"I've been helping those dwarves across Middle Earth. They're coming from the Blue Mountains all the way in the west to the Iron hills, and they hired me to get them through the Misty Mountains and Mirkwood Forest."

"So what happened that brought you to Laketown?" Sigrid asked, handing Agarwaen a dress.

"You...don't happen to have any plain tunics and trousers, do you?" She asked apologetically. "Dresses and my line of work don't match very well."

"Tilda, go see if Bain will share one of his trousers." Sigrid turned back to Agarwaen. "I have a blouse I can give you."

"That will work just fine, thank you." She smiled.

"So, go on with your story." Sigrid prompted.

"Oh, yes. Well, in the forest, we were attacked by spiders as big as horses, and--"

"As big as horses?" Exclaimed Tilda as she came running back into the room with a pair of pants, which the elf graciously took.

"As big as horses. We were like flies in their webs, and were it not for the elves, we would have been sucked dry. But the elves were not there to save us. They brought us back to their palace and locked us up for trespassing."

"But you're an elf? Did they lock you up too?"

"Yes. I'm not exactly from there, so I was locked up too. The hobbit however, he escaped and stole the keys to the dungeon and set us free. Now, the only way out was down the river, so we all jumped in empty wine barrels and rode down the river in them. Then we met your father."

"And since you were locked up, they took everything from you so you have nothing." Sigrid completed the story.

"Yes. If it were not for your father, we would have starved to death in the wild with nothing but each other."

"I'm glad he found you then. I hope everything we can give you will be enough to get you on your feet again." Sigrid smiled.

"It's more than enough. You all are so very kind."

"You won't find anyone else very welcoming in this entire town." She muttered. "We'll let you get changed. Just come downstairs when you're finished." Sigrid said, offering another smile before taking her little sister down the stairs with her. Agarwaen came down two minutes later, with her old clothes in hand. She wasn't sure if Thorin wanted his shirt back now that they had new clothes, but she'd offer it to him.

The clothes she wore now were pants a little too short but still tucked into her boots, and a light cream colored blouse. She cursed the frills around the sleeves, but it was better than what she had before.

"Sigrid?" She asked as she walked out among the dwarves. Bard had just walked outside, and something rather unsettling had crossed her mind. She did not know how long they'd been in the forest.

"Yes?" The girl asked.

"What day is it?"

"The first day of winter is in three days." She answered, and Agarwaen just stared at her. Thorin heard her answer as well, and immediately motioned for the elf to join him, Balin, and the princes in discussing the plan.

"Durin's day is the morn after next. We must reach the mountain before then."

"And what if we do not? What if we fail to find the hidden door in time?" Kili asked.

"Then this quest has been for nothing." Fili answered.

"Agarwaen, if we leave now by boat, will we reach land before nightfall?"

"Yes, but we should wait until nightfall to try and sneak out."

"Are the waters safe at night? What of the ruins?" Kili asked.

"I don't think that's something we should risk." Fili said.

"If there's no fog, the moon should be bright enough for us to see. And I don't think there's any ruins to the north anyway. If we leave tonight, we'll have all of Durin's day to look for the door." Bard reentering the house made them all turn and gather around the table where he set down a wrapped wet pack. He unfolded the cloth to reveal an assortment of homemade weapons.

"What is this?" Thorin asked as everyone began picking them up to inspect them.

"A pike hook. Made from an old harpoon." Bard responded.

"And this?" Kili questioned.

"A crowbill, I call it. Fashioned from a smithee's hammer." The man explained, before speaking of how it isn't much, but would serve well in defence of their lives.

"We paid you for weapons." Gloin voiced his outrage. "Iron forged swords and axes! Even just a bow!" He gestured to Agarwaen who sighed. The situation didn't surprise her honestly. This was a town made of slums, why would any of them have warrior's weapons?.

"You won't find better outside of the city armory." Bard confirmed her assumption. "All the iron forged weapons are kept under lock and key.

"Thorin," Balin called. "Why don't we just take this offer and go? I've made do with less, and so have you."

"I'd have to agree with Balin. There's nothing more this man can offer us. He's done plenty to help us arelady." Agarwaen said quietly.

"I say we leave now." Balin nodded.

"You're not going anywhere." Bard objected.

"What did you say?" Dwalin was outraged.

"There are spies watching this house, and probably every dock and wharf in the town. You must wait until nightfall."

"Exactly as I said before." Agarwaen crossed her arms. Thorin looked around at the group, and retreated to a corner, motioning for her, Balin, and Dwalin to follow.

"At dusk, we leave and make for the armory. If the orcs run us down, those poor excuses for weapons will not be enough." Thorin whispered. Agarwaen knew he was right, there was no other way around this. She nodded.

"Alright then." They all nodded to each other and dispersed.

"So what's it like? Being an elf?" Tilda asked, suddenly appearing behind Agarwaen.

"Well that depends on what you mean." The elf in question responded.

"Well...is it true that you're immortal?"

"Yes, it is. I'm seven hundred and twelve." She sat down to be more eye height with the girl.

"Wow." Tilda smiled. "Have you seen all of Middle Earth?"

"Not all, but plenty of it. Would you like to hear a story about goblins?"

"Oh, yes please!" Tilda sat beside her, and Sigrid leaned up against a wall to listen.

"Well, I actually have two stories about them, so I'll start with the first." She then told them of how she'd first fallen into the tunnels, and how she'd managed to escape before they could have her for supper. She'd never really told stories to children before, but she knew to leave out some messy details.

At some point, Bard had left, and the sun was just beginning to set. After the sky finally began to grow dark, Thorin looked to Agarwaen and slowly nodded. All the other dwarves stood up from where they sat.

"Well, I'm sorry I have to cut this story short," Agarwaen told the girls and Bain, who had started listening a few minutes ago. "But it's time for us to leave. Thank you so much for your amazing hospitality. It shall not be forgotten." Bain shot up as soon as Agarwaen said this and stood up.

"No, you can't leave. Da told me not to let you go anywhere until he was back." The boy said.

"I'm sorry, Bain. But it's grown dark now, so we must make our way out of the town."

"N-no I can't let you leave." He tried to get in between them and the door, but Agarwaen grabbed his arm.

"Bain, listen to me. I'm sorry, but we have to go." She said sadly. The dwarves all filed out while she kept the boy from getting in the way. Thorin was the last to leave, and stopped in the doorway to wait for her.

"I'll be there in a second." She told him before turning to Bain with a serious look. "You need to tell your father to get you all out of the city and far from here as fast as you can." Ever since she'd set foot in Laketown, the prophecy kept replaying over and over in her head.

The bells will ring in gladness at the mountain king's return,

But all shall fade in sadness and the lake will shine and burn.