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Chapter Eleven
Thorin and the company managed to make it down the river safely. The speed of the current sweeping them away from the Orcs that were on foot. "Anything behind us?" Thorin asked.
"Not that I can see," Balin told him.
"Are you okay, Bella?" Bilbo asked from where he still clung to the side of a barrel. Everyone in the company, including Thorin, turned to look at the young Dwarf who still clung tightly to Kili's shirt.
"I'm fine, Bilbo," Bella assured him trying to keep the pain from her voice as burning spread through her leg. "It was just an arrow."
Bofur broke the tension by sticking his head out of his barrel and spitting a mouthful of water out. Thorin and Dwalin exchanged a look, both concerned about Bella. "I think we've outrun the Orcs," Bofur observed.
"Not for long," Thorin told him, his voice grave. "We've lost the current. Make for the shore."
Kili started to gently pull them along the water trying not to jostle Bella who whimpered in pain every time he did. Kili looked down into her face and noticed how pale she had got, even her lips were white. Bofur and Oin helped pull Bombur from his barrel. Kili slid free and with Dwalin's help they got Bella out as gently as they could. The young Dwarf got to her feet unsteadily and attempted to stagger away. Bella's leg buckled beneath her she gave a cry of pain that had everyone looking in her direction. With Kili's help she managed to herself sat on a rock. "I'm fine," Bella insisted. "It's nothing." She attempted to stand up but quickly sat back down.
Fili approached the pair and looked down at Bella. "Dori, Bella's hurt. Her leg needs binding."
The grey haired Dwarf made his way to them quickly. "Let's take her somewhere private so I can get a look at that wound," he told Kili, who gently lifted her into his arms and followed Dori to just inside the tree line where he laid her down. "Give us a few moments." Kili gazed down at Bella for a moment and she nodded, the young Dwarf reluctantly left walking back to Thorin and the others.
"Will she be okay?" Fili asked when his brother approached.
"I don't know," he said honestly, sitting on a rock he dropped his head into his hands. "This is all my fault. If I hadn't got out of the water Bella would never have had to take that bow for me."
"If you hadn't then we would all still be trapped there and Bolg would have killed the lot of us. Bella is injured, but she will be okay." Bella let out a scream at that moment that brought tears to Kili's eyes and cancelled out any peace he may have felt with his decision.
"I'll need to take a better look when we get somewhere for me to clean it thoroughly. For now all I can do is remove the arrow and strap it up," Dori told her. Dori cut two pieces of cloth from his shirt, one he rolled up ready to staunch any bleeding when he took the arrow out and the other to tie round her leg. "Ready?" Dori grabbed the arrow, looking up at Bella. She nodded, gritting her teeth but still let out a scream when he pulled the arrow from her leg.
Dori cast it aside not even looking at it and immediately pressed the balled up fabric against the wound. He tied it in place tightly and helped Bella to her feet. Her once white dress was now filthy and caked with blood. Bella limped behind Dori back to the company. Kili stood looking at Bella in horror as she approached him. All the blood had drained from her face leaving her looking impossibly pale, and the amount of blood on her dress looked like a lot more than what it truly was.
"We need to get moving," Thorin stated.
"To where?" Balin asked.
"To the mountain," Bilbo suggested. "We're so close."
"A lake lies between us and that mountain," Balin told him. "We have no way to cross it."
"So then we go round," Bilbo stated.
"The Orcs will run us down, sure as daylight," Dwalin informed him. "We've no weapons to defend ourselves."
Bella was leaning down against Kili trying to build up some strength for the journey ahead. She was idly watching Ori empty water from his boots when she noticed a shadow pass over him. "Look out, Ori!" Bella called to him when she saw the figure standing over him with a bow pointed at the defenceless Dwarf.
Dwalin jumped in front of Ori and Bard let his bow loose, Dwalin used to thick branch he had in his hand to defend himself. Kili picked up a rock to throw and the archer released a bow knocking it from his hand. "Do it again and you're dead," Bard warned Kili. Bella moved so she was in front of Kili, her back pressed against his chest. If this man wanted to kill Kili then he would have to kill her as well. Bard eyed the female Dwarf in alarm.
Balin eyed the man, then looked behind him at his boat. "Excuse me," Balin said stepping forward slowly. "You're from Lake-town if I'm not mistaken." Bard turned away from the young couple pointing his arrow at Balin now instead. "That barge over there it wouldn't be available for hire, by any chance?"
Bard lowered his arrow, moving away from the company he began loading the barrels onto his barge. "What makes you think I would help you?" he asked them.
"Those boots have seen better days," Balin observed. "As has that coat. No doubt you have some hungry mouths to feed. How many bairns?"
"A boy and two girls," Bard answered him.
"And your wife, I imagine she's a beauty," Balin said.
"Aye," Bard said. He stopped loading the barrels for a moment looking away from the Dwarves across the water. "She was." Bard turned back to look at Balin the pain on his face plain to see. Balin's smiled dropped from his. Bella unconsciously tightened the hold she had on Kili's arm, she hoped she never left him looking the way Bard did in that moment.
"I'm sorry," Balin said, looking down. "I didn't mean to-"
"Oh, come on," Dwalin said, getting impatient. "Enough of the niceties." Bard turned his head looking away towards Dwalin.
"What's your hurry?" Bard asked.
"What's it to you?" Dwalin demanded.
"I would like to know who you are and what you are doing in these lands," Bard told them.
"We are simple merchants from the Blue Mountains. My niece, Isabella," Balin introduced her, turning to gesture at where she clung to Kili. "Is engaged to married to young Kili there and we are journeying to see our kin in the Iron Hills for the wedding." Bella's face flushed under Bards stare and she hid her face in Kili's chest.
"Simple merchants, you say?" Bard questioned.
Thorin stepped forward then. "We need food, supplies, weapons. Can you help us?" he asked.
Bard paused looking down at one of the barrels, examining the arrow marks left behind. "I know where these barrels came from," he told them.
"What of it?" Thorin asked warily.
"I don't know what business you had with the Elves but I don't think it ended well," Bard stated. Balin and Thorin eyed him uncertainly. "No one enters Lake-town but by leave of the Master. All his wealth comes from trade with the Woodland Realm. He would see you in irons before risking the wrath of King Thranduil."
"Offer him more," Thorin whispered to Balin.
"I'll wager there are ways to enter that town unseen," Balin suggested.
"Aye," Bard said. "But for that you would need a smuggler."
"For which we would pay double," Balin told him.
Tauriel held a blade to the neck of the Orc they had captured while Legolas stood off to the side eyeing the evil creature with distaste. "Such is the nature of evil," Thranduil spoke, circling the dark creature. "Out there in the vast ignorance of the world it festers and spreads. A shadow that grows in the dark. A sleepless malice as black as the oncoming wall of night. So it ever was. So will it always be. In time, all foul things come forth."
"You were tracking a company of fourteen Dwarves. Why?" Legolas demanded.
"Not fourteen, not anymore," the Orc answered, the glee clear in its voice.
"What do you mean?" Legolas snapped.
"The young She-Dwarf, the dark-haired archer we stuck her with a Morgul shaft. The poison's in her blood. She'll be choking on it soon."
Legolas looked up at his father in horror. "Lady Isabella," he choked.
"Answer the question, filth," Tauriel ordered him.
"I do not answer to dogs, She-Elf!" the Orc spat at her in black speech looking furious.
Tauriel pressed her blade harder against the Orcs throat as Legolas drew his blade in anger. "I would not antagonise him," Tauriel warned.
"You like killing things, Orc?" Legolas asked. "You like death? Then let me give it you." Legolas went to take a swing at the Orc.
"Stop, Legolas," his father told him. The prince froze mid-swing and Orc growled taunting him. "I do not care about one dead Dwarf." Thranduil lied to the creature. "Answer the question. You have nothing to fear. Tell us what you know and I will set you free." Legolas looked up at his father enraged. How could he promise to let such evil go free?
"You had orders to kill them. Why?" Legolas asked. "What is Thorin Oakenshield to you?"
"The Dwarf runt will never be king," the Orc snarled.
"King? There is no King Under the Mountain, nor will there ever be," Legolas told the Orc. "None would dare enter Erebor whilst the dragon lives."
"You know nothing," the Orc responded. "Your world will burn."
"What are you talking about? Speak!" Legolas ordered.
"Our time has come again," the Orc stated. "My master serves the One. Do you understand now, Elfling?" Thranduil looked off to the side a little fear showing at the Orcs words on his otherwise impassive face. "Death is upon you. The flames of war are upon you."
Thranduil pulled a knife and without even looking he decapitated the Orc cutting off his laugh. Tauriel held up its severed head and Legolas looked at his father I disbelief. "Why did you do that?" Legolas asked. "You promised to set him free."
"And I did," Thranduil answered. "I freed his wretched head from his miserable shoulders."
"There was more the Orc could tell us," Legolas insisted.
"There was nothing more he could tell me," Thranduil told his son.
"What did he mean by 'the flames of war'?" Legolas asked as he father turned away.
"It means they intend to unleash a weapon so great it will destroy all before it. I want the watch doubled at our borders. All roads, all rivers. Nothing moves, but I hear of it. No one enters this kingdom and no one but you leaves it. Go after Lady Isabella, if what the Orc said is true she doesn't have much time."
"Close the gate behind me!" Legolas ordered in Elvish. "Keep it sealed by order of the King."
"Where are you going?"
Tauriel asked walking up behind Legolas.
"I'm going after Lady Isabella. I cannot just let her die." Tauriel let out a sigh and followed Legolas through the gate before it was sealed. As Captain of the Guard she could not let Legolas go on his own.
Fog had descended and the air around them was dropping further in temperature every minute. Kili kept Bella firmly wrapped in his arms, her back against his chest, as she slipped in and out of an uneasy sleep. "Watch out," Bofur called out, alarmed as rocks suddenly appeared through the fog, looming above them. Bard easily steered his way through them as the Dwarves looked on in awe.
"What are you trying to do, drown us?" Thorin demanded. "I was born and bred on these waters, Master Dwarf. If I wanted to drown you I would not do it here."
Thorin eyed his warily. "Oh, I've had enough of this lippy Lakeman," Dwalin said from where he sat beside Thorin. "I say we throw him over the side and be done with it."
"Bard, his names Bard," Bilbo told him.
"How do you know?" Bofur asked.
"Uh, I asked him," Bilbo stated.
"I don't care what he calls himself," Dwalin said to Bilbo not turning. "I don't like him."
"We do not have to like him," Balin told his brother. "We simply have to pay him." Dwalin turned to look at where his brother was piling up money on a small crate. "Come on now, lads. Turn out your pockets."
"How do we know he won't betray us?" Dwalin whispered to Thorin.
"We don't," Thorin answered, casting another uncertain look at Bard.
"There's just a wee problem," Balin said, getting Thorin's attention. "We're ten coins short."
Thorin folded his arms not taking his eyes off the money on the crate. "Gloin," he said the Dwarf's name as a command. "Come on. Give us what you have."
"Don't look to me," Gloin protested. "I've been bled dry by this venture. What have I seen for my investment? Naught but misery and grief and-" Thorin looked up in awe, and one by one the Dwarves stood their eyes all fixed on the same thing. Gloin stopped midsentence when he realized no one was listening. Kili stood, wrapping his arms back around Bella, he dropped a kiss to the top of her head as they both took in the view. "Bless my beard. Take it." He took out pouch of money and handed it to Balin. "Take all of it." They all looked in awe at the mountain for a few more moment before Bilbo cleared his throat and nodded to where Bard was approaching.
"The money, quick. Give it to me," Bard ordered.
"We will pay you when we get our provisions but not before," Thorin told him.
"If you value your freedom, you'll do as I say," Bard stated. "There are guards ahead." The company looked around and they could begin to make out the outline of Lake-town through the heavy fog.
Balin handed over the money and the Dwarves climbed back into the barrels on Bard's say so. Bard left the barge walking onto the docks they had stopped at. "What's he doing?" Dwalin asked Bilbo who had a hole in his barrel so could see Bard.
"He's talking to someone," Bilbo told them. "He's pointing right at us." Bilbo moved away from the hole he was spying through alarmed and the thought of Bard seeing him. Bilbo looked through the hole again after a moment. "Now they are shaking hands."
"What?" Thorin asked.
"The villain," Dwalin cursed. "He's selling us out." All the Dwarves froze silent as a clanking noise started over their heads and footsteps approached. Dwalin frowned extremely unhappy as fish began raining down on him, filling the barrel around him. None of the other Dwarves were happy at this turn of events either but all were forced to stay quiet unless they wanted to be discovered. Bella curled herself into a ball to protect her wound while trying not to gag on the smell of fish. The Dwarves around her let out constant complaints at being trapped in barrels filled with fish.
"Quiet," Bard ordered, kicking the closest barrel. "We're approaching the tollgate."
Bella was fighting down waves of nauseous at the smell when she felt the barge slowing down. "Halt," a man at the gate shouted. "Goods inspection. Papers please." The man stepped out and looked up at the boat. "Oh, it's you, Bard."
"Morning, Percy," Bard greeted.
"Anything to declare?" Percy asked.
"Nothing," Bard told him. "But that I am cold and tired and ready for home." Bard jump from his barge and handed over some papers to Percy.
"You and me both," Percy agreed, stepping back inside his toll booth. Bard looked around uneasily as Percy stamped his paperwork. "There we are. All in order." Percy went to hand the papers back to Bard.
"Not so fast," Alfrid said, appearing from behind Percy and taking the papers from his hand. Alfrid was a weak, weasel of a man who threw his weight around in Lake-town by keeping himself close to the Master. "Consignment of empty barrels from the Woodland Realm. Only they're not empty." Bella tensed, were they about to be found sneaking into Lake-town and completely unarmed, unable to defend themselves so this pathetic excuse for a man could get one over on Bard. "Are they, Bard?" Alfrid tossed the paper behind him as he smirked at him. "If I recall correctly you're licenced as a bargeman. Not a fisherman." Alfrid picked up one of the fish, leaving Bomburs eye exposed. The Dwarf's gaze flickered from Bard to Alfrid and back again. Bard tried to supress a smirk that Alfrid had basically uncovered what he was trying to do but he was too arrogant to see it.
"That's none of your business," Bard told Alfrid.
"Wrong," Alfrid said, with a satisfied smile. "It's the Master's business, which makes it my business."
"Oh come on, Alfrid," Bard tried to reason. "Have a heart. People need to eat."
"These fish are illegal," Alfrid shouted, he tossed the one he was holding back into the water. "Empty the barrels over the side."
"You heard him," one of the guards shouted, stepping onto the boat. "Into the canal." More guards followed the first and the Dwarves could do nothing but listened alarmed as they were about to be discovered.
"Folk in this town are struggling," Bard told Alfrid. "Times are hard. Food is scarce." Bard watched the guards prepare to lift the barrels, looking alarmed.
"That's not my problem," Alfrid snapped.
"And when the people hear the Master is dumping fish back in the lake, when the rioting starts will it be your problem then?"
"Stop," Alfrid commanded the guards, holding his hand up just at the first fish began to slide from the barrels. They set them back straight before any of the Dwarves were found. "Ever the peoples champion eh, Bard? Protector the common folk. You might have their favour now, bargeman but it won't last." Alfrid walked away, taking the guards with him and Bard breathed a sigh of relief.
"Raise the gate," Percy ordered once Alfrid had passed him.
A/N: Posted on 27/05/2015. I have changed the end of the previous chapter so I could have the scene in this one between Thranduil, Legolas and Tauriel. All outfits are on my profile. Violet x.