After a few hours we made our way to shore. We got out of the barrels. My legs where sore from being in one position for so long and I struggled to get out and on my feet. Fili pulled me up and out of the water.

Kili fell down and Fili and I rushed to him. "On your feet!" Thorin ordered. "Kili is wounded." Fili replied. "There is an orc pack on or tale. We keep moving." Thorin replied. "Bind his leg quickly, you have two minutes." I started cleaning his wound and bound it as fast as I could. There is still an arrow point in there but I could not remove it in two minutes.

Suddenly an arrow flies. Kili picks up a stone but before he can throw it another arrow hits it out of his hand. "Do It again and you're dead." The shooter said. "Forgive me but you're from Laketown if I am not mistaken. That barge over there, it would not be available for hire by any chance?" Balin said with his hands raised in the air. While Balin bargained with the man I return to my bindings of Kili's leg. Checking them.

The man finally let us on his barge and we went on our way through the mist. "Watch out!" Bofur called when we saw a rock rising up from out of the mist. "What are you trying to do, drown us?" Thorin asked the man. "I was born and bred on this waters master dwarf. If I wanted to drown you, I would not do it here. "The man said as he swerved around the rocks.

Dwalin walked up to us with an annoyed look on his face. "Ow, I have enough of this lippy lake man. Let's throw him over the side and be done with him." Dwalin said. Bilbo walked up to us. "Ohh, bard his name is bard." He said irritated. "How do you know?" Bofur asked. "Uh, I asked him." Bilbo replied. I looked at the man and he looked at me. For a moment we locked eyes. He seemed like a strong man who was not really living up to his potential.

"I don't care what he calls himself, I don't like him." Dwalin said. "We do not have to like him we simply have to pay him." Balin said while he was counting coins. Come on now lads, turn out your pockets." I gave him the little money I had and went to sit next to Fili. I was slightly shivering from the cold and Fili put an arm around me. I slightly leaned in to him and felt my heart skip a beat. Am I falling for this dwarf?

I had not time to further think about it because all the dwarfs stood up. I followed there gaze and saw what they were looking at. We saw a glimpse of the lonely mountain trough all the mist. Some of these dwarfs had never been this close to the mountain. Bard came up to us. "The money, give it to me quick." He said. "We will pay you when we get our provisions and not before." Thorin replied. "If you value your freedom you'll do as I say. There are guards ahead."

Bard was paid and we climbed in the barrels. I heard the dwarfs whisper and I silently tried to silence them. Suddenly fish was falling on top of my head. It was the most uncomfortable situation I had ever been in. it was cold, wet, it smelled terribly and my body was starting to hurt from being in one position for too long. Finally I heard everybody climbing out and I started to crawl to the top of the barrel what was not easy because all the fish where heavy. Fili helped me climb out of the barrel.

Bard led us trough the town. I walked behind the dwarves trying to act normal and blend in. we hid in the market for some guards. A boy came running up to us. "Da, our house is being watched." Bard looked back at us. We had to swim the ice cold water under the city. We where helped up by bard his son trough there toilet.

We climbed up into the house. Bards daughters gave us some dry blankets and warm soup. Fili rubbed my arms hoping to help me warm up. I saw Kili checking his wound. He had a pained look on his face. I knew the arrow had to come out, otherwise the wound would not heal. When bards oldest daughter walked by I grabbed her arm. "Would you please boil some water for me?" I asked her. She nodded and walked to the kitchen. I quickly eat my soup and when I finished I went over to Kili.

I sat down in front of him. "Let me take a look." I said and unwrapped the bindings. The wound did not look better. It looked worse. In the meantime Fili had come over and bard's daughter had come back with a bowl of hot water and clean bandages and wraps. I smiled at her and thanked her.

I turned to Kili. "This arrow has to come out." Kili looked at Fili and Oin who had also come over. When he saw their approving look he nodded. I took a small dagger out of my boot that the elves had not found, and cleaned it in the fire. "I am not going to lie to you, this will hurt." I said. Fili and Oin held Kili while I made some incisions and carefully pulled out the arrow. Kili had a painful look on his face but did not make a sound.

I examined the arrow. "It is a morgul shaft." I said. The dwarfs looked worried. I turned to the girl who had been helping me. "Do you have any Athelas or Kingsfoil?" I asked her. She shook her head. I looked back at the wound. "I doubt we will find it in this town." I said softly. I cleaned out the wound with the water and put some other healing herbs on it hoping to buy Kili enough time to go somewhere we could look for Athelas. I bound the wound again and helped the girl clean up.

Fili walked up to me. "Thank you for helping my brother." He said as he took my hands in his. I smiled at him and nodded. "Of course. What is the point of having healing skills if you don't use them when you can?"