Cousin of Bilbo Baggins: The Hobbit

Lake Town

Astrid's POV

Bard docked the barge and we got the others out of the barrels. He then approached the dock keeper and slips him a coin. "You didn't see them, they were never here. The fish you can have for nothing" he tells him. Then leads us and soon a boy runs up to Bard.

"Da, our house is being watched" he tells Bard. Fili grabs my hand as we look up at Bard. Who comes up with a plan. Bilbo would go with the others by water while I went with him and his son Bain. We reach his house and I go in first with Bain. Just before Bard enters, he tosses an apple to one of the fisherman.

"You can tell the Master that I'm done for the day" Bard tells him. Then enters the house shutting the door behind him. Just then two girls appeared.

"Da! Where have you been?" the youngest asks him.

"Father! There you are. I was worried" the older one states. Bard hugs them both then has me come forward.

"Sigrid, this is Astrid. Please found her clothes to wear and grab some towels & blankets" Bard instructs. Sigrid nods her head and leads me to her room. She found some clothes and handed them to me. Then left so that I can change in private. I do so and then go back to the main room as Bard placed things on the table.

"What is this?" Thorin demands picking up a pike hook. Fili hands me my axe and I take a towel. Then start to dry it.

"Pike-hook. Made from an old harpoon" Bard explains.

"And this?" Kili asks.

"A crowbill, we call it, fashioned from a smithy's hammer. It's heavy in hand, I grant, but in defense of your life, these will serve you better than none" Bard tells them.

"We paid you for weapons" Gloin tells him.

"You won't find better outside the city armory. All iron-forged weapons are held there under lock and key" Bard states. I see Dwalin and Thorin hatching a plan in their heads & sigh.

"Thorin, why not take what is offered?" I ask him.

"Aye, I've made do with less; so have you. I say we leave now" Balin adds.

"You're not going anywhere" Bard tells us firmly. Fili puts me behind him as we look up at Bard confused.

"What did you say?" Dwalin demands.

"There's spies watching this house and probably every dock and wharf in the town. You must wait till nightfall" Bard explains. The others begin to sit down and I help Kili sit on the couch. Bard then goes out onto the porch.

"You look lovely Astrid, that dress brings out your eyes" Fili tells me smiling.

"Are you two finally courting?" Kili asks us.

"Yes, I have noticed you two have gotten closer" Balin says smiling.

"She called him her fiance earlier" Ori states.

"That was just a lie for Bard, but maybe one day in the future" I say smiling up at Fili.

"But we are indeed courting" Fili clarifies.

"I knew it!" Bofur shouts. "Pay up lads" he tells the others. I roll my eyes at them and Fili just smiles kissing my cheek.

"Now that you are all done discussing my nephew's love life. We have a plan to get real weapons" Thorin tells us quietly. We all gather around him so that the children can't hear us. Thorin explains the plan and we then leave. The boy tried to stop us but I kept him back before following the others to the armory.

We behind a boat as two watchmen walk by. "As soon as we have the weapons, we make straight for the mountain. Go, go, go" Thorin tells us. Nori, Dori, Bilbo, Thorin, and Kili go in through the window. While the rest of us keep guard outside.

Everything was going according to plan until we hear a crush from inside. "Run!" I hear Dori shouts from inside. Us outside begin to run, but are caught by the guards. The others are caught to and brought to us. We are then taken to the master of Lake Town.

"What is the meaning of this?" the master demands.

"We caught 'em stealing weapons, sire" the captain tells him.

"Enemies of the state, then" the master states.

"We mean you no ill will" I state as Fili pulls me close.

"You do not know to whom you speak. This is no common criminal; this is Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror" Dwalin declares. Thorin steps forward and the crowd murmur in excitement.

"We have come to reclaim our homeland. I remember this town and the great days of old. Fleets of boats lay at harbor, filled with silks and fine gems. This was no forsaken town on a lake! This was the center of all trade in the North" Thorin explains. "I would see those days return. I would relight the great forges of the dwarves and send wealth and riches flowing once more from the halls of Erebor" he announces.

The people cheer and clap, and the Master looks on, calculating. But suddenly another voice rings out through the crowd. "Death! That is what you will bring upon us. Dragon-fire and ruin. If you awaken that beast, it will destroy us all" Bard states. The people around us whisper anxiously.

"You can listen to this naysayer, but I promise you this; If we succeed, all will share in the wealth of the mountain. You will have enough gold to rebuild Esgaroth ten times over" Thorin tells the crowd. But I am unsure if this is wise, if what Bard says is true. We could be Lake Town's doom.

"All of you! Listen to me! You must listen! Have you forgotten what happened to Dale?!" Bard asks the people. "Have you forgotten those who died in the firestorm? And for what purpose? The blind ambition of a mountain-king so riven by greed, he could not see beyond his own desire" he states. Bard and Thorin stare at each other angrily. The master steps forward.

"Now, now, we must not, any of us, be too quick to lay blame. Let us not forget that it was Girion, Lord of Dale, your ancestor, who failed to kill the beast" he tells Bard.

"It's true, sire. We all know the story: arrow after arrow he shot, each one missing its mark" Alfrid states. Bard looks around as the crowd yells angrily at him. He then strides forward and speaks to Thorin earnestly.

"You have no right to that mountain" he tells him.

"I have the only right" Thorin tells him and then turns to the master. "I speak to the Master of the men of the Lake. Will you see the prophecy fulfilled? Will you share in the great wealth of our people? What say you?" he asks him.

"I say unto you...welcome! Welcome and thrice welcome, King under the Mountain" the master declares. The crowd cheers around us. "Let us feast before your journey and of course supplies will be provided. Along with food and weapons" he tells Thorin. Who agrees to the feast.

"So who is this pretty young lady?" Alfrid asks looking at me hungrily. Fili glares at him pulling me close by the waist.

"My wife, so hands off" Fili tells him and I blush.

"I shall have a private room prepared for you both tonight" the master declares. "You all leave at dawn" he adds. I stay with Fili through the feast and we get to know each other better. He tells me about his my Dis and how he can't wait to introduce me to her. He then introduces me to ale.

We both drank to much. He then drags me to our room while I giggle. Once inside with the door locked he pulls me in for a kiss. We strip and lay on the bed. And ...

A/N

Picture above of Bard's children and picture on the external link of Astrid's new dress.