Hey guys, it's time for Sophia and Aiden once again. Nothing much to say today except thanks again for your support, it is much appreciated xx
Review responses;
Memo (Guest) – No, I'll be continuing on with it after. I've got plans for Sophia and Aiden, which I hope you'll all be excited to see! Xx
Outofthisworldgal – Lol, I like fish, but wouldn't want to be in a barrel full of dead fish!
Likarian – I'm glad you like it so much!
Child of Dreams – Yes, indeed she will!
FlowerChild23 – Why yes, yes it should!
The Hand of Section XIII (for chapter 9) – Yup, there's Azog. I'm glad you love it!
World of Men
I have never once been sea sick before, but with the smell of dead fish right in front of me, I can feel my stomach doing flips.
"How are you doing?" I ask Aiden quietly.
He nods as he snuggles to get as close as he can to me, even though he's already as close as he can.
"It smells. Can we get out yet?"
I smile as I kiss his head. "Not yet, my love, but hopefully soon."
After hearing one of the others groaning loudly, I hear a thud as Bard kicks one of the barrels.
"Quiet! We're approaching the toll gate."
A few moments later, I hear a new voice calling out. "Halt! Goods inspection. Papers, please. Oh, it's you, Bard."
Bard footsteps walk past us.
"Morning, Percy."
"Anything to declare?"
"Nothing, but that I am cold and tired, and ready for home."
"You and me both."
The next few seconds pass by quietly and I can't help but feeling anxious.
"Here we are. All in order."
"Not so fast." another voice cuts in.
The voice of this new person sends shivers all the way down my spine. It's a neutral tone and as oily as I'm sure the man speaking is himself. I also can't help but thinking that I've heard his voice before, even though I've never been here before. I know his voice would be one you'd remember.
"Consignment of empty barrels from the Woodland Realm. Only, they're not empty, are they, Bard?"
I instantly start to panic at this, thinking we're busted.
"If I recall correctly, you're licensed as a bargeman, not a fisherman."
"That's none of your business."
"Wrong. It's the Master's business, which makes it my business."
"Oh come on, Alfrid, have a heart. People need to eat!"
"These fish are illegal."
I then hear a splash and assume the man, Alfrid, had tossed a fish into the river.
"Empty the barrels over the side."
"You heard him. Into the canal. Come on, get a move on."
Multiple footsteps are heard coming onto the barge from the men and I have to quickly put a hand over Aiden's mouth as he opens it to scream when our barrel starts moving. I also have to bite my lip to keep myself from crying out as I hunch over, trying to huddle over Aiden as low as I can as I hear the fish splashing into the water.
"Folk in this town are struggling. Times are hard. Food is scarce." Bard speaks up, trying to get them to stop.
"That's not my problem."
"And when the people hear the Master is dumping fish back in the lake, when the rioting starts, will it be your problem then?"
A few tense moments pass before the order is made.
"Stop."
I literally sag in relief as the barrel is put right again before the footsteps leave the barge.
"Ever the people's champion, eh, Bard? Protector of the common folk? You might have their favor now, bargeman, but it won't last.
"Raise the gate!" I hear the voice of Percy call out.
I hear the sounds of the gate being raised and feel the barge moving on.
Alfrid's voice then calls out, threateningly. "The Master has his eye on you; you'd do well to remember. We know where you live."
"It's a small town, Alfrid; everyone knows where everyone lives."
Sometime later, the barge stops and I hear a loud thud and groaning as one of the barrels is tipped over and then another, I take this to mean that we can finally get out. So once I gently pull Aide away from me, I stand upright and take a deep breath of fresh air. Looking around, I see we are in a town that is built on the lake, many bridges and walkways going through it.
"Get your hands off me." Dwalin growls as Bard was about to tilt his barrel over.
The others get out of their barrels, Thorin walking over to help Aiden and I out.
"Are you both alright?" Thorin asks us both.
"After the panic attack of almost being tipped into the river? We're fine, thank you."
"That was scary." Aiden mumbles as he inches closer to me, even more so as he looks around at all the people around.
Thorin ruffles his hair before we joing the others as Bard turns to the dock keeper as he watches us all in shock. Bard slips him a coin.
"You didn't see them, they were never here. The fish you can have for nothing."
He then turns to us after looking around a corner to make sure the way is clear. "Stay close."
He walks on with us following behind.
"What is this place?" Bilbo asks.
"This, Master Baggins, is the world of Men." Thorin replies.
We walk on, me keeping a firm hold of Aiden's hand as the people stare as we walk past.
"Keep your heads down and keep moving. Quickly now." Bard says as he stops and urges us on.
"Halt! Oi!" a voice suddenly shouts.
We all look up to see guards heading our way.
"Come on, move!" Thorin says to us.
We take off running, but are soon cornered by another guard. The dwarves begin to attack the guards, and quickly knock them out with pots, pans, and mops, the people watching and doing nothing to stop them. We all then hide as the people pretend to go about their business as more guards show up.
"What's going on here?" one of the guards ask, I recognise him to be the same guard to order the barrels to be emptied. "Stay where you are. Nobody leaves."
I'm kneeling behind a stall, hovering over Aiden protectively. The woman standing next to us is leaning against the counter, acting as if a fight didn't just happen a few moments ago, while the guard I managed to knock out lays right next to her.
"Braga. Hello." I suddenly hear Bard speak to the guard.
"You. What are you up to Bard?"
"Me? Nothing, I'm looking for nothing."
I start to panic as I see the guard beginning stir, which causes the woman to purposely knock over a plant-pot, which lands on his head, knocking him back out again. She then covers the guards face with a plant, another teller on the stall next to us placing a crate in front of another guard to block him. These people are either really nice to help us or they hate the authority here.
"Hey Braga, your wife would look lovely in this."
Peeking over the counter, I see Bard holding up a revealing piece of clothing, which looks to be some underclothing.
"What do you know of my wife?"
"I know her as well as any man in this town."
I bite my lip to keep from laughing aloud as Braga growls at Bard and storms off, the other guards following. Bard sighs and announces the all clear. I get up with Aiden and thank the dark haired woman, who just smiles as we follow the others.
As we turn a corner and a young boy, who couldn't be more than sixteen, runs over, his face full of panic.
"Da! Our house, it's being watched."
Bard looks around for a moment and comes up with a plan. Neither of us are happy about it, but we do it as it's the only way we can get into the house without getting caught. One at a time, we all lowered ourselves into the water and waded through under the walkways to Bard's house, where we would then proceed to climb through their toilet. Not one of the best things to do, but at least we'll get in unseen.
I'm thankful to Thorin for carrying Aiden through, I'd rather him be out of the water as much as possible from now on. I don't want him coming down with the flu or something.
We finally reach the house and wait underneath it before hearing the all clear knock of Bain from above. Dwalin is the first to climb up and I hear him growling at the poor lad,
"If you speak of this to anyone, I'll rip your arms off."
As Dwalin climbs out, I know Bain has tried to help him as he snarls at him to get off. Bilbo is the next to go up before Thorin passes Aiden through. Before he does, Aiden looks to me with a look of fear in his eyes. I lean over to kiss him and whisper reassurances that I'll be right behind him, which I am as Thorin helps me up.
I thank Bain as he helps me out before taking Aiden in my arms and going up the stairs where Dwalin, Bilbo, Bard and two girls are. The oldest looks to be sixteen or seventeen while the youngest only looks to be Aiden's age, if not a couple of years older.
"Da...why are there dwarves climbing out of our toilet?" the oldest asks.
The youngest looks to her father with eyes wide in excitement and curiosity. "Will they bring us luck?"
I have to smile at this. I've said it before, I love the curiosity of children. When he notices us, Bard begins handing out clothing and blankets for us to use. He leads Aiden and I into a room where some clothes were laid out on a bed, along with a couple of towels.
"I managed to find some of Bain's old clothes for your lad and a dress for you. They might not be the best fit, but they will do for you."
I smile at him as I usher Aiden inside. "Thank you Bard. I know us being here is a big inconvenience for you and your family, but I do appreciate your help."
He looks to me for a moment before smiling. "You're very welcome." he then gives a little wink to Aiden before leaving the room, shutting the door behind him.
Aiden smiles up at me as I walk over.
"I like him, mommy. He's a nice man."
I look at him in surprise for a moment before smiling. "Yes, so do I. Come on, let's get you out of those wet clothes before you get ill."
We both get dried off and changed into the spare clothing. Bard was right, they weren't the best fitting. Aiden's being a size or two too big, so much so that his pants would keep falling down. I manage to find a bit of rope to use like a belt so they wouldn't fall at least. I have to roll up the pant legs as well as the sleeves as they are far too long.
The dress I wear is a light blue colour and I can tell it belongs to Bard's oldest daughter, as even though it's a good length, stopping at my ankles, the hips and bust are a bit snug. I frown at the bust, because of it being tight, it seems to press my breasts up more and doesn't cover the top, leaving me with a fair bit of cleavage. There is no way I can leave like this, some of the dwarves – mainly Dori and Gloin – would have something to say about modesty. Looking around, I manage to find a grey shawl, which I wrap around to cover myself.
Feeling better, Aiden and I leave the room and rejoin the others, with me leaving our clothes in front of the fire to dry. Bard's oldest daughter walks over and hands me a cup of tea and Aiden a cup of warm milk. I smile at her.
"Thank you my dear. What's your name?"
"Sigrid ma'am."
"Oh, none of that with ma'am. I'm Sophia and this is my son, Aiden."
Aiden smiles shyly from next to me until the youngest walks over.
"Hi, what's your name?" she asks Aiden.
"A-Aiden."
She smiles to him. "Hi, Aiden, I'm Tilda. Would you like to play a game?"
Aiden looks up to me and I smile reassuringly at him, he looks to Tilda before following the girl. I smile as I watch them before walking over to Thorin who is sitting by a window. He looks over and gives a small smile as I sit with him.
"Are you alright?"
I nod. "I'm better now I'm dry."
"Where's Aiden?"
I nod in the direction he went with Tilda. He looks over and smiles as he see the two playing, before looking back out of the window. I watch as his face seems to pale. Looking out, I see some sort of giant cross bow type weapon on top of a tower.
"A Dwarvish Wind-Lance." he mutters.
"You look like you've seen a ghost." Bilbo says as he joins us.
Balin walks over. "He has. The last time we saw such a weapon, a city was on fire. It was the day the dragon came."
I take Thorin's hand as he looks away sadly, giving him some comfort as I listen to Balin's story.
"The day that Smaug destroyed Dale. Girion, the Lord of the city, rallied his bowman to fire upon the beast. But a dragon's hide is tough, tougher than the strongest armor. Only a black arrow, fired from a wind-lance, could have pierced the dragon's hide, and few of those arrows were ever made. His store was running low when Girion made his last stand."
As he speaks, I can almost picture it as if I'm watching a movie. A dragon destroying a city, engulfed in flames and a man shooting black arrows at said dragon.
"Had the aim of Men been true that day, much would have been different." Thorin says bitterly as he looks over to us.
Feeling my heart break for the dwarf, I sit closer and lean against him, hoping to give him as much comfort as I can. I feel him lean into me slightly, his hand squeezing my own. Bard approaches us.
"You speak as if you were there."
"All dwarves know the tale." Thorin says to him as he stands straight.
Bain then walks around his father to speak. "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."
Dwalin chuckles softly from behind him. "That's a fairy story, lad. Nothing more."
Thorin strides up to Bard. "You took our money. Where are the weapons?"
He just looks to Thorin for a moment before saying for us to wait here and he goes downstairs.
While Bard he's gone, Thorin, Balin, Fili, and Kili talk quietly together. I leave them and sit with Aiden and Bilbo.
"How are you doing, Bilbo?" I ask the hobbit after Aiden curls up on my lap.
He smiles over at me. "A little better now I'm not wet and cold."
I smile back. "Yes, it is nice to be dry again after what we went through."
He gives a little chuckle as Bard makes his way back up with a package which he puts on the table. Aiden jumps from his doze at the clanging sound before settling himself back into me. I look over to the others as they're looking through the weapons and know that they're not happy by the looks of shock and disgust as they examine them.
"What is this?" Thorin asks as he picks up a weapons that has three prongs on the end.
"Pike-hook. Made from an old harpoon."
Kili picks up something that has a large hammer on the end. "And this?"
"A crowbill, we call it, fashioned from a smithy's hammer. It's heavy in hand, I grant, but in defense of your life, these will serve you better than none."
Gloin looks to the man in anger. "We paid you for weapons. Iron-forged swords and axes!"
"It's a joke!" Bofur exclaim as he tosses his weapon back on the table, the others following suit.
"You won't find better outside the city armory. All iron-forged weapons are held there under lock and key."
Glancing at Thorin and Dwalin, I see them looking at each other out of the corners of their eyes and know they're both hatching a plan.
Balin walks over to Thorin. "Thorin, why not take what's been offered and go? I've made do with less; so have you. I say we leave now."
"You're not going anywhere." Bard suddenly says.
Everyone stops to look at him.
"What did you say!?" Dwalin snarls.
"There's spies watching this house and probably every dock and wharf in the town. You must wait till nightfall."
Hearing this, the dwarfs begin to settle down and Bard leaves the house.
About an hour or so later, once we have had time to rest, Thorin walks over to me and tells me quietly that he's planning on us leaving soon and for me to get Aiden ready. I nod as I ask him to take the boy before checking on our clothes. Aiden's are luckily dry while mine are still damp, but not as bad as earlier. I decide to deal with the damp rather than a dress that is a tad tight.
Taking Aiden back, I go to the room from before and quickly get us both changed, Aiden sleeping all way through. I shiver slightly as I put on the damp clothes, but deal with it as I wrap the shawl around Aiden and walk out with him in my arms where the dwarves are ready for us to leave.
Bain tries to stop us from leaving, but before the dwarves can do anything, I gently place my hand on Bain's shoulder and give him an apologetic smile before leading the way out, still holding Aiden close to me. I somehow have a bad feeling about what is to happen.
Well, there we have it, we're about to get some weapons. . .or are we? We'll see next week. Please keep your lovely reviews coming xx