"Da, why are there Dwarves climbing out of our toilet." the oldest of Bard's children asks.
"Will they bring us luck?" Asks the youngest. "Oh how adorable a Dwarfling!" She cries as she sees Haraldur emerge from the toilet.
Haraldur's eyes narrow at being called adorable, he was a warrior. Well, in his other life he was, sort of. Shivering he follows Bilbo up the stairs into the house where he huddles next to the fire, too cold to bother with a warming spell. Tilda runs off to grab him a blanket.
"Here you go, little Dwarfling." She says to Haraldur who this time blushes, he gratefully accepts the blanket.
Once Thorin appears, he goes straight to Haraldur, to make sure that the Dwarfling is warm enough. Thorin helps peels the coat off of him and begins to vigously dry him off, ignoring his own drenched clothes.
Bard begins handing out clothes so that Bilbo and the Dwarves can change, "It may not be the best fit, but it will keep you warm. Sigrid, see if you can find one of Bain's old clothes that might fit the lad."
In an instant, Sigrid is off searching for a shirt and trousers, she comes back a few minutes later with some clothes, they're still to large, but Haraldur makes do. He thanks the young lady for all her help. Bilbo and the Dwarves huddle around the fire trying to get warm as Thorin looks out the window, he spots something that piques his interest.
"A Dwarvish Windlance."
"You look like you like you've seen a ghost." Bilbo says to Thorin.
"He has, the last time we saw such a weapon the city was on fire. It was the day the dragon came. The day that Smaug destroyed Dale."
Balin goes on to explain that Girion and his men tried to bring the dragon down but could not pierce the tough hide of the dragon. That only a black arrow fire from a Windlance could have brought down Smaug. He explained to Bilbo, and a now intrigued Haraldur that Girion had fired arrow after arrow, but failed.
"Had the aim of Men been true that day, much would be different." Thorin says as he picks up Haraldur.
"You speak as if you were there." Bard says.
"All Dwarves know the tale." Thorin informs him.
"Then you would know that Girion hit the dragon. He loosened a scale under the left wing. One more shot and he would have killed the beast." Bain tells Thorin a little angry.
Dwalin laughs, "That's a fairy story, Lad, nothing more."
Thorin hands Haraldur to Balin and steps toward Bard, "You took our money, where are the weapons?"
"Wait here." Bard disappears down stairs for a few minutes.
"Tomorrow begins the last days of Autumn." Thorin informs the others.
"Durin's day falls the morn after next, we must reach the mountain before then." Balin says.
"And if we do not? If we fail to find the hidden door before that time?" Kili asks.
"Then this quest has been for nothing." Fili answers
Bard comes back with a wet bundle, laying on the table he opens it.
"What is this?" Thorin questions
Bard goes on to explain what each makeshift weapon is. Needless to say the Dwarves are more than a little disappointed.
"We paid you for weapons, iron-forged swords and axes! Gloin exclaims.
It's a joke!" Bofur says as he throw down the so called weapon.
Bard explains that the only iron-forged weapons are held in the city armory.
"Thorin, why not take what is offered and go? I've made do with less, so have you. I say we leave now.
"You're not going anywhere now." Bard tells the Dwarves.
"What did you say?"
"There are spies watching this house and probably every dock and warf in the town, you must wait til nightfall." Bard informs them.
In the meantime Harldur pulls on Thorin's trousers trying to get his attention. Thorin kneels down, "What is it, my boy?"
"Thorin, I could alway transfigure these things into real weapons." Haraldur whispers in Thorin's ear.
Thorin thinks about it for a bit, "No we don't know how well transfigured weapons will do against Smaug and I don't want anymore Men to know about your magic. They cannot be trusted not to harm you. Besides Dwalin and I have a plan, but this time you must obey me."
"Alright, Thorin I will." Haraldur promises.
Thorin and Dwalin's plan was simple, they would break into the armory and take whatever weapons they needed, but for now they would all rest. The only one that had any sleep was Haraldur and that had been only for a few minutes. The Dwarves found places on the floor and in chairs to take a nap while they waited for the cover of darkness. Harldur went and squeezed himself between Fili and Kili, the poor boy was still cold.
The day wore on and night finally came, Thorin woke up first and roused the others. He explained his plan to Haraldur and told him that this time he would stay behind. Haraldur agreed, he figured he would only be in the way anyway. Thorin picked up Haraldur, he carried him to Bain's bed and tucked him in.
"I'll return for you as soon as I can, for now go back to sleep." Thorin tells him as he kisses him on the forehead.
Not an hour later Haraldur hears a commotion, Ori and Nori have come back for Haraldur telling him that they have been invited to stay at the Master's guest house. They take the little boy and head back to the Master's house. Once there Haraldur discovers that there is a feast going on. His mouth begins to water at the smell of all the lovely meats. Nori leads him to the dining table, lifting him up and setting him down between Dwalin and Thorin.
"You must being starving, my boy." Thorin states.
"Aye, Thorin, I am." Haraldur tells him.
Thorin smiles at the Dwarfling, he was beginning to talk more like a real Dwarf instead of an Elf. Thorin serves him all the meat he can eat and water, the boy eats til his heart's content. After he has eaten, Haraldur asks Gloin to take him upstairs to bathe. He doesn't want Thorin to see his scarred body, Gloin agrees guessing the reason why.
After he has bathed and changed into clothes that fit him better, Gloin puts Haraldur to bed, then goes back down stairs to rejoin the party. He finds Thorin drinking a tankard of Ale, Gloin goes to sit down next to him.
"Thorin, what are you planning to do with Haraldur? Surely you're not planning on taking him with us?
Thorin puts down his tankard, he looks at Gloin. "No, I will not risk his life against that dragon, he will stay behind here in Lake-Town with Bard and his family. The girls took a shine to him, there shouldn't be a problem leaving him there, let's hope this time he stays.
The next morning the entire town shows up at the dock to bid the Dwarves farewell. The Dwarves leave the Master's house fully armed and ready to meet their fate. As they climb into the boat Thorin takes Kili aside.
"Not you, we must travel at speed you will slow us down."
"What are you talking about? I'm coming with you." Kili says.
"Not now."
"I'm going to be there when that door is opened. When we first look upon the Halls of our Fathers, Thorin."
"Kili, stay here, rest, join us when your healed.
"I'll stay with the lad, my duty lies with the wounded." Oin informs Thorin.
"Uncle, we grew up on tales of the mountain. Tales you told us, you cannot take that away from him!"
"Fili."
"I will carry if I must." Fili say, trying to convince Thorin.
"One day you will be king and you will understand. I cannot risk the fate of this quest for the sake of one Dwarf, not even my own kin."
"Oh, but you'll risk it for a Dwarfling that is nothing to you!" Fili says. His eyes widen as he looks down at Haraldur, "Haraldur I'm sorry I didn't mean anything by that."
"It's alright Fili, I understand." Haraldur tells him with a sad smile. Fili was right, Thorin had risked much for him throughout the quest and he was not even their kin.
Fili, feeling terrible about what he said and having a fierce sense of loyalty to his brother gets out of the boat.
"Fili, don't be a fool, you belong with the Company." Thorin tells him as he grabs his arm.
"I belong with my brother, and after what I just said to a little Dwarfling I don't deserve to be there."
Thorin sighs, he looks down at Haraldur, the little boy has his head down. Tears can be seen falling onto the dock.
"You're going to leave me behind, aren't you?"
Thorin kneels down, "Aye, my boy, I must. This is no place for you, it will be more dangerous than anything you have ever faced."
'That's what you think.' Haraldur thinks.
Thorin continues, "I cannot willing put you in danger, you must stay behind, promise me you will not follow us."
Haraldur takes a deep breath and looks up at Thorin. "I promise, I will not follow you up the mountain."
"Good, Lad, now give me a hug and a kiss." Thorin says as he holds his arms out.
Haraldur jumps into Thorin's arms, hugging him tightly and kissing him on the cheek. "Be careful Thorin and promise you'll come back."
"I cannot make that promise, Little One, but I will try."
Thorin releases Haraldur, then gets in the boat, he waves to the remaining Dwarves as the boat pulls out of the dock. At that moment Bofur comes running down to the dock.
"So you missed the boat as well?" Bofur asks.
Suddenly Kili collapses, they all take hold of him and rush to the Master's house for help, but are promptly turned away. The only other choice they have is Bard.
"No, I'm done with Dwarves, go away." Bard tells them as he tries to shut the door, but Bofur puts his foot in the way.
"No, no, please! No one will help us, Kili's sick, he's very sick."
Bard looks at Kili who looks like death warmed over and lets them in, they lay Kili down one of the beds as Oin tends to his wound. All the others can do is look on helplessly. As time passes Kili only gets worse, Oin is at a complete loss he has no way of helping Kili. What ever poison was on that arrow, it's doing its job well, Kili is dying.
"Can you not do something?" Fili asks Oin, desperation in his voice.
"I need herbs, something to bring down his fever."
Bard begins pulling out the medicine that he has, "I have Nightshade, I have Feverfew."
"They're no use to me, do you have any Kingsfoil?" Oin asks.
"No, its a weed, we feed it to the pigs. Bard informs Oin.
"Pigs, weed. Right, don't move." Bofur tells Kili. Then he takes off in search of the Kingsfoil.
Meanwhile Haraldur sits there worried about Kili, but even more worried about Thorin. He can't help it, Thorin is his best friend, his father figure. He can't stand the thought of letting him face that dragon alone, considering Haraldur has already faced a dragon before and won. True he had his Firebolt and true he didn't actually kill it, but at least he had experience with dragons. Also he could have gotten the Arkenstone faster for Thorin than Bilbo, a simple summoning spell and he would have had it in his hands. But what was he to do, Haraldur was racking his brain to figure out a way to get to Thorin without breaking his promise.
Suddenly the little house was being attacked by Orcs, Bard had gone to arm the Windlance with his final Black Arrow. Leaving his family unprotected as the Orcs attacked. They were unarmed and helpless. The Orcs crashed through the windows, the door, and even the roof. Sigrid andTilda hid as the Dwarves tried to fight off the Orcs with whatever they could find. Haraldur hesitated, Thorin told him not to show his magic to the humans, but he couldn't stand there and do nothing. He pulls out his wand.
"Sectumsempra!"
He yells cutting the head off an Orc.
"Diffindo!"
He uses an arrow shooting spell, he peppered an Orc full of arrows.
"Expulso!"
The curse throws the Orc out the window landing on its head effectively killing it.
Still the Orcs keep coming, there seems to be no end to them. Just then Tauriel and Legolas show up and begin fighting the Orcs giving Haraldur a chance to catch his breath. In the end the Elves kill the Orcs in the house and Legolas takes off after the remaining Orcs, only to end up in a confrontation with Bolg.
While Legolas is fighting Bolg, Bofur shows up with the Kingsfoil. Tauriel takes it away from Bofur, she prepares it in water then places it on Kili's wound. She begins to use her Elven magic and slowly the poison is drawn out, Haraldur is fascinated.
"I didn't know you know you knew magic, Tauriel." Haraldur says to her as she kneels to give him a quick hug.
"It is Elven healing magic, little Wizard." She informs him.
Tauriel stands back up to continue to tend to Kili, Haraldur is relieved that Kili will live, but now his worry over Thorin comes back into his mind, how can he reach Thorin without disobeying him? How can he go to him without following him? Then it occurs to him, he'll apparate. Technically it wasn't following as he wasn't going on foot and he wasn't following their trail. And he wasn't even sure that he could do it, he may just end up getting splinched. But, he had to try, he had to be with Thorin and help with the dragon.
Haraldur concentrated on his destination, he thought of Thorin and of the hidden door, Haraldur could feel that it was going to work. He concentrated harder and with a loud pop he disapparated to the mountain. Everyone looked around when they heard the pop, wondering where it came from when Bofur asks.
"Where's Haraldur?"
Fili realizing what just happened, facepalms, "He escaped again."
"But how?" Tauriel asks.
"If I had to guess, by magic." Fili answers.