The Mirkwood Encounter: Part III

After releasing the group, then collecting Thorin who had been held in a separate cell far away, Bilbo had led the company down to the cellars. And it was here that he unveiled his plan.

"Barrels!? Are you mad? They will find us," Dwalin protested, pushing through the group to question Bilbo.

"No, they won't, I promise you," Bilbo assured. He looked back to the rest of the group who were all scratching their heads and mumbling to each other as they looked at the barrels. "Please, please," he begged in a raised whisper. "You must trust me."

They were quiet for a moment, then Thorin put a hand on Dwalin's shoulder, looked around to the rest of the group, and nodded. There was no more hesitation after that as they all began to squeeze into the barrels, some easily fitting with room to spare while others were forced to wiggle and stuff themselves until they were snuggly inside.

"Here Siggy," Kili said, lacing his fingers together to form a foot hold for her.

She nodded then stepped up, lifting herself to the top most barrel with the aid of Thrade as he helped steady her as she climbed in. Fili looked around and caught sight of Thyra, lurking in the shadows, her dark eyes looking around hesitantly.

"Thyra," he called, causing her wandering eyes to focus on him. He tilted his head towards the pile of barrels. "Common, smallest at the top."

She moved forward a half step, then froze. "No," she said suddenly, a look of panic coming to her as she quickly turned around and began to walk back out of the cellars.

Fili quickly moved, grabbing her arms as he moved in front of her to block her way. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Where are you going? We need to leave."

She moved to push pass him but his grip stayed firm and she shot him a glare. "I cannot leave yet, I need my sword."

Fili stared at her in disbelief for a moment before letting out a guttural curse. "That bloody sword again," he muttered in irritation before looking her in the eye. "Forget that sword, it's going to be the death of you."

She moved to shove him away as she sneered at him. "It is my death if I lose that sword," she growled.

Fili wrapped a tighter hold on her and brought a hand up to her mouth to stifle her outrage. "Just get in the damn barrel," he hissed. "I am not going to let you take away our only chance to escape. Which is more disgraceful? Not honoring your duty to see this quest is successful or the sword?" He honestly had no idea if it would work. He knew there was more to the situation with the sword, some sort of promise or commitment. But what he did know was that Thrya was about duty and keeping her word, he just had to hope that at the moment, the quest trumped whatever duty was connected to the sword.

He could see the turmoil in her eyes as she weighed his words, as if calculating which one took president over the other. Finally, he felt her body relax as she let out a sigh, her head falling towards her chest.

"I don't like small spaces," she admitted quietly.

Fili nodded automatically but then paused, surprised by this admission. He didn't think she would ever admit a weakness. Then again, she seemed to be surprising him a lot as of late. She looked up at him with an expectant expression, as if waiting for him to say something.

Did she think he would mock her? Was she waiting for him to instruct her? Give her some kind of assurance or comfort?

"It'll be fine," he assured her. "Remember, you are afraid of spiders too and you handled them fine?"

She gave him a dark look but Fili could have sworn there was the smallest of twitches at the corner of her mouth that could be interpreted as amusement. "I am not afraid," she defended. "I just don't like them."

He rolled his eyes and pushed her over to where Kili and Thrade were waiting to hoist her up, Thrade looked at them with a masked expression before he and Kili lifted her up. Once she was settled in, Fili moved to push the lid on. Just as he was about to seal her in, her hand shot out as a look of panic seemed to over take her face.

"It will be fine," he said quietly so only she could hear. "Just count how many things you hate about me, it will be over before you can finish."

They were all just about settled and Fili moved to an empty barrel to enter himself when a glint of something metal caught his eye. He paused and looked over to where the drunken and passed out guards were slumped over the rickety table of the cellars. On the far wall behind them, leaning against the wall and hanging from wooden pegs, were weapons, their weapons. Fili could see his dual swords along with Thorin's elven blade,Orcrist. Fili's quiver and bow hung next to Sigurd's on a peg amongst the other axes, hammers, and even Ori's slingshot. Taking a quick glance around at the last few still getting settled, he quickly dashed towards the weapons. He heard Throin whisper his name loudly but he ignored it.

Carefully, he tiptoed around the slumbering elf guards then made his way to the wall. His dual blades called out for him and he moved to grab them but froze when he heard one of the guards stirring. He heard Thorin call for him again and he hastily made a decision. Grabbing only one item, he darted back to the barrels. Tucking the broad sword that barely fit into the barrel first, he climbed in himself. Fili looked at the hilt of the sword, noting the strange ruins and engravings that gleamed in its metal work before the lid of his own barrel was put in place, rendering him in darkness.

He had just a moment to contemplate what exactly they were to do now when he heard a lever being pulled and the barrel began to roll. For a moment he tumbled around, he braced his hands against the sides to keep from moving around too much before the hilt of the sword hit him square in the nose. He let out a curse and then he felt the barrel fall through the air before landing up right with a splash, giving the buoyancy he could only assume they had landed in some sort of underground river or lake.

If the company thought breaking out of the inescapable elven dungeon would be the most difficult task of their escape, they were sorely wrong. Navigating a raging river of white rapids, with nothing but wine barrels to stay afloat, as not just one, but two enemies pursued them, all the while being nearly completely defenseless, was the true challenge.

As they battled the rapids, they collectively fought off the orc scouts. Slowly they accumulated weapons but not nearly enough for what they needed. Passing off axes and crudely made swords, they worked as a unit. Fili, having already been armed, regretted not grabbing more. However, he had been rushed and forced to make a choice.

Why he made the choice that he did, he honestly had no answer. But it had been an easy decision, almost too easy.

As he took down orc after orc, as they launched themselves at him or any time the current took him close enough to the bank, he defended the group. However he did not dare pass off the foreign sword to any other comrades, too worried that it could be easily lost in their journey down river.

The sword was exquisite. The balance, precision, it was enough to make Fili understand why Thyra was so desperate to not part with it. It made nearly everything it cut through seem like butter and it easily flowed, parried, and blocked in his hands as if the sword itself was guiding his hand, instead of himself controlling its attack. He had yet to spot Thyra in the frenzied spray of water and chaos of their hunters, but something within him told him she would handle herself. However that did not stop him from subconsciously looking for her in between strikes and blocks.

Further up the river at the front of the group, Thyra did her best to help Sigurd help Kili. In his attempt to release the grate that had been blocking them at the beginning of the river run, he had been shot in the leg with an arrow. He had done well to keep up with the group and defend when needed, but as time went on, it was obvious he was struggling.

Both Sigurd and Thyra leaned over the edges of their barrels, doing their best to help guide Kili's through the rapids without tipping over or flooding their own barrels in the attempt. Sigurd worried over Kili, feeling completely helpless in her inability to fight off enemies as Thyra had been managing for them. Given their situation, she was also unable to be unable to provide the healing that he needed at the moment. It was utterly frustrating as she had skills that were needed at this very moment but was still unable to help out in any way. All she could do was pathetically grab onto the edge of his barrel and pointlessly assure him that it would be fine, that she would mend it as soon as possible.

Not soon enough, the rivers current sped them fast enough along that they managed to travel out of range of their enemies. After gaining a good distance, the river widened and with the extended width came a calmness of the rapids until finally they were drifting no faster than a slow meander along the rocky bank. When the current had slowed enough, the dwarves plus one hobbit began to paddle ashore where a smooth rock formation served as a low bank and gave them access to exit the waters and escape the frigid flow.

Kili found his barrel tipping over as he attempted to get out on his own. He struggled in the cold temperatures for a moment as his leg gave out on him the moment he tried to stand. But it was only for a moment before he found himself being lifted from the water as Thyra, struggling to keep her head above the water, grabbed a hold of him, doing her best to aid him while managing her disadvantaged stature through the current. However Thrade was at Kili's other side within a moment and with the combined strength along with his own efforts, they managed to pull his waterlogged body out of the river and deposited him onto a flattened rock.

Given the exhaustion of all of them, he found himself landing slightly harder than any of them meant, causing him to let out a hissed sound of pain. Sigurd was over him in a moment, ripping open the leg of his trousers as she fumbled around to examine the wound. It was deep and had done enough damage to the muscle that Sigurd knew it would take time for it to heal. But thankfully it did not look as if any major arteries had been pierced.

She turned around to tell Thyra and Thrade to go search for the necessary herbs she would need, but cut herself short when Fili emerged from the water and called out to his brother. All of them turned to see him race up the bank and drop down to him, grabbing his head with one hand while his other, grasping onto the hilt of a sword, landed on his chest.

"Kili are you all right?" he asked desperately.

Kili gave him a nod but the pain on his face did little to reassure this. He looked to Sigurd, silently asking for confirmation which she gave in a nod. It was not until her shivering jaw dipped down in this affirmative measure, that he found himself relaxing back onto his haunches. He then looked up to where Thrade and Thyra were standing over them. Thrade gave him a curt nod when he inquired about his well being before he looked over to Thyra and made sure she was okay as well.

But she was not looking at him, at least not at his face. Instead her eyes were focused at his side where his hand was, or more accurately, at the sword his hand was clasped around. Noticing this, he stood and held it out to her. He had expected her to grab it from him almost instantly, but she did no such thing. Instead, she stared down at the weapon as her body stayed motionless.

Fili held it out further. "Well take it," he said. "I didn't risk getting caught for you to just stare at it."

Slowly, with shaking hands, she reached out and grabbed the sword firmly in her hand. With a near reverent action, she curled her fingers around the metal as river water still dipped from the polished blade.

"Sorry about the sheath, it got lost-"

He was cut off when she suddenly threw herself at him. Wrapping her arms around his midriff as her face pressed into his chest. Fili stumbled back from the force as he looked down at her, then looked to Thrade over her head then down to where Kili and Sigurd where still down on the ground. All of them stared back at him with mirrored surprise.

"Thank you," Thyra whispered into his chest before suddenly pulling away, steeling her face into a blank slate as she stepped back.

It was quiet for a moment before she cleared her throat and looked down at Sigurd. "What do you need?" Sigurd did not respond immediately, causing Thyra to snap in her usual rigid tone. "Siggy, what herbs?" she asked, nodding to Kili's leg.

"OH um," Sigurd broke out of her staring before rambling off a handful of plants. Thyra nodded then walked off stiffly, her hands hugging her sword to her chest. As she disappeared into the brush in search of the plants, Sigurd looked up at Fili. "Did she thank you?"

"Yeah," Fili said in disbelief.

"But Thyra never-"

"Yeah," he answered before she even finished her statement. He looked at Thrade who was giving him a strange look. But it did not last long before he turned and swiftly walked away.

They came back, Thyra with everything requested while Thrade had come back empty handed, though Fili was confident that he had not been really looking, he just needed a moment. As soon as Sigurd had the medicinal herbs, she did her best to smash them into a poultice using the rocks on the river side before tending to Kili's wound, wrapping the wound with makeshift bandages that she had procured from the company using spare bits of clothing and handkerchiefs. It was not the best of healing, but it was what she could do for now.

"On your feet," ordered Thorin. "The river helped us out run the orc pack but they will continue on our trail and will catch up to us if we do not keep moving."

"Where to?" asked Balin.

"To the mountain of course. It is not far, we are too close to stop now," said Bilbo looking over the lake to the tall mountain that stood high above it.

"That lake lies between us and the mountain. We have no way to cross it, and to go around would not deliver us to our destination in time," replied Balin glumly.

"Balin is right," said Dwalin. "Even if we did have enough time to go around the orcs would run us down and this time we would not have the help of the elves fighting them as well."

"Gather whatever supplies we have left and be ready to run. You have two minutes," said Thorin sternly as he grew weary of the constant talking. They were wasting precious moments of travel by talking. They could decide what to do while they moved closer to the mountain.

Fili bent down next to his brother as Thrade took his other side. Together, they helped Kili stand. Once he was to his feet, Thyra presented him with a sturdy stick she had found when foraging that would serve well as a walking staff. Kili took it and tested his leg slightly, putting as much weight as he could before supporting the rest on the staff.

"Thanks Thyra," he said as he gave her the best smile he could manage through the pain.

She did not say anything but gave him a blank nod. As the rest of the company readied themselves, Ori, who was down by the water's edge, took in a startled breath. At the sound they all paused and looked at him, only to find their eyes being diverted when they noticed Ori staring up at a tall man holding a bow.

Without hesitation several of the company reacted in defense to the sudden appearance of the stranger. Dwalin, holding a thick branch, moved to stand in front of Ori to protect him as if he was currently armed with his usual deadly axe. The few that had still managed to keep a hold of the weapons they had procured during their flee down river readied themselves while the others armed themselves with anything they could find around them.

The tall man released his arrow. It shot forward and landed in the middle of the branch that Dwalin was holding. Kili grabbed a rock getting ready to throw it but the man was too quick and had already reloaded and shot the rock free from his hand. A look of shock took Kili's face as the rock flew from his grip.

"Do it again, and I will not miss," the man said, raising his reloaded bow back at Dwalin who had flinched to move forward.

Balin, who was standing near the edge of the group, could not help but notice a barge floating in the river behind the dark haired man. He moved forward raising his hands in the air to show that he meant no harm towards the man as he spoke.

"Excuse me, but would that barge happen to be yours," he asked, indicating the wooden structure floating a little ways down the river.

The man looked at Balin not taking his aim off of Dwalin as he kept watch on him from the corner of his eye. He studied Balin for a moment before nodding.

"You must be from laketown. I wonder, would your barge be for hire, by any chance?" continued Balin, still holding his hands in the air as he took a few more steps closer.

The man lowered his bow and put all of his attention on Balin. "If it was, why would I want to help you?"

Balin smiled and pointed at the man's feet. "Those boots have seen better days. Winter is coming and by the looks of your coat it will be a hard winter and a man such as yourself would have a family, how many hungry little mouths do you need to feed?"

"A boy and two girls," said the man.

"And your wife?" asked Balin. The man's eyes fell slightly and Balin realized his mistake. "I am sorry, I did not mean…"

"Enough of the chit chat," said Dwalin. "Will you accept our offer of payment for passage or not?"

"Why are you in such a hurry, master dwarf?" asked the stranger.

"Nothing of concern, we are just simple merchants making their way to the Iron Hills," said Balin as he drew the man's attention back to himself.

"Simple merchants?" he said skeptically. "I know where these barrels come from and by the looks of their condition…" He pointed to a broken barrel that had several arrows sticking out from the side of it. "...the elves obviously did not intend for you to leave as you did. The master of Laketown decides who comes and goes into his town and he would not risk the loss of Thranduil's trade for a couple of 'merchants'."

The bargeman began to walk away from the group. Thorin looked at Balin, widening his eyes and telling him to do something. Balin thought for a moment and then spoke up.

"I would wager that there are ways to enter the town without being noticed," said Balin.

"Aye. I would imagine so but for that you would need a smuggler."

The man stepped onto the boat and began to untie the ropes holding it to the shore. Balin looked to Thorin who mouthed to him to offer more money. Balin nodded and spoke again stopping the man from pushing the barge from the shore.

"For which we would pay double for!"

Bard looked back to Balin, his face was wrinkled in suspicion but after a moment he nodded and waved them toward the barge.