Chapter 9: New friends and Old Secrets

"Get back! The other way!" Thorin yelled and tried to organise and shove everyone back to where they had come from. Unfortunately, the group was still packed in and trying to run in the one direction everyone had already been going. Everyone began to clamber and then, the guards attacked.

Where there had been two, more appeared and they charged at the company. But luckily, they were ready.

Druili pulled herself free of the scrum and hoisted herself up on a table. The woman behind it only looked a little shocked as this little Dwarrowdam suddenly flew by her and tackled the approaching guard.

Druili's body hit the man's full force and he tumbled quickly to the floor. Winded, he tried to shake himself back awake, but she was quicker. She straddled his chest with her knees and her fist collided with his nose and she heard a satisfying snap as his head rebounded off of the floor below.

She never got a chance to celebrate however, when strong arms grabbed her around the waist and hoisted her through the air.

"Get off!" She called out and thrashed wildly, trying to turn herself around in his arms. She felt him stumble and try to maintain a grip on her and as he twisted his body around, she looked for a weapon.

Where the woman had been before, lay an assortment of pots, pans and skillets. She reached out and grabbed the handle of one.

"I said," she clasped the handle in one hand as she looked over her shoulder at him, "GET. OFF."

With one satisfying swoop, the metal connected with his skull with a pleasing 'Thwack!' sound. His arms fell away from her waist and she landed on her feet. His body fell to the floor and the woman at the stall kicked him away, hiding him under the table.

"Thank you," Druili got her attention and tossed the pan her way, which the woman caught with a small smile, "these are really good! I might come back and buy one!"

The sounds of the company still fighting behind her spurred her on and she dove again for another guard. But Fili and Kili had already tripped him up with a rope, so as he crashed to the floor with Druili on top, her elbow curved into the back of his head and knocked him out as she tumbled to the floor.

She sat up and smiled at her brothers as the last of the guards' bodies were pulled into the shadows and corners of the market stalls.

"That wasn't so hard."

"There's more coming!" Nori hissed and she rolled her eyes at the glare she received from Fili and Kili.

"I didn't bloody jinx it!" She whispered and scrambled quickly on her hands and knees for cover.

The traders and people around them began to behave normally. Walking around like they hadn't just seen or helped dispatch their own town guards. Druili hid behind the stall with the woman and the assortment of pans and goods on her table.

The woman passed her down a pan and Druili took it with a smirk.

"Stay where you are. Nobody leaves." A voice called out and she had a feeling it was the head guard, coming to look for his missing comrades.

Bard walked by her from his hiding place and casually strolled into the man's view.

"Braga!" He called out in friendly tones, though Druili had a feeling it was only an act, "Sorry?"

"You. What are you up to, Bard?"

As they began to converse, Druili suddenly felt a hand on her leg. She looked over and saw the guard she'd knocked out with the pan beginning to stir. She cursed his thick skull. And she couldn't hit him with the pan because the sound would surely attract the others.

So she discreetly tugged on the woman's skirt to get her attention.

The woman glanced down and saw him and turned back atop. The next thing Druili saw, was a small potted plant fall off of the side of the table and land right on top of the guards head. The sound wasn't loud enough to attract attention but it did the job as the guard then sunk back into what she could only assume was a painful sleep.

"Nice one!" She half-mouthed, half whispered above her and hoped the woman had really good hearing. The next thing that was tossed down was an old and bruised apple. But Druili could have cried out with joy as she caught it and quickly shoved it down her tunic and tucked it inside her leather holster. She definitely underestimated this town and the people here. She was also DEFINITELY considering coming back for that pan.

As Braga seemed to be coming to the end of his tether with Bard, the company quietly began to sneak around and away, using the townsfolk and whatever they were carrying as cover.

"Who says it's just Hobbits that go unnoticed?" She smiled behind her at Bilbo, who returned it with his own nervous smile.

Bard had successfully gotten rid of Braga and his guards and joined them as they began to wander. He led them further and further down an alleyway, passed the markets and closer to homes and apartments.

Just as she thought they were in the clear, a small boy appeared from around a corner, running straight for Bard.

"Da! Our house is being watched!" The boy panted as he came to a stop in front of Bard.

Druili actually felt like pulling and tugging out her hair as she growled.

"BUGGERING BOLLOCKS!" She snarled out and the others turned to her and she immediately regretted the outburst just by the looks of shock, "sorry-it's-it's been a long day, okay?"

She caught Fili's eye and wanted to slap him as he tried not to laugh.

"I have an idea," Bard said, but he was looking at the water. Druili didn't like his look.

"Are we going bloody swimming?!" She was only just drying off and the frost was starting to make her clothes go stiff.

"...I think you'll find this the lesser option." She did not like Bard's hesitation. At. All.

"Dru, I-"

"Don't. Don't say a word, Fili. Don't you say anything," she turned to him in the water and her eyes bore into his, "You don't say a word now...or ever. We NEVER mention this. To Anyone. Ever. Understood?"

She didn't wait for his reply but turned back around as they half-swim and half pulled themselves along using the foundation above to hoist themselves along.

Bard had guided them into the water and given them specific directions to follow. Unfortunately, his directions had concluded with, 'And at the end, you will see where our toilet is. I and Bain will be there to help you.'

Druili had been the one to squeak, 'Toilet?!'

As they finally seemed to reach their destination, one by one they hoisted themselves up and into Bard's house. They were not alone.

"Da...why are there Dwarves climbing out of our toilet?" A girls voice called out from above, but Druili was too busy to look at her. Or, she daren't look at her whilst she was still trying to clamber out of the toilet herself.

As she plodded along behind the others and revelled in the warmth of the house, she kept her eyes stuck on the back of Dori's head. She really didn't need to see if the children were smiling or laughing at them, lest she react violently.

"Will they bring us luck?" Another voice called out, almost gleefully. Druili just rolled her eyes and grumbled quietly.

"I'll bring you bloody luck."

As they were herded up the stairs, Bard directed his children to gather all the spare blankets and clothes they had in the house.

Druili stood in front of the fire and hastily wrapped a blanket around herself. She looked around as the others were given tunics and shirts and had a momentary image of horror at the thought one of the girls would give her a dress to wear. She shuddered and then remembered her pouch was still attached to her. She also remembered it was tightly sealed and waterproof on the inside.

She undone the laces and buttons and reached inside and sure enough-

"Yes!" She grasped the material at the bottom and yanked out the clothes that had been laying at the bottom for a while, "Thank you, Eilonwy!"

She was so caught up in her joy, she didn't see the few faces turn at her outburst. She did, however, notice the purposeful coughs and clearing of throats when she threw off her blanket and attempted to take off her tunic also.

She looked up and whilst she hadn't been too fussed about the company seeing her undress, she spotted Bard and Bain in the corner, still passing out clothes and blankets to those that hadn't got any yet.

"Okay, that might be pushing it."

A hand landed on her arm. The smaller child (Bard had called her Tilda?) smiled down at her.

"You can come in here and dress." She turned and led the way to a back room that was covered with a clean sheet.

Druili followed the girl through the hallway and walked by as the girl held the sheet for her to pass.

The room was clean and simple and two small beds with two large trunks at the bottom were the only pieces of furniture visible. Everywhere else though, seemed to be decorated with dolls or hanging flowers.

She quickly stepped over to one of the trunks and made quick work of her clothes, not realising the other girl had followed her in with her older sister.

"Do you want some tea?" The elder girl (Sigrid?) still seemed nervous, but her father had obviously taught her the importance of being polite to guests.

"Yes please," Druili looked over her naked shoulder and kept her back to the girls as she unlaced her wet trousers, "That would be greatly appreciated."

She felt as though she should be extra polite to these girls since she'd gotten off to a bad start with their father. She just hoped he wouldn't tell them she shouted at him and grabbed his arrow...and then threatened him on his own boat.

With her legs bare out and her shoes kicked off, she quickly pulled her tunic over her head and revelled in its warmth and softness. It even smelled like Rivendell. Had it really been so many months ago since she'd been there? She felt a sudden sadness in her heart at the idea of never being able to go back there again, not just for the beautiful scenery but for the friend she had made, albeit briefly.

"That's beautiful."

She was pulled out of her daydreaming by the hushed declaration behind her. She quickly grabbed the trousers but carried on conversing over her shoulder.

"Aye, made in Rivendell." She knew the response she would get and wished she could have turned around properly to appreciate their looks of astonishment. But she was sort of busy trying to hurriedly get her trousers on to cover her cold and bare backside.

"Elven sewn?!" Sigrid gasped.

"Oh yes," Druili eventually managed to pull her trousers up to cover her dignity and she turned to face them as she began to lace the front, "made by a dear friend."

She noticed Tilda was staring at her head with a bemused expression.

"Urm...Tilda, are you all right?" She hoped she hadn't gotten their names mixed up, but luckily Tilda returned her gaze with a nod and quizzical look.

"Do you want me to help with your hair?"

Druili tried not to frown.

"It's going to be difficult to get a brush through it. It's a tough bugger." She saw Sigrid's own eyes give her a disapproving squint and realised that maybe she shouldn't swear in front of the little one. But the elder girl seemed to have had her fill of looking at Druili's clothes and quickly left to make good on the promised tea.

"You have a bit of fish in your hair."

Druili reached up and patted all over her hair, searching but seemingly unable to find what the girl was talking about. She gave up and smiled at her.

"Well...all right then. I'd appreciate your help." She watched the girl quickly open and search inside the trunk at the bottom of her bed (which was the one decorated with the tattiest and makeshift dolls). She pulled out a brush and some ribbon and Druili thought she hid her scowl very well.

"Come here," Tilda, who may have been sixty years her junior had grabbed Druili's shoulders and was guiding her like a little child, "sit there."

Druili sat herself down at the end of the other bed. She'd been manhandled by a lot of people recently, but never by a child.

Still, as she sat there and Tilda clambered onto the bed behind her, she supposed she could humour the small child for a while. She just really hoped the bow wouldn't be too noticeable or she'd have to murder Fili and Kili before they could make a comment about it.

"There, all done."

Druili's eyes snapped out and she jolted herself awake. She'd been surprised by not only the gentleness of the girl as she helped clean and brush her hair, but by how soothing it was to have someone else do her hair for her. She'd remembered being giddy with excitement as Eilonwy had pulled out odds and ends from her hair, but with Tild,a the girl had literally sat humming to herself as her gentle and small fingers worked in and out of her curls and tangles.

Druili turned around and nodded.

"Thanks Lass."

As Druili stood, her hand automatically came around to check out the damage inflicted upon her. Luckily, the ribbon itself was not noticeable and Tilda had tied it very securely a the bottom, the bow itself small and knotted.

Her hair was together in a fishtail braid and she knew it wouldn't stay put long but for now, as she let it dry and hang down her back she was indeed thankful it was no longer in her face and fish free.

She turned to see Tilda scramble off the bed and tidy her things away.

"I suppose I best see how the others are getting on," she grasped the edge of the curtain that blocked off the door from the hall and held it back, "Thanks again, lass."

Tilda gave her a curious look.

"If I make a wish, will-"

"No, no...you're thinking of something else, sweetheart." Druili smiled but couldn't name it was the girl was thinking about. She also had to hide her eye roll when Tilda walked out first, pouting.

As she made her way along the hallway, she remembered the item in her leather holster and quickly fished it out when Tilda wasn't looking. She bit into it with relish and was only slightly disappointed when she felt no satisfying crunch against her teeth, but only the soggy bits of a bruised apple.

Still, her growling stomach seemed to be happy.

As she walked back into the clustered room, a few of her kin turned at her entry. Bilbo gave her a shy smile and Nori an approving nod. Dwalin and Thorin however did not look best pleased with her choice of clothes, but she ignored them. If they really had a problem, she would happily swap clothes with them and she knew they would decline and just grumble like old men.

She walked over to her brothers, finished her apple again with haste and pulled the blanket around Fili so it was covering his front.

"Well," Kili got her attention with a husky and strained tone, "don't you look different."

Druili turned and looked at him. She couldn't grant him a smile, nor could she really reply with something light-hearted. He looked awful, but he'd already bitten her head off once today for asking if he was ok. So she just nodded and turned back to trying to get Fili warm.

"Yeah." She tried to sound aloof. She threw the apple carcass in the fire and watched it burn and wither away into nothing.

When Fili stopped shuddering and nodded at her, she left him to get changed into his warm clothes, knowing he wouldn't appreciate her babying him. She wandered over to Thorin who was staring in awe out the small window of Bard's house.

"A Dwarvish windlance." He whispered and whilst she wasn't sure if he was talking to himself or her, she came to stand beside him.

She'd heard tales about such devices and one imparticular from the story of the destruction of Dale and taking of Erebor. This must have been the one that attempted to stop Smaug when he was destroying the city.

Her hand came out and unseen, caught his. She gave him one firm squeeze and smiled at him when he squeezed back. His eyes caught hers and gave a small, reassuring nod as she let her fingers slip from his.

"You look like you've seen a ghost," Bilbo, still wrapped in his blanket and with two cups in his hands came to stand by them. He offered one to Druili and she took it eagerly, allowing the warmth to spread over her palms and fingers.

"He has," Balin joined them also and told Bilbo in gentle and hushed tones, "The last time he saw such a weapon...a city was on fire."

Druili turned back to Thorin and wished she could grab his hand again, his eyes telling her all he felt. So much pain in one awful, long ago memory.

"It was the day the dragon came. The day that Smaug destroyed Dale. Girion, the Lord of the City rallied his bowmen to fire upon the beast. But a dragon's hide is tough. Tougher than the strongest armour. Only a Black Arrow fired from a windlance could have pierced the Dragon's hide. And few of those arrows were ever made. The store was running low when Girion made his last stand. "

Druili reached up and tentatively placed her hand against Thorin's shoulder. She could imagine it all. She could see all that happened. And she watched as Thorin's sadness and pain melted away to reflect his anger.

"Had the aim of men been true that day much would have been different."

"Uncle-" She began, but was interrupted when Bard came over and joined in, having obviously heard part of the conversation.

"You speak as if you were there."

Druili dropped her hand. Bard still believed them to be Dwarves travelling to the Iron Hills and it would no do for their cover to be blown by the comfort she was trying to give Thorin.

"All Dwarves know the tale." Thorin managed to cover their tracks, but Bard's son stepped forward, looking displeased.

"Then you would know that Girion hit the dragon," his glare spoke volumes and Druili was confused by his accusatory tone, "He loosened a scale under the left wing."

Her gaze flickered to Bard's face but he was not looking at them anymore. He looked as if he had heard this story many, many times before. He looked...so tired all of a sudden.

"One more shot and he would have killed the beast."

Dwalin's laugh broke through and he stepped forward.

"That's a fairy story, lad. Nothing more."

For some reason, this made Druili mad. She wanted to tell him to shut it just by the looks on Bard and Bain's faces, but she didn't know why. What were they not telling them? Why defend a man so long dead?

Thorin stepped forward then, away from Bilbo and Balin and looked up at Bard.

"You took our money. Where are the weapons?"

Bard was silent for a moment as he looked down at Thorin. His face was like stone and Druili found that she hated not being able to read him as easily as she could read others.

Finally, he spoke.

"Wait here."

As he wandered away through the house, back to where they had ventured out of the toilet, Druili threw a look at Dwalin. He raised an eyebrow at her but she just tried to convey 'watch what you say' with her eyes, signalling that what he said upset Bain. He merely scoffed and walked away.

She calmly chose that moment to sip her tea and allowed the hot fluid to run down her throat and into her stomach, before sighing and looking directly at Bilbo.

"Bloody males."

He only smiled at her and she felt her lips twitch at the corners as she took a hearty gulp of the warm liquid.

Thorin called Balin, Druili, Fili and Kili over to the window. His arms were folded and he kept his voice low.

"Tomorrow begins the last days of Autumn."

"Durin's Day falls the morn after next. We MUST reach the mountain before then." Balin sounded urgent and looked around the small group.

"And if we do not? If we fail to find the hidden door before that time?" Kili looked around quickly to make sure none of the others were listening, least they hear the uncertainty.

"Then this quest has been for nothing."

"We'll not fail, you two. I know we won't." Druili shook her head and felt that small bubble of determination in her grow and rise. They were so close now and they couldn't fail.

They turned when they heard footsteps approach and Bard appeared before them. He had brought with him a long and wet sack that he carried over his shoulder. Druili wondered if he'd been hiding it in the water for long. Planning a rebellion? Awaiting a possible attack?

He threw the sack on the table and everyone in the company huddled around the table to watch as he untied it.

She was expecting spears and swords, but what she was more like a variety of ...stuff. A collection of...tools? Hammers, fishing equipment, stuff that she hadn't seen before. Creations that looked as though they'd been made and welded together from two different things. She was definitely intrigued.

Thorin and Dwalin were the first to reach out and pick out stuff.

"What is this?" Her Uncle asked, inspecting a long piece of wood with multiple hooks at the end.

"Pike Hook. Made from an old harpoon."

Druili reached out, but Kili surprised her with his quickness when he picked up the hammer she'd been looking at.

"And this?" He enquired.

"A crowbill, we call it. Fashioned from a smithy's hammer."

"Bugger, I wanted that." She grumbled and Kili dared to actually wink at her. If his leg wasn't in so much pain, she would have kicked him.

"It's heavy in hand, I grant but in defence of your life, there will serve you better than none." Bard observed the company as they all began to pick up the various items on the table.

Druili found a small spear like item and juggled it a couple of times in her hands, testing its weight.

"Good thing I practised," she threw a pointed look at Fili and Kili, but turned back when Gloin barked at Bard.

"We paid you for weapons."

"And we've got weapons. Just...a little different." Druili hoped she wasn't the only one to see the positive in all of this, but from the looks around the room she had a feeling so was.

"Iron-forged swords and axes!" Gloin continued unsatisfied by the hammer he held in his hands.

"It's a joke." Bofur threw his own tool back down on the table and for the first time that journey, really wanted to scold him and tell him to grow up.

Everyone began to throw their weapons back down on the table, but Druili actually used the spear she had to lean on. It gave her an idea.

"Ki, hold this would you?" She passed it on to Kili and pointedly made him take it on his right side so that he ended up leaning on it with his leg. He didn't see her satisfied expression, but he did seem relieved to have something to balance against.

The argument around them continued.

"You won't find better outside the city armoury. All Iron-forged weapons are held their under lock and key." Bard tried to be reasonable, but he missed the look that Thorin and Dwalin shared when he told them the whereabouts of the proper weapons.

'Oh bollocks, I know that look.'

"Thorin," Balin who was always the voice of reason got her Uncle's attention, "Why not take what's on offer and go?"

"I'm in agreement with Balin. These weapons WILL do us-"

"Nobody asked your opinion." Thorin interrupted Druili and months ago, she would have shut her mouth and turned away, but instead, she scowled at him.

"No, but I'm a member of this company and I'm ENTITLED to my opinion."

That seemed to shut Thorin up.

"I've made do with less. SO have you. I say we leave now." Balin was actually making good points and looked around at everyone for agreement, but it was Bard who interrupted this time.

"You're not going anywhere."

Druili's blood ran cold.

"Oh, you shouldn't have said that." She looked at Dwalin's face as it contorted into quiet fury.

"What did you say?"

"Told you." She took a step back at the way Dwalin looked at Bard, ready for a fight but the man just continued.

"There are spies watching this house and probably every dock and wharf in the town. You must wait till nightfall."

As the company began to settle and grumble, the restlessness spread. But Druili just frowned and turned to Fili.

"We're going to have to go through the toilet again, aren't we?" She groaned when he shrugged, knowing that was not a yes, but not a no either.

She heard Kili move with the spear, dragging himself back to the sofa by the window. She watched him lower himself down and his gaze was stuck on a spot on the floor as he concentrated. She could see him trying his hardest to keep it together, but even as he sat back he couldn't stop the grimace as the pain finally seemed to much for him.

His gaze wandered down to his bandage and she knew that whatever the Orcs had fired him with, was no ordinary arrow.

She wandered over to him and sat the other side, her eyes boring into his head.

"Don't. Don't tell the others. Don't say anything." He told her in hushed, worried tones. She was mad at him, that was true. But he was still her brother and the way he looked at her tightened her resolve.

"I won't say anything. But if it gets worse," she glared at him and lowered her voice to a menacing tone, "you WILL let the others look at it. Do I make myself clear?"

He nodded at her and with one hand still clutched on the wooden shaft of the spear for support or just something to grip onto, his other hand found hers and gave it a squeeze. It was by no means as firm or as strong as it usually was and she shut her eyes as she tried to quell her anger and frustration.

That powerless feeling returned. And whilst she could easily do something about it now, she also knew that upsetting Kili whilst he was in this state was not a good idea.

Bard had excused himself from the house and he hadn't been gone long, before the unrest broke out. The hushed conversations. The sun was setting and as the last rays began to set, Druili began to pace.

She knew Thorin and Dwalin had hatched a plan. She saw the way their eyes lit up at the word 'town armoury' and now it was just the waiting game. And that's the part she hated the most.

After pacing back and forth and attempting to relieve her anger with deep breathing, she finally cornered Fili and made him sit in a chair.

'You look tense,' she simply stated before pounding away on his shoulders. He squirmed and wiggled as she grabbed his shoulders, stuck her knuckles under his shoulder blades and pinched his muscles sharply with her forefingers and thumbs.

"Ah! You're so heavy handed, gently!" Fili eventually leaned too far for her to reach him, "I am going to be the king one day!"

She just growled at him and marched away.

" Oh, you big baby, have Kili do it!"

She stood in the room and glanced around. Almost everyone was either resting, eating or conversing.

Except for one.

She stomped over to Dwalin, who had managed to extract himself from Thorin's ear long enough and was seated by the fire.

"Dwalin, Can I knead your back?" Whilst it was a request, the way she said it made it sound more like a command. Dwalin cocked his eyebrow, nodded and with a grunt asked her why?

Druili went behind him and eagerly started to repeat the process of beating Dwalin within an inch of his life.

"I need to outlet my anger and there's no trees nearby and I don't think Bard or his children will appreciate it if I destroy stuff in their house."

With each hard punch or grope of Dwalin's back, Druili grunted and let out what anger and frustration she was filled with. By the end of it, the sun had finally set beyond the horizon and light outside was dimmed back to a murky blue.

Druili stepped back and took a long, deep inhale through her nose.

"Ahhh, that's better," she said on the exhale and gave an appraising slap to Dwalin's back, "Thanks for that Dwa', I feel a lot better...Dwa? Dwalin?"

She moved around him when he did not respond and found him fast asleep in the chair. She'd apparently made him TOO relax.

Thorin came over and glanced between them, raising his eyebrow at Druili. She put her hands up defensively and gave him a sweet smile.

"I can't help it if I'm good at massage," she wriggled her fingers at him and was surprised at his small chuckle, "blame Mam. She's the one who got me into kneading all that dough. Wonderfully light bread, remember?"

They laughed together, but Thorin's grin disappeared and he walked around Dwalin to stand in front of her.

He looked at her, his eyes full of sincerity as he spoke.

"I'm sorry I spoke to you that way. You are entitled to your opinion and I-"

"You were...Well, YOU," she brought her hand up to his cheek and stroked away a tendril of hair, "and you weren't happy with the weapons. It's understandable. Plus, I've had to put up with your moody and grumpy emotions for a while. I think I can handle you in a fight."

His eyes flickered as he remembered the original reason he had come over to her.

"We have to go," he looked over her shoulder and she knew he was looking out the window at the darkened sky, "time is short."

With a nod, she mouthed 'I know' and moved back to Dwalin as Thorin began to get the rest of the company ready.

She leant forward and blew one short and quick breath out her mouth and into Dwalin's hear. He jolted awake.

"What the bloody-"

"Evening," she quickly moved away from him before he had a chance to grab at her, "time to wake up and get your boots on."

As she made her way to the others, she cast a look at the children. Sigrid and Tilda were busying themselves in the kitchen, cooking something up that smelled delicious and Druili felt a pang of guilt. They didn't know who they were or what they were planning to do, and yet they'd welcomed them into their home and whilst their father was not there, they were wonderful little hosts to them.

So she had to turn away from their faces when Thorin spoke, knowing the expressions they would pull.

"We're leaving." Thorin had already prepared the others and they stood, ready to follow their king.

The children immediately called out and gathered around them. Bain was actually trying to put himself between the stairs and the Dwarves, whilst the girls urged them not to leave.

"It's still early, just wait until Da-" Sigrid rang her hands nervously and looked among the faces for anyone that would listen. Druili avoided eye contact and tried to keep her head low.

"We need weapons. Real weapons," Thorin's voice was calm but firm, "and time is short, we must leave now."

Unperturbed by Bain and Sigrid's cries, the company moved and began to descend the stairs. Druili would have gone to had it not been for the sharp cry by her side.

"Wait!"

She turned and looked up at Tilda's face. The little girl's arms came out and caught her in a fierce and tight hug. Druili froze and ensure what to do, just let the girl hug her.

"Come back soon!" The Girl whispered next to her head and wouldn't release her. Druili had a feeling she was waiting for some sign of affection so she brought her arms around and gave her a few pats on the back.

"Urm, thank you."

Finally, satisfied that Druili had acknowledge the hug, Tilda pulled away and turned back to Sigrid. When Druili felt a small poke at her back, she glared over her shoulder at Kili.

"I don't know," she whispered to him genuinely confused, "I just let her braid my hair."

Yet when they made their way back down and into the toilet, Druili did tuck her braid into her tunic, very protectively.

Night had fallen. It was easy to sneak by things when you had the shadows to hide in. The guards didn't think it necessary to look down a lot of the time, so that too was easier.

As they walked along the quiet docks, they avoided anybody who came along. They couldn't be sure who was friend, foe, guard or spy.

"As soon as we have weapons we make straight for the mountain," Thorin whispered as they stopped behind a boat and began to push the others in front of him, "Go, go, go."

Finally, they came upon the building where the armoury was. They could hear distant but steady chatter from a group on night watch. Druili observed how the only way in was an open window about two levels high. But Thorin had an idea.

Thorin split the group in two. With the majority that would stay behind, they would form a small sort of stairway to held the others get up. Unfortunately, even with that lot piled as high as they could go, there was still a small gap to jump.

Thorin went first. He managed it without a problem and as he reached over the ledge, his body disappeared into the darkness.

There was a moment of silence as they waited.

His head popped back out and he nodded, waving his arms for the rest.

Druili ran next. She felt a little sorry for having to land her feet in the more delicates parts of the company, but as she reached the ledge herself and hoisted herself over with ease, she was surprised just how BOUNCY some of the member's guts were.

When she joined Thorin in the room, she immediately turned to the window and signalled to the others.

Bofur, Nori, Bilbo and Kili all joined them, though the latter had to have a hand (albeit reluctantly) as he clambered inelegantly over the ledge and then pretended to shrug off his pain. Druili grit her teeth and turned away from him. If he wanted to be a stubborn dunderhead, then she wasn't going to stop him.

The walls were lined with an assortment of weapons. Axes and swords of varying shapes and sizes shone in the moonlight. Whilst this time didn't exactly seem ready for a full out war, they were prepared well enough.

The others began to gather what they could for those waiting outside, Kili offering to carry it to them. Druili just rolled her eyes and switched back to the swords. She'd remembered Thorin's comment about her technique and now, with her hammer gone for what seemed like for good, she thought it was as good a time as any to switch her weapons.

Still, as she picked up a small sword and twirled it expertly around her, the weight and feel of it were very foreign to her. She held it out in front of her, letting the blade dance as the moon shone.

"You'll have to do-"

A loud clatter and yell made her spin around, sword raised and ready. But there was no need for attack. Her brothers' legs disappeared a second later as he tumbled down the stairs and Druili dropped her sword on the floor as she ran to him.

"Ki!" She cried out and reached the top step. Looking down at his prone figure below, his face contorted in pain and the weapons now scattered at the bottom of the staircase. Her heart was pounding in her chest and she would have gone down and immediately berated him on his pig-headedness, when a sound made her freeze.

Shouts. Heavy footfalls heading towards them. Thorin's own cry to ready themselves.

They'd alerted the guards.