Chapter 15

Lake-town

Enda followed Bard and the others through the maze of wooden houses, shops, and streets. They had to keep hidden. Bard told them that the Master of the town may not like them there. When they did wind up getting to his house they had to go up through a toilet. No one was happy about that.

That was when they met Bard's three children; Bain, Sigrid, and Tilda.

"Da, why are there Dwarves coming out of the toilet?" Sigrid asked.

"Is it a sign of good luck?" Tilda asked.

"My dear girls, we cannot speak about their presence. The Master won't be happy to find Dwarves here…" Bard said. "We are going to provide them shelter for the night…"

"Alright Da…" Tilda looked at the Dwarves and the Hobbit curiously. She ran down to their storage room and grabbed towels. She handed each of the newcomers a towel and blanket. When she came across Enda she was instantly intrigued. "You're a girl Dwarf…"

"Aye, indeed I am…" Enda smiled.

"I didn't know there was girl Dwarves…" Tilda said innocently.

Enda smiled. She was amused by the girl. "There has to be girl Dwarves… There can be no little Dwarflings without Dwarf mothers; also someone has to keep the Dwarf men in check…" She laughed a little as Tilda giggled.

"You're pretty," Tilda said. She looked at Enda's hair clasp.

"Thank you…" Enda smiled.

"By the way, my name is Tilda…"

"It's a pleasure to meet you Tilda, I am Enda."

The girl smiled brightly. "You've got a bow… Do you hunt?"

Enda nodded. "Yes I do…"

"Da says I'm too little to use a bow yet… He's just now teaching Sigrid how to defend herself… Bain is oldest so he knows how to use a bow and a sword!" Tilda sighed. "I don't like being the littlest one…"

Enda laughed merrily. "You're taller than most of us Dwarves! All of us are full grown too…"

"I guess so…" Tilda smiled.

Enda looked to the other members of the Company. Sigrid was preparing stew, Bain was making a fire. Bard was helping the Dwarves dry off their weapons.

Tilda went to help her sister with dinner so Enda went to join her companions.

"Enda," Thorin pulled her aside. "Do not tell them of our quest."

"I wasn't planning on it sir…" She smiled softly.

"Thank you… I just don't know if we should trust them yet…" Thorin said. He smiled a little. "I can't believe how close we are to getting to the mountain… Soon we will be home… You certainly have earned your place in Erebor…"

"Thank you…" Enda smiled happily. She felt a great warmth in her heart as she knew that she was going home and that she was wanted there.
Thorin turned to talk to Dwalin. Enda sat by Fíli and Kíli. Fíli was holding to a locket.

"I will send for Bryn and Muma as soon as the mountain is ours…" Fíli smiled.

"I can't wait to see Muma again!" Kíli said. He then smiled to Enda.

Enda smiled. She didn't have anything to contribute to the conversation. She had no one to send for. The only people she had left were in the Company. She was happy for Fíli and Kíli though. She was excited to meet their mother and she was really excited to just have a home. Kíli kissed Enda's cheek. She blushed gently. Sigrid saw them and she smiled a little bit.

Fíli looked out the window. He smiled as he looked up at the moon. He thought about his Bryn. He was excited. He would be seeing her soon. He thought about the ring that he was going to give her. Thorin promised him the Queen Ring. It was a legendary ring, supposedly the most elegant of rings. He would be able to claim it once they found it in Erebor. Fíli knew that he and Bryn were to be the rulers of Erebor one day. He was slightly saddened. He didn't want that power. He wished Thorin would have another child to take the place of ruler. Fíli was scared of being the future king, but that is a worry for another day.

Enda suddenly clutched her head. She had not been plagued by headaches and visions for a long time. She didn't want to say anything so she closed her eyes and quietly suffered through the vision. It wasn't a flashback this time.

Darkness and fire engulfed the town upon the lake. Screams tore through the night. People ran in panic and in attempt to flee from the destruction. The company could only stand from their distant location and watch in horror. The terrible dragon, Smaug, continued to destroy the town with his flame and his strength.

Enda opened her eyes quickly and saw that Kíli also looked pale. He looked to her and looked greatly disturbed. She walked to him and sat close. He wrapped his arms around her.

"I'm terrified…" Enda whispered. She touched his courting braid. She was afraid that they might not make it through whatever lies before them. They still had to kill a dragon and Smaug managed to destroy two cities within a day.

Kíli kissed her forehead. "I know. I am as well… But you make me brave… You're strong, brave…" he said. He smiled softly. "These visions are not set in stone… We can prevent it…" He kissed her forehead again. "And once this dreadful business with the dragon is over, we can take our courting seriously… Then if you still want me we could wed…"

Enda smiled softly. "And why would I no longer desire to be your wife? Kíli, you are the most amazing person I have ever met…"

"I love you, Enda…"

"And I love you, Kíli…"

Kíli smiled and leaned in. He gently pressed his lips to hers. She squeaked a little but returned the kiss. Her face flushed bright red. Kíli's eyes sparkled happily. He smiled and stood, helping Enda to her feet. "We should get back to the others before they think we abandoned them…"

Enda nodded. They walked together and sat with Fíli. Fíli grinned. He was setting up his bedroll and placed his pack on it.

"I thought you two might not come back… I thought you eloped…" Fíli teased.

Kíli punches his brother in the shoulder playfully.

"I wouldn't elope. I want to have a proper, splendid wedding!"

Enda blushed but smiled.

"What if we had a double wedding?" Fíli said. "It is very likely that we will be courting our ladies around the same time and our engagements would likely happen around the same time as well…"

"That really is up to Enda and Bryn…" Kíli said. Enda blushed again.

"Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves," Enda said with a smile. She saw Fíli's great happiness in how his eyes twinkled. "I cannot wait to meet Bryn, she must be lovely to have Fíli's affections."

"Aye, she is lovely," Fíli's voice was far away. "She is a woman of great character; she would have come with us, had Uncle permitted it. However, she was told to stay in the Blue Mountains. She was asked to stay behind to lead the people should there be a crisis. She has won the hearts of all who have met her. Her warm and kind heart, it keeps her humble, but her mind is sharp, and she can hold her own. She is skilled in fighting, but her heart lingers on keeping peace. Oh and Enda, the two of you will get along splendidly! Her greatest talent, in my opinion is her imagination, she tells such intriguing tales."

"In case you couldn't tell, my brother is entirely infatuated and in love with his Bryn," Kíli said with a smirk.

"I am, and I will happily declare it to the entire world," Fíli said. "I simply cannot contain the feelings within my heart, she does that to me. I could forever sing, just knowing that I have the most beautiful and wise women in the entire world who loves me!"

"You're ever the romantic, Fí," Kíli said.

"As if you're not a romantic. You are so adorably in love Kí. You just are bashful because you think acting emotionally constipated is better suited to a dwarf. But, I say nay to that! We are passionate creatures. We have the greatest heart for the things of true value, and there is no gem that can hold value to a woman of great character. Even the Arkenstone is dim within the presence of good lady."

"Your praises of your Bryn are very sweet and she is indeed very lucky to have a devoted and romantic man's affections," Enda said, a bright smile was on her lips.

Enda saw Bard's elder daughter again, she was working in the kitchen. She was curious as to why the young girl was up this late. No one else in the house, aside from the three dwarves were up. Enda got up from her group and went to Sigrid.

"Oh hallo, is there anything I can do-" Sigrid began.

"No, why are you up? It is easily past midnight," Enda said.

"There are many chores to be done. So little time to do them. I want to try and keep things smooth between Da and your party. I know he gets anxious, and I don't want to slack off on chores because we have company."

"You're very dutiful."

"I'm not much more than anyone else. We all have our roles we play. We all have our tasks."

Enda nodded. "I see that, but there comes a time when we must take care of ourselves too. Sleep is always good."

Sigrid laughs softly. "I suppose so. I'll finish up darning this sock. Then I should go to bed. I just get so restless. I have a feeling that something big will happen. Whether it is good or bad, I don't know. But I feel unprepared. My siblings and Da, we all rely so much on each other. I don't want to let them down."

"Things are constantly changing. You're loyal and kind, and your family has the best Sigrid in the world, helping to keep things together. I won't promise anything, but I have a feeling that one day things will turn out very well for your family."

"Thank you," Sigrid said with a smile. She was very mature for her young age. Enda hoped that all of her worries wouldn't seem too great for her.

Enda also knew that there were many uncertainties ahead with the future. She had no idea what might come when they enter the mountain.

Eventually, they all went to their beds and slept. Enda made a note to herself to be especially good guests and help out however she could.

Guess who's back?

-Maethorni