A man in a fur coat with long curly dark hair, aimed an arrow carefully at them. Making sure none made any hostile movement, his eyes glanced between them. The eldest came out in front with his hands held high also focused on the unknown man.

"We are merchants...from the Iron Hills, me and my kin have just escaped an attack" he explained

He stared at them lowering his bow and placing his arrow in it's quiver. Glancing at the barrels he rubbed his hand on the clean wood, and spotted Hermione in the back with Fili.

"I know these and who they belong to, and I know you are not their 'kin'" he spoke

They tensed up as he spoke those words, but Balin smiled hoping to turn this still in their favor.

"Well you see sir, we are looking for a way to get to Lake Town any chance you can help us?" He asked sincerely

The bowman placed each barrel on his boat careful not to break any more than they were.

"I guess you wee ones waiting for you?" He asked trying to get something out of him

"Yes, three of them" he answered softly almost above a whisper

"And I'm guessin you wife is a beauty is she not?" He asked with a smile

"Yes...she was" he answered with hesitation

Balin soon grew in guilt as he heard it come out.

"Sorry, my apologies...but we need to get into the village fast" he pushed

"Sorry, but I cannot be the one to do so" he refused

"We'll pay you hundred silver to take us" he offered giving him pause

He looked back to them seeing them all, few had hardened expressions while the others were pleading to him.

"Fine"

Letting out a breath of relief the company boarded his boat. Thorin sat in the front while the others gathered around Balin to begin counting of the silver they had on them. Hermione and Bilbo sat in the back close to the man and the barrels. Pushing away from the rocky land the steadily went down the stream that lead to a larger body of water. Even finding themselves in a cold mist that was thick enough to blind them to anything coming their way.

"So if you don't mind my asking" Bilbo began getting the bowman's attention

"What is your name?"

"...Bard, my name is Bard" he answered calmly turning his attention back to the waters ahead

Bilbo gave a look of uncertainty to Hermione who was just as lost as he was. The clinking of coins was the only thing heard on that boat, and Balin's voice counting them patiently. Thorin tightened his grip on the edge of the boat, he didn't like leaving his life in an unknown person. This time he had no choice he was their only way in and like or not he had to get to reach The Lonely Mountain.

"What makes you think we can trust this bowman?" Dwalin asked

"We don't need to trust him, we just need to pay him" Balin retorted

"I just don't trust him, we don't even know his name" Bofur added

"His name is Bard" Bilbo answered

"How do you know?"

"I asked him" he said with a obvious look on his face

Balin continued ignoring the squabble.

"81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87..." the old dwarf counted dropping the last three coins they had

"We're almost there" Dwalin said as he felt the end coming near

"Yes, but we have a problem...we're ten coins short" Balin said looking a bit grim

Thorin entered the circle crossing his arms scanning the company.

"Turn out your pockets" he ordered

Everyone did even Bilbo and Hermione, that was when the Dwarves turned to their miser who always withheld money from them.

"What?"

"Come on give it up" Thorin answered

"No! I have already sunk enough gold into this journey and what do I have to show for it? Nothin!" He spat

As he spoke those very last words the company went silent, speechless actually seeing welcome sight. The Dwarf turned to see it as well...Erebor loomed over the small village like a giant casting a very large shadow.

"Here take it!" he spoke handing his pouch over motivated and ready to see his homeland once

The mountain's form pierced through the mist, as it towered over them. Hermione looked ahead to see a gate came in distantly. Bard became panicked quickly, pulling the barrels by them.

"Get in the barrels!" Bard commanded frantically

"Why?" Thorin asked almost as a threat

"Just trust me" Bard pleaded

Thorin looked at his face that showed the same panic as his voice.

"Get in" Thorin commanded

The Dwarves suprised, but did climbing in one by one. Hermione helped in Bilbo, Thorin stood above for a moment longer.

"What is it Thorin?" She asked as she finished helping Bilbo

"Keep an eye on him" Thorin asked

"I'm sure he wouldn't hurt me"

"Yes, but there is always a chance"

He then knelt down as Bard returned back the steering. Docking near a fishing post he then turned Hermione.

"I'm gonna buy fish so that we can hide your friends, but I'm also going to buy fishnets so you can hide under as well" he explained

"Why me as well?" She asked

"There is a reason why I'm smuggling you all in, you see the master of the village doesn't take kindly to outsiders" he answered

She nodded waiting on him, Bilbo peaked out the hole seeing Bard talking to the fishermen.

"He's talking to someone" he said

Bard then pointed to them as the man looked at the barrels.

"Now he's pointing at us" Bilbo announced

"Selling us out!" Dwalin warned

Another moment passed and fish began to fall on them heavily.