"Anything behind us?" Thorin asks after the Dwarves travel downstream from the attack.
"Not that I can see," comes Balin's response.
Bofur resurfaces and spurts out a stream of river water. "I think we've outrun the Orcs!" he exclaims optimistically.
"Not for long," Thorin realistically replies. "We've lost the current. Make for the shore! Come on, let's go!"
The Dwarves slowly make their way toward the rocky shore, their dripping wet clothing weighing them down. Misty helps Kristie out of the water, and they both make their way onto the ragged rockside.
"I'm fine. It's nothing," Misty hears Kili say. Turning around, she sees the Dwarf doubled over, a grimace etched onto his face. Well, that's a lie, she thinks.
"On your feet," Thorin tells the company.
"Kili's wounded. His leg needs binding." Fili crouches next to his brother and starts to wrap the wound.
"Here, laddie. Let me take a look." Oin sits down next to the injured dwarf and quickly inspects his leg. Kristie can hear Bilbo and a few other Dwarves arguing about transportation, but a quick glance at Kili's leg draws her attention.
"Wait, stop. Something doesn't look right—"
Kristie is interrupted by the sound of an arrow flying through the air. She turns around and takes in the sight of a strange Man aiming his bow at the company.
"Do it again, and you're dead," the Man threatens.
Balin bravely steps forward and says, "Excuse me but, you're from Lake-town, if I'm not mistaken. That barge over there. It wouldn't be available for hire, by any chance?"
The bargeman does not answer at first, and instead grabs one of the barrels that the Dwarves carelessly discarded on the shore. Balin gives a quick look to his brother, and they both assist in loading the barrels onto the boat.
As Balin continues his persuasion, Kristie notices the two Durin brothers on the far side of the shore. Gesturing for her sister to come closer, she says, "Something isn't right."
"Wow, really. I thought that being stranded on the shore of a gigantic lake is a completely normal part of—"
"No, not that. I mean Kili."
"Oh, Kili. What about him?"
"His leg had this weird black stuff coming out of it."
"That's definitively not normal."
"Exactly. I need to keep an eye on him. Could you tell me if you notice anything else that's strange?"
"You can count on me, sis," Misty replies, turning her attention to the bargeman.
"I'll wager there are ways to enter that town unseen," Balin asks with slight desperation.
"Aye. But for that you would need a smuggler," Bard replies.
"For which we would pay double."
"Kili, are you alright?" Misty asks as she sits down next to the dwarf, the cool breeze from the lake waters brushing across her face. "You don't look so good."
"Oh yeah, I'm fine," he replies somewhat tensely. "Just a little tired."
Kristie turns away from the two to see Fili right in front of her. He gestures for her to follow him to the other side of the boat, and she follows with confusion.
He turns to her and says, "Earlier you said that something was wrong with his leg."
"Oh, that? I think I was just imagining something. I didn't get a very good look at it," Kristie lies, not wanting to worry Fili over something she isn't sure about.
"Are you sure? You would tell me if something was wrong?"
"Uh, of course I would." She gives him a halfhearted smile.
"Oh, I've had enough of this lippy Lake-man." She hears Dwalin announce, and rolls her eyes in response. "I say we throw him over the side and be done with him.
"Bard. His name's Bard," Bilbo responds.
"How do you know?" Bofur asks.
"Uh, I asked him," Bilbo says, as if it were obvious.
"I don't care what he calls himself. I don't like him," Dwalin says, crossing his arms.
"We do not have to like him. We simply have to pay him. Come on now, lads. Turn out your pockets."
Misty goes up to Balin and says, "Uh, about that. I'm really sorry, but Kristie and I don't have any money."
"Not to worry, lass. So long as everyone gives their share, we should have enough."
Balin looks down and counts the coins that everyone put in front of him, and says in disappointment, "There's, um, just a wee problem. We're ten coins short."
Thorin says, "Gloin. Come on. Give us what you have."
"Don't look to me. I have been bled dry by this venture." A few Dwarves scoff at Gloin as he responds, "What have I see for my investment? Naught but misery and grief and—"
He stops himself as he sees what is in the distance.
The Lonely Mountain.
"Bless my beard. Take it. Take all of it," Gloin says distractedly, practically throwing the coins at Balin.
"Ahem," Bilbo says, gesturing to the bargeman.
"The money, quick. Give it to me," he says as he approaches the company.
"We will pay you when we get our provisions, but not before," Thorin defends.
"If you value your freedom you will do as I say. There are guards ahead."
Kristie and Misty turn their heads to see a platform filled with mysterious men.
Misty taps Thorin on the shoulder and says, "He's right. We need to hide."
The Dwarves quickly climb into the barrels and wait in silence as Bard talks with the Men at the gate.
"What's he doing?" Kristie hears Dwalin ask.
"He's talking to someone," Bilbo explains. "He's pointing right at us. Now they're shaking hands."
"What?" Thorin asks in disbelief.
"The villain. He's selling us out," Dwalin states.
Everyone waits in tense silence, prepared to fight their way out, when the unexpected weight of gigantic fish soon fall onto their heads.
Misty suppresses a gag as her senses are overwhelmed with the scent of day old fish. She faintly hears the groans of other Dwarves, and knows that they too share in her discomfort.
After about five minutes, Misty hears the faint sound of conversation (muffled by the overgrown fish surrounding her head). She feels a jolt as the barge starts to move again.
The monotonous feeling of movement soon comes to a stop, and before she can react, the world tips on its side.
The slimy fish slide off her, and she looks around to make sure that the rest of the company is alright.
"You didn't see them. They were never here," the bargeman says to a nearby human. "The fish you can have for nothing."
The company looks to their smuggler and he tells them, "Follow me."
They walk through the unfamiliar town in silence, when a boy comes up to them and says, "Da. Our house. It's being watched."
"They may not be the best fit, but they'll keep you warm," Bard tells the company as his youngest daughter hands out clothing.
Kristie watches Thorin approach the window and look out solemnly.
"Thank you so much for all of this," she says to the eldest daughter. "Kristie." She holds out her hand.
"Sigrid," the woman says, shaking it. "So, thirteen Dwarves, two girls, and a Hobbit. Strange company to be travelling with."
"Aye, strange company indeed," Kristie says, refusing to elaborate. She looks around the room and notices her sister sitting near the fireplace, focusing intently on something. She nods appreciatively at the human girl and makes her way toward her sister.
"You know," she says as she sits next to her sister, startling her out of her focus. "It's rude to eavesdrop."
"Eve if it is," Misty replies, turning to her sister. "The Dwarves have a point. There's only two days until Durin's Day."
"Hey," Kristie says. "We'll make it in time. Everything will work out. Have faith."
"What is this?" The girls hear Thorin say, and they turn toward the sound to see a variety of crudely made weapons on the table.
"Pinehook. Made from an old harpoon," the bargeman explains.
"And this?" Kili asks, holding up something that looked like an oversized sledgehammer.
"A crowbill, we call it. Made from a smithy's hammer. Heavy in hand, I grant. But in defense of your life, these will serve you better than none."
Gloin doesn't seem to have as much faith as the bowman. "We paid you for weapons. Iron-forged swords and axes." The Dwarves throw their weapons on the table in disgust.
"It's a joke!" Bofur exclaims.
"You won't find better outside the city armory," Bard tells them. Dwalin and Thorin exchange a suspicious look, and Misty narrows her eyes at them. "All iron-forged weapons are held there under lock and key."
"Thorin," Balin says. "Why not take what's an offer and go? I've made do with less. So have you."
"I agree with Balin," Misty chimes in.
"And I," Kristie seconds.
"I say we leave now," Balin says.
The company stands up and seems ready to depart, but Bard stops them. "You're not going anywhere."
"What did you say?" Dwalin accuses fiercly.
Bard says, "There are spies watching this house, and probably every dock and wharf in the town. You must wait till nightfall."
The Dwarves seem somewhat understanding of this plan, and disperse into small groups.
Kristie notices Kili sitting down slowly, pain etched into his face. She turns away and goes to find Oin, knowing that there is something she needs to discuss with the healer.