Disclaimer: I do not own the Hobbit.
Now we get to the fun stuff, and I mean relationship wise. I promise there is something coming in the future, just not yet.
Enjoy and review :P all my love.
'I swear if I ever write a book this will not be included.' This is what Marie promised herself as she pulled the dry blanket closely around herself. As charming as Bard was his method of smuggling left much to be desired, namely the use of fish being used as a cover and a short journey up a toilet.
But, given the circumstances Bard did all that he could to get them in unseen, for the most part, and now offered his home, his clothes, and his food to them. Marie believed him to be a man of his word and now trusted him completely. The dwarves were not so forgiving for the impromptu swim through Lake Town's sewage system, mostly Dwalin who refused to mention it ever again.
"They may not be the best fit, but they'll keep you warm." Bard told them as his daughters went around with the piles of thick coats and furs for them to replace their tattered or lost garments.
Marie loathed to be parted from her red coat but it had been utterly ruined by the river. Even her shirt, once white and crisp, was now stained with the foul colour of pale brown. The youngest, Tilda, came up beside her with a new coat for her and a small smile for her.
"Thank you." Marie said and awkwardly took hold of the coat. The child lingered a little longer with an abundance of curiosity in her eyes and a multitude of questions on her lips, but Bard moved her along with a gentle pat on the shoulder before any could escape her. Marie folded the blue coat neatly and placed it by her side.
"Couldn't feel me right foot there for a while." Nori grumbled as he placed his large boots by the tiny hearth. Bifur in turn muttered into his beard something in his native tongue and violently clapped his hand across his shoulder, but stopped when he noticed Marie watching him and went back to staring at the fire in silence.
"Are you a faerie?"
"I beg your pardon?" Marie shook her head as Tilda popped back into sight.
"A faerie." The innocence of the child's question thawed Marie's frozen bones, "Da found you in Mirkwood didn't he? Did the elves steal your wings?"
Sigrid, the elder girl, rushed over,"Tilda, please." The girl looked up at her older sister with a pout. "She is our guest." Marie new that tone, her own father had used it on countless occasions when entertaining visitors. Tilda nodded and shuffled away from the hobbit.
Marie stood and walked around the modest table crowded by the shivering dwarves. The eldest of the bargeman's children fussed about the full household moving things about to accommodate her surprise guests whilst keeping her sister out of the way. For someone so young she already had terrible case of crow feet around her eyes. 'Poor dear.' Marie thought. She looked like she was about to pass out from surprise when the fourteen strangers emerged from the toilet, then again Marie knew exactly what must be going through her mind at that moment.
Bards only son Bain was on look out by the windows. Apparently Bard had somewhat of a reputation of crossing the will of the Master, the long standing proprietor of Lake Town as Bard had briefly explained before stuffing them back into the barrels. Bain by the look of him knew just who to be looking out for as he peeled back the stained linen curtains an inch.
He had very little of his father's baring, but he had his eyes no doubt that.
A throbbing pain went down Marie's neck and shoulder, bringing her out of her musing. She hid her hand under the blanket and touched the sore skin. As she did, she spotted their leader, standing by one of the windows brooding again.
She was handed a mug of tea by someone, she could not recall who, for her eyes seemed fixed on Thorin's profile. In all the time she had known him she had never fully taken in his complete appearance. She couldn't help it now, but it would seem that she compelled to do it regardless what she told herself. She even put the mug to her lips stared into the brown brew to look away, the liquid scolding her tongue.
Marie's head snapped up as a breathy voice reached her ear, making her choke on her tea when she realised it was Thorin. His eyes were wide as he stared out the window so earnestly, Marie couldn't help but creep over and see what he stared so intently at.
"You ... say something?"
Thorin nodded towards the top of a watch tower high above the houses through the open window. At the top there was a strange looking statue, appearing to Marie like bent back iron. She squinted and corrected herself. It wasn't a statue, but a large weapon.
"A Dwarvish Wind Lance." Thorin said again, his baritone voice heavy with memory.
"I take it you haven't seen one of those in years." Marie said offhandly.
"No lass."
Marie turned and found Balin standing behind them, his beard still a sad mess from the river. "The last time we saw such a weapon, a city was on fire. It was the day the dragon came."
Thorin's eyes fell to the window ledge, and Marie thought she could see the fire dancing in his eyes as Balin explained further.
"It was the day that Smaug destroyed Dale. Girion, the lord of the city, rallied his bowmen to fire upon the beast. But a dragon's hide is tough, tougher than the strongest armour. Only a Black Arrow fired from a Wind Lance could have pierced the dragon's hide."
Marie glanced back at the Windlance, imagining a large metal arrow being launched by the strong cord taunt at the base. Or at least that's how she imagined it.
"But few of those arrows were ever made, and the armoury was running low when Girion made his last stand."
It was clear to Marie what the ending to this tale would be. Girion tried to strike down the dragon, and Girion failed.
"Had the aim of men been true that day ... much would have been different." Thorin murmured, turning his head down to look at Marie.
"No one can be sure of what could have been." The words tumbled out of her mouth, and she immediately berated herself for letting them.
Thorin took no offence nor delight in what she had said, in fact he just stared at her blankly as though she had said nothing. His mind was seemed elsewhere. 'Perhaps,' Marie thought, 'He is seeing the ash and smoke in the sky.'
"You speak as though you were there." Bard said, making the trio turn to him.
"All dwarves know the tale." Thorin said blankly.
Marie turned the cup in her hand 'Some are a part of it.'
Bain, who had been hovering around Bard like a shadow, step out from behind his father. "Then you would know that Girion hit the dragon. He loosened his scales under the left wing, just one more shot and he would have killed the beast."
While Marie took this added portion to the story with all seriousness, the most the boy got in response was a chuckle from Dwalin. "That's a faerie story lad. Nothing more."
Bard placed a hand on his son's shoulder in reassurance.
"You took our money, where are the weapons?" Thorin pushed passed Marie and placed himself before the bargeman with his usual pride which verge on arrogance.
The two just stared for a moment, and Marie feel the tension elevated in the cramped room.
"Wait here." Bard finally said, and head downstairs to the open platform bellow the house, Thorin and Dwalin glaring at him as he went.
All Marie could do was sip her tea while Thorin, Balin and Dwalin congregated in a tight circle. Fili and Kili wedged themselves between their uncle.
"We can not stay long here." She heard Dwalin growl.
"Aye, we are nought but out of time to be delayed again."
It did not take long for Marie to look up over the rim of the mug at the king. He was always broad and intimidating to her, but she had never appreciated the elegance of his countenance when he was in deep thought, the long angle of his hooked nose casting a shadow across his deep set cheeks that were so carefully lined by his black beard, how noble he was regardless of his current state. Certainly not anything like the men of the Shire, all round and dimply. No Thorin was different, but in a good way. He was daring, strong and ... 'Marie for all that is sacred, control yourself.'
She was ... overwhelmed, to put it mildly, by her new found fascination with Thorin and the conflicting feelings that came along with it. It took all of her Baggins half to repress them. She went to drink again but remembered she had long since finished the tea, and did the sensible thing of placing it on the table.
Kili slowly withdrew himself from the circle without arousing the notices of the others, not even FIli, and edged himself into the far corner. Marie watched his expression falter under the pressure of pain in his leg.
As shallow as it was, this was the distraction Marie needed.
She quietly joined Kili in the corner, pressing a hand on his shoulder to let him know she was there. "You alright?" She asked. Kili still jolted at the sound of her voice. Perhaps her touch had been too light.
"What, yeah yeah I'm alright. Never better."
Marie did not believe him and frowned.
"You'll get wrinkles doing that."
"I already have enough. You should sit." She said and looked at his leg, "You leg is ..."
"It's alright Marie."
"It isn't, now sit."
Kili gave in and sat in a poorly built window box, taking his time to sink into the limp cushion. Marie took hold of his arm and helped him down, muttering mild words of encouragement.
"Let's have a look at you." Marie threw off the blanket and tossed it to the side, the cold forgotten to her. She brushed back his fringe and felt his skin. It was clammy to the touch and his brown eyes couldn't focus clearly. However his condition did not hinder the speckles of pink dusting his cheeks.
"Miss Sigrid." Marie caught the girl's arm as she brushed past, "I don't mean to trouble you but, you don't perhaps have any spare linen we can use?"
"Ugh ... perhaps. I'll check." She glanced between Marie and the wound before scuttling off.
Bard returned at that moment carrying the promised weapons in a long strip of black leather, glistening with water. Marie made the mild assumption that they had hidden been under the house. The dwarves stood as Bard unwrapped the bonds and revealed the contents.
Marie too rose to get a glimpse. The weapons were no more than old broom handles with old blades and hooks hammered into the ends, some were rusted chains with wooden blocks either end. Not the type of weapons Marie had in mind and judging by the sneers the dwarves gave them, not what they wanted.
"What is this?" Thorin seethed as he picked up the first tool. It was odd looking, but to Marie it looked dangerous enough.
"A Pike Hook, made from an old harpoon." Bard answered as he handed a large black hammer to Fili
"And this?"
"A crow bill, we call it. Fashioned from an old smithy hammer. It's heavy in hand I grant but in defence of your life, these will serve you better than none."
The dwarves were clearly not impressed. Gloin slammed the spear he was toying with onto the table. "We paid you for weapons. Iron forged swords and axes."
"Its a joke." A collective 'aye' went about the company and Marie eyed each one if them, appalled at such manners to man helping them. "They look sturdy enough." She said loudly so that they could hear her over the clattering of tool being tossed back onto the table
"This matter is beyond your concern lass." Gloin shook his head at her, "A gardening hoe will do no damage in a fight."
"Give any woman a gardening hoe and see just how much damage she can do."
Gloin actually looked disturbed by the minor threat the little hobbit had given him, as did several of the other dwarves.
Bard, unaware of the 'out of character' spout from Marie, went about explaining the circumstance as best he could. "You won't find better outside the city armoury. All iron forged weapons are held there under lock and key."
This did nothing to help convince the dwarves. Only Balin kept a more positive response and advised his king to do the same. "Thorin, why not take this offer and go. I've made do with less and so have you."
Marie could practically hear Thorin's jaw locking.
"I say we leave now."
"You're not going anywhere."
That caught Marie off guard. Bard didn't intend to keep them imprisoned here did he? That wouldn't be like him, but then again Marie had only known the man for s single day. "There are spies watching this house and probably ever wharf and doc in the town. You must wait until nightfall." While the dwarves left out an audible groan, Marie slowly let out a breath of relief, making sure she didn't strain her neck. Balin took Thorin to the side to council him, with Bard watching them carefully. There was something about Bard's gaze that sparked Marie's worry. He was staring intently at Thorin, as if fighting for recognition of something, creating deep lines across his brow. After a few moments he stopped and made for the front door, his head downcast as he exited the house.
A hiss came from behind Marie and remembered the task she had appointed herself to. Kili was clutching at his thigh tightly and had lost more colouring in his cheeks.
"Sorry Kili, I was a little sidetrack." She spotted a bowel and a bundle of white linen cloth next to him on the seat. Sigrid must have placed it down there while her back was turned.
"It's alright Marie. It really is nothiAgh!" He yelped when she lightly pressed on the wound.
"It does not look alright. Just let me re bandage this." She was already undoing the strips wrapped around his leg before he could say yes or no. The filthy bandage was stained with dirt and clotted blood, make Marie cluck her tongue. "No wonder you're in discomfort, it will not heal like this."
"I will be fine."
"The more you tell me that, the less convincing you sound."
The last of the strips peeled away, exposing the wound to Marie. It wasn't bleeding, but most certainly infected. Marie rubbed her hands together to warm then up, nothing worse than cold fingers on tender skin. "This may sting a little." She took a piece of linen and dabbed it in the water.
Kili made no noise as she cleaned away the clots, but his hand still trembled at his side with every stroke.
"How bad is it?" A new voice asked behind her.
"I don't know Fili. It's a deep wound but this ..." The skin had turned black and appeared to be spreading up his leg. "This wound feels ... evil." An uneasiness crept up her spine, and the faintest whispers crossed her mind.
"What's that love?"
Marie crushed the bloodied cloth between her fingers. "Nothing ... nothing at all. Here pass me that for me Fili."
The dwarf helped her dress out his brother's leg, even tried to keep the mood up buy talking about some job he and Kili had down for a trader. Marie was completely out of the loop as they boys chattered and just politely nodded accordingly once and awhile, not letting on the weight in her back pocket.
'There,' She inspected her work one last time. 'That should do for now. Perhaps Bard has something in case that fever should turn.' She looked down at her fingers, smeared with dark blood before sinking them into the bowel of water at her knees.
"We are leaving." Announced Thorin.
The dwarves were only too happy to agree and got to work retrieving their new coats.
"Wait you can't." Bain tried to say, "Da will be back soon. He can ..."
"Lad, do yourself a favour and don't try to stop us." Dwalin threatened the boy, who did the smart thing and heeded the warrior's words.
Marie got to her feet quickly once she had processed what was happening around her and walked over to Thorin. "Is that wise? You heard what Bard told us."
"Aye I heard, but I have made my decision. The sun is setting anyway, we will use the twilight."
Maire had not noticed the dying sunlight. "But Thorin,"
"But nothing. We need proper tools to fight a dragon, not pitchforks." His voice dropped to a whisper.
"As unfair as you condemnation for Bard's lack of quality materials is, that is not what I'm getting at. Kili is in not fit capacity to travel yet."
"He can stand, that is ..."
"Have you even looked at him?" Marie grabbed his forearm, "He's your nephew, your blood."
"And a member of this company." This was all Thorin needed to justify himself. It would have been much easier for Marie to be angry with his disregard for Kili's state if his harsh expression did not quip at her attraction for him. Now she was just conflicted, whether either admirer the dwarf's fiery will of to hate his stubborn pride.
Thorin gave her no chance to pick when he pulled himself away.
Marie twitched her nose and reluctantly prepared for their departure, snatching up the blue coat she had folded up.
'Men.' She thought, shaking her head.