The voices of the dwarves died away; the song of the Mountain still hanging in the air, as each of them bedded down on the floor, or anywhere they could find in the home of the hobbit. Tomorrow would mean the commencement of the quest to reclaim the dwarven kingdom from the dragon that had sent them into exile; turned them into a people with no placed to call home. But there were still so many questions to answer, still so many unknowns; Thorin sure that their journey would not be an easy one; that the lives of one or more of the Company may be lost along the way. Yet he had decided on his course. He had his grandfather's map and the key to the secret door; Óin had read the portents, the ravens were returning to the Mountain. Yet there was the second prophecy, the prophecy of the child born of man. A child that would aid the king of carven stone to reclaim their home.

"Do you think we will find the child.........?" Thorin asked quietly, as Balin came to join him at the fireplace.

"If as Óin says, the signs are all there, then with luck, and Mahal on our side, we will meet the child of man. All we can hope is the young one is in Lake-town; though I must confess I have never understood how a child could help us reclaim the Mountain. Nor do I know how we are going to persuade a mother and father to let their little one join us in a fight against a dragon." Balin replied with a heavy sigh, as he lay his hand on Thorin's shoulder. The elder dwarf not sure what else to do to assure the prince; for even though he had previously tried to dissuade Thorin, told him that he had done honourably by their people, that he had been able to build a new life for them in the Blue Mountains; a life of peace and plenty. A life that was worth more than all of the gold in Erebor; deep down Balin had known there was no dissuading him. The look in the prince's eyes, telling the elder dwarf more than any words could truly say, as Thorin had held the key to Erebor in his hand.

"Ya should get some sleep, lad. We have an early start and a long journey ahead of us..........." Balin finally added. Thorin reluctantly nodding his head, before moving away from the fire.

                                                    >>----------------------------------<<

Bard slowly pulled back the drawstring of his bow. The glimpse of a fluffy white tail had alerted him to something that would fill the pot and add a little meat to the evening's meal. The bargeman spinning on his heels, as two arrows whizzed past either side of his head, before lodging in the rabbit that he had seen, and one that he hadn't. Bard shaking his head as (Y/n) sauntered past him with a broad smile on her face.

The two had docked the barge some time ago, neither sure when the empty barrels from the elven kingdom would make their way down to them; so, in the meantime they had decided to go hunting; it much to hope that they might find something given the cold. Yet if there were something to find, then Bard was sure that (Y/n) would do it.

She had always amazed him. From the first moment that they had met, he had been able to tell that there was something a little different about her; it not just the way that she looked, not just her skill with bow and arrow, with sword and staff. No, it was all that and more. Bard sure that if he didn't know better, he would think that his friend and first mate, was an elf. He sure that everything about her, could rival any of those that called Mirkwood, home.

"How did you do that.......?" Bard asked, as he watched (Y/n) pull her arrows from her kills. Her smile only growing as she made her way back to him and pushed one of the rabbits into his hand.

"What? I saw the tail of the first one, just like you did, and the second.......well, I just caught sight of it. I am sure that you would have seen it too, if I had given you the chance." (Y/n) explained, before suddenly turning; an arrow pulled from its quiver, notched and fired with such speed, it had all been little more than a blur to Bard. The bargeman unable to do anything but continue to watch her, as (Y/n) ran over to whatever she had hit.

"Here. Take this one too..........." (Y/n) said, as she made her way back to him, passing another rabbit over. Bard shaking his head as she did so.

"(Y/n), I..............."

"I thought you would have learnt by now, Bard; there is no point in arguing with me about things like this. You have four mouths to feed, and I have two. One rabbit is enough for Elina and me; and the two for you, will mean that there is a little more meat for the children." She retorted with a shake of her head. Not able to remember how many times he had tried to do this exact same thing. (Y/n) knowing that he was only trying to be a gentleman, that he wanted to make sure that she and Elina were alright; but being a gentleman in these circumstances, would not put food in his children's bellies. Would not keep him going. And if he couldn't keep going, if he didn't stay strong enough so that he could go out on his barge, then all of them would suffer.

"I have to look after you and the children..........." (Y/n) added quietly, as she placed her hand on his arm. Bard about to say something in reply; about to drop his bow and the rabbits, so that he could pull her into his arms and tell her that he wanted to look after her too. Yet before he could, the two heard a noise. (Y/n) and Bard looking at one another, before the pair made their way over the rocks to see what was going on, on the banks of the river.