News that the Master's niece was coming to live in Laketown spread quickly to every corner of the town. However, the fact that she was actually coming seemed to be the only thing that the people of Laketown could actually agree on.
"I heard that she's a princess from a far-off land!" someone exclaimed.
"Nonsense!" another person snapped. "I heard that she used to be a pirate, and that she and her crew are coming to take over Laketown!"
"Why would anybody want to take over Laketown?" a third person demanded. "No, I say she's a dragon-slayer and that she's come to kill the beast!"
At that, everyone within earshot glanced fearfully at the Lonely Mountain, as if the great and terrible Smaug would wake up and burn them to a crisp. But the Dwarvish castle of Erebor remained as silent as ever, and the ruins of Dale beside it remained in ruins.
"Has anyone ever stopped to consider that she's just a girl who wants to visit her uncle?" another person asked.
"Definitely not," the first person stated, brushing away the other person's statement without a second thought. "Nobody would want to visit that bucket of slime."
Needless to say, the Laketowners were disappointed when none of their predictions came true.
She arrived in a small barge, which only had enough room to fit herself, one luggage, and the old bargeman who steered the boat. Everyone in the town gathered outside to watch as the sixteen-year-old girl stepped out of the barge, unaided. But if she was intimidated by the eyes of the entire town, she didn't show it; in fact, she merely ignored them all.
A brown cloak covered her body, outlining her slender figure. In fact, she seemed to dance when she walked, and every step practically floated. The hood of her cloak was down, revealing her slightly-wavy blonde hair that reached her chest and her piercing green eyes.
Despite the Laketowners' wild speculations about her, the Master's niece seemed to be normal.
Without even acknowledging the crowd of people watching her, she headed to the Master's wooden, rickety mansion and knocked on the door. Everyone watched as Alfrid Lickspittle, the Master's deputy, opened the door. Nobody could hear their conversation, but everyone could see Alfrid step back and let her in. He sneered at the crowd and slammed the door shut behind her.
Soon the people of Laketown began to know the Master's niece by the name of Marie. She was as fair as her uncle was foul, and some people wondered how it was possible for the two of them to be related. In the few weeks after her arrival, Marie had managed to earn a spot in the hearts of all of the townspeople, and they accepted her as one of their own.
As a Laketowner.