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BARD SENT MARISTELA AHEAD WHEN HIS SON, BAIN, HAD WARNED THEM that the house was being watched, they needed a plan to get the Dwarves and Bilbo into the home without being seen. When Maristela reached the house, she opened the door and smiled at Tilda and Sigrid who both rushed to hug her, though the impact sent a wave of pain through her body, but she ignored it for the girls. "It's good to see you both," Maristela told them, she leaned back to get a proper look at them, they had both gotten older since her last visit.

"You've both grown beautifully," Maristela complimented before allowing them to pull her further into the house. "We still have your clothes!" Tilda exclaimed before reaching into a bag close by, Maristela smiled seeing the clothing that would be more loose on her injury. "Thank you girls," Maristela told them before taking the clothing and stepping behind a curtain to change into the loose white tunic but she left her blue breches on, she didn't want to annoy the wound. The light clothes were less constricting on her sore body, but the sight of her injury was cause for concern.

"Da... why are there Dwarves climbing out of our toilet?" Sigrid asked loudly gaining Maristela's attention, she stepped around the curtain and smiled as Bofur approached her with a frown. "You'll dry," Maristela told him before she sat down on the couch, her leg practically thanking her for sitting down. "Will they bring us luck?" Tilda asked making Maristela laugh recieving a glare from Dwalin but it didn't stop her from laughing. The Dwarves are wrapped in blankets, and their wet things have been laid in front of the fire to dry; some of them shiver. Fíli moved to sit with Maristela, she leaned her head on his shoulder.

"How's your thigh?" Fíli asked Maristela softly, he had moved so she was leaning on his shoulder more comfortably. "It's okay at the moment," Maristela answered him while closing her eyes and snuggling closer to Fíli's warmth, the Dwarf smiling before wrapping his arm around her shoulders and pulling her closer to him. "We're almost there," Fíli breathed out, his eyes landing on his uncle and brother. "So close," Maristela whispered before turning her head to look up at Fíli, he looked down at her with a fond smile, his free hand brushing her hair away from her face.

Fíli leaned closer to Maristela, his eyes flicking down to her lips and a shiver ran through his body at the idea of pressing his lips against hers. However, he didn't have to think to deeply about it when Maristela pressed her own lips to his, testing the waters. She knew how she felt for Fíli wasn't quite love but there was something between them and with how close they are to completing their quest, she wasn't going to miss an opportunity. Once Fíli realised that she had pressed her lips to his own, he pressed his lips harder against hers allowing her presence to overcome him. Her lips were slightly chapped but ultimately soft and pliant against his own chapped lips.

Maristela's heart was racing as she and Fíli kissed, the feeling was new yet exciting and the way he held her cheek made her shiver in pleasure. She was grateful they had sat away from the Company but didn't doubt someone had witnessed their shared moment. When Fíli pulled away, she chased his lips for a moment before opening her eyes, her gaze locking on Fíli's as his thumb brushed across her lower lip making her flush a light pink. "I wasn't expecting that," Fíli told her with a slightly raspy tone, Maristela smirked at him. "Thought it was worth a shot," Maristela replied before giving him a chaste kiss, both smiling happily.

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Thorin looks out a window and sees a wooden tower not far away. Atop the tower is a windlass, a giant cross-bow type weapon with four arms, the sight shocked Thorin to the core. "A Dwarvish Wind-Lance," Thorin expressed gaining the attention of the others, Bilbo sipping from his mug looks out at the Wind-Lance. "You look like you've seen a ghost," Bilbo expressed to Thorin. "He has," Balin spoke up, "The last time we saw such a weapon, a city was on fire. It was the day the dragon came." Thorin sadly looks away as Balin continued, "The day that Smaug destroyed Dale. Girion, the Lord of the city, rallied his bowman to fire upon the beast."

Maristela sat up straighter with Fíli's arm around her waist, he hadn't let her move too far from his embrace, not that she minded. "But a dragon's hide is tough, tougher than the strongest armor. Only a Black Arrow, fired from a Wind-Lance, could have pierced the dragon's hide, and few of those arrows were ever made," Balin continued telling the story, Thorin's eyes glazed over almost as though he was remembering the day piece by piece. "His store was running low when Girion made his last stand," Balin informed them. "Had the aim of Men been true that day, much would have been different," Thorin commented harshly.

"You speak as if you were there," Bard spoke as he approached Thorin. "All Dwarves know the tale," Thorin defended. "Then you would know that Girion hit the dragon. He loosened a scale under the left wing. One more shot and he would have killed the beast," Bain spoke up in a defensive tone. Dwalin chuckles, "That's a fairy story, lad. Nothing more." But Maristela lowered her head processing the words, it wouldn't be so far-fetched in her eyes; it was possible. "You took our money. Where are the weapons?" Thorin asked Bard. "Wait here," Bard instructed before he headed downstairs to a lower section of the lake home.

While Bard is doing this, Thorin, Balin, and Kíli move closer to Fíli and Maristela to talk quietly amongst each other. "Tomorrow begins the last days of Autumn," Thorin pointed out to them, Maristela understood the concern in his eyes. "Durin's Day falls morn after next. We must reach the mountain before then," Balin added with certainty. "And if we do not? If we fail to find the hidden door before that time?" Kíli questioned his uncle. "Then this quest has been for nothing," Fíli spoke before recieving a tap on the shoulder from Maristela as she spoke, "Have faith, all of you. We will make it and you will see the halls of your forefathers."

Thorin smiled at Maristela's certainty, he bowed his head in agreement as Bard made his way back into the room, placing a package on the table gaining the attention of the Dwarves. Bard loosens the wrappings and reveals a couple of hand-made weapons however, the Dwarves look at them in shock and disgust. "What is this?" Thorin asked in disgust. "Pike-hook. Made from an old harpoon," Bard answered him while Maristela tuned out of their conversation, she leaned back on the couch and winced at the sudden pressure within her thigh. She moved to unwrap the old binding and frowned at the sight of the wound, it was getting worse.

"Mari?" Bilbo spoke gaining Maristela's attention, she turned to him and saw how he was looking at her wound. She quickly covered the wound with the binding and smiled at the young Hobbit, "I'm okay, Bilbo. Don't go worrying about me, okay?" Bilbo was hesitant, he knew she was getting worse as her skin had gone pale and beads of sweat were appearing on her forehead yet she kept a smile on her face. "We have a new plan," Fíli spoke as he approached Maristela, Bard having left after telling them all to stay put due to the spies watching the house ready to pounce when the moment comes.

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As soon as night fell over Laketown, the Company left Bard's home and snuck their way through the town toward the armory, hiding from the watchmen. "As soon as we have the weapons, we make straight for the mountain. Go, go, go!" Thorin instructed them. With the watchmen gone, Thorin points to Nori, who gets a running start and runs up a pyramid of Dwarves who have pressed themselves against the walls of the city armory. He is able to get high enough that he can reach the second floor window and dive through. "Next," Thorin calls out, Bilbo follows Nori's actions followed by Maristela who has more agility thanks to her Elvish blood.

Maristela struggles under a load of several weapons but she does her best to ignore it as her leg shook, the pain had increased since earlier that night. "You all right?" Thorin asked the Elleth, he had seen how much closer she and Fíli had become. "I can manage. Let's just get moving, yeah?" Maristela replied to him before moving towards the stairs, a shock of pain burned through her leg causing her to stumble, the weapons in her hands tumbled from her grip as she crashed down the stairs. Maristela groaned as the sound echoed through the room, Fíli moved to help her, noticing the new blood seeping from her wound.

The Company tries to run away when the watchmen make their way to the armory but are stopped by two watchmen pointing pikes at them. Bilbo and the Dwarves in the armory grab weapons but several other guards point pikes at them too. Fíli glares at the guard holding a pike to him and Maristela, however, his attention is taken by Maristela's whimper from the pain in her leg; she felt it getting worse with each moment. Maristela locks eyes with Thorin, guilt and shame burning in her eyes along with pain but Thorin simply softened at the sight of her leaning into his nephews hold.

Alfrid pokes his head out of the door to the Master's mansion to see the commotion, he sees the soldiers dragging the Company to the mansion, with multitudes of townspeople following behind. "Get off of me!" Dwalin snapped at the guard holding him. As the guards open the doors of the mansion, the Master storms out, still putting on his coat; the Company lined up in front of him with Maristela leaning slightly into Fíli due to her leg. "What is the meaning of this?!" The Master shouted in question. "We caught 'em stealing weapons, Sire," Braga, the captain of the guard, informed him.

"Ah. Enemies of the state, then," The Master spoke out before looking towards Maristela, his brows raising. "Maristela Maladrosa, you dare return to my town," The Master sneered gaining the Elleth's attention. "Like I would fear a man like you. Greedy and selfish," Maristela snapped at him with a harsh glare. "This is a bunch of mercenaries if ever there was, sire," Alfrid spoke up knowing how temperamental Maristela could be. "Hold your tongue!" Dwalin snapped at Alfrid, "You do not know to whom you speak. This is no common criminal; this is Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror." Dwalin gestures to Thorin, and Thorin steps forward.

"We are the Dwarves of Erebor," Thorin spoke out, the crowd whispers in shock and recognition. "We have come to reclaim our homeland. I remember this town and the great days of old. Fleets of boats lay at habour, 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 preached out to the crowd, Maristela smiled slightly at the sight of Thorin addressing the people like a King. "I would see those days return. I would relight the great forges of the Dwarves and send wealth and riches flowing once more from the halls of Erebor!" Thorin shouted earnestly, the people cheer loudly.

"Death! That is what you will bring upon us. Dragon fire and ruin. If you awaken that beast, it will destroy us all," Bard argued from the crowd, he pushed his way through and stood to the left of the King with a stoic gaze. "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!" Thorin told the crowd with a smile, the people shout in excitement and they applaud. The Master looks on, smiling and nodding at this turn of events.

"All of you! Listen to me!" Bard shouts causing the crowd to fall silent, "Have you forgotten what happened to Dale?!" The people are quiet as they shake their heads sadly. "Have you forgotten those who died in the firestorm?!" Bard questioned recieving no's back from the townspeople. "And for what purpose? The blind ambition of a mountain King so driven by greed, he could not see beyond his own desire!" Bard continued, he and Thorin stare at each other angrily, the crowd gets louder, then the Master steps in, "Now, now, we must not, any of us, be too quick to lay blame. Let us not forget that it was Girion, Lord of Dale, your ancestor, who failed to kill the beast!"

Maristela looked to Bard in shock, she hadn't known his connection to Girion and the knowledge that the Lordship was his blood right meant hope for the people of Laketown. As Bard looks away, Thorin looks at him in shock and anger. "It's true, sire. We all know the story: arrow after arrow he shot, each one missing its mark," Alfrid added. Bard looks around as the crowd yells angrily at him, he then strides forward and speaks directly to Thorin, "You have no right, no right to enter that mountain!" Thorin sneered, "I have the only right."

Thorin turns to the Master of Laketown, "I speak to the Master of the men of the Lake. Will you see the prophecy fulfilled? Will you share in the great wealth of our people?" The people quietly watch in anticipation as Thorin spoke, "What say you?" Maristela watched anxiously as the Master's face turned from a blank expression to a wide grin. "I say unto you... Welcome! Welcome and thrice welcome, King under the Mountain!" The Master cheered, the crowd erupts in cheers while Bard looks on silently, he turns to Maristela as the Dwarves walk forward. "We'll all burn," Bard warned her before walking away, Maristela frowned knowing he could be right.

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「 ✦ 𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐘 ✦ 」

MARISTELA AND FÍLI KISSED?!
I had to have it happen and I felt like it was a perfect quiet moment for it to happen. Yes, this is a Legolas book but ultimately, Maristela and Legolas don't happen for another sixty years after the Quest to Reclaim Erebor so she has time to move on from Fíli.

Thoughts on Maristela and Fíli's kiss?

Thoughts on Bard's warning to Maristela?

Extra thoughts on this chapter?
Theories? Predictions? Suggestions?

P.S: I may be writing some of Bilbo's perspective in the coming chapters so I hope y'all don't mind about that.

See you in the next chapter!