As it was agreed, Bilbo crawled back into Mirkwood Halls. He would of course have preferred a more dignified, and less foul-smelling, development of his and Werna's situation, but it seemed he was destined to once again acquaint himself with the Elven litter.
He then sneaked into some sort of a bathroom, perhaps a room used for laundering cloths and curtains, since there was water and soap. He had rightfully assumed that even with the invisibility ring, at this stage he would not go unnoticed considering the potent stench coming off him. He quickly cleaned up and ventured down into the dungeons.
He hardly expected wordy gratitudes and compliments, but the grumpy and demanding disposition he was met with still irked him a bit. Even if saving the company was the part of his vocation as the burglar, surely, a simple 'thank you' would not tarnish the King's majesticness, and more compliance from other Dwarves would certainly help as well. Instead, they argued in choked hush voices, griped, and tried to choose the direction of their escape, although Bilbo had explored the way they attempted to go to, and knew there was no exit there.
Finally, he managed to herd them and convince them that down was indeed the right way. One by one they started walking, and when the King - the last in the line - was near Bilbo, he grabbed his arm, squeezing it painfully.
"Where is Werna?" he hissed at Bilbo.
The Hobbit opened his mouth to reassure him, but some sort of Tookish stubbornness woke up in him. Perhaps, the Dwarf could be taught a lesson. As ignorant as Bilbo was in the Dwarven traditions, he could see that the association between Thorin and Werna was not going the usual way. Bilbo had overheard a conversation between Balin and Gloin, who were ruminating between the two of them why the King would try to keep his betrothal to the Dwarven maiden in secret. Everyone knew of course, but Werna herself had told Bilbo long time ago that there were rituals, and customs, and apparently none were now followed. Bilbo had of course accepted Werna's choice - he had hardly even though there was a choice to make as he never considered that he had any chance to win her affection - but he would not stand for the woman he cared for to be mistreated!
He twisted out of Thorin's grip and followed the company downstairs.
"We need to hurry. The guards will awake soon..." he threw to Thorin over his shoulder, and saw the Dwarf's dark and worried face. Bilbo thought it would serve the Dwarf just right.
Soon all the Dwarves were stuffed in barrels like pickles for over winter preserving, and Bilbo pulled the lever. Getting out himself posed another problem, but soon it was solved as well, when he plopped into the water in the most ungraceful way.
The barrels moved down the stream, Dwarves paddling with their hands, and Bilbo hanging to one of them for dear life.
He did not expect the escape to go perfectly smoothly, but a band of Orcs that met them at the back gate was quite an unpleasant surprise. And after that it was all a blur: the fight between Orcs and Elves, Kili being shot, his brother's worried face, and then the gate finally opening, releasing them, into the white, as if boiling water of the river. He could only remember how Werna showed up from the shrubs where she had been hiding upon their agreement, two Orcs falling from under her blades, and her graceful springy jump into an empty barrel.
When they finally fell out of their barrels, coughing and spitting water, Bilbo saw Thorin drag Dori and Nori, help Fili, and only then rush to Werna who was inspecting Kili's leg. The King grabbed her shoulder, she turned, and they embraced. The company turned away to give them some privacy, and Bilbo did as well, his eyes on the clear water of the river; but not before he saw how tense and reserved the faces of the couple were. Something unpleasantly stirred in Bilbo's mind.
Bilbo did not approve of the plan to go to Laketown. To be precise, he did not approve of the Man they had chosen to be their guide, of the idea of a stop in a town of the Long Ones, and he surely did not approve of the town itself. In short, the whole happenstance made him apprehensive and he would prefer to leave it as soon as possible. It was damp and smelled of fish, which Bilbo preferred only in one form - nice and crisp, with thyme, and a side of boiled potatoes.
Nonetheless, he sincerely thanked the family of the bargeman, and wrapped himself in the rags he was given. The fire was crackling in the heath, and he was offered a hot beverage. Perhaps, there was still hope for him to survive this ridiculous adventure, he thought. Werna sat near him, and bumped her shoulder to him.
"How are you feeling, Bilbo?" she asked softly, and he sniffled. He was feeling rather miserable and even more pessimistic than usual regarding their predicament, but he doubted she wanted to hear his outlook at the situation at the moment.
"Quite alright, thank you. And you?" he asked, and immediately worried about her wounds and whether they had opened in the cold turbulent stream.
"Quite alright myself," she said, a smile dancing in her eyes. "That was a clever idea, Bilbo. You got us out." Bilbo felt flattered, and hid behind his usual self-deprecating humour.
"Technically, you were already out. It was the company, that needed to be… outed." She snorted.
"And I bet you received no gratitude for it." She dramatically shook her head in feigned mournfulness. "Well, you should know you have mine in full." She then patted his shoulder affectionately.
They sat in quiet, enjoying the warmth coming from the fireplace. Bilbo was also discreetly watching Thorin and the man converse, discussing their plans. Apparently, the bargeman had promised them safe passage out of the town and weapons.
"I do not like it..." Werna whispered, and Bilbo turned to her.
"Do you think the man is untrustworthy?" he asked. He himself did not have an opinion on the bargeman.
"I do." Bilbo saw Werna twist her lips. "I am worried for his family. Clearly, the town authorities would not approve of him helping us, since he is bringing us in such secrecy. He has children to take care, of course he agreed on it for silver. But what if we are found?"
Bilbo felt like reminding her that nothing brings back luck quicker than voicing it out, and he was as right as ever. They were found, they were dragged out, into the square full of people, and since they were found while robbing the town armoury, they looked as guilty as a vixen in a chicken house.
Luckily - and to Bilbo's utter astoundment - Thorin could be charismatic when circumstances required. Quite quickly the whole town was taken by his authoritative manner, and perhaps even more so, by his promises of gold and gems, and overall prosperity coming to Laketown. And in a few hours the company and Bilbo found themselves invited to a feast. Bilbo only hoped that the townsfolk cooked something besides fish because Bilbo felt as if he had not smelled anything else for the longest time.
The feast was held in a large hall, adjoin to the Master's house, and the tables were crowded with dishes and wine jugs, and it seemed that everyone of importance was invited, including the captain of guard who had arrested them. The guests, of course, did not include Bard the bargeman. Bilbo wondered if anyone else felt that it was unjust, and if anyone else found the whole matter somewhat repulsive. Bilbo approved of revels and festivities of any sort - especially involving copious amount of food - just as much as the next Hobbit, but he felt uneasy to be celebrated by the people who just a few hours ago had clearly been feeling like locking them up or even perhaps executing, while the only person who had come to their aid when they had needed it was now considered ill-favoured.
Bilbo was quickly distracted from his brooding thoughts by Werna's appearance. Through the last few days, with all the worry, dirt, darkness, and potato peels, he had quite forgotten how alluring she was. And now, with her hair washed and intricately braided, in a dress, probably borrowed from a girl of Men, with a colourful shawl on her shoulders, she stepped into the hall and gave him a radiant smile. Even in this attire, some much simpler that her warrior outfit she had worn the first day in his house, she looked fresh, and elegant, and stately.
Soon the company took seats at the table, and only the wonderful smell of roasted pork and vegetables could divert Bilbo's attention from where she sat between him and Dori. The fact that it was not next to the man she was betrothed to did not escape Bilbo's mind.
The company ate, and the toasts followed, monotonous and repetitive, confirming the union between the soon-to-be returned Dwarven Kingdom and the town of Men, and the Master made hints, and Thorin ignored them, eating and drinking. Soon music started, and unlike the tedious colourless Elven wailing - which Bilbo had been looking forward to from the comforts of his home, and found quite irritating in Rivendell - this one sounded like something Hobbits would enjoy at their celebrations. There was a jig, and something akin to longways, and even a reel. Bilbo's foot was tapping on the floor, and suddenly Werna kicked him sensitively under the table.
He opened his mouth to apologise for the annoying fiddling, but she suddenly leaned to him and hissed, "Ask me to dance."
"What?" Something quietly squeaked inside him.
"I want to dance, but no one will dare to ask me. Please?" She quickly looked at him, and he gathered his courage, climbed off the chair too high for him, and stretched his hand to her. And soon they joined the couples joyfully swirling in the center of the hall.