Hello all,

Well as mentioned in the previous Author's Notes I am going to start posting two chapters a month since we do not have long before the battle of Five Armies extended edition is out. Anyway enjoy.

Each one of the Dwarves, the Hobbit, and the ranger climbed into a barrel to hide. They waited as the boat moved along. Soon the boat came to a dock or so Bilbo said, as he peeked through a hole in his barrel. However Thorin's mind was far from the current situation. Instead he focused on how Veirra was so lovely. The looks he saw Legolas and Bard give her could not really be ignored, even if the looks Legolas gave were merely his imagination. The damn Elf praised her singing! As if the elf had a right to say what Thorin thought! Now the bargeman dared to look at her like that! The more Thorin thought about it the more angry he got, he was already fuming at the way Veirra spoke to Bard. Did she have to flirt with that bargeman?! Finally his anger became too much as they waited.

"It does not take much to win you over." Thorin spat from inside his barrel. "A fair haired Elf praising you, or an smart mouthed lake-man!"

Veirra knew the words were directed at her after all who else would he be so angry with? No one else had interaction with both elf and man. Still his angry words surprised her a little, wasn't she suppose to get them onto the boat by charming Bard? Looking in the direction of Thorin's voice she knew he was in the barrel to her left. Still her own temper got the better of her. "Are we really doing this now? Seriously?!" Veirra asked annoyed.

"You two are not fighting again are you?!" Balin asked with a groan, he thought their days of arguing had finally come to an end after Goblin Town. Apparently he was wrong.

"I saw the way she looked at him!" Thorin whispered harshly trying to justify his anger.

"The way I looked at him?! Really because I am guessing you are blind! Geez there is just no impressing you is there?! I either do something that helps us or I mess up severely!" Veirra replied completely forgetting that they were hiding in barrels.

"Guys come on not now!" Bilbo replied, hoping to stop the fighting before their argument was overheard.

"No, no it is alright Bilbo. Apparently my ability to charm was not what Thorin wanted even though it got us on this boat." Veirra replied in a harsh whisper.

"Oh and elven prince do not forget how you had him wrapped about your finger!" Thorin pointed out.

"Are you drunk?! I did not have Legolas wrapped around my finger!" Veirra argued, thinking Thorin must be drunk to think she had any control over the woodland prince.

"Ah that explains how you are on a first name basis!" Thorin spat.

"That does it! I am so sick of you..." Veirra whispered.

"Uh guys.." Bilbo was now trying to draw the attention back to the fact that Bard was pointing and gesturing at the boat or more importantly the barrels.

"Do you want me to admit to charming them both? Is that what you want?! Fine I charmed them both, so what?!" She whispered angry, but was sick of Thorin's attitude. What did he really care anyway? Mirkwood had been an illusion, albeit a very pleasant one; but still an illusion no less. Now suddenly her sad attempt to flirt and get them on the boat had somehow pissed Thorin off? What did it take to impress him?! Wait she was trying to impress him? 'So what if I was trying to impress the great Thorin Oakenshield? Not like my efforts would do any good!' Veirra thought bitterly as she shook her head.

"Uh Veirra that is not help-"

"Quiet Balin!" Veirra snapped in a harsh whisper as she voiced her negative opinion. "Does it matter to you if I charmed them?! I am not of any value to you! Also guess what you do not need to worry even if there was the slightest bit of interest in me it would die out the moment they would find out that I am not some innocent maiden! They would tuck tail and run like I am some diseased thing everyone else has thus far!" Her words silenced them, and she felt tears sting her eyes. After a moment Veirra swallowed hard to keep her voice steady and forced it to go ice cold. "Is that not the way you view me? With disgust in your heart. You only keep me around to help guide you to the mountain otherwise you would have cast me aside long ago. You only act as though I am important to you when in truth I am nothing!"

Thorin wanted to scream in frustration, he wanted to jump out of the barrel and yank her out of hers and shake her. Did she not see the effect she had on him? Or was her negative outlook what prevented her from seeing herself as more? Was it truly so hard for her to see he cared for her? He tried to calm himself so he could answer her reasonably. After all he had seen that elven prince praising her, and now the barge-man's eyes lingered on her! Of course he was angry to have others looking at her in such ways. However by the time he calmed himself and was ready to tell her just how much he valued her it was too late. He had opened his mouth to speak and ended up being kissed by a fish.

Finally silence Veirra tilted her head back against the side of the barrel to relax when she was met by cold fish. She almost jumped out of her barrel. 'Great! First fighting with Thorin! Now covered in fish! This day just keeps getting better!' Veirra thought as she sat there, at least the fish would keep everyone quiet and she would not have to hear Thorin complain about her charming the elf and man. Instead she heard Bard get back aboard and felt the boat moving again. "Stay in your barrels." Bard said.

Soon the boat resumed course, she did not bother to keep track of time or how long she was there but eventually some of the dwarves complained and Bard kicked one of their barrels. "Quiet! We are approaching the toll gate."

At this point Veirra hardly cared, perhaps staying in this barrel and hiding away forever was best. She bit down on her lip as she let some tears flow freely. Everything she said she knew to be true, but did Thorin have to argue with her and force her to come out with it like that? She heard Bard talking to the toll gate guard and then another voice entered. The voice of a slimy backstabber was a good way to describe it. A voice that claimed to work for the Master. "Toss these fish over the side."

Veirra froze and felt both hers and Thorin's barrels being moved. "The folk in this town are struggling. Times are hard and food is scarce."

"That is not my problem is it?" The slimy voice asked, and Veirra considered how best to snap him in two for his uncaring nature.

"And when the people hear the Master is dumping fish back into the lake? When the rioting starts? Will it be your problem then?" Bard asked, hoping the slimy fool caved in.

"Stop." She felt her barrel being put back upright. "Ever the people's champion eh Bard? Protector of the common folk. You might be their favourite right now barge man but it will not last."

Soon the boat continued on its way, and Veirra sighed in relief. Eventually they stopped again and she felt a few of the barrels being tipped over, she peaked out and saw others getting out of their barrels. Standing up she was trying to climb out when a hand took hers and she looked up to see Bard, giving him a shy smile. "Here let me help you."

Veirra could only nod as she let him help her out of the barrel ignoring Thorin's glare. The slippery fish made it hard to get out and so she stumbled. The bargeman's firm arm wrapped around her waist to help steady her, and Veirra tried to ignore his touch and the icy glare from Thorin. Partially lifted from the barrel Veirra found her feet and subtly stepped away from Bard's arms. While Bard turned to another man and paid him some coins. "You did not see them. They were never here. The fish you can have for nothing."

Cleaning herself off some she refused to look at her companions, especially Thorin. "Follow me." Bard called and the group followed him from his barge and the barrels. At least it was the last she would see of those awful barrels.

"Where are we?" Bilbo asked as the group peaked around a corner.

"This Master Baggins is the world of Men." Thorin answered moving ahead as Veirra sighed at the sharp way he said the word 'men'. Apparently their argument would not soon be forgotten, but did he have to sound so disgusted by being here?! These were her kin!

"Keep your heads down and keep moving." Bard said. While Veirra could easily fit in with the people of Lake Town a group of dwarves and a hobbit could not so easily.

"Halt!" Veirra's head shot up as a guard pointed to their group. Before she could react a hand gripped her wrist and yanked her along.

"C'mon move!" Thorin called as he pulled her along and their group quickly followed with the guard still calling out. As they ran into a market area the space became more compact and Thorn abruptly stopped as a guard appeared in front of him. Being crushed between Thorin and the dwarves behind her almost knocked the wind out of her. As the guards rushed to detain them her companions quickly used what was around to trip up and knock out the guards with a stunned group of locals watching.

The last one sought to sneak up on Thorin and was not expecting her as she called out as she tapped him on the shoulder. "Hey!"

When the guard spun around her knee came up to his groin knocking the wind out of him as he doubled over then she side stepped as Ori brought an ore down on his head. Immediately they hid the unconscious guards from view and hid themselves. On instinct she knelt down behind a crate as the locals went about their business and a new voice called out. "What is going on here?"

Obviously the locals were content to pretend they had seen and heard nothing making Veirra smile and was glad to be in the world of men yet again. "Stay where you are nobody leaves."

Veirra swallowed hard as Bard came forward to intercept the guard captain. "Braga."

"You, what are you up to Bard?" The one called Braga asked suspicious.

"Me? I am up to nothing." Bard said as Veirra's breath caught in her chest, one of the guards on the ground was waking up. That was when a flower pot fell on him from a sweet lady with a fishnet over her hair and Veirra grinned, then covered her mouth to keep from giggling. All the while Thorin glared at her as if to say: 'Don't you dare laugh!' To calm him she shook her head, as the guard captain came to investigate the noise. To her surprise the locals were very loyal to Bard as they purposely concealed the unconscious guards.

Daring a peek out as Bard got Braga's attention, Veirra had to cover her mouth as he held up a ladies lace corset. "Hey Braga, your wife would look lovely in this."

"What do you know of my wife?" Braga asked, and the innocent look on Bard's face brought tears to Veirra's eyes as she stifled her laughter and received a death glare from Thorin.

"I know her as well as any man in this town." Bard answered innocently, it was enough to anger Braga as he yanked the garment away and tossed it aside before walking away. The man released a sigh then spotted her and had to smile at how hard it was for her to keep from laughing.

Once the guards were gone, he gestured for them to follow and Veirra got to her feet. She could not help it as she picked up the discarded corset. "Bard, you know her as well as any man in this town?"

The shocked expression and blush on Bard's face only made Veirra laugh. "No I do not really know his wife like that, but several other men do." Bard said with a smirk.

Veirra shook her head as she set the corset down still chuckling. However the foul glare never left Thorin's face, and Veirra wondered if his face would become stuck like that is she slapped him on the back. Soon the group continued on their way and were then met by a young boy who ran around the corner to them. "Da our house, it is being watched."

Bard looked back at those he smuggled into Lake Town. "I have a plan but you may not like it."

"It is alright Bard. Speak your mind." Veirra replied. Bard pointed out that they would need to come up into the house via the toilet. Nobody really liked that plan, but Veirra was not about to complain if it meant she could relax for five seconds. On Veirra's part she tried to blank out what she did in the next few minutes. Namely coming up from someone's toilet. As the young lad pointed the way upstairs she smiled. "Thank you."

"Da why is there dwarves coming up from our toilet?" A young woman asked.

"Will they bring us luck?" On entering the house she saw two girls: one about sixteen, the other about nine.

That was when Veirra came up shivering and the youngest pointed at her. "She is no dwarf, Sigrid." The older daughter looked at her father for answers. "She is very pretty, like I imagined mother would look."

"Tilda!" Sigrid gasped and turned back to Veirra, "I am sorry she sometimes talks without thinking."

"It is alright, I know she meant well." Veirra replied trying not to blush at the girl now known as Tilda.

"Here, these should fit you well." Bard said and Veirra turned as he handed her some clothes. Shyly she took them. "You can get changed in there." Bard gestured to the next room and let her slip by to do just that. Once alone she released the breath she held and began squeezing our her hair. Next she got changed, almost cringing at the clothes, Bard had handed her a dress of all things. She hated many things: She hated being around people, she hated Orcs, Wargs, and Goblins. She hated men that mistreated women, but loathed dresses with a passion. She sighed and took off her clothes, she could endure a dress for a day or so, then once her own clothes were dry change back. However coming out of the room in a dress proved much harder to do.

"Are you alright lass?" Balin called after knocking.

"Umm well mostly okay, though not sure if I should come out." Veirra replied blushing as she looked down at herself in the tan and brown dress.

"Do the clothes fit alright?" Bard asked, "I was certain they would you are about the size my wife was." That comment did not help as she blushed more. She was wearing his wife's old clothes?! She now felt like she was disrespecting the woman.

"No, no the dress is fine and very pretty it is just... I don't normally wear dresses." Veirra replied. She could very well imagine a number of her companions chuckling at her expense.

Bilbo spoke next as he came over to the door. "Veirra it is me Bilbo. Now I am sure you will look lovely and if any of the dwarves laugh I will hit them for you. Trust me, please."

Veirra wanted to say no, but it was Bilbo her friend asking her to trust him. "Alright, if I must. Just do not laugh I mean it."

Slipping from the bedroom where she changed, she came out keeping her eyes locked with the floor and expecting the dwarves to snicker and laugh at her. Peaking up she noticed the wide eyed dwarves too shocked to speak. It must have been a strange thing to see their ranger in a dress. Thorin was no longer looking out the window but staring at her like she was the most precious stone out there. She took a bit longer peaked to notice Fili and Kili look at Thorin then back at her with big grins on their faces. She even peaked up at Bard who seemed to be admiring her in the dress. Veirra bit her bottom lip and looked to the floor as if there was something more interesting there. "So how silly do I look?"

"Not silly at all, you look beautiful." Tilda giggled, Veirra blushed an even deeper shade as she tried to hide her face in her wavy red locks. Unable to believe it, that anyone would view her so.

"You look lovely." The words came from none other then Thorin himself, and she could not help but look at him. Their eyes locked for a moment, then she broke contact and hid behind her hair.

"Thanks." She answered quietly not forgetting the fight she had with him in the barrels. While Thorin returned to looking out the window and an awkward silence grew. Sigrid clapped her hands. "Well I will cook some supper, Tilda I will need help."

Once the two girls went to start supper Veirra took a seat near Bilbo. He was by the fire to warm up as he was wrapped in a blanket. "Are you warm Bilbo?"

"I am fine, Veirra." Bilbo smiled rubbing his arms, "You do look lovely." This caused Veirra to roll her eyes and look down. Meanwhile Thorin had turned back to Bard.

"You promised us provisions, weapons." Thorin spoke up.

"Wait here." Bard said then took one last glance at Veirra.

"He likes you." Bilbo noted.

"If that is true he likes what he sees, he would not bother with me if he knew the truth." Veirra pointed out, then looked away.

Author's Notes:

Well I do hope you enjoyed this latest chapter. I had a lot of fun writing the 'Barrel Argument' Just a few things to note: First off I know in the movie Bard does mourn his late wife. Which I am not knocking that, but since there is no specific time mentioned on when she passed I basically indicated that she died shortly after Tilda was born. So if Tilda is about nine years of age then it is not like Bard is moving on months after his wife died or anything.

I do want to mention that so as to not make Bard out to be insensitive or anything. Especially when he lends Veirra the dress and such, it is not that he is forgetting about his wife, but he has been alone for a while with only his children. Lastly just because Tilda says Veirra looks like how she imagined her mother looking does not mean that there is a resemblance between the two women. For Tilda she does have to go by imagination or drawing to know what her actual mother looked like. In truth I imagine Bard's wife would have had blonde or brown hair since all three children either have dark or light brown hair.

Aside from that you can guess Thorin is not going to like Bard any more than he already does. Anyway hope you enjoyed this chapter and please review away.

Lesliezin