Queen beneath Fili

Meeting Bard

Orcs still followed you, but at the pace you were being pulled down the river, they could not catch up. The river slowed.

"Anything behind us?" Thorin asked

"None that I can see" someone from behind you yelled.

You all paddled to the shore line. You all trudged onto the land, soaked to your bones. Kili was moaning in pain. Realizing people were staring he changed his facial expression and said,

"I'm fine it's nothing." He looked down

"Kili's hurt. His leg needs binding"

Thorin looked back and said,

"We need to keep moving"

"To where"

"The mountain. We're so close."

Bilbo answered

"A lake lies between us and that mountain. We have no way to cross it"

"So we go around" bilbo answered

"The orcs will run us down, sure as daylight. With no weapons to defend ourselves."

Thorin stepped into the argument and says,

"Bind his leg, quickly, you have two minutes."

You look at Thorin angrily then catch something in the corner of your eye. A man with a bow and arrow pointing at the back of ori.

"Fili." You say to him pointing at the man. Everyone turns and looks at the man. Dwalin jumps between them with a branch. The man shoots his arrow at the branch then turns and aims at you. Kili grabs a large rock to throw at the man but the man shoots it out of his hand.

"Do it again, and your dead" the man said pointing the arrow at our group.

Balin looks him up and down and steps forward.

"Excuse me, but your from lake town, if I'm not mistaken." The man pulls back his arrow and Balin stops walking, raises his hands, but continues to speak.

"That barge over there, it wouldn't be up for hire by any chance?"

Thank god for Balin you think as you all make your way towards the mans boat. You walk beside Fili.

"What makes you think I would help you?" The man asks.

"Those boots have seen better days" Balin answers, "as has that coat. No doubt you have some hungry mouths to feed. How many kids?"

The man smiles and answers, "One boy and two girls."

"And your wife I imagine is a beauty."

The man stopped

"Aye. She was."

Balin's smile dissapeared

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..."

Behind you you heard Dwalin speaking to Thorin.

"What's your hurry." The man inquired, "I'd like to know who you are and what you are doing in these lands."

Blain thinking quickly says,

"We are simple merchants from the blue mountains, journeying to see our kin."

"Simple merchants you say?" He smiled obviously amused by the answer. Thorin steppes up to speak

"We will need food, supplies, weapons. Can you help us?"

The man finishes loading your empty barrels onto his boat.

"I know where these came from" he said touching a barrel.

"What of it?" Thorin asked

"I don't know what business you had with the elves, but I don't think it ended well. No one enters town without the lead of the master. His wealth is from trade with the woodland realm. He would see you in irons before risking the wrath of kind Thandruil."

You turn to Kili and Fili as Balin continues to sweet talk the man.

"Kili how much does it hurt?" You ask.

"It's nothing. Don't worry about me."

"Of course I'm worried, you are my brother. Fili and I need you well"

Just then you heard Balin say something about paying double. All of you look at him and the man.

Next thing you know, you are on the mans boat, going down the cold lake. The man swiftly moves the boat to avoid hitting anything.

"Let me guess," you say, "you know every inch of this lake."

He looks down at you. "Yes." He answers looking back up.

You hear Dwalin bitching about the man.

"Bard. His name is Bard." The hobbit says slightly irritated.

"How do you know?"

"Uh I asked him." The hobbit answered with sass. You try to hide a giggle. Thorin shoots you a look. The dwarfs continue to be whiney children as Balin counts the money. As Gloin pretends that he has no money left, everyone's attention is taken away. Through the fog you can see the outline of Erebor. Gloin hands over his money. Your eyes water and you feel Fili behind you wrap his arms around your waist and rest his head on your shoulder.

"That will soon be ours" he whispers in your ear and kisses you cheek. You smile and lean your head against his.

"The money quick, give it to me" Bard says haistily.

"We'll pay you when we get out, not before." Thorin answers back.

"If you value your freedom you'll do as I say. There are guards ahead."

You grab the money and give it to him.

Each of you gets in a barrel, but you hang off the side of the boat, while Bard goes and speaks to one of the guards. The guys whisper to each other. You are freezing in the water. All if a sudden you smell fish. A strong smell of fish. Bard gets back on the boat and you start off again. Once you are clear he pulls you back onto the boat. You laugh at your company, delighted you weren't covered in fish. As you approach lake town, you hang off the boat again. As you enter the gates, you hold your breath and go under the water.