Authors Note: Another Christmas gift for ya'll! Getting into BOTFA now :D So excited!
Tauriel watched as the horizon light up in flames, pressing her lips together. They could waste no more time here.
"We have no time. We must leave." She turned back into the house, picking up Tilda's doll as she handed it to her, Sigrid slipping the small girl into her coat.
"Get him up." Oin said, gathering their belongings.
"Cmon, brother." Fili complied, helping Kili to his feet but he only shrugged him off.
"I'm fine. I can walk." Kili grumbled, pulling on his coat with slight difficulties.
"We aren't leaving. Not without our father and Sylwen." Bain spoke up, stepping in behind the elf.
Tauriel let out a sigh as she stood up straight. "If you stay, you're sisters will die." She stated, finding no use in hiding the threats. "I made a promise to her that I'd keep you safe, and to do that we need to leave now." She told him, turning around as she looked at the boy.
"She's right Bain." Lucy said softly, putting a hand on his shoulder as she looked at him.
Bain offered no other resistance after that, everyone gathering what they needed before they all piled into the boat that laid downstairs.
The entire building had quickly evacuated, leaving Bard locked in his cell as the panic began to take over his being.
"Open this door!" He yelled, in hopes someone was nearby that would hear him. Rattling the bars, his movements ceasing as he listened to the wind. The faint sound of wings flapping reached his ears before he caught sight of the shadow in the clouds.
His heart sunk into his chest at the sight of it, turning around as he moved to the other window, gaze scanning the horizon. That was when it hit, the fire illuminating the beast as it soared overhead, bringing its wrath upon Laketown..
It didn't take the dragon but a few wing beats before it was upon Laketown, soaring overhead as Sylwen quickly ducked against a chimney, keeping out of sight. Her gaze followed him though, falling still on the rooftop as she watched Smaug circle around once before coming upon the town, setting an entire strip from one end to another, on fire.
"Bard.." Sylwen had to remind herself, tearing her gaze away from the dragon as she pushed forward on the roofs, feeling the fear trickling down her spine.
Her memories were a mere tug of a string away, a string she was too scared to tug at, afraid of what it might reveal. When she met Bard, she felt as though her memories were a mere light in the distance that didn't seem to matter to her anymore..
And now they had come back to burn her.
Lucy held tightly onto Bain's hand as the boat pushed through the waters, barely out of harms way as the Dragon swooped over head once again, emptying his fire onto the town once again.
"Watch out!" Oin called, their boat colliding with another as the sound of coins fell into the water. Their boat just about tipped at the force of the far larger one, but Fili and Bofur maneuvered it enough to avoid sinking.
Lucy lifted her head only to find the master of the lake and Alfrid making way with the towns gold.
"Cowards!" She snarled, sickened by the act of the two. Alfrid's gaze caught hers once before he looked away, acting as if he hadn't even seen her, their boat pressing further into the water.
Bain squeezed her hand tightly. "It'll be alright." He told her, glancing around quietly for any sign of his father or Sylwen.
Trying anything he could get his hands on in the cell, Bard struggled to break free, but nothing seemed to work and time most definitely wasn't on his side this night.
There had to be something.
He looked at the wall, his heart hammering in his chest as he tried to come up with any idea that would break him out. Bard then glanced down at the sheet on the bed, picking it up as he tore it down the middle.
There was boats outside in the canal, perhaps he could lasso one. The wall's were weak enough they could break with any extra force.
It took him but a few moments to wind the fabric around, tossing it out the window as he began to tie the ends together. Before he could even finish though, it caught on a passing boat and began to pull.
Tying the knot best he could, it was tugged out of his hands and yanked against the bars. Just as Bard had guessed, the wooden wall gave way and fell into the canal below, Bard stepping onto the edge as he glanced down, his gaze falling upon the master of the lake. Who happened to have been his unlucky catch of the day.
Disgust riddled his gut as he gazed upon the boat that was stock full of the towns gold and treasures. Of course he'd only save himself and the gold.
Pushing onward, Bard swung into the neighboring building, kicking the window in as he climbed inside.
Grabbing one of the bows off the wall, he gave it a quick flick before running his fingers across the twine.
"This will have to do." He said quietly to himself, pulling it over his shoulders as he grabbed the quiver full of arrows.
The sky was alive with fire, burning brightly as it ate away at the wooden buildings surrounding her.
It was like the firestorm all over again.
Bard. Sylwen needed to find him, and quick.
Hearing the echoing roar of the dragon above her, she dared not look up. Afraid of what she might find.
..or remember.
The heat radiated off every surface surrounding her, feeling its warmth licking at her skin despite the chilly weather. Something about it felt familiar to her, only pushing her harder to find Bard.
"There you are.."
The voice sent tremors down her spine, the voice that stirred a thousand memories within her. Her gaze snapped upwards, searching for the dragon but her attention was drawn away when she heard the sound of wood breaking behind her.
Turning around, she felt as if a weight was lifted off her shoulders. "Bard!"
Bard's head snapped up at the sound of her voice, climbing from the roof as he looked at Sylwen, his eyes wide. "What are you doing here?" He said, voice strained as he rushed to her. "I told you to stay at home!"
Sylwen felt her throat tighten slightly as she shook her head. "I know, Bard. But I couldn't just leave you." She told him, taking his hands tightly. "The children are safe, Tauriel is with them. I promise they're okay." She told him.
Bard opened his mouth to say something but it never had a chance to come out, pushing Sylwen down onto the roof instead as the dragon swooped by the building they were on.
He knew they were there.
"We have to keep moving." He said, ushering her back up onto her feet. "Can you follow?" He asked her, looking down at her.
Sylwen nodded, gripping the handle of the bow that laid on her shoulder. "Of course." She said, swallowing hard.
Bard nodded once, taking the lead as he began to make his way across the rooftops, Sylwen following close behind.
Bilbo stood on the mountain, his eyes locked on Laketown as he watched it burn, the Dragon hanging in the air above the town.
"Poor souls.." Balin whispered quietly.
Bilbo felt the weight that laid on his shoulders; The guilt and remorse. At that very second, he was helpless. All the lives that would be lost due to their failure. And Sylwen..just what would become of her and Bard?
All the other Dwarves seemed to share the same guilt as the Hobbit did, all but one. He turned away from the image of the burning town, glancing down below the rock they were on. Thorin stood quietly at the edge, staring at the mountain.
Something was wrong already. Bilbo could feel it in his bones. The sickness was already beginning to takes its toll on him..
"Stay close." Bard called to Sylwen, sliding down a roof as he landed on another, glancing over his shoulder once as he watched her follow his lead. But upon watching her, he noticed she seemed distracted, her gaze darting up at the sky every so often whenever the dragon would come too close.
He pressed his lips together, reaching back as he grabbed her hand, pulling her to him as he looked down at her. "Keep your eyes focused on me." He told her, his hand wrapped tightly around her own.
Sylwen's eyes widened slightly as Bard suddenly grabbed her, startling her out of whatever trance she had previously been in. Her heart leapt in her chest, feeling the warmth radiating off his hand before she nodded once. "Alright.." She whispered out in a shaky voice, locking her gaze with his deep chocolate ones.
Bard planted a kiss on her forehead before pushing through onto the bell tower, Sylwen close behind as they began to ascend to the top.
"Stay low." Bard told her as they reached the top, glancing around as it wasn't hard to find the dragon in the sky.
"Wait." Sylwen stood up, pulling the bow off her shoulder as she held it out to him. "I thought you might have wanted this instead." She offered to him.
Bard felt a smile twitch at his lips despite the situation, taking it from her. "Thank you." He whispered, to which she nodded in response before ducking out of sight as he had asked.
Discarding the quiver, Bard held the arrows in his hand, his gaze watching as the dragon flew through the air. Timing it just right, Bard dropped the arrows against the railing, jumping onto the edge as he pulled an arrow back and released it.
Sylwen heard the clang of the arrow hitting Smaug's chest as she watched it fall to the ground, offering no damage what so ever to the beast. She gripped onto the bow in her hands that she had traded from Bard, watching him carefully.
Jumping back to avoid falling, Bard watched as Smaug flew off without a glance back. The bell was loud in his ears, almost deafening as he looked up at it. Letting out a breath of air, he grabbed his knife and cut the rope, causing the bell to fall silent again.
He jumped onto the edge once again, pulling back and arrow and shooting it at the beast once again. To no avail, as it just ricocheted off its tough hide and was lost to the waters below.
He was running out of arrows, and time. He glanced back at Sylwen, who sat huddled in the corner. Bard pressed his lips into a thin line. Even so, he couldn't give up. Not while so much was riding on his shoulders..