Cursed with Shadows (Hobbit Fanfiction)

Chapter Tweleve: Fishes

Allison

Time blurred past and before I knew it, we had managed to hop on boat which belonged to a trader who was promised to be paid handsomely. Yet, dwarves being dwarves, it was taking awhile to come up with the money. 

"What are you trying to do? Drown us?" Thorin remarked to the man, who had just narrowly steered the boat away from a giant pillar. Mentally sighing, I shook my head at the dwarf. Still untrustworthy as ever. 

"I was born and bred on these waters, Master Dwarf. If I wanted to drown you, I would not do it here." 

I snickered at the man's comeback, causing Thorin to narrow his eyes at me.

"Oh I've had enough of this lippy Lakeman," Dwarlin muttered as he leaned on one of the barrels. "I say we throw him off the side and be done with him."  

 "Bard. His name's Bard," Bilbo interrupted the dwarf. 

"How do you know?!" 

"Uh, I asked him?" 

"I don't care what he calls himself. I don't like him," Dwalin grumbled again. I rolled my eyes. Dwarves. 

"We don't have to like him. We simply have to pay him," Balin reminded us as he was counting up the money. Tuning out the grumbles that came from the dwarves when Balin told them to 'turn out their pockets', I closed my eyes and tried to forget the numbing pain I felt all over my body. 

On the verge of sleep, I heard someone speak. 

"Is she alright?"

 It was Thorin. 

His voice was surprisingly soft. Definitely something you would not usually hear from the dwarf. I suppose there was another side to him than being a stubborn ol' grump. 

.....................................

Thorin P.O.V

After talking to Dwarlin, I crossed my arms and tuned out the Company's rambling. Leaning on the rail of the boat, my eyes wondered till they landed on the small form wrapped in the arms of that boy, Marcus. His eyes were glued on her as he rubbed her arms. That's when I noticed her hair was wet. A frown reached my face. Had she fallen into the water? 

Before I knew it, I was in front of them, offering to take over. The boy took one look at me and a small growl reached his lips and clutched Allison tighter. 

"Look." I gritted through my teeth. "Don't be daft. Can't you see that her lips are purple? Just until you dry your clothes a bit. I can keep her warm until then." The strange boy just glared at me and bared his teeth like some sort of animal. Feeling angry, I clenched my jaw. "Stop growling at me, you stubborn-"

Someone behind me cleared their throat. 

 Biting back my insult, I bent down and stretched out my arms. The animal-man looked at me with his teeth slightly bared before glancing at the girl who was practically trembling in his lap. He frowned and looked at his own form, still dripping wet from the lake. The cold waters around them was not helping things either. With his amber eyes on me, he reluctantly began passing over the girl. Yet, before I could hold her, the man finally let out his  threat. 

"Don't touch her wrong. I'll be watching."

I resisted a smile at the man's threat. It was all I ever heard from him. 

"I wouldn't dream of it." 

Finally in my lap, the girl stirred in her sleep and unconscious tucked her head unto the crook of my arm. Her blue lips turned up into a smile at the warmth. The sight stirred something within me and I couldn't help but return such a smile.