The air was chilly and the water was close to ice. Thorin was talking to Bard and Bilbo was by his side, most likely to save Thorin from getting us thrown off this boat. Kili, who was sitting down at the head of the barge, looked really uncomfortable so I decided to check up on him. "Hey," I sat down next to him "How's your leg?" I looked down at his leg. "Well it stings like hell but the pain isn't as bad."

"Why did you do it?" I asked. "Do what?" "Get out our barrel. You nearly died, you barely made it out alive." He looked at me. "No one else would have done it. If we were to stay longer we would have died. If you, Fili or Thorin, anyone in that matter, got hurt I could never live with myself." I nodded "It was brave. You do amaze me sometimes Kili." I smiled at him and his returned smile which was so comforting that it sent butterflies to my stomachs.

——————

"Everyone empty your pockets." Thorin demands. Everyone turned out their pockets. I searched my pockets but I had no money on me. I patted down my pockets but they were empty, I didn't really think to grab my spare change before I left the door. I don't see who would. Everyone had laid down their money, some random coins and others in tiny sacks, but Balin didn't look satisfied.

"We have a wee small problem. We're ten coins short." Thorin only stood there and crossed his arms, like he knew something."Gloin. Come on, give us what you have." "Don't look to me. I have been bled dry by this venture," He pointed his finger down at the floor "And what have I seen for my investment? Naught but misery and grief and-"

"Um Gloin just- for one moment." I said as me and the dwarfs stood up. The fog cleared and we could see the lonely mountain. We've made it. "By my beard. Here take it all." Gloin finally handed over his money with was a lot, a bit too much. "Hm." Nori side eyed Gloin with the suspiciously big sack of money in his pockets.

We stood there to enjoy the moment, absorbing the beauty of the mountain which we fought long and hard to get to until Bard marched over to us in desperation. "The money, quick. Give it to me." "We will pay you when we get our provisions. Not before." Thorin narrowed his eyebrows. "If you value your freedom, you'll do as I say," he looked up "there are guards ahead."

We had made it close enough to see ahead. There were docks with boats anchored down. Behind the view of the docks was a village. The building were old and made out of wood, this village has seen brighter days. Everything was dark and the air was misty, much different from the shire. Back in the Shire there was colour, full of life, sunshine but here none of that has been seen.

"All of you get in the barrels now." Bard demanded us. We were hesitant but we did it. As before I got in my barrel with Kili. We were crouched down in the barrel and I was still cautious of his leg. "You alright?" I asked, my voice bouncing off the barrel walls. He adjusted himself and pressed his hands on either side of the barrel. "Yeah i'm fine."

"What's he doing?" I could hear Dwalin from another barrel. "He's talking to someone," I could hear Bilbo in another "And he pointing right at us! Now they're shaking hands." "The villain! He's selling us out." I could hear the anger in Dwalin's voice. We were all silent worried on what is about to happen until something cold and slimy slid down my face. "Fish?"

I looked down from my feet and up to be only a few inches away from Kili's face. We both ducked our heads into each other when more fish fell into the barrel. The fish were cold, slimy and I don't even want to discuss the smell. I closed my mouth when more came in, they eventually filled the barrel. As much as I hate Bard for this I have to admit it was really smart...if he's doing what he promised. I could hear the dwarves mumbling from their barrels. "Quiet, all of you," he kicked someone's barrel "We are approaching the gates."

"Hault! Goods inspection!" I could feel the boat stop and hear another voice. "Papers please! Oh, it's you, Bard." The friendly voice said as if they were good friends. "Morning Percy." "Anything to declare?" "Nothing. But I'm cold and tired and ready for home." I could hear Bard and feel him walking around on the barge. "You and me both. Alright here we go-" He was cut off by another voice, a man.

"Not. so. fast. 'Consignment for empty barrels from the Woodland realm'. Only, these aren't empty. If I recall correctly, you're licensed as a bargeman. Not a fisherman." I narrowed my eyes in concentration to try and listen to their conversation. "That's none of your business." "Wrong. It's the masters business, which makes it mine." Well this man sounds very annoying. "Oh come on, Alfrid. Have a heart, people need to eat."

"These fish are illegal. Empty the barrels over the side." Multiple men stepped onto the barge. I tightened my grip on Kili's arm, we're going to be found out for sure "Times are hard, Alfrid." Bard tried to convince the man, Alfrid, before our cover was blown. "That's not my problem."

I could hear men next to us pick up barrels, ours being one of them. Kili and I braced ourselves with our hands pressing up against the barrels when ours began to tip over the barge and fish began flowing out. I tried to duck my head as much as I could but the temptation to look up at the guard was too much. "And how will the Master feel when he finds out we have thrown good food back into the lake, what then?" I could hear fish splatting into the lake from our barrel and the others being tipped. Any minute now we will be found and that is the end for us.

"Stop." Alfrid called over to the men. They dropped our barrel and placed back onto the floor, leaving it alone. Thank God. I let a quiet sigh of relief. I could hear the men jump off the barge and Alfrid give the signal for us to go. We sailed through what I'm guessing was the village. I gasped when I saw a little hole that I could look through.

"Here, help me thrown some fish out." I told Kili, piling handfuls of fish which I chucked out the top and into the lake. We continued doing that until I could move enough to move myself to the gap. I adjusted myself in the barrel, pressing my cheek against Kili's and looked out into the hole,

"What do you see?" He asked as he couldn't see through the small hole. "Nothing too pleasant. Just loads of old buildings, people and docks." A fish squished under me. "Im gonna smell like fish forever, it's disgusting." "Nah you'll be fine. Wouldn't change my mind about you anyway." I turned my head and looked him in the eyes. "Thanks." I thinned my lips, before rolling my eyes. "Well." He shrugged his shoulders with a grin.

"Can you two just shut up for five minutes!?" I heard Dwalin bark from his barrel. I looked at Kili and we broke out into laughter. Dwalin's always grumpy whenever Kili and I do anything normal couples do, but in reality he's one big softy.

Our laughter eventually died down and a smile remained on my face until I felt the boat stop. We all climbed out of our barrels and wiped the clumps of fish off us. My skin was all slimy from the fish and my clothes had bits of fish on them from scales to even a fin. "Ugh." I hopped out the barrel and brushed myself down. "Follow me." Bard led us off the docks and towards what Im guessing is his house.

"Da!" A young boy approached Bard. His was short and curly, he wore similar clothes to his father and he was a bit taller than me. "Da. It's our house, it's being watched." Watched? Bard looked down at the water which led under docks and houses. He better not be thinking what I think he is.

"All of you go under the docks. Once you reach my house you'll come in from the toilet." "The toilet!?" Dwalin growled. "There is no other way for a company of 15 to get into my house unseen. You do as I say. My son will get you when the coast is clear." Just what I came on this quest for.

——————-

The signal. We all climbed out the toilet one by one. "If you speak of this to anyone, i'll rip your arms off." Dwalin was the first the poke his head up and get out the toilet. About three other Dwarves climbed out and now it was my turn. I pulled myself up and swung my first leg out. The young boy held out his hand to help me. "Thank you." I squeezed the water out of my hair and followed behind Nori.

"Da, why are there dwarves climbing out of our toilet?" A young lady stood at the top of the stairs. She looked much older than the boy, she must be the oldest. "Will they bring us luck?" I heard a young girl upstairs. All of the dwarves had finally made it upstairs. The fireplace was lit which kept the room nice and warm. Apart from the light of the fire the room was dark, no windows or candles. Things were hanging from the ceilings and herbs were laid out on a desk.

The boy came over to me and handed me a blanket with some clothes. "Here you, ma'am." "Thank you but please call me, (Y/N). What's your name?" I asked. "Bain." "Nice name." He looked down at the fabric in my hands. "The clothes are my sisters, she grew out of them years ago so they may fit you. I think," He nervously chuckled "They may be up to your standards."

"Well thank you, Bain. Is there a room I could change?" He led me to a room where I could change. I had a white tunic, I put on my black corset on top, a brown skirt, it was a bit worn out but it was fine. I chucked my old boots onto the floor and slid on new ones, they were similar to my old ones so I liked that and they fit perfectly. I just don't want to know which sister grew out of these.

I walked back into the room with the company and sat down on a bench next to Bilbo who was shivering. "They may not be the best fit but they'll keep you warm." The youngest girl walked around and handed clothing to the dwarves. Bilbo excused himself and walked over to Thorin to talk to him. Those two never leave each others side.

Bard came inside with a sack of weapons. He spread them out amongst the table but the dwarves were not satisfied. "What is this?" Thorin was holding one of the weapons. "Pike hook. Made from an old harpoon." Kili picked up a large hammer "And this?" "A crowbill, we call it. Fashioned from a smithy's hammer. It's heavy in hand, I grant but, in defence of your life, these will serve you better than none."

"We paid you for weapons," Gloin threw his weapon back onto the table "Iron-forged swords and axes! It's a joke!" Bard watched as the dwarves threw the weapons back onto the table. "You won't find better outside the city armory. All iron-forged weapons are held under lock and key." "I say we leave now."

"Your not going anywhere." Bard stopped us. "What did you say?" Dwalin narrowed his eyes. "There are spies watching this house and probably every dock and wharf in the town. You must wait till nightfall." As everyone argued with the man I heard discomfort from behind me.

I could hear Kili breathing heavily behind me. Using some large stick he brought himself down onto a bench. He looked down at his leg. Dark liquid had bled through the bandage. "We will get it fixed eventually, I promise." I stood in front of him. He looked up at me. "Yeah." He nodded his head but his face did not believe himself.

I looked at the open seat next to him. "Can I sit down with you?" "Of course, come here." He shuffled up leaving enough room for me to sit down. I starred forward at the company. "I have a bad feeling about this. Thorin's planning something, something this will get us caught," I fiddled with the fabric of my skirt "What if we don't make it? What is this is all for nothing?"

"I guess i've never really thought about that," He paused as he thought "We go home. You go back to the Shire, and I go home to my mother." "Will we ever see each other again?" A flash of sadness appeared on my face. "Of course we will. I like you too much to never see you again." He smiled. I could feel my cheeks grow red.

"Sorry to interrupt," I snapped my head up to Bilbo "But we are uh...leaving." "Leaving? What do you mean leaving?" I stood up. "Thorin said we are going to find some weapons." I could tell Bilbo wasn't too happy about the situation which meant that Thorins plan was rebellious and most likely, illegal. "But Kili can barely walk." "No, i'll be fine. I just need to get moving." He stood up next to me. "Fine. Let's go."

—————-

We have found where the good weapons are kept, they were locked away behind the masters mansion, we were practically baiting ourselves out coming here to steal but Thorin ordered us. The dwarves have created steps for some of us to climb. Nori went up first. He had a little run up and climbed up onto the makeshift steps on the dwarves backs. He managed to climb into the little window above him and jump onto the floor.

"Good," Thorin whisper yelled up to the window "Now open the door." We waited a few seconds before we could hear Noris footsteps approach the other side of the door around the wall, I heard the handle wobbling around a bit before there was a click and Nori was pulling the door open. We were in.

There were racks of swords, maces, bows and other weapons that will definitely help us. This is what we needed. We all began grabbing. I grabbed a new sword and some more daggers, they were fresh and had a handle with more grip to it. I was walking past the bow and arrow section but paused and looked behind me. Thorin pilled swords, spears and axes into Kili's arms, he didn't have any hands to grab himself some weapons so I pilled my arms with a bow and slung a quiver over my right shoulder.

. "You all right?" Thorin turned to Kili. "I can manage. Let's just get out of here." Kili limped over toward the stairs and all turned our backs. Suddenly, we all startled when we heard loud crashing. Kili. He had collapsed and fallen down the stairs dropping everything in his arms. The weapons pooled around him, luckily he didn't get hurt by anything.

We would have run to his aid but none of us dared to make anymore noise. Guards were coming. We could hear them yelling and hear their footsteps, they were running and they were getting close. Guards kicked down the door which we had closed and held spears up to our necks, the blade was cold on my neck, my heart was beating out my chest.

"No one moves," The guard, pressing the spear into my neck barked. The guard narrowed his eyes at me as if he was thinking "What even are you? Some sort of goblin?" His face curled in disgust as he stared down at me and my face mirrored his as I looked at his hideous face. "I'm a hobbit." Dick.

"Move!" The other guards shoved the dwarves out the hall and I followed behind them. They dragged us out of the building and towards their master which was not far. The guard held me by the back of my tunic and was practically carrying me above the snow that had built.

"Get off me!" I tried to break free but I couldn't, none of us could. I could see all the villagers watching us in fear and revolt, some guarded their children and many stomped their feet. Some were even holding pitchforks and lit torches at us. I knew this was a bad idea.

The guards pushed us forward and created a wall with their bodies so we couldn't run off. People of Lake-Town surrounded us and we're calling out things to us that i'm guessing weren't "welcome our village!" Snow continued to fall, if we weren't in such an awful situation I would take a moment to enjoy it. It never snowed is the Shire, well it did once but I was too young to remember. Bits of snow fell onto my air, normally they would melt but it was so cold they just sat there.

We were facing two large doors which a red headed man appeared from. "What is the meaning of all this?" A guard behind me told him our crime "We caught 'em stealing weapons, sire." "Ah. Enemies of the state, eh?" He raised a long, uneven eyebrow. "A desperate bunch of mercenaries if ever there was, sire." He sounded like the man at the gate so i'm assuming this is Alfrid. And, well, he definitely isn't sight for sore eyes.

"Hold your tongue," Dwalin stepped forward "You do not know to whom you speak. This is no common criminal. This is Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror!" The master perked up. "We are the dwarves of Erebor," The master scanned over us as he debated what to do with a company of dwarves.

"We have come to reclaim our homeland," Thorin walked forward and brought out his powerful, kingly side "I remember this town in the great days of old. Fleets of boats lay at harbor filled with silks and fine gems. This was no forsaken town on a lake. This was the centre of all trade in the north!" I could hear the crowd murmuring all around us "I would see those days return. I would relight the great forges of the Dwarves and send wealth and riches flowing once more from the halls of Erebor!" The crowd erupted into cheering.

"Death!" A familiar voice came from the back of the crowd. Bard. "That is what you will bring upon us! Dragon fire and ruin." What is he doing? He was meant to be on our side. He pushed past everyone to meet with Thorin in the middle. "If you waken that beast, it will destroy us all." I forgot a dragon lied in that mountain.

"You can listen to this naysayer, but I promise you this. If we succeed, all will share in the wealth of the mountain," this pleased the people "You will have enough gold to rebuild Esgaroth ten times over!" Thorin raised his fist in the air. The crowd cheered again and the master looked happy. We did it.

"Welcome!" The master held out his arms with warm welcome "And thrice welcome, King under the Mountain! Now let's celebrate! The return of the King!" Well that went better than I thought.