pEver on they sailed silently through the fog, drawing their cloaks tight about their shoulders while the Bargeman steered their course. Wet and cold, beaten and weary, the first heated embers of complaint sparked among the dwarves. A poor investment, stolen heirlooms, an ill-fated journey with uncertain outcome, bitter murmuring was soon heard above the gentle wake of the boat./p
pBilbo himself could feel a sniffle coming on chilled to his very bones. He wished desperately he had never left his handkerchief at home. Wiping his nose on his sleeve, he sought quieter company with Fili and Kili. They seemed content to let their elders quarrel, particularly Kili who at last had fallen asleep./p
p"Look!" Ori, the youngest, cried out sharply. /p
pAll complaining breaths at that moment fell hushed. /p
pBilbo lifted himself up to peer over the ledge of the railing. Looming high above the white-coiled mists, the shadowed peak of the Lonely Mountain came into view. Bilbo shuddered. He had faced spiders, battled goblins, fled frightful wargs and all for this moment. Now that he could see their quest's end, he did not like the look of it at all. /p
pThe Company, however, being dwarves were of a very different mind. It occurred to Bilbo that although a cozy hole in the ground might seem adequate for a hobbit, the blood of ancient kings ran through the veins of Thorin Oakenshield. Halls of splendor long denied, masterfully crafted stones and pillars were as heartening to a dwarf as a warm hearth to Shire folk. /p
pKili, making light of his wound, roused from his brother's side. His pale face regained a little color when his eyes beheld the sight./p
p"At long last!" Fili cried. "Erebor!"/p
pHearts were made lighter in that instant. The dwarves soon seemed to shake off their bitter weariness and even Kili found his feet to gain a better view. Nevertheless, pain swiftly overcame him and he once more slumped against the prow of the ship./p
p"Why do you look at me so?" Kili muttered, worrying at the ragged knot bound tightly round his leg. "It is nothing more than a scratch."/p
p"No. That is more than a scratch. That is an orc wound." Bilbo hissed. "If we had any sense at all we would turn this barge right around and seek aid from the elves!"/p
p"They will not help us." Fili spoke sharply beside his brother. "We have come too close to stray now."/p
p"Bother and DRAT, where is Gandalf?" Quite some time had passed since they had last seen the gray wizard and to Bilbo it seemed as though he had abandoned them altogether. Though the gruff bargeman's handful of willow bark had quieted the fire running through Kili's veins, it would do nothing to stay orc poison. He did not know where the wizard could be at this time, all he did know was that the dark river seemed to flow on forever and Kili's breath drew heavier and heavier./p
p"I do not like this at all." /p
pHe had not much time to dwell on the matter before all were ordered suddenly and harshly by Bard to climb back into the tattered barrels an./p
pThorin's grumbling voice was loudest./p
p"We've seen enough of these double-cursed barrels…" /p
p"Be glad of them lest the watch discover you." Bard, for his part, hurried to usher the last of the party into the wet crates. "There is a checkpoint ahead. If you are spotted, we'll be delayed under sword and bow until patrol arrives."/p
pBilbo could see Thorin's great hand curl into a fist over an axe handle that was not there. This close to journey's end, Thorin would have seen this man of Laketown hacked in two before being forced back into the hated barrels. He obeyed hardy willing, casting an ill-graced eye on Fili as he helped his brother to standt./p
p"You there, pale one!" Bard shouted. "I've a smaller casket near dry from last week's load, it will serve you better than these wet ones."/p
pGratefully Kili murmured his thanks to the bargeman. Fili was happy to find not one but two smaller barrels close to the prow. Both were stuffed with straw and reeked of apples but they were indeed drier and therefore, Bilbo hoped, a little warmer./p
p"Let me be." Kili hoisted himself into the barrel and had there been room enough, Bilbo was certain Fili would have climbed in with him. Once every member of the party lay hidden deep within a casket, Bard addressed them all./p
p"Make not a sound, any of you. There are guardsmen ahead."/p
pBard was good as his word (and their coin). The bargeman had vowed to smuggle the party unseen past the Master's Watchmen at Laketown and so he had./p
pBut not without some humility./p
pWords were exchanged and silver pieces crossed palms and tinkled in pockets. A heavy smell soon wafted over their heads, the sharp tang of brine and ash. All waited within his wooden prison and waited with thumping breast and stilled breath. /p
pNo sooner had the Bargeman traded words, when Bilbo found to his dismay a mass of slimy cold lake trout being dumped over his head./p
pFor all this, Bilbo grumbled, holding his nose against the overwhelming stink of fish, he would have gladly swum across the frozen waters all the way to Laketown /
-/p
pHalf the party was near senseless when at last they were freed from the blasted barrels. The rotting stink of fish clung to their beards and clothes but they were alive if not altogether hale. Fili and Kili, who had been given separate hiding places, seemed well conditioned for their troubles though Kili's leg still weakened him. Unlike their uncle, they had not been doused head to toe in fish oil and, save for a few bruises, were relatively dry and seemed no worse if not better./p
p"Now what?" Thorin demanded. "You have brought us here, human. It is time to keep your end of the bargain."/p
p"We will to my home where my children are waiting. There will be hot food and blankets to revive you. Now follow me swiftly and silently. There are guards at every wharf."/p
pLaketown was nothing at all like the Shire, thought Bilbo, as he hurried behind the group, ducking into alleyways and niches until the way was clear. The hayfields of Hobbiton rang loud with the screams of children at play but the life of Laketown's young was cold and harsh. There was little time for play with nets to be mended, hooks to be sharpened, and the day's catch to render into useful ware. /p
pA last miserable dunking through the Lakeman's toilet might have almost been the death of poor Bilbo but he gathered up his fortitude (of which hobbits have considerable store) and was very glad to be under a roof once more. /p
pBard the Bargeman kept an honest house and his small family, for all their hardships, welcomed their Father with many hugs and kisses. /p
p"Welcome to my home, Masters. Take your leave. My daughters will attend you."/p
pThe scent of exotic spices from distant shores tickled Bilbo's nose the moment he stepped past the threshold. A man who worked the riverways must have riches unmeasured by gold. Vials of every description containing rare powders and syrups lined his pantry shelves and the eldest girl, Sigrid, had just lifted an iron pan of steaming gingerbread from the oven. The very scent of it warmed him through to his hairy toes and his mouth began to water. Though the bedraggled company would have sooner welcomed a bowl of broth and distilled spirits, they accepted the offerings from the smallest girl, Tilda, carrying the spiced cakes to all from a pile in her apron. /p
pMugs of strong coffee were passed round and by and by the party began to regain something of their former selves. Clay pipes were lit, dripping stockings wrung out and so they took their ease within the safekeeping of Bard's family home. Bilbo could not remember being so glad to be dry again. /p
pNew woven clothes were provided and each dwarf found an article to suit him as Bard's eldest daughter boiled the fish smell out of their own ragged garments. The laundry cauldron was already brimming to capacity while the strong lass turned their shirts over with a heavy wooden paddle./p
p"I know the chill of a dousing on a winter's day. Bain has gone to fetch a barrel of wine to mull. It will soon have your blood flowing again. Until then, my house will shelter you. You have earned it."/p
p"Our thanks, Bowman." Thorin spoke from his chair by the hearth though he did not speak wholly from his heart if Bilbo had a say. /p
pTired and bothered by the commotion of grousing dwarves, Bilbo took his leave of them all to get some air. Unbeknownst to the party, he slipped on his magic ring and wandered about the room with ease, stealthily inspecting the strange pots of spices and herbs. He enjoyed for the moment being absent from the group and wandered the big house to his own content./p
pBilbo noticed that Kili, sitting as close to the fire as he dared, was looking quite haggard and ill. Despite the warm food and drink, his limbs were shaking and his brow was damp. He stared long into the burning embers until Bard's smallest daughter came round to offer him a piece of cake./p
p"Are you well, Mister Dwarf?" Bilbo remarked that a human child was of near height to a young dwarf. Unseen, he stood behind the small girl to listen./p
p"The fire has done me much good, little one." /p
pThe girl wrinkled her nose and frowned. Though Kili was quick to hide it, the wound had begun to fester and a strange odor now came from the soiled bandage./p
p"Was that wound bravely got?" She asked, pointing to his knee./p
pKili's wan smile did little to mask his pain./p
p"I got a nasty cut chopping kindling with my axe. We dwarves need a great deal of firewood to light the forges to make our trinkets and fine weapons. I wasn't careful you see and I earned the wrath of the Elf King for knocking down one of his trees."/p
p"Did you meet the Elf King?" Her blue eyes grew big./p
p"Only a glimpse. His Majesty gave us good chase. Now this leg is no worry for a sturdy dwarf like me and certainly not a sweet maid like you." /p
pHe motioned to hurry her on her way but Bilbo's ears pricked up sharply to hear him whisper. /p
p"If you would fetch me new linen and lye, I'm sure my awful leg would mend all the sooner." He held a finger to his lips. "But keep it a secret, aye lass? Like an oyster hides its treasure?"/p
pThe young archer smiled and patted the top of her golden head./p
p"Now my pearl, off and tell no one!"/p
pThe child nodded fretfully, bounding up the staircase to the loft. Bilbo looked on with growing dread as brave Kili clenched his teeth against the wound's torment. No doubt the fire that had started in his veins had regained its course and with it, Bilbo knew, the poison would only spread. What help there was for it he could not guess./p
pHe knew he ought to alert someone—Fili or even yet, Thorin. He should warn them of this plight but in his heart Bilbo knew what disaster his tidings would bring. The wrath of his people would not ease the poor lad's suffering nor advance their quest. Bilbo agonized from his hiding place as he watched Kili tend his leg, looking with watchful eyes to escape the party's notice. /p
pThe Company by now had grown restless, pondering their next move. Would they to Erebor come dawn? What of their weapons? They could not surprise the dragon Smaug unarmed! Dissent began stirring among them until Thorin's word silenced them all./p
p"We wait until nightfall. For now we rest." /p
pKili had wrapped his leg anew with linen the small girl had brought. Bilbo watched with a heart full of pity as Kili applied lye to the ugly wound, which now suppurated and left a foul smell. Somehow yet paler and breathless, he nevertheless struggled silently to his feet to prepare his bed on the floor, far from questioning glances and most of all his kin. Fili remained at his side, offering aid with stubborn earnest. /p
p"Brother, you are pale." Fili spread his cloak over a reasonably inviting sack of groats by the larder./p
p"I am weary is all. You fuss like a goodwife." Kili found his own bed very near to the fireplace. To Bilbo it seemed his pride was injured almost as grievously as his leg./p
pBilbo chose a spot close to the stairs, slipping the ring off his finger and placing it in his pocket. The Company now lay strewn about the Bargeman's floor, each settled in a blanket as comfortably as the oaken boards seeped in brine would allow. /p
pFourteen curiously small shirts and trousers swayed gently on the line overlooking Laketown./p