Thank you all so much for the reviews and support! I'm happy that I reached my goal so as promised, here is your chapter!
Special Thanks: Warm thanks to killthepain and likarian for being with the story so long and also reviewing!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Hobbit or any of it's characters, I do however own mine and the artwork I put into the series.
Chapter Thirteen: Unexpected Surprise
Though Lian's slumber was short, it was peaceful and rebuilt her strength effectively; she shifted, having awoken to find her hand empty. It scared her, made her doubt if it was a dream or not. That maybe she had truly gone mad in that forest and was now imagining things. It wouldn't be far off, she found half the things she did on this quest insane even to herself.
"How long do you think we've been in here?" Nori's question echoed throughout the cavern, leaving no doubt that everyone heard it from their cells.
"It must be nearly dawn." Bofur said, his voice flat and lacking any hope. They'd all been awake for hours now; sleep not lasting long in the cramped and tense dungeon.
"We're never gonna reach the mountain, are we?" Ori asked sadly.
"Not locked up here."
There stood Bilbo, dangling a loop of keys from his hand. "Bilbo! Ya beautiful, reckless hobbit!" Lian laughed, pressing her face against the metal bars to see Bilbo unlock Thorin from his cell.
The company cried out in cheers, causing the hobbit to hiss at them to be quiet; for there were still guards nearby. One by one the hobbit released the company; Lian was quick to flank Thorin's side, getting a bit too close to the edge of the path for her liking.
"This way." Bilbo whispered, leading the dwarves down the several flights of stairs, eventually entering the cellar.
"You're supposed to be leading us out, not deeper in." Bofur hissed, pausing when one of the two elf guards stirred; only to settle back into a more comfortable position.
"I need you all to get in the barrels, please, please trust me!" Bilbo begged.
"We'll be caught." Dwalin growled.
"Do as he says. Into the barrels; all of you." Thorin ordered, pushing Nori forward as they began to shuffle forward. Lian growled upon her attempt to squeeze inside the barrel, trying to curl her legs in tightly so she could actually get all the way in but her longer legs caused her more trouble.
"I thought you were supposed to be more flexible than that, Lian." Fili joked, helping wedge her into the barrel.
"I have mobility, not flexibility." She growled, wiggling her body in an attempt to fit, honestly she didn't know how she wasn't fitting. She suddenly noticed that her belt buckle that usually held her weapons had cause on the metal rim, wedged between wood and metal and keeping her from sliding all the way inside.
"Maybe you should try slimming down then." Fili grunted, pushing down on her shoulders one last time until she felt the buckle snap, letting her slide easily in without any problems.
"Go!" She hissed, slapping Fili's hand away so he could get into his own barrel. Bilbo quickly counted the occupied barrels, making sure everyone was present before walking away to the side.
"What do we do now?" Bofur asked, poking his head out; followed by several others. "Hold your breath." Bilbo answered, cutting some sort of rope before pushing against a lever.
Lian felt her stomach lurch when the floor under her shifted; rolling forward as she quickly clung to the sides of the barrel.
She felt air catch her, turning her head to see water rushing towards her, quickly plugging her nose tightly with her thumb and forefinger as she fills her lungs with air then held.
Water hit her, swallowing her whole as she squeezed her eyes shut, the collision of icy water a shock to her and making her loose her breath in a grunt. She broke through the surface, gasping for air as Bilbo quickly followed behind them, jumping feet first into the water and resurfacing to be grabbed and dragged into a barrel by Nori. "Well done, Master Baggins. Now let's go." Thorin said.
A current is quick to catch them, sending them down stream just as they heard Elves yelling behind them as they're swept downstream through a small cave. "Hold on!" Oin bellowed as a sheer drop appeared before them, sunlight streaming in from the entrance.
"Why must there always be a drop?!" Lian yelled right before they went over, water splashing against them with the violent current. Lian let out a shocked gasp, icy water sending goosebumps along her flesh as it began to numb her.
Lian looked back when she felt something strike the side of her barrel, looking over the side to see a crudely made arrow embedded in the wood. Panic accelerated her heart tenfold, making her blood pump and sting as it rushed under her chilled flesh.
"Orcs!" She bellowed over the roar of the current, catching everyone's attention as a swarm of orcs run along the shoreline, attempting to catch up with them on land. They began to jump from the shores, landing on barrels of dwarves while their archers shot from the bay.
Lian grappled with one of the orcs, grunting as it attempted to push it's blade against her neck. With a yell and hard shove she pushed the orc back, ripping the sword out of its hands before it toppled into the water.
"Help!" Ori cried, Water coming down upon his head violently and relentless as he coughed and gasped for air.
Lian grabbed the edge of Ori's barrel, knotting the loosely dangling ropes off the barrels together so he wouldn't float away. She held on tight as they went over another drop, gritting her teeth at the icy dunk.
She shoved Ori's head down into the barrel as they pass under a fallen log, slicing the feet right off an orc before Dwalin came in from behind, chopping the rotting log in half and sending the orc in.
Suddenly the elf from Mirkwood appeared, jumping from the shore to Dwalin and Gloin's heads, using them as floats while he shot down orcs. Quickly he pivoted on the smooth head of Dwalin to balance on one leg, releasing arrow after arrow.
Hastily he used the barrels as stepping stones, nearly stomping Lian's fingers in as he pushed off the edge of her barrel and onto the shore. An orc came up from behind the elf but is quickly impaled thanks to an axe thrown by Thorin.
The company is swept downstream, watching as the elves pushed back the fighting orcs that had been previously chasing them. Danger out of their hair and into the elves as the company floats away.
Eventually the waters calm, causing them to slowly creep along the stream in a huddle of barrels. "Is there anything following us?" Thorin asked.
"Not that I can see." Dori called as Bofur suddenly stood from his barrel, spitting out water loudly; his hat weighed down heavily with water.
"I think we've lost the orcs." Bofur exclaimed.
"Not for long; we've lost the current and they'll be sure to follow; make for the shore." Thorin ordered, using his arms to swim into shallow water. Lian is quick to hop out of the barrel, the water reaching her chin as she treaded through; pulling the rope that kept Ori and her barrel together.
She patted Ori's shoulder, water dripping off them both as they reach the rocky shore and Lian quickly taking a seat on the rounded pebbles. She wrung her hair out, purposely whipping her drenched locks into Fili's face; who lets out a loud complaint when it got in his mouth.
"What was that for?" He growled, rubbing his face in annoyance; sending her a nasty look despite the smile playing along his lips.
"Cause, my dear friend, ya decided to tell a woman she's fat. Big no-no there. Might want to find another way to woo the girls, lad." She ruffled his hair for added measure, her added height making it so much more enjoyable.
"On your feet everyone!" Thorin roared, his dark locks sticking to the curvature of his jaw as water descended in rivulets.
"We're exhausted, Uncle. We should wait a bit longer so everyone can catch their breath." Fili reasoned.
"There's an orc pack hot on our trail, we need to keep moving." Thorin pursed his lips, glancing back upstream.
"To where?" Balin asked, his aged face worn out.
"To the mountain, we're so close and I'm sure we can make it." Bilbo breathed.
"We'll be run down. A lake stands between us and the mountain; we lack weapons to defend ourselves." Dwalin growled.
Thorin furrowed his brow at this, mulling over the pros and cons in his head before giving the company a sweeping glance. "We'll have a quick break but we're leaving immediately after." Thorin sighed, taking a seat on a boulder and Lian is quick to plop her soaked body down beside him, looking up at his worn out features.
"I know ya want to get to the mountain but don't kill yerself before then." She lightly teased, tempted to take his hand but instead settled for shyly tracing her fingers over a smooth pebble.
"Durin's day is upon us, if we aren't quick then it'll be all for naught." Thorin growled and her urge to hold his hand once more over powered her as she gently took his rough hand into her own.
"If we're too tired to face a dragon then it will be all for naught, just let us rest for a minute. Besides, I don't see this quest ending in failure and I'm usually right." She gave the dwarf a lopsided grin only making him frown deeper.
"Come on, don't be like that. I'd bet my beard on it if I had one." This got a crack of a smile out of him as he tenderly traced his thumb along her knuckles.
From the corner of her eye she spotted something and turned; immediately getting to her feet when she saw a human man drawing an arrow towards Ori. The said dwarf looking up in horror; clutching his boot he'd been previously dumping water out of.
"Ori!" Dori cried.
Kili quickly tried to throw an orc axe at him but the man quickly let his arrow fly, knocking the axe from Kili's hand and pulling another arrow with speed you'd only see in an elf. Lian inched closer to Ori, feeling the need to at least be close enough to comfort the frightened dwarf but the arrow is quickly pointed towards her; halting her from any further advance.
"Don't move or you die." He warned.
The company stoof rigid, glowering at the man; weighing their options. "Excuse me, you're from Lake-Town, no?" Balin asked, inching forward cautiously and lifting his hands in defense when the arrow is pointed at him.
"I was wondering if your barge was possibly available for hire?" Balin continued slowly, weighing the man's reaction carefully.
The man looked at Balin for a while before glancing over their company until he slowly lowered his bow. Balin cautiously walked towards the human, Thorin following as they converse with the strange man.
Dori and Nori quickly flocked their brother, checking him for injuries and pulling him closer to the group.
"Do you think he'll lead us passage over the lake?" Kili asked, joining Fili at the front of the on looking group; watching the two dwarves and man closely.
"He's obviously very cautious; the likelihood of him trusting us is slim." Lian observed, pursing her lips tightly.
"We're not asking him to trust us, just simply take us over the lake." Dwalin huffed.
"Well his decision is important whether ya like it or not." She patted the dwarfs shoulder heavily, causing him to growl in annoyance.
"Well, I think the most important thing right now is to get these." Bilbo grunted, hauling a saturated sack from one of the barrels. The sound of metal hitting rock catching everyone's attention, turning to see Bilbo open the sack to reveal all their weapons the elves had taken from them.
"Bilbo Baggins! You've done it again!" Gloin cheered, followed by several rough pats on the back; causing the hobbit to grunt and rub his back in pain.
"I saw them and figured we'd need them." He explained.
"Why didn't ya show us before?" Lian asked, taking up her mace, axe and hunting knife graciously.
"And not have another excuse to rest? No thank you." Bilbo shook his head and Lian laughed at the hobbit.
"Once again your smart thinking has done us well, Master Baggins." Thorin praised the hobbit, obviously finished with the conversation with the man. Sadly Thorin's sword was nowhere to be seen though.
"I didn't see your sword with the other weapons, it must have been taken somewhere else." Bilbo apologized but Thorin simply shook his head, borrowing a battle axe from Dwalin.
"The human has granted us passage over the lake, gather your things and prepare to board." Thorin explained and the dwarves make quick work as the human gathered the barrels; placing them on his boat for reasons unknown to her.
They board the human's boat, taking seats on the floor as he slowly steered them farther into the lake; the top of the water glassy and unmoving.
Lian grumbled, glaring down at her broken strap that was supposed to hold her weapons to her back but alas the leather that had held to the metal buckle had snapped at the seam. She'd need a needle and thread to repair it properly.
"You shouldn't glare, lass. It's not going to magically mend its self-back together." She looked up, watching Balin take a seat next to her; groaning when his back gave a loud crack.
"A lass can try, can she not?" Lian smiled and put the strap away for later.
"I suppose so." He chuckled, his wrinkled cheeks lifting as he smiled with a certain twinkle in his eye. "May I be so rude as to ask you something?" He asked, stroking his thick fingers through the fair beard upon his chest.
"That depends on what ya ask but sure, I'll bite. What is it ya want to know?" She questioned, sending a skeptical look towards the elder dwarf.
"When will Thorin begin his courting of you?"
Lian inhaled sharply, choking and coughing on her own saliva as she slammed her hand down furious against the floor of the boat.
"What?!" She hissed after finally regaining her breath; receiving several strange looks, including from Thorin which made her cheeks grow hot in embarrassment.
"I'm not blind, lass. I can see the way you look at each other. Not to mention with what Kili told us, it was only a matter of time." Balin chortled and she quickly shushed the dwarf, not wanting the others to hear, especially Thorin.
"Yer thinking way too far ahead." She hissed, her cheeks on fire at even the suggestion.
"Well there's nothing to be ashamed about, opposites do and attract and you two are certainly that, it is good to take it slow and know your partner though. Now I know that there are times when you've downed too many ales or you two may find yourself tossing about in a wagon full of corn but you should wait til marria- ." Lian cut him off there.
"Balin, please let's not talk about this." She pleaded, already feeling like jumping into the lake to escape this awkward situation.
"Okay, lass. But I'll tell you this; I've never seen Thorin look at a lass quite like he does you. It's nice to see him finding happiness after all this time." Balin gave her a warm smile and patted her shoulder fondly before moving over to sit with Dwalin.
Lian sighed, placing her face in her hands as she tried to clear her head from the jumble of thoughts Balin had stirred up. Lian looked out towards the shore, squinting when movement caught her eye in the distance. She inhaled sharply, eyes widening when she recognized the person that walked out on the shore, looking older then when she'd last seen him.
"Father?!" She breathed, her lungs not seeming to have the capacity to be any louder than a whisper. As if he'd heard her he looked up, his green eyes meeting her own with reflected shock before a wall of fog suddenly cut them off.
She slowly sat back, not realizing she had been leaning over the edge of the boat until the steady hand of Bifur pulled her back to her senses.
She patted the dwarf's hand, reassuring him that she was fine now and he gave her a grunt before turning back to his own thoughts.
There was no way her father could be there, he was thousands of miles away in Forochel, watching over their kingdom. It had to be a trick, the lake must have been filled with illusion or cursed, something of that sort.
She shook her head, gnawing on her lip nervously as she tried to glance back but there was no way she could look through that wall of fog much less two feet in front of her.
"Look out!"Bofur yelled, the boat lurching to the left, sending Lian forward and into the floor with a loud curse.
"What the hell?!" She snapped, rubbing her now sore forehead and sending a nasty look at the man. Looking around she saw huge formations of rock protruding from the water and suddenly dreaded what it'd be like to drown.
"What are you trying to do? Drown us?" Thorin snapped.
"I was born and bred on these waters, Master Dwarf. If I wanted to drown you I would have simply pushed you over by now." Bard huffed.
"I've had enough of this lippy Lake-Man. I say throw him over and be done with him." Dwalin growled.
"We don't have to like him; he's just taking us over the lake." Balin sighed, attempting to calm the irked dwarves. "Now I believe it's time for payment, Gloin."
"What? I don't have anything!" Gloin defended quickly, all eyes upon him now. "Gloin." Thorin said, making the dwarf groan loudly before removing his own boot; a pouch of coins falling out heavily. The least you can expect from a dwarf.
The man pocketed the money before warning them of the guards ahead. "How are we supposed to get past the guards?" Bilbo asked.
"Get in the barrels, I have an idea." The man ushered them back into the barrels, earning several complaints along the way.
Lian slid into the barrel easier now than before, placing her weapons in the gap to her side and waiting. Suddenly piles of fish are dumped on her, burying her in a foul stench as she let out a yell of disgust, nose scrunched at the smell.
After all the barrels were full the boat once again moves forward, Lian waiting anxiously for it to be clear. She strained her ears to listen as they stop; only catching bits and pieces of conversation.
Bard seemed to be the name of the man and from what she could here he wasn't particularly liked by the guards. She let out a sharp breath when she felt the barrel she was in tilt, fish falling off the top of the barrel.
She grabbed her mace, waiting to see if she'd be caught when suddenly she's halted; her heart pounding a mile a minute as her barrels roughly set back upright.
After a few moments the boat moved on, only stopping once more before they completely come to a halt and Bard hissed for them to come out.
Quickly she stood with her weapons, fish falling off her as she stepped out of the barrel; shoving the handles of her mace and axe under her belt and sash; effectively holding them in place.
She helped Bilbo out of his barrel, Bard guiding the company to the boardwalk as people bustle through the dingy town. It was indeed a sad looking place, looking run down and icy as the first snow had already fallen upon the roofs and frozen the water.
"What is this?" Bilbo asked.
"This is the world of Men." Thorin answered, ushering the hobbit along as they attempt to attract as little attention as possible. For Lian it was easy, for the thirteen dwarves and hobbit; not so much.
Suddenly something caught her eye again, turning to catch a glimpse of fur before it was lost in the crowd. Lian shook her head, focusing on sneaking through the town as Bard instructed them to take the 'back door'.
The dwarves quickly dive into the icy water, one by one grouping under Bards house and just as Lian was about to join them she felt a hand on her shoulder.
Quickly she spun around, fearing they had been caught but it seemed that would have been more believable then what she saw.
"Stevvin?" She gaped, shell shocked to see her father's moody adviser before her, the same as when she'd last saw him. Stevvin was a very broad man, standing up to 6'2 with a mass of over 200 pounds of muscle upon his person, he was in fact not only her father's adviser but his main Captain.
"What are ya doing here?!" She hissed, quickly pushing him into a more secluded area, away from the prying eyes of nosy townsmen.
"Princess, you must come with me." He ordered, always straight to the point.
"What are ya talking about? Why are ya here? How did ya get here?" She questioned, not believing that the man was really here in the first place. First she imagined seeing her father and now Stevvin, she truly had gone mad. She had lost all sanity before the age of 25, this must be a new record.
"When your horse came back to Forochel on its own your father lost it. He demanded that you be found and brought back, even if we were to find you dead. You should have never gone with that wizard." He growled.
Lian paused, taking a moment to process what was being said until she shook her head. "I can't leave. I have to get back to everyone, they need me." She explained.
"You father needs you. He's been worried sick, won't eat or hardly sleep." Stevvin hissed. "You think you'll help those dwarves reclaim their kingdom? Nonsense, you'll only die doing their dirty work."
"I know what I have at stake!" Lian bellowed loudly, lowering her voice as she continued. "Ya think I'm only being reckless, that I don't know what I'll be putting on the line here? I am many things but I am no fool!"
"I refuse to turn my back while they lay their lives on the line, not now and not ever. Think of me what ya will but I will not be leaving until we have completed this quest. In victory or death!" Lian finished, her breathing slightly heavy as she held Stevvin's steely gaze with her own.
Stevvin looked her over, analyzing the girl he'd watch grow up from the day she was inside her mother's womb to now. The girl who had rebelled constantly and stormed out in temper tantrums when she didn't get her way; yes, she was certainly their princess but she had changed since he last saw her. Gone was the child like look in her eyes to reveal a certain level of maturity that hadn't been there before.
"I'm sure that your father will be happy to hear you're alive and doing well...but he won't be leaving without you. We'll wait for you to finish your quest and then leave immediately after, you hear?" He screwed his lips into a scowl, her face lighting up and he can't help feeling like he'd lost from the utter look of victory on her face.
"Of course. Thank you Stevvin." She exclaimed, wrapping her arms around the hulking man, earning a grumble of complaint.
"Be…safe." Stevvin said, patting her shoulder firmly before striding away, his heavy footfalls always familiar to her. Oh how she'd missed the man and she did wish to see her father but she knew that her obligations to the company came first.
Lian let a small smile grace her lips before she headed back towards Bard's house but only to be grabbed and yanked inside.
How Balin's feeling:
(´ー`)✧
Since last chapter got so many reviews lets break the record! I'm aiming for 10 reviews til I update again so review if you want me to!
PREVIEW FOR CHAPTER FOURTEEN:
"Thorin…I'm sorry." Lian breathed, placing a sympathetic hand upon his shoulder only for the proud dwarf to shrug it off sharply. "Join the rest of the group; I will be with you shortly." He ordered coldly, a stern mask once more in place but she could see the sorrow in his eyes as easy as if he was screaming it out to the world.