Angel equipped her bracers, tying the red string around her lower ribs as Bard spoke. "You will never be able to enter Laketown covered in so much orc blood."
"Princess, come here," Fili called, overhearing the conversation. She looked between Bard and the dwarf prince, unsure of who to respond to. Bard gestured for her to see Fili, and slowly she walked over to him.
"Must you call me 'princess'? Anything, literally anything would be better." She confessed while reaching him. He laughed as his brother walked to the other side of her.
"Lay down, we will help you get the blood out of your hair." Kili smiled. She looked between them with a concerned face.
"Uhm, guys no offence but-" Angel nervously began to reject.
"Oh come on," Fili smiled, offering to help her down. Kili helped force her to sit, patting her back.
"We aren't going to bite, we just want to help." Kili grinned. She was outnumbered, and gave into their offer, even though she found it slightly creepy. They parted her hair in the middle as she lay on her stomach, resting her collar bone on the boat, leaning her head over. They each rinsed the tar-like substance while she washed her hands and face in the frigid waters. She pushed herself on her knees as they finished, but before she could blink, they began drying her hair with a white cloth. Angel's reflection stared back at her, a frown appeared upon her face. She watched as they gently brushed their fingers through her hair, smiling and talking to each other. Tears began to fill her eyes, blending in with the water.
"Thank you, Fili, Kili, but you don't need to do anymore." She stated, trying to hide her sadness.
"We are done anyways," Fili chuckled, exchanging accomplished looks with his brother. They both stood and began to step away while she rose, turning she saw Fili give Thorin the soaking wet cloth.
"Hey, isn't that a piece of my tunic?" She asked him. Thorin nodded and stepped closer, and closer to her. "W-what're you doing?" She asked nervously, having no where to back up to.
"I'm just going to wash your stomach-" Thorin barely got to respond before she covered her bloody skin with the end of her tunic.
"No! No. no, no. No one touches my tummy!" She established sternly.
"It would be easier if I just did it for you," Thorin grumbled. Angel took the rag from his hand and stepped away from him, heading towards the stern of the boat, away from the rest.
"Please Thorin, I can do it myself. Thank you for the offer though." She reassured softly. Thorin turned from her, she began to wipe away the blood coating her skin. It was done in nearly seconds, but a nosey bargeman caught eye of her wound.
"Is that gold stuff supposed to be crawling up your skin, along with those black and red lines?" Bard inquired soft enough so no one else could hear. Angel sighed as she examined her wound, shaking her head in response. "Should you not tell the others?"
"No," She whispered. "It's from the poison laced on the arrow I was shot with, it can be treated…" Her voice trailed off as if she wished to continue her statement.
"But?" Bard questioned.
"It would be nice, not to have to fight any more wars…" She confessed in a shaken voice. Bard sighed and stared at her with disapproval. "I agree with you, Bard. I don't belong here, in any race. I am a monster, and sooner or later, I must pay for my deeds." Bard walked up to her slowly, placing a hand on her shoulder as she stared down into the water. She watched his head shoot forward as something seemed to catch his eye. He demanded the money promised from the dwarves, which they reluctantly gave, then told them to all hide in the barrels. Bard looked around for a spot Angel could hide. He opened a small hatch in the boat, just big enough for her to slip in. Without a second thought, she hopped down the base of the barge, waiting to be released.