That's Another Story For Later

Lippy Lakeman

"Excuse me, but, uh, you're from Laketown, if I'm not mistaken?" Balin made his way in my vision, his hands raised. "That barge over there, it wouldn't be available for hire, by any chance?" Balin made a gesture, and I lowered my bow as did that man did, sheathing my newly found arrows. The man walked to his barge, climbing on. We slowly approached the vessel.

"What makes you think I will help you?" He started loading the barrels onto the boat. I slid my body under Kili, helping Fili support him. His arm draped over my shoulder, and his hand clutched my bicep, telling me how much pain he was in. I scrawled on Fili's back. He's more injured than I thought. Fili answered an affirmative. We leaned him against a rock that was jutting out, and I checked to see the binding was soaked through. I unwrapped it, and grabbed another from my pocket, rebinding it.

"Those boots have been better days." Balin said as the man continued to load the barrels on. "As had that coat. No doubt you have some hungry mouths to feed. How many bairns?" Balin said in a soft tone. Fili touched his brother's shoulder, and looked at the two talking people. Kili's face was pale, and he was in more pain than he let on. I grabbed his hand, and he squeezed it tight.

"A boy and two girls."

"And your wife, I'd imagine she's a beauty." the lakeman stopped what he was doing, and stared pensively on some fixed point.

"Aye. She was." Balin's smiled started to fade upon realization.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-" Balin started. I started getting annoyed. This was getting us nowhere, and we needed to do something about Kili. Never mind the Orcs, though that was the other thought in my mind, and then Thranduil

"Oh, come on, come on." Dwalin whispered to Thorin.

"Enough with the niceties." We said together. I looked back, and his eyes held small amusement. Like father, like daughter, am I right?

"What's your hurry?"

"What's it to you?" I answered, and Dwalin looked as though he wanted to say the same thing.

"I would like to know who you are and what you are doing in these lands." I growled, and started drawing my sword. He did not need to know such information. Fili grabbed my hand, stopping me.

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

"Simple merchants, you say? I highly doubt she is of your kin. She looks more like a short elf, and elves are no merchants." His eyes fixed onto me, and I glared daggers, almost grabbing one, except Fili still had my hand, and Kili was clutching the other one.

"We'll need food, supplies, weapons." Thorin said, interrupting my rude comment. "Can you help us?" He said, pointing a look at me. I shrugged, and relented to the order of my king. The lakeman started to examine the dents and nicks from the arrows during our fight to escape.

"I know where these barrels came from." He said, running his fingers over a dent.

"What of it?" I snarled with Thorin. It seems none of us trusted that lakeman, and we all were wary of his inquisitive statements and questions.

"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 will see you in irons before risking the wrath of King Thranduil." the lakeman said, boarding his barge. He tossed a rope to Balin. I watched as Thorin mouthed to Balin to offer him more.

"I'd wager there are ways to enter the town unseen." The old dwarf challenged. Maybe it would work for a prideful dwarf, but not for a man of will.