There and Beyond

By SciFiFantasyWriter1

Disclaimer: I don't own anything of any recognized characters or universes within.

Tauriel is played by Evangeline Lilly

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Chapter 4

When Harry had returned to the company he found that Bilbo had actually done a pretty good job of using the One Ring to free the dwarves and get them fighting again. The bottomless pouches each of the company members had been given had been used to store the weapons when not in use and the giant spiders couldn't remove the pouches from the company members thanks to magic. The dwarves immediately began hacking and rending the spiders asunder.

When even more spiders began to show up that was when the wood elves made their appearance. Prince Legolas was the first to appear, sliding down a tree branch and leaping under one spider only to gut it from beneath during the slide. The other elves with him had already dispatched the spiders surrounding the main body of the company. Then the elves surrounded the dwarves. Bilbo and Kili had managed to get separated from the main body.

"Don't think I will not kill you, dwarf," Legolas warned. "It would be my pleasure."

There were dozens of bows drawn on the company. Thorin knew when the time to lay down arms was. Five spiders were converging on the separated Kili. Tauriel slid down a tree branch and dispatched the first spider easily enough before turning on the other closest beast. One spider was trying to drag Kili off and the remaining two were further out but closing fast. Tauriel dispatched her second spider before firing an arrow at the spider holding Kili. She turned to face the fourth spider but did not see the fifth.

"Throw me a dagger, quick!" Kili asked.

"I won't be giving you a weapon, dwarf," Tauriel assured.

Harry appeared briefly and a stream of fire confined to a tight beam shot from his index finger and seared through the spider with a thrumming sound that vibrated the air with a piercing ring. Tauriel spun and grinned at her best friend. He winked at her before disappearing from sight again.

"Harry, where did you go?" Kili asked.

"Come, back with the others of your kind," Tauriel instructed while aiming an arrow at Kili.

Kili complied and rejoined the others as they were being searched.

"Hey, give that back. That is private," Gloin demanded.

Legolas had drawn out a small hand drawn portrait from Gloin's coat.

"Who is this? Your brother?" Legolas asked.

"That is my wife," Gloin said, offended.

"And what is this horrid creature?" Legolas queried while indicating the other portrait. "A goblin-mutant?"

"That's my wee lad, Gimli," Gloin answered.

"Are the spiders dead?" Legolas asked Tauriel in Elvish.

"Yes, but more will come," Tauriel answered in kind. "These creatures are growing bolder."

Legolas did not often come out on patrols so didn't know how things worked too well this far from his home. Legolas' interest in Tauriel had intensified which was why he had come out on this patrol.

One of the patrol elves presented Legolas with Thorin's sword.

"This is an ancient Elvish blade forged by my kin," Legolas said. "Where did you get this?"

"It was given to me by Lord Elrond of Rivendell," Thorin answered.

Legolas let out a bark of laughter which most of the other wood elves repeated. Tauriel was not among them.

"You are not just a thief but a liar and a poor one at that," Legolas declared. "Take them to the city holding cells."

It was a good walk to the city. Bilbo was using the One Ring to invisibly follow the group. Harry also followed invisibly. The dwarves were taken to the holding cells nearest the entrance to the elven capitol through which the company had passed through.

"Aren't you going to search me? I could have anything hidden down my trousers," Kili said to Tauriel.

"Or nothing," Tauriel replied.

As Tauriel walked away from the holding cell where Kili was imprisoned, Harry flashed her a grin. She struggled to suppress her return smile. Only she could see him.

"Why does the dwarf stare at you like that, Tauriel?" Legolas asked in Elvish.

"Who can say. He is quite tall for a dwarf," Tauriel answered. "Do you not think?"

"Taller than some…but not less ugly," Legolas replied as Tauriel walked away.

While Tauriel walked around the corner and stole a kiss from her invisible boyfriend Legolas glared at Kili.

"Good job throwing Legolas at another male to compete for your affections," Harry complimented telepathically.

"I feel a little bad for Kili. Or rather I did until he made that trouser comment," Tauriel answered teasingly.

Since they had started exploring a romantic relationship Tauriel had been researching courting customs in his culture from the time period he grew up in and later. He had done likewise. There were some similarities and some differences. But the important parts meshed.

"He'll survive," Harry assured with a grin.

"Legolas is taking Thorin before his father. I should be there," Tauriel explained.

"I will watch," Harry said.

The couple walked towards the throne room though it looked like Tauriel was by herself. Throne room wasn't very accurate. It wasn't a room so much as a collection of pillars carved out of the rock that made up this section of the city. Trees shaped by Elvish techniques grew into various patterns in this region of the city.

"Some may imagine that a noble quest is under-way," King Thranduil declared just as Tauriel arrived. "This quest would be to reclaim a homeland and slay a dragon. I myself suspect a more prosaic motive…attempted burglary or something of that ilk." He stared intently at Thorin. "You have found a way in. You seek that which would bestow upon you the right to rule…the King's Jewel…the Arkenstone." While smiling Thranduil said, "The Arkenstone is precious to you beyond measure. I can understand that much." His smile vanished. "There are gems made of spun starlight which are heirlooms of my people. I desire these. I offer you my help."

Thorin smirked and said, "I am listening."

"I will let you go if you but return what is mine," Thranduil said.

Thorin turned and faced away while saying, "A favor for a favor."

"You have my word," Thranduil replied. "One king to another."

"I would not trust Thranduil the great king to honor his word should the end of all days be upon us," Thorin declared loudly, confident that either Bilbo or Harry would free the company should it come down to it. "You, who lack all honor! I have seen how you treat your friends. We came to you once, starving and homeless. You turned your back on us!" Thorin was now facing Thranduil accusingly. "You turned away from the suffering of my people and the inferno that destroyed us!"

In dwarvish Thorin spoke of the dragon's fire. At this Thranduil darted forward until his face was inches from Thorin's.

"Do not speak to me dwarf of dragon fire," Thranduil hissed in anger. "I know its wrath and ruin." He let his glamour slip for a moment which showed a horribly disfigured left cheek. "I have faced the great serpents of the North. I warned your grandfather of what his greed would summon. He did not heed my warning. I will not face those beasts again unless they threaten my people. You brought your downfall upon yourselves." Thranduil restored his glamour and calmed himself as he climbed the steps up to his throne. "You are just like your grandfather. Take him back to his cell. You can stay in my dungeons and rot. I am patient. I can wait hundreds of years without distress."

Thranduil nodded to Legolas that the prince could go.

"Tauriel, did I not order that spider nest to be destroyed less than two moons ago?" Thranduil asked.

"We cleared the nest as ordered, my Lord," Tauriel answered. "More spiders keep arriving from the South. They are spawning in the ruins at Dol Guldur. We could crush them at their source."

"That fortress lies beyond our borders," Thranduil replied. "Only keep our lands clear of those creatures, nothing more."

"If we drive them off here they will spread to other lands," Tauriel pointed out.

"Other lands are not the concern of mine. My only concern is our territory," Thranduil asserted. "The fortunes of the world will rise and fall but here in this kingdom we will endure."

"Is it enough to simply endure, my Lord?" Tauriel asked.

"You don't need to simply endure…not with me around," Harry said as he made himself visible, startling Thranduil and the king's guards.

The guards drew their swords. Thranduil gestured for the guards to lower their weapons. He recognized Harry from Tauriel's description.

"You are Harry I take it?" Thranduil inquired.

"Yes. I am Harry Potter," Harry confirmed.

"That was quite impressive what you did with Debor. This is not necromancy?" Thranduil questioned.

"No. It is traversing time in an unconventional way and some other magics I possess that nobody in your world does," Harry answered.

Thranduil licked his lips as excitement built in his chest.

"Tell me Harry Potter…what would you ask of me if I requested you to bring someone else back for me," Thranduil inquired.

"Your wife Elessa," Harry said.

Thranduil looked surprised for only a moment until he realized that a being who could traverse time at will would probably have no trouble finding out all sorts of things or obtaining anything he wanted. Thranduil once he made this realization began to worry he had nothing to offer this Harry Potter.

"Can it be done?" Thranduil asked.

"Yes," Harry confirmed. "What I am most looking for in this world is a companion to join me on my travels. Call this being an emissary of sorts between your people and me. I have examined every being in your realm and one above all others appeals to me for this task."

"Who is this elf?" Thranduil asked; hope beginning to war with his sense of calm.

"Tauriel," Harry answered while gesturing at his girlfriend. Tauriel didn't have to feign surprise because she had no idea this conversation was coming. Thranduil's gaze shifted to Tauriel with matching surprise. "Her compatibility as my companion is what in fact drew my attention to your realm."

Thranduil was no fool. He didn't know if Potter implied sexual companionship when referring to Tauriel but he suspected that was part of it. Even a king could not order one of his subjects to join Potter in the powerful being's chambers. But Tauriel had always wanted to explore Middle-Earth. Thranduil knew that. He could use that.

"Tauriel, what think you of this offer from Harry Potter? You have always wanted to explore," Thranduil said.

Tauriel looked between her king and her boyfriend slowly.

"He doesn't realize he is being manipulated," Tauriel sent tightly to her boyfriend.

"This way you are actually getting approval to explore and can return here whenever you want," Harry pointed out.

"You could ask anything of him and this is what you ask for?" Tauriel sent with surprise in her thoughts.

"I can make anything I want for myself except a companion. Well…I could make that too. But you are who I want," Harry asserted.

"I am intrigued, my Lord. Could I talk with Mr. Potter before I make any decision?" Tauriel asked, wanting her decision to seem real.

"Of course," Thranduil agreed.

"Have a seat," Harry suggested as he casually conjured two chairs. "I will speed up time for us so we can get to know each other without wasting King Thranduil's time."

Thranduil watched in fascination as Tauriel and Harry sat in the two chairs and then were engulfed in a sphere of distorted space. Time seemed to flow incredibly fast inside if their movements were anything to go by. Thranduil exchanged bewildered looks with his guards and then the sphere vanished. Tauriel stood immediately.

"I will go with Harry Potter, my Lord," Tauriel declared.

"You have always served me well, Tauriel. From this day forth you shall be the emissary to Harry Potter, Elf-Friend," Thranduil declared.

As he finished saying these words Elessa appeared before her mate.

"Thranduil, what is going on?" Elessa asked as she looked around bewildered. Elessa was still dressed in her battle armor and clutched at her chest where she had been run-through with a black arrow moments before. "How did I get here?"

Thranduil leapt down from his throne and approached his mate with a look of awe.

"Elessa, my beloved star," Thranduil whispered while he approached his mate and pulled her into a hug. "You have been brought back to me."

"Brought back from where?" Elessa asked.

"You died on the field of battle long ago," Thranduil explained as he drew back from the hug. "Our new Elf-Friend Harry Potter has just traveled through time to bring you back."

Elessa stared at Harry in shock.

"How much time has passed? Such a thing was not possible as far as I knew," Elessa whispered.

"I am not from your realm," Harry assured. "I am the only one who can do it. Speaking of things only I can do." Harry stepped forward and slowly raised his right hand to Thranduil's cheek. Thranduil did not stop Harry because Harry moved slowly and Thranduil suspected what Harry was about to do. The glamour dropped as Harry's magic began repairing the damage. Elessa saw her husband's injuries for the first time. "There," Harry said as he stepped back moments later.

Thranduil touched his repaired face with amazement.

"You are truly a good Elf-Friend, Harry Potter," Thranduil said. "Thank you. Elessa, you must be reunited with Legolas. He is much older now." To Harry he said, "Then we will have a feast to honor our new Elf-Friend."

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The feast actually served as a great distraction for Bilbo to free the dwarves. Harry kind of felt bad for Legolas. The Prince was overjoyed at the return of his mother yet was heart-sick at Tauriel leaving the woodland realm with a handsome yet unknown powerful entity. Legolas was quite confused. A feast had actually already been prepared. It was actually sort of an Elvish holiday called Mereth e-nGilith, the Feast of Starlight.

Harry was dancing slowly holding Tauriel in his arms after the meal as she was explaining the holiday to him.

"All light is sacred to the Eldar but we wood elves love starlight the most. It is memory, precious and pure," Tauriel explained.

"Be careful, beautiful. If you keep staring at me like that your people will suspect we know each other better than we let on," Harry sent. Aloud he added, "I can take you to those stars someday if you would like. Traveling between two distant points in space is just as easy as traveling between two different points in time for me."

Excitement blossomed in Tauriel's chest as she considered a type of exploration she had never considered before.

"I would like that," Tauriel admitted. "Perhaps after we explore all of this world."

"That could take some time to do," Harry pointed out.

"We have eternity," Tauriel whispered. "Weave an illusion covering us so I can kiss you."

Harry did as requested and was rewarded with Tauriel's kiss. The other elves just saw them still dancing and chatting like they were getting to know one another.

The couple returned to Thranduil's table when they saw a guard whisper something into the king's ear.

"What is it, father?" Legolas asked.

"The dwarves have escaped," Thranduil answered. "We will catch them. No need to worry."

"Thranduil, can I speak to you privately for a moment," Harry requested. The king nodded and stepped off to the side. Harry erected a barrier of silencing magic. "Tauriel and I will take our leave now. I have been observing this quest whose members you have captured. I will follow them. They will escape you."

"Why did you not simply ask me to release them?" Thranduil questioned with confusion.

"It's more fun this way," Harry admitted. "You didn't capture one of their sneakier members which is how they are escaping. He needed a bit of a chance to shine. You want some gems in Erebor. I'll see what I can do about that when we get there. Honestly…the reason Thorin didn't agree to your offer is that he is very stubborn and knew he would be freed. I understand why you didn't get involved when Smaug took the mountain but he doesn't and I don't think he ever will. He isn't immortal. I'm not saying your viewpoint is correct or that his is. I just understand both viewpoints."

"I would appreciate your assistance. I don't know if Tauriel has explained to you what Elf-Friend means yet. But you will always have a place here in my realm," Thranduil said as he held out his hand for a forearm grasp which Harry took him up on. "Farewell."

"Farewell," Harry replied.

Harry collected Tauriel and made his exit with her. Neither noticed as Legolas looked longingly after Tauriel.

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"It looks like the company is using wine barrels to float down a river towards Erebor," Harry informed Tauriel as Harry flew them towards the river in phoenix form.

Harry had apparated himself and Tauriel outside of the city.

"We recycle our old used wine barrels and sell them to the people of Lake Town for a small fee," Tauriel explained. "The water gate may be shut before the company reaches it."

Harry flew low over the river and watched as the dwarves in barrels bounced around in the turbulent waters. He and Tauriel were invisible. Sure enough Legolas chose that moment to come out of the city entrance nearest the river and ordered the gate shut. A signal horn being blown saw Legolas' order being carried out.

The barrels of dwarves began piling up against the gate. The elves on the gate drew swords. And then the first black arrow hit an elf in the back followed by the orc which had fired the projectile charging the gate. Tauriel hopped off Harry's back and opened the gate while Harry landed on top of the orc and tore it to shreds. At the same time he cried tears onto the wounded elf. The phoenix tears healed the wounded elf. Dozens more orcs began pouring over the walls. Harry transformed back to human form so he could fight the way he wanted. Harry and Tauriel were a flurry of limbs as they attacked and kept the elven guards alive.

"Lily, deploy the Tactical Control Unit," Harry instructed. "Keep these elves alive."

The Tactical Control Unit (TCU) was a piece of technology that was generally invisible except to its controller. The TCU used some of the most advanced hardware possessed by Harry's people in order to control a battle. The TCU could execute almost instantly enemy soldiers in the hundreds to thousands depending upon the class of the unit as long as the enemy combatants weren't wearing shielded armor or behind an energy shield. It could also keep allies alive by blocking attacks. The TCU did this through the use of micro-wormholes and bending spacetime through wormholes either into a shielding formation, a telekinetic tendril of spacetime, or a temporary micro-spatial rupture. It was hard to stay alive when spacetime breaks down in your brain. The TCU had other features as well but in a world as primitive as this one they wouldn't be necessary.

In this case when an orc blade or arrow would have struck down an elf guard Lily had the TCU telekinetically deflect the weapon just enough to save an elf's life. She wasn't going on the offensive yet.

The orc leading the attack was a creature named Bolg. Lily's scans revealed Bolg to be the offspring of Azog the Defiler. Bolg attempted to fire a Morgul arrow through the back of Tauriel's thigh. Harry very much liked her thighs intact. Instead of just deflecting the arrow Lily knew her master's mind well enough to know how he would want her to handle the situation. She opened up a wormhole which the arrow shot through and opened the other end of the conduit behind Bolg's thigh. Borg grunted as his own arrow entered his thigh. Tauriel and Harry jumped over the wall and went after the company, running along the shore.

Tauriel had become visible to Legolas the moment she had touched down from her leap off Harry's back. Upon seeing Tauriel, the heartsick elven prince decided to follow her. Bilbo didn't actually have his own barrel and instead was clinging to the side of one of the dwarf's barrels. Harry rectified this and conjured a barrel for Bilbo. The barrel rose up under Bilbo lifting the hobbit out of the water. Harry had conjured a shield over the top of the barrel that wasn't permeable to the river water so the barrel didn't fill up when it was under water. The river was quite turbulent and frothy between its rocky sides as it went down waterfalls.

The orcs lined the rocky riverbank shooting arrows at, throwing spears at, or trying to swipe with blades the company members in the river. The company members fought back. Tauriel and Legolas fired arrows while Harry preferred running from orc to orc cutting them in two with his super-sharp blade or sending streams of tightly controlled fire at them. The TCU was following along with its owner making sure no allies died. The majority of the orc pack had left the elven gate wall behind to pursue the company. But of those orcs and elves that remained the TCU with its incredibly advanced subspace sensors could make sure no allies died there.

There were 116 orcs in the immediate vicinity according to the TCU but they were dying fast. Harry watched eight of them line up on a log crossing the river. Harry sent a ribbon-cutting-curse at the line of orcs and watched in satisfaction as they were all cut neatly in half, falling into the river in pieces. Bombur's barrel got caught on a spear and was projected onto the shore like a pole-vaulter. Bombur's barrel then proceeded to bounce and roll over a great many orcs. Harry telekinetically knocked Bombur's barrel back into the river before it could actually bounce to the other side of the river at a narrow point. Bombur had been about to bounce into a cluster of seven orcs. Harry sent a blasting curse at that cluster and watched as they were tossed about like rag dolls.

At one point Legolas jumped over the river and landed on the heads of two of the dwarves. He proceeded to kill several orcs with his bow from this angle. Nori and Dwalin were not amused to have their heads stood upon. Even though he was helping them Legolas was also humiliating the dwarves. Legolas didn't like dwarves but he hated orcs more. Harry had to give it to the elf prince…Legolas was extremely good at killing orcs. Harry observed Legolas shoot two orcs through the head with one arrow. Moments after that feat he jumped back onto the left bank (facing downriver), killed an orc, and road its corpse a short distance before he spun and slashed two more orcs dead with a long knife. He then leapt across a line of dwarves in barrels to the right bank where he attacked more orcs. But he would have missed one creeping up behind him. Thorin though he hated elves could at least acknowledge how helpful Legolas was being. Thorin tossed a dagger from his bottomless pouch into the head of the orc Legolas had missed, saving the elven prince's life.

Legolas was startled by the save from Thorin and stopped to catch his breath after shooting another orc. He didn't see another sneak up behind him with a bow. Harry caught the arrow mid flight with a telekinetic grip and held it there as Legolas turned. Legolas saw Harry was the one who had stopped the arrow. Harry sent a binding spell to surround the offending orc in ropes before he moved on with Tauriel killing orcs and keeping up with the company.

Legolas realized at this point that he was beyond the borders of his people and the other elves had fallen far behind. Inside he was at war with himself trying to decide if he should follow Tauriel or take this prisoner back for questioning. In the end he decided to take the prisoner back for questioning. He knew where the dwarves were going and it seemed Harry and Tauriel were following the dwarves for some reason. Legolas also wanted to spend a little more time with his mother and he was not provisioned for a long journey at this time.

The barrels picked up speed as they came into less turbulent water. Harry cast a spell into the river that would make the water move even swifter. The orc pack fell behind. Only a few orcs even remained alive.

"Are they still behind us?" Thorin shouted as the company drew closer to the mouth of the river where it exited into the lake.

"They are behind us but they are several leagues back," Harry assured. "You should get out of the river now."

When the water-logged dwarves and hobbit climbed out of their barrels Harry hit them with a drying charm.

"You are a blessing, Master Harry," Balin declared.

"What is she doing here?" Thorin asked while indicating Tauriel.

"This is Tauriel. She is my new emissary with the wood elves. I was in the process of negotiating your release when I realized Bilbo had already gotten you free. King Thranduil will not be pursuing you as prisoners further," Harry explained.

There was some grumbling among the dwarves until Thorin said, "That is enough of that. I trust Harry Potter. If he says she is alright then she is alright. Let us move towards Erebor."

The group started forward. Barely two minutes later was when Harry sensed a man approaching. A handsome man wielding a longbow dressed in worn down clothes walked into view. He looked warily at the group until he spotted Tauriel.

"He is one of the lake-towners I believe. I have never met him personally but we have a trade agreement with them. He is probably here to pick up the latest barrel shipment. We were due to send it down anyway. Though it wasn't meant to be so beat up," Tauriel sent to her boyfriend.

"I'll repair them magically so he isn't put out any," Harry replied.

While Harry casually repaired the barrels, Tauriel stepped forward.

"Greetings, man from Lake Town. My name is Tauriel and these are my companions led by Thorin," Tauriel said while gesturing at Thorin. "What is your name?"

Bard was momentarily distracted by the beauty of the she-elf speaking to him. He had heard tales of their beauty but had never personally interacted with any she-elves.

"Bard. My name is Bard," Bard replied in a rough voice. "It is a pleasure to meet you. What brings you this way if I may ask?"

"Someone has a bit of a crush," Harry sent to his girlfriend. "Not that I can blame him."

"He is rather handsome for a human. I have not met many humans," Tauriel admitted. "But I am most attracted to you."

"I know, luv," Harry assured. "You are allowed to look. I am confident enough about my own looks not to worry."

Tauriel's return thoughts weren't really coherent but were more a pleased and affectionate feeling directed at her boyfriend. It was Balin who spoke up upon spotting Bard's barge.

"We seek passage across the lake to the Erebor side. We are merchants from the Blue Mountains journeying to see our kin in the Iron Hills. We need to pass by Erebor to do it," Balin explained. "And we could do with a restocking of provisions."

"I mean no disrespect," Bard said carefully. "But I take it you don't want my people to know where you are going. Nothing happens around here without the Master of Lake Town approving it. You are asking me to take a lot of risk."

"And you want to know what is in it for you," Balin concluded. Bard gave a short nod. "Your boots and coat have seen better days. And no doubt you have some hungry mouths to feed. How many little ones do you have?"

"A boy and two girls," Bard admitted.

"And your wife…I imagine she would appreciate you earning some extra gold," Balin suggested before offering an amount.

"I imagine she would have," Bard answered with a solemn tone signaling his wife was dead. "I will need double that if I am to take this risk."

"Done," Thorin stated.

"I will help you load the barrels," Harry said before flicking his wrist and causing the barrels to levitate out of the water and onto Bard's boat.

Bard's eyebrows had climbed into his hairline upon seeing the casual display of magic. The company was soon on Bard's boat sailing out into the fog covered lake. Small pieces of ice just slightly larger than dinner plates floated on the lake's surface.

"Watch out," Bofur shouted in alarm as the boat came upon some large stone ruins in the lake and appeared to be heading for the ruins.

Bard neatly piloted his barge through the ruins.

"No need to worry, Master Dwarf. I was born and bred on these waters. I know how to navigate them," Bard assured.

The company easily produced the money promised to Bard from what they had taken from the troll hoard.

"I think your presence is definitely smoothing the interactions between Bard and the company," Harry sent to Tauriel as he sat near the back of the boat and held her hand.

"Hopefully it may continue to do so if we do get found out by the people of Lake Town. King Thranduil does a significant amount of trade with them. From what I have heard of their Master I believe your people would call him something of a tool," Tauriel sent in reply.

"I never thought I would hear an elf call anyone a tool," Harry mused. "I do appreciate your efforts to learn my culture's slang terms. If Bard does feel conflicted about helping our company at any point I can always promise to retrieve his wife and revive her."

"That should quite sufficiently motivate him," Tauriel mused.

Just then the fog cleared enough that Erebor was clearly visible from such a close vantage point.

"I will need your payment now. There are guards ahead and I may need to bribe one of them," Bard explained as he came forward in the boat.

Bard was given his payment. He asked the dwarves and Bilbo to hide in the barrels. Tauriel and Harry were too tall. When Harry changed into a phoenix and Tauriel climbed onto Harry's back Bard was flabbergasted. Watching the pair then rise into the air and vanish about made Bard lose his composure. Tauriel and Harry hovered invisibly watching as on the outskirts of town Bard paid a fisherman to fill the barrels with freshly caught fish.

"Our fellow company members are not happy," Harry sent to his girlfriend.

"I can see why. As if they weren't smelly enough to my enhanced senses," Tauriel lamented.

Harry had used his shifting ability to mimic the olfactory sense of a wood elf once. Smelling a dwarf with that acute smell sense had been unpleasant.

"I can use a cleaning charm on them when this is over," Harry offered.

"Thank you," Tauriel said.

Bard piloted his boat further into the main boat-way of the town upon the lake. Lake Town had been built after the destruction of Dale by Smaug. Rickety and ramshackle were two good descriptions of the town.

"Halt, Goods inspection," a man called out when Bard's craft reached the toll gate. "Papers, please. Oh, hello, Bard."

"Good morning, Percy," Bard greeted the toll gate operator.

"Do you have anything to declare?" Percy asked.

"Nothing I am afraid but that I am cold and tired and ready for home," Bard answered while producing the requested papers.

"I am right there with you, my friend," Percy said while going to a desk and stamping the papers. "There we are. All is in order," Percy said while making to hand the papers back.

"Not so fast," a ratty little man dressed all in black said while grabbing the papers from Percy. "Consignment of empty barrels from the Woodland Realm," Alfrid read from Bard's papers. "Only these barrels are not empty…are they, Bard?"

"The mere sight of that man annoys me. I am not sure why," Harry sent as Alfrid threw Bard's papers away.

"If I recall correctly you are licensed as a bargeman and not a fisherman," Alfrid said as he picked up one of the fish for emphasis and got right in Bard's face.

"Somehow I don't think that slimy little man would be so bold if he didn't have those servants behind him to reinforce the laws he represents. He does not look like he has ever been in a fight," Tauriel noted.

"What I am licensed for is none of your business," Bard replied.

"Wrong. It is the master's business which makes it my business," Alfrid replied.

"Alfrid…have a heart. People need to eat," Bard tried.

"I don't care. These fish are illegal," Alfrid replied. "Empty the fish over the side," he added to his henchmen.

Harry landed back on the deck of the barge and returned to human form. He still wasn't visible and neither was Tauriel but he waved his hand and hit every human present except Bard with a confundus charm. Harry allowed Bard to see them.

"Be on your way. There is nothing out of the ordinary here," Harry commanded.

"There is nothing unusual here," Alfrid said in a monotone before leaving followed by his henchmen.

Percy looked dazed but opened the toll gate.

"You are a very powerful wizard," Bard commented as he got his boat moving again.

Harry merely shrugged.

"I realize you probably could have handled that but that little toad of a man annoyed me," Harry explained.

"He has that affect on people," Bard noted.

When Bard reached the dock for his boat he started getting the dwarves out of the barrels of fish. Harry hit a dock worker with a confundus charm while this was being done and then cast cleaning spells on the dwarves.

"Was that some kind of cleaning magic?" Kili asked.

"Yes," Harry confirmed.

"Thank you very much," Kili said gratefully.

"You don't need to thank him," Tauriel said. "I already did. Trust me…I'm just as grateful as you lot," she added while tapping her nose with one finger."

"Take the fish. They are clean," Harry told the dock worker.

Harry had also magically cleaned the fish. Mixing dwarves and fish that was to be eaten wasn't good for both parties. There were too many people who would see the dwarves anyway so Harry wasn't sure why he bothered confounding that dock worker. Harry could of course cloak them all from sight but he found it more interesting not to.

"Da," a teenage boy, Bain, called as he came up to Bard. "Our house is being watched."

"We'll have to take you in the unpleasant way," Bard announced.

"What is the unpleasant way?" Thorin asked.

"Up through the privy," Bard admitted.

"Just tell me which house is yours," Harry directed.

Bard walked Harry a short distance and pointed out his home. Then they went back to the company. Harry then group apparated everyone into Bard's home without even bothering to touch them all.

"I think I'm going to be sick," Dwalin announced before running over to the privy and vomiting inside.

"That was unpleasant," Bofur declared.

"But still better than coming up through the privy," Fili added.

Bard had two daughters. The youngest girl who was named Tilda was 12 years old. The older girl Sigrid was 16 years old. Their brother Bain was also 16.

Thorin had looked out the window and spotted something of interest.

"Your town has a Dwarvish windlance," Thorin stated.

"The last time Dwarf eyes saw such a weapon was the day Smaug came. Girion, the Lord of Dale, rallied his bowmen to fire upon the beast. A dragon's hide is very tough. Only a Black Arrow fired from a windlance could have pierced the dragon's hide. Few of those arrows were ever made. The store was running low when Girion made his last stand," Balin explained.

"Had the aim of men been true that day much would have been different," Thorin stated.

"You speak as if you were there," Bard pointed out.

"All Dwarves know the tale," Thorin replied.

"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 said.

Dwalin chuckled and then said, "That's a fairy story lad, nothing more."

Harry glanced off towards Erebor. A quick scan of the mountain and all that was in confirmed the tale.

"No. It isn't. They are right," Harry stated assuredly.

"How can you know that?" Thorin asked.

"I know," Harry assured.

"That knowledge does us no good at the moment as interesting as that is," Thorin said. "Bard, you took our money. Where are the provisions?"

"I will go to the market first thing in the morning and get your supplies. You will get the freshest items then," Bard answered. "I know it will be cramped in here but we must make due."

"That will be unnecessary," Harry said as he erected his traveling apartment.

The members of the company began disappearing into the traveling apartment one by one to the amazement of all humans present. Tauriel had been told of the traveling apartment but hadn't actually gotten to experience it herself until now.

"What magic is this?" Bard asked.

"The best kind…the mysterious kind," Harry answered with a wink. "Come, join us for dinner."

When Bard saw the veritable feast laid out before him he asked, "With all of this why do you need provisions from our town?"

"We don't actually," Balin replied. "We just wanted to let you think we needed your help more than we actually did. Any group our size should need supplies pretty regularly…especially when you didn't see us carrying much."

Bard nodded his head in understanding.

"Why reveal this now?" Bard asked.

"Because I trust you," Harry said. "You are a good man just trying to do right by your family and your people."

"Thank you, Harry," Bard replied.

After the meal Bard excused himself to go check on something. Harry stepped out of the apartment into Bard's home. Bard was out in the town. Harry began his work. When Bard stepped back into the house more than a half an hour later it was to find that everything in his home looked new and of a superb quality and craftsmanship. The inside felt warmer than it ever had, warmer than it should being over a frozen lake like it was. And it was dry, astoundingly so.

"Da, what is going on?" Bain asked his father as Bain and everyone else came out of the tent to see the reworked home.

"Harry, what is going on?" Bard asked.

"This is a gift to persuade you to our cause given what I think you just discovered on a certain tapestry," Harry explained.

"You are Thorin son of Thrain," Bard accused Thorin. "You were there when Smaug came. Why are you here? Do you intend to enter Erebor?"

"Yes," Thorin admitted.

"You will bring that dragon down upon my people," Bard stated with certainty.

"That dragon is coming here for your people anyway," Tauriel pointed out. "Dragons do not tolerate habitations this close to their hoards for more than a century or two. King Thranduil warned your Master of this but your Master apparently chose to ignore this fact."

"Your king warned us of that?" Bard asked. "I thought our Master a coward but I did not think him this foolish. Still we might have more time to prepare if you wait."

"We cannot do that," Thorin insisted.

"I have a solution," Harry stated.

"Let's hear it," Balin requested. "This should be good."

"Get each of your people to wear one of these," Harry said as he set a simple looking metal wrist band down on the table.

The wrist band looked like it was made of copper.

"And what does this do?" Bard asked as he picked up the wrist band.

"When the wearer of the master band says the activation phrase the wrist bands take the people wearing them to safety. In this case safety will be in a dragon proof shelter on the lake shore I have set up," Harry explained.

Harry snapped his fingers and bard disappeared holding the band. Ten seconds later he was back.

"That will do," Bard agreed. "But it is still risky. Why should I let you risk the lives of my people like that?"

"Because I'm giving you her back," Harry said while pointing behind Bard.

Bard turned and was suddenly gazing upon the face of his wife Selene once more. Selene had died several years before of a sickness she couldn't shake with the cold lake environment.

"Bard," Selene whispered as she embraced her husband.

"I have to say…that is pretty amazing to watch," Tauriel told her boyfriend as she watched husband and wife reunited.

Selene was engulfed in hugs by her three children and husband.

"I do not know how you brought her back to us…but for this I will help you," Bard told Harry. "I will need more of these wrist bands."

Harry handed Bard a bottomless bag.

"You can keep the bag when you are done handing out the wrist bands. I already tied it to you. It will work for your bloodline as well," Harry explained.

"Come, Laddy," Balin said to Bard. "I will show you how to use that bag."

Bard followed Balin off to the lower level of the home. Selene's hand never left her husband's as she followed him. The children followed their mother.

"That was a wondrous magic you just worked," Thorin stated in reference to the return of Selene. "Is it something you can do at any time…bring those lost back from the dead?"

The other dwarves in the room looked eager for an answer. Even Bilbo looked interested.

"Yes," Harry confirmed. "But I won't bring back every one of your ancestors that ever lived. The mechanics of time travel are very complex. For every relative I bring back there is still a version of them that died in the past."

Everyone appeared confused by this except for Tauriel. She had already asked many of the same questions and been given an in-depth lesson on temporal mechanics.

"What do you mean a version of them?" Kili asked.

"Kili, you right now could choose to walk out that door and strip naked in front of all the villagers of Lake Town. You could also walk out that door and stay clothed but start cursing at them. You could also walk out that door and shoot someone dead with your bow. Or you could choose to stay right here. There are an unlimited number of possibilities for what decision you could choose to make with your life from this moment on. You know I come from another realm, another reality as I call these realms," Harry explained. There were many nods of confirmation of their understanding of this. "Well for each decision Kili makes there is a reality in existence where that outcome plays out."

Many eyes widened at this.

"That would be a lot of realities," Fili pointed out.

"In fact it would be an infinite or unlimited number of realities," Harry confirmed. "So if I go back and save your relative…what I am doing is really saving a version of them from a reality where they didn't actually fully die. I rescued them before they died. Pulling someone back after they have fully died is possible but inadvisable. I don't like mucking about with necromancy. And if you pull them out of a very pleasant afterlife…that isn't advisable. There are an infinite number of versions of your relatives so it all comes down to semantics. You are getting an identical version of your relative to the one you know."

"But it isn't actually our relative," Thorin clarified which earned a nod from Harry. "Could you retrieve our actual relative?"

Harry was silent for several moments while he thought of his answer.

"The theoretical models my people have played with said it may be possible. But the risk of a paradox is great and we think such anomalies can destroy a universe. Temporal protocols set forth by my people have mandated that we not try. Now I don't have to follow temporal protocols since I am no longer with my people. But I would rather avoid risking destroying your universe," Harry explained.

"This discussion is making my head hurt," Gloin announced.

Harry smirked and said, "It often has that effect. I like you lot. So I'll make you a deal. If you don't piss me off too much by the end of this quest I will bring two of your relatives back of your choosing. Think carefully on who you want to bring back."

"Your generosity silences us," Thorin replied.

TaB – TaB – TaB – TaB – TaB – TaB – TaB – TaB – TaB – TaB – TaB – TaB – TaB – TaB

Rev 0 Published 4/12/2015