A/N:(*) translation of some words are in my dwarvish dictionary..will be too sexy for translation here. look up if you want to know what means. sorry for inconvience but i do try and keep it not too mature just in case.

Laketown 2 days till Durins day:

Evening was falling quickly upon Lake-town, bringing with it softly falling snowflakes that danced upon the chilly breeze that blew. Into the twilights gloom a dark haired man was racing along the dilapidated walkways heading into a shop that was filled with trinkets and antiques, being greeted by a man behind the counter.

"Hello, Bard. What are you after?" shopkeeper sees Bard peering around..looking a bit frantic.

"There was a tapastry. An old one. Wheres it gone?" his voice held a hint of stress as he rushes over to a table filled with myraid assortments of cloth...rummaging around through them..hearing the keeper ask which one. suddenly his eyes alight upon the one he was searching for.

"This one." he quickly unfolds it out to look at it closely..peering at the Durin lineage till he sees the very thing he feared..Thorins name at the bottom. As his heart starts pounding in fear he hears town people outside gossiping about the dwarves some had seen earlier.

"What are dwarves doing in these parts?" he hears one man talking to another.

"Its the prophecy."...."Prophecy?"....."Prophecy of Durins folk." Bard hears all this as a chill of fear runs down his spine and he realizes what they are doing here in town. Thorin and his group were planning on taking the mountain back, as this thought comes to him he remembered a part of the prophecy he heard as a child..temporarily forgotten...now making its way back to him.

"And the bells shall ring in gladness at the Mountain Kings return. But all shall fade in sadness. And the lake will shine and burn." Bard turned around rushing out of the shop for his home..seeing his son Bain dash over to him..worry evident upon his face.

"Da! I tried to stop them." Bard placed his hands upon his shoulders to bring some semblance of comfort to his son as he gazed at the mountain in the distance..unease creeping into his heart at the sight. Knowing there was nothing he could do for now he lead his son back into the house...hiding his fears from his family.

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The dwarves were pushed and prodded down along the streets by the guards up to a large grey building that looked like it was the best building in town..which wasnt saying much. As they got closer a large portly man in a threadbare fur coat came out of some large doors..pushing his way past the weasily man alfrid they had seen earlier at the docks.

"What is the meaning of this?" he sneered out, looking down at the dwarves pushed before him as one of the guards remarked about them being thieves. Alfrid furthered the idea by calling them desperate mercenaries with a nasaly sounding voice.

"Hold your tongue!" Dwalin couldnt take such insinuations being spoken of about his friend , so he spoke out in his defense...taking a step closer to the pompous human. "You do not know to whom you speak. This is no common crimanal. This is Thorin. Son of Thrain, son of Thror!" at that moment Thorin stepped out to stand beside Dwalin and face up at the men before him...standing proud and strong.

"We are the dwarves of Erebor. We have come to reclaim our homeland." there was a murmur amongst the crowd as he just stared at the town master."I remember this town in 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 walked up the steps closer to the master as he spoke then turned around, gazing upon the crowd that had gathered along the streets. Thorin lifted his head to gaze upon them ..standing proudly and with perfect nobility evident in his stance."I would see those days returned. I would relight the great forges of the dwarves and send wealth and riches flowing once more from the halls of Erebor!" a great cheer rang out through the crowd at the prospect of thier hardships ending...suddenly a voice rings out stopping the joyous sounds.

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Darkness fully descended on the town and Bard was sitting at his table..listening to the sounds of his children asleep..pondering on what could be done ..not coming up with any ideas. Suddenly in the distance a loud sound could be heard echoing across the waters..alerting the guards to a disturbance that needed to be dealt with. A sick feeling came over him..he knew whatever it was had to do with the dwarves and he swiftly got up from the table..heading for the Masters home, knowing that's where all troublemakers were led , to be dealt with and judged by the Master..publically for all to bear witness of his leadership.

As Bard neared his destination he saw a crowd gathering out in front around the steps..front and center stood the dwarves, listening to Thorin speaking so elloquently to the crowd...who seemed brightened by the dwarf kings words.

"I would see those days returned. I would relight the great forges of the dwarves and send wealth and riches flowing once more from the halls of Erebor!" His rich voice echoed across the area...enflaming the crowd with promises of hope and renewal of the town. Bard felt a surge of anger and knew he needed to warn everyone of the doom behind the dwarf kings words...pushing forward through the crowd towards where Thorin stood.

"Death! That is what you'll bring upon us." He pushed his way through the crowd and past the dwarves..moving closer to Thorin who's eyes narrowed in aggrivation at the bargemans interference. "Dragon fire and ruin. If you awaken that beast, it will destroy us all."

"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!" his roar of triumph flowed across the crowd as they cheered once more.

"All of you!Listen to me, you must listen!" bard shouts out amongst the cheering hoping to be heard as he stares at the people around."Have you forgotten what happened to Dale? Have you forgotten those who died in the firestorm? And for what purpose?" everyone in the area go quiet..listening to the bargemans words as he turns back to stare down Thorin who still stands upon the steps...eyes narrowing at the man."The blind ambition of a mountain king, so driven by greed, he could not see beyond his own desire!"he growls at thorin whos lip curls up back at him...anger becoming apparent on his face as the master of the town talks about Bards family. How it was his ancestor who failed in killing the dragon long ago...Bard stepped over to Thorin..looking down he harshly whispers for his ears only.." You have no right. No right to enter that mountain." Thorins eyes fill with anger as he softly growls out..

"I have the only right." his tone leaves Bard speechless in its anger as he turns to the master and raises his noble chin in arrogance."I speak to the master of the men of the lake. Will you see the prophacy fulfilled?Will you share in the great wealth of our people?" Thorin sees the master hesitate..thinking slyly about how to advance himself ..finally a smile crosses his portly face and Thorin cant help the victorious smile that makes its way along his features.

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Bofur was standing up in front of the group amongst the others watching Thorin give a passionate speech to the people, feeling a sense of awe and pride of his leader and cousin..watching him speak so elequently to the people..inspiring them in giving aid to them. As he stood there smiling, he heard a stringent voice coming from behind...turning around he saw bard making his way through the crowd, pushing roughly past him as he advanced upon Thorin to stand defiantly before him, voicing his anger and concern over what they were trying to accomplish. As Bard stood there loudly proclaiming his protest of all this, Bofur watched Thorins eyes becoming angered ..jaws clenching so not to say something he would regret. Then the final straw happened, Bard maligned Thorins family honor and grandfather as he uttered the very words about King Thror.

"The blind ambition of a mountain king, so driven by greed, he could not see beyond his own desires!" Bofur felt such anger filling his heart and he would have let a punch fly if it wasn't for a solid hand on his shoulder...staying him from Ill advised action that could have caused more trouble for them all..looking over seeing it was Dwalins...jaw clenched in anger also, but knowing this was Thorins fight..if he needed them then he would let them know. Bofur turned back to peer at them once more, seeing Bard step closer to Thorin ..towering over him as he harshly whispered something to him..unheard by anyone there. Thorins eyes cutting from the corners to stare at the man..growling his response to whatever was said...Bofur realized that the battle had been won then as the Master welcomed them all..gathering cheering with joy and approval.

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"I say to you...Welcome!" the crowd cheers even more boilsterously "welcome and rise! Welcome, King under the mountain!" As Thorin stares down at his men who are smiling heartily he notices Bard slipping off from everyone ..disgust and fear evident in his eyes.  

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 Bofur cheered along, only briefly pausing as Bard pushed past him in disgust and a trace of fear on his face..then attention recaptured by a promise of a feast "to honor theses brave and noble dwarves"..Bofurs chest stuck out in pride upon hearing these words and a big smile spread across his face.

"Oye! This is more like it. Food and Ale." He could hear some chuckeling from the others in agreement with him, as they all began to ascend the steps out of the cold and into warmer accomodations.

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Laketown-masters halls-late night:

Night had descended on Laketown, snow could be seensoftly falling upon the homes and gathering up to form along walkways, only to have chilly winds blow , sending some of the white drifts floating and swirling up, to settle back down in a different venue. Over the wind a sound could be heard...laughter and music...full of gaiety and joy, all coming from a large home that laid close to the center of the town upon this lake of Esgroth.

Thorin was leaning against a wall, goblet of ale in hand, as he watched his fellow dwarves up on the table playing a boisterous song upon thier various instruments. Earlier on a small group of music makers were playing some kind of music..sounding very elvish in nature..slow and soft...not the kind that got your hands clapping or sent your feet stomping into a dance..even Oin had commented on it.

"Did someone die?I feel like im at a funeral."he made a face full of disgust at the trilling music.

"Alright lads." Bofurs voice could be heard throughout the room as he stood up from his chair." Theres only one thing teh do for this." he climbed up onto the table and began to sing..just like he did back in Rivendell at the start of this quest...it was the song The man in the moon and before long people were stomping thier feet, clapping in time, and shouting along with him. Thorin glanced over seeing the master and his man , Alfrid, looking upon the spectacle attempting to hide thier disdain behind a smile..not very successful to Thorins eyes, making him chuckle at the sight.

It didnt take long for Bombur and his drums to join in along Bofurs wood flute and Fili/Kili on thier fiddles..adding to the mix , sending the party into full swing. Some of the local women even got in on it, dancing and singing along, providing food aplenty and serving ale...oh the ale that flowed like rivers of abundance into the multitudes of goblets, making the men even more jovial in merrymaking. At one point a blond haired woman with blue eyes ..well into her cups..sauntered over to Bofur serving him more food and ale to him..very obvious in her flirting with him (him being very oblivious about it all). She kept brushing her breasts against his back..shoulders...pressing them periodically against him...very brazen in her actions. Everyone else was aware of what she was doing..except for Bofur who was very ignorant of it all...only seeing how his cup was always full of ale and thier was copious amounts of food before him. The moment he realized what was going on was when suddenly he found her in his lap trying to steal a kiss from him along with his hat...not noticing his distress one iota. It was Nori who rescued him as he quickly swooped in , swinging her off the distressed Bofurs lap into his own arms, where he shortly had the intoxicated woman cooing in delight over the attention she was getting...not seeing the grateful look Bofur was shooting at Nori for his heroics act. To save himself Bofur immediately moved to sit inbetween Fili and Kili who were laughing mightily into thier cups of ale at the incident..him scowling at them..which sent them nearly toppleling off thier chairs,

It was getting late and Thorin knew they had an early rise awaiting them..so he made his way over to the master, letting him know he and his men needed to seek thier rest for the evening. The master quickly called an end to the festivities..much to his relief..and offered a room to the King under the Mountain for the night..which he graciously took. It wasnt long before he was setteling down on a pallet in the provided room along with his two nephews, who as soon as thier heads hit the ground were asleep instantly..covering himself with his coat as a blanket. As he began to drift off himself he heard Kili whimper and curl up..face twisting in pain as he touched his wounded leg in his sleep..then easing back into slumber once more. Thorins eyes were heavy with concern as he watched Kili throughout the night...being awoken briefly by a groan or whimper breaking through the pained mans sleep. Finally sleep fully claimed Kili and breathing a sigh of relief Thorin followed behind into sweet slumber.

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outside Laketown along the river.

It was the midnight hour along the rolling rivers edge..the moon was hidden by clouds sheathing the land into a cloak of darkness where no light was reaching the disquieted travelers below. There was no fire burning on this night..no one wanted to alert the orc pack they were trailing of thier presence...so the three dwarven women huddled together for warmth as they tried to rest thier weary bodies. Across the way two elves were wrapped up together under a cloak..thier whispers barely heard by the dwarves.

"Mmmm...meleth nin (my love)...are you warm enough?" Legolas was holding Tauriel close to his chest on his lap as his lips kept brushing along her temple while they both were vieled from eyes within his hooded cloak.Tauriels eyes were half way lidded from the pleasure of his lips and being held so close to the man she had longed to be near in such a way since she was young.

"Of course." she smiled softly..breathing deeply his scent into her lungs."..especially if you keep that up." she felt his mouth tug up in a smile as he chuckeled softly into her ear...making her heart speed up even more and she shivered in delight.

"Hmmm..me thinks you are catching a chill...goheno nin(forgive me)..i need try harder in warming you it seems."his voiced purred into her ears as his tongue trailed along the shell of her ear down to the lobe where his teeth playfully nipped at then easing the sting with his tongue once more. Tauriels breathing become heavy as she stifled a moan trying to tear from her throat at this torture...her hands slowly skimmed along the contours of his muscular chest and up to encircle his neck..pulling his mouth down towards her throat as her head fell back giving his lips new territory to explore. Eventually his mouth made its way back up her soft creamy throat and claimed her lips that were parted in willing surrender ...his tongue slide along hers drawing in her taste into himself..never wanting to ever let it go from him. As his hands began to slip under her tunic to carress the skin on her stomach...a scream was heard in the night..pulling them apart swiftly and waking the dozing women over yonder.

"Orcs." Ahmis voice trembled in fear as Alysis eyes peered into the night trying to pinpoint where it was.

"theyre not close...sounds like they found something to thier liking by those cries." Legolas teeth clenched as he listened intently to thier sounds. " We best stay alert tonight and move out at first light." they all agrreed and settled down once more..but no sleep came to them the rest of the evening.

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Laketown- day before Durins day( morning)

Kili woke up in a cold sweat, breathing hard, feeling as if a hammer was striking his chest each time he drew air into his lungs.He tried to move into an upright position, but found that to be difficult task...finally managing it and he just sat there on the pallet that laid next to Filis on the floor of the room that the master had given to the Durins for the night. Kili glanced over to his left to see his brother sleeping on his side curled up, using an arm for a pillow for his head and the other draped down his stomach. A smile came to Filis face...he was dreaming as he softly snored...a sudden snort came out..then light snores once again. It took everything within Kili ,fighting hard to not laugh at the golden haired prince....snore..then a quick snort..then snoring once again, If it wasnt for the unbearable pain in his leg he would of been rolling on the ground, waking the room up with his howls of laughter...but the pain took all his attention to not scream.

There was movement off to his right and glancing over he saw his uncle stirring awake. Kili quickly tried to cover up the pain,attempting to hide it from the sharp eyes of Thorin..not sure he was successful when he saw Thorins eyes narrow slightly and a sigh leaving his lips as he acknowledged him.

"Your up..good. Wake Fili and both of you go wake everyone else. Its time we be off." his voice was tired sounding as he stood to stretch muscles, satisfied at Kilis nodd. Kili reached over, hiding his grimace of pain on his face as his leg throbbed in time with his heart and tapped Filis arm to wake him up...eyes flew open swiftly...trying to focus on his surroundings before moving to get up.

Thorin cautiously watched his nephews getting up to go wake the rest of the group..noticing Kilis limp and clenching jaw as he moved out the room,He sighed heavily once the door shut...hating what he knew he had to do and hating himself for it, even if it had to be done to his own blood..especially to blood, but it was the wiser course of action. Thorin reached down to collect his coat from the floor, dusting it off as he made his way out of the room...sense of relief that they were leaving this Mahal forsaken home behind. His thoughts were so consumed by what had to be done and about the next step of this quest that he didnt double check to make sure everyone there to go..all leaving the masters abode and a sleeping member behind.

As they were making thier way through the crowds he heard Bilbo remark how they were one short...Bofur was missing.

"If hes not here, we leave him behind."Thorin sighed heavily and shook his head in frustration that he missed checking to make sure, but it couldnt be helped...even Balin agreed.They needed to find that blasted door before nightfall or else this was all for nothing. He stood upon the dock watching they all were loading along with some weapons that was provided for them by the master. He saw Kili limping up to the boat and before he could step down into it Thorins arm shot out stopping him from boarding..seeing his face look worn and drawn.

"Not you. We must travel at speed, you will slow us down." he saw disbelief written on both Fili and Kilis faces..as if this was all some joke.

"What are you talking about? Im coming with you." Kili made to step down into the boat, smiling his winsome smile he has, but Thorins arm didnt move..he knew in his heart then it wasnt a joke..Thorin was serious and his denial once again of him coming was laced with concern and love. "Im going to be there when that doors opened. When we first look upon the halls of our fathers, Thorin..." he was cut off sharply by his uncle whos face looked worried and sad that he was doing this to him.

"Kili, stay here. Rest. Join us when youre healed." his tone was soft, but firm and final as he turned away from Kili, boarding the boat himself...leaving a devastated Kili on the docks. Oin walked over to him briefly, telling him his place was with the wounded then getting off going to Kilis side who had sunk down onto a nearby crate. As he turned away he saw Fili making his way over to him..standing close to plead with his uncle..knowing how much this means to his brother.

"Uncle, we grew up on tales of the mountain. Tales you told us. You cannot take that away from him!" his tone was beseeching..begging for Thorin to change his mind. He heard Kilis defeated tone of just let it go as he kept trying to get Oin to stop fretting over him...Fili ignored them as he tried once more to appeal to his uncle again. "I will carry him if I must!" Thorin sighed heavily , knowing how his nephews felt..knowing they didnt understand what position they were placing him in.

"One day you will be king and you will understand. I cannot risk the fate of this quest for the sake of one dwarf. Not even my own kin." his face apologetic. Fili looked over at his brother, seeing the greyness of his skin, then he turned his eyes back to Thorins..steeling himself at the choice he was making... he stepped off the boat only to be stopped briefly by Thorins hand on his arm.

"Fili, dont be a fool.You belong with the company." he saw Filis eye go steely , glancing down at the hand staying him, then back to his own once more.

"I belong with my brother." with that he stepped off the boat..going over to Kilis side.Thorins mouth moved into a grimace as he felt that his heir was being foolish. He made to move to go over to talk to them but was stopped as music started up...drowning out any words that would have been spoken. He sighed once more, making his way further into the boat..leaving behind his nephews.Thinking briefly as it floated down the waterways, maybe it was for the best..especially if they woke the beast...maybe they would be safe...maybe he would be able to keep his promise to his sister, to keep them safe...maybe.

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The morning dawn breaks across the land, lighting upon a forsaken mountain with mists that melt away as the suns fingers gently part before it , making its way across the land to a town upon a lake in the distance. Eventually the suns first glow casts onto the town revealing snow dusted rooftops of haggard buildings that sit upon a large central canal with chunks if ice floating along the surface displaying the chilliness of the waters as a crowd gathers along its edges. The suns rays slowly reach further along the streets steering its way towards a large home set within the heart of the town, where lies a slumbering dwarf under an enormous wooden table, that is littered with multitudes of ale filled gobblets, partially eaten food, and various assortment of trash from the night before. His soft snores inaudible ..dreaming of a far off place that calls to his heart and soul.

Bofur was caught up in a dream..a memory of his loving wife shortly before he left her in Ered Luin..that night they had shared in thier love for one another..forgetting the dinner that she had lovingly made for him...feasting on each other instead.

"Ghivashel...men zirikh menu." Tia purred sensually in bofurs ear as her hands grasped his shirt..gently easing it out of the band of his pants, revealing his stomach that had a dark trail of hair that meandered down, dissappearing beneath the waistband and out of sight. Her fingers splaying across the plains of his soft abs and coiling throught the hairs and upwards under the shirt towards his hard chest covered in a course pelt upon it.Feeling the hairs teasing her finger tips sent a rush of desire through her, evoking a soft moan from her lips and a deeper moan from him. " Nai durak menu, un balakhur men khuzi." her sultry voice flowed over him sending a wave of heat spiraling downwards making his britches feel confining and almost painful.

Bofur couldnt help the gutteral moan that escaped him as he gazed upon his provacative wife that was eroticaly moving against him , pressing her volumptious body to his. finally he couldnt take anymore and his hands roughly pulled her head closer so he could claim her bewitching mouth..his hands slowly carressed down her back to her bottom to grip tightly against him as he rotated back and forth , driving her passions higher.

His mouth never relinquished hers..his hands clasped her dress in them..bunching it up as he eased it up her body, having to momentarily break from her lips as he pulled it over her head, then returning back to them once more. It didnt take long for both thier passions to rage out of control ..unclothed upon the bed with the only thing covering Tia was Bofurs body as he caressed, stroked, and coaxed moans and sighs from her..until eventually having her writhing under him..begging for release of some kind.

"Kahumhilizu! Men arukh menu ukroh men azyungin!" Tia groaned out as her hips kept gyrating under him. He gave her what she wanted and drove in hard..over and over..as her nails bit into his shoulders in pleasure. Without warning he suddenly stopped to gaze down at her..seeing her eyes go almost feral in frustration..he smiled seductively as she growled at him

"Men zirikh menu irkat ubzar?" his voice was full of heat and raw passion as his eyes took in her barely restrained state..as she growled out deep and low ..almost animalistically in response.

"Yes! Ubzar!" the smile he gave her was carnal and untamed as he began pounding into her like a wild , untamed beast...her cries driving him closer to his release. It was her throaty moan of "Sulnil menu amralime!" that drove him to the edge and he growled as he grabbed her hips in a bruising grip.

"Rukhosh men azyung." he snarled out..he felt in that moment her comply as her back arched screaming into the night as music began to play ..feeling himself almost there ..trying to follow her in bliss.

It was the music that brought him jerking awake..hitting his head on the table above him as he realized what the sound was..trumpets heralding the departure of the company from the town.

"By me beard, is that the time?" his voice filled with panic that he was about to be left behind..he jumped up from under the table..grabbing a half filled gobblet off the table as he ran around the table chugging it swiftly as he ran out the doors..heading for the docks and his departing companions.

Bofur raced down the main street, seeing the crowd of well wishers in the distance clapping and cheering for the dwarves who were on thier way to vanquish the beast and bring prosperity back to the derilict town once more, Finally he reaches the throng of people , attempting to make it to the boat.

"Excuse meh. Pardon meh." he huffed his way through them as they ignored him as he jostled his way to the front of them...suddenly bursting through and seeing no boat there. He looked down the canal seeing they were to far away for him to make it and felt a wave of frustration that he didnt make it on time and now was alone. His shoulders sank in despair as he shook his head..noticing from the corner of his eye off to the left sat Kili on a crate, looking pale and very sick with Fili and oin on either side of him . bofur felt a burst of relief upon seeing them and began to move towards them ...attempting to weave his way through the crowd along the docks edge .

"Did yeh miss the boat as well?" he asked as he got closer..noticing Kili was looking really bad..pale and breathing was becoming labored. With out any warning Kili lurched to the side , falling off the crate he sat upon..almost passing out but was caught by Fili and Oin before he hit the ground.

"Kili? Kili!" Fili shouted out as he saw his brother collapsing upon him..struggeling with each breath and shaking from a fever that had come on. Bofur quickly closed the gap between them..helping to support Kili as he stumbeled..away from the docks and back into the main part of town, heading for some help..the masters home.

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Kili could hear the great fanfare that was sending the company on thier way , but his head began to pound and his body began to shake from chills wracking his body...it was useless to hide it all anymore..they knew now. As his eyes followed the group, heart sinking at the thought he had failed his uncle..his vision became blurry and greyed over...he thought he heard Bofurs voice calling out, every sound to his ears becoming hollow as if echoing down a tunnel...momentary blackness stealing over him...feeling his body falling only to be caught by Fili. 

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"Its alright lad..we almost there." Bofur kept up the chant..encouraging Kili to keep walking...Fili on his other side whispering words of encouragement himself. "Hang on brother... you can do it Kili...just please hang on." Fili tried to be strong on the outside for him but on the inside he felt such fear that he may lose his brother..it tore his heart seeing how Kili struggeled with each step. Finally they see the master and Alfrid as they were making thier way up the steps about to go in to his home out of the cold...Fili shouted out making the men pause and turn around at the commotion.

"Please help. We need your help sir..my brother is sick." fili pleaded out to him ...seeing the horrified look across the masters face as he cringed away from the group..motioning with a hand for them to leave quickly in disgust at the sight of them. Fili was shocked at the sudden change of the man from last night..he was all welcomes and greeting then ..now he treated them as if they were nothing but rats scurring around his feet that need to be stomped under his boots. Oin stepped closer to the men to try and get help for Kili..hoping they would even if they looked down thier noses at the dwarves now.

"Listen..we need medicine." he pleaded with them..praying to Mahal they would have a heart again...seeing Alfrid ease his way down the steps a little bit closer, looking both haughty and disgusted at him for even talking to someone like him..as his foul nasaly tone reached Oins ears.

" Do I look like an apothecary? Have we not given you enough?" Oin was taken aback by his evident disdain for them."The master is a busy man, no time to worry about a sick dwarf." his revulsion quite clear in his voice as he said the word "dwarf" like it was dog crap upon his boots that needed to be scraped off. If it wasnt that Kili needed them to support him in standing , Bofur and fili would have punched the man in his face for the offense..but they had to hold up Kili." Be gone now and clear off." Alfrid motioned to guards to get them out of there as he escorted the master back into the home away from the bothresome dwarves. They all stood in shock , staring at the mens backs till the guards forcefully grabbed them ..pushing them away..almost making them lose thier grip on Kili whos legs seemed to shake under him even more.

"What are we going to do now?" Fili was losing hope and despair was setting in...Bofurs mind was running as he tried to think..an idea came to him.

"Bard. Maybe he will help." everyone looked at him in disbelief that he would even talk to them after last night...Bofur just gave them a look.."We have teh try ..it might be his only hope." they agreed..what did they have to lose in trying. They wound thier way along the streets , heading for the one place that held thier last hope of any kind of help. It seemed like an eternity before they made it up the stairs to knock on the door...it opened revealing Bard who upon seeing them gets a angered look in his face as he growls at them.

"No.Im done with dwarves. Go away!" he quickly tries to slam the door in Bofurs face but he grabs the doors edge holding it open as he pleads with Bard..face and tone filled with worry.

"No! No! No one will help us. Kilis sick." bard sees Bofurs panicked face..looking behind him is Fili , whos upset and grief within his eyes as he looks up at the man while supporting his brother...Kili had an ashen grey pallor to his skin and his eyes that raised to meet Bards own had a look of death in them. "Hes very sick." it was that look in Kilis and Filis eyes that touched Bards heart..seeing the love and fear of loss of him upon thier faces that reminded him of his own loss and heartache when his wife died..leaving behind a hole within him that ached each day.

" Alright. Come in...lets see what we can do." Bard sighed heavily as he let them in ...praying there was something that could be done..afraid himself that Fili would know his pain of such a deep loss.

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Kili couldnt really remember what transpired after..just snippets of images floating around in and out. The masters home, hearing Oin pleading with him for help...guards pushing them away, almost tearing him away from Fili and Bofurs arms...and then seeing Bards face. He remembered looking up ...so hard, head felt like a lead weight..taking all of his strength to just look up at him as his eyes begged for help...then nothing as darkness claimed him, sending him into agonizing sleep.  

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Ered Luin: 2 days till Durins day

It was a chilly early afternoon ..just after the lunching hour in the Ur household. Rawfur was holding his grandson Griegur in his arms..tossing the boy up into the air ..catching him..then repeating all over again as the child squealed his delight in the game..making the man smile in his own joy. Griegurs momma was in the bedroom grousing at her fate... she had just been informed that she was now on bed rest..it seemed she was too big and too close to her due date for it to be safe for her wandering around. She obeyed momma Beryl and Dis who both had put her on bed rest..but she wasnt happy about it...luckily Beryl was there to tend to what needed to be done around the house and Rawfur of course got to reap the benifits of bonding with his grandson..which was such a hardship..Not. 

"Up yeh go meh boy...weeee...and whoopp...gottcha." he crowed at the boy in his arms...loving how the child grabbed ahold of his neck as he brought Griegur to his chest to hold.

"Would you stop that?" Beryl came in the room ..with a sigh of exasperation..ruining it by the twinkle in her eyes at the sight of her love holding such a precious gift in his arms. "Yer gonna make him think hes a bird...then where would we be?" Rawfur just chuckeled at her as she came over to hold the chubby little hand in hers..cooing at him as she gazed into his lovely eyes.

"Now , now luv...yeh cant make somethin into whats its not." he looked into the boys eyes then. " Right meh boy?"  griegur gurgeled at him. "See he agrees with meh." Beryl just shook her head at them both and went back towards the kitchen to start on dinner once more that she had been drawn from moments ago by the laughter...heart brimming over with love at the sight of him playing.

Tia on the other hand was grumpy as ever...she felt like a whale in her own bed. 

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Late morning..Laketown across the way

It was late morning when the three women and two elves came across where the orcs had hunted earlier in the night.They were following the slow moving river that flowed into the lake that harbored the town upon it in the distance. As they rounded the corner a gruesome sight greeted them..blood could be seen on the ground that was littered with pieces of whatever had been devoured sometime in the night by the orc pack they had been trailing all this time.

Legolas heard collective gasps from behind him at the sight of bloody entrails that were strewn about upon the rocks. Turning he saw Tauriel paling at the sight before her and Kechi hunched over in some bushes retching at the scene before her..anger swelling within him at the gruesome landscape..without even thinking of what he was saying his disgust came spilling out in his words.

"Orcs. Just as vulgar as a dwarf over his love of gold." he saw the look Ahmi threw his way..not caring if he offended in that moment." Just as disgusting as one with gold sickness."he spat out..viewing a piece of something best left unsaid upon the ground...trying to quell the nausua within his stomach that was rising up. He could hear Ahmis sigh, filled with pain and feel Kechis and Alsis anger over what he said..knowing of whom he was referring to.

"Its not fully his fault my lord." her words were softly spoken..audible to his ears thou. " Gold sickness is not an easy thing to have and know you carry it within you." he could hear Ahmis voiced filled with sadness as she spoke..her eyes saw Tauriels with questions within hers. "Understand..please. Its like a sirens song..calling to you..sometimes its but a whisper and other times its like a roar in your ears. Its call captivating you to its side..changing you as you draw closer..luring you to your doom eventually. Once you succumb to its song it changes its melody into an addiction..like the call to a alcoholic. It destroys your life slowly..first by driving friends away..then ultimately the very ones you love. Possessing you where the only thing that matters is the glitter of the gold..not food, not drink, not even the comfort of ones love..just gold." a wave of sadness came over Ahmi at the plight of Thorin...knowing the true beast he would have to face was not a dragon but himself.

"Im sorry..it is not something i can understand or comprehend truly. Forgive my careless words that bring you pain." he saw thier grateful looks of an apology..and forgiveness at his remark. "Is this what he will be facing mellon?" his answer was in her eyes..pain and fear..but it was enough , pity entering his heart for the Kings tragedy. clearing his throat once more he looked down the river at the sight of the town in the distance. "The trail is still fresh..we are not far behind. Lets keep moving..maybe we can stop them before any more innocents pay from thier cruelty." they all began to follow his lead as the swiftly made thier way towards Laketown..and thier hearts.