Standing in the city's armory, Bo picked up a weapon with doubt on her mind. She stared at it as it laid in her hands, hearing Gandalf's voice in the back of her mind, telling her that she was better than this, and that there are other ways to solve problems. But her thoughts was brought back, when Nori snatched the weapon off her and threw to Dwalin, who caught it, both stared at her with harsh eyes, but none spoke.

Bo lowered her gaze feeling ashamed and embarrassed, she picked up another weapon and passed it to Bofur who stood next to her. The pace was quick and all was silent, due to not wanting to be caught. Yet Bo couldn't help but feel guilty, she was unsure why though. Was it because of Bard and his young family, and their kindness towards them? They had risked their lives for the company full of strangers, they owned them nothing, but they done all what they did and kept them safe for the short amount of time they were there.

Or was it because the people of Lake Town was no threat to them? They all have seen them and seen how frail they were and desperate; their eyes showing what they have endured, it seemed their pain speaks through their eyes. They were innocent and preyed upon the selfishness of the man in charge of the small, broken town, in which they inhabited, once full of hope and inspiration, now all shattered.

Bo's thoughts were brought back again as a loud crash travelled up from the stairs, making everyone freeze. They knew they had to run, which Dori shouted them to do, but guards quickly appeared and stood in their way of escape; swords were pointed towards them in a threatening manner, making the small group of dwarves stop what they were doing, including the hobbit. Yet Bo still held a weapon, she stood her ground and held it tightly in her hands, wishing it was her father's sword as she knew the damage it could do and it was a good weight for her to handle.

However Bo's ears were filled with laughter as she stood there, Bofur was pulling at her arm, trying to get her to drop the weapon; apprehension filled his eyes. Yet Bo brought her arm away from Bofur and drove forward, anger was building up within. She had lost a lot, but she realized she wasn't the only one; those she travelled with, they had lost their home, and traded what they built to get what they had before, what they all dreamed of getting back. Going through the treacherous journey, meeting new folks, drinking ale and eating soup, made unexpected friendships, ending in trouble's trap with different enemies, but all made them learn for the future troubles. Then there were the ones she barely knew, people of a broken spirited town; victims of one powerful man's greed. She had to fight for them, she had let herself down many times, tried to be something she weren't and believed in her own lies, which meant she spent the time pushing those who meant her no harm and wanted to help her away.

Bo's weapon hit a guard's sword, which made him push her back. She drove again with an angry cry, but all her hits were met with a heavy blow. Quickly the guard hit her in the ribs with his hilt, making her weak, he then swiftly swung his sword down, as Bo fell upon the ground, but before he could hurt Bo, the room was filled with a cry of a plea.

"No! Stop…please." Bofur pleaded, his eyes glanced between the guard who took his sword back, and to the kneeling Bo; who looked pale and defeated. "She didn't mean to attack."

Silence followed the concerned dwarf, but the small group that was in the armory watched tensely as two guards stood behind Bo and brought her arms to her back and chained them together, making her look more frail. Harshly they grabbed her and walked her away, Bofur wanted to go with her, but a heavy hand landed on his arm, preventing him to do anything rash. Counting to three in his head, he looked up and saw it was Dwalin who stopped him to go. Questions filled his mind, as they were walking out of the armory and across the town, his concern of Bo doubled, he was glad that Balin wasn't there to witness the reckless actions of Bo's, but he would have seen her chained and pale, which would have left him questioning.

Bo stood among the company, surrounded by the people of Lake Town. Two guards held Bo tightly, and felt her power drain through her. She glanced between Balin and Bofur who stood near her, but guilt overpowered her making her lower her gaze. She had no good excuse for her impulsive actions, and she was going to suffer for it and jeopardize her friend's mission. Friends. Had she been so blind not to see them as friends? Had her fury towards filth that were called Orcs, drove her to isolation and her actions of hate were in fact in vain? Years she had thought she was alone, her destiny was to die somewhere hidden and be forgotten by Middle Earth's creatures, to only to rejoin her pack among the lands that everyone dreams of when in death's grip.

Had she fooled only herself, to believe in the false words and the fake illusion she made? Being alone, she had become accustomed to the false hope that fleetingly came her way. The animals that shared her fire and food, only stayed when they were satisfied and soon became strangers, to only to think of each other as enemies and trespassing land that they controlled.

To folks of Middle Earth, she was a wandering stranger, many heard of the war that was inflicted upon her pack, which resulted to only one Shape Shifter to survive and be full of guilt and false hope. But that many was only a few to those who never heard of the war, and greater few to hear of the pack of Shape Shifters, as they liked to keep themselves to themselves, only to mix if called upon. Bo remembered her father telling her a story one night about Shape Shifters used to walk among other folks of Middle Earth, but greed of other folks got the better of them and pushed the ones who held honor above everything away.

"What is the meaning of this?" Bo heard a man ask, she looked up and saw an ageing man stand on top of the stairs, which led to a better condition building than the others that she had seen. In addition, he was dressed in wealthy clothes, but he was uglier than his citizens and not wise.

"We caught 'em stealing weapons, Sire." A guard replied.

"Ah! Enemies of the state, huh?"

"A desperate bunch of mercenaries, if ever there was, Sire." A smaller man stated, he was dressed in black and it seemed to be in competition with his master in who was the ugliest. It was nice to put a name to a face, Bo thought as she glanced between the two men.

"Hold your tongue!" Dwalin stated angrily, before stepping forward. "You do not know whom you speak. This is no common criminal. This is Thorin. Son of Thrain, son of Thror!"

On cue, Thorin stepped forward to stand next to his loyal servant and friend, before speaking: "We are the dwarves of Erebor. We have come to reclaim our homeland." Hearing the town's people murmur among themselves, Thorin turned around and addressed his next words to them: "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 then center of all trade in north! 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!"

Bo's ears were filled with gleeful cheers from the gathered people of Lake Town, it was something they long hoped to see again, but to what price could Thorin up hold his bargain and make Lake Town a town which it was?

"Death! That is what you'll bring upon us." A familiar voice broke through the cheers, and Bard pushed himself through. "Dragonfire and ruin. If you awaken the beast, it will destroy us all."

"You can listen to this naysayer, but I promise you this; if we succeed all will share the wealth of the mountain. You will have enough gold to rebuild Esgaroth ten times over!"

"All of you!" Bard spoke loudly to the crowd full of his friends, family and people he knew well and held dear to his hear. "Listen to me, you must listen! Have you forgotten what happened to Dale? Have you forgotten those who died in the firestorm? And for what purpose?" He turned to speak to Thorin. "The blind ambition of a Mountain King, so riven by greed, he could not see beyond his own desire!"

"Now, now, we must not, any of us, be too quicken to lay the blame." Master of Lake-Town said. "Let us not forget, that it was Girion, Lord of Dale, your ancestor, who failed to kill the best. Hm!"

"It's true, Sire." Alfrid stated, Bo became aware of his dark eyes had been leering towards her while Bard and Thorin spoke, she felt uneasy, she didn't trust the man, too loyal to his master when it awarded him. She dared to look back to portray feelings of anger, but she couldn't help but noticed a smile was playing upon his lips, she guessed the moon had let him see her true feelings and her being nervy. "We all know the story. Arrow after arrow, he shot. Each one missing its mark."

I would like to see you try and get the task done, mate. Bo thought to herself, before looking back to Bard.

"You have no right. No right to enter that mountain."

"I have the only right." Thorin told Bard, before facing the Master. "I speak to the Master of the men of the lake. Will you see the prophecy full-field? Will you share in the great wealth of our people? What say you?"

"I say unto you…welcome! Welcome and rise! Welcome, King Under the Mountain!"

Bo's ears were filled with the crowd's gleeful cheers, but her eyes were on Alfrid, she noticed he had turned his back upon the crowd and spoke lowly to his master. It seemed he was talking about her, as the Master of Lake-Town's eyes were glued upon her, making her self-conscious.

The crowd started to depart, as the Master of Lake-Town walked back in the building in which he stood before, allowing the company to bid enter. She watched with uncertainty, as the company walked through, the guards followed them in, only Bo was last, she realized that Balin was standing close by, his face plain, but eyes held a different story.

"Don't think it be advised to company him." She stated.

"I don't think we have a choice."

Bo was sitting with Balin and Bofur, free from the chains. The Master of Lake-town told his guards that she was their guest and a companion to the King Under the Mountain, yet Bo couldn't help but feel like her every action was being observed by everyone. It seemed her actions in the armory had given her a bad name and frowned down upon.

"Why?" Balin asked her.

"Why, what? Why the Orcs killed all my family and friends? Why I lie, build up a wall, to push those who try to help me away, to hurt, and to pretend I am ok when I am not? Why I think that everyone wants to hurt me and wants to kill me? Why I keep everything inside me and not tell a living soul? Which of those were you referring to Balin?" Bo asked in reply, before taking another long sip of ale, it had been her third cup, and she knew she was already tipsy.

"Why did you attack those guards earlier?"

"Oh that." Bo replied, before picking up a piece of bread from a passing plate. "You know…I hadn't killed anyone, or anything for a while, so I just thought it was a good chance to let a little bit of steam off."

"Bo…must you act like this?"

"What?"

"You can be arrogant, selfish and hatred. I hate it when you become these things, it is not you."

"How do you know? How do any of you know what I am like?" Bo asked, her voice was growing louder, making the company of dwarves and Bilbo stare at her. "None of you knew me before this quest. Not all of you wanted to be my friend. You still doubt me and my actions, you still question if you can trust me. The answer is I don't know. I am sorry that I am the way that I am, I didn't ask to be, and before this quest, I thought I was alone in the world; lost in hope." She lowered her gaze and her voice: "You were right to cast me out of the company, I don't belong with you, I have tried and I have failed not only you Balin and Bofur, but Gandalf too; the ones who truly believed in me. I am sorry and I wish you all the luck in the world, I hope you open the door of the mountain tomorrow Thorin and give that beast what he deserves. Maybe we will see each other in the near future."

Bo stood up and walked away, before anyone could stop her, she felt many eyes upon her but she didn't dare look back. She felt her chest rising and falling as if she was running out of air, looking through a window while walking passed, she noticed the moon was high in the sky and was bright. She knew it could be minutes or hours before she would turn, she felt cold although it was warm inside, where was it safe for her to go and hide so she could be away from the innocent people?

Hearing footsteps, Bo paused and turned around, but saw nothing but shadows. However turning back around, her eyes met the dark eyes of Alfrid's, his face plain, but his eyes allowed themselves to scan Bo, making her move her right hand to the left side of her, but to only to be welcomed by air. "Why is a girl like yourself travelling with dwarves?" Alfrid asked, while circling around her, she stayed still feeling lost without her father's sword and daggers. Men had tried to catch her before when she was alone, but she had weapons and wasn't drunk. "It seems very strange indeed. When one thinks of the other gender, he thinks them as soft, tender and weak, but you on the other hand are not of those things. You know how to defend yourself, have a quick mind and to know how to kill. However the girl is full of doubt and her wall that she built is wobbling."

"It is none of your business about my reason for travelling with the dwarves." Bo stated, she stepped forward to walk away, but Alfrid held up a hand before her making her stand back again.

"No, but it is my Master's business."

"Well look who is well trained. Does he have a whistle around his neck, and every time he blows you respond?" However Bo's remark didn't go down well, as Alfrid held her against the wall tightly, she dared herself to look into his eyes and saw anger. "Obviously your master hasn't taught you manners. Why are you…I mean him interested in why I am travelling with dwarves?"

"We haven't seen new comers for a while…"

"Oh, due to the dragon?" Bo asked with a hint of sarcasm, cutting Alfrid off. "Shame really, this town could do with new business and a lick of paint. But where would that leave poor old Alfrid? He is weak and has no gifts when it comes to weapons or to making things. It would seem you would not favor in this plan of Thorin's, money would not enter you pockets anymore, if only you steal as always from the hands that need it more."

"Answer my question, girl." Alfrid ordered, it seemed he was getting irritated.

"So much for manners, dog. My business is not yours, or your master's. Nothing is promised to me, not like the gold unlike you humans."

"Humans?" Alfrid asked, his voice held confusion. He lifted a hand and brushed Bo's hair behind her right ear to reveal it points, but not like an Elves, but of a Shape Shifter's.

"You wouldn't like to see me angry, dog. Let me go, before you see me turn." Bo added, she felt Alfrid release his grip and she started to walk away, however before she got too far, she turned her head to include: "By the way, you need a wash and clean your teeth; that look is so very last year."

Turning a corner, Bo found herself sweating, she knew time was running out. She ran the rest of the way towards the door and was welcomed by bitter cold air, which wrapped around her. Her breathing was becoming shallow, and her eyesight becoming blurry. Staggering down the stairs, she moved herself away from the building and let her feet find her somewhere, she hoped before she transformed.

She found herself kneeling in a dark, small place, Bo could smell blood, but it didn't belong to humans. She had no time to investigate as she let out a cry, as pain shot through her making her fall onto her hands; tears she felt trickle down her face, her muscles tighten and her bones growing, all her senses multiplying and the memory of Bo was withering.

Crawled into a ball, Bo wrapped her arms around herself, as if to comfort herself, tears never stopped, nor did the pain. She closed her eyes, while she shivered, wishing that Gandalf was with her, to tell her that she was going to be ok, that he could prevent this from happening. She yearned for Radgast, to tell her that they were going to be together soon and things be alight when they were back in The Greenwood. She hoped for Balin and Bofur to be with her, to hear their kind words and their stories of old, to stop the pain and to make her be a better Shape Shifter. She never felt alone, than she did then in the dark, yearning for folks that were legions away, or ones she had casted aside in her guilt.

Hearing the door open, Bo opened her wide eyes and felt a pair of eyes upon her shivering body, the person stepped forward and came closer, ignoring her stuttered pleas of warnings of her being dangerous.

"But you're not the monster that lays in wait." Balin told her, as he knelt beside her, she sensed his concern while he picked up her hand and held it within in his own. "You're Bo the Shape Shifter, my friend and not dangerous as the story goes."

Bo tightly closed her eyes while her muscles grown tighter and her bones grown longer in length, she knew she was squeezing Balin's hand tightly, but he didn't mutter anything. Instead, he lifted Bo's head and laid it across his lap, before placing a blanket over her body, she remembered Gandalf telling her that she had to keep warm, or else she would turn. But the words from Thrandril echoed in her mind, will she wake up to be on her own yet again?

"I am sorry, Balin. Truly I am."

"Shh, we can speak about this later. For now peace is what we both need."