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"A dwarvish wind lance," Thorin breathed, looking out a window and seeing a wooden tower not far away, where a curved mounted crossbow stood.
"You look like you've seen a ghost." Bilbo commented, sipping his drink.
"He has. The last time we saw such a weapon, a city was on fire. It was the day the dragon came." Balin said. "The day that Smaug destroyed Dale. Girion, the Lord of the city, rallied his bowman to fire upon the beast."
Alenia could imagine it, how fearful those men must have been, knowing that they were all that stood between the dragon and their loved ones, and that it was an almost impossible mission.
"But a dragon's hide is tough, tougher than the strongest armor. Only a black arrow, fired from a wind-lance, could have pierced the dragon's hide, and few of those arrows were ever made."
The half-elf could picture the men missing shot after shot, some perishing in the dragon fire and she shivered slightly, causing Kili's arm to wrap around her tighter, his head still on her shoulder.
"His store was running low when Girion made his last stand."
All alone. The Lord of his people, the last one to defend them. Before he was killed like his men before him.
"Had the aim of Men been true that day, much would have been different." Thorin said, still gazing out the window sadly.
"You speak as if you were there." Bard said, from where he and his son were sitting and observing.
"All dwarves know the tale." Thorin said, dodging the question.
"Then you would know that Girion hit the dragon. He loosened a scale under the left wing. One more shot and he would have killed the beast." Bain said ferverently.
"That's a fairy story, lad. Nothing more." Dwalin rebuffed gently.
"You took our money. Where are the weapons?" Thorin said, changing the subject and walking up to Bard.
Bard stood. "Wait here."
The man exited the room, heading down the stairs the Company had climbed upon their exit of the toilet.
"Tomorrow begins the last days of autumn." Thorin said, speaking to Balin, Fili, Kili and Alenia.
"Durin's Day falls morn after next." Balin noted.
"Then we must reach the mountain before then." Alenia warned.
Kili picked his head up from his lover's shoulder to ask, "And if we do not? If we fail to find the hidden door before that time?"
"Then this quest has been for nothing." Fili replied somberly.
Bard's boots clumped on the stairs, as he returned to the room, the Company standing to move towards him. Alenia moved to lean against a wooden column supporting the ceiling, while Bard laid the bundle he carried on the table, unwrapping it to reveal a pile of sharp, dirty metal.
The dwarves just stared, almost in horror, at the so-called weapons.
Alenia had used worse, so she didn't particularly care. If it ended up saving her life or those of her friends, then she would gladly take them and use them.
"What is this?" Thorin asked, picking up a stick with a metal hook attached to one end.
"Pike-hook. Made from an old harpoon." Bard replied.
"And this?" Kili asked, lifting a crude hammer.
"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 said.
Thorin and Dwalin exchanged disgusted looks, and Alenia fought the urge to scowl at them.
"We paid you for weapons. Iron-forged swords and axes!" Gloin protested.
"It's a joke!" Bofur exclaimed, throwing the makeshift weapon onto the table.
"You won't find better outside the city armory. All iron-forged weapons are held there under lock and key." Bard said, ignoring the grumbles sounding from around him.
"Thorin." Balin said, and Bard's eyes shifted to the white-haired dwarf at the name. "Why not take what's been offered and go? I've made do with less; so have you. I say we leave now."
"You're not going anywhere." Bard said.
"What did you say?!" Dwalin asked angrily.
"There are spies watching this house and probably every dock and wharf in the town. You must wait till nightfall." The man explained.
The dwarves begrudgingly began to settle down once more, while Alenia slid down into a sitting position, once again examining her leg, after making sure no one was looking. Or at least, she thought no one was looking.
Kili just stared in worry from across the room as the half-elf's face furrowed in pain, before she wiped it away completely.
Kili walked over to sit beside her, shoving the questions down.
If it were really bad she would tell someone. Kili thought. Right?
Next to him, Alenia thought before she leaned her head on the dwarf's shoulder, It's a long way to nightfall.
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a/n:
oh kili. you should know by now that ur girl is self-sacrificing to a fault
so the second part of the double update will come tmrw. i had a few assignments that were due online tonight that i had to work on. but now i'm on break! so hopefully, i'll be able to create some more chapters in advance :))
