I stopped fast in my tracks as we came into the clearing. There it lay, winding its way around the wood as innocent as any other stream. However, there was no mistaking it. Stumbling back, Thorin pushed ahead past me.

"This must be the enchanted river." He stated, studying the black waters warily, "Is it?"

"Yes." I breathed, feeling my insides tremble.

A hand laid heavily on my shoulder. I turned to see Fili. He gripped my forearm before moving past me, his eyes intent on the slow moving current. The other dwarves filed past me, but I felt as though my feet were fastened in place.

"It goes far doesn't it?"

"Is that a bridge?"

The voices became muffled as I recalled the last time I had seen those cursed waters. Beorn had fished me from the river where I had been drifting all night. As he carried me down the shore, I had watched with bleary eyes the strangled sunlight mottling the blackish green current, dead leaves the color of charcoal drifted by slothfully. I remembered smiling strangely as I was overcome by pleasant dreams. I drifted in and out of those dreams where I sat at a long feasting table in a friendly glade lit by torches and autumn fires. There was a strange figure presiding over the festivities; a fair king with a crown of leaves. I slept for nearly a fortnight. When I awoke, I barely remembered how to speak much less anything of my past.

"No, it's just where a bridge used to be."

Bofur kicked one of the rotting pilings into the water. The sudden splash in the quiet wood jolted me from my musings.

"It's too far to jump and we daren't swim it." Thorin boomed before turning to the hobbit where he stood not far off, "Master Bilbo, can you see to the other side?"

Bilbo edged towards the shore. I watched warily, hoping his feet were secure to the ground and in no danger of slipping.

"There is a small boat." Bilbo reported, squinting in the weak light, "I cannot tell if it is tethered to the other side or not."

"It's worth a try." Kili shrugged to his uncle.

Thorin nodded firmly, "A rope!"

After tying one of the hooks they used to strap their traveling packs to their backs to the end of the rope, Fili took it without question as Dwalin handed it to him. Firmly planting his feet as close to the river as he dared, he swung it over his head several times before letting it fly through the thick air. It sunk into the stream. A second try landed it in the woods on the far side of the wood.

"Try not to touch the water on the rope." I said quietly, coming up behind him.

Fili didn't reply as he began to haul it back towards us.

"Wait!" Bilbo called out, "It's in the boat, steady now. It may catch."

The hook managed to latch onto the side of the dark, little boat. The rope tightened as Fili pulled. Still the boat was unmoved on the other side of the river.

"It's not budging." Fili grunted through grinding teeth.

Kili, Oin and Gloin caught the slack at the end of the rope, wrenching it with all their might. Without warning, the boat popped free of whatever held it and began to skid across the current. The dwarves fell backwards. I jumped forward and managed to catch the rope.

"Help!" I cried out as Bilbo jumped forward and drew it towards the bank with a stick.

"I guess it was tied to the other end." Kili observed, brushing his hands off on his sleeves.

I shivered, trying not to be intimidated by the idea of crossing the river, "Hopefully no one comes looking for it."

"We'll cross in small groups," Thorin instructed, "I shall go first."

I hung in the back, hoping I would have time to gather my courage. Thorin instructed me to go with Kili, Oin, Gloin and Dori in the second group. After tying a hook to the other end of the rope, Fili threw it to the other side for those in the boat to pull themselves across the current in lieu of oars. The dwarves from the first group carefully boarded from shore.

Fili's boot slipped on the mossy rock peeking up from the dark waters as he leapt into the boat. I let out an audible gasp that could be heard by the entire tense company. Fili settled into it, his expression drifting from anxiety to surety in one fluid moment. His eyes flickered across the dank air towards me. I shook my head as he winked with a lingering, quiet grin. I still could not comprehend the complete lack of caution on the part of these dwarves.

Kili slapped a hand on my shoulder blade.

"Are you ready?" He asked.

I glanced over briefly. Despite the difficulty of their journey through the wood, his dark eyes flickered weakly with mischief. However, fatigue shadowed his high cheek bones. The corner of my mouth lifted slightly in an attempted smile.

"I suppose."

"Come now, Cub." Kili replied, "If anyone can handle an enemy of their childhood, it should be you. Fili told me what Beorn said of you. The skin changer himself declared there was nothing you were afraid of. A little water is the least of your problems."

"This is not just a little water." I said, eyeing the river like a reviled foe, "It is evil."

"Whatever it is, you are more than capable of handling it."

I hoped I was as capable as Kili, Fili and Thorin seemed to believe as the boat was dragged back to our side of the shore.

Fili let out his breath as Cub landed, pale but dry, on the other shore. He couldn't help stepping forward and grasping her outstretched forearm, helping her to solid ground. She gave him a shaky smile and he could feel her fingertips trembling on his wrists. It was a part he had yet to see in her. As she took her place to the side, he forced his focus on the matter at hand. Seeing her in such a state of vulnerability had endeared her all the more to him.

Pushing the foolish inclination from his head, he watched as Dwalin steadied the boat on the other shore. The large dwarf jumped across the water into it. Bombur seemed less sure.

"Come on, Bombur." Bofur called out, "There's a lad!"

Bombur had one foot in the boat and one on land, his knuckles turning white as he clung to the rope for support. Suddenly, the figure of a deer burst from the darkness of the wood behind them. Quickly, Thorin drew an arrow in his bow and let it fly towards the bounding hart. The animal leaped over the dwarves on the opposite shore, the arrow chasing it into the shadows. There the tapping of its hooves ceased.

However, the joy of the kill and expectation of the meat it would provide was short lived.

"Bombur! He's fallen in! He's drowning!"