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968 Words
We floated further down the river chased by elves and orcs. I was trying to fight an Orc off when it fell into the river, I was pretty sure that it was Tauriel or Legolas. "Anything behind us?" Thorin asked when the water got slower, I looked around us but the Orcs were nowhere to be seen. "Not that I can see," Balin called from the back. "I think we've outrun the Orcs," Bofur said in front of me. "Not for long, we've lost the current," Thorin said. "I'm so tired." I snapped from my barrel. "We almost half drowned!" Dwalin said who was next to me. "Make for the shore!" Thorin ordered, all muttered in agreement. "Come on Ness, just to the shore," Dwalin mumbled into my ear, which made gave me the strength to paddle behind the others to the shore. Thankfully Dwalin was by my side the whole time, he was also the one who pulled me out and dragged me to the shore. "I'm fine, it's nothing," Kili said, he sat a bit further up on a stone holding his leg. "On your feet, you too Nessa." Thorin snapped at us. "Kili's wounded, his leg needs binding," Fili said who was of course worried. "There's an Orc pack at our tail. We keep moving." Thorin snapped. "Seriously Thorin?" I asked lifting my head up a bit. "I'm tired Thorin, I can't breath," I said putting my head back on to the stone. Thorin snorted and allowed me to rest and his nephew to bind Kili's leg. All of a sudden an arrow flew by hitting a branch which was in Dwalins hands. I looked up seeing a man standing on a stone above all of us with a longbow. "Do it again and you're dead," he said aiming at us. I carefully got up and walked over to Thorin while the man followed me with his arrow. "Excuse me, but um... you are from Lake-town if I'm not mistaken? That barge over there, it wouldn't be available for hire by any chance?" Balin asked who was the only one who thought tactically. He didn't say a word, so we followed him to the barge while Dwalin walked in front of me as my protecting shield. "What makes you think I would help you?" he said while packing the barrels on to the boat. "Those boots have seen better days, as has that coat," Balin told the man, by looking at his clothes I saw that Balin was right. "No doubt you have some hungry mouths to feed? How many bairns?" Balin asked him, I sat next to Kili who was still dealing with his injured leg. "Your alright bud?" I asked him worried as well."Yeah, I'm fine." Kili replied I could see in his eyes that he was the opposite. "Oh, come on, come on. Enough with the niceties." Dwalin just said I turned my focus back to the conversation. "What's your hurry?" he asked. "None of your business." I snapped at him. "I would like to know who you are, and what you were doing in these lands," he said towards me and the other dwarfs. "We are simple merchants from the Blue Mountains, journeying to see our kin in the Iron Hills," Balin said trying to convince that guy to take us with him. "Simple merchants, you say?" he asked. "We need food, supplies, weapons. Can you help us?" Thorin asked coming closer to the guy. Be careful Babe I thought watching over every step he did. "I know where these barrels came from," he said looking at one of the barrels which had some scratches. "What of it?" Thorin asked. "I don't know what business you had with the elves, but I don't think it ended well. No one enters Lake-town but by the lead 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 replied. I stayed sitting where I was thinking about what happened in the past months since I left the Shire with Thorin and the other dwarfs. Since we departed I fought against orcs and met new people like Beorn and the eagles who brought us away from Orcs. "Nessa, come on, let's go." thorin said, as I looked up I saw Thorin standing on the barge. "Coming," I called back. "Come on Bud lets go." I helped Kili on his feet and walked with him to the barge. After I bandaged his leg up I made my way to the front of the boat. "Hey Nessy," Thorin said behind me, a hand gently was placed on to my shoulder. I placed mine on his and turned around to face him. "Stop calling me that," I said in a soft voice. Thorin chuckled, placing a hand on my cheek. "I know but I just love to tease you," he said with a big smile. I rolled my eyes but I wasn't mad at Thorin. "I Love you." I whispered in Thorin's ear when I gave him a hug. "I love you too." he replied fiddling with my hair. "What are you doing?" I asked him. "Braiding your hair my love." he answered which I took with a nod. After he was done Thorin searched through his pockets and took a Metal piece out, it had the crest of Durin on it. "It's beautiful." I whispered when I moved my finger over the ingravement. "Now its your turn." Thorin said, carefully I took a strain of his beautiful long hair, carefully braiding it to secure it with a metal piece. "Now your mine." He said giving me a peek on the cheek. "And I am yours." I replied with a smile.
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