Book 2: Hanging On [Thorin Oakenshield]

Chapter 12

They finally came to a stop. Though none moved before hearing one of the barrels tip over. As they emerged coughing and gasping for clean air, Poppy tried to shake the scales from her hair. She nearly gagged at the sight of a fish head staring back at her from where they once hid. It was one thing unable to see the sickening contents, and another actually able to view the details along with the smell.

"How on earth did the both of yah fit in there?" Dwalin questioned.

Dwarf had been right beside them, separating them from Bilbo's location. Thorin cursed in Dwarvish behind her, only concerned with finding a way out of the barrel with the tight spot they were in. Both were literally pressed against each other, chest to back, when they stood up to untangle themselves.

"No idea," Poppy answered. "But we were desperate."

Finally, the prince managed to hoist himself out and then lifted the Half-breed free as well. She continued to shake out her clothing and hair of any lingering fish parts. When Ori made sure the only thing left were a few scales here or there she was content. But the aftermath left the braided hair appear heightened, giving her a wilder look. The sight amused Thorin for a brief moment.

"Stay close," Bard ordered, catching all of their attention. "Follow me."

They arrived at the marketplace. The company entered the crowd and the sight of the smaller individuals drew unwanted attention towards them. But there was no way for the Dwarves, Hobbit, and Half-breed to easily blend in.

"What is this place?" Bilbo asked.

"This, Master Baggins, is the world of men," Thorin grunted.

Clearly, the prince wasn't fond of their predicament or the sight of the taller humans who mulled about and stared.

"Keep your heads down and walk," Bard ordered when they began to slow. The younger Dwarves were interested in such a place for where they found work in the past had been in better conditions than Lake-town.

"Halt!"

The sudden shout made them jump. A handful of guards swarmed the small path to their right and gained ground swiftly. They were staring right at them in an unfriendly manner.

"In the name of the Master of Lake-town, I say halt!"

The company scattered and the startled cousins found themselves frozen for a moment before Fíli and Kíli hooked their arms around the Half-breed's own to drag her away. Bofur then gripped the back of Bilbo's jacket and hauled him in another direction.

"Stop them!"

"Wait here," Fíli stated as the brothers pushed Poppy behind a crate.

From the hiding place the young woman watched as the Dwarves gathered common items that littered the market to attack the guards and rendered them unconscious by tripping and knocking them in the heads. The commotion interested the villagers as they observed in interest how the watchmen were dealt with so easily. Though the noise was bound to attract others as a new set of guards, who suddenly appeared to investigate. Immediately the crowd of civilians dispersed to go about their business as if nothing occurred. The merchants even helped cover up the strewn about men and hid the company.

"What's going on here?" the head guard shouted. But none answered as the villagers' heads bowed in a way that Poppy saw as submission. These people were terrified of them. "Stay where you are, nobody leaves."

The Half-breed's back pressed further against the crate as a shadow passed overhead. Hopefully if they glanced over they would only think of her as a child since the vendor occupying the stand was a woman with a baby placed in a basket beside her. Eyes glancing the other way her gaze landed on the brothers that hid among barrels. Kíli's finger pressed against his lips before their heads disappeared when a guard drew too close.

"As you were!" the head guard shouted.

The guards began to vacate the marketplace. Slowly their heads peeked out once the coast was clear and Bard quickly ushered them from the center of town. Poppy instantly found Bilbo, the cousins standing close to one another before another person approached. This time it was an adolescent boy. But the boatman didn't appear to be worried.

"Da! Our house, it's being watched."

This had to be his son, Poppy realized, as their movements came to a stop. The man paced for a moment at this new information to devise a plan on how to get the company inside his home without being seen. Bard suddenly stopped and said,

"Bain, all of you, follow me."

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"You're joking, right?" Kíli asked.

They stood on a dock facing one of the waterways that eventually lead into the lake. A few feet from them stood the bargeman's home above the water. But the only way in was to swim and enter the only hidden compartment out of sight of spies.

"Unfortunately, no," Bard answered. "But it's the only way to get inside. Hold your breath."

Why did they have to find the only boatman under careful watch by the Master of Lake-town? Grumbling unhappily under their breaths the Dwarves began to lower themselves into the frigid water.

"I honestly don't think I can do this," Poppy groaned. Even Bilbo hesitantly stood beside his cousin, staring at the dark water.

"Try not to think about it," the man said.

"Easier said than done..."

The comment made the corner of his lips twitch in amusement.

"Do not fall behind," Thorin ordered before plunging in.

Bilbo and Poppy held each other's hand tightly. "Together?" the Hobbit squeaked.

"Let's just get this over with," she grumbled.

The two jumped into the water, the Half-breed's eyes screwing shut. However, the second they entered she wished to immediately crawl out. It was freezing. The shock nearly took away Poppy's breath and wished to break the surface to scream from how cold it was. Instead, her hand gripped Bilbo's tighter and they swam in the direction of the Lakeman's home. Thoughts of the Shire would not be able to help this time.

The company bobbed just barely over the surface to see where they were heading. All of them collected under the opening they were told of, out of the way of prying eyes that might spot them if they climbed onto the dock below the home. None were exactly pleased by the chosen method to enter the home. They waited outside the family outhouse. Poppy huddled close to Bilbo for some kind of warmth, but he shivered just as badly. They lost feeling in their hands from the cold, neither noticing just how tightly they clutched each other in a near bone-crushing grip.

Three loud thumps above gave them the all clear. Dwalin was the first to dive under the wooden plank and resurfaced on the other side.

"If you speak of this," he growled, "I'll rip yer arms off."

One by one they dove into the water to come up through the Lakeman's toilet. Bilbo eventually disappeared under the water. The Half-breed took a deep breath and awaited Thorin's signal before diving under next so none ran into each other on the other side. The young woman shakily grasped at the wooden structure and two hands gripped at her clothes to haul her in. Poppy struggled to release her death grip on Bain's jacket from how tense her cold muscles became. Only able to convey her thanks with a nod. Poppy trembled so badly she could barely walk behind Bilbo and stumbled up the stairs from stiff limbs. Her chattering teeth nearly bit her tongue when trying to speak.

"Da, why are there Dwarves climbing out of our toilet?" a girl asked at the top of the stairs as the company entered the room single file.

"Will they bring us luck?" the youngest girl asked in wonder.

Dwalin grunted in reply.