Almost silently, I walked down the wooden corridor. It was official, I loved my new boots. They were almost better than my old ones that had been lost in the current of the river and Bard's, well, I had something on my feet. But these, they were like they were made especially for me. It was only when I was halfway down a corridor that I realised I didn't know where the dining room was. I decided to just follow the noise I heard somewhere two corridors away.
"Cheers!" I heard Bofur shout, after which there was complete silence for two seconds.
Grinning, I pushed open a double door and found myself in a spacious hall. At one head of the table sat Thorin, at the other the mayor of the lake town. Everyone else had somehow split up and had masses of food on their plates, they were laughing, already prematurely drunk with victory and eating what they could. Satisfied, I saw the disappointed look on the mayor's face as I walked towards the last of the empty chairs. "Well I don't dance to anyone's tune." I thought inside as I dropped down next to Kili.
I grabbed some meat, roasted potatoes and boiled vegetables on my plate and started to devour it. As I glanced to the side, I noticed the mayor staring at me "What?!" I mumbled out after two bites "Never seen anyone hungry eat before?"
The mayor didn't answer but whispered something to Alfred again. Shaking my head, I turned back to my food while Kili beside me glared at the red-haired mayor. But I did not even notice that.
The more the dwarves drank, the louder they laughed and exchanged increasingly ridiculous-sounding stories. The mayor had long since disappeared. Kili had gone to his room two hours ago, saying he wanted to rest for tomorrow. Amused, I watched the completely drunk Bofur who climbed up on the table and started to dance. I clapped along to the beat of his slurred song, but was also starting to get tired, as I wasn't pumped up on alcohol like everyone else around me. Being half Elf, it took a lot for me to get drunk.
"Excuse me!" I pushed back my chair and walked out of the room, back to my room.
I took off my coat, boots and waistcoat and crawled into bed with my trousers, which got wider towards the bottom, and shirt. The last thing I saw before I fell asleep was the moon shining brightly on Erebor.

Someone shook me rudely by the shoulder, I wheeled around and almost reflexively grabbed the person by the neck, not paying attention to who it was.
"My Lady." the clerk croaked from under my grip "The mayor wants to escort you to the armoury."
I exhaled in frustration, released the man's neck and sank back into my bed. He could only be glad I had slept with no weapons on me or he would be dead now. Waking me up so abruptly was life-threatening, most of the dwarves had to learn this in a rather unpleasant way, but this way had saved me from death many, many times. "I'll be right there, give me a moment."
The servant got to his feet, held his neck and hurried quickly out of the room.
I put my legs on the floor and looked out of the window, the sun slowly but surely fighting its way over the horizon. I quickly got dressed and braided my hair out of my face at the sides, at the back of my head I let it fall open over my back. I threw on my coat as I walked and made my way to the armoury, which I knew exactly where it was. On my way there I was looked at inconspicuously, as they thought, by many people. Of course I noticed, but I ignored it and walked stubbornly straight ahead towards the entrance of the armoury. Many of the dwarves were already there, looking at the selection. I raised my hand in salute and grinned as Dwalin wielded an axe in inspection, almost decapitating Alfred in the process. I went to the swords and took one of them in my hand, examining it. It was actually far too heavy for me, but I took it anyway and strapped on my sword belt.
"Excuse me, do you have daggers?" I tried to get a friendly smile on my face as I asked Alfred about the daggers, I was not going to succeed.
The man pointed to a rather darker corner "Back there." he eyed the sword on my belt "They may be more suitable for you than the sword."
I contorted my face, I knew exactly what he was alluding to, they were more suitable weapons for a woman in his opinion, I clenched my hands into fists as I walked over to the daggers.
A laugh snapped me out of my mental death threats, Fili had leaned on one of the swords and was wiping a tear of laughter from her cheek "Believe me when I tell you, Leona is deadlier with daggers than any man with a sword."
"Thank you Fili." Examining, and also wiping one out of Alfred, I twirled the daggers through the air and then tucked them into the loops of my boots. I would have felt more comfortable if I had still been given knives, but there weren't any here. By now the sun was well above the lake, we had to get going.
An enthusiastic crowd awaited us as we walked to a boat that was ready for us.
"We are one short." Bilbo looked around a bit "Where's Bofur?"
I had to laugh, as drunk as he was yesterday I would be surprised if he had slept off his drunkenness before evening.
Thorin loaded some supplies into the boat "If he's not here, we'll leave him behind."
"We'll have to." Balin climbed into the boat "If we are to find the secret door before nightfall."
Light-footed, I jumped into the boat. Kili tried to follow me but was stopped by Thorin "Not you." authoritatively Thorin looked at his nephew.
"What are you talking about, of course I'm coming." Kili grinned, it seemed tense.
Thorin shook his head and continued loading things into the boat, secretly glad Kili wasn't coming because he didn't look well anymore. He was pale and cold sweat stood on his brow. But I knew one thing, if Kili didn't go, I wouldn't go either.
"I will be there when that door opens, when we first see the halls of our fathers Thorin." I saw Kili struggling with tears.
"Kili." Thorin put a hand on his shoulder "rest, come and join us when you are recovered."
Disappointed Kili sat down on a wooden crate.
I stood back up "I'll stay with him, I know healing."
"Leona, you can't do that." Thorin held me back by the arm "You are our best chance against Smaug."
I looked Thorin firmly in the eye "Then just don't wake him." I shook off the dwarf's hand and walked over to Kili.
I squatted down in front of him "Be honest, how much does it hurt?" I put my hand on his forehead, it was literally glowing.
"Uncle we grew up hearing tales about the mountain, tales you told us." Fili tried to convince his uncle "You can't take that away from him."
I stopped listening to their further conversation but kept talking at Kili "How bad?"
"Been worse." he grumbled as I pressed on his leg wound.
Suddenly Fili was beside me "What is wrong with him?"
I ran my hand through my hair thoughtfully "Can't tell yet, but his wound must have become infected." I suppressed the need to cover my ears as loud music sounded.
The mayor came up on a platform "May your return bring us all luck!" he waved to the dwarves in the boat who were paddling and heading for the open lake. As soon as they were out of sight, the redhead hurried away.
"Wait!" Bofur pushed his way through the cheering crowds and looked disappointedly at the boat he had missed by minutes. Then his eyes fell on us and his face lit up "Did you miss the boat too?"
Before I could answer him, Kili toppled over. He fell against his brother who caught him worriedly "Kili." but Kili didn't answer, his breathing was gasping and he had his eyes closed.
"Kili." I looked at his leg from which a black liquid was dripping. My heart stopped for a moment, only one kind of orc weapon caused such a wound. A Morgul poisoning.
"We need medicine for him." dismayed, I looked at Kili "and fast!"
Fili put one of his brother's arms over his shoulder "Come on help me with him!" he almost ordered Bofur who hurriedly did as he was asked and moved Kili upright along with Fili.
"I went ahead to the mayor's house, because even though I hated the man, I would have the best chance to heal Kili there.