The barge came to a stop. I felt my barrel tip and I fell out with the fish as Nori's was next. I stood up and brush the fish off as Dwalin poke his head up from the fish.
"Get your hands off me." Dwalin growled as he got out and came up to me.
"Get. You smell of fish." I said. Dwalin smirked and I squealed lightly as he hugged me.
"So do ye, love." Dwalin said. We were lead across the pier.
"Follow me." Bard said. We ran through Laketown. A young boy runs our way.
"Da! Our house, it's being watched." The boy said. Bard turns to look at us as Dwalin puts a hand on my shoulder.
"Get in the water and follow us. You'll have to come out in our outhouse." Bard said. Dwarves complained. I looked at Thorin.
"Father. We should do as he says." I said, not wanting to give Thorin's name up. Thorin nodded.
"Let's go." Thorin said. The dwarves got in the water. Dwalin turned towards me.
"Come on, love." Dwalin said. I slipped down and squeak as the water was ice cold. Dwalin pulled me to him. "I got ya." Dwalin said, throwing me onto his back. I held on as we swam under the piers, following Bard. "Going under." I took a deep breath as he went under. He swam to a pipe. We popped up. A knock on the wall. Dwalin popped his head out as I let go for him to go first. "If you speak of this to anyone, I'll rip your arms off." Dwalin raised the seat and pulls himself off. "Get off." Dwalin turns and I reach my hand up and he pulls me up and onto the floor. Bain points to the stairs and Dwalin and I head up.
"Da. Why are there dwarves climbing out of the toilet." A older girl said.
"Will they bring us luck?" A young girl asked
"Sigrid. Tilda. Find a dress for the girl." Bard said.
"Follow us." Sigrid said. Dwalin nodded as I followed the girls into their room.
"Your not a dwarf." Tilda said.
"No I'm a fairy." I said.
"Where are your wings?" Tilda asked.
"Tilda. Don't be rude." Sigrid said.
"No its fine. I lost my wings during an orc raid." I said.
"Sorry about that. What's your name?" Sigrid asked.
"Celeste." I said.
"Pretty name." Tilda said. Sigrid pulled out a brown dress and I smiled. I changed out of the clothes and into the dress.
"Thank you girls." I said. I came out carrying my weapons as I see the dwarves all changed into dry clothes. Dwalin was standing near Thorin. I go over to them. Dwalin smiled when he saw me.
"All warm, lass." Balin said.
"Very." I said. Thorin looks out a window and I saw on top of a tower a giant croww bow type weapon with four arms.
"A dwarvish Wind lance." Thorin said.
"You look like you've seen a ghost." Bilbo said. I grabbed a mug from Bain of a hot drink and took a sip.
"He has. The last time we saw such weapon, a city was on fire. It was the day the dragon came. The day that Smaug destroyed Dale. Girion, The Lord of the city, rallied his bowman to fire upon the beast. 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 a few of those arrows were ever made. HIs store was running low when Girion made his last stand." Balin said. Thorin looks at me and Bilbo with a sad look on his face.
"Had the aim of Men been true that day, much would have been different." Thorin said. Bard comes over to us.
"You speak as if you were there." Bard said.
"All dwarves know the tale." Thorin said.
"Then you would know that Girion hit the dragon. He loosened a scale under the left wing. One more shot and he would of killed the beast." Bain said. Dwalin laughed.
"That's a fairy story, lad. Nothing more." Dwalin said. I wondered if the lad was telling the truth though. Thorin walks up to Bard.
"You took our moeny. Where are the weapons?" Thorin asked.
"Wait here." Bard said. He left the house. I came up to Thorin, with Balin, Fili and Kili.
"Tomorrow begins the last days of autumn." Thorin said.
"Durin's Day falls morn after next. We must reach the Mountain before that." Balin said.
"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 said.
"Then we better make sure we make it to the Mountain before then." I said. Bard returns with a huge package. He lays it on the table and loosens the wrapping. I stand away having my weapons still. The dwarves look at the hand made weapons in surprise. THey pick them up looking at them. I shook my head.
"What is this?" Thorin asked holding up one.
"Pike-hook. Made from an old harpoon." Bard said.
"And this?" Kili said. He looked pale as he held up another.
"A crowbill, we call it, fashioned from a smithy's hammers. Its heavy in hand, I grant, but in defense of your life, t hese will serve you well. I saw Thorin and Dwalin share looks.
"We paid you for weapons. Iron-forged swords and axes!" Gloin said.
"It's a joke!" Bofur said. THe dwarves throw the weapons down on the table.
"You won't find better outside the city armory. All iron-forged weapons are held there under lock and key." Bard said. I notice Thorin and Dwalin look at each other again, like they were hatching a plan.
"Thorin." Balin said. Bard looks up as he if he reconized Thorin's name. "Why not take what's been offered and go? I've made do with less. So have you. I say we leave now." Balin said.
"You're not going anywhere." Bard said.
"What did you say?!" Dwalin growled.
"There's spies watching this house and probably every dock and wharf in the town. You must wait till nightfall." Bard said. The dwarfs settle down for a little bit as Bard and Bain walk out for a minute. I saw Dwalin and Thorin whispering. Kili leans on a pole and sits down. Pain was written on his face. I came over.
"You alright?" I ask. He jumps.
"I'll be fine. It hurts." Kili said.
"Well of course. You got shot in the leg." I said. Bain comes back in.
"Let's go." Thorin ordered. I helped Kili stand.
"Where are you going? You shouldn't go." Bain said. Dwalin pushed the boy out of the way as they head for the door. I follow.
"Sorry." I said, grabbing my weapons from the hook and put them on. We head for the armory, making sure we weren't caught. We hide behind a boat as two watchmen walk by.
"Shh. Keep it down." Dwalin said.
"As soon as we have the weapons, we make straight for the mountain. Go, go, go!" Thorin said. Some of the dwarves went to the window and made a pyramid. Nori runs and climbs up and into the window. "Next." I run and use the dwarves to get through the window. Thorin, Kili, Bilbo and Gloin were with us. We grabbbed weapons Kili was struggling under a load of the weapons he had in his hands. "You all right?"
"I can manage. Let's just get out of here." Kili said. I look at Kili as Thorin lays another sword on the pile. I went to grab one and heard a horrible noise of weapons falling to the floor and Kili crying out in pain.
"Oh Kili." I said. We heard running footsteps apporch. I grab the sword I was grabbing and turn to find guards pointing weapons at us. The captain comes over holding a dagger to Kili's neck. Kili looked sad at us. We were led out. We were pushed towards the mansion. It was starting to snow. We were pushed foward.
"Get off of me!" Dwalin growled, shoving the guards off him. We came to a stop in front of the house. I pushed up to Dwalin and he wrapped an arm around me, gently. The Master comes out of the house, putting on his coat.
"What is the meaning of this?" The Master asked
"We caught 'em stealing weapons sire." The Captain said.
"Ah. Enemies of the state then." The Master said.
"This is a bunch of mercenaries if even there was sire." Alfrid said. I pull away from Dwalin.
"Celeste." Dwalin said.
"Hold your tongue. You do know of whom you speak. This is no common criminal." I said. I gesture to Thorin. He smiles proudly as he stepped forward. "This is Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror." Thorin puts a hand on my shoulder.
"You made me proud. Go by Dwalin." Thorin said. I saw Dwalin smiling and Balin nodded. I ran up to Dwalin and he pulled me into a hug. We turn with his arm around me. "We are are the dwarves of Erebor." The crowd murmurs in shock and reconition. "We have come to reclaim our homeland." Thorin looks around at the people. "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 foresaken town on a lake! This was the center of all trade in the North.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 people cheer and clap. The master looked on calculating. Bard comes through the crowd.
"Death! That is what you will bring upon us. Dragon-fire and ruin. If you awaken that beast, it will destroy us all." Bard said.
"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 to rebuild Esgaroth ten times over." Thorin said. Cheers of excitement came.
"All of you! Listen to me! You must listen! Have you forgotten what happened in Dale!?" Bard said. Everyone goes quiet. "Have you forgotten those who died in the firestorm?!"
"NO!" People shout. Bard turns on Thorin.
"And for what purpose? The blind ambition of a mountain king so riven by greed, he could not see beyond his own desire!" Bard said. Him and Thorin stare each other down.
"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 said, pointing at Bard. Thorin looks at Bard in anger and shock.
"I knew I didn't trust that man." Dwalin growled.
"He didn't tell us." I said.
"It's true sire. We all know the story. Arrow after arrow he shot, each one missing its mark." Alfrid said. Bard looks around as the crowd yells angrily at him. He walks up to Thorin.
"You have no right, no right to enter the mountain." Bard said.
"I have the only right." Thorin said. Thorin turns to face 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." We look at the Master "What say you?" The Master seemed to think. He smiles and point at Thorin.
"I say unto you... Welcome! Welcome and thrice welcome, King under the Mountain." Master said. Thorin climbs the few steps and turns to face the audience. He truely looked like a king. Thorin and Bard stared each other down.
We were let into a inn and the dwarves went on drinking. I head up to my room. I took advantage of the bath. I came out and changed into a night gown. I could hear the party going on below and head to the window and look out at the Lonely Mountain. Tomorrow we were going to the Mountain. I sigh as I wrap my arms around my body. The door opened and I turned to see Dwalin standing there. He didn't look drunk. It took a lot to get a dwarf drunk. I blush.
"Thought you would come join the party. I see your ready for bed." Dwalin said. A slight blush was on his face. I come up to him and hug him.
"I just wanted a bath and decided just to stay up here. I didn't want to drink." I said. Dwalin looked at me. He brushed my damp hair out of my face.
"Its fine. Love." Dwalin said. I lean up and press my lips against his. We kiss and I felt his hand go in my hair as the kiss deepens. He pulls away. "Lass we shouldn't." I look up at him.
"Please Dwalin. I want you and I don't think we will have another alone time." I whisper. Dwalin picked me up and carried me to my bed, kissing me. (AN: Not rated m so no sex scene.)
A few hours later. We laid tangled in the sheets. Dwalin ran a hand through my hair as I traced circles on his chest. Dwalin pressed a kiss to my head.
"Stay here." Dwalin said.
"What?" I ask.
"Stay behind. So I know your safe. Please. I know you rather go, but I can't loose you." Dwalin said. I looked into his eyes.
"I hate it, but because you asked me. I will." I said. Dwalin pressed his lips against mine and pulled me onto his chest. I laid with my head on his shoulder tucked under his chin. "Just stay safe." Dwalin hugged me to him.
"I promise I will." Dwalin whispered. I drifted off to sleep listening to his heartbeat and his breathing.
AN: Well looks like she will be staying with Kili when he is left behind. LOL. Yes. They ended up in bed together. Couldn't resist, but she is right. Might be an only chance they might get. Till next time