Book 2: Hanging On [Thorin Oakenshield]

Chapter 10

Poppy couldn't understand why the Elves let them go the further they traveled downstream. Hadn't they been prisoners? She hardly thought Thranduil would be pleased to know they managed to escape and not be dragged back to their vacant cells. Despite there being no Orcs in the immediate area, none let down their guard. Especially when the current that dragged the barrels down the river slowly began to die around midday.

"I think we lost the Orcs," Balin stated. None had seen the creatures for hours, but that didn't mean Azog called off the hunt.

"Not for long, we lost the current," Thorin said.

"Bombur's half drowned," Dwalin pointed out. All eyes went to the larger Dwarf, watching as he continued to spit out water.

"We all are," Balin agreed.

"Make for the shore!" the prince ordered.

Leaning over the sides of their barrels they began paddling ever so surely towards the bank. Dragging themselves free, the company felt relieved to be rid of the barrels. Soaking boots were removed to drain them out, and squeezed out their clothing that weighed heavily on their shoulders.

Poppy coughed up water as she went with the small current pressing the side of the barrel into her body. It was a struggle trying to move when a hand gripped at the back of her shirt and waistband lifting the Half-breed out.

"You alright, lass?" Dwalin questioned.

"I can not believe we just escaped Elves in barrels," she sputtered.

The Dwarf gave a gruff chuckle. "Yer covered in Orc blood."

Though most dried when floating further from Mirkwood it hadn't been completely washed away. There were some splatters that began to run and trail down the face from the water. Setting Poppy on her feet the Half-breed stumbled to get her footing at first before moving to help Ori and Dori up the rocks.

"On your feet," Thorin ordered.

"Kíli's wounded," Fíli said. "We need to bind it."

Óin was already setting to work at the Dwarf's side trying to examine the wound. Only then did the others notice the hole in his leg. In the Dwarf's efforts to open the gates that blocked the river, an arrow met its mark when he rushed for the lever.

"There's an Orc pack on our trail," Thorin said. "We keep moving."

"To where?" Balin asked.

"To the mountain," Bilbo stated. "We're so close."

They could see it just in the distance. Closer than ever before. It was just within reach.

"A lake lies between us and that mountain," the older Dwarf stated. "We have no way to cross it."

"So then we go around," the prince reasoned.

"The Orcs will run us down as sure as daylight," Dwalin said. "We've no weapons to defend ourselves."

He spoke the truth, but what choice did they have? They couldn't climb back into the barrels and continue to float along. Without a current in the lake they would get nowhere and tire easily trying to swim. There was only one choice: to go around. Even if it wouldn't necessarily work in their favor. Still, the company had to try.

"Bind his leg quickly," Thorin ordered Fíli. "You have two minutes."

As his nephew and Óin set to work the company tried to gather themselves. Some attempted to dry out their soaked clothing, while others searched for food among the bushes that lined the shore. Dwalin picked up the only one of two weapons they managed to keep a hold of, an ax, and scoffed before begrudgingly setting it back down on the rocks and then searched for his brother. It was the best they had at the moment so there was no sense of being rid of it. The prince's eyes wandered to find Poppy by the river once more, nearly dunking her whole head in to scrub at the skin with bare hands. If the young woman wasn't careful she'd fall back in. Pulling up for air the Half-breed attempted to wipe away the excess water when realizing she wasn't alone. The boot wasn't hard to miss, but the fact that the Dwarf joined her mildly surprised Poppy. Glancing up from the kneeled position on the rocks the new blood stains on the clothing didn't go unnoticed by him.

"Are you injured?" Thorin asked. Now was not the time to brush aside wounds with so many factors working against them.

The young woman offered a kind smile. "No, it's not mine."

"Then why are you covered in blood?"

"Bifur was in trouble. Though in order to acquire the ax it came a little too close for comfort."

It still surprised him, the blacksmith's loyalty towards them. Even from Bilbo. They were not kin, didn't owe them anything, yet still the cousins followed. And Poppy had more than once put herself in danger to protect one of them. While grateful, there was a part of him that felt unsettled over the fact she would willingly put herself in harm's way. Maybe it was because of her being a woman and in his culture the males went to battle. But Poppy was different. A part of him... admired that quality about her.

Dwalin's sudden movement out of the corner of their eyes drew their attention seconds before an arrow landed in the middle of the thick branch in his hands out of defense. Whirling around the company realized they were no longer alone. It wasn't an Orc as the tall figure shot a rock out of Kíli's hand before the Dwarf could throw it. Still, Poppy quickly gripped at the ax beside her and rose to her feet behind Thorin. Too concerned about their safety to notice the prince's protective stance, though he wasn't aware of it himself at the time.

"Do it again and you're dead," the stranger threatened.

Everyone froze, unsure what to do. Defenseless they didn't stand a chance against the bowman with speed and accuracy that could rival an Elf. But he wasn't one. Only a man, based on his stature and clothing.

"Excuse me," Balin finally dared to speak up, "but um, you're from Lake-town, if I'm not mistaken."

The bow turned in his direction as the older Dwarf began approaching slowly. Though he quickly stopped, raising his arms to show he meant no harm. However, his eyes flickered towards something just behind the stranger.

"That barge over there. It wouldn't be available for hire, by any chance, would it?"