Chapter 20
Caught

We came to a stop by a dock somewhere in Laketown. I stood up and let the blanket drop as Bard started kicking the barrels over. Dwalin burst out of his as the other dwarves came out of theirs.

"Get your hands off me." Dwalin said. I help get the dwarves out of the barrels, totally avoiding Fili if possible. I came up to Kili to see him struggling.

"Are you alright?" I ask.

"I'll be fine, but you better talk to Fili and soon. He's regretting having that fight with you." Kili said.

"I'll talk to him when I'm ready." I said. A dock keeper sees us and looks shocked. Bard approaches him and gives him a coin.

"You didn't see them, they were never here. The fish you can have for nothing." Bard said. He leads us away. "Follow me." We walk through Laketown till we were stopped by a kid that looked like Bard came running our way.

"Da! Our house, it's being watched." The boy said. Bard looks at Thorin and both started planning. It was decided that the dwarves will have to swim to the house.

"What about Bell?" Fili asked.

"They saw her so she'll have to come with me and Bain." Bard said. Fili glared at the man but didn't argue. The dwarves get in the water and I walk with Bard and Bain towards his house. We come to a house where two fishermen were fishing. "Have Sigrid get a dress for her and let her take a bath, Bain." Bain nods and leads me in.

"Whose this?" A older girl asked.

"I'm Bell from the Shire." I said.

"Shire?" A young girl asked.

"Sigrid. Da wants you to get a dress for her and let her take a bath." Bain said. Sigrid quickly led me to a room where she pulled out a dress.

"So what are you?" The young girl asked, looking at my hairy feet.

"Tilda! Don't be rude." Sigrid said, pulling out a blue dress.

"It's fine, Sigrid. I'm a Hobbit." I said.

"Neat." Tilda said. I smile at her innocence. I wonder how adorable Fili's and my children would be. I shook my head as Sigrid showed me the wash room and left me to great her father. I pulled the clothes off as the tub filled up with water. I slid in and relaxed. I sighed as I stared off in the distance. I knew Kili was right. I needed to talk to Fili, but I would do it without the Company around. I stepped out and dried off. I slid the dress on and saw it fit. It must have been the little girls dress.

I come out of the room to find the dwarves in different clothes and warming up. I needed air and slipped out without them noticing, but I saw Sigrid noticed. I closed the door behind me and go to the rail. I look out towards the lake. I heard footsteps approaching. I spun to get hit in the head with a sword hilt. I saw the captain of the guard bending over me before everything went black.

I woke up to find myself tied up to a chair in a living room.

"So this is the girl that was seen. Now, sweetheart. Where are the dwarves?" The Master asked, coming out of the shadows with Alfrid. I knew our cover was blown.

Fili's POV. We didn't approve of the weapons that Bard gave us and he had left. I wanted to talk to Bell about our fight. I didn't see her since we were on the docks before I went swimming. Sigrid mentioned that she went to take a bath, but that was awhile ago.

"Anyone know where Bell is?" I ask.

"I saw her step outside and after that she didn't come back." Sigrid said. Thorin and I looked at each other and I knew he saw the fear in my eyes.

"The Master has her. We have to get her." Thorin said. Bilbo put a hand on my shoulder.

"We'll get her back and you can talk to my daughter then. She's got her mother's stubbornness." Bilbo said. I chuckle a bit. We head out to save Bell.

Bell's POV. I didn't like being held hostage by these two jerks.

"Even if I knew where the dwarves were, I would not tell you where they are." I said. Alfrid grabbed me by the checks, hard.

"You will tell us." Alfrid said. I head butted him. "OW! The wench hit me."

"It's what you deserve." I said.

"I'll have my men break her." The Master said. The Captain ran in. "What is it?"

"The dwarves are here and asking for the girl." Captain said.

"And if they find out how you treated me, you'll regret it." I said.

"Bring her." The Master said. The Captain untied me and I was grabbed by the arm and led out. I saw the dwarves standing by the stairs. Fili looked angry to see me being held.

"Let her go. You want us. Not her." Thorin said.

"What is she to you? Just another whore." Alfrid said.

"Hold your tongue. She's courting one of us and he's an heir to the line of Durin, which makes her a princess." Dwalin said. The Master waved his hand and the Captain released me. I ran down the stairs and straight into Fili's arms.

"Are you alright?" Fili asked.

"I'm fine." I whisper. Fili held me close.

"We will talk later. I promise. Just stay close to me." Fili said, kissing my forehead. I snuggled into his arms and nodded.

"I'm Thorin, Son of Thrain. We are the dwarves of Erebor. We have come to reclaim our homeland." Thorin said. Their were mumbles around the crowd from the words. "I remember this town and the great days of old. Fleets of boats lay at harbor, filled with silks and fine gems. This was no foresaken town on a lake! This was the center of all trade in the North." There were people that were nodding in agreement. "I would see those days return. I would relight the forges of the dwarves and send wealth and riches flowing once more from the halls of Erebor!" Cheers rang through the crowd and I saw the Master look on with wonder and a smirk. I frown. A voice comes and Bard pushed through the crowd.

"Death! That is what you will bring upon us. Dragon-fire and ruin. If you awaken that beast, it will destroy us all." Bard said. There were whispers all around.

"You can listen to this naysayer, but I promise you this, if we succeed, all will share in the wealth of the mountain. You will have enough gold to rebuild Esgaroth ten times over!" Thorin yelled. Something wasn't right. I had a bad feeling that Thorin was changing. I burried my face in Fili's chest as shouts of excitement came and applause.

"All of you! Listen to me! You must listen! Have you forgotten what happened to Dale?!" Bard asked. There was silence as I watched them with my head resting on Fili's shoulder. "Have you forgotten those who died in the firestorm?!"

"No!" People yell. Bard turns and glares at Thorin.

"And for what purpose? The blind ambition of a mountain-king so riven by greed, he could not see beyond is own desire!" Bard said. If looks could kill, Bard would be dead as they stare each other down.

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

"No." I whisper as Thorin turns on Bard with a look of shock and anger.

"It's true, sire. We all know the story: arrow after arrow he shot, each one missing it's mark." Alfrid said. There were some angry shouts as Bard looks around. He strides up to Thorin.

"You have no right, no right to enter that mountain!" Bard said.

"I have the only right." Thorin said. Thorin turns 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?" We all waited in silence for the Master's answer. "What say you?" The Master stood in silence as he thought. Then he smiled and pointed at Thorin.

"I say unto you... welcome! Welcome and thrice welcome, King under the Mountain!" The Master said. Thorin stepped up the stairs and turned to face the crowd as cheers rang through the crowd. Bard didn't look happy.

"Come, my love. Let's go for a walk." Fili said. I saw Balin give us a nod. We walk away to have some peace and quiet. We would find the dwarves later when we were ready.

AN: The next chapter is them making up and a surprise before we get to them leaving and taking care of Kili. Till next time.