The Wind Fell Silent

20. The King of Carven Stone

Third Person

The river's currents slowed, allowing the company to make their way to the rocky bank. Though their trip down the Anduin had been a hard one, it had put many miles between them and the orcs in the course of a day. All the dwarves emerged from their barrels water logged, half drowned, and with a number of cuts and bruises from both their time in the forest, and their altercation with the orcs. However, for all of the company's small wounds and fatigue, none fared worse than Kili. His entire leg was swollen and throbbing, the place where the arrow had pierced was the center of his pain. The arrow head and the beginning portion of the shaft were still embedded in his thigh, having been broken from the greater half when he jumped into the barrel. While the other dwarves let water out of their boots and regained their bearings, Fili helped his brother to shore and tried taking a look at the wound.

"Come on!" Thorin said, his voice gruffer than usual.

"Kili is wounded, his leg needs binding!" Fili called out, looking up from his brother's leg.

"There is an orc pack on our tail, there is a great lake between us and the mountain, and we have no weapons to defend ourselves. We move now." Thorin said without even looking around, his glazed eyes fixed to the direction of the mountain, his voice distant.

"Uncle!" Fili exclaimed unbelievingly, causing Thorin to turn and look at Kili's leg. Looking at the wound, Thorin's gaze cleared and concern took hold.

"It's nothing, I'm fine" Kili said, but couldn't help but wince with each twinge from his leg.

Ignoring Kili Thorin addressed Fili, "Bind the wound, you have two minutes."

Thorin turned to leave, but Kili called him back.

"Uncle-"

"I know what you are going to ask Kili" Thorin interrupted gruffly, "but you surely must know that there is no way we can go back for her."

After a moment, he continued more gently, "She is safer with the elves. You know as well as I that no harm will come to her in the halls of the woodland realm. We can parley for her freedom when things have settled."

Kili knew that his uncle spoke wisely, though he was loathe to leave Arenna is the hands of the elves. But before he could speak again, his brother started to blot the blood around his leg and he all but yelled out in protest. Fili worked quietly for a moment before all was interrupted by the deep roar of Dwalin and the twang of an arrow.

----------------------------------------------

"You have no right, no right to enter that mountain" the bowman said.

Thorin took a step toward him, his voice quiet and chilling, "I have the only right" then, slowly he turned to the man who stood in front of the great house behind him.

"I speak to the Master of the men of the Lake. Will you see the prophecy fulfilled? Will you share in the great wealth of our people? What say you?"

The leader of the men paused, he looked around at the poor town which he governed and its poor people, and he saw an opportunity. An opportunity to gain the people's affection and support.

"I say unto you," he paused for effect, "WELCOME"

The rest of his address was cut off by the joy and shouts of the people whose minds were now filled with pictures of treasure and grandeur. The dwarves rejoiced as well, for it seemed that their luck had taken a turn for the better, but Kili hung back for a moment as the rest moved forward to speak to the Master about their lodging for the night. The young dwarf watched as the bowman who had helped them only hours before dropped his head in defeat and despair. This bothered him deeply, because he had begun to respect the man named Bard, who, oddly enough, reminded him a great deal of his uncle. Shaking his head, he limped after the company who were now calling after him, for the Master had offered them a large house for the night, and a glorious feast.