Hey all! I'm early for once! Yay! Hope you are all enjoying this so far! Thanks once again for your continued support in this, I truly appreciate it xx

Translations:

LairaCapulet – Hey! Really glad you enjoyed that chapter! I also love the barrel scene! I know a lot of people hate it, but I find it so fun, especially the part with Bombur!

And yes, I also loved Aiden's reaction to it all, and could also see it! Ha! That would be fun to see, Aiden going up to Thranduil and asking ride down his river in a barrel again!

Yep, already have plans for him, and I hate to rain on your I told you so parade, but no, it's not with Sigrid either lol! You'll have to wait and see for that!

I saw and read your review on Changing Fates and I thank you very much for giving the story a read. It's another one I am truly fond of.

Unfortunately, Aiden is still shy and unsure of other men, so he wouldn't be standing up to Alfrid or the Master I'm afraid.

LILI DURIN – Yep, another hint of the memories coming through. And unfortunately, no matter how much she could use them for Smaug and the sickness, she won't get them back until after. They'll return when she needs them the most.

StorioAI-Free-AI-Writing-Tool – I'm glad you do so!


Chapter 20

The situation now being calm, with the man no longer threatening to shoot us at a moments notice, we follow the bowman as he makes he way back to his barge, rolling the barrels we had ridden down the river in onto it.

Thorin keeps Aiden and I close to him, though we have no intention of leaving his side. I keep my hands on Aiden's shoulders as he leans back into my legs. I smile as Thorin wraps his arm around me protectively.

"What makes you think I will help you?" the man asks.

"Those boots have seen better days." Balin points out. "As has that coat. No doubt you have some hungry mouths to feed. How many bairns?"

"A boy and two girls."

"And your wife, I'd imagine she's a beauty."

The man falters for a moment. "Aye. She was."

I look down at this. I cannot help but think of the heartache his children must have gone through at losing their mother.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"

Balin is interrupted by Dwalin whispering loudly to Thorin behind us.

"Oh, come on, come on, enough with the niceties."

I turn and slap his arm before hissing. "Don't be rude!"

Dwalin just grumbles away.

The bowman turns to him. "What's your hurry?"

"What's it to you?" Dwalin asks.

"I would like to know who you are and what you are doing in these lands."

Balin answers him. "We are simple merchants from the Blue Mountains journeying to see our kin in the Iron Hills."

"Simple merchants, you say? With a woman and child?"

The others turn to look in our direction at this, not having expected him to question us.

"My wife and son." Thorin says, his arm still around me and a hand on Aiden's shoulder. "My cousin wishes to meet them."

This comment gets everyone to look at him in surprise, even Aiden looks up at him with wide eyes while I just blush, even more so as the bowman eyes us, an eyebrow raised as if in disbelief.

We had told the company of our courtship, but we had never talked openly with them on being married, Thorin agreeing to take our relationship slow.

Thorin, sensing my discomfort, decides to take the attention of us and back on the task at hand.

"We'll need food, supplies, weapons. Can you help us?"

The man looks at the barrels and examines the various dents and nicks they received during the fight with the orcs.

"I know where these barrels came from."

"What of it?"

"I don't know what business you had with the elves, but I don't think it ended well. No one enters Laketown but by leave of the Master. All his wealth comes from trade with the Woodland Realm. He would see you in irons before risking the wrath of King Thranduil."

He then boards his barge after tossing a rope to Balin. Thorin mouths to Balin; "Offer him more."

"I'll wager there are ways to enter that town unseen." Balin comments, stating to sound panicked at this point.

The man nods. "Aye. But for that, you will need a smuggler."

"For which we will pay double."

Bard looks at him suspiciously for a few moments, before he sighs and nods, allowing us to board.

Thorin surprises me by helping me onto the barge, like a true gentleman, gentledwarf should I say. Even Aiden's father had never been like that. He then carries Aiden on after. Looking over to Kili, I watch as his brother helps him on and can't help but be worried for him. He still looks pale and not well at all. I'll have to keep a close eye on him.

As I pass him to sit with the dwarves, the bowman hands me a blanket. "For you and your son, milady. It's going to get quite cold."

I smile as I take it from him. "Thank you. . ."

"Bard. My name is Bard."

As I look over him, I suddenly get an image in my mind of this man standing in a watch tower, bow raised as he fights an unknown enemy, the glow of fire behind him, illuminating the night sky. Oh sure. That I get a vision on, but I can't get anything to help Kili?

Seeing my frown, Bard looks concerned. I just shake my head before bowing slightly with a smile.

"Thank you fir the blanket, Bard. My name is Sophia."

He smiles as we shake hands. "It's nice to meet you, Sophia."

"Likewise. Thank you for taking us to Laketown. My husband and companions might not show it, but we are very grateful."

I faltered for a moment at saying the word husband, a small blush forming at thinking of Thorin as my husband. Bard gives a humming sound at what I said.

"I will take your word for it."

I just grin as I walk back to the others, sitting next to Thorin with Aiden on my lap, while Bard sets sail once everyone is onboard..

"What did he want?" Thorin asks as he leans down to speak with me quietly.

I smile up at him, holding up the blanket. "Just to give me this for myself and Aiden. It's going to get cold apparently."

He doesn't say anything for a moment but nods as he wraps his arm around my shoulder to pull me close to him. I just smile as I lay my head on his shoulder as Bard pushes the barge away from the dock.


We sail down the river for the next few hours, sometimes in silence or other times in muttered talk. Bard was right about it turning cold, the blanket he gave me coming in handy as I wrap it around Aiden and I, although, Thorin does help keeping us warm, his arms around us both. I don't know how, but dwarves seem to have a warmer body temperature than most races. I wonder if it has something to do with living in the cold mountains twenty four seven.

Aiden spends most of his time looking around him in awe, even though there's nothing much for him to see because of the fog. I just smile, having always loved the curiosity of children. Suddenly, large stone formations appear out of the fog.

"Watch out!" Bofur exclaims.

Bard expertly and calmly, poles the barge between the rock formations, which turn out to be ancient ruins. I look at the ruins in awe. My high school history teacher would sure love investigating these.

"What are you trying to do, drown us?" Thorin asks Bard accusingly.

"I was born and bred on these waters, Master Dwarf. If I wanted to drown you, I would not do it here."

Dwalin grumbles as he leans on a barrel. "Oh I have enough of this lippy lakeman. I say we throw him over the side and be done with him."

Bilbo answer him slightly angrily. "Ohh, Bard, his name's Bard."

Bofur looks to the hobbit. "How do you know?"

"Uh, I asked him."

"I don't care what he calls himself, I don't like him." Dwalin points out.

Balin, while counting out some money, is the next to answer. "We do not have to like him, we simply have to pay him. Come on now, lads, turn out your pockets."

The dwarves begin pulling out their money and valuables. I immediately feel guilty for not being able to contribute for Aiden and I, our packs having been left behind in Mirkwood. Balin just gives me a reassuring smile as he notices.

"How do we know he won't betray us?" Dwalin whispers to Thorin next to me.

"We don't." Thorin answers.

"There's, um, just a wee problem: we're ten coins short." Balin informs us.

Aiden moves out from my arms, putting his hands into his pocket. "Will these help?" he holds out the coins that he picked up from the troll cave a few months ago. How he still has those I have no idea.

Balin smiles fondly at him, closing the lads fingers over the coins. "You keep them, laddie. We will work something else out."

I just smile. Aiden has such a pure heart. Just as he goes to speak again, wanting to help, Thorin speaks up next to me after crossing his arms.

"Gloin. Come on. Give us what you have."

Gloin scowls at this. "Don't look to me. I have been bled dry by this venture! And what have I seen for my investment? Naught but misery and grief and-"

While he has been speaking, the other dwarves seem to not pay attention half way through as they all stand and look in the distance. Also standing, I stare with my mouth open slightly and eyes wide as I see the silhouette of the Lonely Mountain through the fog. Thorin's home. . .even through the fog it looks magnificent. I lift Aiden up onto my hip, after he tugs on my sleeve, feeling as though he's missing out on something.

Looking to Thorin, I can see the longing in his face of wanting to go home. Reaching out with my free hand, I take hold of his, causing him to tear his eyes from the mountain to look to me. I smile and give his hand a comforting squeeze.

He gives me a small smile as he removes his hand from mine and instead wraps it around my waist and pulls me closer to him, making me smile, even more so when I feel him place a kiss on my head.

"Our home." he says softly.

I just smile as I lay my head on his shoulder. He takes Aiden into his arms as he holds his arms out to the dwarf, before wrapping his free arm around me again.

I continue to smile, my heart beating like crazy as we watch the mountain. I had always wanted this. A family. A loving husband with children running around our feet. It seems as though my wish is going to come true after all. I know I had asked us to take this slowly, but if he asked me this moment, I would marry Thorin in a heartbeat.

"Bless my beard. Take it. Take all of it." Gloin says as he notices the mountain, passing his full pouch to Balin.

Bilbo clears his throat, gesturing his head toward Bard, who approaches us, his hand out.

"The money, quick, give it to me."

"We'll pay you when we get our provisions, but not before." Thorin informs him, his hand tightening slightly on my hip.

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

We turn and look ahead to see the rooftops of Laketown in the distance.

Bard immediately tells us to get into the barrels and we do so, Thorin helping Aiden and I into a barrel. I hold Aiden close as Bard's barge stops at a dock just outside the city and then hearing him hop off.

"What's he doing?" I hear Dwalin ask.

Bilbo is the one to answer. "He's talking to someone. . .And he's. . .pointing right at us!"

Aiden tries burying himself more into me, I keep my arms around him as I hear him whimper slightly.

"Now they're shaking hands."

"What?" Thorin hisses..

"That villain! He's selling us out." Dwalin growls.

After hearing something that sounds like a crane, I look up in time to see thousands of dead fish fall right on top of us. Aiden grips onto me tightly and I cover him as much as I can as we are pelted by more and more fish. I groan slightly to myself, trying not to gag at the smell and taste of raw dead fish.

"Great, can things get any worse?" are the thoughts running through my head as I hear Bard climbing aboard the barge once more.


I have never once been sea sick before, but with the smell of dead fish right in front of me, I can feel my stomach doing flips.

"How are you doing?" I ask Aiden quietly.

He nods as he snuggles to get as close as he can to me, even though he's already as close as he can be.

"It smells. Can we get out yet?"

I smile as I kiss his head. "Not yet, sweetie, but hopefully soon."

After hearing one of the others groaning loudly, I hear a thud as Bard kicks one of the barrels.

"Quiet! We're approaching the toll gate."

A few moments later, I hear a new voice calling out. "Halt! Goods inspection. Papers, please. Oh, it's you, Bard."

Bard footsteps walk past us.

"Morning, Percy."

"Anything to declare?"

"Nothing, but that I am cold and tired, and ready for home."

"You and me both."

The next few seconds pass by quietly and I can't help but feel anxious.

"Here we are. All in order."

"Not so fast." Another voice cuts in.

The voice of this new person sends shivers all the way down my spine. It's a neutral tone and as oily as I'm sure the man speaking is himself.

I also can't help but thinking that I've heard his voice before, even though this is my first time coming to Laketown. I know his voice would be one you'd remember.

"Consignment of empty barrels from the Woodland Realm. Only, they're not empty, are they, Bard?"

I instantly start to panic at this, thinking we're busted.

"If I recall correctly, you're licensed as a bargeman, not a fisherman."

"That's none of your business."

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

"Oh come on, Alfrid, have a heart. People need to eat!"

"These fish are illegal."

I then hear a splash and assume the man, Alfrid, had tossed a fish into the river.

"Empty the barrels over the side."

"You heard him. Into the canal. Come on, get a move on."

Multiple footsteps are heard coming onto the barge from the men and I have to quickly put a hand over Aiden's mouth as he opens it to scream when our barrel starts moving. I also have to bite my lip to keep myself from crying out as I hunch over, trying to huddle over Aiden as low as I can as I hear the fish splashing into the water.

"Folk in this town are struggling. Times are hard. Food is scarce." Bard speaks up, trying to get them to stop.

"That's not my problem."

As more fish fall, I start to see more and more light shining through as Aiden and I come closer to being caught. I put a hand on the side of the barrel to stop us from falling out, internally begging Bard to stop this.

"And when the people hear the Master is dumping fish back in the lake, when the rioting starts, will it be your problem then?"

A few tense moments pass before the order is made.

"Stop."

I literally sag in relief as the barrel is put right again before the footsteps leave the barge.

"Ever the people's champion, eh, Bard? Protector of the common folk? You might have their favor now, bargeman, but it won't last.

"Raise the gate!" Percy's call out.

I hear the sound of the gate being raised and feel the barge moving on.

Alfrid's voice then calls out, threateningly. "The Master has his eye on you; you'd do well to remember. We know where you live."

"It's a small town, Alfrid; everyone knows where everyone lives."


Sometime later, the barge stops and after hearing a loud thud and groaning as one of the barrels is tipped over and then another, I take this to mean that we can finally get out. Once I gently pull Aiden away from me, I stand upright and take a deep breath of fresh air. Aiden pops his head up as I look around, seeing we are in a town that is built on the lake, many bridges and walkways going through it. Although it looks to be in a dilapidated state, everyone and everything looking poor.

"Get your hands off me." Dwalin growls as Bard was about to tilt his barrel over.

The others get out of their barrels, Thorin walks over to help Aiden and I out.

"Are you both alright?" Thorin asks us both.

"After the panic attack of almost being tipped into the river? We're fine, thank you." I reply, after holding Aiden close once he is on his feet.

"That was scary." Aiden mumbles as he inches closer to me, even more so as he looks around at all the people that are staring.

Thorin ruffles his hair before we join the others as Bard turns to the dock keeper as he watches us all in shock. Bard slips him a few coins.

"You didn't see them, they were never here. The fish you can have for nothing."

He then turns to us after looking around a corner to make sure the way is clear. "Stay close."

He walks on with us following behind.

"What is this place?" Bilbo asks.

"This, Master Baggins, is the world of Men." Thorin replies.

We walk on, me keeping a firm hold of Aiden's hand as the people stare as we walk past.

"Keep your heads down and keep moving. Quickly now." Bard says as he stops and urges us on.

"Halt! Oi!" a voice suddenly shouts.

We all look up to see guards heading our way.

"Come on, move!" Thorin says to us.

We take off running, but are soon cornered by another guard. The dwarves begin to attack the guards, and quickly knock them out with pots, pans, and mops, the people watching and doing nothing to stop them. We all then hide as the people pretend to go about their business as more guards show up.

"What's going on here?" one of the guards ask, I recognise him to be the same guard to order the barrels to be emptied. "Stay where you are. Nobody leaves."

I'm kneeling behind a stall, hovering over Aiden protectively. The woman standing next to us is leaning against the counter, acting as if a fight hadn't just happened a few moments ago, while the guard I managed to knock out lays right next to her.

"Braga. Hello." I suddenly hear Bard speak to the guard.

"You. What are you up to Bard?"

"Me? Nothing, I'm looking for nothing."

I start to panic as the guard next to us begins stir, which causes the woman to purposely knock over a plant-pot, which lands on his head, knocking him back out again. She then covers the guards head with a plant, another teller on the stall next to us placing a crate in front of another guard to block him and pretending to sort through some fish nets. These people are either really nice to help us or they hate the authority here. Either way, it makes me smile to see these people helping us.

"Hey Braga, your wife would look lovely in this."

Peeking over the counter, I see Bard holding up a revealing piece of clothing, which looks to be some kind of lingerie.

"What do you know of my wife?"

"I know her as well as any man in this town."

I bite my lip to keep from laughing aloud as Braga growls at Bard before storming off, the other guards following.

Bard sighs and announces the all clear. I get up with Aiden and thank the dark haired woman, who just smiles as we follow the others.

As we turn a corner, a young boy, who couldn't be more than sixteen, runs over, his face full of panic, heading straight for Bard.

"Da! Our house, it's being watched."

Bard looks around for a moment, looking to me deep in thought.

"I have an idea on how to get you to the house. But, you're not going to like it."

We all look at each other, wondering what the man could have up his sleeve.

"What choice do we have?" Thorin asks with a sigh.


And there we have it, the company are now in Lake Town. Thank you for taking the time to read this chapter, I hope you all enjoyed it xx