"I think we lost them!" Bofur called as everyone used their hands to row their barrels.

"Where's Bilbo and Erica!?" Balin called. Bilbo yelled that he was there and Erica popped her head out of Dwalins barrel, spitting out water with a cough "I'm here!" She croaked.

"We need to get to shore! We've lost the current" Thorin ordered. He noticed a rocky shore and paddled his way over to it. Thorin hopped out first followed by the others. He picked Erica up out the barrel and sat her down "that was too close" she sighed

"I know. We are safe for now but the orcs will catch up. We need to keep moving" Thorin ordered

"Kilis hurt, we need to bind his wound" Oin said

"No we keep moving" Thorin spoke. Erica stood up, laying a hand on his arm "Thorin it looks really bad. We need to bind it" she said seriously. He looked at her worried face and sighed in defeat "you have five minutes. Make it quick" he said. Erica nodded and went over to Kili "just leave it, it's fine" he grumbled

"It's not fine Kili, let me help" she spoke waving her hand over the wound. Frost covered it gently and she wrapped some cloth around it "the frost will protect it from infection for now. It won't melt unless I say so" she said smiling.

"Thanks" Kili sighed. Erica smiled and patted his leg. A snap of a twig caught her attention. She saw a shadow notch an arrow towards Ori. Immediately in her protective mode she leaped towards the intruder and grew some icicles from the ground to his neck. He yelped and stood still trying not to get pierced by her deadly ice.

"You move and your dead" she warned. She got a good look at the man who dared threaten her friends. He was tall with shoulder length hair tied back and a growing stuble on his face. He wore a long brown coat, fingerless gloves and a white shirt with trousers. His dark eyes widening in fear and wonder.

"Now laddie, Erica will retreat her ice if ye swear not tae hurt us" Balin said. The man nodded so Erica released her ice, letting it thaw to the ground.

"Never have I seen such power" he mumbled rubbing his throat.

"Sorry about that. I'm a little jumpy now a days" Erica mumbled. The man chuckled "quite alright lady Erica. I am Bard of lake town" he Said kissing her hand.

"Your barge young fellow. It wouldn't happen to be for hire would it?" Balin asked. Bard pulled away from Erica and pulled the barells into his boat "and why should I help you?" He asked

"Well those boots have seen better days as well as that coat and I bet you have some hungry mouths to feed. How many?" Balin asked. Bard smiled a little "three. Two girls and a boy" he spoke with a hint of happiness.

"And yer wife, I bet she's a beauty" Balin smiled. Bard went silent "aye...she was" he said sadly. A pang of sympathy hit Erica.

'Wow. Poor guy, raising three kids on his own...' Yue sighed

'You said it Yue. I feel bad for the guy' Erica replied.

"Look I can't take you into lake town. No one enters it without the masters consent unless you get smuggled in." Bard spoke.

"Then we will pay double. Please we need your help" Erica spoke, catching everyone off guard.

"Pay with what lass. You look like you have no coin" Bard grumbled. Erica frowned and reached into her pocket, finding her small bag of coins "I have about fifty here" she said

"And we have morel we need weapons, supplies and shelter. We will pay you all we have" Thorin said.

Bard looked over over one for a moment and sighed "alright, get in"

The boat ride was silent. A leering mist had settled upon the cold waters as the company passed some rocky structures. The temperature became chilly as well, settling Erica into peace. She was situated next to Bard as he steered the boat. He glanced at the woman below him "so tell me. What's a lovely lady such as yourself doing with thirteen dwarves and a halfling?" He asked. Erica glanced up at him "I have no home. It was taken from them so I wanted to help. I also want to find out more about my family...." She spoke softly

"Your family? You never knew them?" He asked.

"I had one once...but it was all lies. My real mother has passed on...but I want to know about her..." She explained

"And your father?"

Erica tensed and clutched the boat, concealing her anger "I'd rather not speak of that man" she said with grinding teeth. A firm hand grasped her shoulder and she found it to be Bards "calm down, your freezing the boat" he said softly. She gasped and pulled away finding a handprint of her ice "sorry...I do that when I'm angry" she mumbled

"It's alright lass. Your not at fault" Bard said patting her shoulder. Erica smiled and looked up. Her eyes found the lonely mountain in her view. The sun shined behind it making it look more beautiful than she had ever imagined.

"You dwarves get into the barrels. Lady Erica can stay out with me seeing as she's human...in a way" Bard ordered

"Who's to say you can order us around" Thorin growled.

"Um guys, you might want to listen to him" Erica said pointing to a dock with guards. Reluctantly they all climbed in while Bard threw a cloak over Erica "you'll have to come with me" he whispered.

"She stays!" Dwalin growled. Erica peeked in with a firm look "calm down Dwalin...I trust him" she said pulling away before he could say anything. Bard docked the boat and jumped off, helping Erica out with him "now I'll do the talking" he said. Erica nodded and kept her arm locked with his as they approached a fisherman.

"Joseph!" Bard called. THE said man turned with a grin "Bard my boy! How are you? Who's your lady friend?" He asked

"This is Erica, a distant cousin of my late wife. She's came for a visit" Bard lied smoothly. Erica smiled and bowed her head in greeting. Joseph smiled "lovely to meet you! Now what can I do for you?"

"Do you need anything delivered? Perhaps fish?" Bard asked

(Thorin pov)

I really do not like the way that man looks at my Erica. I hope she's alright...

"He's selling us out!" Bilbo hissed. He had a hole in his barrel and spied for us

"What!?" I growled. I knew it! He's selling us out so he can get her all to himself and see us get arrested!

All of a sudden fish began piling on top of me, leaving me in darkness...I'm going to kill that boatman...

(Erica pov)

"I'm going to kill that laddie" I heard Dwalin growl so I gave his barrel a kick "hush, were approaching the gate" I informed them. I tightened my cloak around me, Bard told me If anyone asked I was to keep with the lie and act as a distant cousin of his late wife. People around lake town believed anything...

"Ello there Bard!" The gate man greeted

"Hello there Percy. got a delivery here" Bard said smoothly.

"Right, 14 barrels good! Now..."

"Wait a minute"

Bard kept a hand on my shoulder as a short ugly little man came out from hiding. "You aren't licensed to bring full barbells in Bard. Or strangers for that matter" he said leering at me. I averted my eyes in discomfort "she's no stranger to me Alfrid. She is a distant cousin of my late wife. She is only here for a visit" Bard lied through his teeth.

"Humph! Fine! but the barrels I won't let you get away with so easily. Empty them" Alfrid ordered the two guards. My heart leapt as they began to empty one. We would get caught!

"People are hungry here. You know they will talk sir and cause a riot to your master. You really don't want that would you?" I challenged. He stared at me and held up a hand, stopping the guards from tipping anymore "leave them and let them through" he sighed.

The barrel was placed back and we were let through "were watching you Bard, and your little pretty there too! We know where you live!"

"It's a small town. Everyone knows where everyone lives" Bard laughed. I stifled a giggle as. Bard rowed us through the town "nice move lass. Your quick at thinking there" he complimented.

"Yet you know I'm right. Hungry people here, food wasted. It'll surely cause a ruckus" I pointed out. He smiled "that is true. Right here we are" he said docking the boat. He had a look around and tipped a barrel over so I tipped over Thorins and peeked in, holding my nose "it's a bath for you mr" I chocked. Thorin only grumbled under his breath and took my awaiting hand to help him out.

Bard paid a gob smacked man "you didn't see anything" he mumbled. The man nodded and began sorting out the fish while we sneaked by. A young boy came running up to us out of breath "Da, there's people watching our house" he panted out of breath.

"Going to need to improvise then. Son take Erica to the house, Ill catch up". He said quickly. The boy looked at me and beckoned me to follow him.

I followed him through the wooden streets to a small shack up some stairs. He ushered me inside and I was met with two other faces.

A teenage girl with dark hair and another younger than her with blonde hair "who's the pretty lady?" The youngest asked

"Ask Da" the boy mumbled rushing downstairs. The girls looked at me curiously so I smiled and gave a wave "hi. I'm Erica"

The oldest one smiled "I'm singred" she said

"I'm Tilda! It's lovely to meet you!" The little one said cheerfully. I smiled, liking her already

All of a sudden Dwalin came stomping up the stairs smelling horrible. "Da! Why are there dwarves coming out of our toilet!?" Singrid called unsurely

"Will they bring us luck!?" Tilda asked innocently.

I smiled shaking my head. This is going to be a looooong day....