Unwanted Attractions

Chapter 27

Inside the house Bard's daughters, greet him.
"Da! Where have you been?"
"Father! There you are. I was worried."
They both run to their father and they share a hug. "Here's something to eat." Bard then hands his bag to the oldest daughter. "Bain, get them in."

As Bard looks out a window, Bain goes down some steps to the lower floor of the house, which is open to the water. After looking around, he knocks on the wall near the toilet three times. Dwalin's head appears through the toilet, which is open to the water below.
"If you speak of this to anyone, I'll rip your arms off." Dwalin raises the seat and begins to pull himself out of the toilet. Bain reaches out to help him, but Dwalin slaps his hand away. "Get off."
"Up there." Bain points up the stairs, and Dwalin goes up. Bilbo pokes his head up through the toilet, looking flabbergasted, and Bain helps him out. The rest of the dwarves follow and head upstairs.
"Da...why are there dwarves climbing out of our toilet?"
"Will they bring us luck?"

Soon the dwarves are wrapped in blankets, and their wet things have been laid in front of the fire to dry. Some of them shiver.
"It may not be the best fit, but it'll keep you warm," Bard says as his daughter finishes passing out blankets. Rosa sits in a corner rubbing her arms trying to fight off the chill.
"Cold?"
Knowing it Fili she looks up to him with a small smile and nods
"Here?" he takes off his blanket holding it out to her
She shakes her head "Oh, no, no that is for you I couldn't take it."
"Nonsense I'm fine." he says sitting next to her "Besides, it seems you need it more than I do." He wraps the blanket around her and pulls her closer. He rubs her arm hoping it helps. This surprised Rosa finding herself leaning into him a sigh escaped her.
"Better?"
"Much thank you Fili." she smiles taking a hold of his free hand entwining their fingers happy no one's looking.
"How's your head feeling?"
Rosa was confused and thought for a moment then remember "You know With all that has happened I forgotten about it. It's good I guess."
"Good to hear," he says kissing her forehead then goes back to his original position.
The two sat there in comfortable silence until someone called for Fili. Fili sighs not wanting to leave this. Rosa smiles at him letting go of his hand realizing it's Thorin. Fili kisses her nose chuckling as she tries to hide her face. Bilbo walks over as Fili leaves.
"What with the smile Bilbo?"
He nudged her "You and Fili hu."
Rosa blushed then crossed her arms "I don't know what you mean, Bilbo."
"I'm just happy for you. It's nice to see you smiling again. "
This makes Rosa blush more looking over where Fili was talking with Thorin, Kili, and Blain. She wonders what they're talking about.

Later Bard returns and lays a package on the table as the dwarves stand around it. He loosens the wrappings and reveals a couple of hand-made weapons. The dwarves look at them in shock, then pick up the weapons and look at them in disgust.
"What is this?" Thorin asked holding up one
"Pike-hook. Made from an old harpoon." Bard tells him
"And this?" Kili asks holding up another weapon
"A crow bill, we call it, fashioned from a smithy's hammer. It's heavy in hand, I grant, but in defense of your life, these will serve you better than none." Bard explains to everyone
Thorin and Dwalin look disgustedly at each other.
"We paid you for weapons. Iron-forged swords and axes!" Gloin says walking up to Bard
"It's a joke!" Bofur says throwing his weapon back on the table, and the other dwarves follow suit.
"You won't find better outside the city armory. All iron-forged weapons are held there under lock and key."
Thorin and Dwalin look at each other out of the corners of their eyes, hatching a plan.
"Thorin." Blain walks over him "Why not take what's been offered and go? I've made do with less; so have you. I say we leave now."
Bard had looked up at the mention of Thorin names, as it sounded familiar to him. "You're not going anywhere." He tells the company after relizing what they said
"What did you say!?"
"There's spies watching this house and probably every dock and wharf in the town. You must wait till nightfall." Bard explains
Hearing this, the dwarfs begin to settle down.