p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Chapter 8: New Hope/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"A short while later.../p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Druili was sulking. But she refused to even admit or acknowledge she was sulking. No, she was merely leaning against the side of the boat, by herself. Her arms were folded because she was comfy in that position and she was NOT pouting or glowering at a spot on the boat./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""'You can ride with us or swim, your choice'," she mocked the company to herself, mostly because she was the only person she wasn't mad at, "bloody...bloody males."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"A clearing of the throat made her look up and see Bilbo standing a few feet from her, obviously in hearing distance. She scrunched up her nose and grimaced./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""No offence," she grumbled and rubbed at her arms, "It's bloody freezing."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"After bartering and conversing with the Bowman, everyone had scrambled onto his boat. Druili had marched on with EXTREME reluctance. She was pretty sure, if it hadn't of been for Kili's small 'please Dru', she would have dragged her heels and made someone have to carry her on./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"But the day was now ending and Druili had chosen to sulk-avoid the rest of the company. The Bowman was at one end, steering expertly and the others were at the other. Druili put herself smack bang in the middle and wouldn't talk to anyone for a few hours. She was at least thankful it was too cold for her hair to frizz out and dry properly. Instead, it hung heavily and lay damp against her shoulders and back./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"But then it got too much. She kept sneaking glances at him as if waiting for him to suddenly attack or lead them into danger./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"So she squared her shoulders, kept her back straight and walked over to him./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"As she approached the Bowman, she glared at him. She had overheard him talking to Bilbo at one point and remembered that he had mentioned his name being 'Bard'. But she wouldn't trust what he said when it came to personal details. He'd been talking about his family before they left, but she just envisioned him alone in a hut and surrounded by empty bottles of ale./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"He seemed relaxed now, almost pleased with the situation. But that just made her even more suspicious of him. Whilst the others had settled further down the boat, huddled together in hushed conversation and also for the warmth, she walked the short distance to the man they called Bard./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"He glanced at her briefly but didn't say a word for a minute or two. Just letting her glare at him before he did speak and she swore he sounded amused./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Are you perchance unhappy with this arrangement?"/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Druili's jaw tightened and she got closer to him, glaring up into his face where she knew he could see her./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""I'm watching you." Her warning tones fell flat when she gave a violent shudder./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""I can see that," his mouth twitched again as if trying to hide a smirk, "Though, considering I'm ferrying you and your friends across the lake, I would suggest a bit more civility."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Druili's eyes flared again as she hissed in anger./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Well, you fired an arrow at my brother. I think I've earned the right to be a little mad."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Bard actually did smile at her this time and she felt like kicking him. Hard./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""You remind me of someone." He chuckled more to himself than to her, but it still irked her something fierce./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Oh, did you fire an arrow at their brother also?" She knew she was being childish, but she wasn't about to go easy and be all chummy with this man./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""No," for a moment his eyes flickered as if remembering something painful, "she didn't have any brothers to worry about."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Ok, so Druili felt that maybe she'd poked a sore subject. He'd hinted at Balin that his wife was no longer living and Druili felt the tiniest pang of guilt. So she felt like she'd been dunked back in the water when he continued./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""I apologise for shooting at your brother."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"She almost smiled./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""But he was raising a weapon at me."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"And then she growled and actually stamped her foot in frustration./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Because YOU shoot an arrow at Dwa!"/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""It was a warning shot and he did threaten me first."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Because you were pointing an arrow at us!" She knew her voice was very shrill when she screamed at him. But she didn't really care, her anger and frustration sizzling up to the top of her head./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"He smiled at her then and said in smooth and calm tones./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""If you were alone and encountered FIfteen strange individuals, without knowing who they were and you had a weapon, would you not raise it as a warning?"/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Druili was actually speechless for a few moments. Bard was trying not to laugh as she floundered on the spot, her mouth opening and closing a few times before she literally shook herself and pointed an accusing finger at him./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""You didn't think to ask if we were lost or needed help."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Bard nodded at her as if in agreement, but completely negated the action with the simple words./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""I didn't know if you would suddenly band together and attack me on the spot. These parts are particularly...hospitable."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Druili frowned so deeply at him, Bard did smile at her then. His eyes twinkled in amusement and he was about to tell her she looked just like one of his girls when he'd told them off, but she turned away with a grunt./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Mahal, blood-bloody males!" She grumbled as she stomped off. But instead of going back over to her solitary position, she walked all the way to the other end of the boat with the company. She cast a quick glance at him over her shoulder and whilst the shadows of the night seemed to obscure his features, she could tell he was still looking at her./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"And smiling./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"She wandered over to where Dwalin as leaning on a barrel and just huffed at him to get his attention./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Why are males so bloody infuriating?!" She gripped the edges of one of the barrels and leant against it. She hadn't expected him to answer, really hoping for him to do his 'silent but deadly' glare, but instead, the infuriating bastard actually smirked at her./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Keeps you on your toes."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"She scoffed loudly and pushed her hands away from the barrel as if she'd just remembered it was made by elves. She folded her arms again and decided to survey the landscape. Or try to. Through the icy waters, they moved and the fog had now thickened. She couldn't tell if night had come again or the weather in this place was just awful. But she also knew, the closer they got to Lake-town, the closer they were to Erebor./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Home./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Watch out!" Bofur's cry caught her attention and she turned just in time to see the large rock they were heading for. She watched in awe as the looming obelisk suddenly moved. But of course, it hadn't moved. The boat had./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Bard had expertly moved them to the side and began to weave around the waters. Druili spotted more standing stones and looked at them with great interest. Through the fog, they were such...interesting shapes./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"These weren't rocks or standing stones at all. But remnants from a foundation that had once been destroyed./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"She turned at Thorin's husky tone./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""What are you trying to do, drown us?"/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Bard didn't seem the least bothered by his tone and continued to steer./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""I was born and bred on these waters, Master Dwarf. If I wanted to drown you, I would not do it here."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""...You're a great source of comfort, you know that?" Druili called to him and turned back to Dwalin, feeling that he'd at least have the sense to not answer back to her this time. But his eyes were on Bard./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Oh, I've had enough of this lippy Lakeman," he turned the others behind him and lowered his voice, "I say we throw him over the side and be done with it."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Druili would have happily agreed, but unfortunately, her logical and fair side won out./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""No, it's not bloody fair," she sighed and rolled her eyes begrudgingly, "It's his boat after all."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Bard, his name's Bard." Bilbo groaned and shook his head as he tried to keep himself warm./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""How do you know?" Bofur was the one to ask./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Uh, I asked him."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Druili couldn't suppress her snort or smile at the way Bilbo had so elegantly said that./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"As the rest of the company began to quietly converse and talk about Bard, she slunk down next to Kili. His arm instinctively came up and around, pulling her closer to him to keep her warm. She shifted into the welcome embrace./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Thanks, parasites."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Kili groaned but still managed a weak smile. He was still looking pretty pale and Druili avoided looking at his /"How do you feel?"/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"His tired eyes looked into hers and he shrugged./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Like Mam's made us do all the hard work around the house and then we've gone tree climbing."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Balin interjected by asking everyone to turn out their pockets and she reached into her pouch and pulled out the one coin that lingered at the bottom. She expertly tossed it onto the table and continued to converse with her brother./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""And no apples as a reward," she placed her free hand on his good knee and gave it a squeeze, "I'm glad...I'm glad you're all right."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""I'm glad Tauriel was there. I'd be dead if it wasn't for her."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Druili managed to restrain her scowl. The way he'd said the Elf's name was so...sappy. But he was right, he would be if the others hadn't of been there. They all might be./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Yeah, I suppose." She eventually admitted, but bit her lip on the smile he forced out of her./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""There's a problem."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"They looked over at Balin who was counting and recounting the coins laid out in front of him./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""We're fifteen coins short."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Kili turned back and arched his brow at Druili. She just sighed./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Fiiiine."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Pushing his arm off of her, she reached deep into her tunic and whilst most of the company were perplexed and a little embarrassed to watch her rifling around in her top, most were curious as to what it was she doing./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"After a few moments of struggling without looking down, she managed to pull her hand out again, this time clasping five coins in her hand. She reached over and passed it to Ori who passed it to Balin./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"When she sat back, everyone was looking at her./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""...What?"/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""You have STUFF in there?!" Fili looked at her as if she'd grown a second head./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Of course I do," She smiled as she reached back down her tunic and secured the hidden button on the inside, so everything was shut up and secure again, "Mother made it for me."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Ten coins now."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Thorin folded his arms and Druili watched him shift his gaze to one of the elder members of the company. The one they knew would come through./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Gloin."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Gloin looked at Thorin in bewilderment./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Gloin. Come on. Give us what you have."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Everyone turned to Gloin expectedly. Druili couldn't help but smile./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Don't look at me."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Gloin," Druili called him and gave him a sweet smile when she had his attention, "If you don't cough it up, I'm going to start helping you take your clothes off."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"He had the decency to turn bright red and Druili started to laugh as he blustered./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""I have been bled dry by this venture. And what have I seen with my investment?"/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Druili stopped laughing when she noticed everyone was now standing. Kili grabbed her arm and signalled for her to stand, though he was not looking at her. He was looking at the same place as everyone else./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"She stood up and looked out whilst Gloin babbled on and then...it was there./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"In the distance, behind the thick, grey fog was the shape of a mountain. It was the closest they had ever been and without anyone saying a word, she knew it was Erebor. The Lonely Mountain. The home of her ancestors./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Oh, that's it." She whispered out and grabbed hold of Kili's arm, careful not to lean on him for support. Fili came up behind her and grabbed her other hand in his, clutching desperately./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""You're shivering." He whispered against her ear but she shook her head in response./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""It's all right, It's not the cold." She smiled at the mountain and for the first time, when she felt tears spring to her eyes, she didn't care. She was so happy./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""We made it."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Bless my beard," Gloin's voice shook behind her and she heard the jingle of his money pouch he'd been hiding, "Take it. Take all of it."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Druili actually laughed but only turned around to look at Thorin's face. All the Dwarves were looking at the mountain but only he was seeing it for what he remembered. His eyes shining and the ghost of a smile on his lips./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"The moment was quickly shattered when Bilbo cleared his throat and drew their attention to Bard, who had left his post and was walking towards them. Some turned away immediately, others lowered their gaze but bowed their heads. Druili turned her attention to Fili and smiled at him. He looked at her with warmth in his eyes and mouthed, 'Thank you', though she wasn't sure what he was thanking her for, exactly./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""The money, quick. Give it to me." Bard approached Balin and held his hand out. Druili turned back to him and sneered./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Bloody Mahal, you waste no time."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""We will pay you when we get our provisions but not before." Thorin had composed himself and was back to being stern and almost intimidating. They had had a deal after all./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""If you value your freedom, you'll do as I say," Bard now looked nervous as he flicked his gaze behind them, indicating the dangers awaiting them, "There are guards ahead."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Everyone turned and Druili had to squint to see what awaited them. Through the fog was the ramshackle and make-shift houses that floated upon the waters. She'd heard of this place but no one spoke fondly of it./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Darkened, silhouettes of a town born from poverty and despair./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"There was a part of the town where she had grown up that she had been told NEVER to go down. So of course when she'd turned twenty, she'd snuck down there was a long coat on, all by herself. It wasn't a pleasant place. Where she'd expected fights around every corner and people passing secrets and messages to one another in the shadows, she'd met those living in squalor. Barely enough food to put on the table. No wood for fires in winter. Clothes that had been patched together after years of wear and tear. She'd left and not returned, her sadness going on for weeks until she broke down and told Fili and Kili about it./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"That part of town had luckily been given charity and it had been a much better place in the last few years./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"But as Lake-town came closer, Druili's heart felt that same tug. The pit in her stomach curling and forming outwards. This was not a place where they would be making friends and she knew without weapons and in their weakened states, they would fall easily./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"The only thing they could do now was the one thing she hated doing and that was to trust Bard./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"~/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Squeezing back into the barrel was not desirable, especially when she had to squelch her feet back into the inch layer of water that was there. Cold, wet and hiding in a barrel were not how she envisioned journeying into Erebor./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"The others seemed just as discontent as her, but they were all blabbing and whispering about what was happening outside the barrel. Druili made sure to keep her own voice low as she spoke through one of the holes in the barrel, courtesy of one of the many arrows that had been fired at them./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""You know, it'd be easier if you lot all stopped talking at once so we could bloody hear!" She waited for a couple of the murmurs to die down, but still could not hear what was happening outside, "Can you lot shut it and be clearer?!/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""No."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Of course, Dwalin's reply would be curt and to the point. She grumbled and switched her attention./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Kili...Are you-"/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""I'm FINE." He hissed back./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""All right, don't bite my head off-"/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Pack it in you two, it's not the time." Whilst she couldn't see Fili, she could still picture his stern gaze./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"As Druili struggled to listen the sound of chatter died down. Apparently, Bard was talking to someone and it looked like he was making a deal with them./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"There was a hushed discussion that they were being betrayed and Druili was ready to scramble out of her barrel and confront Bard, but she never got the chance./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"A loud, clanking sound followed by footsteps caught her attention and she looked up. It was like someone was dragging a long and heavy metal chain or-/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Druili had only a second to brace herself when she saw the first fish fly at her. She restrained a cry when a whole barrage of fish fell into her bucket and began to cover her swiftly./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Her hands came up and she managed to make a big enough space so that her face was fish free. But that didn't stop the smell./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"'...Oh, Mother, I'm going to have a lot of baths when I get home.'/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"As she felt the movement of the boat below her, she had to applaud Bard for his plan. Well, she would of if she could move her hands. But for now, she just had to listen to the sound of the others grunting and groaning in disgust around her./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"But she didn't join in on the chorus because her stomach actually dared to growl at her./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Whilst Druili hadn't been particularly fond of fish, it had been a while since they'd eaten ANYTHING and her stomach did grumble. No one could see her...no one had to know. Wiggling her arms, she gripped one of the slimy creatures in her hands and brought it up to her lips. /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""I'm not eating on it, I'm just...chewing it."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"As she sat there with a fish in her mouth slowly munching on it, she started to contemplate her life choices. But thankfully she was distracted by the voices outside the boat. It was just unfortunate that it was difficult to hear clearly with fish in your ears. She had to laugh silently at how silly that sounded./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"The conversation seemed to go on for a while and she swore she heard a voice yell something at some point, but she didn't think anything of it./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"That is, until her barrel suddenly moved. Spitting the fish out and somehow managing to get her arms to the side of her barrel, she braced herself. She felt a few of the fish that were covering her head tumble out and splash into the water below./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"The tilting stopped. She was completely stiff and quiet as she waited with bated breath./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"'Please, Mahal...If... I just want one break. In my entire lifetime, I know I ask a lot But... Please.'/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Thankfully, it seemed to work. She jostled slightly as the barrel was suddenly tilted back straight and she was righted at least. She kept her breath in when the light above finally shone through from where the fish had fallen out and she just hoped her hair wasn't visible. She felt the vibrations of many heavy footsteps depart and after a few moments, finally breathed out./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"The feeling of the boat moving through the water had her almost sobbing in joy. They'd made it through the checks, the security and whatever it was that had been about to dump them in the water./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"She allowed her body to relax as they continued through the water. How far more would they travel? Would they be able to get to the mountain tonight? She ruminated for the remainder of her journey in the barrel but stopped when she felt the motion still and she realised that Bard had docked again./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"She waited for the signal. She just hoped it wouldn't be getting tilted violently again./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"She heard a couple of loud thumps, followed by the sound of the company grumbling and calling out to one another. She pushed her arms out and over the edges, trying to wiggle her way free. Thankfully, two strong hands grabbed at her elbows and she latched onto the fabric as they heaved her out./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Come on," Thorin looped his arms around her waist and back and they managed to awkwardly hoist her up and out of the barrel./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Well, that was pleasant," she stood quickly and began to pick bits of fish off of herself. Quickly swiping at her hair, she just hoped a bass or tuna hadn't decided to hitch a ride in the mass of tangles that were forming./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"~/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"As they banded together and followed Bard through the town, Druili couldn't help but look around at the people and places. It wasn't TOO bad. Whilst no one was smiling or laughing, she didn't feel hostility or negativity come from any of these people. No, those that paid enough attention and saw them merely looked curiously at the company of Fourteen Dwarves and one Hobbit./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"She was at least thankful that Gandalf wasn't there also, he would have stuck out like a sore thumb./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"'I hope you're doing well, old friend.'/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"There was no sign of fog or even bad weather but whilst the sun was still out, the sight of everyone dressed in warm bundles of clothes made Druili shudder and she covered her arms with her hands as they all walked on./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Bard stopped as he moved them along, making sure they were all accounted for./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Keep your head's down, keep moving," he looked at Druili and managed a small smile, "Try to stay out of trouble. Quickly, now."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"She never got the chance to scold him for that remark when another voice rang out, shouting amongst the crowd./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Halt!"/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"The company stopped in the line and quickly looked. A few yards away at the other end of the market, stood a guard. And he was looking straight at them and pointing./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Oi!" He shouted and went to take a step, but had to stop when someone crossed his path./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Oh...Bollocks!" Druili cursed and knew what was coming. Thorin turned to the others and urged them to run./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Come on, move."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""In the name of the Master of Lake-town, I said halt!"/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"'Fat Chance!'/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"They began to run now, ducking down low and weaving through the crowds and people. They dodged stalls and people with trolleys full of goods they were selling./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Druili thought they were making good time, but then another appeared at the front and in the haste to stop, a pile-up and huddle were created and no one could move./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"They were packed in tight and trapped./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"A short while later.../p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Druili was sulking. But she refused to even admit or acknowledge she was sulking. No, she was merely leaning against the side of the boat, by herself. Her arms were folded because she was comfy in that position and she was NOT pouting or glowering at a spot on the boat./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""'You can ride with us or swim, your choice'," she mocked the company to herself, mostly because she was the only person she wasn't mad at, "bloody...bloody males."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"A clearing of the throat made her look up and see Bilbo standing a few feet from her, obviously in hearing distance. She scrunched up her nose and grimaced./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""No offence," she grumbled and rubbed at her arms, "It's bloody freezing."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"After bartering and conversing with the Bowman, everyone had scrambled onto his boat. Druili had marched on with EXTREME reluctance. She was pretty sure, if it hadn't of been for Kili's small 'please Dru', she would have dragged her heels and made someone have to carry her on./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"But the day was now ending and Druili had chosen to sulk-avoid the rest of the company. The Bowman was at one end, steering expertly and the others were at the other. Druili put herself smack bang in the middle and wouldn't talk to anyone for a few hours. She was at least thankful it was too cold for her hair to frizz out and dry properly. Instead, it hung heavily and lay damp against her shoulders and back./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"But then it got too much. She kept sneaking glances at him as if waiting for him to suddenly attack or lead them into danger./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"So she squared her shoulders, kept her back straight and walked over to him./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"As she approached the Bowman, she glared at him. She had overheard him talking to Bilbo at one point and remembered that he had mentioned his name being 'Bard'. But she wouldn't trust what he said when it came to personal details. He'd been talking about his family before they left, but she just envisioned him alone in a hut and surrounded by empty bottles of ale./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"He seemed relaxed now, almost pleased with the situation. But that just made her even more suspicious of him. Whilst the others had settled further down the boat, huddled together in hushed conversation and also for the warmth, she walked the short distance to the man they called Bard./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"He glanced at her briefly but didn't say a word for a minute or two. Just letting her glare at him before he did speak and she swore he sounded amused./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Are you perchance unhappy with this arrangement?"/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Druili's jaw tightened and she got closer to him, glaring up into his face where she knew he could see her./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""I'm watching you." Her warning tones fell flat when she gave a violent shudder./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""I can see that," his mouth twitched again as if trying to hide a smirk, "Though, considering I'm ferrying you and your friends across the lake, I would suggest a bit more civility."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Druili's eyes flared again as she hissed in anger./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Well, you fired an arrow at my brother. I think I've earned the right to be a little mad."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Bard actually did smile at her this time and she felt like kicking him. Hard./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""You remind me of someone." He chuckled more to himself than to her, but it still irked her something fierce./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Oh, did you fire an arrow at their brother also?" She knew she was being childish, but she wasn't about to go easy and be all chummy with this man./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""No," for a moment his eyes flickered as if remembering something painful, "she didn't have any brothers to worry about."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Ok, so Druili felt that maybe she'd poked a sore subject. He'd hinted at Balin that his wife was no longer living and Druili felt the tiniest pang of guilt. So she felt like she'd been dunked back in the water when he continued./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""I apologise for shooting at your brother."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"She almost smiled./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""But he was raising a weapon at me."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"And then she growled and actually stamped her foot in frustration./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Because YOU shoot an arrow at Dwa!"/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""It was a warning shot and he did threaten me first."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Because you were pointing an arrow at us!" She knew her voice was very shrill when she screamed at him. But she didn't really care, her anger and frustration sizzling up to the top of her head./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"He smiled at her then and said in smooth and calm tones./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""If you were alone and encountered FIfteen strange individuals, without knowing who they were and you had a weapon, would you not raise it as a warning?"/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Druili was actually speechless for a few moments. Bard was trying not to laugh as she floundered on the spot, her mouth opening and closing a few times before she literally shook herself and pointed an accusing finger at him./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""You didn't think to ask if we were lost or needed help."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Bard nodded at her as if in agreement, but completely negated the action with the simple words./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""I didn't know if you would suddenly band together and attack me on the spot. These parts are particularly...hospitable."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Druili frowned so deeply at him, Bard did smile at her then. His eyes twinkled in amusement and he was about to tell her she looked just like one of his girls when he'd told them off, but she turned away with a grunt./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Mahal, blood-bloody males!" She grumbled as she stomped off. But instead of going back over to her solitary position, she walked all the way to the other end of the boat with the company. She cast a quick glance at him over her shoulder and whilst the shadows of the night seemed to obscure his features, she could tell he was still looking at her./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"And smiling./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"She wandered over to where Dwalin as leaning on a barrel and just huffed at him to get his attention./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Why are males so bloody infuriating?!" She gripped the edges of one of the barrels and leant against it. She hadn't expected him to answer, really hoping for him to do his 'silent but deadly' glare, but instead, the infuriating bastard actually smirked at her./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Keeps you on your toes."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"She scoffed loudly and pushed her hands away from the barrel as if she'd just remembered it was made by elves. She folded her arms again and decided to survey the landscape. Or try to. Through the icy waters, they moved and the fog had now thickened. She couldn't tell if night had come again or the weather in this place was just awful. But she also knew, the closer they got to Lake-town, the closer they were to Erebor./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Home./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Watch out!" Bofur's cry caught her attention and she turned just in time to see the large rock they were heading for. She watched in awe as the looming obelisk suddenly moved. But of course, it hadn't moved. The boat had./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Bard had expertly moved them to the side and began to weave around the waters. Druili spotted more standing stones and looked at them with great interest. Through the fog, they were such...interesting shapes./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"These weren't rocks or standing stones at all. But remnants from a foundation that had once been destroyed./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"She turned at Thorin's husky tone./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""What are you trying to do, drown us?"/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Bard didn't seem the least bothered by his tone and continued to steer./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""I was born and bred on these waters, Master Dwarf. If I wanted to drown you, I would not do it here."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""...You're a great source of comfort, you know that?" Druili called to him and turned back to Dwalin, feeling that he'd at least have the sense to not answer back to her this time. But his eyes were on Bard./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Oh, I've had enough of this lippy Lakeman," he turned the others behind him and lowered his voice, "I say we throw him over the side and be done with it."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Druili would have happily agreed, but unfortunately, her logical and fair side won out./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""No, it's not bloody fair," she sighed and rolled her eyes begrudgingly, "It's his boat after all."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Bard, his name's Bard." Bilbo groaned and shook his head as he tried to keep himself warm./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""How do you know?" Bofur was the one to ask./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Uh, I asked him."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Druili couldn't suppress her snort or smile at the way Bilbo had so elegantly said that./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"As the rest of the company began to quietly converse and talk about Bard, she slunk down next to Kili. His arm instinctively came up and around, pulling her closer to him to keep her warm. She shifted into the welcome embrace./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Thanks, parasites."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Kili groaned but still managed a weak smile. He was still looking pretty pale and Druili avoided looking at his /"How do you feel?"/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"His tired eyes looked into hers and he shrugged./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Like Mam's made us do all the hard work around the house and then we've gone tree climbing."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Balin interjected by asking everyone to turn out their pockets and she reached into her pouch and pulled out the one coin that lingered at the bottom. She expertly tossed it onto the table and continued to converse with her brother./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""And no apples as a reward," she placed her free hand on his good knee and gave it a squeeze, "I'm glad...I'm glad you're all right."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""I'm glad Tauriel was there. I'd be dead if it wasn't for her."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Druili managed to restrain her scowl. The way he'd said the Elf's name was so...sappy. But he was right, he would be if the others hadn't of been there. They all might be./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Yeah, I suppose." She eventually admitted, but bit her lip on the smile he forced out of her./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""There's a problem."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"They looked over at Balin who was counting and recounting the coins laid out in front of him./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""We're fifteen coins short."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Kili turned back and arched his brow at Druili. She just sighed./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Fiiiine."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Pushing his arm off of her, she reached deep into her tunic and whilst most of the company were perplexed and a little embarrassed to watch her rifling around in her top, most were curious as to what it was she doing./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"After a few moments of struggling without looking down, she managed to pull her hand out again, this time clasping five coins in her hand. She reached over and passed it to Ori who passed it to Balin./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"When she sat back, everyone was looking at her./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""...What?"/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""You have STUFF in there?!" Fili looked at her as if she'd grown a second head./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Of course I do," She smiled as she reached back down her tunic and secured the hidden button on the inside, so everything was shut up and secure again, "Mother made it for me."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Ten coins now."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Thorin folded his arms and Druili watched him shift his gaze to one of the elder members of the company. The one they knew would come through./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Gloin."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Gloin looked at Thorin in bewilderment./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Gloin. Come on. Give us what you have."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Everyone turned to Gloin expectedly. Druili couldn't help but smile./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Don't look at me."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Gloin," Druili called him and gave him a sweet smile when she had his attention, "If you don't cough it up, I'm going to start helping you take your clothes off."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"He had the decency to turn bright red and Druili started to laugh as he blustered./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""I have been bled dry by this venture. And what have I seen with my investment?"/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Druili stopped laughing when she noticed everyone was now standing. Kili grabbed her arm and signalled for her to stand, though he was not looking at her. He was looking at the same place as everyone else./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"She stood up and looked out whilst Gloin babbled on and then...it was there./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"In the distance, behind the thick, grey fog was the shape of a mountain. It was the closest they had ever been and without anyone saying a word, she knew it was Erebor. The Lonely Mountain. The home of her ancestors./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Oh, that's it." She whispered out and grabbed hold of Kili's arm, careful not to lean on him for support. Fili came up behind her and grabbed her other hand in his, clutching desperately./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""You're shivering." He whispered against her ear but she shook her head in response./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""It's all right, It's not the cold." She smiled at the mountain and for the first time, when she felt tears spring to her eyes, she didn't care. She was so happy./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""We made it."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Bless my beard," Gloin's voice shook behind her and she heard the jingle of his money pouch he'd been hiding, "Take it. Take all of it."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Druili actually laughed but only turned around to look at Thorin's face. All the Dwarves were looking at the mountain but only he was seeing it for what he remembered. His eyes shining and the ghost of a smile on his lips./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"The moment was quickly shattered when Bilbo cleared his throat and drew their attention to Bard, who had left his post and was walking towards them. Some turned away immediately, others lowered their gaze but bowed their heads. Druili turned her attention to Fili and smiled at him. He looked at her with warmth in his eyes and mouthed, 'Thank you', though she wasn't sure what he was thanking her for, exactly./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""The money, quick. Give it to me." Bard approached Balin and held his hand out. Druili turned back to him and sneered./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Bloody Mahal, you waste no time."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""We will pay you when we get our provisions but not before." Thorin had composed himself and was back to being stern and almost intimidating. They had had a deal after all./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""If you value your freedom, you'll do as I say," Bard now looked nervous as he flicked his gaze behind them, indicating the dangers awaiting them, "There are guards ahead."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Everyone turned and Druili had to squint to see what awaited them. Through the fog was the ramshackle and make-shift houses that floated upon the waters. She'd heard of this place but no one spoke fondly of it./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Darkened, silhouettes of a town born from poverty and despair./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"There was a part of the town where she had grown up that she had been told NEVER to go down. So of course when she'd turned twenty, she'd snuck down there was a long coat on, all by herself. It wasn't a pleasant place. Where she'd expected fights around every corner and people passing secrets and messages to one another in the shadows, she'd met those living in squalor. Barely enough food to put on the table. No wood for fires in winter. Clothes that had been patched together after years of wear and tear. She'd left and not returned, her sadness going on for weeks until she broke down and told Fili and Kili about it./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"That part of town had luckily been given charity and it had been a much better place in the last few years./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"But as Lake-town came closer, Druili's heart felt that same tug. The pit in her stomach curling and forming outwards. This was not a place where they would be making friends and she knew without weapons and in their weakened states, they would fall easily./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"The only thing they could do now was the one thing she hated doing and that was to trust Bard./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"~/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Squeezing back into the barrel was not desirable, especially when she had to squelch her feet back into the inch layer of water that was there. Cold, wet and hiding in a barrel were not how she envisioned journeying into Erebor./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"The others seemed just as discontent as her, but they were all blabbing and whispering about what was happening outside the barrel. Druili made sure to keep her own voice low as she spoke through one of the holes in the barrel, courtesy of one of the many arrows that had been fired at them./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""You know, it'd be easier if you lot all stopped talking at once so we could bloody hear!" She waited for a couple of the murmurs to die down, but still could not hear what was happening outside, "Can you lot shut it and be clearer?!/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""No."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Of course, Dwalin's reply would be curt and to the point. She grumbled and switched her attention./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Kili...Are you-"/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""I'm FINE." He hissed back./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""All right, don't bite my head off-"/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Pack it in you two, it's not the time." Whilst she couldn't see Fili, she could still picture his stern gaze./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"As Druili struggled to listen the sound of chatter died down. Apparently, Bard was talking to someone and it looked like he was making a deal with them./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"There was a hushed discussion that they were being betrayed and Druili was ready to scramble out of her barrel and confront Bard, but she never got the chance./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"A loud, clanking sound followed by footsteps caught her attention and she looked up. It was like someone was dragging a long and heavy metal chain or-/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Druili had only a second to brace herself when she saw the first fish fly at her. She restrained a cry when a whole barrage of fish fell into her bucket and began to cover her swiftly./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Her hands came up and she managed to make a big enough space so that her face was fish free. But that didn't stop the smell./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"'...Oh, Mother, I'm going to have a lot of baths when I get home.'/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"As she felt the movement of the boat below her, she had to applaud Bard for his plan. Well, she would of if she could move her hands. But for now, she just had to listen to the sound of the others grunting and groaning in disgust around her./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"But she didn't join in on the chorus because her stomach actually dared to growl at her./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Whilst Druili hadn't been particularly fond of fish, it had been a while since they'd eaten ANYTHING and her stomach did grumble. No one could see her...no one had to know. Wiggling her arms, she gripped one of the slimy creatures in her hands and brought it up to her lips. /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""I'm not eating on it, I'm just...chewing it."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"As she sat there with a fish in her mouth slowly munching on it, she started to contemplate her life choices. But thankfully she was distracted by the voices outside the boat. It was just unfortunate that it was difficult to hear clearly with fish in your ears. She had to laugh silently at how silly that sounded./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"The conversation seemed to go on for a while and she swore she heard a voice yell something at some point, but she didn't think anything of it./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"That is, until her barrel suddenly moved. Spitting the fish out and somehow managing to get her arms to the side of her barrel, she braced herself. She felt a few of the fish that were covering her head tumble out and splash into the water below./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"The tilting stopped. She was completely stiff and quiet as she waited with bated breath./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"'Please, Mahal...If... I just want one break. In my entire lifetime, I know I ask a lot But... Please.'/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Thankfully, it seemed to work. She jostled slightly as the barrel was suddenly tilted back straight and she was righted at least. She kept her breath in when the light above finally shone through from where the fish had fallen out and she just hoped her hair wasn't visible. She felt the vibrations of many heavy footsteps depart and after a few moments, finally breathed out./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"The feeling of the boat moving through the water had her almost sobbing in joy. They'd made it through the checks, the security and whatever it was that had been about to dump them in the water./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"She allowed her body to relax as they continued through the water. How far more would they travel? Would they be able to get to the mountain tonight? She ruminated for the remainder of her journey in the barrel but stopped when she felt the motion still and she realised that Bard had docked again./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"She waited for the signal. She just hoped it wouldn't be getting tilted violently again./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"She heard a couple of loud thumps, followed by the sound of the company grumbling and calling out to one another. She pushed her arms out and over the edges, trying to wiggle her way free. Thankfully, two strong hands grabbed at her elbows and she latched onto the fabric as they heaved her out./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Come on," Thorin looped his arms around her waist and back and they managed to awkwardly hoist her up and out of the barrel./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Well, that was pleasant," she stood quickly and began to pick bits of fish off of herself. Quickly swiping at her hair, she just hoped a bass or tuna hadn't decided to hitch a ride in the mass of tangles that were forming./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"~/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"As they banded together and followed Bard through the town, Druili couldn't help but look around at the people and places. It wasn't TOO bad. Whilst no one was smiling or laughing, she didn't feel hostility or negativity come from any of these people. No, those that paid enough attention and saw them merely looked curiously at the company of Fourteen Dwarves and one Hobbit./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"She was at least thankful that Gandalf wasn't there also, he would have stuck out like a sore thumb./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"'I hope you're doing well, old friend.'/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"There was no sign of fog or even bad weather but whilst the sun was still out, the sight of everyone dressed in warm bundles of clothes made Druili shudder and she covered her arms with her hands as they all walked on./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Bard stopped as he moved them along, making sure they were all accounted for./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Keep your head's down, keep moving," he looked at Druili and managed a small smile, "Try to stay out of trouble. Quickly, now."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"She never got the chance to scold him for that remark when another voice rang out, shouting amongst the crowd./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Halt!"/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"The company stopped in the line and quickly looked. A few yards away at the other end of the market, stood a guard. And he was looking straight at them and pointing./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Oi!" He shouted and went to take a step, but had to stop when someone crossed his path./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Oh...Bollocks!" Druili cursed and knew what was coming. Thorin turned to the others and urged them to run./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Come on, move."/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""In the name of the Master of Lake-town, I said halt!"/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"'Fat Chance!'/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"They began to run now, ducking down low and weaving through the crowds and people. They dodged stalls and people with trolleys full of goods they were selling./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Druili thought they were making good time, but then another appeared at the front and in the haste to stop, a pile-up and huddle were created and no one could move./p
p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"They were packed in tight and trapped./p
