Chapter 22
Bard's Home
We came to a stop at one of the docks. Thorin burst out of the fish as the barrels were knocked over.
"I'm gonna kill him." Thorin said. I grab the front of his shirt and pull him into a kiss. It seemed to calm him down.
"My heart belongs to you. No one else." I said. Thorin takes my face and smooths his thumb over my check. Fili was with Anna. Stacia pulled on Thorin's shirt. He looked down.
"Your covered in fish slime." Stacia said with a giggle. Stacia let out a squeal as he scooped her up and hugged her close getting her covered. I saw I was also.
"Get your hands off me." Dwalin said. We get off the barge and onto the dock. A man watches and Bard approaches him and gives him a coin.
"You didn't see them, they were never here. The fish you can have for nothing. Follow me." Bard said. Bard lead us down the docks. Stacia held Thorin's and my hand. A boy that I reconized as Bain came running up to us.
"Da! Our house. It's being watched." Bain said. Bard looks at us.
"Your going to have to swim. There is a sewage where you can come up from." Bard said. The dwarves mumbled but agreed. I stop Thorin from leading us.
"They saw us. We have to go with Bard. Go. We'll be fine." I said. Thorin nodded and went to join the others in the water. I picked up Stacia and we walked with Bard towards his house. People were fishing in a boat outside their house. Anna, Stacia, and I entered where two girls stood there.
"Da! Where have you been?" Tilda asked.
"Father! There you are. I was worried." Sigrid said, as the girls hug Bard. Bard hands Sigrid a bag
"Here's something to eat. Sigrid. Help these two girls with clothes. Tilda. Help the little one." Bard said. Sigrid lead us to her room. "Bain. Get them in." I heard Bard say. Sigrid pulled out a royal blue tunic for me along with a red one for Anna. Two black corset halter top shirts was brought out. I grin.
"Pants or skirts?" Sigrid asked.
"Pants." Anna and I said. Sigrid left and Anna and I got dressed. We kept our boots on and came out. I saw Thorin standing by a window.
"Mommy." Stacia said, running over in a royal blue dress. I smiled as I pick her up and kiss her check gently. I walked up to Thorin, who smiled at the sight of me. He wrapped an arm around me and pulled me close as Bilbo got wrapped in a towel.
"It may not be the best fit, but it'll keep you warm." Bard said. Thorin looked out the window and saw the tower.
"A Dwarvish Wind-lance." Thorin said, in shock. Bilbo joins us.
"You look like you've seen a ghost." Bilbo said.
"He has. The last time we saw such a weapon, a city was on fire. It was the day the dragon came." Balin said. Thorin looks away sadly and brought me close to him. "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 wind-lance, could have pierced the dragon's hide, and few of those arrows were ever made. His store running low when Girion made his last stand." I watched Thorin's face as the story ended. Sadness was written all over it.
"Had the aim of Men been true that day, much would have been different." Thorin said. Anna and I shared glances, knowing.
"You speak as if you were there." Bard said.
"All dwarves know the tale." Thorin said.
"Then you would know that Girion hit the dragon. He loosened a scale under the left wing. One more shot and he would have killed the beast." Bain said. Dwalin laughed.
"That's a fairy story, lad. Nothing more." Dwalin said. Thorin goes up to Bard.
"You took our money. Where are the weapons?" Thorin asked.
"Wait here." Bard said. He left the room. Balin, Fili, and Kili came up to Thorin.
"Tomorrow begins the last days of autumn." Thorin said.
"Durin's Day falls morn after next. We must reach the mountain before then." Balin said.
"And if we do not?" If we fail to find the hidden door before that time?" Kili asked.
"Then this quest has been for nothing." Fili said. Bard returns and lays a package on the table as the dwarves stand around it. He opens it and hand-made weapons fall out. The dwarves look at them in shock and pick them up in disgust.
"What is this?" Thorin asked.
"Pike-hook. Made from an old harpoon." Bard said.
"And this?" Kili asked.
"A crowbill, we call it, fashioned from a smithy's hammer. It's heavy in hand, I grant, but in defense of your life, these will serve you better than none." Bard said. Anna and I looked at each other as Thorin and Dwalin looked at each other.
"We paid you for weapons. Iron-forged swords and axes!" Gloin said.
"It's a joke!" Bofur said. The dwarves threw their weapons on the table.
"You won't find better outside the city armory. All iron-forged weapons are held there under lock and key." Bard said. I saw the look pass between Thorin and Dwalin.
"Thorin." Balin said. Bard turned his head at the mention of Thorin's name and I knew he reconized it. "Why not take what's been offered and go? I've made do with less, so have you. I say we leave now." Balin said.
"You're not going anywhere." Bard said.
"What did you say?" Dwalin asked.
"There's spies watching this house and probably every dock and wharf in the town. You must wait till nightfall." Bard siad. Bard left Kili slides to the floor. Stacia laid her head on my shoulder as Thorin and Dwalin whispered as Bain came in after following Bard.
"Let's go." Thorin said. We leave and Dwalin pushes Bain out of the way as he tries to stop us. We were now on the way to the armory to get the weapons.