As Oin finished binding Kili's leg a man walked up behind them, bow drawn back ready to fire. Dwalin jumped in between the man and Ori. The man fired his arrow, piercing the log that Dwalin had in his hands. Kili picked up a rock, planning to throw it at the man. He turned quickly and shot it out of Kili's hand.

"Do it again, and you're dead," said the man.

"Excuse me," said Balin. "But, uh, you're from Lake-town, if I'm not mistaken."

The man turned his arrow on Balin, but Balin kept talking.

"That barge over there, it wouldn't be available for hire, by any chance?"

The man lowered his bow and turned and walked away. "What makes you think I would help you?" he asked as he loaded empty barrels onto the barge.

"Those boots have seen better days," said Balin. "As has that coat. No doubt you have some hungry mouths to feed. How many barins?"

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

"And your wife, I imagine she's a beauty," said Balin.

"Aye. She was," said the man.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…" started Balin.

"Oh, come on, one," said Dwalin. "Enough with the niceties."

"What's your hurry?" asked the man looking at Dwalin.

"What's it to you?" replied Dwalin.

"I would like to know who you are and what you are doing in these lands," said the man.

"We are but simple merchants from the Blue Mountains journeying to see our kin in the Iron Hills," said Balin.

"Simple Merchants, you say?" said the man.

"We need food, supplies, weapons," said Thorin. "Can you help us?"

The man looked down at the barrels he was loading onto the barge. "I know where these came from."

"What of it?" said Thorin.

"I don't know what business you had with the Elves," he said. "But I don't think it ended well. No one enters Lake-town but by leave of the Master. All his wealth comes from trade with the Woodland Realm. He would see you in iron before risking the wrath of King Thranduil," he said tossing the rope a shore.

Balin looked to Thorin. "Offer him more," said Thorin.

"I'll wager there are ways to enter that town unseen," said Balin.

"Aye, but for that, you would need a smuggler," said Bard.

"For which we would pay double," said Balin.

The man stood up at looked over the group before him. He needed the money that was for sure. Life as a bargeman didn't pay well. He finally relented and let them aboard the boat.

Kenzi was huddled next to Fili as they crossed the lake. Balin had asked everyone to hand over what money they had so they could pay Bard. Fili pulled the pouch from his side and handed it over, keeping an eye on Kili. Kili quickly tossed his at Balin.

"Watch out!" said Bofur

Bard steered the boat around the large stone column in the water.

"What are you trying to do, drown us?" said Thorin looking at Bard.

"I was born and bred on these waters, Master Dwarf," said Bard. "If I wanted to drown you, I would not do it here."

"Oh, I've had enough of this lippy Lakeman," said Dwalin. "I saw we throw him over the side and be done with it."

"Bard. His name is Bard," said Bilbo.

"How do you know?" asked Bofur.

"Uh, I asked him," said Bilbo.

"I don't care what he calls himself. I don't like him," said Dwalin.

"We do not have to like him," said Balin. "We simply have to pay him," he said counting out coins. "Come on now, lads. Turn out your pockets."

"How do we know he won't betray us?" asked Dwalin.

"We don't," said Thorin.

"There's just a wee problem," said Balin. "We're ten coins short."

"Gloin. Come on. Give us what you have," said Thorin.

"Don't look at me," he said. "I have been bled dry by this venture. What have I seen for my investment? Naught but misery and grief and…" he said trailing off.

The dwarves were all standing, except Kili and Kenzi, looking at the mountain as they passed by.

"Bless my beard. Take it. Take all of it," said Gloin handing over his money.

"The money, quick. Give it to me," said Bard walking over.

"We will pay you when we get our provisions but not before," said Thorin.

"If you value your freedom, you'll do as I say. There are guards ahead," said Bard.

"Listen to him, Thorin. You may not like him, but I'm sure he knows what he's doing," said Kenzi rubbing her head.

"I'll not take advice from you," he said.

"And yet, every time I've gotten one of these blasted headaches I've not been wrong," she said. "Now shut it and pay the man."

Thorin grumbled something but handed over the money. Bard instructed them to climb back into the barrels. A few of the dwarves started complaining as they climbed back into the barrels. Fili helped Kili into one of the barrels before climbing into another. Kenzi stood up and started to climb into the barrel with him. Bard walked over and lifted her up and into the barrel. She smiled as him and said her thanks before dropping into the tight confines of the barrel with Fili.

"What's he doing?" asked Dwalin.

"He's talking to someone," said Bilbo as he looked through a hole in the barrel. "He's pointing right at us. Now they are shaking hands."

"What?" said Thorin.

"The villain. He's selling us out," said Dwalin.

"No, he's not," said Kenzi. "Hope you can hold your breath."

"Why?" asked Fili.

Suddenly fish started falling into the barrels and onto the occupants. Kenzi groaned as one hit her in the face. Fili laughed as more fish filled the barrel.

"It's not funny, you ass," she said. She took one more good breath before the fish filled the rest of the way up.

Kenzi squealed as the barrel she was in was turned on its side. Fili quickly climbed out of the barrel and then pulled her free.

"You didn't see them, they were never here," said Bard handing over a coin to the man standing next to the barge. "The fish you can have for nothing."

The dwarves climbed off the barge and waited next to one of the buildings.

"Quickly, follow me," said Bard making his way through them to the front.

"Da!" said a boy walking up to Bard. "Our house, it's being watched."

"If you speak of this to anyone I'll rip your arms off," said Dwalin sticking his head up out of the toilet.

The rest of the company slowly made their way out of the toilet with Bain's help. Kenzi was trying not to vomit as she climbed through the toilet. Fili, while uncomfortable, was trying not to laugh at her. She reached back and smacked him upside the head when she heard him snicker.

"Da, why are there climbing out of our toilet?" asked Sigrid.

"Will they bring us luck?" asked Tilda.

"Find something for the girl to wear," said Bard. "Get them something to clean up with."

Sigrid nodded her head and went to her room to find something for Kenzi. Kenzi nodded her thanks and followed Sigrid up the stairs to the room she shared with her sister. Once she was dressed she rejoined the company and sat by the fire.

"They may not be the best fit, but they will keep you warm," said Bard and Tilda passed out blankets and clothes to the Dwarves.

"A Dwarvish windlance," said Thorin as he looked out the window.

"You look like you've seen a ghost," said Bilbo walking over to him.

"He has," said Balin walking over. "The last time we saw such a 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 windlance could have pierced a dragon's hide," said Balin. "And few of those arrows were ever made. The store was running low when Girion made his last stand."

"Had the aim of Men been true that day much would have been different," said Thorin.

"You speak as if you were there," said Bard.

"All Dwarves know the tale," said Thorin.

"Then you would know that Girion hit the dragon," said Bain. "He loosened a scale under the left wing. One more shot and he would have killed the beast."

"That's a fairy story, lad. Nothing more," chuckled Dwalin.

"You took our money. Where are the weapons?" asked Thorin.

"Wait here," said Bard.

"Tomorrow begins the last days of Autumn," said Thorin.

"Durin's Day falls the morn after next," said Balin. "We must reach the mountain before then."

"And if we do not? If we fail to find the hidden door before that time?" asked Kili.

"Then this quest has been for nothing.

Bard walked back in then and laid a large rolled up tarp on the table. He unwrapped it and the Dwarves pulled a few of the items from it.

"What is this?" asked Thorin.

"Pike hook, made from an old harpoon," said Bard.

"And this?" asked Kili.

"A crowbill, we call it," said Bard. "Fashioned from a smithy's hammer. It's heavy in hand, I grant, but in defense of your life these will serves you better than none."

"We paid you for weapons. Iron forged swords and axes," said Gloin.

"It's a joke," said Bofur tossing the makeshift weapon back on the table.

The rest of the dwarves followed suit.

"You won't find better outside the city armory," said Bard. "All iron-forged weapons are held there under lock and key."

"Thorin, why not take what's on offer and go?" asked Balin.

Kenzi saw the look on Bard's face when he heard Thorin's name. She had a feeling it did not bode well for them.

"I've made due with less," said Balin. "So have you. I say we leave now."

"You're not going anywhere," said Bard.

"What did you say?" said Dwalin taking it as a challenge.

"There are spies watching this house and probably every dock and wharf in the town," said Bard. "You must wait till nightfall."

A few of the dwarves sighed at that bit of knowledge. Kenzi looked over and saw Kili sink down on a seat. She walked over to him.

"Kili, what is it?" she asked. She looked to his leg and saw that he was still bleeding. "Kili, you have to tell someone about this."

"No," he said. "I will be fine."

"Kili, you are paler now than when we left the Woodland Realm," she said. "It is not getting better and you know it."

"I said I will be fine," said Kili. "Please, do not tell anyone."

"I don't like it," she said. "It's not fair to the company and especially Fili."

"I do not want to be a burden," he said.

"You will be a burden if you do not heal," she said.

"Kili, get up. We're going for weapons," said Thorin.

Kenzi gave him a glare, but he ignored it and stood to follow his uncle. Bain tried to stop them, but they disappeared down the stairs. Kenzi shook her head and watched the girl's ready things for supper.

"The least I can do is help," she said. "What can I do?"

Sigrid smiled and the two of them went back to cooking while Tilda finished with the table. Bard came bursting through the door only a few moments later.

"Da! I tried to stop them," he said.

"How long have they been gone?" asked Bard.

"A few minutes at most," said Bain.

It wasn't long after Bard left to find the dwarves that there was a commotion going on outside the house. Kenzi stood up and looked out the window and saw that the Dwarves were being led through the town by guards and the rest of the town was following them.

"Shit!" she said running towards the door and down the stairs.

She pushed her way through the crowd as best she could to get to the front and to the dwarves. She tried pushing through the row of guards and one of them pushed her backwards into the crowd. Luckily for her, Fili did not see this. She stomped on the guard's food and pushed past him and ran over to Fili. She wrapped her arms around his neck.

"What are you doing here?" he asked. "You should've stayed at the house!"

"What is the meaning of this?" asked the Master walking out of his house.

"We caught them stealing weapons, sire," said Braga.

"Ah," said the Master. "Enemies of the state, eh?"

"A desperate bunch of mercenaries, if ever there was, sire," said Alfrid.

"Hold your tongue," said Dwalin. "You do not know to who you speak. This is no common criminal. This is Thorin son of Thrain, son of Thror!"

"We are the Dwarves of Erebor," said Thorin walking forward. "We have come to reclaim out homeland."

"Aw, shit. This isn't going to end well," said Kenzi.

"Why do you say that, love?" asked Fili. "This could be what we need."

She pointed to her head and gave him a look. Fili just smiled and kissed the side of her head.

"I remember this town in the great days of old. Fleets of boats lay at harbor filled with silks and fine gems," said Thorin. "This was no forsaken 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!"

"Death! That is what you will bring upon us!" said bard making his way through the crowd. "Dragon fire and ruin. If you waken that beast, it will destroy us all."

"You can listen to this naysayer, but I promise you this: If we succeed all will share in the wealth of the mountain," said Thorin. "You will have enough gold to rebuild Esgaroth ten times over!"

"All of you! Listen to me! You must listen! Have you forgotten what happened to Dale!?" shouted Bard. "Have you forgotten those who died in the firestorm!? And for what purpose? The blind ambition of a mountain king so riven by greed, he could not see beyond his own desire!"

"Now, now!" said the Master. "We must not, any of us, be too quick to lay blame. Let us not forget it was Girion, Lord of Dale, your ancestor, who failed to kill the beast."

"It's true, sire," said Alfrid. "We all know the story. Arrow after arrow he shot. Each missing its mark."

"You have no right. No right to enter that mountain," said Bard walking up to Thorin.

"I have the only right," said Thorin before turning 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? What say you?"

"I say unto you, welcome! And thrice welcome, King Under the Mountain!" said the Master of the town.

The people around them shouted and rejoiced at the prospect of having money flowing through the town again. Kenzi shook her head. The Master invited the Dwarves to a large party put on by the town, rather quickly but there was food and booze involved which made it all better. Kenzi stayed by Fili the whole night, even when it was time for them to get to sleep. She kept an eye on Kili as well. He still hadn't told anyone about his leg and she was starting to worry about it more. She told him as much when she wished him a good night.

The next morning the company started to get ready. Their clothes had been brought to them and dried. They dressed quickly and headed for the main dock in the town.

"You do know we are one short? Where is Bofur?" asked Bilbo as they made their way through the town.

"If he is not here then we will leave him behind," said Thorin.

"We'll have to. If we are to find the door before nightfall, we can risk no more delays," said Balin.

The Dwarves started to climb on to the barge boat. Fili turned to look at Kenzi. She had decided the night before that she would not come with them on this part of the journey. She knew she would be too much of a burden. He kissed her one last time before he climbed on the boat, Kili following behind him.

"Not you," said Thorin stopping Kili. "We must travel at speed and you will slow us down."

"What are you talking about?" said Kili. "I'm coming with you."

"Not now," said Thorin.

"I'm going to be there when that door is opened," said Kili. "When we first look upon the halls of our father's, Thorin."

"Kili, stay here," said Thorin. "Rest. Join us when you're healed."

Thorin turned and climbed onto the boat as the last of weapons were loaded on.

"I'll stay with the lad," said Oin. "My duty lies with the wounded."

"Uncle," said Fili looking at Thorin. "We grew up on tales of the mountain. Tales you told us. You cannot take that away from him."

"Fili," said Kili.

"I will carry him, if I must," said Fili.

"One day you will be king and you will understand," said Thorin. "I cannot risk the fate of this quest for the sake of one Dwarf. Not even with my own kin."

Kenzi watched all of this from where she stood next to Kili. Oin was looking at Kili's leg when Fili jumped out of the boat.

"Fili, don't be a fool," said Thorin grabbing his arm. "You belong with the company."

"I belong with my brother," said Fili before walking over to Kenzi and Kili.

The horns started playing and the Master sent them off. They pushed off from the dock just as Bofur came running out on the dock. He watched as the boat moved down the canal. He turned and saw Oin, Fili, Kili, and Kenzi standing off to the side.

"Ha. So you missed the boat as well?" he asked.

"No, Kili was made to stay behind because of his wound," said Kenzi. "Fili and Oin chose to stay behind with him."

"Kili?! Kili?!" shouted Fili as he caught Kili before he fell over.

Fili and Oin gathered him up. "What do we do now?"

"Find Bard," said Kenzi.

"I doubt he'd help us," said Kili.

"Don't count your chickens before your eggs hatch," said Kenzi grabbing Kili's face. "We find Bard."

Bofur was the first one to the door. He started pounding on it. The door finally opened with bard on the other side.

"No. I'm done with Dwarves, go away," said Bard closing the door.

"No! No, no! Please!" said Bofur trying to keep it open. "No one will help us. Kili's sick, he's very sick."

"Please, Bard," said Kenzi. "We would not come to you if we did not think you would help."

Bard sighed and let them into the house.