Lake Town

[Bard paddles the dwarves, Natalya and Bilbo across the lake in his barge. it is very foggy and the Barge pushes aside ice floes. Suddenly, Large stone formations appear out of the Fog.]

''Watch out! says Bofur

[Bard expertly poles the barge between the rock formations which turns out to be ancient ruins]

''What are you trying to do Drown us? says Thorin

''I was born and bred on these waters Master Dwarf. if I wanted to drown you, I would not do it here. says Bard

I have enough of this Lippy Lake man. I say we throw him over the side and be down with him. says Dwalin

''You will not do no such thing he is getting us across the Lake the least you can do is be grateful about it. says Natalya

Ok fine but I still don't like him. says Dwalin

''We do not have to like him, we simply have to pay him. thanks to Natalya he is payed in full. says Balin

[Natalya smiles a little as she walks back to the Helm of the ship and sits down to lay her head in her arms as Bilbo comes over and sees how tired she was]

''Are you alright Natalya? says Bilbo

''I am alright Bilbo just tired I feel like I haven't slept since we left Rivendell. says Natalya

[The Dwarves hear this and grew concerned for their Elf friend when they look through the Fog as it thins and they see the Lonely Mountain]

''Bless My beard. says Gloin

[Bard approaches the dwarves and Natalya at their end of the barge]

Lady Natalya quick give me the money all of it. says Bard

''She'll pay you when we get our Provisions, but not before. says Thorin

''if you value your freedom, you'll do as I say. there are guards ahead. says Bard

[Natalya looks at him as she takes the huge bag and places it in Bard's hand as they see the rooftops of Laketown in the distance]

[Bard's barge is stopped at a dock just outside the city, Bard hops off and speaks to a man. meanwhile, the dwarves and Bilbo are hidden in the barrels on the barge. While Natalya is using her Black cloak to cloak her from the eyes of the Guards]

''What is he doing? says Dwalin

[Bilbo peers through a hole in his barrel]

''He's talking to someone. says Bilbo

[Bilbo sees Bard point back at his barrels while talking to the man.]

''And he's pointing right at us! says Bilbo

[Thorin looks anxious. Bard shakes the man's hands]

'Now they're shaking hands. says Bilbo

''What? says Thorin

''that villian! He's selling us out. says Dwalin

[All the dwarves in their barrels listen anxiously, suddenly dead fish are poured into the barrels. the Dwarves splutter in surprise.]

[Bard poles his barge toward the gate of the city, on deck are the 14 barrels all full of fish, with a dwarf or hobbit inside as well.]

''Oh god. says Dwarf

[Bard kicks the barrel closest to him]

Quiet! we are approaching the Toll gate. [To Natalya] ''Lady Natalya please come with me. says Bard

[Natalya walks to him as he stops his barge where the Gatekeeper comes out]

''Halt! goods inspection. Papers, please. Oh it's you, Bard. [sees Natalya] ''Oh who is your Lovely friend. says Gatekeeper.

''She is a friend from Mirkwood she is helping me in exchange for passage here. says Bard

''Anything else to declare. says Percy

''Nothing. but That I am cold and tired and ready for home. says Bard

[Bard hands the gatekeeper some papers]

''you and me both. says Percy

[As the gatekeeper takes the papers and goes into his office to stamp them, Bard looks around warily]

''Here we are. all in order. says Gatekeeper

[He holds out Bard's papers. but a man, Alfrid, suddenly steps out of the shadows and grabs the papers.]

''Not so fast. says Alfrid

[Alfrid reads Bard's papers, then looks at his load.]

''Consignment of empty barrels from the Woodland Realm. only, they're not empty, are they, Bard? says Alfrid

''they are gifts from the Woodland King for Bard's hard work. says Natalya

[Alfrid turns to look at Natalya and looks her up and down seeing how beautiful she is and that she is also an Elf.]

''An Elf here in Laketown now this is a Pleasure and a beautiful one at that. says Alfrid

[He walks over to her caresses her hair but she grabs his hand before he can touch her face and twists it making his groan in pain]

''I don't believe I asked you to touch me. says Natalya

''Ah you are a tough one...so you say that the King has sent these fish here for Laketown to eat.? says Alfrid

''that's none of your business. says Bard

''wrong, it's the Master's business, which makes it my business. says Alfrid

''Come on. Alfrid, have a heart. people need to eat! says Bard

These fish are illegal. says Alfrid

[Alfrid throws the fish he was holding into the water, then commands the soldiers]

''Empty the barrels over the side. says Alfrid

[The Soldiers, lead by their captain, Braga move to comply]

''You heard him. into the canal. come on. get a move on. says Braga

[Natalya takes her staff and stops the Soldiers as she presses Alfrid to the Building he was stunned as well as Bard and the Soldiers she looks at Bard]

''did you say that this town is starving? says Natalya

''Yes they are we barely get by. says Bard

[Natalya turns to look at Alfrid. seeing he was looking guilty and glares at her]

''I don't think you want to let people in this town now that you are dumping fresh food into the canel execally when it can feed them for months. what would happen when the Rioting starts. will it be your problem or the Masters? says Natalya

[Bard nods at Natalya intrigued as she stares Alfrid down intensely for a few seconds, then finally Alfrid raises his hand to the Soldiers.]

''Stop. says Alfrid

[The Soldiers stop tipping the barrels over and return to the buildings]

''Ever the people's champion, eh, Bard? Protector of the common Folk? [to Natalya] 'and this Pretty Elf girl isn't going to help you forever. you might have their favor now Bargeman, but it won't last. says Alfrid

[Alfrid walks away]

''Raise the gate! says Percy

[A Large Portcullis blocking the channel is raised, and Bard begins to pole his barge through. as he passes, Alfrid turns around and shouts to him]

''The Master has his eye on you; you'd do well remember. we know where you live. says Alfrid

It's a small town, Alfrid, everyone knows where everyone lives. says Bard

[We see a bird's eye view of Laketown. the Town build in the middle of the lake, and it looks quite poor and ramshackle. there are many channels of water throughout the town, through which various boats float. Bard poles his barge down the main channel]

[Meanwhile, Bard docks his barge. after looking around, he knocks over one of the barrels, and a dwarf falls out along with a pile of fish. Bard continues knocking over barrels. he reaches for Dwalin's barrel. but Dwalin pokes his head up through the fish.]

''Get your hands off me. says Dwalin

[The remaining dwarves and Bilbo struggle out of their barrels, looking greasy and slimy from the fish. the dock keeper looks on in shock. Bard approaches him and slips him a coin]

''You didn't see them. they were never here. the fish you can have for nothing. says Bard

[Bard leads the company]

''Follow me. says Bard

[Natalya grabs a Huge sack from the boat as she follows after the Bard bumping into a woman working on a boat happens to look up and sees the dwarves and her she looks shocked]

[As they stride through Laketown, Bard's son, Bain runs up to Bard]

''Da! our house, it's being watched. says Bain

[Bard looks at Natalya and then Thorin and hatches a plan]

[Bard, Natalya and his son walk along back to their house. as they walk, a Fisherman in a boat sees them and drops his eyepatch over one eye. then knocks with his staff on a wall nearby. upon this signal. two boys run from the wall, and one knocks over a contraption which causes a hammer to hit a bell. at this signal, another man lights a match to light his pipe. he turns and looks at two men in a fishing boat right next to Bard's house. and they nod and switch their poles to the opposite sides of the boat than before. they do this just as Natalya, Bard and Bain get to the house and enter through the door. just before Bard enters, he tosses an apple to one of the fisherman]

''You can tell the Master that I'm done for the day. says Bard

[Inside the House. Natalya is putting her bag on the ground near the door as the two girls and Bain looks at her in shock]

''Oh wow...you are an Elf? says Sigrid

''Ah yes I'm an Elf. says Natalya

''she is here to help us with our new Friends. says Bard

[Both daughters run to their father and they hug. Bard than hands his bag to Sigrid.]

''Here's something to eat. Bain. get them in. says Bard

[As Bard looks out a window. Bain goes down some steps to the lower floor of the house, which is open to the water after looking around, he knocks on the wall near the Toilet three times. Dwalin's head appears through the toilet. which is open to the water below.]

''If you speak of this to anyone. I'll rip your arms off. says Dwalin

[Dwalin raises the seat and begins to pull himself out of the Toilet. Bain reaches out to help him. but Dwalin slaps his hand away]

Get off. says Dwalin

''up there. says Bain

[Bain points up the stairs, and Dwalin goes up. Bilbo pokes his head up through the toilet, looking flabbergasted, and Bain helps him out. the rest of the dwarves follow and head upstairs]

''Da...why are there dwarves climbling out of our Toilet. says Sigrid

''will they bring us luck? says Tilda

[Nori emerges from the Toilet with some leaves stuck to his hair]

[The Dwarves are wrapped in blankets and their wet things have been laid in front of the fire to dry. some of them shiver]

''It may not be the best fit, but it'll keep you warm. says Bard

[Tilda passes out blankets, and Bilbo thanks her when he receives one.]

''thank you very much. says Bilbo

[Natalya is looking out a Window next to Thorin and sees a wooden tower not far away. Atop the tower is a Windlass, a giant cross-bow type weapon with four arms. Thorin looks at it in shock]

''A Dwarvish Wind-Lance. says Thorin

You look like you've seen a ghost. says Bilbo

he has. the last time we saw such a weapon, a city was on fire. it was the day the dragon came. says Balin

[Thorin looks sadly away. as Balin tells the tale]

''The day that Smaug destroyed Dale. Girion, the Lord of the City, rallied his bowman to fire upon the beast. but a Dragon's hide is tough, tougher than the strongest armor. only a black arrow, fired from a wind-lance could have pierced the dragon's hide and few of those arrows were ever made. says Balin

Had the aim of Men been true that day, much would have been different. says Thorin

[Bard approaches Thorin]

''You speak as if you were there. says Bard

''All dwarves know the tale. says Thorin

''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. says Bain

''That's a fairy story lad. nothing more. says Dwalin

[Throin strides up to Bard]

''you took Natalya's money. where are the weapons. says Thorin

[Natalya grabs the Sack and puts it on the table as the Dwarves and Bard looks at them. as Thorin, Balin, Fili and Kili talk quietly together]

''tomorrow begins the last days of Autumn. says Thorin

''Durin's day falls morn after next. we must reach the mountain before then. says Balin

''and if we do not? if we fail to find the hidden door before that time? says Kili

''then this quest has been for nothing says Fili

[Natalya unwraps the package on the table there was swords, axes and other knives as well as a Bow for Kili. they were in shock as they look at her]

''Where did you get these? says Kili

''Believe it or not I actually grabbed them while you guys were in the cells back at the Woodland Realm. [to Thorin sadly] ''I'm sorry I couldn't grab your sword Orcist for it was in the Possession of the Prince. says Natalya

''No this is great we have weapons. says Dwalin

''Natalya what you have done for us is more then enough you practually saved us. says Balin

''don't worry about my sword I can fight with another one just as good. says Thorin

We must leave now that we have the weapons. says Balin

''You are not going anywhere. says Bard

''what did you say! says Dwalin

''there's spies watching this house and probably every dock and wharf in the town. you must wait till night fall. says Bard

[Nighttime]

[The Dwarves are getting ready to head out as they walk over to Natalya who is sleeping against the wall on the floor covered up and she was shivering and shaking in the grips of a nightmare. they look at her in concern]

''She's having a nightmare...we must wake her. says Balin

''Lady Natalya...says Bilbo

[He gets down on his knees to wake her when he Thorin grabs his hand]

''No we can't not yet...she hasn't been sleeping for months because of this nightmare. we must know why. says Thorin

[The Dwarves nod as Natalya continues to whimper in her sleep]

[Dreamworld]

[Natalya is walking among the ruins of a ancient Fortress it was dark and foggy as she walks across the bridge of the place that is called Dol Guldor. all around she can hear things coming from the ruins]

'' Come inside the ruins...Lady Natalya...says the Necromancer

[She gasps as she is flying through the air and through the ruins and she is thrown onto a Thin Bridge and in front of her is a Dark shadow she gasps as it flies over her]

''Ah...What is going on where Am I? says Natalya

''You...are...Mine and will be part of my Quest to destroy Middle Earth [His dark hands begins to thrust inside her heart...making her gasps] ''You will submit to me or you will die choose wisely...only I will understand the power that runs through your veins. says Necromancer

''No...No...You will not get my powers on your side...I will die before I let you destory this world...Ah..says Natalya

[She raises her hands and a Huge blast of White Light comes out of her hands and hits the Dark shadow making it retreat back into the shadows to get away from it...then just as she stops a blast of orange Light comes from the darkness and makes her slam into the brick wall of the wall...she gasps in pain...as the flames hurt her skin]

''You...won't surrander willingly then I will take you by force...says Necromancer

''I...Will Never...join you...says Natalya

[She screams as the Necromancer changes into a Giant Eye that is surrounded by flames...and it was burning her ]

[Bard's Home]

[Natalya cries out as she was shaking awake by Bofur and Sigrid she gasps awake as she looks at them in shock]

''My Lady Natalya...you are having a terrible Nightmare...says Bard

''you are safe here. says Fili

''I...I'm sorry I didn't mean to wake anyone. says Natalya

''No it's ok you needed the rest. says Oin

[Natalya looks at them and Bard only to find it was just Kili, Fili, Bofur and Oin and she didn't see Bilbo or the others she stands up alarmed]

''Where is Thorin and the others? says Natalya

''They have decided to go on ahead to the Mountain. Thorin felt that you have done enough to help us and that you haven't had any sleep worrying about us that he wanted to leave you behind and said to join them when you are ready. says Fili

''But that doesn't matter I am still part of this company until we reach the mountain. he is a Fool. We must go and catch up. says Natalya

[Kili was running a fever from when Natalya healed him of the wound but because traveling through cold water has caused him to get sick. Oin and Fili puts Kili on a bed as he is covered in sweat]

''Ah! ugh! argh! says Kili

[As he continues moaning. Bofur fills a bowl with hot water and rushes to him]

''[to Natalya] ''Can you not do something? says Fili

''I need herbs something to bring down his fever. says Natalya

[Bard searches through his bag of medicines]

''I have nightshade, Feverfew. says Bard

''They are no use to us. to you have any Kingsfoil? says Oin

No, it's a weed. we feed it to the Pigs. say Bard

''Pigs? weed? Right. says Bofur

[Bofur points at Kili]

''Don't move. says Bofur

[Bofur then runs out of the house in search of pigs and Kingsfoil. when a Reverberation reaches as Far as Laketown In Bards House everyone looks up at the sound and dust falls from the ceiling. Kili moans in pain]

''Da? says Sigrid

''it's coming from the Mountain. says Bain

[Natalya leaves Kili's side and approaches Bard]

''You should leave us. take your children and get out of here. says Natalya

And go where? there is nowhere to go. says Bard

''are we going to die, Da? says Tilda

''No, darling. says Bard

''The Dragon, its going to kill us. says Tilda

[Bard looks at his children worriedly for a moment, then reaches up and pulls a black arrow, the last of the three that Girion had in Dale. from where it had been hidden as a drying rack for plants. His children look at the arrow in shock]

''Not if I kill it first. says Bard

[Bard and Bain sneak through the town. Bard is holding the arrow. Bard look around a corner to check whether all is clear.]

''Alright. says Bard

''A Black Arrow? why did you never tell me? says Bain

''because you did not need to know. says Bard

[they duck behind a wall as soldiers pass by. Bard puts his arm on Bain's shoulder and indicates the tower with the dwarvish wind-lance on top]

''Liste to me carefully, I need you to distract the guards. once I'm at the top of the tower, I'll set the arrow to the bow. says Bard

[Just then Braga and the other soldiers, who have who have been sent to find Bard, see him]

''there he is! Bard! after him! says Braga

''QQuickly! down there! go! says Bard

[Bard and Bain run from the Soldiers]

''stop him! says Braga

[Bard and Bain run through shop and docks, knocking over various items in their way. the Soldiers follow yelling a stop him! the Shopkeepers yell angrily at both parties. when they have put some distance in front of the guards, Bard stops Bain and hands him the black arrow]

Bain! Bain! keep it safe. Don't let anyone find it. I'll deal with them. says Bard

''I won't leave you. says Bain

''Go! says Bard

[As Bain runs off, Bard turns and faces Braga who has just caught up to him]

''Braga. says Bard

you are under arrest. says Braga

''On what charge? says Bard

''Any charge the Master Chooses. says Braga.

[Bard turns and sees that he is surrounded. he then turns back and suddenly punches Braga in the face, then Punches his way through the soldiers and runs with the Soldiers in pursuit. Bain, seeing the Soldiers chase his father, jumps into a boat and hides the arrow beneath some ropes and fishing gear]

[Bard runs through the town, he leaps across a channel using boats as stepping stones. he uses his momentum to cause the last boat to slide several feet across the water until he can step onto the opposite bank. a Soldier trying to follow him slips and falls out of a boat into the water. Bard runs down an alley, but a foot is suddenly stuck out of a doorway and Bard trips over it. falling into a pile of wood. as he sits up, dazed, Alfrid steps forward, followed by the Master. as Bard struggles to get up. The Master lifts a wooden pole and hits Bard in the head with it, knocking him out]