15/06/2021 Author's Note: So this is a rather long chapter (around 25 pages in length) and quite a bit happens in it (I just really wanted to get out of Mirkwood and get the company to Laketown, lol).
Hopefully everything that does happen in this chapter flows nicely together and isn't too jumpy. Though it will be bumpy because it's the Barrel's chapter, so buckle in :D
Chapter 21
Barrels out of Bond
Bilbo had lost track of just how many days the company had been locked away, for it was difficult to tell night and day within the woodland realm, but the fear that she might not be able to free the company in time for them make it to the Lonely Mountain before Durin's Day was a fear that was ever growing upon her mind.
She was having better luck at navigating her way around the maze of corridors that made up the dungeons. Indeed she could pass messages between the dwarves and Thorin with ease now, not getting lost or backtracking even once.
She had also, much to her stomach's great delight, found the kitchens, which in turn lead her to discover a very interesting thing. That the great gates, the ones by which she and the dwarves had entered the Woodland realm by, were indeed not the only entrance to the realm.
Deep down within the depths of the huge kitchens, one would find themselves within a massive wine cellar, its high cavern walls lined with caskets of rich wine and where large barrels stood neatly in rows.
The cellar itself was not Bilbo's great discovery, though it was part of it, for when she happened upon the cellar it was during a time that she saw what was done with the large barrels that stood so neatly in rows.
When the barrels of goods sent to the elves from the town of men were empty the elves cast them through trapdoors that made up the floor of the cellar, dropping them down to a water-gate, where the barrels, Bilbo learned, would float upon a large underground stream, the current pulling them towards a river that flowed into the Long Lake to be picked up by the men, who would start the process again.
Bilbo spent many days coming back to the cellar, watching closely as how exactly the trapdoors and barrels worked, her mind wondering if it could all be used for helping her friends escape.
The still unseen water-gate was the only other gate she had been able to discover in weeks of searching and she was beginning to believe it may be her friends only hope of escape, and even better escape unseen.
For the passageway to cellar, though attached to the busy elven kitchen as it was, was rarely used and after much walking back and forth between the dungeons and the cellar, she had worked out a route that would see her dwarves safely and quickly to the cellar without being seen.
"There's still a risk of being caught of course." She told Thorin as she paced back and forth outside his cell after telling him her idea. "But I think, no," she shook her head firmly, annoyed at herself for allowing the doubt to creep into her voice, "I'm sure, we can do it."
"It's a sound enough plan." Thorin agreed, leaning threw the bars of his cell, his dark blue gaze never leaving her animated face, "with only one flaw."
She let out a snorting laugh.
"Only the one?"
He nodded very solemnly, and gestured to the lock of his cell door.
"Ah…" Right, yes, that was a rather large flaw to her otherwise possibly achievable plan, "I'm, ah, working on that." But almost immediately all of the excited energy over her idea has fled her and she suddenly feels very, very tired.
"Come here and eat something before you collapse." Thorin grumbles at her, but she learning to recognise after spending so many hours, of so many days sitting by his cell the difference between his grumbles and snapping tones. Though he looks grumpy and annoyed, she can see the genuine concern in his dark orbs as he holds out half a loaf of bread (more than half, but she's too tired for that fight over him giving her more than he should of his meagre rations) for her to take.
"Not going to collapse." She mutters with as much pride as she can muster before she gratefully took the food he offered and flopped into an ungraceful heap against his cell.
8 8 8
Luck, it has often been said, followed Mistress Baggins with a smile, and once more, it smiling upon her, for as she sat, invisible, by the trap-door that dropped down towards the water-gate, deep in thought on how she would be able to free her friends from their cells and get them to the gate unseen, she at long last heard of the much needed means on which to begin her plan.
As she sat, late into the afternoon, she overheard the King's butler bidding the chief of the dungeon guards a cheerful greeting – they were, Bilbo had been fast to learn once she has stumbled upon the kitchens, good friends and for lack of a better description and in truth it was the best and most accurate description for the two of them, drinking buddies (even if thinking such a term in relation to elves, rather made her want to giggle quite hysterically).
"Come," she heard the butler say, "and taste the new wine that just come in. I shall be hard work tonight clearing the cellars of the empty wood, so let us drink first to help the labour."
"Very good," laughed the chief of the guards," I'll taste with you, and see if it is fit for the King's table. There is a feast tonight and it would not do to send up poor stuff."
Bilbo's heart rather leapt in her chest at his words.
A feast? Tonight?
She had thought she had seen a great deal of hurry and excited chatter amongst the elves as she had moved through the kitchen to make for the water-gate to once more ponder upon her escape plan, but in truth she had given their excitement and busy behaviour very little thought, other than they seemed more jolly and the kitchens, even with her special ring, were harder to move about in for there were so many more staff working around it. Only now, all was quiet, much quieter than usual, which means…
Everyone must be at the feast….
Hesitantly, but with excited butterflies fluttering around her belly, she moved away from the water-gate and after the two elves, an idea slowly starting to form in her head. She had seen how much these two elves liked to drink, so maybe, just maybe…
With some luck…
So, hidden at one side of the king's private cellar, she held her breath, waiting and hoping as she watched the two elves chat and drink, laughing merrily, genuinely enjoying one another's company.
Luck of an unusual kind was with Bilbo then, as spoke of only moments before, it was beaming upon her. It must have been a potent wine that the butler and chief of guards to be drinking to make the two wood elves drowsy, but it would appear that this wine was of a heady vintage of the great gardens of Dorwinion, and not meant for his soldiers or his servants, but for the King's table only, and for much smaller, finer glasses than the ones being used by the butler and chief of guards.
It did not take long for the two elves to start yawning, for their heads to come slowly to rest down upon the table they sat at and for each of them to start snoring.
Unable to belief her luck but quite willing to take her chance, Bilbo tip-toed over to the chief of the guards, and relieved him of his great ring of keys.
Heart in her mouth, keys clutched tightly to her chest to keep them from making a noise, Bilbo took one step back, then another and then another before she was running out of the cellar, out of the kitchens and down the very deserted corridors leading down to the dungeons.
She had a passing thought as she ran past Fili's cell if she should let him out first before deciding no, not when she saw the red headed elf maiden, talking softly to Kili – and for a moment Tauriel looked away from Kili's bright and animated face, her gazing searching for the source of what she thought had been the faint sound of keys clinking. Only that the corridor was empty and the sound of clinking was not to be heard again.
The pull to investigate was still strong within her chest, except… she looked back to the dwarf, who was watching her closely, not in guarded fashion, but almost as if he was worried she thought him to be annoying or that she might have grown bored of him speaking of the things he had seen on his travels, like the Fire Moon, or of hobbits, folk she had knew of only from the briefest of mentions in old history books, but had always thought sounded sweet and dear for their great love of all things that grew.
She knew she would have to leave soon, to return to the Feast, so with a smile, one she knew she had not worn in many years, she asked him of the Man in the Moon song, for she had not heard of it before. With a wide beam and a great bow, he launched into song, a song of the likes she had never heard before, causing her to laugh and hum along. A little while longer, she thought, just a little and then I will go back – spurred her to press on, hoping that when she came for Kili, the elf maiden would be well gone.
"Thorin!"
He is at the bars of his cell in a heartbeat, his dark blue eyes were wide with alarm.
"What is it? Have you been discovered? Are you…"
She pulled off her magic ring, and showed him the ring of keys, beaming in pleasure as his face grew momentarily slack as he stared, dumbstruck at the keys she held. Then a bright light entered his eyes, as a slow smirked crossed his lips.
"There's a Feast." she rambled as she jammed key after key into the cell door lock as she hunted for the right one, "tonight. I didn't… I didn't know, not paying attention, but I learned of it just now and everyone it would appear is in attendance. Well, all except for the King's Butler and his Chief of Guards, of whom keys I have liberated, but they have rather drunk themselves under the table sampling the King's best wine. And well…" it was on her lips to mention Kili's… elf friend, but she would rather not deal with a grumpy uncle complaining about his nephew's poor choices of friends at the moment.
Also she was rather distracted by the fact that the moment she had found the right key and opened Thorin's cell door, she was being tugged into Thorin's arms and kissed rather passionately on the lips, sending all coherent thoughts rather out of her head.
Thorin lips were warm against her own, with one hand cradling her head while the other was wrapped around her waist, a much needed support to keep her from melting into a pool onto the ground in shock and delight over what was happening.
This must be a dream, she thought as her own hands, one resting right over Thorin's pounding heart, the other tentatively touching his soft beard, it must be. For why else…
They pulled apart for air and Bilbo felt herself sag rather pathetically against Thorin's heaving chest, his still pounding heart a pleasing rhythm against her ear. She expected to wake up then or, if it weren't a dream, for Thorin to jump away from her (and let her drop to undignified mess unto the ground), spluttering some excuse of other regarding a momentary lapse of judgement and sanity and that they were to never speak of this again.
None of these things happened.
Bilbo was very much awake – she had pinched herself hard enough to ascertain that no, she was not dreaming – and Thorin was making no signs of moving away or letting her go. He continue to hold her and occasionally press warm kisses to her forehead.
Maybe this was how dwarves showed profound gratitude?
It… well… maybe? But what else could…
"I apologise."
Her thoughts were broken by Thorin, causing her to twist her head to look him his eyes, to stare at his (adorably) red and rueful face.
"Y-you… what?"
"I kissed you." He spoke softly, his thumb starting to rub against her cheek before he stopped himself with a frown, though he irritation appeared to be pointed inwards rather than directed at her, "without permission and…" He looked away, his nose scrunching in a fashion that made her heart feel warm and think thoughts along the lines of 'cute'.
"I-I didn't mind." She squeaked, cheeks burning and feeling oddly desperate to show him that well, she rather enjoyed his kiss, without seeming, well desperate, "I am surprised though. I, well, it is not exactly a secret you don't… um...well,…" she trailed off as she watched him groan and his head came to rest upon her shoulder.
"I didn't think you liked me." Even after managing to stop herself at first, the words still come out as a whisper, causing her face to burn all the more hotly when Thorin lifted his head and looked at her, causing her in turn to not be able to quite meet his eye,
"I mean, I know, well that you like me a great deal better than you did a few weeks ago, but I just, I thought, I, um…"
Her words were silenced once more by his lips and Bilbo, feeling she rather made enough of a fool of herself already,decided to instead pour all her energy into shyly kissing him back.
Which appeared to please Thorin greatly, for his arm tighten around her, pulling her ever closer to him and kissing her with ever growing enthusiasm.
"So," Bilbo gasped out breathlessly once they broke for air, and Thorin steered them back into his cell – he seemed unwilling to remove his arm from around her waist – to pick up his Oakenshield – while all other weapons and supplies had been taken from them, Thorin's oaken branch shield had been left with him. For what reason, Bilbo did not know and if Thorin had any ideas, he had not thought to share them with her yet, "you do like me?"
Thorin let out an equally breathless laugh, a warm and cheery sound that Bilbo finds herself loving and wanting to hear more often than well… was this the first time she had heard him laugh?
"I do." He said as he pressed a kiss to her hairline, "dearly."
"Because I stole the keys and may, just may, have found us a way of escaping?" she wished she could stop talking, to simply accept the affection Thorin was showing her without needing to question it.
"No." She felt herself deflate a little.
"I like you for great many reasons."Oh...? "But as you are aware, we are rather in hurry and now is not the time speak of such things."
She pulled a face up at him.
"You kissed me!" She spluttered and gaped when a roguish sort of grin crossed Thorin's face.
"Yes, yes I did."
He looked so proud of himself before a thought crossed his mind and he looked back at her hesitantly.
"And that was truly… alright?"
"YES!"
She had him laughing again, a joyful laugh, so loudly she feared that any one might hear them, a lone guard (Kili's elf maiden friend) or servant, even a drunkard guest or two, but no one appeared and by the time they reached Dwalin's cell, Thorin had rather gotten himself under control.
That is until, while Bilbo struggled to open Dwalin's cell door – rather a difficult chore when using only one hand. Thorin had removed his arm from around her waist as they had been sneaking threw the corridors, only to hold her hand firmly in his. And well, he hadn't let go of it and she was rather happy to have it held, current struggles aside – Dwalin, who had eyed the two of them with a somewhat bewildered if mildly pleased expression, said something to Thorin in Khuzdul that had sent the dwarf King almost to his knees from laughing so hard.
"What on earth did you say to him?" Bilbo spluttered, as she finally found the right key and wrestle the door open.
Dwalin simply looked once more at they're joined hands, smirked before telling Thorin to get a hold of himself.
Thorin did so, but with a cheerful grin and with her hand still being firmly held in his, she guided the two threw the maze that was the dungeons.
From cell door to cell door they went until her following had grown from two to twelve – thankfully by the time they reached Kili's cell his elf maiden friend had left though the boy was wearing an expression Bilbo could only describe as puppy love. Not, a voice in her head mused, that you are one to talk. If you weren't in the current situation you are now, trying to escape an elven stronghold with twelve dwarves, you'd be smiling like a love-sick fool too. - and they were all sneaking the best they could to the kitchens and the from there, down into the cellars to the water-gate.
To say her dwarves were a little bewildered as to why she had led them down in a wine cellar would be something of an understatement.
Indeed before now, Thorin had been the only dwarf she had muttered her half form idea about using the water-gate to escape by and now that they were actually here, before the gate, standing amongst the large empty barrels, Bilbo was rather uncertain as to how the dwarves would take her idea.
Poorly, was the response she got from them, with them all muttering amongst themselves, grumbling loudly despite the danger of the chief of the guards only being asleep a room away.
"We shall be bruised and battered to pieces." Gloin growled, glaring from her to the trap-door that dropped down to the water-gate, before giving the barrels a particularly nasty look.
"Drowned to, for certain." Dori agreed heartily, already looking rather green in the face.
"Thought you had an actual plan there lass," Dwalin grumbled, sounding more exasperated than angry, "when ya managed to get ahold of the keys."
"Tha idea is rather mad." Bofur said, though more to himself than to her, peering into each barrel and looking at the trap-door.
Feeling rather dejected and annoyed in equal measure, Bilbo threw out her hands as she proclaimed in a hushed snap, "Very well, if you don't like my plan and have no other ideas of your own, we best be getting you all back to your nice cells, and I shall lock you all in again, and you can sit there comfortably and think up a better plan. But I don't suppose I shall ever get hold of these keys again, even if I did feel so inclined to try, given how ungrateful you all are." Her hands came to rest upon her hips as she glared each and everyone of her dwarves down, all of whom looked rather sheepish and took to picking themselves a barrel.
When her grumpy glare came to rest upon Thorin, the infuriating dwarf simply smirked back at her, giving her the distinct impression that only a word from him would have sent the dwarves to a barrel without complaint but he had held his tongue to see how she would manage the situation. She did not know whether to be pleased by his faith in her or irritated by it.
Not really knowing what to do with her feelings when it came to Thorin, Bilbo decided to do the sensible thing, and walked away to the next room, to where the butler and chief of guards still slumber peacefully. There would be, of course, a very different expression on the chief of guards face the coming day and because she rather liked the Chief of the Guards (he had treated her friends decently despite their unfair capture) and wished to save him some of the trouble he was surely in for, she kind-heartedly return his keys back to his belt.
"What are you doing?" She peered sheepishly over her shoulder at where Thorin stood, his expression soft if not a bit perplexed.
"He wasn't a bad fellow." She admitted sheepishly, though adding when she saw Thorin's raised eyebrows, remembering sharply in that moment, that unlike her who had witness the friendship the Chief shared with the butler, the kindness he showed to his fellow elves, Thorin had only seen the Chief in the ill-light of being their captor and understandably did not feel any desire to spare him from the trouble their escape will cause him,
"It will puzzle them all," She adds, with a small shrug, "trying to figure out how we escaped. They may belief we possess very strong magic to pass through all those locked doors and disappear. And…"
She trailed off the sound from above, but not as far away as she would like, a shout of alarm or warning.
"And disappear we must." She squeaked, as she pressed Thorin back towards the water-gate, "we have got to get quite busy very quickly, if we are to truly disappear."
"Everyone, in, in, in." She exclaimed as she heard more shouts and calls from overhead.
"I think I might have left my door open." Kili admitted rather sheepishly as the group hissed at each as to how the elves had come to realise they were gone so quickly.
"Kili!"
"In!" Bilbo shrieked over the growing rumbling and annoyed grumbling, "for goodness sake, would you all get into the barrels!"
"What about lids?" Doir asked worriedly as he stuck his head out of his barrel.
"There's no time to be worrying about that." Bilbo huffed as finally, finally she with the help of Bofur and Bifur had gotten Bombur comfortably stuffed into his barrels. "Just stay very still and think you're in a very small, very cramped boat." She ignored the queasy feeling her own belly felt at the mention of boats.
"And…" She said once she was sure all her dwarves were safely tucked into their barrels and she was standing by the trap-door leaver that dropped the barrels down to the water-gate tunnel, "remember to hold your breath."
"Hold our breath?" she heard several of them bletch in panic but she had little time to reassure them as she pressed her whole body against the leaver to open the trapdoor. From behind she heard the barrels start to roll and along with them her dwarves, all yelping and swearing the whole way as they rolled before splashing down into the tunnel below.
Once the last barrel has disappeared down the trap door, Bilbo beamed with pride.
She was quite proud of herself, with how well her plan had been executed, now she just needed to…
Ah…
Ah...
It was in this very moment, as the shouts from guards drew ever closer that Bilbo suddenly discovered a weak point in her plan.
Several actually and all, in relation to herself. She had been so busy trying to figure out how to get her dwarves free, she had rather forgotten to include herself into her plans and now found herself on one side of the trapdoor to the company and rather without a barrel herself.
And with the guards drawing ever nearer – she thinks she hears the calls for the 'Keeper of the keys', who she swore she heard groaning in the room just beyond – and panic swelling within her, Bilbo did the only sensible thing she could think of and started jumping up and down upon the trap door to get it to open for.
Idiot, she cursed herself when she realised she was hopping around the middle of the trapdoor instead of the very end, so as to tip the balance.
Simply moving along the trap door towards the end was enough to trigger it and for an awful moment she found herself falling before having the wind knocked clean out of her as she hit the freezing water below.
Spluttering and gasping for air she surface, it took her several moments that the wet things she had been battering away in a panic were in fact the hands of her friends trying to grab.
"Good plan lass." She heard Dwalin tease as she latched onto the side of someone barrel – her hair was in her eyes and she could not bear to release her death grip on the barrel to brush the strands away.
"Shut up!"
She heard barks of laughter from around her before they were moving, either at first by current or by the force of the dwarves on swimming, Bilbo isn't sure, but she holds on for dear life when there barrels start rushing down the tunnels, smacking her black and blue.
If not for Nori's grip upon her pack, she was certain she would have lost her grip upon his barrel when the darkness gave way to daylight and dwarves, barrels and hobbit all fell over the edge of a small waterfall.
"Got ya Lass." Nori shouted over the roaring river they were now being swept along. Bilbo could say nothing in reply, for any time she opened her mouth, she inhaled water.
She thinks she hears the sound of a horn being blown, a clear almost pretty sound if it did not mean their escape could very well be doomed in moments.
When she heard the sounds of cursing and shouts of 'NO!' from her dwarves, her heart sunk down to her very toes.
No, no they had come too far for it simply to end with them being captured once more!
Her head cracked painfully against the side of a barrel as their barrels were forced to a stop at the closed water-gate.
Above her, she could see elves peering down at them, one looking almost surprised when their eyes met hers. But then those ancient eyes went wide, and then unseeing as the immortal life left their body, a body that fell heavily into the water beside her, an ugly arrow sticking out from his back.
"ORCS!"
Fear of being imprisons was now replaced with the fear of dying, as she watches in horrified silence as the orcs massacre the water-gate guards. The forest on either side of the river becomes alive with the sounds of battle, and any orc not attacking an elf is lunging themselves at the defenceless company.
Ahead of her, by the close gate she can see Thorin, Dwalin and Fili pushing vainly against the iron gate but even from where she is at the back of the group she can see that it will not budge, not unless…
In the same breath, both she and Kili spy the lever above them, the one that operates the opening and closing of the gate.
"No! Kili, don't!" She shouted at Kili, causing the boy to pause in whatever insane plan he has thought of, his bright eyes blinking at her in surprised and anger, only for that to fade with a cry of "Bilbo, no, wait" as she slips on her magic ring and disappears.
She feels Nori making to grab at her, and Bifur and Bombur too, as she uses their barrels to drag herself to shore, pulling herself the stones.
Ducking and weaving between battling elves and orcs, she runs for the lever, throwing her full weight upon it and…
It would not budge.
"No! Come on!" She shrieked but no matter how hard she pushed upon it, the lever did not move and below she can hear her friends become more and more frantic.
"Bilbo?!"
"Kili?" She turns to the wretched boy who despite her orders for him to stay with the company, where he would be hopefully safer, for a time, rather than alone on the gate, in clear view of all who wished them harm.
"Together!" the boy shouted. Bilbo nodded in agreement, only to remember he would not be able to see her do so causing her to let an exasperated huff as she pressed all her weight against the lever.
"3, 2, 1!"
Side by side, they both press upon the lever.
Just as the lever shifts, the gate swing grudging open, a cry of delight catches in her throat and turns in one of alarm as a force of something solid hits the side of her pack sending her crashing into Kili.
"Bilbo!?" Kili yelled in terror, "are you alright, are you…" They both stare at the ugly black arrow that was sticking out of pack – or for Kili, appeared to be frozen in thin air.
"F-fine. It-it hasn't hit me, j-just m-my pack."
The relief on the boy's face was short lived when, on warrior instinct alone, his expression turned into a snarl as he spun on the spot and with a fallen elven blade slew the orc who had just tried to run them threw. Another orc came swing at them, only for his sword to fall with a clank to the stone ground, as an arrow, shot by the red headed elf maiden, her gaze fixed upon Kili, who grinned a smile so bright, it rivalled the Sun.
"Come on!" Still grinning wide, Kili blindly catching a hold of her shoulder and shoving her back into the water, managing to aim her so that she fell into one of the spare barrels, while he landed back into his own. With a strong shove from him, they were sailing out the water-gate after the rest of the company.
Bilbo made no attempt to fight as her barrel was washed at a rate of knots down the raging river, she could barely see straight let alone try and swing her sword at attacking orcs.
She hunkered down in her barrel, and prayed that they would all live to see the end of this rotten river.
8 8 8
It was early dusk when they lost the current – they had lost the orcs hours ago, but Bilbo was certain that it would only be a matter of time before they caught up with them again – and their barrels bobbed aimlessly about in the river.
Around her she could hear the dwarves call to each other, shouted conversations about whether the orcs were far behind them and what was to be done now with the loss of the current, and even, the occasional calls of her name, but having spent most of her day with her eyes shut and hand pressed firmly over her mouth to keep the vomit down, she found herself quite unable to respond to anyone.
"Bilbo?"
She felt her barrel come to a sudden jarring stop and groaned.
"I-I think I found her?" She hears Fili call far too loudly from above, blindly batting away a hand that landed a little too heavily upon her aching head.
"Found her." She thinks she hears Fili say but she has become far too focused on trying to get her head to stop spinning.
"No," she groaned when she felt too many large hands touch her head, shoulders, arms as she sunk deep into the depths of her water logged barrel, "leave me 'lone."
"Come on lassie, out ya come, ya don't want to stay in there." Bofur was saying and she think it is him to blame for whoever it is trying to pull her bodily out of the barrel.
"I do. I do. Leave me be." She moaned.
"Nope." Damn his cheery voice, "Oi, Dwalin!" She opened her eyes to squint unhappily at the miserable grey light invading her wet hiding spot, "give us a hand 'ere."
"What you…" Deciding she rather not find out just how Dwalin might try to get her out, Bilbo half crawl, half fell out of her barrel, using shoulders and hands of those around her to get herself free and onto dry land.
Oh, she felt like crying! She was never, ever leaving dry land again, so long as she lived.
"It's the queerest thing that." She heard Nori mutter from nearby, "I know she's there, but I ain't seeing her."
What?
"Oh."
The miserable grey world that had been swirling around her vision suddenly changed into an explosion of colour the moment the silly ring came off her finger.
Such a shock it was, to suddenly being seeing the world in such bright colour once more, that whatever little strength she had left, washed out of her and with a gulp and a sway, she muttered, 'nope' and the world went blissfully dark.
8 8 8
"Do ya think we ought to carry her?"
"She's awfully pale. Ain't seen her so pale b'fore."
"It's that funny ring of hers. She's used it too much and her wee body ain't well from it."
"Argh." Bilbo groaned, a sluggish hand moving to wipe at her eyes, "i'mma fine. And I ain't being carried."
"Easy there lass," Oin said as she was helped to slowly sit up, "easy. How yer feeling? Be honest now, as I've seen corpses with better colour than ya."
"We-ll, I don't feel well." she grumbled as she cupped a hand over her eyes, the light still be far to bright for her just yet. "But there really isn't much we can do about that, other than letting me stay on dry land and never, ever making me go anywhere near large bodies of turbulent water ever again."
"I think she'll be fine." She heard Balin say in a relieved voice.
"Good." Thorin's voice had her finally looking up, peering anxiously at him for he sounded distant and kingly once more, the voice of a dwarf who had not cared for her presences amongst his company. "For we need to be on our feet."
He was right, they had to keep moving, more now than ever, for the orc pack was back on their trail and maybe even the elves were still after them too.
She struggled to rise, only to feel gentle hands keep her seated
"Give 'er a moment," She heard Bofur protested, his voice protective as the hat now resting upon her head was warm and solid, bless him.
"There's an orc pack on our tail." Thorin spoke calmly, evenly, but when their eyes met, she could see the worry in those deep blue orbs, "we keep moving." He didn't want to, he would if he could let her have a moment to catch her breath, but they couldn't, there simply wasn't time and every moment longer that they lingered on this riverbank was another moment closer to the orc pack catching up to them.
"To where?" Balin asked sounding very old and defeated in this moment, actually everyone of the company looked moments away from collapsing.
"To the mountain of course." she said this time being able to rise to unsteady feet without complaint from the others, though she felt Bifur at her side, offering her a shoulder to lean upon. "We're so close."
They had to be, for this was surely the river she had seen, the one that flowed into Long Lake.
Balin gave her fond, but tired smile.
"A lake lies between us and that mountain." Balin explain quietly, "we have no way to cross it."
For a moment, she could only stare at him.
Was-was he giving up? Just like that? After everything they had already been threw? He was giving up because there was seemingly no way to the cross the lake to Erebor.
"S-so, we'll go around then." More walking, but surely they still had the time in plenty to get to the Secret Door before Durin's Day.
"The orcs will run us down, as sure as daylight." Dwalin growled, kicking a rock and causing it to skip effortlessly across the still river water, "We have no weapons to defend ourselves."
"So, what?" she snapped, hands upon her hips, "we stay and let them run us down here? No, no, I'd rather us be run down trying to reach our goal, than sit here, as if we were wearing sign saying 'slaughter us please for we have given up'. We may not have a way cross the lake now, but is there not a town of men down this river? Can we not at least try to get there before we simply give up entirely?"
"Aye lass, aye." Balin squeezed her shoulder fondly, "you are right." He looked to Thorin and then to the rest of the company, "we make for Lake Town, barter for passage across the lake."
With a murmur of agreement, the company moved along the shoreline, drinking away their thirst by the river, checking over bruises and scraps they had received during their river battle and collating what weapons they had managed gather during the fight. Not enough, from what Bilbo could make out, not nearly enough. And even if there was, most were weapons that had once belonged to orcs and the dwarves would not touch them again.
"Are you well?" With her head still spinning, she swayed into Thorin's side when he spoke suddenly at her right ear.
"Sorry," She squeaked, wishing desperately for her head to settle so she could let go of Thorin's tunic.
"Do not worry yourself, take a moment. I will not let you fall."
"Thank you." She let out a relieved breath as she closed her eyes. With closing her eyes and focusing upon her breathing, she was slowly able to re-centre herself in the world of colour and life, after so many, possibly too many hours, of living amongst shadows and darkness.
She was just starting to feel like herself again, when she heard something just a little ways down the river from them, a quiet movement, the shifting of feet upon rock as they…
Spinning upon the spot, eyes wide and searching and almost immediately landing upon a human man, dressed in a heavy long brown coat and holding a huge bow that was aimed at… at Ori.
"WAIT!"
The plead had barely left her lips before she was being jerked backward and shoved behind Thorin, even though she was far more armed than him, him having nothing more than his oak branch shield while she at least possessed Sting
The man fired two warning shots, both hit their mark of impaling the large branch Dwalin held and knocking the rock Kili had been aiming to throw clean out of his hand.
"Do it again," the man warned Kili, "and you're dead."
A stalemate appeared then to have been reached, with the dwarves unable to move for fear of being shot and the human man seeming to be unsure if they possessed any hidden weapons that they might try to attack him with the moment he lowered his guard.
"Excuse me," Balin, with his hands raised above his head, his voice warm and friendly as he edge towards the bowman, unflinching when the arrow moved to point at his heart, despite the growl of fury his brother emitted, "but, uh, you're from Laketown, if I'm not mistaken?" the bowman seemed to hesitate, before ever so slightly nodding his head, causing for Balin's smile to grow wider as he nodded to something, just ever so slightly out of view to them rest of them, around some rocks down the shoreline, "That barge over there, it wouldn't be available for hire, by any chance?"
The bowman blinked at Balin several times, before glancing over at the rest of them, his expression clearly showing that of all the things Balin might have asked of him, hiring his barge had been the last thing on his mind.
Keeping their distance, Bilbo in particular, along with Ori, were kept well away from the bowman, they helped him dragged the beaten, dented barrels up the shoreline to a run down stone dock where an equally beaten up wooden barge was moored. From there he loaded them alone onto his barge, obviously not yet keen on the idea of giving them passage.
His next words spoke as much.
"What makes you think I will help you?"
"Those boots have seen better days." Balin replied in an easy, but sympathetic tone, "As has that coat. No doubt you have some hungry mouths to feed. How many bairns?"
Bilbo thinks, if only for a moment, the bowmans face softens as he replies, "A boy and two girls."
"And your wife," Balin pressed having clearly seen, as she had, the man soften in the moment he spoke of his children, "I'd imagine she's a beauty."
"Aye." The bowman's voice was still soft, but Bilbo immediately heard the grief within it and immediately winced, her heart aching in sympathy, "She was."
Balin's whole body sagged.
"I'm sorry, I did not mean to…"
From beside her and Thorin, she felt Dwalin shift impatiently, speaking in a loud harsh whisper to Thorin, though all around could hear him.
"Oh, come on, come on, enough with the niceties."
"What's your hurry?" the Bowman asked, face as hard as stone. Any progress made with Balin had clearly been lost with Dwalin's impatience. The frustrated look shot from older brother to younger brother spoke as much.
Dwalin, however, paid no heed to his older brother annoyed look as he took a threatening step towards the bowman.
"What's it to you?"
"I would like to know," the bowman replied in a clipped voice, dark intelligent eyes shifting to look at each of their faces, "who you are and what you are doing in these lands."
Which, Bilbo thought, seemed reasonable enough, given that they were dressed in under tunics and trousers, without any weapons or supplies and still sopping wet from their long and exhausting trip down the river.
Thinking about the river had her shivering and it took all her self control not to curl against Thorin for warmth.
"We are," Balin replied shooting his brother a good and thorough 'Shut up' look, "simply merchants from the Blue Mountains, journeying to see our kin in the Iron Hills."
A believable story, certainly one that possessed enough truths that they would not accidentally trip themselves up if questioned further.
"Simple merchants, you say?"
Beside her, she felt Thorin grow stiff, and when he stepped forward, she could see his hands were curled into tight fists.
"We'll need food, supplies, weapons." Always, straight to the point. But maybe being straight to the point was the way to speak to the bowman, instead of trying to charm him. "Can you help us?
And for a very real moment, the look shared between Thorin and the bowman, the bowman seemed to be almost about to relent, only for him to glance down at their battered barrels and he became cool towards them once more.
"I know," the bowman spoke slowly, as he ran his fingers over the split wood of one barrel, "where these barrels came from."
Thorin scowled.
"What of it?"
"I don't know what business you had with the elves, but I don't think it ended well." Despite herself, Bilbo found herself having to bit back a hysterical little giggle at the bowman's words.
He didn't think their business ended with the elves? Oh, what was his first clue?
Oh, she needed to sleep. A good, long night in a nice soft bed should set her straight. Oh and a proper meal, hot and eaten fresh.
"No one," the bowman continued, interrupting Bilbo's daydream of hot food, hot baths and warms beds," enters Laketown but by leave of the Master. All his wealth comes from trade with the Woodland Realm. He will see you in irons before risking the wrath of King Thranduil."
Well… blast!
And it seemed their immediate chance to at least getting further ahead of the orcs was slipping away.
"I'll wager," Balin said, speaking evenly despite the rising panic he must be feeling at the thought of the bowman simply floating away, "there are ways to enter town unseen."
The bowman let out a low, amused chuckle as he settled his bow and quiver along a bench, "but for that, you will need a smuggler."
"For which we will pay double."
'Double' appeared to be the magic word and before long the dwarves were hopping upon the barge.
"Come on Lass, hurry on up now. We're losing daylight." Nori called to her from where she stood upon the stone dock, eyeing the barge with dubious eyes.
"You know what. I'll think I'll take my chances and walk." Her stomach, only recently settled from its horrendous journey down river courtesy of a barrel, was beginning to roll once more just thinking of stepping upon the barge.
"It's quite safe, little mistress." the bowman called to her from the helm of the barge. "I promise you, I will see you safe to Laketown."
For a moment, she buried her face into her hands, rubbing her still cool cheeks before cautiously stepping onto the barge, her fingers biting into the wooden sides. The barge did not rock beneath her feet when she stepped on it, nor did it rock too terribly from the moment they set off down the river, but not all the coaxing in the world, could convince her to move from the spot she had first taken and sit with the dwarves at the front of the barge.
Thorin stood with her for a time, as her head came to rest upon her arms, so she would not have to looks at the moving water, but when they both heard the starts of grumbled fight from their company, she nudge him in their direction.
"I'm fine." She promised, "go sort that out."
"Are you sure…" She can see him glare at the Bowman over her head.
"It'll be fine. If I move, I do believe I shall be sick and I'd rather not do that in front of you."
Still he hesitated and it is only because of dear Bifur wandering over to them does she think he finally feels comfortable enough to leave her and settle whatever has caused the squabble amongst their company.
Whatever it is, Thorin has it settled soon enough, but he stays with them, a means of keeping the peace, she thinks as she rolls her head away from her infuriating dwarves to stare at the bowman, who in turn, appeared to have been watching her.
Seeing that he had been caught staring, the bowman had the decency to look embarrassed.
It is seeing his embarrassment over his lack of manners that rather reminds her over own lapse in them.
"I beg you pardon," she apologised, swallowing down the bile that had risen in her throat as she took a cautious step towards the bowman, who blinked at her in surprise, while also keeping a wary eye upon Bifur who is grumbling at her side, not liking her being so close to the strange human and so far from the safety of their group, "it would appear that we have not been properly introduced. Bilbo Baggins, at your service." She gave him her best, most charming smile that she could muster, though she thinks given how ill she is feeling, it might be rather lacking, but no matter, the bowman actually looked touched by her gesture, his own answering smile warm as he shook the hand she held out to him (her whole hand was swallowed by his) as he answered with a simple; "Bard."
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance." she gave his hand a firm shake.
"And yours, little mistress."
They shared a small, uncertain smile. A smile that held the hope of friendship, but also contained the fear of rebuff.
"I…" she watched him rub the back of his neck, curiosity and good manners clearly warring within him over a question he seemed desperate to ask, "may I ask a bold question mistress?"
"You may, and I in turn, may chose whether or not I shall answer it."
He nodded in easy agreement.
"Are you a dwarrowdam, mistress?"
Of all the things she thought he might ask her, that had certainly not been at the forefront of her mind. Indeed, she did not even think of the question as being a possibility until he asked it.
She can't help the little giggle that escapes her, even with Bifur huffing unhappily at her side.
"Uh, no, no I am not. I am a hobbit."
She was met with a blank expression and bit back a sigh.
"Halfling?" She offered with a small sigh and she thinks she sees a flicker of vague recognition.
"Oh, aye, I've heard of Halflings, though only from fae -tales, I think. I must admit, I did not believe your kind to existed, before well…" he gestured to her, his tanned face flushing once more in embarrassment.
"We don't leave the Shire much," Bilbo explained, wanting to ease some of the embarrassment that Bard appeared to be feeling over, well, assuming her race did not exist before this very afternoon, "if at all, so it is more than likely I will be the only hobbit you are ever likely to see."
"Aye. Then I am glad to have met you Mistress Baggins." His eyes flicker over the dwarves with a thougthful expression, "Though might I ask why you are travelling with dwarves, if your people so rarely leave your homeland?"
Oooh, now that was a question that they had never thought to think of an answer for.
"I, well, when I say we hobbits don't leave the Shire much, I, well, I guess you could say I am the exception to the rule. A family friend of mine heard I was interested in a bit of travel and well, one thing led to another and here I am." The barge at that moment swayed sharply to the right due to the current, causing Bilbo to have to gulp back down the bile that had risen in her throat as she darted back to the side of the barge, Bifur's hand upon her back.
For a long while, she found she only had the strength to hang miserably over the side of the barge, trying desperately to keep… oh, when was the last time she ate? And what had she eaten? Some hard cheese and stale bread?
A grumble from Bifur alerted her to Bard coming to stand at her side, tapping her shoulder gingerly with one finger, as if he feared he might break her.
"Here, little mistress." She frowned at the… was that a peppermint lolly? "it will help to ease your stomach."
"Oh," she gulped miserably as she took the peppermint from him, "thank you... very much."
His smiled at her before returning to his post while Bifur finally shuffled her down to where the rest of the dwarves sat, settling her down by his cousins as she sucked upon the lolly. She was surprised by how effective it actually was in settling her belly.
She almost feels she might be able to drop off to sleep when she is jerked fully awake by the shouting of the dwarves.
She did not know what had occurred, whatever obstacle in the water that had upset the dwarves so had been well and truly passed by the time she was peering around the foggy ruins they were floating through. But even safe, their anger remained with Thorin barking at Bard
"What are you trying to do, drown us?"
She can't see Bard from where she is sitting but she can hear the sarcasm in his voice
"I was born and bred on these waters, Master Dwarf. If I wanted to drown you, I would not do it here."
And while there is a part of her that is amused by Bard's response, the Baggins side of her feels only a flair panic at the word 'drown' and the truth ringing true in Bard's words. And of course, her dwarves simply took his words as a threat and started muttering darkly amongst each other once more.
"Oh," Dwalin growled, just quiet enough to not be over heard by Bard, "I have enough of this lippy lakeman. I say we throw him over the side and be done with him."
Arms tucked tightly around her middle, she glared grumpily over at Dwalin.
"Bard, his name's Bard. And you shall do no such thing, unless you know how to steer a boat threw fog heavy waters?"
"How you know that then?" Bofur asked, poking her side before Dwalin has a chance to growl back at her. The whole company is looking at her now, making her huff and feel even grumpier.
"Ah, well, I did the polite thing and introduced myself. Oh, do settle," when she sees the worry and indignation in the faces of Balin, Dwalin and Gloin, "I only introduced myself. I said nothing about the rest of you."
"Must you go make friends with all the big folk we meet? Kili demanded though his eyes were bright with teasing.
Bilbo however could only cock her head to one side, perplexed.
"Whatever do you mean?"
"the elves in Rivendell." was her immediate response, followed quickly with Beorn.
"and now," Kili nodded back to Bard, "this Bard fellow."
"Nothing wrong with being polite, or making friends." Bilbo replied hotly, only for her eyes to clench shut as her stomach gave another easy heave, as she shot Kili a meaningful look that has the boy blushing deeply.
"Ack, leave the lass be," Oin grumbled from where he sat a little ways away, looking as miserable as Bilbo felt, "seasickness is a miserable business. Having you jabbering away at her ain't going to help her a wit."
She shoots Oin a weak smile and with Bofur once more pressing his hat down upon her head, and cushion between his and Bombur's warm body, she finds herself feeling rather toasty despite being still dressed in soppy wet clothes. Her head comes to rest upon Bombur's well padded shoulder, her eyes fluttering shut.
8 8 8
She was asleep and from what little he could see of her face beneath Bofur's furred hat, it would appear the colour was slowly returning to her cheeks.
A wave of relief washed over Thorin.
For days, weeks, he had worried over her pale, cold cheeks fearing that along with suffering from malnourishment and being in a constant state of fear of being caught, the continual wearing of her magic ring might have begun to have ill effects upon her health.
It was still far too early to rule that out, but here on the barge sailing towards Laketown, she appeared to be sleeping better than she ever had, dozing outside of his cell.
He ignored the stab of jealousy that shot threw him at the thought. The two situations were completely different and could not be compared.
It did not, however, stop him from wishing he was the one sitting where Bofur sat, arm draped across her knees to keep her from falling forward as the barge rocked, to be the one whose shoulder she rest her head against.
But he could not begrudge the Broadbeam brothers, not when they and their cousin had taken good care of their hobbit, since the very first day, unlike…
"I didn't think you liked me."
He winced at the memory of earlier that day.
He had kissed her while she still believed he did not like her. And he could not fault her for thinking this.
Yes, things had improved between them in the weeks since she had saved him from Azog, when she had returned to the company after being lost in the goblin caves, her eyes blazing bright in the setting sun as she promised to help return his stolen home to his people. And after days spent alone in each other company, sitting back to back against the bars of his cell, he liked to belief they had become friends.
But despite this positive growth in their relationship, he had not given her cause to belief he cared for her as anything more than a trusted companion. He wasn't Bofur, who wore his heart upon his sleeve, who looked upon her with open affection as they talked, or teased or sang together. Bilbo did not have cause to question whether or not Bofur "liked" her. Though it did appear that the lass was more or less oblivious to Bofur's affection towards her, not when she...
Thorin, for all that he was called daft in the matter of love and courting, had seen from the moment they met that Mistress Baggins had been rather taken with him. And he, in turn, with her – a shock to him, to be sure, as he had rather thought he had closed his heart to the notion of romance years ago – but then, there was the mess over whether or not she would be the company's burglar and her motivation for joining the company that following morning came into question, he shoved the flare of attraction he had felt towards her to the very back of his mind and well…
He had been chewed out enough by Balin, and Bofur too, over how poorly he had treated her, even after she had started showing her worth, her cleverness and willing heart. But the feeling of rejection he had felt that first night, when she had walked away from the company, refusing to be their burglar, had stung him deeper than he ever would admit and he-he had struggled long and hard to let that hurt go.
And when he had, finally, after she had saved his life, and he had time to think and reflect at Beorn's he had rather feared he had missed his chance, what with how firmly set to Bofur's side she was. But even if his chance had been lost to be something more with Bilbo, he had still wished to remedy his poor behaviour towards her. She had not deserved his coldness – or the coldness from the others, following their king's lead – or his sharp, hurtful remarks. No, she deserved much better than how he had treated her.
And somehow, unbelievably, she was able to forgive him and his past behaviour. Not straight away of course, hours were spent, talking, slowly building a friendship that he had been denying himself for months, but she had forgiven him and as their friendship grew, he saw glimpses of the attraction he had seen that first night and oh, how his old battered heart had leapt at the sight.
And after days spent sitting with no one but each other for company in Thranduil's dungeon, he had thought…
"I didn't think you liked me."
"I mean, I know, well that you like me a great deal better than you did a few weeks ago, but I just, I thought, I, um…"
Her face had burned as she spoke then, but her eyes had been bright and warm, and-and hopeful, seemingly genuinely pleased by his kiss, despite her confusion on the matter of whether or not he cared for her as something more than a friend.
Well, he would simply have to work harder to show her that he cared for her, a great deal, and for all the many reasons as to why he did.
She deserved that, and more, so that the next time they shared a kiss – if there was a next time, and that was entirely up to her, he would not take that choice away from her again – there would be no confusion on her part as to whether or not he liked her.
He looked forward to that time, he thought with a soft smile.
Dwalin shifted at his side, pulling him, warm faced, from his thoughts about their burglar.
"Argh, I don't care what he calls himself," Dwalin hissed lowly, levelling the lakeman with a hard glare, "I don't like him."
Thorin bit back a snort. Amusement filled him over the fact that Dwalin had waited until Bilbo was well and truly asleep before speaking once more of his distrust towards the Lakeman… towards Bard, out of a desire to not upset her further regarding her new "friend".
"We do not have to like him," Balin spoke up from where he was dutifully counting out Bard's payment, shooting them both warning looks that made Thorin feel rather like he was once more a young dwarf, around Kili's age, and caught using the ceremonial axes to spar with Dwalin and Dain, "we simply have to pay him." Thorin winced at the tired, drawn look that Balin cast around their company as he glumly added, "Come on now, lads, turn out your pockets."
Such words made Thorin's blood turn as cold as the frosty lake water they were now floating upon and he bitterly turned his gaze towards the fog covered ruins of the once great city of Esgaroth.
Turn out your pockets, how many times had he done just that to try and make ends meet to feed his starving and desperate family after Erebor fell to Smaug, after they were chased away once more from another town or their kin turn their backs on them.
A nudge to his side, drew him from his dark thoughts.
"How do we know," Dwalin muttered, his head nodding in Bard's direction, "he won't betray us?" as others have done in the past, is left unsaid between them.
Thorin stares at the lakeman, who meets his eyes without flinching, holding his gaze until Thorin looks away and back at the still slumbering hobbit.
"We don't." He admitted grudging. "But if he does appear to be leading us false, you have my permission to push him overboard."
Dwalin let out a small bark of laughter.
"The lass won't like that."
"I think, in those circumstances, she would forgive you."
"Aye." Dwalin agreed, before shooting him a sly look which immediately had Thorin feeling wary.
"So," Dwalin smirked, leaning against the side of the barge, "are ya finally gonna admit that I was right."
"About?"
"The lass." Thorin pressed a hand to his face to block out Dwalin's growing smirk.
But apparently Thorin's reaction is enough to please Dwalin, who lands a solid clap against his spine that almost sends Thorin flying.
"If only ya could 'ave seen your face when the two of you came to my cell, with her holding the keys. Ain't see you smile so hard, in oh, decades."
"She was clever. Getting the keys and her plan with the barrels."
"Aye, that she is." Dwalin agreed cheerfully. "Hopefully she will be even clever still and have the two of you can stop dancing around each other. As enjoyable as it has been to watch the pair of you, I'd…"
Thorin was spared from further teasing from Dwalin by Balin, his resigned voice shattering the good mood he had been feeling only moments before.
"There," Balin sighed, rubbing his brow wearily, "appears to be a slight problem," he gestured glumly to the coins and valuables before him, "we're ten coins short."
Of course they were.
Arms crossed tightly against his chest, he turned to Gloin who was glaring out across the waters.
"Gloin." His red haired cousin looked back at him with a scowl, "Come on. Give us what you have."
"Don't look to me." His cousin growled, his infamous temper rising, "I have been bled try by this venture! And…"
But Thorin had stopped listening to his red blooded cousin by this point in his rant, his attention being drawn to the thinning fog and in the distance, standing tall and proud against the grey dusk light was…
Home
How-how many long years had been since he had last gazed upon?
Too many, far too many.
"Oh… is that it? Erebor?" His gaze turned to Bilbo, who was rubbing her eyes and gazing at his home with wonder. Meeting his gaze with a bright smile, she added softly, "you're almost home."
Aye, he was. And for the first time, in a very long time, his heart swelled with tentative hope.
Author's note: Thank goodness, this chapter is finally finished and posted! It went threw so, so many re-writes.
For those of you who have read 'Within Woodland Dungeons, Love Grows', you will notice that Bilbo's and Thorin first kiss in that one-shot differs a lot from their kiss in this chapter. I did originally try to include elements of that one-shot into this fic, but it just did not work. So once I finally decided to just scrape all the stuff I had copied from 'Within Woodland Dungeons, Love Grows', this chapter just started writing itself.
I also hope no one is too upset with the changes I made with the Watergate scene, with it being opened by both Kili AND Bilbo. It just made more sense, for me at least, that Bilbo would put on the ring and try to open the gate themselves, and when that failed Kili helping them but missed being shot by the arrow because of Bilbo's invisible pack taking the hit instead. I'm not trying to take away Kili's brave moment, but I just didn't want to deal with the whole 'Kili being shot and where the story went because of it'. Sorry to those of you who enjoyed those parts of Desolation of Smaug. I will be working in other ways for Kili's and Tauriel's love story to be involved in this fic,I swear.