Hi sorry that I didn't update yesterday, I was very busy and had a meeting, then I couldn't really be bothered to come and type this up cause it was late and I was comfy watching Night at the Museum...yeah...sorry! Anyway YAY DwarvenWarrior is back and typing *waves rapidly* HEYYYYYYYYYYYYY! Also I wanna thank all reviewers to this point for commenting on this...THANK YOU!

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Chapter 23 – Bard the Barge-Man, The People's Champion

Daisy squeezed Kili's hand as they walked. Her head lay on his shoulder and every so often he'd kiss it gently. They'd left Hegaleith a couple of days earlier, with many thanks towards Annie, and had now established a firm relationship as an official courting couple. Daisy's eyes drifted to where Kili's bead sat at the end of one of her braids, they'd each swapped one of their own for the others and had braided each others hair. Kili chuckled and Daisy lifted her head to look at him.

"What?"

"Nothing, just..."

She smiled.

"Just?"

"I never pictured any of this happening."

He gestured to their hands and the closeness between them. Daisy nodded and giggled.

"I don't think it was anything I had in mind...Nori'd flip if he heard what we've done..."

"You tell him that we've slept together and I'll tell him about that suspicious butterfly tattoo on your back..."

The blonde girl's hands shot to cover the hidden ink drawing.

"It was a drunk night out for me and Anne! Besides you wouldn't dare tell Nori about that. You love me to much!"

Kili's eyes twinkled. He spun her round and put an arm round her hips, pulling her into his side. Then he leaned down and kissed her deeply, murmuring against her mouth as she wrapped her arms round him.

"That I do."

Not leaving his lips, Daisy replied.

"I love you too."

Kili let out a chuckle and they both pulled away. He leaned his forehead against hers and kissed her nose. This emitted a giggle from the girl who tugged on his hair playfully. The dwarf looped his arms round her back and kissed her deeply. Daisy opened her mouth and moaned a little and Kili deepened the kiss. He growled a little and felt the blonde smile against his lips. Then she pulled away and he pouted pitifully.

"Hey...I was enjoying that!"

Daisy giggled and pecked his cheek.

"So was I, but we can't stand around kissing each other all day. We have to actually go somewhere!"

"Awww, but that's no fun!"

The girl laughed and took his hand, pulling him along to start walking. Kili swung their entwined fingers back and forth as they walked and the pair kept making eye contact. Daisy caught his dark eyes and he winked, causing her to feel her knees weaken a little. Every so often the prince would try to sneak a kiss from her, but she always fended him off and would rolls her eyes playfully. Kili would act innocent and then his hands would drift slowly from her hands, up and down her waist. Daisy just smirked and felt her eyes roll back when his cool palms touched her bare back. The dwarf chuckled and held her hand again. They stopped to get their bearings, and Kili buried his face in her neck. He kissed the skin lightly and nipped on it gently, Daisy shook her head and looked around. Then she spotted something, large and black in the distance, and frowned.

"Kili, please stop it..."

"Why?"

His kisses had moved up her neck to the bottom of her jaw. She was about to reply when a deafening sound echoed. A low droning horn. Kili's head snapped up. He grabbed Daisy's hand and pulled her towards the cover of some trees. He gestured for her to keep quiet and drew his bow. Daisy pulled out two of her daggers and together they crept forward towards the large mass. Shouts emerged and soon the mass split into many forms of hideous creatures. Hundreds upon hundreds of orcs were marching into the distance. Kili nearly dropped his bow in shock of the amount.

"Why so many?!"

Daisy's frown deepened.

"The mountain...remember that Azog wants Thorin dead...we have to warn them!"

Kili turned to her.

"We'll never make it before they do. Besides a company of 16 has no chance against that..."

Daisy shook her head.

"Don't worry we'll be fine...right now we have to speed up if we wanna get to the mountain at all!"

…

Anne leaned against the side of the boat. Her side hurt a little, but not as much as she thought it would've. Like clockwork, Bard had arrived, shot a few arrows, spoken to Balin, examined the barrels and was now helping them into Laketown. She glanced at the handsome man, he was just like how he'd been portrayed in her world, if not more younger. A hand on her shoulder and she looked round at Dwalin.

"Are ye alright?"

Anne huffed.

"I'm not going to talk to you until you apologize to Fili!"

The bulky dwarf huffed.

"Ye cannae just go and kiss a dwarf without my permission..."

The brunette girl looked at the warrior hard, and he returned the glare with the same amount of ferocity. Anne broke the looks first to glance over at Fili. The prince was talking to his uncle and already had a dark bruise forming on his cheek. Dwalin watched as her eyes filled with love and warmth for the dwarf. He sighed and rubbed a hand over his face. She was turning him soft again, he couldn't resist those soft eyes.

"Fine fine! I'll apologize!"

Anne turned to him and beamed. She wrapped her arms round him, wincing a little as pain shot through her. The girl felt a little queasy, but not enough for her to rouse attention. Dwalin hugged her gently and then went over to apologize to the blonde dwarf. The girl took this minute of privacy to check her wound. The veins around it were dark and horrid looking, as well as the gaping red, inflamed hole, where the arrow had pierced. She touched it lightly and hissed through her teeth as it flared in agony. A shape appeared through the fog, all walked to the edge and Gloin began to rant.

"I have been led dry by this venture."

"Gloin..."

"And what have I seen for ma investment?"

"Uh Gloin!"

"Nout but misery and grief and..."

"GLOIN!"

The dwarf looked up at the girl and then his gaze followed everyone else's as they stared at the beauty of the Lonely Mountain. It rose high into the sky, it's peak glaring proudly in the light. Anne felt tears spring into her eyes and watched as the company became all emotional at the sight. Fili, who was behind the girl, put an arm gently round her and leaned his head on hers.

"Our home..."

"Take it. Take all of it!"

Anne smiled as Gloin thrust his money bag at Balin. Bilbo coughed loudly and everyone looked at him. Bard ran up to them.

"The money quickly."

"Not until we get our provisions!"

"If you value your freedom you'll do as I say. There are guards up ahead."

The money was pushed into Bard's outstretched palm and everyone was hurried into barrels. They all watched as Bard spoke to another man. Bilbo commented on what was happening.

"Uh...now they're shaking hands."

"What?!"

"He's selling us out!"

They all braced for their discovery and then suddenly a ton of fish was poured into each barrel. Anne shivered as one slid down her back and nearly yelled when another went down her front. The jerk caused her side to ache and she ground down on her teeth. Bard kicked a barrel as they approached the toll gate. The girl desperately wanted to peek out over the top to get a glimpse of the town as the barge-man and the toll-man conversed, but a slimy voice stopped her.

"Not so fast. Assignment of empty barrels from the Woodland Realm."

Anne heard footsteps approach her barrel.

"Only they're not empty. Are they Bard? If I remember correctly you're licensed as a barge-man, not a fisherman!"

Bard spoke harshly back.

"That's none of your business."

"Wrong. It's the Master's business, which makes it my business."

From her fishy prison, the girl was really disliking Alfrid already.

"Have a heart people need to eat!"

"These fish are illegal!"

They heard the squelch as a fish hit the deck.

"Empty the barrels over the side!"

Anne tensed, her side hurting, as her barrel was edged closer to the side. She felt herself slide to one side as she was tipped. Fish slid from the top and her breathing became so loud that she couldn't hear Bard talking to Alfrid. Suddenly the tipping stopped and she was dumped heavily back onto the deck. Alfrid sneered.

"We know where you live."

Bard scoffed.

"It's a small place. Everyone knows where everyone lives!"

The barge drifted onwards and eventually creaked to a stop. Bard kicked over the barrels and Anne slid out and onto the deck. She started coughing as the smell of fish started to overwhelm her nose. Fili rushed over and helped her up. He kissed her cheek lightly as she smiled gratefully to him. Bard handed a man a couple of coins. The girl saw Dwalin tense, but was glad when he didn't react in any force.

"You didn't see them they were never here."

Then he lead them through a couple of streets.

"Da!"

Anne rolled her eyes.

"It's DaD!"

A couple of the dwarves chuckled. Bard glanced back to her and then to where a young lad had ran through a street towards him. He looked at his son.

"What is it Bain?"

"The guards, they're watching our house!"

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