I was surprised to find that no one even looked twice at me. Just as we reach Bard's home and enter through the door I see Bard turn and toss and apple down to a fisherman as he says, "You can tell the Master that I'm done for the day."

Inside the house, Bard's daughters, Sigrid and Tilda, greet their father. "Da! Where have you been?" The littlest one calls as she runs to her father's arms. "Father! There you are. I was worried." His older daughter says as she also hugs her father. I stand there awkwardly before suddenly his older daughter turns to me and says, "Who's this?"

"This is Randír," Bard says to her before turning to Bain and saying, "Bain, get them in." I glance around the room before following Bain down some steps to the lower floor of the house, which is open to the water. After looking around, Bain knocks on the wall near the toilet three times. Dwalin's head appears through the toilet, which is open to the water below. I instantly cover my mouth to keep from laughing at him.

"If you speak of this to anyone, I'll rip your arms off." He says and I nod as I still stifle a chuckle. Dwalin raises the seat and begins to pull himself out of the toilet. Bain reaches out to help him, but Dwalin slaps his hand away, "Get off." Dwalin yells and I turn to Bain as I say, "Don't worry he's just embarrassed."

"Up there." Bain points up the stairs, and Dwalin goes up and I stay behind to help the rest of the dwarves out of the water. Bilbo pokes his head up through the toilet, looking flabbergasted, and Bain helps him out. The rest of the dwarves follow and head upstairs. "Da... Why are there dwarves climbing out of our toilet?" I hear Sigrid ask an I chuckle under my breath making Thorin narrow his eyes at me. "Will they bring us luck?" Tilda asks innocently and I find myself once again trying to stifle a laugh. I turn back toward the toilet just as Nori emerges from it with some leaves stuck to his hair.

"Come on Nori," I say as I lift him up and pull the leaves from his hair. When all of them are out of the water we all go upstairs and I see that they are wrapped in blankets, and their wet things have been laid in front of the fire to dry. Some of them shiver.

"It may not be the best fit, but it'll keep you warm." Bard says as Tilda hands a blanket to Bilbo who says, "Thank you very much." I smile at his manners. Thorin looks out a window and sees a wooden tower not far away. Atop the tower is a windlass, a giant cross-bow type weapon with four arms. Thorin looks at it in shock. "A Dwarvish Wind-Lance." I hear Thorin say and I follow his gaze out the window.

"You look like you've seen a ghost." I hear Bilbo say and I turn toward him right as Balin says, "He has. The last time we saw such a weapon, a city was on fire. It was the day the dragon came." Thorin looks sadly away as Balin continues, "The day that Smaug destroyed Dale. Girion, the Lord of the city, rallied his bowman to fire upon the beast; 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. His store was running low when Girion made his last stand."

I feel a twinge of sadness for the dwarves before Thorin says, "Had the aim of Men been true that day, much would have been different."

Bard approaches Thorin as he says, "You speak as if you were there."

"All dwarves know the tale." Thorin lies and I instantly feel my head start to hurt.

"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 yells out and I admire his courage for sticking up to Thorin.

"Ha ha ha! That's a fairy story, lad. Nothing more." Dwalin says and I find myself walking over to him and glaring at him. He rolls his eyes before he turns away from me and back to the fire.

Thorin strides up to Bard and says, "You took our money. Where are the weapons?"

"Wait here." He replies as he heads to the lower part of the house. While Bard is doing this, Thorin, Balin, Fili, and Kili talk quietly together but I can over hear them. "Tomorrow begins the last days of autumn." Thorin says worried as Balin replies, "Durin's Day falls morn after next. We must reach the mountain before then."

"And if we do not? If we fail to find the hidden door before that time?" Kili asks and Fili instantly replies, "Then this quest has been for nothing." Suddenly Bard returns and lays the package on the table as the dwarves stand around it. He loosens the wrappings and reveals a couple of hand-made weapons. The dwarves look at them in shock, then pick up the weapons and look at them in disgust. "What is this?" Thorin says as he pick up one of the weapons. "Pike-hook. Made from an old harpoon." Bard replies and I watch as Kili picks up another weapon as he asks, "And this?"

"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." Thorin and Dwalin look disgustedly at each other as the other dwarves yell at Bard in anger. "You won't find better outside the city armory. All iron-forged weapons are held there under lock and key." Bard says and I glance over at Thorin to see him and Dwalin look at each other out of the corners of their eyes, hatching a plan. "Thorin, why not take what's been offered and go? I've made do with less; so have you. I say we leave now." Balin says and I instantly agree.

"You're not going anywhere." Bard says and the dwarves once again erupt in anger.

"What did you say!?" Dwalin yells and I rub my forehead as Bard reminds them, "There's spies watching this house and probably every dock and wharf in the town. You must wait till nightfall." Hearing this, the dwarfs begin to settle down. Kili, leaning on a pole, looks like he's in pain and he slowly slides down the pole and sits on a couch. Wincing, he examines the bandage on his leg while making sure no one is looking, but I am. I'm always watching out for my friends. I turn to Sigrid and ask, "Pardon me but do you have any Athelas?"

She raises an eyebrow in confusion before she shakes her head and I let out a sigh. I walk through the dwarves over to where Kili is sitting and kneel down in front of him. The other dwarves are all over in another corner talking quietly. I look up into his eyes and say, "I need to look at it." Kili looks over at his kin before turning back to me and nodding. I gently pull the now blood soaked cloth from before off his leg and am instantly hit in the face by the infected smell. "The fish slime and freezing water didn't help it any." I say as I reach over and taking a clean cloth from Bard's table rip it in half. I use one half to clean it as much as I can and the other piece to rewrap it.

"Kili you must tell them how bad it is, if not Thorin tell Fili." I say but he instantly shakes his head. "They'll leave me behind."

"And that's a problem how? You need rest; even if we are so close to the mountain you need to rest your leg or the poison will move faster."

"No I can keep moving. Please don't say anything to them."

I sigh and rub my forehead as I say, "Fine but if it gets worse I will tell them and I'll hold you down myself making you rest."

"Deal," He says as he quickly hides his leg from his approaching brother.

"Is he alright?" Fili asks when he reaches us.

"For now, but I could really use some Athelas."

"Thorin's made a plan; we're going after the weapons in the armory."

My eyes widen and I shake my head as I say, "That's not a very good idea. What if someone sees us?"

"It'll be dark soon; we'll use the cover of darkness."

I sigh as I stand up and look around the room. Bard's children were on one side while my companions were on the other. "Fili I have a bad feeling about this."

"It'll be fine, don't worry." I sigh as I sit down beside Kili and wait for darkness to fall. When it does the dwarves and I sneak through the town toward the armory, hiding from watchmen. We hide behind a boat as two watchmen walk by.

"Shh! Keep it down." Dwalin calls back toward the rest of us his voice barely above a whisper.

"As soon as we have the weapons, we make straight for the mountain. Go, go, go!" Thorin calls and against my better judgment I follow after him. With the watchmen gone, Thorin points to Nori, who gets a running start and runs up a pyramid of dwarves who have pressed themselves against the walls of the city armory. He is able to get high enough that he can reach a second floor window and dive through.

"Next." Thorin calls and Bilbo does the same thing as Nori. Soon, several dwarves and myself are in the armory, and we begin collecting the weapons stored there. Kili struggles under a load of several different weapons, and Thorin hands him another one. "You all right?" Thorin asks him and his eyes momentarily meet mine before he says, "I can manage. Let's just get out of here." Thorin looks at Kili, then lays another sword on the pile Kili is holding. Kili begins walking down the stairs, but his wounded leg gives way and he falls with a cry. The weapons make a terrible clanging noise and the dwarves both inside and outside look around warily. In the distance, the watchmen cry out, and running footsteps approach.

I drop the swords in my grasp and hurry down the stairs after Kili. Bilbo and the dwarves in the armory grab weapons, but several other guards point pikes at them too. I freeze as a guard aims one at me. I look forward to see that the captain of the guard, is holding Kili with a dagger to his throat. Kili looks sadly and guiltily at Thorin. I stare daggers at the guard holding Kili as the rest of my company quickly drops the weapons. Suddenly I feel a hand grab my arm and jerk me forward as they lead us to the Master's mansion. When we arrive Alfrid pokes his head out of the door to the Master's mansion to see the commotion. He sees the soldiers dragging the dwarves to the mansion, with multitudes of townspeople following behind. It is snowing a little.

"Get off of me!" Dwalin yells and I place myself between him and one of the guards. Lots of indistinct muttering and yelling sounds around us and I gulp down a breath of air. The captain arranges all of us under guard in the town square before the doors of the mansion. As guards open the doors of the mansion, the Master storms out, still putting on his coat. "What is the meaning of this?"

"We caught 'em stealing weapons, sire." The captain says and I inch closer to Dwalin.

"Ah! Enemies of the state, then."

"This is a bunch of mercenaries if ever there was, sire." Alfrid says and I turn toward him my eyes narrowed. By the time this was all said and done I was going to punch him in the face. "Hold your tongue. You do not know to whom you speak. This is no common criminal; this is Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror!" Dwalin yells as he gestures at Thorin, and Thorin steps forward. The crowd murmurs in amazement.

"We are the dwarves of Erebor." Thorin cries out causing the crowd to whisper in shock and recognition, and people crane their heads to see better.

"What of this one? She doesn't look like a dwarf." The captain says as he pokes me in the side with his finger causing Dwalin to jump in anger beside me. I gently place my hand on his shoulder and shake my head as I say, "I am not a dwarf that is true, but I do not feel I have to answer to any of you."

"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 says drawing the attention away from me as he starts speaking earnestly to the crowd, and the people nod in agreement.

"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!" Thorin yells out causing the people to cheer and clap, and the Master looks on, calculating.

Suddenly, a voice calls out over the crowd, and Bard strides forward, "Death! That is what you will bring upon us. Dragon-fire and ruin. If you awaken that beast, it will destroy us all." The people whisper anxiously and I feel in my heart that he is truthful.

"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 calls out causing the people to shout in excitement as they applaud. The Master looks on, smiling and nodding at this turn of events.

"All of you! Listen to me! You must listen! Have you forgotten what happened to Dale?!" Bard asks and the people quiet down and shake their heads sadly. "Have you forgotten those who died in the firestorm?!"

The people shout, "No!"

"And for what purpose? The blind ambition of a mountain-king so driven by greed, he could not see beyond his own desire!" As Bard and Thorin stare at each other angrily, the crowd gets louder, but then the Master steps forth.

"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!" The Master points accusingly at Bard, and the crowd begins to clamor. As Bard looks away, Thorin looks at him in shock and anger. I stare at Bard in a new light. I agreed with him but I couldn't go against Thorin. He had a right to go into the mountain and even if he died doing so he would. "It's true, sire. We all know the story: arrow after arrow he shot, each one missing its mark." Alfrid says and my face jerks toward him. I start to move forward when I feel Dwalin grab my arm, "Settle down missy."

I grit my teeth and look back at Bard who looks around as the crowd yells angrily at him. He then strides forward and speaks to Thorin earnestly. "You have no right, no right to enter that mountain!"

"I have the only right." Thorin says to him before he turns to face 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?" The people quietly watch in anticipation. "What say you?"

The Master thinks for several seconds, then smiles and points his finger at Thorin. "I say unto you...welcome! Welcome and thrice welcome, King under the Mountain!" The Master opens his arms in welcome, and the crowd erupts in cheers. Bard looks on silently. Thorin climbs up a few steps and turns to face the audience; the people hug each other in excitement and joy. Thorin and Bard stare at each other. I watch as the dwarves are led into the Master's mansion I turn back to see Bard, his face hard as he turns and walks away. I let out an exasperated sigh before I follow after my friends.

As the dwarves enjoy a night of food and drink I stand in the corner with my pint of mead watching and observing. I didn't trust the Master nor his henchman Alfrid; especially not his henchman. After a few hours the dwarves were rather drunk and I happen to glance over to see Alfrid walking toward me a look of interest in his hazel eyes. I say to myself as I grip tightly to my mug. I look over at Fili who is laughing beside his brother and silently beg him to look my way.

"What is a beautiful lady like yourself doing alone with a group of dwarves?" Alfrid asks and I sense the insinuation in his voice. I stare straight ahead not looking at him as say, "I don't see how that's any of your business."

"So, which one gives it you better?" He asks and I can no longer contain my anger.

"No one gives it to me."

"I bet it's that fair haired one, you do like to stare at him." I clench my jaw shut as I try not to lose my sanity and kill this man. "Have you ever had a real man?" My body shivers as a memory flashes into my mind. I don't know what expression my face held but I suddenly felt someone pull me away and I look down to see Fili holding my hand. I had never been so happy to see him. I intertwine my fingers with his as he leads me away from Alfrid. Fili, my knight in shining armor. He leads me over to a corner away from the group as he says, "Are you alright?"

"I am, although I could have done without Alfrid's assumptions." I say causing him to nod.

"Would you like to join Kili and me?" He asks and I look forward toward the table at the borderline wasted dwarves and smile.

"Sure," I say as I follow him over to the table where I sit between him and Kili. I look back toward Alfrid to see anger in his eyes but I just smirk as Dwalin hands me a full mug and says, "Alright lass, let's see if you can hold your own against the dwarves of Erebor."

I smile brightly as I take the mug and say, "Alright,"

"You're gonna have to drink a lot to catch up with us lass." Dwalin says as he downs his mug. I smile brightly as I pull my hood back letting my red hair fall out of my hood revealing my Elven ears. I suddenly feel eyes on me and I look around to see the men of Laketown staring at me. My face flushes and I reach up to pull my hood back up when I feel Fili grab my hand stopping me. "Don't hide anymore," He says and I suddenly feel like I could take on the world. I look around at my companions who smile reassuringly at me and raise my glass as I say, "I'narr en gothrim glinuva nuin I'anor"

They all turn toward me confused and I chuckle as I say, "It means 'The bones of our foes will gleam under the sun'." They all return my smile as they raise their glasses to meet mine. We keep drinking on throughout the night until one by one the dwarves start to pass out; leaving only me Fili, Dwalin, and Thorin still awake. I nudge Fili in the side as I point to a slowly fading Dwalin. "How you feelin?" I say to Dwalin as my speech slowly becomes slurred. "Like I'm on top a cloud." He belches and then suddenly falls backwards out of his seat onto the cold hard floor unconscious.

I smile as Thorin says, "I'll put this old drunk to bed. Goodnight you two." As he tries his best to stand up and pull Dwalin over to a pallet made for him. "I guess that just leaves us Randír." Fili says and I slowly turn to see his eyes glossy with intoxication.

"Are you certain of that mellonamin?" I say as I poke his rosy cheeks with my pointer finger making him flush even redder. "I think you may be drunker than me."

"Perhaps I am, but I will win this game."

I laugh loudly as I say, "You cannot out drink an Elf Fili."

He raises an eyebrow as he says, "I don't know about that, has anyone ever tried?"

I ponder the thought for a moment before saying, "Not sure," I take another swig of my mead and start to feel a little tipsy. Placing my cup back down on the table I turn back to him and suddenly feel my voice talk on its own as I say, "You know, you're a very handsome dwarf."

I watch as his face flushes and he says, "I think you've had enough." He reaches for my mug but I quickly swipe it away from his grasp and pull it behind me as I sneak another gulp.

"No, I'm not done. Do you know how long it's been since I was drunk?" I ask him the alcohol taking full effect.

"I do not think you have ever been drunk." He says as he once again reaches for my mug but I am still too quick for him.