Chapter 17: Across the Lake
"You know our names, but we do not know yours," Bilbo says as he and Gailien sit near the bargeman as he paddles the slowly through the waters.
"Bard," he answers. "So, how long have you been siblings?" Bilbo and Gailien both open their mouths to answer but their faces drop, leaving their jaws hanging. "Do not think me stupid," Bard adds. "You two do not even belong to the same race. I can see your pointed ears Elf, and his feet. So, tell me, how did you come into the company of thirteen Dwarves?"
"That is always what they ask," Gailien muses. "I'm just helping guide them. The road is dangerous, and they employed my help. Bilbo sort of just got dragged along by some events (read: Gandalf)."
"So, I take it you are not betrothed to one of the Dwarves either then?"
Gailien snorts, shaking her head. "Our story is a long one and we don't have the time to explain it all." She leans back against the wood of the seat, her backside planted on the ground. She is still soaked, along with everybody else. Thorin stands near the edge, overlooking the lake as the slowly move through it. The fog begins to grow thicker, chunks of ice bobbing.
Deciding the stretch, since all they have been doing for the last few days is sit around, Gailien stands, ruffling Kili's hair softly as she passes him on her way to Thorin. She crosses her arms, matching his brooding stance.
"It has been a long time since I've been to Lake-town," Gailien muses quietly. "Over four hundred years."
"You visited Lake Town?" Thorin wonders. "What about Dale?"
"Only once. I was actually going to Erebor for the first time. I was maybe, thirty at the time. My father didn't want to go alone after our mother's death." Thorin stares at her. She had never mentioned having seen the halls or Erebor herself. "My father was overseeing some of the trade on Thranduil's behalf. It was amazing." Gailien smiles, gazing out into the fog. "It is no wonder you have such a strong desire to return. It was so full of…life. It made Mirkwood seem dull and bland."
"And you will see it like that once again. Once we return it to its full glory." Thorin places a hand on her arm, drawing her sight away from the foggy water. "You know you are most welcome to stay with us. In fact, I insist you do."
Gailien almost laughs, recalling that they are almost what Fili said he would say. Her mind is still set though, that her future does not belong in a Dwarven realm. It is almost sad to think that their quest may be over sooner rather than later. But this is not the time for protesting. "I appreciate your offer, but let's get Erebor back before we start that sort of talk."
"Do you doubt us?"
"Not at all, but I don't like talking about a future that I have not yet seen."
Thorin drops his hand, staring at the bead in her hair that has stayed in place (thanks to the craftsmanship of Dwarves). "The man you were talking about in the cells. If you do wish to stay with us…he is more than welcome to Erebor as well."
Gailien opens her mouth to respond but instead, her open lips form into a mirthful smile. "I'm sure he would love to stay in Erebor," she muses. "He loves Dwarves."
"Oh? Does he?" Thorin cocks his head, only continuing the conversation out of politeness since this is not a topic that he finds anything pleasant in. "You never told us his name."
"But if I tell you his name, the mystery starts to disappear," she quips.
"And why is he such a mystery? Do you think we'd judge you for whom you have given your heart to?"
"I know you would. Not that I think you'd think badly of him but I'm afraid you'll look differently at me."
"So, that implies that we should know of them."
"And perhaps you do. But I am not willing to run with that risk."
Thorin sighs, only managing a small smile but Gailien barely contains her mirthful one, enjoying the irony and the exhilaration of the dangerous topic. No doubt Fili and Kili are exchanging looks behind their backs. If Kili is even aware in his state.
"Once we have a moment of peace, I'll meditate and see if I can find anything useful," she says, the topic of Kili dimming all mirthful mood. "Durin's Day is in less than a month."
"Still enough time to reach the mountain. As long as the bargeman can do as he promised."
"But first we must do as we promised," she adds. Thorin frowns, not understanding her words until Gailien digs into the small purse at her waist, pulling out three silver coins. "I don't have much, but I don't make habit of carrying a lot of gold around. And even then, I only have this because of one of the wagers."
"The honey-cake one?" Thorin wonders.
"No," she chortles. "I let Fili keep that. No, this was thanks to Bofur after we left the Shire. And thanks to Bilbo I suppose."
Thorin shakes his head with a small humorous smile. He digs into his own belt pocket, pulling out a handful of coins. He cups her hand, pouring the contents into it. "Take those to Balin," he instructs. Gailien nods, turning around on the small barge to where Balin is beginning to collect their smuggler's price. She places the handful on the counter, muttering something about it being both hers and Thorin's share. She returns to Thorin's side who throws a narrowed glare over her shoulder. "Do you trust him?"
"I do," she answers with confidence. "If he has three children then he wouldn't risk being caught, and if he hands us in, he won't get his money." She looks over her own shoulder, meeting eyes with Bard who seems to be listening to their conversation, even if it is only above whispers. "Besides, he probably knows that we'll cause trouble if he does."
Their attention is taken by large stones protruding from the water, covered by the fog until they are only feet away. For a moment it seems like they are going to run into one and Bofur yells "watch out" but the barge is swiftly turned out of the way.
"What are you trying to do?" Thorin growls. "Drown us?"
Gailien rolls her eyes, softly nudging the Dwarf's side with the back of her hand. "I was born and bred on these waters, Master Dwarf. If I wanted to drown you, I would not do it here," Bard says.
"Oh, I've had enough of this lippy lake-man. I say we throw him over the side and be done with him," Dwalin states, sending Bard a typical Dwarven glare.
"First of all," Gailien begins, propping out her leg. "His name is Bard, Dwalin. And second, he is the only reason we have a way of entering Lake-town without arousing this 'master.' So, I suggest that if we are going to talk about him, you do it where he cannot hear. And you don't need to like him, you need to pay him."
Thorin walks closer to the edge, crossing his arms as he leans against the edge.
"That we do lass," Balin agrees. "Come on, turn out your pockets."
The Dwarves reluctantly start pulling silver coins from their pockets, tossing them onto the crate that Balin is using as a table.
"How do we know he won't betray us?" Dwalin questions Thorin.
"We don't," Thorin answers. Gailien leaves his side, walking over to where Kili sits with his brother, his left leg extended.
"How are you going?" she asks quietly, sitting down on his other side.
"I don't need babying," he grumbles, shrivelling his nose. The tension in her cheeks drop and she nods her head, bowing it slightly.
"I don't mean to," she defends. "But don't lie to us. Out of everybody, I would know what happens when a wound isn't treated in time." She extends her own leg in emphasis, rubbing her thumb across the knee. "Binding isn't enough. We need medical supplies."
"I said I don't need babying, especially by you." Kili says those words which so much spite behind them that Gailien is honestly shocked that the young Dwarf who she adores is able to conjure such emotion, let alone aim it at somebody.
"Kili," Fili chides. Kili briefly glares at his brother before returning his stony gaze to the deck. Gailien swallows thickly, blinking away the emotion from her eyes. Deciding it best not to stay, Gailien silently stands back up and walks back over to Bilbo. Her face is expressionless, on the outside but inside the eyes, there is a storm of emotion – confusion, desperation, guilt. Does Kili blame her for what happened? She would have willingly taken that second arrow had she see it coming.
She hadn't meant to baby him – she surely wasn't coddling him or telling him not to do anything. Especially by you. That punch to the gut is hard and she isn't even sure why. Why especially not her? Maybe he doesn't enjoy her presence as much as she thought he does.
"Bilbo," she says, forcing herself not to think too much on the topic. The Hobbit hums, tilting his head in acknowledgement. "I know this is a large thing to ask, but after this quest, assuming I make it out alive I would love to return to the Shire with you. And possibly… stay there for a while."
"You want to stay in the Shire?" Bilbo asks with a pleasant surprise. Gailien nods in affirmation. "Of course, you are more than welcome to stay at Bag-End as long as you want. There's plenty of room for the both of us."
"Really? Because I don't want to be a hassle or anything, but I enjoy your company very much and I've always loved the Shire."
"It's no hassle at all." Bilbo leans back, his eyes wandering around as he imagines his future back at his home. "We'll be the talk of the town for a century. Disappearing for a year then returning with an Elf."
"Well I don't know about you, but I'm quite used to that."
Bilbo nods in understanding before he leans forward again, resting his elbows on his knees. He tilts to the side, leaning closer to Gailien. "I'm surprised that you don't want to stay with the Dwarves. I know that Thorin just offered you a place in Erebor."
Gailien shrugs, fiddling with her fingers. "I don't think a Dwarven settlement is a place for me. It was hard enough to get this lot to trust me, let alone more."
"What about Thorin?" Gailien looks to Bilbo out of the side of her eye before flickering them to the said Dwarf. Luckily, Bilbo has the tact to keep his voice low. "Look, I see exactly how you act around him and I don't imagine that you are so easily prepared to leave him behind after all this."
"Of course I'm not," Gailien hisses, pinning her sights on her shoes. "But… he will be a King of a Dwarven realm. Where do I fit in that image? Besides, I shouldn't even be thinking like that. He's made no declaration of even having any sort of emotions beyond platonic friendship."
"Have you?" Bilbo counters. Gailien pauses in her fiddling, wishing that she had the bear Bofur made. At least she didn't lose anything of too much value.
"There's um…just a wee problem," Balin announces, letting Gailien off the hook with answering Bilbo. "We're ten coins short." For one of the few times in her life, Gailien feels guilty about not carrying more. Thorin though already has a suspect in mind.
"Gloin, come on," he says, leaving his place at the edge of the barge. "Give us what you have."
"Don't look to me. I have been bled dry by this venture! What have I seen for my investment? Naught but misery and grief and…" However, through his rant, the company's attention has been taken away to something much more precious to them then a few coins.
Even Gailien and Bilbo stand, joining the Dwarves. Through the thick fog, the Lonely Mountain peaks through. For many, it is the first time seeing the land that they have been told so much about – the halls filled with gold and the craftsmanship of the Erebor Dwarves. And to two Dwarves, it is a return to their home that they have not seen in over one hundred years.
"Bless my Beard." Gloin pulls out his hidden coin sack, handing it to Balin as his eyes are glued to the mountain peak. "Take it. Take all of it."
With an act of newfound courage, Gailien lifts her hand, resting it on the back of Thorin's arm. He turns his head to find Gailien smiling kindly at him before her eyes turn back to the mountain, her hand staying place. Thorin breathes deeply, also turning his head back out to the mountain but the fingers of his hand slowly lift between them. He almost reaches her, his fingertips brushing against the material of her blouse, pressing gently over her skin but Bilbo coughs loudly, alerting the company that Bard is walking towards them.
"The money, quick," Bard demands. "Give it to me."
Thorin turns back around, his hands dropping to his side. "We will pay you when we get our provisions, but not before."
"If you value your freedom, you'll do as I say. There are guards ahead." The company look towards the port that they will be shortly arriving at. Gailien thought that they may be taking a secret entrance, not straight through the main gates.
"And how exactly do you plan on smuggling us pass those guards?" Gailien questions.
Bard's eyes flicker to the barrels. "I suggest you get in."
Some of the Dwarves groan, mumbling amongst themselves as habit but with no other idea coming from any of their mouths, they are forced to follow Bard's plan. Gailien instinctively prepares herself to help Kili but his words hit her again. Heading to her own barrel she prepares to pull herself over when two large hands plant on her hips, lifting her into the air. She pulls her legs up, dropping them back down into the barrel. She turns around, greeted by Thorin's stoic face. She doesn't even get a chance to thank him as he quickly moves off into his own.
Bard instructs them to keep their heads low so Gailien sinks into the barrel, tucking her knees to her chest. There is no hole in her barrel – one of the lucky ones not to be pierced by an arrow – so she cannot see what is going on around them, only feeling the gentle sway of the water. She prays that Bard's plan is more solid than it currently seems, but he does not strike her as a foolish man.