Bard docks his barge. After looking around, he knocks over one of the barrels, and a dwarf falls out along with a pile of fish. Bard continues knocking over barrels. He reaches for Dwalin's barrel, but Dwalin pokes his head up through the fish.
"Get your hands off me." Dwalin snapped, the remaining dwarves and Bilbo struggle out of their barrels, looking greasy and slimy from the fish. The dock keeper looks on in shock. Bard approaches him and slips him a coin.
"You didn't see them; they were never here. The fish you can have for nothing." Bard spoke as I stepped off the barge, Thorin walked over to me when he got out of the barrel of fish, he looked genuinely worried,
"Are you okay? I saw what happened through a gap in the wood." Thorin spoke as I looked away,
"I'm fine... It's not the first time a man has handled me like that. But I couldn't put you guys at risk so stayed quiet." I spoke as Thorin placed his and on my shoulder, "Anyway, I'll punch him another day for doing that to me after we've dealt with our quest." I smirked as Thorin still looked worried, but I could see anger in his eyes as well. Most likely anger towards Alfrid.
Bard leads the Company away.
"Follow me." Bard spoke as we both looked towards the man. A woman working on a boat happens to look up and she sees the dwarves running through Laketown in the distance. She looks shocked. As they stride through Laketown, Bard's son, Bain, runs up to Bard.
"Da! Our house, it's being watched." Bain spoke and then smiled seeing me, Bard looks at Thorin and hatches a plan. Bard talks to the dwarves as I slowly walked through Laketown leaving them behind. I knew where Bard lived, and it wasn't hard to slip away from the group.
I walked along a side path and saw a figure slumped over on the floor; the figure was wearing a cloak which covered their head as they looked down to the ground.
"Are you okay? Do you need any help?" I walked over to the figure, I saw them shift slightly but as the head lifted our eyes locked, the eyes looking into my own were a piercing blue, as dark as the deep ocean, I blinked as he stood, his stature was tall and I could tell his build was strong, his hand appeared through the cloak and pulled his hood off. Similar hair to my own appeared, the man before me smiled as he looked over my face.
"What name do you go by?" The man asked, his voice was deep and silky,
"Raine. And you?" I took a small step back,
"Aulton." The man spoke, I blinked and replayed his reply in my mind,
"Aulton?" I asked, the man nodded and smiled at me. "You... I know..." My breathing increased in shock.
Little did I know I missed a little fight in the street between the dwarves and the guards of Laketown.
"Raine! Where are you?" I heard Bard's voice in the background, I turned around to look and see where he was but as I turned back to look at the man who called himself Aulton there was no one there.
"No... Where did you go?" I whispered, I banged my fist against the wall besides me as I heard footsteps behind me,
"Raine, come on, we need to head home." I heard Bain, I turned to face my friends, I smiled at them and walked forward.
Who was that man? I hope he comes back to me soon... If he really is Aulton, he gave me the jewellery that I wear.
Bard, I, Reck and his son walk along back to the house. As they walk, a fisherman in a boat sees them and drops his eyepatch over one eye, then knocks with his staff on a wall nearby. Upon this signal, two boys run from the wall, and one knocks over a contraption which causes a hammer to hit a bell. At this signal, another man lights a match to light his pipe. He turns and looks at two men in a fishing boat right next to Bard's house, and they nod and switch their poles to the opposite sides of the boat than before. They do this just as Bard and Bain get to their house and enter through the door. Just before Bard enters, he tosses an apple to one of the fisherman.
"You can tell the Master that I'm done for the day." Bard spoke as me and Reck followed him inside. Inside the house, Bard's daughters, Sigrid and Tilda, greet their father.
"Da! Where have you been?" Tilda ran over to him,
"Father! There you are. I was worried." Sigrid walked over, both daughters run to their father, and they hug. Bard then hands his bag to Sigrid.
"Here's something to eat. Bain, get them in." Bard looked at Bain,
"Raine!" Tilda cheered as she saw me and I smiled as she hugged me dearly, I wrapped my arms around the young girl as Sigrid grinned seeing me too. "We've missed you." Tilda spoke as she stepped back, I brushed my hand against her cheek as I smiled,
"And I, you." I spoke with a gentle smile.
As Bard looks out a window, Bain goes down some steps to the lower floor of the house, which is open to the water.
Not long after the company started climbing up the stairs as I saw Dwalin looking angry and Bilbo looking shocked and mortified.
"Da...why are there dwarves climbing out of our toilet?" Sigrid asked,
"Will they bring us luck?" Tilde asked as I chuckled, Nori emerges from the toilet with some leaves stuck to his hair.
The dwarves are wrapped in blankets, and their wet things have been laid in front of the fire to dry. Some of them shiver.
"It may not be the best fit, but it'll keep you warm." Bard spoke, Tilda passes out blankets, and Bilbo thanks her when he receives one.
"Thank you very much." Bilbo spoke, I sat near a window which Thorin walked over to me, and I wrapped my arms around him to help get warm.
Thorin looks out a window and sees a wooden tower not far away. Atop the tower is a windlass, a giant crossbow type weapon with four arms. Thorin looks at it in shock.
"A Dwarvish Wind-Lance." Thorin spoke as I looked out and saw what he was looking at Bilbo, who is sipping a hot drink from a mug, looks at the wind-lance too.
"You look like you've seen a ghost." Bilbo spoke,
"He has. The last time we saw such a weapon, a city was on fire. It was the day the dragon came." Balin explained, Thorin looks sadly away.
"The day that Smaug destroyed Dale. Girion, the Lord of the city, rallied his bowman to fire upon the beast." Balin spoke, "But a dragon's hide is tough, tougher than the strongest armor. Only a black arrow, fired from a wind-lance, could have pierced the dragon's hide, and few of those arrows were ever made." Balin told the story, how the humans fought valiantly against the dragon as I held onto Thorin, "His store was running low when Girion made his last stand." Balin finished.
"Had the aim of Men been true that day, much would have been different." Thorin spoke, Bard approaches Thorin.
"You speak as if you were there." Bard frowned
"All dwarves know the tale." Thorin spoke,
"Then you would know that Girion hit the dragon. He loosened a scale under the left wing. One more shot and he would have killed the beast." Bain spoke enthusiastically,
"Ha ha ha! That's a fairy story, lad. Nothing more." Dwalin laughed, Thorin strides up to Bard after pulling away from my arms,
"You took our money. Where are the weapons?" Thorin looked at Bard,
"Wait here." Bard goes down the stairs to the lower part of the house. While Bard is gone, Thorin returned to my arms to keep warm, Balin, Fili, and Kili talk quietly together.
"Tomorrow begins the last days of autumn." Thorin spoke quietly,
"Durin's Day falls morn after next. We must reach the mountain before then." Balin explained,
"And if we do not? If we fail to find the hidden door before that time?" Kili asked,
"Then this quest has been for nothing." Fili looked to his brother.
Bard returns and lays the package on the table as the dwarves stand around it. He loosens the wrappings and reveals a couple of hand-made weapons. The dwarves look at them in shock, then pick up the weapons and look at them in disgust.
"What is this?" Thorin asked as I closed my hand and put my hand to my forehead.
"Pike-hook. Made from an old harpoon." Bard explained,
"And this?" Kili lifted another weapon.
"A crowbill, we call it, fashioned from a smithy's hammer. It's heavy in hand, I grant, but in defense of your life, these will serve you better than none." Bard explained, I noticed Thorin and Dwalin look disgustedly at each other.
"We paid you for weapons. Iron-forged swords and axes!" Gloin complained,
"It's a joke!" Bofur yelled and throws his weapon back on the table, and the other dwarves follow suit.
"You won't find better outside the city armoury. All iron-forged weapons are held there under lock and key." Bard explained as the clanging of metal was hard to yell over.
Thorin and Dwalin look at each other out of the corners of their eyes, hatching a plan.
"Thorin." Balin spoke knowing what the two were thinking. Bard looks up at the mention of the name Thorin, as if the name sounds familiar to him. He looks at me and frowns wondering why I am with these dwarves.
"Why not take what's been offered and go? I've made do with less; so, have you. I say we leave now." Balin sighed,
"You're not going anywhere." Bard spoke,
"What did you say!?" Dwalin snapped,
"There's spies watching this house and probably every dock and wharf in the town. You must wait till nightfall." Bard explained, some of the dwarves sighed in annoyance. Bard couldn't help that the Master of the town was paranoid.
Hearing this, the dwarfs begin to settle down. Kili, leaning on a pole, looks like he's in pain and he slowly slides down the pole and sits on a couch. Wincing, he examines the bandage on his leg while making sure no one is looking.
Bard walked outside as I watched him go; he was going to figure out who the dwarves were... Bard was probably going to be against this quest of ours once he found out... The door opens, and Bain sticks his head out.
"Da?" Bain looked at his father outside,
"Don't let them leave." I heard Bard talk to his son outside as I looked at Sigrid and Tilda. Bain closed the door and looked at me as I moved past him and followed Bard. Bard hurries down his steps and into the town.
"Bard!" I yell after him, I followed Bard through Laketown he wasn't replying or answering my calls.
"Hello, Bard. What're you after?" I heard a storekeeper talk to him as he walked into a small area of the market. Bard begins looking through a pile of tapestries.
"Bard..." I spoke, he turned to look at me and pointed at me angrily.
"Don't... Just don't." Bard spoke he turned back to the tapestries as I bit my tongue, "There was a tapestry, an old one; where's it gone?" Bard asked the storekeeper.
"What tapestry you talking about?" The storekeeper asked as Bard threw some old tapestries around until he found what he was looking for. It was showing the family tree of Durin.
"This one." Bard spoke, he picks up a tapestry and unrolls it on a table. It has the names of the members of the Line of Durin sewn into it. We overhear the woman who saw the dwarves earlier speaking to some other townspeople not far away.
"There were dwarves, I tell you. Appeared out of nowhere. Full beards, fierce eyes; I've never seen the like." The woman spoke,
"What are dwarves doing in these parts?" A fisherman spoke as I moved besides Bard to look at the tapestry,
"It's the prophecy." an old man chimed in,
"Prophecy?" The fisherman asked,
"The prophecy of Durin's folk." The old man answered.
Bard traces through the lineage on the tapestry and finds the last entry, Thorin. He looks up, thinking deeply, and talks to himself. I stepped back as Bard looks at me,
"The prophecy...prophecy." Bard paced back and forward. The people of Laketown are beginning to talk about the dwarves now as the word spreads.
"The old tales will come true." A man spoke as I looked out of the store,
"Vast halls of treasure!" A woman cheered,
"Can it really be true? Has the lord of silver fountains returned?" another woman was heard.
"The lord of silver fountains,
The king of carven stone,
The king beneath the mountain shall come into his own,
And the bells shall ring in gladness at the mountain king's return,
But all shall fail in sadness and the lake will shine and burn." Bard spoke, he looked at me and grabbed my shoulders, "You brought them here." Bard gripped me,
"Bard, I did not know of the prophecy. I'm sorry." I explained but Bard pushed me to the side and ran towards his house, I went to run forward but was grabbed by a man in a cloak.
I tried to break free, but the man dragged me away and into a side alley, letting go of me he removed his cloak hood and the familiar face appeared,
"It's you again. Can I go as I have some important business to sort." I looked at Aulton who frowned at me,
"I know. The dwarves are not at Bard's house. They managed to get out on their own. They are hidden in Laketown at the minute and are waiting for the sun to set fully before they try and steal some weapons from the armoury." Aulton spoke, I looked at him suspiciously.
"Okay, who are you?" I snapped,
"Yours and Reck's guardian." Aulton bowed towards me as I stepped back in surprise,
"Guardian?" I asked,
"Yes, my lady. I have managed to speak to Reck not long ago and he should be. Ahh, here he is." Aulton smiled as Reck appeared behind us. "I need to take you both back home." Aulton spoke, my jaw dropped.
"Home...?" I asked, Aulton nodded as my eyes darted between his trying to see if there was any deception in them. But I could see none whatsoever.
"I've always wanted to go home..." I muttered as I looked to the ground, the sky turned dark as tears appeared in my eyes, "I have always wondered what my real home was like... Where I came from... Who I am... Will you tell me?" I asked, Aulton smiled at me and nodded,
"Yes, but we needed to leave." Aulton explained,
"When?" I asked, Aulton offered his hand towards me as Reck moved besides myself, I felt like I was in a dream, like this truly wasn't happening.
"Now." Aulton spoke, then reality settled in quickly as I realised, I would have to leave my friends... and leave Thorin.
No...
"I'm not leaving now." I shook my head and stepped back; Aulton looked please? "I need to help my friends... Help Thorin... I signed up at the start of this quest and I shall finish it. With them, and without you two if needs be." I stood my ground. Aulton smiled at me,
"I'm glad to see you are still as kind as ever Aurora." Aulton's smile turned into a grin, and I felt a searing pain through my head as memories filled my mind. I heard Reck cry out also.
I knelt on the ground and held my head; I remembered it all... Austen... Aulton... My parents... And their killer. The being that destroyed our lands.
I stood up once the pain had faded and looked to my brother. He slowly stood up also and looked to my neck,
"I believe you have something of mine, sister." Austen smirked, I nodded and pulled the necklace from around me and handed it to him,
"Here you go Aussie." I smirked, Austen rolled his eyes,
"Please don't call me that... You know I hate it." Austen shook his head.
"Well I love it, and I know you do to." I pinched his cheek with a cheeky grin.
We both looked to Aulton, and he stood there smiling at us both, running over to him we hugged Aulton and he chuckled,
"It's nice to see you two again. It's been too long." Aulton explained, the two of us looked up at him and smiled.
We made our way through Laketown towards Bard's house but on the way, we heard a commotion by the Master's house. Heading there I saw the soldiers had just brought the dwarves to the Master's house. They were all pushed in front as Braga arranged the under the guard in the town square. As guards open the doors of the mansion, the Master storms out, still putting on his coat.
"What is the meaning of this?" The Master barged out,
"We caught 'em stealing weapons, sire." Braga explained,
"Ah. Enemies of the state, then." Master snapped,
"This is a bunch of mercenaries if ever there was, sire." Alfrid spoke, I frowned as I tried to push through the crowd.
"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!" Dwalin gestures at Thorin, and Thorin steps forward. The crowd murmurs in amazement. I smiled to myself
"We are the dwarves of Erebor." Thorin stepped forward. The crowd whispers in shock and recognition, and people crane their heads to see better. "We have come to reclaim our homeland. I remember this town and the great 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 is speaking earnestly to the crowd, and the people nod in agreement. "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!" Thorin stepped forward and turned towards the crowd, we make eye contact and Thorin smiled at me as I smiled back at him.
The people cheer and clap, and the Master looks on, calculating. Suddenly, a voice calls out over the crowd, and Bard strides forward.
"Death! That is what you will bring upon us. Dragon-fire and ruin. If you awaken that beast, it will destroy us all." Bard called, the people whisper anxiously.
"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!" Thorin spoke out, I swallowed hard and though about he prophecy that Bard spoke about, I frowned and shook my head... We were going to stop Smaug before he escaped...
The people shout in excitement, and they applaud. The Master looks on, smiling and nodding at this turn of events.
"All of you! Listen to me! You must listen! Have you forgotten what happened to Dale?!" Bard yelled as he walked to stand in the middle between Thorin and the people. The people quiet down and shake their heads sadly. "Have you forgotten those who died in the firestorm?!" Bard yelled,
"No!" The people shout,
"And for what purpose? The blind ambition of a mountain-king so riven by greed; he could not see beyond his own desire!" Bard called, as Bard and Thorin stare at each other angrily, the crowd gets louder, but then the Master steps forth.
"Now, now, we must not, any of us, be too quick to lay blame. Let us not forget that it was Girion, Lord of Dale, your ancestor, who failed to kill the beast!" The Master points accusingly at Bard, and the crowd begins to clamour. As Bard looks away, Thorin looks at him in shock and anger.
"It's true, sire. We all know the story: arrow after arrow he shot, each one missing its mark." Alfrid spoke, Bard looks around as the crowd yells angrily at him. He then strides forward and speaks to Thorin earnestly.
"You have no right, no right to enter that mountain!" Bard spoke,
"I have the only right." Thorin spoke and turns and faces the Master.
"I speak to the Master of the men of the Lake. Will you see the prophecy fulfilled? Will you share in the great wealth of our people?" Thorin called out to everyone, the people quietly watch in anticipation. "What say you?" Thorin raised his arms. The Master thinks for several seconds, then smiles and points his finger at Thorin.
"I say unto you...welcome! Welcome and thrice welcome, King under the Mountain!" The Master opens his arms in welcome, and the crowd erupts in cheers. Bard looks on silently.
Thorin climbs up a few steps and turns to face the audience; the people hug each other in excitement and joy. Thorin and Bard stare at each other. I saw the dwarves follow the Master into the house as I walked forward with Aulton and Austen. I went to follow the dwarfs, but Alfrid stood between me and them.
"What are you doing here woman? You've got no part in this." Alfrid spat, I glared at him until I noticed Thorin storm forward and moved Alfrid to the side,
"She is with us, and don't you dare ever lay a finger on her again." Thorin growled at Alfrid, I saw Alfrid cower a little from Thorin. Thorin grabbed my hand and pulled me past Alfrid and into the Master's house.
The Master gave us all a feast and got us some armour ready for the battle. Thorin had been dragged away from me as soon as we got in to see the Master. I sat with Austen and Aulton as the dwarves were fed. Though Bilbo walked over to me later.
"You two seem awfully quiet." Bilbo spoke, I smiled at him,
"That's because it's a night for the dwarves. Not for us of the Shoreline." I spoke, Bilbo frowned at me in confusion.
"Shoreline..." Bilbo spoke, he then looked at Aulton who he hadn't met yet and just looked at him.
"This is Aulton. Aulton, met Bilbo Baggins of the Shire." I introduced them, Bilbo looked at me and then to Aulton. "Aulton... Has restored our memories." I smiled gently; Bilbo was confused until he looked at Aulton. "We remember everything, where we came from. Who we are... And after we help you here, we are going back to the Shoreline to reclaim our own lands." I explained,
"Reclaim?" Bilbo asked,
"Yes, it was taken from us. By a dark being that we know nothing about." I explained as Aulton placed his hand on my shoulder.
I smiled though and looked at Bilbo,
"But I haven't formally introduced myself, my real name is Aurora, and my brother is Austen." I looked to my twin,
"It's an honour to be on this journey with you." Austen bowed his head. I looked across the room and saw Thorin looking at me. I smiled at him.
Thorin managed to move away from the dwarves and head over to myself, he placed his hands at my waist and kissed my cheek. Though he noticed Aulton behind me and Austen and looked at him with suspicious eyes. Aulton, Austen and Bilbo left us to talk as I looked over Thorin's face.
"Thorin... I have good news." I spoke, he looked at me with a small smile, "The man behind me is called Aulton, he has returned my memories to me and Reck. We know who we truly are now." I smiled at Thorin, his eyes looked between my own, but I couldn't tell if he was happy or sad. "I know my true name." I spoke,
"What is it?" Thorin asked,
"My name is Aurora." I answered, Thorin smiled at me gently,
"That is a beautiful name, for a very beautiful woman." Thorin placed his hand on my cheek. I sighed with relief, Thorin wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close. "I have arranged something special for you and me. Come with me." Thorin whispered as we rested our foreheads together.
Thorin managed to sneak us away from the party as it got a bit louder, we headed to an inn, I had a feeling what was going to happen. And I wanted it to, who knows what was going to happen tomorrow. I cared deeply for Thorin, and I knew he cared for me. I followed him to a room at the inn, opening the door Thorin pulled me inside and closed the door behind us.
"So, Aurora... What do you remember?" Thorin asked as I looked at him,
"Everything... My homeland... The people... And my parents." I moved over to the bed and sat down, "To be honest I'd rather not talk about my past. I'd rather live in the present." I smirked at Thorin who was stood near the door.
I pulled my shirt open slightly and walked over to Thorin; my hips swayed as I made my way over. His eyes scanned my body as I stopped in front of him,
"Do not worry. I shall look after you." I traced my finger along his beard. I leaned towards Thorin and placed my lips against his, my hands moved around his body. I soon felt Thorin's arms surround me, his right arm on my back and his left making its way down my back.
I grabbed Thorin's collar and pulled him towards the bed breaking the kiss, I leaned back and sat down on the bed and left Thorin standing. Thorin leaned down to kiss me, but I placed my finger against his lips and smirked,
"Let me do all the work." I whispered, the words rolled off my tongue smoothly as my hands slowly unbuttoned his shirt, my eyes not leaving his. My hands moved over his body slowly unclothing his torso revealing his strong muscular physic. I looked over his waistline and bit my lower lip as his hands gently took hold of my own. Looking up at Thorin I saw lust in his eyes, he was struggling to hold back.
"I know you want me. I'm all yours." I lay back on the bed, and that was all that needed to be said. Thorin climbed over me and passion long with lust overtook us both.
My eyes fluttered open to see sunlight making its way through the window, it was very early morning. I stretched my arms and legs in bed, though as I reached behind me, I felt no warm body next to me, turning on my side I saw Thorin sitting on the chair next to the bed watching me, a smile crept over his face as I returned the same smile.
"Morning Aurora." Thorin moved and sat on the edge of the bed as I leaned up and rested on my elbow.
"Morning to you," I leaned up and kissed him gently, Thorin pulled my naked body from the bed to sit across his lap. I wrapped my arms around his neck as I felt his hand rub the inside of my thighs gently, last night was something special. We stayed awake for hours before passing out from exhaustion. I pulled back and traced my finger along his neck and across his collar bone. "Did you enjoy last night?" I asked as I looked over his features,
"Indeed I did." Thorin smirked as his eyes wondered over my naked form. "You truly are beautiful." Thorin whispered, "armalime." Thorin smiled, I took a breath as I knew what that meant,
"Yes, I'm your love." I moved from Thorin's lap to stand, rolling my shoulders I headed towards my clothes which had been laid gently over the arm of a chair.
"I'm assuming we will need to leave soon." I pulled on my trousers and grabbed my shirt next. Thorin didn't reply as I stopped and looked back, "Are you okay?" I asked, I could see he looked worried,
"I would rather you not come with us." Thorin spoke, I frowned in confusion as I buttoned up my shirt and fastened my belt around my waist.
"You're joking right?" I looked at him, Thorin's eyes contacted my own. "You're not... Well, if you think I'm letting you fight a dragon alone you've got another thing coming. We are in this together. Through fire and flames I will walk with you. If we die, we die together." I explained, my stance was defensive, and my expression was showing annoyance. "I am stronger than I look remember. And I still have a few tricks up my sleeve." I smirked, I remembered my abilities with earth and water, and my brothers with fire and air. We would be a strong duo along with the guidance of Aulton. Though Thorin looked confused,
"You mean your skin-changing." Thorin spoke, I grinned,
"Oh I have more than just that. But I will surprise you." I smirked and walked over to Thorin as he hadn't moved from the bed. I straddled his waist as I felt his hands rest on my hips and move their way around to hold my bum. "Just like last night, I will surprise you again and again." I whispered, Thorin leaned up and kissed me.
Morning in Laketown; the people crowd along the sides of the main channel as a boat is loaded with supplies for the dwarves to take to the mountain. I was stood with Austin and Aulton waiting to board, Aulton had stashed some armour in Laketown that he had kept for many years, it was armour from the Shoreline. It was silver in colour but far stronger, we both were given enough to cover the vital organs but not too much, so we struggled to move. My armour had two gems which were on either shoulder, the left shoulder had a green and brown gem, and the right was many colours of blue. While my brothers were red and orange on his left and white to clear on his right. We were prepared for this fight.
"You do know we're one short; where's Bofur?" Bilbo asked, I looked around the town,
"If he's not here, we leave him behind." Thorin explained, we didn't have any time to waste so I agreed on Thorin's words.
"We have to, if we're to find the door before nightfall. We can risk no more delays." Balin added. We march along the pier and the company begin to board the boat. They are fully decked out in armor and regal clothing. Thorin stops Kili before he can get in the boat.
"Not you. We must travel with speed; you will slow us down." Thorin looked at Kili, he was looking like hell. Kili smiles, thinking Thorin is joking.
"What are you talking about? I'm coming with you." Kili spoke,
"No." Thorin rested his hand on Kili's shoulder. Fili, already in the boat, turns and looks at Thorin and Kili.
"I'm going to be there when that door is opened, when we first look upon the halls of our fathers, Thorin." Kili protested.
"Kili, stay here. Rest. Join us when you're healed." Thorin heeded, he knew his nephew wasn't well. Thorin lays his hand on Kili's shoulder and smiles at him, but Kili looks shocked and betrayed. Thorin turns to board the boat. Kili turns away. Oin gets out of the boat.
"I'll stay with the lad. My duty lies with the wounded." Oin stepped out and stood with Kili,
"Uncle, we grew up on tales of the mountain tales you told us. You can't take that away from him!" Fili protested for his brother. I climbed into the boa t with my brothers help and Aulton moved besides me.
On the shore, Oin is examining Kili, but Kili is trying to pull away from him.
"Fili." Thorin sighed,
"I will carry him, if I must!" Fili begged,
"One day you will be king, and you will understand. I cannot risk the fate of this quest for the sake of one dwarf, not even my own kin." Thorin looked to his eldest nephew and then glanced at myself,
Fili looks at Kili, then steps out of the boat. Thorin tries to stop him.
"Fili, don't be a fool. You belong with the Company." Thorin looked at Fili,
"I belong with my brother." Fili spoke and pulled away from Thorin and goes to join Kili and Oin. Thorin looks at me and smiles, I feel Aulton's hand on my arm, and he leans forward,
"Does this dwarf have your blessing?" Aulton whispered, my face flushed immediately, and my eyes widened,
"I... Erm... Haven't thought that far ahead." I admitted, I heard Austen chuckling behind me, and I turned to my side and punched his arm, "Shut up!" I snapped, acting like an embarrassed child I heard Aulton laugh at me and my brother.
The Blessing was a song from the Shoreline in which a woman would sing to a man to confess their true feelings, it was also the song of marriage from our land. Once the ceremony was complete the woman would sing the Blessing to their other half to complete their ritual. Every woman knew the song from a young age.
I could hear Austen and Aulton chuckling slightly as I had felt my face heat up, Thorin had indeed noticed as he looked at me confused.
"Éist suas tú imbeciles. Cén fáth a bhfuil tú i gcónaí a bhíonn iontu dom?" I snapped at them in our own language. The dwarves turned to look at me, they had never heard such a language before, and I looked between them all. "What? It's the language of my land." I spoke, Thorin had told them all that my memories had returned, and that Aulton would be joining us now.
The dwarves were grateful that our memories had returned, and that Aulton was coming with us also. From the greatsword and staff that Aulton carried with him the dwarves could tell he was strong. Aulton was over six feet tall with a strong build, but he was also quick on his feet which made him a deadly opponent and with having over five hundred years of experience in the world he knew how to fight.
Austen had given me my bow and arrows back that he kept when leaving Mirkwood, Aulton was happy to see that we had the weapons he left for us to find. I knew how to fight with my bow and my abilities, while my brother hadn't gained much experience the good ninety or so years, he remembered his training.
The musicians of Laketown play their instruments as the Master climbs up to a raised platform. He waves, and the people cheer and clap.
"...Bring good fortune to all!" The Master smiles and waves to the company in the boat as we pull into the canal and begin to paddle away. Kili looks on miserably from the dock. The dwarves in the boat smile, wave, and bow at the cheering people. While I, Austin and Aulton stayed seated, this wasn't our hour, it was theirs.
"Goodbye!" Dori waved.
Today was the day... I sighed and looked ahead.
Time to kill a dragon.