Bella opened her eyes hours later to the extreme cold weather. Winter was coming. Ice had already started to form on the lake. The young woman sat up more comfortably, as oppose to the slouching position she had been sleeping in for hours, which would explain why her neck was all of a sudden, sore. Bella slowly got up, rubbing the crook of her neck.
"You're up." Bard stated, relief on his face to see his older sister up and walking.
"Yeah..." She murmured, wrapping her arms around her to try and block the chill from the wind.
"Bella...where have you been? I haven't seen you in over 10 years. What happened to you? What are you doing with these Dwarves? What have they gotten you into?" Bard hissed at her.
"I thought I made it clear why I left, brother. I don't belong there."
"So you think you belong out in the wild. Did it not occur to you, how worried I've been about you, Bella? I thought you were dead." The man growled lowly at her.
"And I told you not to worry about me. I know how to look after myself." The woman stated with a slight glare.
" Yes, so I've noticed. How did that happen?" He asked once again pointing at her face. Bella turned away from her brother's intense stare.
"I know what you're thinking Bard, and they had no part in what happened to me, but I don't want to talk about it." She declared. Thorin was speaking with Dwalin and Balin, when he looked up and had to look twice to see Bella was up. He had been so worried about her since she collapsed into his arms when she first climbed onto the barge. He cursed himself for getting angry with her, even in her fragile state she was in. The secrecy frustrated him more then anything. He actually felt hurt that he trusted Bella with everything but she still didn't trust him completely with anything or even one thing about her.
Bard could see he wasn't going to get anywhere with his stubborn sister right now and went back to steering the boat. Bella turned her attention to the front of the vessel and caught Thorin's eyes looking right at her, in a way she had never seen him look at her before. His expression was more then suspicion, but not quite anger and she could hardly blame him for looking at her that way. How long did she think it was going to take before Thorin and the others figured out her past? She could only just imagine what they were all going to think when they realized who she was.
Bella looked at the ground, before approaching her companions, Thorin in particular. She didn't want things to seem suddenly awkward between them, now that he knew she was half Dwarf, and half Man's blood. She couldn't get that look he gave her out of her head. The young woman swallowed and started heading over to the others. Bilbo was the first to look up to see the half-breed approaching and gave her a smile as he shivered from the cold.
"Bella. Your up. How are you feeling?" Bilbo asked.
"I feel a lot better. Thank you." She stated, giving a small smile and turning to look at Thorin, she could see a hint of concern in his eyes but it was quickly smothered by his brooding look. No way would the Dwarf king give his men the chance of day to tease him about him actually showing concern about her. But again she couldn't blame him, why should he even show a hint of concern for her. All she has done is keep him and the others in the dark about who she was, what she was, all because she was protecting herself from allowing anyone to get close to her.
The half-breed couldn't hid the fact either, these last few weeks with Thorin have been so different. He was different. He wanted to know her, he was kind to her, even through all her stubbornness he still showed some sort of caring for her in his own way. But why would he? She was hideous. He probably was just doing it because he felt sorry for her. The young woman's thoughts were interrupted as they hit a patch of thick fog. "Watch out!" Bofur shouted from the front of the barge when he saw giant rock formations. Bard steered around them with ease.
"What are you trying to do, drown us?" Thorin barked, glaring at the man.
"I was born and bred on these waters, Master Dwarf. If I wanted to drown you, I would not do it here." The man hissed back, scowling at him. Bella held her tongue as she looked at both her brother and Thorin, both had rage in their eyes.
"Oh, I've had enough of this lippy lakeman. I say we throw him over the side and be done with him." Dwalin muttered under his breath with a glare.
"That lippy lakeman, happens to be my brother and their will be no throwing him over the side what so ever, Dwalin. Or I'll throw you over." Bella growled.
"I don't care. I don't like him." Dwalin grumbled, as he came closer, towering over her and she looked up at him with a dirty look.
"Oh why don't you two stop antagonizing each other. " Thorin told them as he pulled Dwalin away from the young woman.
"How do we know he won't betray us?" Dwalin asked quietly to the leader. Thorin glanced at Bella for a second not missing the annoyed look on her face that Dwalin was talking about her brother like she wasn't there.
"We don't." Thorin admitted.
"He wont. You don't have to like him Dwalin but he will keep his end of the deal." Bella interrupted before stomping away.
" Snarky thing isn't she? If I didn't know better, Id say you fancy this lass." The warrior teased for only Thorin to hear.
"I do not!" Thorin hissed quietly in defense as if he would admit to anyone that he might feel something for the young woman that traveled with them. And Thorin could feel his insides boiling as Dwalin walked away chuckling.
Bella took a seat by her brother, her arms folded across her chest. " I don't understand why your making them pay their way Bard? Their my friends. It's not like their killers." Bella questioned.
"If you forgot Bella, they were the ones offering to pay. They seemed determined to get on anyway that they could. I don't think you know you're friends as well as you think you do." Bard retorted when he looked up to see they were approaching the docks and he quickly passed his sister and approached the dwarves.
"The money, quickly, give it to me." Bard pressed and Thorin turned to the side and narrowed his eyes.
"We will pay you when we get our provisions, but not before." Thorin snarled at the bowman.
"If you value your freedom, you'll do as I say. There are guards ahead." He informed them all and their heads all turned around to face the direction they were headed and saw the man was telling the truth. Out of the fog, approaching docks were seen with armed guards.
"What do you want us to do?" Thorin finally asked.
"Make yourselves scarce." Bard told them. Thorin turned to his men and ordered them to climb into the barrels before they reached the docks. Some had to help others that were having difficulties climbing into them. Once they were in the barrels, Bard took the money and walked onto the docks. He had to think how he was going to get these dwarves in town without being seeing and idea came to him.
Bella was still standing at the back of the barge, hearing Dwalin of all people hissing to Bilbo and Thorin wondering if her brother was planning on outing them. She rolled her eyes and saw men coming on the barge carrying crates full of fish and they began dumping them into the barrels and once they were off her brother had the barge moving once more, heading towards the toll gate.
Bard kicked the barrel in front of him when he started to hear grumbles coming from the dwarves. " Quiet! We're approaching the toll gate." He hissed to silence them.
"Halt! Goods inspection. Papers please!" A familiar voice called. Bella recognized it to be Percy. " Oh it's you, Bard." He stated only to look again to see who was standing beside him. " Bella, I was wondering when we might see you again."
"Morning, Percy. It's been...awhile." Bella greeted.
"Anything to declare?" Percy asked next, looking at Bard as he took the papers from him.
"Nothing, but I am cold, and tired, and ready for home." He declared.
"You and me both." Percy agreed as came out of his office. " Here we are. All in order." He proclaimed, about to hand the papers back when another voice interrupted.
"Not. So. Fast." Bella didn't even have to look to know who that foul voice belonged to. " Consignment of empty barrels from the Woodland Realm. Only, they're not empty, are they, Bard? If I recall correctly, you're licensed as a bargeman, not a fisherman." Alfrid sneered.
"That's none of your business." Bard told him.
"Wrong. It's the Master's business, which makes it my business."
"Oh come on, Alfrid. Do you not have a heart? Or do you not care that people need to eat!" Bella snapped.
"Well, well, well. Look who decided to return. Bella, where have you been skulking around all this time?" Alfrid challenged, coming up to the half-breed and touching her face with one of his sweaty hands.
"Don't touch me, you swine!" Bella yelled, smacking the man's hand away.
Alfrid grunted at her and picked up one of the fishes in the barrel and looked at both Bard and Bella. " These fish are illegal! Empty the barrels over the side. " Alfrid ordered next and his guards walked around him onto the barge and started pushing the barrels over to the edge.
"Stop! You can't do this!" Bella pressed, pushing one of the guards away from one of the barrels, only to be shoved back towards Bard.
"Folk in this town are struggling. Times are hard, food is scarce." Bard informed, trying to reason with the awful man.
"That's not my problem." Alfrid, muttered.
"It's not you're problem yet, but it will be when the people hear the Master is dumping fish back into the lake. When the rioting starts. Still think it won't be your problem then?" Bella growled and the two of them glared at one another.
"Stop." Alfrid ordered and he stepped closer to Bella and she backed away from him, not able to take the smell that was coming from him. " I'd watch yourself Bella. I wouldn't want to add to your hideous face." He sneered at her and looked at Bard. " Ever the people's champion, eh, Bard? Protector of the common folk? You might have their favor now, bargeman, but it won't last."
"Raise the gate!" Percy shouted.
"The Master has his eye on both you! You'll do well to remember, we know where you live!" Alfrid warned as the barge started moving passed him.
"It's a small town, Alfrid. Everyone knows where everyone lives." Bard growled back.