I'm back, lovelies. Problem solved. Thanks again to all the new favourites and follows. It really means a lot to me to know that people are enjoying my writing. Brand new chapter for you here. The story's just beginning…
-X-X-X-
Bilbo tilted his head upwards shyly to glance at Thorin, who was still gazing up at the approaching mountain with whimsy and wonder plastered all over his face. The Hobbit quickly tucked his head back into the cloak he had been provided by the people of laketown and nestled his chin against his chest. Thorin remained stood above him and Bilbo had to be careful not to lean back against his legs too far, in case he pushed the dwarf lord overboard.
The two were situated at the bow of the boat as it made its way across the chilly lake, having left the forsaken wooden town along with Fili, Kili, Bofur and Oin far behind them.
There was uneasiness along the journey, a sort of unnecessary silence that lay across the boat as thick as the fog. Bilbo would have thought the dwarves would be happier to finally be going home. Maybe it was because Bofur normally did most of the talking
Or the fact that they were about to come face to face with the dragon that killed thousands and ruined the lives of many more. Right…
Bilbo had forgotten about that small detail.
Before he could open his mouth there was a harsh clunk and a low pained hiss as the boat lurched to the side dangerously and something splashed in the water next to them.
Bilbo jumped away from the edge of the boat, almost toppling it again whilst the dwarves, as usual, pulled weapons of all kinds out of various pockets and scabbards, ready to defend their king and their burglar. Not that Bilbo Baggins needed defending thank you very much.
"Merfolk!" Bilbo cried, launching himself towards the edge of the boat. He peered into the murky dark water but could see nothing
"Don't be silly, Bilbo" Ori frowned, pulling at his own fingers to try and chase away the cold "Mermaids have been extinct for many hundreds of years. There have been none here for centuries"
The Hobbit shook his head, gazing at Thorin "No. There was a boy in laketown. He said that he saw them. Two of them, a male and a female"
Thorin shook his head, dismissing Bilbo's worries ad he lifted the Hobbit up from under the arms to help him stand "Nonsense Bilbo" he muttered but he leant away from the edge of the boat all the same.
"Even I don't remember the Mer-people" Balin sighed "They were long before my time. Though, my mother told me of them often. She always was fascinated with the forsaken things"
Ori nodded "I used to read books in the scroll rooms and libraries of the Blue Mountains. But they were only old legends. Any factual information on the water-nymphs was lost when Smaug took Erebor"
Thorin smiled "Well, Ori, when we arrive you shall be welcome to read all the books you can get your hands on. I'd very much like to make you the Royal Librarian of Erebor, if you'd accept the role"
Ori went bright red and attempted to keep his composure but Bilbo frowned as he heard a small 'squee' erupt from the dwarf's throat
The hobbit still couldn't shake an odd feeling in the back of his head and, eventually, Bombur voiced his concern aloud
"But what about the hissing" he said with slow consideration
Bilbo nodded quickly, straightening his cloak out. "He's right" he said, walking up to Thorin with deliberate attempts to seem authoritative, lest the dwarf king not heed his warning "When the boat tipped, something hissed. Like a pained hiss. Somebody…" he stopped "something hit the bottom of the boat. With a great deal of force and I don't want to be on the wrong side of it if it decides it wants to meddle with us"
Thorin raised his eyebrows with faint amusement at Bilbo's slight fear "Mr Baggins, we're going to retake a mountain from a dragon and you are scared of some fish?"
Bilbo frowned heavily "Yes, I am scared. At least we know that we will be fighting a dragon. We don't even know what this..." he gestured to the water "…even is! We don't know what it wants and we don't know what it's going to do" He stopped for breath, glancing around the boat.
There was silence and then a sudden splash from next to them. The company's heads all spun to where ripples were now spreading malevolently across the lake. Bilbo swore he saw something glint beneath the waves before it disappeared. Then there was silence
"We need to get off the water"