Laurel

The bottom of the stairs led to the cellar very quickly, where I found Legolas talking with two other elves. Those must be the guards, who were not too far away from the cells. With Legolas there watching my movements there wasn't much I could do except to hope that Bilbo was watching from afar. In one of the corners I could see numerous packs and weapons, mine all sitting atop.

"Here are your things," he motioned. Quickly I searched my pack, trying to see what was salvageable. Inside most of my watered bulbs were broken. The only two still intact was the Kings-Foil and California Poppies. The poppies were already used one night, but I kept the water for whatever reason. Now more than ever I thank myself. If I was sly enough I could pour the poppy water into the wine the guards were drinking and knock them out. Maybe get Legolas to drink some if I had enough.

As I turned I noticed two glasses in Legolas' hand. Excellent. I palmed the light yellow poppy water and smiled softly.

He eyed my hands and motioned to what I was holding, "What is that?"

"Oh this is something from home. It is a special wine sweetener," the lie slid easily off my tongue. "By itself it tastes bitter, but mix it and any wine will taste outstanding."

Stomping down the stairs led Tauriel to our mists. "Legolas, your father wishes to see us about the spiders that keep invading our lands," she addressed him formally.

"Save me some of the wine sweetener," he replied softly. One of the glasses he was holding was pushed into my hands, each of his fingers caressing my own as he gave it to me. "I will be back shortly to show you around, we can celebrate your freedom."

Blushing I accepted the glass, it seemed he was very forward.

The guards watched as he left, turning to me and almost waiting for something. I held up the bulb and shook it, "Would you two like to try some as well?"

Eager nods and grins met my offer. It surprised me how confident my hand poured infused water in each wine glass. I watched as they each grasped a glass and raised their hands in an effort of 'cheers'. Silently, I waited as they sipped.

One mentioned how it didn't taste all that different, if anything it tasted watered down and like grass. The other shrugged and downed the glass he was given and poured another. Eventually the first finished his glass as well as I sipped on my own, poppy water excluded. Almost as if a switch was flipped, they dropped to the table unconscious.

"Thought they'd never fall asleep."

A scream started in my throat at the sound of Bilbo, and the sight of him appearing just feet to my left as he removed the ring. "Shit," I muttered holding my beating heart, "don't do that! Could have at least given me a warning or something."

Quickly I grabbed the keys from the hook on the wall, tossing them to Bilbo. "Go get the others. I will look for a way out."

"No! I found a way, just stay here," Bilbo urged before scampering away.

While he was gone I started to gear up with my weapons. It was difficult to try and get my sword and scabbard on, seeing as I had no trousers with loops to slip it into. Instead I slipped it into my quiver, trying not to ruin my remaining arrows. With my bow across my shoulders I waited, trying to sort the weapons as best I could. There was a small barrel dedicated to Fili's knives alone.

Feet started to descend the stairs once more, and just to be cautious I drew my dagger. When Thorin's face came into view, I released a breath and lowered the blade. The others trailed in behind him, muttering about 'going deeper into the fortress instead of out'. I directed everyone to their things, watching and waiting for further instruction. Bilbo hushed all the voices as we followed him to the back part of the cellar. Barrels were stacked in a particular way; all empty.

"Into the barrels," he ushered.

"This was your plan," I hissed shrilly, "they are going to find us in here hiding!"

"Just get in!"

I wasn't the only one upset at the idea. Each of us were inside a barrel, and my bow was close to sticking out the end of my own. After a while Bofur stuck his head out below me and hissed, "Well what do we do now?"

Bilbo walked across the room and pointed to a leaver, and then pulled it. Instantly the world turned as I rolled over and over again, screaming the whole way. Water splashed everywhere drenching me after a short drop. Gasping for air I looked around, seeing that we were in a cave stream, leading into the woods and sunlight. Brilliant.

We all held, counting heads to make sure no one was missing. The ceiling above us opened again, Bilbo falling through. He came up gasping, trying to grasp onto something to hold onto. I used all my strength to pull him into my barrel with me. We were both small enough we fit just fine.

"Well done Master Baggins and Lady Laurel," Thorin chortled excitedly. With a few pushes we were into the current again.

Behind me Kili laughed as if he was having the time of his life. We all were bouncing around on rocks and being pushed towards the entrance of the cave, finally hitting the sunlight. When I turned to see him, my heart caught in my throat at the sight. Just one barrel behind me he was soaking in his clothes. Dark brown hair was somewhat wet and matted to his face. The smile that adorned it was full of excitement, eyes alight with mirth. He was actually having fun. Not that I didn't blame him, it was like lazy river tubing, with the river being a little more urgent and forceful.

Just as we were getting closer to the outer wall built around their fortress a horn sounded. Shit. They knew we had escaped. Elvin guards started to come out of the woodwork, weapons pointed at as. One in particular ran to the top of the wall, pulling a leaver that closed the gates to our waterway exit.

"Damn it," I muttered, building up behind Fili and Dwalin, the only barrel behind me being Kili. I was pushed up against the edge, watching as a smirking guard approached me.

Suddenly an arrow went through his chest and he choked, falling to the ground. On the horizon behind him stood a large disgusting looking orc.

"Orcs!" Kili's voice tore through the air.

We watched as the guard that pulled the lever was also shot through the chest with an arrow. Suddenly a battle took out between orcs and elves alike, all the while we were sitting like ducks. With every muscle I possessed I jumped, pushing myself out of the barrel and onto the land. Kili called out to me, but I kept pushing. I ran to the top of the wall and pulled the lever, watching as the rest of the company started to fall through the opening and into the more rushing river.

Just as I was about to turn around and jump back into my barrel I heard a grunt.

At my feet was Kili, eyes closed in pain.

Everything seemed to slow to a halt, my heart stopping where breath was knocked out of me. Sticking out of his thigh was an arrow. My heart clenched tightly in my chest, seizing and thrashing with worry and ache at the thought of it being his heart rather than his thigh. "I'm sorry," I muttered as I pulled the arrow out—wincing at the hiss Kili emitted—and strung it to my bow and shot it at the direction it came from. The orc was hit in the chest, he shuddered as he took a step back. It wasn't a lethal shot unfortunately.

Another orc laughed evilly as he approached us. Kili tried to stand, falling to his knee when he couldn't hold his weight due to the pain. The orc raised its sword to Kili, ready to behead him. "Fuck no you don't," I hissed, digging into my boobs and grabbed my knife, flicking it open with a swift wrist movement. I gave my own battle cry as I lunged, knife plunging down into the eye of the beast. The next few moments seemed to go on forever. The monster thrashed, screaming in pain as it tried to push me off of it. I did my best to stay on, grunting here and there at the hits that landed on my face and sides. Slowly it went limp beneath me. It's body falling to the ground, me riding atop of it.

Not wasting time I turned and grabbed Kili, dragging him to the ledge of the wall and lining him up with his idle barrel as I urged him to jump.

In moments I jumped into the water, seeing as Bilbo took my barrel and went with the rest of the company.

Everything seemed to blur and blend together after that. I swam with my life depended on it, keeping my head above the raging water and holding onto Kili's barrel for dear life. He fell unconscious at one point, eyes closed as his face screwed up in pain. I knew he wasn't dead, there was no way he would die from a hit to the thigh, especially since his artery wasn't nicked. The rest of the company was killing orcs and fending off elves. I was amazed watching them work so easily from barrels, taking out enemies with ease.

We finally escaped their reach, carried ahead swifter with the water. As we neared a large lake the current died. Each of us were pushing our way to shore with our hands. Kili awoke, trying to pull me with him in the barrel.

"I think we outran them," Bofur mumbled.

Thorin shook his head as he crawled to land, "Not quite. They will be following surely. Hurry now, on your feet."

The rocks started to scratch at my skin, completely soaked as I crawled on my hands and knees to land. My stomach heaved, expelling half of the lake that I had swallowed trying to stay alive. I flung off my bow, laying on my back and starring up at the sky. Kili collapsed next to me, also heaving for breath. He was hurt. Scrambling up to my knees, I looked at his thigh. The arrow pierced the fabric of his pants easily enough, but the gaping bloody black hole that met my vision brought tears to my eyes. I tore a piece of the dress off, quickly tying it around his thigh so that it would at least slow the bleeding. He rose to his elbows, watching me. Once I was finished I threw myself into his chest and cried.

"Don't you ever take a shot for me. I will strangle you myself," I heaved as my fingers worked into his hair. "I thought you were killed."

Our lips met softly as I kissed him. Everything that I could muster was thrown into the kiss, all the energy I had left. He was right. I don't think I could continue on without him, but I was glad to know that we were in it together, rather me fighting him all the way. Everything made sense of what he was saying. It felt empowering and brilliant to accept him, not deny everything every step of the way. A weight was lifted off my shoulders. I was so dizzy and lucid at once I felt as though I was floating.

It didn't come to a shock when I finally admitted to myself that I love him. I tried so hard for a long time to try to tell myself I didn't. All that time was wasted and useless.

The familiar sound of an arrow notching from behind Kili had my back go ridged. With what strength I had left I flung myself over him and placed his chest to my back as I came face to face with the metal tip of arrow. At the bow was a man.

Many things happened at once. Nearly everyone in the company grabbed something to raise to our aid. The man was quick to shoot the things out of their hands. Then coming back to rest his aim on me again. "Put down your weapons," he hissed, "or I shoot her and him."

Balin hesitantly approached the man, hands up in surrender. "Excuse me," he sounded polite, like I didn't have an arrow pointed at my heart, "but, are you from Laketown by chance? That barge just over there, can it be available for hire?"

"I am Bard from Laketown, and perhaps the barge is for hire."

At his words the arrow was lowered. Everything in me relaxed as I slumped against Kili. His arm were wrapped tightly around me, flipping us so that if the man rose his bow again he would be hit before me.

Sadly to say my consciousness flickered in and out as the rest of them spoke about bargaining. Only did I wake fully and pay attention when I was hoisted up.

"Do not worry little sister," Fili murmured softly in my ear, "Kili gave me permission to carry you. I do not want to strain him with his injury."

We were settled into a smaller boat, every one of us cold and shivering. Bilbo handed me my mostly dry pack, sitting next to me where I was curled into Kili's lap. "Thank you Bilbo," I smiled. Silence fell between those of us that were not talking to the man, Bard, or Balin. Most of them were bickering rather than talking.

Slowly the mountain in question we were in search for came into view. Each of the dwarves looked as if God himself were standing before them. The brothers next to and beneath me were sharing small smiles. "This is it brother," Kili murmured, holding me closer, "our home. We are close to taking what is ours."

"Hurry, give me the money. There are guards ahead, get into the barrels," Bard urged.

We were quick to do as he said, myself crouching into the barrel with Bilbo. After much fighting with Kili about it. ("Kili we both won't fit in there. Bilbo and I are small enough to fit in one! Quit acting like a jealous baby!")

A gasp left me when cold wet fish were poured over our heads. My teeth chattered as much as I would allow.

Now I wished I had shared the barrel with Kili, if only to snuggle him for warmth.