A/N: in Lake Town.

Bilbo ran with the keys all the way up the stairs to his dwarves in cells, but there he paused unsure in himself trying to find his composure. He feared his face will betray him that they'll read his fear and anxiety, and more so that they'll see right through him and see his weakness.

He approached Thorin's cell justifying himself that it's only reasonable to free their leader first but as he saw his face his determination faltered. Thorin's face was diverted, he looked at the wall. He seemed so defeated and small, Bilbo wasn't sure he'll be able to keep his face straight when he meets his eyes but the time was running out.

"Must be nearly dawn" Bofur broke the silence and Bilbo hid behind the wall to take his ring off.

He smiled with relief when the world turned to its bright colours, he missed the light. He felt allot lighter.

"We're never going to reach the mountain, are we?" said Ori and Bilbo smiled wider knowing that he gave him a perfect line.

"Not stuck in here, you're not," he clanked his keys as Thorin looked up at him.

It was a sight for sore eyes and he approached the door. Thorin was there and everything will be alright.

Dwarves started the commotion as he opened Thorin's door. Bilbo hushed them wondering when Thorin will speak, his strong voice was still. As he opened the door Bilbo glanced at him not daring to look longer at his piercing blue gaze.

Bilbo's heart started pounding as adrenalin kicked in, they could be discovered at any moment. Dwarves complained as he led them down but he had no time to argue with them.

Of course, they didn't listen, they never listened to him, and there was a real danger of a row starting between dwarves. Bilbo looked desperately at Thorin and Thorin finally used his voice to order them to listen. They complied but grunting didn't stop.

"Hold your breath," Bilbo instructed them as he pulled the lever.

His triumph lasted only until he realized that he didn't calculate his own escape in his plan. Guards were coming and the trap door refused to open for him. Was he lost? He withdrew towards the wall in fear and the door finally fell down.

He dived into the cold water to discover dwarves waiting for him.

"Well done, Master Baggins, " said Thorin with his raspy voice and Bilbo waved it off not sure what to say. With that, they descended down the river.

That was a wild ride Bilbo thought he won't survive, but through elvish arrows, wild orcs that appeared from nowhere and wild waterfalls he managed to keep his head above the water. To his surprise, they have washed away on the shore alive and well. Only Kili got an arrow in his leg, that didn't seem too bad.

Even the bargeman Bard turned out to be nice for a big guy like him. Humans had a notorious reputation in Shire, but Bilbo couldn't see anything but resourcefulness on this one. That was the quality Bilbo could relate to. He was annoyed by dwarves and their distrustful nature, they didn't even give the man a chance. Bilbo was all too aware how they could use an ally in a town full of big people like Bard was and if his experience with creatures of all kinds thought him anything that was that there are enough rotten apples in any basket.

That got confirmed as they ran and hide along the Lake Town. Being almost thrown with the fish overboard turned out to be the least of their frights. Bilbo didn't mind the fish, he understood that stunt. It reminded him of his own solutions, unexpected. He didn't even mind the toilet entrance, he even was aboard with robbing the armoury, but being caught by that big angry crowd was too much.

There was no room for him even to put on his ring. Invisibility was utile if he was held by strong hands, they could feel him there and he could easily lose his ring to these people.

Luckily Thorin got his voice back and railed the crowd in their favour. It looked like they will win with ease as Thorin stood against distrustful Bard. His attitude was dwarves fault but they had no time for him to win. Although Bilbo could understand that big man couldn't understand that they'll just go in and out, that the dragon isn't their task.

They were almost there when that small man asked for Thorin's credentials. Everyone stood still, it seemed like the tide has turned against them but Bilbo stepped forward. He wasn't the one to leave Thorin on the bank alone.

"I'll vouch for him, " he said and he meant it.

It wasn't important that he let people believe that they'll reclaim Erebor, he will do that eventually, Bilbo had no doubt about that and then he'll be the king everyone deserves. Bilbo couldn't imagine him being anything less than extraordinary, a dwarf history will remember.

Everyone cheered as the greed of men of which every tale of them reported burst open. They celebrated but Bilbo kept his head clear, and he noticed Thorin is doing the same. In the morning there was a real sense of urgency.

Thorin pushed them all forward and Bilbo understood. He was at enough drunken parties to know that every wager is abandoned when participants sober up. Excuses are from lack of memory to false rules, bu the outcome was always the same, everyone tried to keep as much of their goods as they could.

They sailed away leaving Kili, Fili, Oin and Bofur behind. Bilbo knew that was the price and that they maybe were better off to among men than with them, because when all settled down the realization sunk in. Bilbo is going to face a dragon for Thorin, and he won't back down even if he faces his burning jaws.

One step closer to Smaug.