Chapter 14

Barrel Riding

Enda was growing restless; there were only seven days before Durin's day. Everyone was getting nervous. It had been a day since their capture and there was no sign of any help. It gave good cause to grumble, especially when they could do nothing to free themselves. Kíli and Fíli's cells were on either side of Enda's and Enda continued to have the jealous thoughts towards the she-Elf. Kíli noticed her mood change and looked to Enda.

"Enda, why do you ignore me?" he asked when the others slept. She shrugs. "Please speak with me?" He reached his hand through the cell bars and touched her wrist softly. "What's the matter?" Kíli looked at her studying her, she was silent. "Enda? Are you jealous? Do you think that I like the Elf?"

Enda nodded and he sighed softly. "She's beautiful, she's a warrior… Do not think I cannot see the way you look upon her nor hear the soft tone you take with her in speech…"

"Enda…" Kíli touched the bracelet he made for their courtship. "I am in love with you. I want to be with you, I want to hold you close and whisper my affections into your ear. I want to be wed to you and I want to dote upon you for all the days of our lives…" He took her hand into his larger one. He smiled softly. "You're the one I love with all of my heart. Sure, she is attractive among her own people but I find you to fairer still… I also want a woman with personality and you have got that for sure…"

"I'm sorry that I got jealous…" Enda said softly.

"I don't hold it against you… I'm sorry that I gave you reason to doubt me…

She smiled softly. Kíli continued to caress her hand. "Once we get out of here we can finish the quest and then we can court and be wed…"

"I look forward to that…" Enda smiled softly. She kissed his hand.

"I like your smile… It's so beautiful… It matches your personality…" He grinned at her.

They were interrupted by the noise of a festival up above them. Kíli rolled his eyes and Enda laughed. They looked to the main door of the dungeon as it opened and revealed Bilbo. He placed a finger to his lips and all the Dwarves nodded in understanding. Bilbo then grabbed the keys and freed each of the Dwarves from their cells. He then handed them their weapons and other accessories.

"Hurry, come with me!" He said in a hushed tone.

"What happened to the guards?" Thorin asked.

"They're drunk… But we need to hurry! Follow me I have a plan of escape." The Hobbit quickly led them to a room that was full of barrels.

"What now?" asked Bofur.

"Get in the barrels. I will open the trapdoor and you will float down the river. It'll work but you have to trust me." Bilbo said.

"Get in the barrels." Thorin commanded.

Each Dwarf got into a barrel and Bilbo sealed them. He then pulled the leaver, which sent the barrels down. They floated along for a while in silence, fearing that the Elves might catch them if they showed themselves. Eventually Bilbo opened each lid after putting the barrels up. Each Dwarf popped up. They sighed in relief as they got fresh air.

Bilbo was entirely soaked through since he had no barrel of his own. Fíli moved aside so Bilbo could get in his barrel. Thorin counted and saw that everyone was accounted for. Enda smiled. Her barrel floated alongside Kíli's. He held her hand and smiled. He was glad they were near the back because the others weren't staring at them. He kissed her hand gently.

"We're finally free…" he said with a smile.

"I know…" She grinned brightly. "We may yet make it to the Lonely Mountain in time to open the door!"

They floated on smoothly for a long time.

"Considering, this is actually kind of relaxing…" Enda said as she raised her hands. "It's kind of fun too."

Kíli then started shifting his weight back and forth making his barrel bob about and a goofy smile crossed his face. "It will be an interesting story to tell if we just floated for our journey."

"We might as well keep floating along… It's better than tiring ourselves out," Thorin said.

"There's many things that I have wanted to do in my lifetime, I never thought barrel riding would be one. But this is one that is definitely worth it!" Enda grinned softly.

Kíli grinned. "It certainly is a fun adventure!"

They then heard rushing water ahead. Everyone instantly paled. They saw the river split off in two different ones and that one side was smooth and peaceful while the other one went into some rapids. Everyone tried to get over to the peaceful side but some of them couldn't get there before they were taken hold of by the rapids.

"Don't worry the river will join together we'll find each other!" Enda shouted.

In seconds they were split into two groups. Balin, Dwalin, Óin, Glóin, Dori, Nori, and Bifur got to the safe side while Thorin, Bombur, Bofur, Ori, Fíli, Bilbo, Kíli, and Enda were taken to the rapids.

The Dwarves instantly went downwards over a tiny waterfall.

"Well that wasn't so bad…" Bofur said.

"That wasn't, look ahead! Here we go!" Enda shouted as they all went into a large whitewater area that was churning in different ways and there were many rocks in this river. The Dwarves were panicking as they go over.

"I think I'm going to be sick…" Ori moaned.

Thorin shouted something in Dwarfish but no one caught it because they were all being spun around and bounced between rocks and always going forward.

Enda didn't like this. Cold water kept splashing into her face and she couldn't wipe the water from her eyes because her fingers were tightly holding onto the barrels rim. She felt rather nauseous as she spun around and around. More water splashed into her face and she spat it from her mouth. She knew if she capsized she would drown. She had never been in such strong currents in all her life.

Suddenly they went down another waterfall. Enda felt as if her stomach leapt into her throat. Then she was brought into more rapids which tossed her about and spun her around. She wished the spinning would stop so she wouldn't get sick. She closed her eyes trying to fight the sickness.

Her wish was granted for a moment as she crashed into a rock wall and bounced back into the current which brought her into another spinning fest. She quickly risked opening her eyes and she then noticed where they were. Only one more downward fall and they'd join with the others and be out of the rapids.

She saw Fíli and Kíli and then grinned. "Last one!" she shouted to them. "BRING IT-!" she screamed as she went over. It was better than some of the other Dwarves undignified shrieks that followed her.

She then felt herself turn around and she was looking back at Fíli and Kíli. Enda then tossed both her fist in the air, a look of triumph written on her face.

"I'M ALIVE! WHOOO!" she shouted. She tossed her head to get her hair from her face.

"You are a strange Dwarfling… You and I must have different definitions for the word fun. I don't enjoy being wet and chilled to the bone," Thorin said, smirking.

"But it's the sense of adventure!" Enda explained. "Oh never mind…"

"I have to agree with Thorin, you are strange," Kíli said.

"Yep," Enda agreed with a big lopsided grin. "I feel like I could take on anything now."

A few minutes later they all were brought ashore by the other group who had already started to set up a camp. As soon as Enda came on shore she collapsed in an undignified manner.

"Still think you can take on the world?" Kíli asked with a playful smirk but he also collapsed.

"Are we still spinning?" Enda asked.

"No Enda, only your head is," Fíli said. "You both are looking a bit green…"

"You hardly spun at all!" Kíli said. "I think Enda had the worst of it…"

"Just want to sleep…" Enda moaned as she closed her eyes. She brought her fingers to her wrist pulse and took some deep breaths until the nausea passed.

"Kíli, Enda would you mind hunting down some food for us?" Bombur then yelled. "We're starving!"

"Give me a minute! I would like for my stomach to settle first."

"Still nauseous?" Enda asked. Kíli nodded. "Press your fingers to your wrist and close your eyes. "Take deep breaths and you should feel better in a minute or so." Kíli then followed Enda's instructions until he felt better.

"That's a neat trick!" He said. She smiled at him.

"Come on, let's find some food!" Enda then stood up.

They saw a Man standing before them. He had his bow aimed at the Dwarves. Enda instantly put an arrow on her bow and aimed at the new threat. Kíli did likewise. The Man looked at them and lowered his bow as a sign of peace. That did not settle any of the Dwarves though. They didn't know what to expect from this Man,..

"Who are you?" Fíli asked. He had a knife at the ready.

Balin put his hands on Kíli and Fíli's shoulders. "He is a man of Lake-town…A bargeman…" Balin walked forward towards the Man. "Good sir we would like to charter a ride to Lake-town."

"Master Dwarf, I do not know why you were imprisoned or how you escaped the Elves, but I do not want the Elves to take vengeance upon Lake-town…" The Man said.

"That is why we would pay double for you to smuggle us in…" Balin says. The Man turns away and started loading the barrels into his barge.

"No master Dwarf…"

"We will pay triple," Balin says. "Surely you have some hungry mouths to feed…"

"Aye, two daughters and a son…" The Man replied.

"And certainly a beautiful wife-"

"Yes, she was…"

Balin bites his lip. "I'm sorry…"

"Triple?" The Man asked.

"Yes sir…"

"Alright then, my children could use new shoes for the winter…" He nodded. "We need to go before it gets much later. Get in…"

The Man helped them into the boat. He then loaded the last barrel in. They soon were sailing up towards Lake-town. He carefully navigated through the rocky water and ruins. Some of the Dwarves grumbled about the Man wanting to drown them. The Man replied calmly, he said he was navigating these waters since he was a boy.

Enda sat with Bilbo as the others were getting the coins arranged to pay the Man. Bilbo and her talked to the Man for a while and soon found out that he was called Bard. Enda heard Glóin grumbling about not wanting to pay for this part of the journey. His mind was changed as soon as he saw the mountain. Enda looked up and saw the peak of the Lonely Mountain. Her heart nearly stopped as she saw it. It was huge. She had never been this close to the mountain.

Bard told everyone to get into the barrels as they neared Lake-town.

They were loaded in and then buried by fish that had been caught by the fishermen. Enda was in a barrel with Bilbo since they were the smallest of the company. Bilbo's nose wrinkled up in disgust, Enda knew her face matched his. They hoped this would be the last time they would have to use barrels as a means of transportation. They heard a conflict outside the boat but Bard quickly resolved it. They soon were inside Lake-town and they awaited Bard to tell them what to do...

Hello everyone! I am so so so sorry that I've been away so long! Life gets in the way of writing anymore... :( But anyway, I'm now on Christmas break so I shall try to finish this story before the spring semester starts. Anyway, please leave a review for me, those inspire me greatly. As you can see I'm not following the movies 100% because I don't want Tauriel to be a main character and I don't want the Dwarves to be separated as they go to Erebor.

Please Review! All reviews welcome! I want to become a great writer soon!

Thank you all so much for your support!

~ Maethorni