Erebor's Guardian

Chapter: 18

As the dwarves tried to steer the barrels with their hands. I landed near the river and started to run down the riverside attacking any of the orcs after them and me. I looked behind me and saw Tauriel and the male elf running behind me shooting at the other orcs. In the river and Orc leapt up at Thorin's barrel but he managed to kill it with a sword he grabbed earlier. More orcs managed to come in front of me. I unfolded my wings bringing them in front of me and bouldering through them. I turned to the others seeing them kill any of the orcs that managed to get close to them. I looked ahead to see a dozen orcs on a log in the middle of the river. I flew over the river and into all of them, the others managed to break the log in half causing the orcs to fall into the river.

I saw the elves still fighting, I looked to see the male elf jumping on the barrels and shooting at the orcs while balancing himself. I saw him jump off the barrels and land on the edge of the river fighting more orcs. I saw an orc come up behind him but just I was about to fly to kill it. Thorin threw his sword into the orcs back killing it. I saw Thorin look at the elf and nod his head in some understanding. The male elf stopped pursuing us. I flew next to Thorin and gave him a smile as we were headed toward Lake-Town. Eventually, the river calmed down and the others were able to get control of the barrels.

"Anything behind us?" Thorin turned to me as I looked behind.

"Not that I can see. I think we've outrun the orcs."

"Not for long; we've lost the current."

"Make for the shore," I said as I flew over to Kili's barrel. Kili looked pale and in pain.

"You heard her. To the shore and hurry!"

As the dwarves landed on the shore, I helped them up. Kili got out of the barrel and fell to his knees in pain. I quickly walked over to his side and looked at the wound.

"I'm fine, it's nothing."

"On your feet!"

Thorin called out as the others turned to Kili.

"Kili's wounded. His leg needs binding."

"We need to move."

"To where?"

"To the mountain; we're so close."

Bilbo said as he caught his breath.

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

"Its not enough time."

"There's an orc pack on our tail; we keep moving."

I glared at Thorin as I placed a hand over the wound. The wound glowed slightly as the blood stopped but from the look of the wound it was still hurting him. I grabbed a cloth and bound the wound. As I bound the wound I heard footsteps approach us. I saw a man over a pile of rock, aiming an arrow at Ori. Dwalin noticed and pulling out a huge branch but the man shot the branch in two. Kili raised up a rock to throw but the man shot the arrow out of his hand. I stood up and opened my wings and stood in front of the others.

"Shoot at us again, and you're dead."

Balin walked in front of me approaching the man slowly with his hands up.

"Excuse us for the violence, but, uh, you're from Laketown, if I'm not mistaken? That barge over there, it wouldn't be available for hire, by any chance?"

The man lowered his bow. I folded my wings. He climbed on the barge as the others approached him.

"What makes you think I will help you?"

"Those boots have seen better days."

The man started to load the empty barrels into his barge.

"As has that coat. No doubt you have some hungry mouths to feed. How many bairns?"

"A boy and two girls."

"And your wife, I'd imagine she's a beauty."

"Aye. She was."

Balin's smiled faded.

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

Dwalin suddenly interuppted whispering to Thorin.

"Oh come on, come on, enough with the niceties."

"What's your hurry?"

"What's it to you."

"I would like to knew who you are and what you're doing in these lands. Especially with a creature like her with you."

Thorin noticed the man gesture to me. I walked in front of Balin.

"You shot first without asking who we are. Who would be to blame for that."

The man smirked.

"What do you need?"

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

As I asked the man seemed to notice the nicks and dents in the barrels during the fight.

"I know where these barrels came from."

Thorin looked at the man.

"What of it?"

"I don't know what business you had with the elves, but I don't think it ended well. No one enters Laketown but by leave of the master. All his wealth comes from trade with the Woodland Realm. He will see you in iron before risking the wrath of King Thranduil."

The man boarded his barge and tossed a rope to Dwalin. Thorin whispered to me.

"Offer him more."

I looked at the man as I crossed my arms.

"I'll wager there are ways to enter that town unseen."

"Aye, But for that, you will need a smuggler."

"For which we will pay double."

The man looked at us suspiciously. After he accepted what we offered. I heard Galadriel in my mind.

"Paephan, you must go to Dol Guldur, the darkness has Gandalf there alone and in trouble.

"I understand."

Thorin noticed and called me over.

"Paephan, we have to hurry."

"I can't. Gandalf is in trouble."

Bilbo looked at me with shock.

"We need you here."

"You will be safe in the city. I promise I will be back."

Bilbo frowned as he turned to the others.

I looked down at Thorin and gave him a sad smile.

"I swear, I will come back."

I opened my wings and covered the dwarves view of us. I leaned down and placed a light kiss on his cheek. I opened my wings and launched myself into the air as I looked down to him. Thorin looked at me.

"Be safe."

I turned in the direction of Dol Guldur and flew as fast as my wings could go.