice floes as they sailed on.

To make matters worse, Taryn was feeling sick to her stomach again. The morning sickness of her pregnancy (or all day sickness) was back in full swing. She clenched her stomach and let out a light sigh. 'Just breath. In and out, breath,' she thought to herself.

Thorin sighed as he saw the look on her face. "Are you feeling okay?" He asked her with a concerned look on his own face.

Taryn let out another groan and shook her head to the side. "Morning sickness," she murmured. "It picked a wonderful time to come back."

Thorin sighed as he ran his hand through her white blonde hair. He knew he needed to get some food for his pregnant wife. "I'm sorry azyûngal," he murmured. "I wish I could take it away for you."

Taryn made a slight smile as she looked up at Thorin. "Thank you meleth nîn."

The man was at the back of the barge, steering them through the dense white fog. Suddenly very large stone formations appear out of the fog. Taryn's eyes widened as it looked like they were about to hit one of the big stone formations. She shrieked as she squeezed her eyes shut again and latched onto Thorin.

"Watch out!" Bofur exclaimed.

The man acted like it was no big deal as he steered the barge carefully around the large rock formations and around the other formations which seemed to be ancient ruins, not even crashing the barge.

Thorin growled at the man as he tightly wrapped his arms around his wife. "What are you trying to do, drown us?" He demanded.

"I was born and bred on these waters, Master Dwarf," the man said calmly. "If I wanted to drown you, I would not do it here."

Thorin glared at the man, it was obvious that he was about to lose his cool. Taryn opened her eyes again only to roll them. "Come on," she said to Thorin as she grabbed his hand. She led him to the front of the barge where everyone else was. Dwalin was still leaning on a barrel frowning at the man.

"I've had enough of this lippy lakeman," he growled lowly. "I say we throw him over the side and be done with him." Dwalin said as he looked up at Thorin.

Taryn smirked and let out a smile chuckle. She seemed to agree with Dwalin. After all she was the one who suggested shooting him and stealing his barge.

Bilbo frowned as he looked at Dwalin. "Ohh, Bard, his name is Bard."

Taryn frowned as she looked over at the Hobbit. "How do you know?"

"Uh, I asked him," Bilbo said proudly with his arms crossed.

"I don't care what he calls himself," Dwalin growled again. "I don't like him."