Hey guys, new chapter! Yay! So happy that you and I have made it this far. On a side note, I can totally see that my writing skills have improved since my first chapter! That made me so happy to see!

Disclaimer: Me no own, you no sue. Arriah is mine, take her and let the fact that you just stole a pretty blind girl sink in and weigh you down jerk.

Arriah had been sat down somewhere by Fili about ten minutes ago with a 'stay quiet and stay here while we figure out what to do next'. Her eye twitched just thinking about it. Had she not already proven her capabilities to him and the Company yet?

Regardless Arriah had indeed stayed put, opting to reach around for small rocks and objects. She now had quite the collection.

Huffing Arriah reached her arms above her head and stretched. What's the point? Without a boat we'll never make it to Esgaroth in time. Well, I could, but they couldn't. Though I suppose I could race there with Thorin on my back. Hmmm, on second thought, the blow that his pride would take would probably prove fatal.

Shoving her legs out from under her Arriah leaned back and let the sun hit her full on. The huntress hummed and let a small smile escape.

But then again, my legs still hurt like crazy, so I might not make it to Esgaroth in time then.

Arriah furrowed her brows.

Wow, we really need a boat.

Quite foot steps approached her from behind, thinking nothing of it, as she was in the safety of the Company, Arriah just continued to reach around for more interesting things.

Suddenly the sound of a whizzing arrow flew by her, a thunk of an arrow hitting wood came from just in front of her. Arriah could only blink and look around blindly. "Huh?"

A 'shing' of an arrow head hitting a rock followed.

"Do it again... and you're dead."

Arriah raised an eye brow and turned her head. There was someone almost directly behind her. Oh.

"Arriah!"

Arriah turned her head towards the direction that Fili's voice had come from. "What?"

The huntress could only stare blankly and hope that someone would come to her rescue. Unless...

"Uhm, excuse me?"

She turned her head slightly. Well, here goes nothing.

"What?"

"You name wouldn't happen to be Bard, would it?"

"...And you are?"

"Well...I go by many names, but I'm sure you wouldn't recognize any of them, so my names matter little. My companions and I are in a bit of a pinch you see, and it would be much appreciated if you could lend us some help."

"The lass is right. You're from Laketown, if I'm not mistaken. That barge over there, it wouldn't be up for hire, by any chance?"

Arriah listened to the man walk off and the Company shuffle around after him.

"Arriah."

A hand cupped her cheek.

"Yeah?"

...

"You're a little crazy, aren't you?"

Arriah shrugged and smiled. "Maybe."

The red head placed her hand over the one on her cheek and leaned into the touch.

"You scared me."

"But I knew what I was doing. Besides, if worse came to worse then I'm sure that you'd have done something."

"Aye, and the rest of the company as well."

Arriah grinned and stood. "Well, I guess we should go see whats going on."

"Alright."

Arriah nodded and turned towards the rest of the Company.

"Wait, wait, wait."

Arriah blinked and turned her head towards Fili.

"How did you know that mans name?"

Arriah grinned. "I knew his father. I came to Esgaroth once, long ago. His father, Barand, offered me a bed and a goods nights rest. He was but a babe then, but I recognize his scent."

Arriah's grin grew as she tapped her nose. "I never forget a scent."

The huntress imagined Fili rolling his eyes.

"Well, that'll come in handy."

Arriah smiled softly as Fili took her hand and tugged her along.

"-and your wife, I imagine she's just a beauty, hm?"

"Aye... she was."

Cue the most awkward silence of this Age.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"

"Oh, enough of the niceties."

"What's your hurry?"

"What's it to you?"

Oh, come on now, niceties are nice.

"I would like to know who you are. And what you're doing in these lands, travelling with just one woman."

Fili's grip on her hand tightened.

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

"Simple merchants you say. And what does the lady have to say about this?"

Arriah looked toward the direction of the mans voice. "They speak truthfully, but autumn is ending soon, and winter will fall quickly, I imagine, so we cut through Mirkwood, taking to the elven road, but we lost our way and have fallen into quite the harsh situation. Our kin will worry, we're supposed to arrive the morn after next."

"Yes. We need supplies, weapons, can you help us?"

"I know where these barrels came from."

"What of it?"

"I don't know what business you had with the elves, but I don't think it ended well."

Arriah sighed.

"No one enters Laketown but by leave of the Master. All his wealth come from trade from the Woodland realm. He would see you in irons before risking the wrath of King Thranduil."

"I-I'll wager there are ways to enter that town unseen."

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

"For which we would pay- double."

Arriah snorted as Fili led her and helped her onto the boat. Ah money, the true back bone of Middle Earths economy. It goes towards castles, new crowns, shiny new swords, and, oh, the horror Middle Earth would endure if it went to physicians and scribes and schools and orphanages. But no, that would just destroy the economy, wouldn't it?

Arriah sat curled in on herself as the boat rocked back and forth. She really hated boats. They rocked and creaked and they were surrounded by water. Not that she had much hate for the liquid, in fact she'd once quite enjoyed going swimming, but that was before she was blind. Rives with slower current and not so deep water were fine, but deep, cold, probably black from top to bottom lakes were not her cup of tea. That's why she was sitting square in the middle of the boat, back pressed against the mast, as she wrapped her cloak around herself tighter.

"Look out!"

Arriah grimaced as the boat turned to the left sharply.

"What are you trying to do, drown us?"

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

Arriah snorted.

"Oh, I've had enough of this lippy lake men."

Arriah shivered and pulled her cloak tighter.

"I say we throw him over the side and be done with it."

"Oh Bard, his name's Bard."

"How do you know?"

"Uhh, I asked him."

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

Arriah rolled her eyes and wiggled around slightly.

"We do not have to like him, we simply have to pay him. Come on now lads, turn out your pockets."

Arriah puffed out her cheeks and put her hands under her arms.

"Uhm, there seems to be a wee bit of a problem. We're ten coins short."

The huntress sighed and began to reach for her secret stash.

"Gloin. Come on, give us what you have."

Arriah paused.

"Don't look to me, I have been bled dry on this adventure. And what have I seen for my investment, not but misery and grief and-"

Shaking her head the skin changer once again moved to reveal her bag of coins.

"Oh. Bless my beard. Take it, take all of it."

Arriah groaned and stilled once again, secretly thankful that her coins would last a little longer.

"The money, give it to me, now."

"We will pay you once we have our provisions, not before."

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

The red head groaned again and stood slowly. "Great."

"Get in the barrels, quick."

Arriah narrowed her gaze. "There are only fourteen."

"Yes, I can count."

Bard was suddenly beside her.

"You knew my name, how?"

Arriah grinned. "I knew your father, Barand. He was kind to me when I needed shelter. You were just a babe then, only a few weeks old."

"How could possibly recognize me?"

Arriah grinned and tapped her nose. "I never forget a scent."

Bard hummed before placing a hand on her shoulder and leading to the left. "Do you think you could find your way back to my house. If what you say is true, then you should be able to pick up my scent and follow it."

Arriah nodded. "I can do that."

"Try to look and act natural, like you're meant to be here and you know where you're going."

Arriah nodded and stepped carefully as Bard led her off the boat.

"Where are you taking her?"

"Nowhere. But I'm sure she doesn't want to be out through what you're about to be."

Arriah stopped and glanced behind her shoulder.

"It's alright Minwayla. I know what I'm doing."

Fili fell silent after that and Bard continued to lead her on for a bit. "There, I came through here yesterday, so I hope that'll help."

Arriah nodded. "It'll do."

Arriah waited till Bard had been gone for awhile before she moved. Now all she had to do was follow his scent back to his home and she'd reunited with Fili. Easy.

Heh. Not. Anyways, hope you enjoyed, you'll be learning quite a bit more about Arriah from here on. Get your tissues ready. R&R!