Bard pulled up the his last net of fish, it was going to be a long winter. Hunting was useless, nothing to hunt but spider's according to the elves, nothing to fish for but river weeds apparently. Thankfully trade had been good with the elves this year, those people always seemed to have something different to trade with the men. He was able to get some warm furs for the children this year instead of all of them huddled near the fire constantly like the last.
"He loaded the little fish he got onto his barge and prepared himself to depart back to his little home.
Snap
"Bard turned around to see an elf with an arrow notched at his head, gathered around her were 13 very wet dwarves.
"Can I help you?" He was a little confused on why the elf maiden had a weapon pointed at him.
"The dwarf with the dark hair and fierce eyes stepped up to him. " We are in need of food and weapons," Bard looked at him incredulously he was very demanding for a dwarf.

"We are able to pay" said the grey haired dwarf.
"My boat is not large enough for such a company even if you did have to coin to pay."
The elf moved past him and pushed one of his containers over, "Thorin, there is room if he rids the food."
"Hey, what are you doing!" Bard pulled her off his boat, "Are you mad elf?"
Thorin motioned for the others to start getting on the boat and tossing the cargo, Bard was pulled off to the side by the elf.
"Listen man, we don't have time to argue. King Thranduil will reward you generously if you help us." she hissed. "Do I make myself clear."
Bard looked from her to the food that the dwarves were tossing out of his boat. Something didn't seem right about her but he wasn't going to attempt to fight her. "Fine, but no funny business."

Laketown was nothing what Bilbo was expecting, rundown shack built up upon slits in the middle of this enormous lake, bridges and pathways had been built over and under and in between every building. What Bilbo noticed the most was the state of the people here the seemed miserable. The people they past seemed shocked to see the dwarves, more shocked to see Tauriel traveling with them.
Bard had been quite the entire ride over only answering the occasional question Bilbo tossed his way. Tauriel and the others seemed to be getting along surprisingly well. She wasn't like Thranduil and Legolas, he at lest seemed rational. From what he had saw from her was oddly chaotic.
"We are here." Bard said, tying the boat to the near by dock./p
"And where are we going to find the supplies we need?" Thorin asked him, stepping off the barge./p
"Bard shook his head "I cannot help you there. I am just a bargemen, I took you this far, I have no way to supply a small army of dwarves. Perhaps you should have asked the King of Mirkwood to give you supplies." he stated sarcastically, shooting Tauriel a glace. "Now if you don't mind I have a family I must return to." Bard turned to leave the group. He had had enough of these people.
"Hold on Bargmen," Thorin approached him, " My people and I need those supplies we must reach the mountain."
"Bard stopped dead in his tracks. "The mountain. There is none of your kin in any mountains." His heartbeat quickened at the thought of anything or anyone going near the mountain.
"We mean to take back what is ours." Thorin's voice was a hoarse whisper.
Bard stared at him shocked, "Your mad, the whole lot of you!" He pointed at Tauriel. "There is no way you came from Thranduil's halls, he has warned us about that place, and unless the wine has finally rid him of his senses, no one in their right mind would go up there."
Bilbo moved uncomfortably forward. "How about you just tell us where we can get weapons?"
"No weapons are sold to the people," he rubbed his eyes, this was ridiculous. " All iron forged weapons are stored with the Master of the lake."
"Them take us to him." Tauriel ordered.