Bard steered the barge through Laketown and eventually came to a stop at the docks. Once he felt it was safe to do so, he began kicking over the barrels to free the dwarves from suffering the stench of fish any longer. Bella was coming up behind her brother, who was about to push over the next barrel in his path when Dwalin's head popped out with a glare. " Get your hands off me." Dwalin sneered. Bella clenched her hands in fist, she had enough of this dwarf's arrogance towards her brother and she pushed by him and slammed the heel of her boot into Dwalin's barrel and knocked it on it's side. "What was that for, lass?" Dwalin bickered as he climbed out of the pile of fish.

"You know exactly what that was for." Bella snapped walking right by and huffed at him. Thorin and the rest of the dwarves still buried in the barrels of fish, managed to claw their way to the surface. Thorin catching the tail end of the warrior giving Bella an angry glare as she climbed off the barge and onto the dock. She looked around, things hadn't changed at all since she was last here in this god forsaken town. The rest of the company began making their way off the boat and onto the docks. Bella was the first to notice that, their arrival seemed to be attracting the eyes of some of the men folk.

"You didn't see them. They were never here." Bard stated lowly to the man as he slipped him two coins into his hand and was about to leave when he thought of something else. "The fish you can have for nothing." The older man didn't even turn an eye to the new visitors that had invaded the town and started gathering the fish to give to starving families. " Follow me."

Thorin gave the go ahead to his men to start following Bella's brother. The young woman could feel eyes on her from every direction. She had not step foot into this place in nearly 10 years.

"What is this place?" Bilbo asked lowly as Thorin came up beside him.

"This, Master Baggins, is the world of Men." The dwarf king stated, as he walked passed him and was now walking right beside Bella and behind Bard. The young woman could feel Thorin's intense stare as he walked beside her. He had questions, that much she was sure. Since him finding out she was half Man's blood he had been looking at her differently, more cold like.

"Keep your head down, and follow me." Bard instructed. The company didn't get more then five steps when they were spotted by guards.

"HALT!"

"Come on move." Thorin hissed at his men. The dwarves ran pass Bard and the half-breed through the market. They couldn't let themselves be captured all over again, not when they were so close to reaching the mountain.

" In the name of the Master of Laketown, I said halt! Stop them!" The captain of the guard shouted.

Bella turned to her brother. "We have to do something." She pressed, seeing her brother was being hesitant about it she took off to do it herself. Her brother might have promise to get them into town unseen, he never promised to get them through the town square. Bella saw Braga, the captain of the guard, about to spot Thorin and Balin taking out one of his guards. The half-breed did the only thing that came to mind and knocked right into the guard captain and caused him to lose his balance.

"Watch it-" Braga snapped when he stopped and noticed who it was. " Bella...I was wondering how many years it would be before you'd turn up again. Did you forget why you had to leave last time? The Master will be interested to know of your return."

"I don't think we need to disturb the Master with this nonsense, do you?" Bella retorted, when Braga grabbed her by her arm.

"You were warned Bella, if you came back here, what would happen. You will be brought before the Master." The captain declared.

"Braga." Bard interrupted acting as if nothing had happened.

"You. What are you up to, Bard?" Braga challenged.

"Me? Up to something? Never."

"Yeah," The captain scoffed, and looked up when he heard something drop on the ground and he shoved passed the bowman, bringing Bella with him.

"Hey, Braga." Bard called, causing him to turn and look at Bard and what he was holding in his hands. " Your wife would look lovely in this." He stated as he continued to hold up the white corset.

Braga's insides were boiling, hearing Bard mentioning his wife and without realizing it let go of Bella's arm and marched towards Bard. Before Bella could say anything she felt someone yank her out of sight of the guards by the arm and covered her mouth. The side of her face was pressed into whoever's chest it was that grabbed her but she managed to see the few strands of grey in the black hair and realized it was Thorin that had a hold of her.

"What do you know of my wife?" Braga asked.

"I know her as well as any man in this town," Bard replied, as an innocent look appeared on his face. The other man grabbed the piece of clothing from Bard and threw back on the pile and scowled at Bard and then realized he let go of Bella.

" Where is your sister?"

" I have no idea what you're talking about." Bard answered.

" Search for Bella! She could be anywhere." Braga ordered his men. "If your sister is smart she will be long gone or we will find her." He warned before shoving passed Bard, and his men began to do a search of the town for the half-breed. Bard waited till all the guards had left the area.

"Come on," Bared hissed at the company. Thorin released Bella from his hold but what he just heard was a little surprising to him, but he knew this was the time or please to question her on it. For now the only important thing was to make it through town without being caught by the guards. The sooner they could get the weapons the bowman promised, the faster they could head straight for the mountain. The followed the man and Bella through the market, carefully peering around corners making sure it was safe before continuing. They had just rounded another corner when a voice called out.

"Da!" A young boy came running towards them. " Our house, it's being watched," he said, worry in his voice. Hearing this, they all glanced at one another wondering what they were going to do now. A slight grin formed on Bard's face at what came to mind. Though, he knew the dwarves were not going to like it one bit.

The company grumbled at the idea, but saw no other option, though climbing up through someone's toilet, was not what they had in mind. Bard gave instructions for them to wait until they heard three knocks, before climbing out of the toilet.

Bella followed her brother and nephew back to their home. Bella still couldn't believe how grown up Bain had become since she last saw him, he was only 5 when she left. Sigrid only 4 and Tilda was just a baby. The three of the climbed up the stairs to the door, Bard stopping for a quick second and peered over the ledge and whistled, gaining the attention of the two men in the boat, that were clearly here to spy on them. " You can tell the Master, I'm done for the day." He said and tossed an apple at them.

"Father!" A girl greeted as she came out from the kitchen once Bard closed the door behind him. "I was worried." she stated also, giving him a hug and taking the bag of food from him. Bella looked all three children and she couldn't help but smile, they had all grown up so beautifully. Bain had grown up so handsomely like his father. Sigrid looked so much like her lovely mother, Ingrid and Tilda looked like a bit of both parents.

"Who's this?" Tilda asked, coming to stand beside her brother and sister.

"This your aunt, Bella." Bard introduced. Both Bain and Sigrid could remember faint memories of there time spent with there aunt. She always knew how to make them both laugh, but Tilda. Tilda didn't know her at all.

" Doesn't your long lost favorite aunt get a hug from her wonderful niece and nephew?" Bella asked, holding her arms out for them. The two older ones embraced their aunt. They had missed her so much. "My the three of you have gotten so big since I last saw. Bain, look at you so handsome. And Sigrid, you're looking more and more like your mother everyday. And Tilda I haven't seen you since you were just a wee baby at the time. It's so wonderful to finally meet you again." She said stroking the young girls cheek and smiling. Tilda gave her a smile in return and couldn't help but hug the half-breed.

"Bain, let them in." Bard pressed, having to cut this reunion short. Bard had asked his two girls to gave as many blankets and clothing as they could for the freezing cold dwarves. Bella went to her old room and pulled one of her few dresses she had. She was not to fond of them but she wanted out of these wet clothes. She put on her faded blue dress and went back to join her family and the others.

As Bella came into the living room, she saw her friends all gathered near the fire to unthaw themselves and were wrapped in blankets and wearing her brother's clothing. Sigrid had put on a pot over the fire for tea. Bella was looking the other way when Thorin finally caught sight of her. He had never seen her in a dress and looked down in embarrassment when he heard Dwalin snickering beside him.

The young woman walked over to her half brother and told him that she was going to go rest. Though she was feeling a lot better then she had in days. She still needed some rest. Thorin was staring through the tiny crack in the window when he saw out of the corner of his eye, Bella leaving back down the hall and he heard the door shut.

Bella laid her head on the pillow and pulled the blanket over to her shoulder. She knew coming back here was a risk. But how could she tell any of them. She never thought she would admit it but these dwarves had become family to her. She would die for each and every one of them if it came down to it. But she should have known her past would soon catch up to her. Thorin wasn't going to trust her now. She had to tell him, but how? The look he gave her, it was a look she never wanted to see him give her again. The young woman could her the dwarves arguing with her brother on the quality of the weapons he had presented to them. Bella closed her eyes and they bolted open when she heard a knock and the door slowly opened. She sat up and was even more surprised to see it was Thorin, though judging by his serious, brooding look, he was not here to see how she was doing.

"We need to talk." The dwarf king declared and he shut the door behind him and locked it.