Percia glanced around Bard's small home curiously, taking in the clutter and homey feel. After sneaking out of the barrels they had made their way to the man's home, though sadly they had to swim part of the way in the freezing water and up through the man's toilet to get inside. The looks on some of the Dwarves had her wishing she had a camera or at least some talent in drawing people.
Bard had been telling them to strip and put their clothes in front of the fire when Percia just walked around and dried each of the Dwarves with her abilities. The look on the man's face was equally priceless as the Dwarves' earlier expressions. His daughters and son gapped in awe, which she tried hard to ignore. Strangely the boy, Bain if she remembered correctly, blushed every time she caught his eye.
Within minutes the group had warm drinks and even a few blankets for some still suffering from the chill of the water. Percia found a place near the hearth that allowed her to see the whole room and keep an eye on the group. Fili had Kili off to the side, Oin looking over his leg, though the younger Dwarf kept assuring him it was fine. Sharing a look with Fili, she knew he doubted his brother's declaration. So did she. Whatever had coated that arrow was not doing the Dwarf any favors.
"A Dwarfish Wind-Lance," Thorin's whispered words caught her attention and she turned to find him by the window with Balin and Bilbo. Glancing out she saw what he spoke of. Leo and the rest of the Hephaestus Cabin would probably have a field day with it. Then again Clarisse and the Ares Cabin would likely have called dibs with it being a weapon.
"You look like you've seen a ghost," Bilbo murmured curiously.
"He has," Balin informed the other. His posture changed to what Kili and Fili had teasingly called his 'lecture mode'. "The last time we saw such a weapon, a city was on fire. It was the day the dragon came." His voice grew distant from the memory, but no less captivating. "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."
A shiver went down Percia's spine. Why did that sound like foreshadowing?
"His store was running low when Girion made his last stand," the elder finished softly.
Thorin heaved a sigh before turning to Bilbo. "Had the aim of Men been true that day, much would have been different."
Wow, no blame placed on the men there.
"You speak as if you were there." Bard approached them cautiously, a hint of suspicion in his eyes.
"All dwarves know the tale," Thorin refuted quickly.
"Then you would know that Girion hit the dragon," Bain snapped, much like a wounded pup. "He loosened a scale under the left wing. One more shot and he would have killed the beast."
Dwalin chuckled derisively. "That's a fairy story, lad. Nothing more."
Bain looked ready to argue but Thorin approached Bard before he could. "You took our money. Where are the weapons?"
"Wait here."
Deep in her gut Percia knew the words spoken were important. Despite Dwalin's immediate dismissal of Bain's claim, she would bet her last drachma it held more truth than the Dwarf knew. She would also bet Bard's family descended from Girion's and their smuggler knew where a black arrow lay.