Bilbo had the route memorised, he ran through the way in which he needed to go several times. He even paced about the small study muttering under his breath; he was determined to anchor the plan down, go through any possibilities of failure, and if failure appeared he tried to think of what exactly the details could be. But really, he was ignoring that. This plan was going to work, and they were all going to get out of here, one way or another.

It just so happened that finding and following the changed guard was easy, he did a round of the cells and walked out of the door again; Bilbo watched his friends scowl outwards at the elf, who acted indifferently and uncaring to their sour dispositions. Bilbo was in the shadows of the doorway and the elf passed him by without a glance, helped he was invisible of course. The last place he expected to wind up was down below, Bilbo's eyes practically lit up upon seeing the barrels now present.

They weren't when he came down here with Liruliniel, and naturally he wondered if he would need to keep coming to check if they had appeared. He didn't, in fact the time in which he was away from her company, he was pacing, fidgeting and thinking over this plan again. The barrels were stacked upon each other and tethered loosely to keep them in place. They were empty, like Liruliniel had said and after glancing at the now drinking elf, Bilbo examined the barrels silently.

They were definitely large enough to fit them all inside. That was somewhat of a relief, it would be bad enough persuading the dwarves to get into barrels let alone barrels which were too small. Bilbo's nose twitched at that, no, that didn't sound like it would've been a fun conversation. He jerked upright and looked over his shoulder, raising an eyebrow he couldn't help but muse that the elf practically resting against the table was already half cut, and the guard he'd followed was readily following suit.

And here Bilbo believed that elves and their constitution for wine or other alcoholic beverages would be quite high. They seemed reasonably unaffected by other things, the cold for one was something he had read upon in some random book. But no, these two were off on their merry ways of getting drunk and in all honesty, it was a bit amusing to watch.

The elves here never seemed carefree, oppressed by something may have been putting it lightly, but these two chatted amicably and even laughed a few times over inside jokes which Bilbo didn't understand. They seemed not too dissimilar to those within Rivendell now, he could see the tenuous similarity. Bilbo honestly didn't know how long he had stood here watching the pair, but by the time both seemed to pass out did he only then make his move.

The keys were hanging upon a hook, easily reached by him if he stood on the stairs leading back up. Once he got them in hand, Bilbo wasted no more time in tailing it out of there. He didn't need to linger in this room, and in fact, he felt he perhaps had dragged this part of the plan out long enough. They needed to leave as soon as, even Liruliniel had pressed this. Not all of the elves would be this docile, to say the least, and even Bilbo knew that.

"I'll wager the sun is on the rise. It must be nearly dawn." Bofur's voice echoed out into the otherwise quiet space, even as Bilbo made his way invisibly down the winding stairs he could hear the defeat, the exhaustion. He could easily bet that none of his friends had had a wink of sleep.

"We're never going to reach the Mountain, are we?" Ori asked, sounding as hopeless as Bofur did as he turned away from the cell door.

"Not stuck in here you're not," Bilbo chose his moment to appear when there seemed to be no elves around and well, just good timing to answer a question all the others had unhappy answers to.

He jangled the keys quite triumphantly while pocketing his ring with his other hand. Thorin, who was just leaning against the wall pushed away and rush to the door as Bilbo approached to let him out. Only, because the others recognised his voice, no matter how quiet he was trying to be...they weren't. Chorused shouts of his name suddenly echoed, and he couldn't help but despair.

He was pleased they were pleased to see him, but didn't they know now was not the time to be loud? He shushed them quietly, or tried to, "There are guards nearby!" He said impatiently while hauling the heavy door open and letting the dwarf-King within out.

Hurriedly, Bilbo scampered about from cell to cell, running downstairs to the others and taking to unlocking the doors. Balin was let out with a quiet chuckle and a shake of his head, the older dwarf seemed always pleased to see Bilbo, but on this account seemed more so. The cells were rather spaced apart and each dwarf that was set free, joined the small group which was now gathering. Bilbo eventually got there with letting them all out and sighed over the hubbub which was going about them.

"Not that way! Down here, follow me." He instantly cut off their attempt at escape quite quickly. They couldn't just walk out of here! Though, Bilbo wouldn't be surprised if they had tried. For once, a rarity even, he wasn't questioned, and they all readily jogged after him as he led the way back to their escape transport. If barrels could be called transport, that is.

Even as he tiptoed down the stairs, he could easily hear the snoring from the elves which had seemingly passed out now. With how they were drinking, Bilbo was surprised it had taken them that long. Regardless, they avoided the table where they were and made their way down and around the tall wine stacked shelves down here. The stationary barrels were looming in sight, and Bilbo's apprehension was slowly growing. He was waiting for it to blow up, it was going to.

And it did, Kíli being the first to look bitterly around, Bofur secondly hissed out a whispered reply, and really, the rest looked equally annoyed as those two. Bilbo was surprised it took this long really. "I know what I'm doing," Bilbo all but almost growled and pointed a finger sternly to the side. He was directing them towards the barrels, and they all walked that way, albeit confusedly. "Everyone, climb into the barrels. Quickly!"

"Are you mad? They will find us." Dwalin rounded on the smaller male, only because he was still standing on the stairs, it made Bilbo temporarily taller. Still didn't mean his bravery from earlier was sticking around. Because it didn't, Dwalin had always been a bit unapproachable and short with the hobbit, and really, Bilbo couldn't say he was particularly close to the dwarf, even if they had all become somewhat friends.

"No! No, they won't, I promise! Please, please you must trust me!" Bilbo implored in a rushed whisper. He wasn't surprised they weren't listening to him, at all. The only one who wasn't standing in the group mumbling and passing comment was Thorin, he was still beside Bilbo. "Liruliniel! She suggested this, if you have a comment, take it up with her. I just happened to agree that this seemed the most viable way." Bilbo said while looking from the group to Thorin.

The hesitant look which was on his face seemingly vanished for the moment because of Bilbo mentioning the elf-Princess, wherever she was right now. Bilbo looked at Thorin, still imploring him to agree here. Even Bilbo could see Thorin was perhaps a little weak against the fact that the elf had helped, or rather it was her who had sought out to help set them free. Thorin couldn't argue, in a way he could, but she had set out to find Bilbo, and she was aiding him in getting them all out.

"Do as he says," Thorin said eventually. They were here, here was a way out, it wasn't like they could backtrack. They all knew that guards did sweeps every so often, the chances were if they went back, they'd be caught. Thorin didn't want to go back in a cell, he wished to not have to see Thranduil to witness his gloating of their failure to escape even more so. Both were a no, a serious, big no.

It was a bit of a mad scramble of arms and legs and helping each other, but eventually everyone was situated inside a barrel. Bofur stuck his head out, looking back at Bilbo as he walked to the lever to set the trapdoor open. "What do we do now?" It was a simple question, and one which Bilbo could only answer with so many words.

"Hold your breath," Bilbo said simply, what more could he say? Though, his answer caused more murmurs of disapproval and disgruntlement to travel through the company. It would've been comical, at any other time to see the dwarves all rolling in barrels downwards, but Bilbo was too concentrated on actually getting out to laugh, but also to realise there wasn't a barrel for himself.

He looked at the empty space, and his expression fell. This was a problem. He had hoped a problem wouldn't have appeared, so far all had been good. Now this. What was he meant to do? It was a miracle the elves drunkenly sleeping didn't wake up from all the noise. And he did have means to be invisible, but he'd rather have left with his friends than stick around here. Liruliniel would surely help him, he knew that, but even still...

He started to panic a bit then. From pacing down the trapdoor, he could see the elves starting to stir, but also, he could hear that the escaped dwarves, had been found out. Bilbo stomped on the wood, he stomped, and he jumped, and he eventually backtracked to the point of the weight shifting and the door opening. Bilbo couldn't help the helpless noise which slipped from his lips as he fell backwards and downwards and into the cold waters below.

To say it was a bumpy ride was an understatement and then some. Bilbo clutched onto the nearest barrel, got praise from Thorin before things steadily went further downhill. Now, Bilbo wasn't expecting smooth sailing, however he had hoped they would go unnoticed for a bit longer. It didn't happen, of course it didn't. Nothing so far had seemingly gone smoothly in this quest, why should escape?

Through gasping for air whenever he could, to readjusting his hold on the barrel, even Bilbo could spy through the small waves made in the wakes of the barrels that the gates were being closed. They were trapped again. The guards upon the ramparts looking down at them through the eyepieces in their helmets unflinchingly, or at least they were until one got shot in the neck by an arrow and went falling.

An orc, or rather one that turned into many soon came swarming and Bilbo couldn't help but look on fearfully. So far through the woodland the hounding orcs had been missing in action. Somewhere in Bilbo's mind, he had Liruliniel saying that the darkness here in the forest was all tied together. The orcs had been here all along, they were waiting for the opportune time to strike an attack. Or rather, wait until they were all unable to defend themselves and then attack.

Bilbo, at the moment, was the only one who had a weapon, and he used Sting where and when he could. What little it did, considering more orcs seemingly appeared. A mini army were raining down on them and in a split second of clearance, Kíli sprang into action in an effort to grasp onto the lever to open the gate again. He fought his way up the stairs with a weapon Dwalin had stolen from an orc before it perished underwater.

Dodging and weaving and having the other dwarves lend a hand in defending his back when they could, Kíli managed to get close to the lever, within hand touching distance and something then sunk into his leg. From a short distance away, on the other side of the bank, Bolg had also spied Kíli's attempts at opening the gate and took the moment to fire an arrow at the otherwise defenceless dwarf. He shouted out, he sunk to the ground and looked at the protruding shaft, the arrowhead well and truly sunk into his skin.

The only word which could describe what had seemingly happened thus far was chaos. Honestly, the last thing Liruliniel expected to see when coming outside was for all of this to be transpiring. With a sigh, she glanced at Legolas as they made their way steadily forward, Tauriel had already gone charging off before them. "If you get more than me, I will tell no one how easily it seemed to get you drunk." Liruliniel smirked upwards at the blonde beside her. After all, unlike their auburn-haired friend, he was not on duty last night and, well, she may have goaded him a little...she wasn't to know that Legolas gave way to the goading so easily, and, well, elvish wine is potent...

Legolas raised an eyebrow, "If you get more, then I shall tell no one that you retired underneath one of the tables, because you couldn't be bothered to walk to your bed." Shortly followed by his father having to pry her out and carry her away. No, Legolas believed whoever was still awake for that and witnessed it, it would've been enough. But for everyone else to know? That would be somewhat amusing.

"Hm, a drunk Prince and a lazy Princess. What is this kingdom coming too?" Liruliniel shrugged nonchalantly and unsheathed Silmacil from her back with ease. "Come on then, Little Prince, do show me that you at least half paid attention to lessons I pushed on you. I would not like to see I wasted my time." Liruliniel sighed half-heartedly and shook her head with a despairing expression.

Legolas's own expression went stony, and he shook his head at her, his mouth pressed into a thin line as he ignored her jibing and commenced firing shot after shot from his bow before changing and unsheathing his own dagger. Taking to switching and blocking he easily outmatched any orc which came his way.

Liruliniel smiled, joking aside her smile slipped and she skipped and jumped over bushes and branches to get closer to where the dwarves were. Though she was impressed to see just how good Legolas had got, after all, she was so used to seeing him fight spiders, at least orcs gave up a somewhat challenge at times, she had others to contend with. The dwarves were powerless in their barrels and though Tauriel was near to them and staving off the raging orcs as best she could, even she could only do so much before more elves came to her aid.

With ease, and with thanks to the further training Liruliniel herself had got from Thranduil, she easily wielded Silmacil with one hand at times, if only to use Cúferne to come up and block or finish the job of whoever was trying to attack her. She looked on indifferently, the orcs more often than not spat something out her way, before she drove her sword into them somewhere.

She was trying to get to her friend, Tauriel was strong, Liruliniel knew that but even she had moments of lapsing concentration. The pained cry from behind was enough to cause one orc to sneak up and try and take her life. Even before Liruliniel could do the honours, Tauriel had dealt with it. Standing beside her, they watched as whatever orcs were still around had taken to running after the dwarves.

The gates had opened, and the barrels went charging downstream. Liruliniel clicked her tongue, slashing upwards she dispatched a straggler and tilted her head. "We have to go after them," Liruliniel said while placing the two-handed sword back in its place. If she was giving chase and fighting on the run, the much longer blade would get in the way. Tauriel slowly turned her head to look at her, a little distant and worried looking.

Liruliniel raised an eyebrow. "You are worried for one in that company, and I will not allow my friends to be picked off while they cannot defend themselves. We are going after them." Liruliniel said with a stern tone before running forwards and hopping up into the nearest tree. "And plus, these orcs need to know their places! They can't come to our home and try and kill our prisoners! Let them run amok here, then where's the limit?" Liruliniel shouted back at Tauriel before she disappeared into the tree line.

Naturally Tauriel wasn't too far behind her, she could still see the blue flashes of Liruliniel's tunic and the gleaming intricate sheath of the sword on her back. She had forgotten how swift her friend was when up in the boughs of the trees. Hearing another pair of footsteps, Tauriel wasn't all too surprised to see Legolas in pursuit too. Liruliniel could spy the river still as she ran quickly from branch to branch. She hadn't as yet used the bow which had been over her back beside her sword. She was a sure shot, despite saying otherwise, but she wasn't the type to run and shoot. She was a fighter, sword in hand, opponent in front of her, or in some instances here, sneaking up behind and stabbing when she needed to.

She could see poor Bilbo desperately clinging on for dear life, but also, she could see how resilient the dwarves were with doing what they had to, to survive the attacks being thrown their way. Reaching into the quiver she jumped and run downhill to be on the bank. The outcropping rocks were easily skipped and jumped between as she now ran along parallel to the barrels. The churning currents were making them move faster than she ever could, but she kept up the best she could.

Pushing herself a little harder, Liruliniel increased her pace and managed to get in front of the line. Pulling at her bow she fully grasped the arrow her fingers were tracing, leaping and landing on some boulders in the river she stood and fired; another several arrows followed suit as the barrels came trundling past her. Thorin was the first to pass, he double took, and she winced, he looked half drowned. Yet keeping any oncoming attacks at bay she turned and ran, trying to keep up with his barrel.

Any dwarf killed would be a bonus, but even she knew that killing Thorin especially would be something that this company couldn't recover from, but also something the orcs chasing them would revel in. "I will stay with you for as long as I can!" Liruliniel shouted at him, now taking to jumping back to the bank when these stepping stones ran out.

Thorin couldn't formulate words as another wave hit him, but Liruliniel saw him nod, he understood, and he had heard. She was thankful of that as she spotted the oncoming log with a line of orcs readying to attack in some way or another. They managed to chop at the wood with an axe which they had procured somehow, and Liruliniel just continued running. Whatever teeming orcs crossed her path, she swiped at quickly and she was too quick for them to fully register. More times than not she'd slash and jump over them as they fell. She didn't know where anyone else was, she prayed both Tauriel and Legolas were fine. Deep down she knew they would be, but she had dashed on ahead of them.

It was as if he knew he was in her thoughts because Legolas appeared beside her, or rather, in the river standing on the unfortunate heads of two of the dwarves. Liruliniel frowned his way yet fought against the running orcs which followed the paths of the dwarves and the river. She was close to shouting at him to stop using the dwarves as stepping stones before frowning, that wasn't a half bad idea he had and unlike him, she didn't stand on their heads.

Her balance, despite the churning waters and rapids which hit against them, didn't falter as her boots steadied against the rim of the barrel. She would shoot and hop from one to another, she passed Bilbo, and she pitied him more. At least the others were in something, Bilbo was not.

Liruliniel could just about hear her name being called out, she turned, and her eyes widened; so, caught in the defence of the dwarves she had not realised that the river had opened up more and either bank didn't seem within jumping distance. She could see Legolas on the cliff, he looked on with a frown, yet his eyes flicked to the sides as the orcs which hadn't been cut down were speedily following still.

"I'm sorry! But I don't think we'll see each other for a while! I won't ask you to apologise for me!" She cupped her mouth and shouted; she looked sadly at Legolas.

He seemed torn, his emotions showing for a rare moment as he seemed angry, she was going with the dwarves, but also utterly desperate to follow and help her and the state she was going to soon find herself in. If those orcs kept following, she was going to be in serious trouble. Liruliniel was good, she wasn't so good that she could defend unarmed dwarves with her willpower and skill alone. She would die, Legolas was rather resolute on that, if she stayed with them, she was going to die. No good was going to come of her staying with them, Legolas not only had a prisoner to now take back for interrogation, but also, he had to inform his father that Liruliniel was gone. This was something he was not looking forward to in the slightest.

=

To say that everyone was thankful at the sight of land, was an understatement to say the least. Liruliniel was, of course, the more better off; she wasn't waterlogged, nor was she situated within a barrel. However, she did have to dodge and move from barrel to barrel at times, she didn't wish to weigh down the barrel more, making whoever the dwarf was inside struggle, more so than what he already was.

By the time they all got to calmer waters, the paddling hands and efforts to move through the water had got lax, to say the least. The dwarves were zapped of energy it seemed, cold, wet and tired and though land was in sight, the hesitance of still being followed was clearly in the forefront of everyone's minds.

"You are safe," Liruliniel had commented loud enough for them all to hear. Her eyes were far superior, and though she hadn't been this far down river for a long time, she knew it. She remembered it well, travelling through the forestry to get to Esgaroth, a company of guards and Oropher beside her.

Liruliniel couldn't help but smile slightly, she was so young then, inhaling deeply she turned and jumped to another barrel lip. She had been facing the way they had come, if an attack came, it wasn't going to be from the front, was it? But she couldn't spy any sign of their enemies. No thunderous sounds of heavily booted feet ploughing through the forest, no scattering of birds crying out loudly at the intrusion and definitely no shouting in a dark language none of them would understand.

"I think we've outrun the orcs!" Came a relieved exclaim from behind her as she caught sight of the rocky shore coming into sight fully.

Liruliniel, admittedly, did not know all the names of the dwarves. Introductions while in prison cells just didn't seem right. But she had seen the dwarf who shouted this, somehow his hat had remained in place throughout the dramatic journey, even if it too was absolutely waterlogged.

"Not for long, head for the shore!" Thorin was lucky enough to have a long branch in hand which he was using as a makeshift oar. The others weren't this lucky, but at the mention of dry land, they all commenced wildly paddling with their hands again in the direction that their leader was heading in.

Liruliniel had the advantage of being the first to step foot against the craggy grey surface, the swaying motion which she had got so used to lingered, and she turned a little uncertainly if only to grimace at the sight of the barrels all bumping into each other. The dwarves themselves were eagerly all trying to scramble out, it was a mass of limbs and legs, grumbles and shouts of insult now and then. They were certainly uncoordinated, unlike previously when attacking the orcs.

Liruliniel smiled and shook her head, she didn't think she'd ever truly understand dwarf-kind, they were just a mystery all unto themselves. Yet walking forwards, she gripped onto the rim of the barrel and kept it steady as Thorin pulled himself out. He sent her a thankful look before she just pulled the barrel onto the land with ease. She looked him over, relieved not to see an injury on him, yet from the gruff noise which came from behind her she looked behind herself with a confused look.

The tall dwarf, well, he seemed taller than the others, looked at her sceptically, not welcoming at all as he made his way to be beside Thorin. Liruliniel just awkwardly looked away from the heavily tattooed male, perhaps she'll go be useful and help the dwarves out of those barrels. It wasn't that they weren't getting the job done, but really...it just looked uncoordinated.

Tilting her head she paused when one dwarf in particular seemed to almost buckle under his own weight. His legs gave out and a pained noise came from his lips as he sunk to the ground. Liruliniel stared long and hard at him before turning and moving his way. The dwarf with the hat was nearby him too, a look of utter concern on his face. Though spotting her, he shifted to the side slightly. The younger male looked somewhat bitter, Liruliniel wasn't sure at who or what. At maybe being hurt in the first place, or his friend's obvious concern.

"You know, showing pain doesn't make you weak. Not everyone is that strong. And though I have long believed your kin are stubborn as the summer days are long, you aren't impervious. Let me see your leg, Master Dwarf." Liruliniel came to settle by his side, "I am Liruliniel, if it helps to be properly introduced."

He wasn't forthcoming with removing his hand, or the makeshift bandage he'd pressed against his leg. If anything, it literally looked like a piece of his tunic he'd ripped off. "Kíli," was his reply, his voice tense and it was clear he was in pain with how he held himself and how he spoke.

"Can you help him?" Liruliniel looked up at the slightly sandy haired dwarf which had come hurrying to Kíli's side. An arm wrapped around his shoulder to steady the darker haired dwarf and Liruliniel exchanged a look.

She smiled; she could recognise familial actions when they were right in front of her. "I will try my best to help your brother. If he would but move his hand, then I can see what can be done." Liruliniel watched a surprised glance flash over one then the other's faces before she tilted her head. "What is your name then?"

"I am Fíli. Kíli, move your hand." He introduced himself fairly enough, before swatting his brother lightly on the arm.

"Are you well?" Liruliniel shifted forwards when Kíli's hand begrudgingly moved. He let out a pained noise yet tried to keep it at bay. Her question was directed to the other dwarf still present, and unknown.

"Bofur, and I am fine, thank you." He bowed his head quickly before looking worriedly at Kíli before looking at Liruliniel. "Please try and help him."

"I can hear you," was Kíli's pained reply as he gritted his teeth and looked at the bloody hole which the arrow had left in his leg.

"They worry because they care, don't snap at them." Liruliniel said while shying his hands away gently. "You have my word that I will not do anything, not without you knowing. I will not touch you; I will not touch your wound. Trust me, I am only having a look." Liruliniel looked honestly up at Kíli as she said this.

This wasn't going to work if he was tensely waiting for the inevitable and the pain which would follow suit. Fíli and Bofur exchanged another worried look before watching as she merely swept a stray stand of hair from her face. It had escaped one of the many braids in her hair and she seemed uncaring for where it came from as she looked at the injury before her.

It wasn't good. Liruliniel held up her hands and signalled to Kíli she was going to gently pry the shredded trouser leg away for a better look. He winced and fidgeted, his brother being by his side and reassuringly holding onto his shoulder. The blood had made the fabric sticky, likewise his leg was drenched in the substance. The bleeding as yet, had not stopped completely, the edges around the wound was jagged and the wound itself was a gaping hole. Liruliniel sighed and looked at him again, Kíli just gave a hesitant nod. Though the consent was there, he still bit back a groan when she gently straightened his leg with a hand under his calf.

She wasted no time grabbing his makeshift bandage and pushing with more strength than he could clearly muster at the moment, against his leg. The noise which came from the dwarf was one of pure pain then, Liruliniel could only imagine the searing, stabbing nerve endings firing off. Fíli and Bofur did not look kindly on her bringing pain to the younger male.

"I have seen wounds like this before." Liruliniel could recognise poison when she saw it and smell it. His skin would not heal; the blood may stop but it would not clot to create any form of protection. "I can take away some of the pain, but I cannot heal the wound without herbs. There may be some nearby, I know this area. I shall go see if I can find something for you, I am sorry if I hurt you." Liruliniel smiled kindly, wanting all three dwarves to know she did not mean such discomfort.

Her hand stayed against his leg while with her other she reached up to feel his forehead. She sighed and looked him in the eyes, his own eyes seemed sharp enough, but his skin was turning ashen as well as clammy. "You are burning up; we must hurry and get you somewhere warm and dry. Being in wet clothes is not going to aid you in healing." Liruliniel had to let them know he would heal, eventually. She was just vague on more details; she wasn't one for giving false hope.

Kíli seemed to understand though, he nodded slowly at her. Liruliniel just nodded in return, grateful to be understood while Thorin marched past with an urgency to get moving. "Kíli's wounded, his leg needs binding." Fíli shot over his shoulder as he turned to look to where Thorin was moving off to.

"There's an orc pack on our tail, we keep moving." Thorin replied from the shoreline as he looked at the lake before him, before turning back around and looking back to the company which was all sitting about. They all needed to recover from the ordeal they just went through, before moving onto the next challenge.

"To where?" An older dwarf with white hair and a beard said, sounding exhausted and confused. His tone was questioning though, as if his question was utterly obvious.

Liruliniel looked confused, Bofur was kind enough to lean over and whisper to her that his name was Balin. She let out a quiet sound, Bofur also pointed to the others listing them off quietly and quickly. Liruliniel thought she had all stored the names in her mind, but really, she wasn't too sure. She'd still like a personal introduction.

"To the Mountain, we're so close." Bilbo came walking forwards, she was glad to see the hobbit was well. He looked utterly startled and terrified in getting to this point, not that she blamed him. But his reply to Balin was also one of stating the obvious. Wasn't that why they were all gathered? Why they had all come to this point? They were here to get to Erebor, so as far as anyone could figure, that goal still hadn't changed.

A sigh came from Balin then. The dwarf stood with his hands on his hips and looked at the still waters of the lake, before looking at the hobbit as he came walking and stopping in front of him. "A lake lies between us and that Mountain. We have no way to cross it." Balin was in no way wanting to readily enter the barrel again to try and get further downstream. They didn't have a raft, a boat, or any other means to conquer the waters. No matter how still they were now, they were still stranded and in danger.

"So, we go around." Bilbo spoke with the true ignorance of someone who didn't know the area, but also so flippant was the suggestion thrown out he looked a bit miffed when Liruliniel shot him an incredulous look, and why - who she now knew - Dwalin seemed to scoff and stomp past him to join Thorin's side.

"The orcs will run us down as sure as daylight, with no weapons to defend ourselves." Dwalin said, yet he looked at Liruliniel with a look which caused her to tilt her head, incredulous look still on her face.

True, she was littered with weapons. Daggers still in compartments on her chest and ribs, her bow over her shoulder; a few arrows still in her quiver attached to her hip. Silmacil and Cúferne sheathed and in place, untouched since earlier. "I'm not sharing."

"Why does that not surprise me?" Dwalin said, taking a slow step forward as if he was going to square up to her, or intimidate her somehow.

Liruliniel smiled, "My weapons are parts of me; I have trained my entire life to become one with them. To give one away, will be like giving a piece of me away. These are mine, and they will stay on me, but I will use them in defence for you."

There was a blunt laugh, she remained unmoving and keeping pressure on Kíli's leg. Dwalin was almost pacing, as he threw a hand her way. "We don't need your defence. We've seen what your kind do and intend to do with us."

Liruliniel raised an eyebrow. "It will pain you to know they aren't my kind. I just live there, I am here to defend and protect all free peoples of our lands. Everyone is under my protection as long as I stand and am able to fight. So, whether you wish it or not, an orc comes charging for you, I will stab it in the heart and cut its head off."

Dwalin didn't seem to agree with something she said, he went to say something only to get cut off by a look from Thorin. Whatever Dwalin's thoughts and feelings on still being near an elf were, Thorin was looking past his longstanding grudge, because of who the elf was. "Bind his leg, quickly; you have two minutes." Thorin said while moving past again, he was pacing to try and think of something. They couldn't stay here, the longer they stayed the more time it gave the orcs to wait them out or just flat out attack them in a frenzy.

Liruliniel instructed Kíli to keep a firm hold on his leg, smiling lightly she stood and walked off to approach Thorin. She patted Bilbo reassuringly on the shoulder as she passed him by. "I'm glad you are in one piece. I have seen those rapids do some damage to whatever is unfortunate to fall into them."

"Oh...right, thank you?" Bilbo sounded utterly confused in his response, was what she said a compliment or something of shock that he was still standing?

Liruliniel just smiled that smile, it made her seem allusive to Bilbo; allusive and knowing of something he didn't as she continued onwards. Placing a hand on Thorin's shoulder, she looked apologetic when he jumped a little. So deep in thought, he hadn't heard her approach. That, and, well, elves were so light on their feet he didn't hear her footfalls. "Apologies," Liruliniel walked to the water and dipped her hand in the cool liquid.

Kíli's blood was still on her palm, and she sought to removing it. Turning once she was done, she sat down on a boulder, Thorin stood closely with his arms tightly crossed against his chest. "Bofur and Fíli are dealing with Kíli. But he needs medicine, herbs. There may be some in the woods nearby. I am going to search for some, but I will not stray far. If I see any orcs, I will kill them. But also, if I locate or find anything out in my short travels, I shall inform you."

Thorin nodded mutely, he watched her stand and brush herself down with a quiet sigh. "How do you think we should get there?"

Liruliniel looked a bit miffed that he'd asked her. Blinking large eyes, she sat back down. "Esgaroth is not far. The reason why I told Bilbo of when the barrels were expected, was because they would've been dispatched today. All you need to do is wait, Thorin. I have not had dealings with him, but there is a ferryman, a bargeman who collects the barrels and takes them back to the town."

Thorin's eyes widened at this information as he turned to look at her, Liruliniel just smiled and stood back up. "You truly planned this all out, didn't you?" He whispered, looking up at her with a sense of awe that she had, well, no pun intended, such foresight.

"I said I would aid you as much as I could. I do not intend to go back on my word. We will get you all back home, and in the meantime, I have time to see if I can find a way around awaking a dragon. I do not wish to see another city burn." Liruliniel admitted with a small shiver, too many deaths have happened because of one creature. Enough was enough, and she was racking her brain for a way out, a way in which Smaug would not venture out and rain fire down, but she was struggling. All but killing the creature of course, but that seemed reasonably impossible.

"Thank you," Thorin said quietly while he glanced behind himself. He wasn't sure him thanking an elf would be let down or go of anytime soon if someone else heard his words.

Liruliniel shook her head, "It's what friends do. Not that you're going to, but don't stray into the forests. We may be out of the heart of the wood, but foul creatures still lurk on the edges." She turned on her heels and commenced walking off.

Thorin frowned, "Yet it is fine for you?" He found that strange, weapons or not, she was still in danger being on her own. Yes, singularly she was able to be quiet and find whatever it was she was looking for, but also; if she was caught, and the numbers were too great, she was doomed.

Liruliniel waved over her shoulder, "There is a darkness in me too, Thorin. There is one thing these creatures cannot stand, or stand up to, it is something that is stronger and darker than themselves. Plus, I have not foreseen my death by the hands of orcs in the lower parts of Mirkwood; nor of the spiders which have encroached on this land and call it theirs now."

Thorin moved a little after her, something in her tone and her words caused him to feel a pang of worry. "You have foreseen your death?"

She smiled over her shoulder, "Despite myths and legends which mortals spread about elves; even we aren't immortal or untouchable." She turned and looked at him when he stopped short of following her fully into the thicket.

"How?" Thorin's light blue eyes looked up at her imploringly. She had risked a lot to aid them to this point. If she knew such a detail and told him, then he would do everything in his power to protect her as she had vowed to do with him, and his kin.

"The future is not so certain to me; I can see it, yet I can't. It is cloudy, grey, smoke and mirrors. There is fighting, battling, many fall, but it is a great alliance of the races of Middle-earth; in some ways it is beautiful, the unification I mean. Like my father and brother before me, I fall in battle. Or at least, I am led to believe I do. I always wake up near the end, never do I fully see what happens." Liruliniel said with a far-off look, yet when she looked back at Thorin, all she was met with was apprehension.

She placed a hand on his shoulder and smiled, "I am not afraid of death, Thorin. It comes for all, and I have seen death and its many faces, I have even been the face of death for some. It is the thing that all life must face, and it is not something to be fearful of, because death is just another part of life's journey. To fear your own mortality, is to fear life itself; and that is no good, is it? How can you fear being alive, when being alive brings so much beauty and wonder." Liruliniel patted his shoulder and nodded back the way they had come, "Tell Kíli I will try my hardest to find what he needs to heal. I shan't be long," Liruliniel smiled again and turned to walk into the forest.

She left Thorin standing there looking deeply thoughtful over her words, the heaviness of the topic had him stuck in place, he couldn't quite fully comprehend what she had said, or the implications and meanings behind her words. The way in which she spoke with such calm clarity, showed to him that she had accepted that whatever will be, will be; why she had zero fear or worry in aiding him and his friends. If she had possibly seen how her journey ended, why shouldn't she do what she wished until that point?

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Edited: 7/July/2025