Lilly POV

"Lauren, It's time to get up, Bilbo's here." I said, softly shaking her awake.

"Is it time to go? Already?"

"I know, I felt as if we were asleep for minutes."

"Sorry to interrupt, but we have to get moving, the party has started and the guard change is in 15 minutes." Bilbo spoke in a worried voice.

"No need to panic, we are ready to leave. Where are Thorin and the others?" Laurenasked as she sung her legs out of the bed.

"I left a key with Thorin, they should be nearing the cellar by now."

We nodded and Lauren grabbed her things. We would stop for mines on the way there.

Trying to get through the palace was like a game of Tetris, every other corner we turned was met by the sight of elves. It took us 10 minutes alone to get back to my room so I could retrieve my belongings, but we were back out the door in seconds.

"Bilbo, we need you to disappear and quickly find the others, we can handle ourselves from here" Lauren whispered to the Hobbit as we crouched behind a wooden table in the hallway.

He didn't need to be told twice, in a matter of seconds he was gone.

We passed by the last hallway that lead to the cellar. I made it across with no problem, but as Lauren went to take a step forward a voice sounded.

"Halt! Who's there?"

She quickly motioned for me to hide, her eyes looking around her for a solution.

"I said, who is there?"

"It is me, Lauren. I was invited to the party but seem to have lost my way." She called back, stepping into the opening of the hallway.

"M'lady, I am sorry, I did not realise it was you."

"No need to apologise, but if you would, I have brought a gift for the kings hospitality and it has made my bag ever so heavy. Would you mind holding it for a moment?"

He nodded and took hold of the bag. Confusion past over his eyes when he felt its lightness in weight but it was too late to see the fist flying at his face.

She caught him before his armour could make a noise from hitting the ground. She then placed him in a sitting position against the wall, away from where prying eyes could see him easily before grabbing her back and joining me outside the cellar door.

"That was close, good thinking." I smiled patting her on the back.

She chuckled in response, following me down the stairs were 14 familiar faces greeted us.

"The guards have just left, we have 5 minutes. Get in a barrel and stay quiet" Thorin commanded.

"Fili, take Bilbo, Kili, take Lauren. Lilly, you shall come with me, you are too weak and I am strong enough to hold you steady."

I saw Lauren about to open her mouth in protest, but I sent her a swift elbow to the side, silencing her.

"Just go, you don't need to talk to him."

She walked over and got into the barrel, making sure to ignore Kili's offering hand. Once the lid was on I walked over to Thorin.

"Here let me help." He said, lifting me into the barrel before joining me.

After the lid was shut he pulled me into a deep kiss.

"It's nice to not have bars between us." I whispered.

"Aye, it is."

"Are you sure you are ready for this?" He questioned, stroking my hair.

"Yes and even if I wasn't, would you really leave me here?"

He thought for a moment before shaking his head.

"That's what I thought." I grinned before the sounds of voices drew nearer. Thorin placed a finger to his lips and I nodded.

The barrels started to move and I felt us being lifted from the ground.

"Do the barrels seems heavy to you?" A voice asked.

"Of course not, they are empty. Maybe you should spend more time in the practice yard." Another replied.

"Quiet yourself, you there, get started on moving the others." The first voice called out.

The ride was a little bumpy, but we soon felt ourselves being placed back down.

"Are you sure these barrels are empty, maybe I should take a look?"

I looked at Thorin in horror as the lid started to move.

"No, you will then insist upon checking every barrel and we shall be late back to the celebrations with the wine, do you want to explain to the king why we were late?" One of the voice spoke.

"I guess you're right." He replied, placing the lid back in place.

I let out a breath I didn't know I was keeping.

"That was close." I breathed.

"Too close."

Once the rest of the barrels were in place one of the elves called out.

"Prepare to push them over the side, three, two, one, go"

We were flying through the air and then colliding with a surface before moving again. Thorin wrapped his arms around me protectively. I let out a yelp of pain.

The speed picked up and Thorin pushed the lid off the barrel.

"The Dwarves, they're in the barrels, alert the king and guards, quickly." A voice screamed from above us.

The current pick up again, this time bringing sharp rock. Each time we hit one, a fire of pain spread through my body.

"Hold tight, the worst is nearly over." Thorin whispered in my ear, never letting go of me.

I nodded back with tears in my eyes

"Bilbo, look out!" A voice cried from behind us.

"Lauren, stop, Lauren" Kili's voice screamed.

I turned around to see Kili left in a barrel himself and Fili searching the waters in a panic. He caught my eye.

"Bilbo was knocked from the barrel, Lauren jumped in after to save him, but has not come to the surface."

"Help!" A voice called, a small hand was coming quickly towards us.

"Grab it Thorin." Within a second, a soaked Hobbit was pulled in beside us.

"Lauren!" I called into the water.

"I'm here" She shouted above the sound of water.

"Get in a barrel" I yelled before she was pulled under the current again.

She resurfaced and grabbed on to the side of the nearest barrel, which happened to be Dwalins.

"Pull her in" Thorin commanded.

It was slow motion what happened next. Just as Dwalin got most of her body out of the river she hit it.

None of us had been paying attention to the surroundings, so none of us saw the rock we were hurtling towards until it was too late. Dwalin lost his grip and she went under again, this time unconscious.

"Lauren" Kili's strained voice called out, mixed amongst the cried of the company.

The current slowed down and we got out of the barrels as fast as we could, searching the river for any signs of Lauren.

"I think I see her" Balin called out, pointing to a shape coming down the river.

Me and Kili rushed over to it. On closer inspection I smiled, it was her cloak. I reached forward only to have to smile smacked from my face. Only her cloak was there.

I let the tears slide from my eyes as I saw the blood stained on the hood.

Voices in the distance broke my state.

"The elves, we must go" Thorin called, urging us from the river.

"We can't leave without her."

"We must, if she was here, what would she tell you to do." He tried to reason.

"She would say go, but she isn't here." I spat back.

"Please, we must go."

"Not without her."

"Enough of this" Dwalin growled before pulling me over his shoulder.

"I am sorry." Thorin spoke before we took off running.

A/N – So how did you like it? I'm finding myself more inspired to write these days, so hopefully it lasts. How are you guys? I really have missed waking up to nice reviews and such.

Please let me know what you want to see? Anything you want me to change? Anything you liked?