Astrid's POV
The river had calmed down and we paddle over to shore. Fili helped me out of our barrel and I go check on Bilbo. While he checks on Kili. "Kili's wounded. His leg needs binding" he shouts and I go over to help bind it. As Thorin said we need to keep moving afterwards.
"To the mountain" Bilbo clarifies.
"A lake lies between us and that mountain. We have no way to cross it" Balin states.
"Then we go around" Bilbo states.
"The orcs will run us down, as sure as daylight. We have no weapons to defend ourselves" Dwalin reminds him. "Except for Astrid and Fili" he adds. Thorin told Fili and I we have two mintutes to bind Kili's leg. So we get to work quickly.
While we bind his leg, some of the others sit down. Ori kneels by the river to empty his boot of water. We then notice we're not alone and I grab my axe getting in a defensive position Fili beside me with my father's axe. Kili grabs a rock, but it is shoot out of his hand by an arrow. "Do it again, and you're dead" a man says with a new arrow notched already aiming at Dwalin. Who is holding a branch.
"Excuse me, 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?" Balin asks the man. I now notice the boat on the water and groan. I just got out of the water and he wants to get me back in it.
The man lowers his bow and boards his barge. "What makes you think I will help you?" the man asks us.
"Those boots have seen better days" I say as I put my axe away and Fili does the same with my father's. I must say it really suits him. I shake my head, focus Astrid I tell myself.
"As has that coat. No doubt you have some hungry mouths to feed. How many bairns?" Balin asks the man.
"One boy and two girls" the man states.
"And your wife, I'd imagine she's a beauty" Balin says.
"Aye, she was" the man says and Balin apologizes. Dwalin tells us to stop with the niceties. "What's your hurry?" the man asks us.
"What's it to you?" Dwalin says stiffly.
"Enough Dwalin" I scold him and turn to the man with a smile. "We are simple merchants from the Blue Mountains journeying to see our kin in the Iron Hills. My fiance wishes me to meet them before we marry" I lie hugging Fili's arm. He smiles down at me kissing my forehead tenderly.
"Simple merchants, you say?" the man asks. Then examines the barrels we'd escaped in. Thorin told him we'd need supplies, weapons and food. "I know where these barrels came from" he states.
"What of them?" Thorin asks him.
"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 irons before risking the wrath of King Thranduil" the man explains.
"I'll wager there are ways to enter that town unseen" I say smiling.
"Aye. But for that, you will need a smuggler" the man tells me.
"And for that, we'd pay double" Balin tells him. He contemplates it then agrees to help. We get the barrels onto the barge and Fili helps me into the boat.
"Stay close to me dear, and you'll be fine" he assures me. I smile and snuggle into his side as we set off. It is very foggy, and the barge pushes aside ice floes. Suddenly, large stone formations appear out of the fog. The bargeman expertly poles the barge between the rock formations, which turn out to be ancient ruins.
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Cousin of Bilbo Baggins: The Hobbit
FanfictionI'm sure you've all heard of Bilbo Baggins and of his adventures to reclaim Erebor for the dwarves. But have you heard of his younger cousin Astrid? She was the Shire's protector since her parents died and was able to defend herself. She knows how t...
