It is morning in Laketown; the people crowd along the sides of the main channel as a boat is loaded with supplies for you all to take back to the mountain.

You, along with the dwarves, march along the pier, but bilbo startles you when he speaks up. "You do know we're one short; where's Bofur?" inwardly, you panic even more when you hear Thoirn's answer. "If he's not here, we leave him behind," you growl but keep your sharp words to yourself. You feel the dragon sickness, as Gandalf called it, already starting to weigh on Thorin's mind.

He's making rash decisions, and your mind muses, not safe and not trustworthy. He would never leave one of his behinds; you sigh; I know, you answer. Gandalf warned me that I should look out for it. Or it'll take me too. Your mind scoffed; we are a dragon Skipre; we cannot be taken by dragon sickness. Smaug brought it here, the Arkenstone or the jewel they wish to find too. We must not let them find it, Skipre. You were about to answer him, but soon you wer all by the boat, and you helped the dwarves load provisions.

The vocive of Thorin retakes your attention. "Not you. We must travel with speed; you will slow us down." you frown and turn to see the king under the mountain talking to his new. Kili, who thinks his uncle is kidding, smiles, saying, "What are you talking about? I'm coming with you." the two meet eyes briefly, and Thorin's answer is short: "No."

You frown, even more, making to step up to them, but Balin stops you with a hand on your arm "let them be, lad; this is between the two of them, not you" you lock eyes with the wise old dwarf before looking back at the two royals and sighing.

I will regret it won't I? you ask your mind, who chuckles sadly; I guess you will. But know this, I have a feeling that he will be better and we will help to slay a dragon, hmm? Not so bad?

You scoffed but didn't answer and continued to help the dwarves into the boat. Soon Thorin turns away from his nephew only to stop FIli as he makes for his brother and Oin, who has decided his duty is with the wounded.

"Fili, don't be a fool. You belong with the Company." Thorin says, but the line dwarf doesnt budge and looks hard at him. "I belong with my brother." he pulls away from Thorin and joins Kili and Oin.

You meet Thorin's eyes as he boards the boat, but he does not want to talk about it. You take a deep breath sending the pier dwarves a last parting look before turning away as the boat is paddled out to open water. The musicians of Laketown play their instruments as the Master climbs up to a raised platform. He waves and the people cheer and clap.

Further away, in a house in the town, a sleeping Bofur is woken up by the sound of music. He is asleep under a table, and as he jolts upright, he smacks his head on the bottom of the table. "By my beard, is that the time? Oh, ugh," he mutters and scrambles up unsteadily and runs out the door, grabbing a glass of drink. In the background, the Master is addressing the people. Bofur runs as fast as he can toward the crowd.

"...Bring good fortune to all!" The Master smiles and waves to the dwarves in the boat as they pull into the canal and begin to paddle away. Kili looks on miserably from the dock. The dwarves in the boat smile, wave, and bow at the cheering people. But you are silent, only looking forward. You have no loyalty to mortals, at least not this bunch. Your loatyy is with dwarves now, and you will do what you can to help them.

Even if it means killing your kin.

Cliff hanger

- Z.