A/n: There is going to be slight change in story in this chapter, since Smaug attacked much later in this than in the original story. You'll know when you see it.
"Da, why are there dwarves climbing out of our toilet?"
"Will they bring us luck?"
Bard said nothing as he sat me down on the bed. The dwarves crowded into the tiny house and settled down by the fire. "Sigrid, Tilda, get me some clothes and blankets for them. Make sure she is kept warm." The two girls began to hand out clothes and blankets to everyone. Tilda, the youngest, placed a few clothes down on the bed next to me.
Sigrid and Bain helped disperse the rest of the clothes to everyone else. "They may not be the best fit, but they'll keep you warm," Bard told the group as the finished handing out blankets and clothes. He motioned for his two daughters to help me change.
Tilda grabbed a cup of tea for me while Sigrid closed the curtain around the bed while I changed out of my freezing wet clothes. I changed into a long sleeve cream shirt, an oversized grey fleece button up, pants, and boots. I wrapped a blanket around my shoulders to bring in more warmth. "Thank you," I told the girls and flashed a smile at Bard before stepping over to Thorin who was gazing out the window.
"You look like you've seen a ghost." I said as I took a sip of my tea. "I did, when I saw you on the dock." He said, his gaze fixated out the window. Although no one admitted it, I knew they were all worried about me after my time in the freezing water. I had just now gotten to the point where I could fully speak but I still felt like I was freezing. "I'm better now." I lied as I took another sip of my tea. Thorin turned to me, he knew I was lying, and grabbed my hand to study it. "Your hands are cold," he said before placing my hand near his mouth. He pressed a kiss onto my hand before taking my hand and placing it back on the mug. I felt my cheeks burn as I watched what Thorin did and turned to glance out the window. "What's that?" I asked changing the subject.
"A Dwarvish Windlass." He answered. Balin and Bilbo had come up behind us. "It was created in case a dragon ever came to Erebor. The city of Dale used it, until it was abandoned, now it sits as a remnant of a bygone age." Balin explained. I scoffed, "dragons don't exist."
"Not just dragons, but for any attack that might come against Erebor. Thror made sure of this by giving the Windlass to Girion, Lord of Dale." Balin added. I nodded at Balin's explanation, but I still didn't believe him. Out of all the creatures that existed in Middle Earth… dragons were not one of them. It was just a fairy tale used to scare little kids.
Bard came over and refilled my mug with more tea. "You speak as if you were there." He mused as I took a sip of the tea. Thorin scowled at the man as he watched Bard pour more tea into Bilbo's mug. "All dwarves know the tale." I rolled my eyes at Thorin's comment and the acid that rose in his tone. "Then you would know that Girion protected the windlass with his dying breath, never leaving it after Thror's death. Had it not been for the people of Dale giving up, the windlass would still be in Dale." Bain piped up as he took the pitcher of tea away from his father. Dwalin started to chuckle, "that's a fairy story lad. Nothing more."
Thorin stepped towards Bard. "You took our money. Where are the weapons?" He questioned, changing the subject.
"Wait here." Bard said before heading downstairs. As soon as he had disappeared, Thorin, Balin, Fili, Kili, Bilbo, and I huddled up. "Tomorrow begins the last days of autumn." Thorin told us. Balin nodded, "Durin's Day fall the morn after next. We must reach The Mountain before then."
"And if we do not? If we fail to find the hidden door before that time?" Kili asked, glancing to make sure Bard hadn't returned yet. "Then this quest has been for nothing." Fili answered. Before anyone could say anything else, Bard returned with a bundle of items wrapped up. He placed the bundle on top of the table and revealed an odd assortment of items. The dwarves began to grab some of the items. "What is this?" Thorin asked picking up what looked like a harpoon.
"Pike hook. Made from an old harpoon." Bard answered as he watched everyone inspected the items. Bilbo and I looked on from afar. I knew the dwarves would not use these weapons; it was a fool's errand. But at least Bard tried.
Kili studied a hammer looking weapon. "And this?"
"A crowbill, we call it. Fashioned from a smithy's hammer. Heavy in your hand, I'll grant, but, in defense of your life, these will serve you better than none." Bard explained as he placed his fists onto the table. Gloin did not look pleased with the prosperity of weapons. Or it could have been the fact that he gave Bard the most money out of everyone and didn't receive an actual weapon. "We paid you for weapons. Iron-forged swords and axes!" Gloin emphasized. Bofur threw down his weapon. "It's a joke!"
Everyone began to place the weapons back on the table. "You won't find better outside the city armory. All iron-forged weapons are held under lock and key." Bard began to collect the weapons to place back into the bundle. I shook my head as I watched the dwarves. This was going to be bad.
"Thorin, why don't we take this offer and go? I've made do with less. So, have you. I say we leave now." Balin said as he turned to Thorin.
"You're not going anywhere." Bard called out, stopping everyone in their tracks. "There are spies watching this house and probably every dock and wharf in the town. And she still needs to heal after being in the water so long. You must wait till nightfall." Thorin glanced back at me, a concerned look on his face, as I wrapped the blanket around me tighter.
I stepped back and sat down on a stool by the fire. The heat felt good. I thought back to what had happened in the High Fells. We were going on a suicide mission. Maybe Erebor didn't need to be saved if Sauron was coming back. No one had seen the arsonist Smaug appear yet, maybe Sauron didn't need Erebor. Could I keep The Company from reaching Erebor until Durin's Day? I just needed to make sure they didn't enter until Gandalf returned.
Easy, right?
Bard had disappeared, leaving his children in charge of us, making sure no one left the house. Gloin was still complaining about the sorry weapons and went to anyone who would listen to him complain. Fili and Kili were conversing with each other in a corner. Bifur and Bofur were busy trying to keep their brother, Bombur, from raiding the small kitchen pantry (they were failing). Dori and Oin were watching Nori like a hawk to make sure he didn't steal anything after what happened with the Goblin King. Ori was drawing with Tilda over on the table, while Dwalin, Balin, and Thorin were discussing quietly over our next move. Bilbo had refilled up our mugs and had sat down by me in front of the fire.
"How are you doing? Do you need another blanket?" He asked as I stared at the orange flames. I shook my head and took a sip of tea. "Can I ask you a question?" Bilbo asked as he glanced around, before turning back to face me. "I guess." I placed my mug down on an empty seat.
"What was so significant to use your full name when we met Beorn?" My heart sunk. I knew someone would eventually bring that up. I figured it would have been Thorin first. Don't get me wrong, I wanted to tell Bilbo everything. But I can't. The more people that know who I am puts them in danger. I can't put poor Bilbo in danger. If something ever happened to him, I would never forgive myself. If something happened to anyone in The Company and it was my fault, I wouldn't be able to live. "Bilbo…" I began to say but stopped myself "I can't."
He seemed confused. "It's not because I don't want to, it's just that… if something were to happen to you because I told you the truth about myself, I'd never forgive myself. Especially in the world we live in, anything could happen…" My mind flashed over the tombs of the Ringwraiths. The darkness and evil of the High Fells made the hairs on my neck stand. I shivered at the thought of that place.
"I need a favor." Thorin said as he came up next to me. "What?" I asked, grabbing my mug to sip some more tea. "I need your skills of thievery." Thorin answered, his voice barely above a whisper. Stunned, I stood up to face him. "You want me to pick a lock? Did you think since I was broke, I've resorted to thievery?" I asked. He didn't answer, but his facial expression answered my question. "Wow…that hurts. It's true… but it hurts." I admitted.
…
We stopped behind a boat as two guards passed ahead of us.
"Shh! Keep it down!" Dwalin whisper yelled to the group behind him. "As soon as we have the weapons, we make straight for the mountain." Thorin ushered for Nori to go first after the guards disappeared down a side street. Nori ran and climbed up the dwarves that was being used as a climbing wall. Nori successfully made it into the window of the armory.
Thorin motioned for Bilbo to go and he took off in a run, hopping up and into the window. Everyone continued up into the window, other than a few lookouts, until I was the only one left on the ground.
I backed up as far away as I could and sprinted down before flipping and jumping as high as could. Fili held his hand out for me from the window and I grabbed his hand as he and Thorin pulled me up inside. "Showoff." Fili teased as I smirked at him. Pretty good for a girl who was freezing earlier.
Everyone splits up and began to grab their weapons. Kili began to take everyone's weapons, letting anyone place their chosen weapon in his arms. From a corner, I watched as Bilbo grabbed an axe. I shook my head, walking over to the Hobbit, and pushed the axe back in its spot. "Too heavy for you." I grabbed a shield off the wall. "You already have a sword, but you need something to protect you." I handed him the small shield and grabbed my own and slipped my arms into the straps and slung it on my back.
Kili began walking down the steps when suddenly his leg gave way and he tumbled down the stairs, the weapons clanging as they fell.
Suddenly guards voices were heard in the distance. They had heard us. I face palmed myself as I looked over at Thorin for a sigh of what to do. Before anyone could do anything, we felt knives at our throats. We failed our mission of retrieving weapons.
The guards escorted us out of the armory and lead us towards The Master's house where he would be the judge of what would happen to us. As we walked along the main thoroughfare of the floating city, villagers began to come out from their homes, astonished at the sight of seeing everyone being taken away. It was almost like a parade, a really sad parade of convicts.
The Master stormed out of the house, wrapping his coat around his potbelly waist as we stopped in front of the steps. "What is the meaning of this?"
"We caught 'em stealing weapons sire," Braga told him.
"Ah. Enemies of the state, then." The Master mused. His assistant, a wormy disgusting looking man, stood next to The Master trying to look confident. (It wasn't working) "This is a bunch of mercenaries if ever there was, sire." He said loud enough for us to hear.
Dwalin did not take kindly to hearing this. He stepped forward, "Hold your tongue. You do not know to whom you speak. This is no common criminal; this is Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror!" The Master's eye widened as Dwalin motioned to Thorin who slowly stepped out of the group. The crowd behind us began to murmur at the sight of Thorin. No one had seen any sign of Thorin since the attack on Erebor and now here he stood in front of a crowd being accused of stealing.
Talk about a plot twist.
"We are the dwarves of Erebor. We have come to reclaim our homeland. I remember this town in the days of old. Fleets of boats lay at harbor, filled with silks and fine gems. This was no forsaken town on a lake. This was the center of all trade in the North!" Thorin said, as the crowd nodded in agreement. Thorin turned to face the crowd. "I would see those days return. I would relight the great forges of the dwarves and send wealth and riches flowing once more from the halls of Erebor!" The crowd continued to nod and agree, by clapping and cheering to Thorin's words.
I watched The Master intently, as he seemed to be calculating in his mind how much of the wealth he could receive. Thorin and The Master locked eyes.
"Death!" a voice cried out. We turned to see Bard stride forward from the crowd. "That is what you will bring upon us. Dragon-fire and ruin. If you go; it will destroy us all," Bard warned. I glanced between Thorin and Bard as the two studied the crowd.
"You can listen to this naysayer, but I promise you this: if we succeed, all will share in the wealth of the mountain. You will have enough gold to rebuild Esgaroth ten times over!" The people began to shout and cheer at this idea that Thorin had proposed.
My mind flashed back over to what happened at the High Fells. We couldn't give them what was promised. We couldn't reclaim Erebor. I needed Bard to convince everyone that this was a bad idea.
"Why should we take you at your word, eh? We know nothing about you. Who here can vouch for your character?" The Master's henchmen asked.
No one spoke up. "Me. I can. So can she." Bilbo piped up pointing to himself and me.
I felt the color drain from my face.
