Finding the man sent to pick up the barrels had been easier than they'd thought.

Perhaps a little too much so. Thorin had almost blundered right into the man's arrow, not that anybody would have pointed it out. It'd taken time to convince young Bard that they were simple travellers and merchants, Balin smooth talking did most of the work and Thorin's gold the remainder. Though Bilbo suspected Kili's injury and his exhaustion helped a little, the human kept giving them both pitying looks. It was nice to see that not every being in Middle Earth had hardened their hearts.

Bilbo would have liked to talk with him some more, learn of this place they were heading, Lake Town. But instead he sat, curled in on himself shivering terribly. His warm clothes were still most likely in shreds on the forest floor back in Mirkwood and Thorin's soaked and tattered cloak barely covered him at all. When he was young his mother had taught him to carry a large scarf which he could tie into a bundle to store his clothes once he shifted. A quick knot and he could run safely with his clothing on his back, ready for when he changed back. He'd not had the time, or the scarf and now he was paying the price.

Balin had given his sympathies, had they any spare clothes themselves they'd have gladly given it to the skin changer but they did not. Bilbo sighed, his breath turning white in the frigid air, he just hoped Lake Town would have a clothing shop he could visit. Perhaps Thorin would lend him some gold to get new clothes…and a scarf.

"So, how is it you lost your clothes?" Bard asked, "I find it hard to believe a merchant would be so low on supplies."

Bilbo saw the Dwarves stiffen.

"I'm not a merchant." Bilbo sniffed, quickly thinking up a lie, "These Dwarves are escorting me. I wanted to see the Blue Mountains."

"Is that so?" Bard raised an eyebrow, clearly he wasn't a very good liar.

"And you decided to make this journey without any clothes?"

The Hobbit remained silent and Bard went back to steering his ship leaving staring at his feet, taking note of the shade of blue they were slowly turning. Oh how he was longing for his thick fur right about now…

He could change…he'd be warmer. At the moment he really could freeze to death, the soaked cloak and icy air was beginning to make him numb. But this man, Bard, what would he think? Would he try and kill him? Or worse, sell him like an animal…what if he trapped him in a cage like a pet for entertainment in Lake Town like the Orc's did with Beorn's people? No, he couldn't risk it. Instead curled up tighter, tucking his fingers into his chest to get the feeling back in them.

Suddenly he felt weight appear at each of his sides, glancing up he was shocked to see both Thorin and Dwalin on either side, Dwalin draped his cloak over the one Bilbo was already wearing. It was still damp as well, but it helped and their body heat at his sides warmed him somewhat. He was still shivering badly, but it felt so much better. He could almost fall asleep…

"I would not close your eyes boy." Dwalin warned, "Not in your condition and not in this cold."

Bilbo just nodded numbly.

"H-how's Kili…his leg…the wound didn't smell right." He whispered, "It could be poisoned…"

"If it is we will have to wait until we reach Lake Town to treat it." Thorin sighed, "Oin lost his supplies to the Elves in their search."

"Oh." Bilbo muttered, head drooping again. He knew in this cold he shouldn't sleep, his face, fingers and toes were numb, which wasn't a good sign. But he was so tired…

That run, with Kili on his back had been harder than anything he'd ever done. By the end his lungs and legs had been burning with the effort just to keep going. He could fight, but he was no warrior and certainly no cross country runner.

"Keep him awake Thorin." Dwalin grumbled, "I'll see if anybody else has a drier cloak for him."

Bilbo almost chuckled, stoic Thorin keeping up a conversation in such tense surroundings? That'd be interesting. Bilbo's eyes were just beginning to droop again when Thorin finally spoke.

"Did you really believe I would leave you to the spiders in Mirkwood?"

"I…" Bilbo muttered, "I guess I did. I lied, I made of a fool of you in our fight…I-I thought perhaps…D-dwarves didn't like skin changers…"

"You've more than proven your worth, as a Hobbit," Thorin smiled before quietly adding, "and as a wolf."

"T-Thank you…I d-don't suppose Dwalin is having any luck?"

Thorin scowled. That was all the answer Bilbo needed.

"Will you be warmer…changed?"

Bilbo didn't hesitate to nod.

"It'll be cool, but my fur would k-keep me from freezing, enough to stop me getting sick at the very least. B-but…"

"Change then." Thorin replied sternly, loud enough for the entire boat, including Bard to hear, "If any…problems arise, we will deal with them."

Bard narrowed his eyes and placed one hand on the knife at his belt.

"Is this a mutiny Master Dwarf?"

"Not else you give us reason." Thorin replied, taking a step in front of Bilbo.

The Hobbit was still curled up on the ground, eyes wide in awe. Thorin was willing to defend him, a skin changer. He almost teared up, how was it out here in the wilds he felt more accepted and at home than he ever had in the Shire?

Bard opened his mouth, probably to ask another question as Bilbo shifted, any other time, when he wasn't so relieved to feel warmth again, Bilbo would have found Bard's reaction quite funny. The human was slack jawed, so shocked he leant against his rudder, almost sending them into a thick piece of ice. Only Fili leaping up and straightening the tool did they avoid it.

Bilbo shook out his damp fur, he wasn't exactly a comfortable temperature, but he could feel his paws and muzzle again.

The sound of Bard's knife being drawn was immediately followed by several of the Company's swords and Bilbo's comfort faded.

"Please, everybody stay calm." He begged.

Evidently Bard wasn't expecting a voice and was so surprised he almost fumbled his knife as Bilbo took a few wobbly steps forward through the barrels so he was eye to eye with the man.

"I won't hurt you." He promised, doing his best to look reassuring, "I just want to stay warm."

"What-"

"I'm a skin changer." Bilbo replied before the question was asked, "I'm a Hobbit but I'm also a wolf."

Bard's eyes finally left his and glance about at the weapons of the company. Bilbo sighed, turning to face them.

"Relax everybody. No need to get so defensive for my sake."

Suddenly there was a hand on his neck and Bilbo froze. For a few seconds he thought Bard had placed his blade at his throat ready to slit it, but then he felt the warmth. It was a hand not a knife, Bard was…petting him?

"I've read about your kind." Bard finally answered with a smile, "I never dreamed I'd see one."

Bilbo gave a content rumble and pushed his head forward into Bard's hand. The Dwarves looked uncomfortable but Bilbo didn't mind, if he had to sacrifice a little dignity to earn the man's trust he would. Besides, the touch wasn't exactly unpleasant.