Chapter 20
Bard and Laketown
I excused myself to wash the blood of Kili's off my hands. I sat near the river as the dwarves approached the man and the barge and washed my hands. I looked at the water, lost in thought. The white orc that I saw was the same in my vision and knew it would cause the death of me if I didn't stop him. I rubbed my temple. I felt tired and wonder if I could sleep in a warm bed tonight in Fili's arms.
A sudden short pain ripped through my belly. I put my hand on it. It went away. I thought it was just cramps and let my hand drop. I stood up when I heard Fili calling me as he hurried over.
"We got a ride. The man is gonna smuggle us in. You alright?" Fili asked, pulling me against him.
"I'm fine, just tired. I hoe to stay in a warm bed in your arms." I said, pressing a kiss to his lips.
"I'm sure you will. Come. They are waiting just for us." Fili said, wrapping an arm around me and leading me to the barge. The man nodded to me and Fili and I sat down near the barrels. I curled up in his arms for warmth as the man got the barge moving as the dwarves whispered amonst themselves. I laid my head on Fili's chest and rest my eyes for a bit as Fili talked to Kili, making sure he was ok.
"Watch out!" Bofur called. I opened my eyes to see a rock formation come out of the fog and the man turned the barge to avoid hitting it.
"What are you trying to do, drown us?" Thorin asks, turning to face the man.
"I was born and bred in these waters, Master Dwarf. If I wanted to drown you, I would not do it here." The man said.
"Oh I have enough of this lippy lakeman. I say we thrown him over the side and be donewith him." Dwalin said.
"Ohh, Bard, his name's Bard." Bilbo said.
"How do you know?" Bour asked.
"Uh, I asked him." Bilbo said. I heard Thorin and Dwalin talking as the dwarves hand over money to Balin after he asks for it. I felt Fili press a kiss to my forehead.
"You warm, love?" Fili asked.
"Yes. You know how to keep me warm." I said, kissing the side of his neck. I felt Fili squirm and smirk.
"There's, um, just one problem. We're ten coins short." Balin said. Thorin sighed and crossed is arms as he looks at Gloin.
"Gloin. Come on. Give us what you have." Thorin said.
"Don't look at me. I have been bled dry by this venture! And what have I seen for my investment? Naught but misery and grief and..." Gloin never finished as everyone stood. Fili helped me up as the Lonely Mountain came into view.
"Its beautiful." I whiser. I heard Fili and Kili agree with me.
"Bless my beard. Take it. Take it all." Gloin said and I saw him hand a pouch over to Balin. I heard Bilbo cough and I saw Bard heading our way.
"The money, quick give it to me." Bard said.
"We'll pay you when we get our vrovisions, but not before." Thorin said.
"If ou value your freedoms, you'll do as I say. There are guards ahead." Bard said. I looked ahead and saw we were reaching the first gate. Balin handed the money over to Bard after Thorin nods for him to do so. "Get in the barrels." Fili gets in a barrel and reaches to help me, but Bard stops me. "Not her. I can pass her for a orphan that I'm taking with me home and then to the orphanage. It wouldn't be the first time." Fili looked panic, but I kissed his check, promising to sit next to his barrel. "Here." Bard hands me a blanket.
"Thank you." I said, wrapping the blanket around myself and slid down next to the barrel that was Fili's. I kept the blanket closed and the warmth sank into me. We came to a stop and Bard jumped out to talk to a man.
"Shh, lass. What's going on?" Dwalin asked.
"He's talking to someone." I said, watching Bard talk to the man. I see him point back at the barrels. "He's pointing right at us." Bard shakes the mans hand. "Now they're shaking hands." I hold back a laugh when I realize what they are doing.
"What?" Thorin asked.
"That villian! He's selling us out." Dwalin said. I watched as the men dumped fish right on top of the dwarves and Bilbo. I laughed as the dwarves groan and comlained as the barge moved on.
"Oh god." Nori said. Bard kicked the barrels.
"Quiet. We're approaching the toll gate." Bard said.
"Halt! Goods inspection. Papers, please. Oh, it's you Bard." The Gatekeeper said. Bard stops the boat in front of the Gatekeepers office.
"Morning Percy." Bard said.
"Anything to declare?" Percy asked.
"NOthing, but that I am cold and tired and ready for home. I found this young girl alone and saying her family was killed by orcs. I'm taking her home to eat and sleep and then to the orphanage." Bard said. Percy nodded at me as Bard hands the papers over to Percy.
"You and me both." Percy said, taking the papers and goes into his office. Bard and I share a look. Percy comes out. "Here we are. All in order." A greasy man steps out of the shadows and grabs the papers. I shrink back against Fili's barrel. I didn't like him. Something was there that I didn't like of him.
"Not so fast." The man said. He reads the papers then looks at the barrels, not noticing me. "Consignment of empty barrels from the Woodland Realm. Only they're not empty, are they, Bard?" The man tosses the papers into the wind and approaches Bard, with some soldiers right behind him. "If I recall correctly, you're licensed as a bargeman, not a fisherman." He picks up a fish as he talks from one of the barrels.
"That's none of your business." Bard said.
"Wrong. It's the Master's business, which makes it my business." The man said.
"Oh come on, Alfrid, have a heart. People need to eat!" Bard said.
"These fish are illegal." The man named Alfrid, said. He throws the fish he was holding int othe water. "Empty the barrels over the side." The soldiers move and began tipping the barrels over and letting the fish fall into the water.
"Folk in this town are struggling. Times are hard. Food is scarce." Bard said.
"That's not my problem." Alfrid said.
"And when the people hear the Master is dumping fish back in the lake, when the rioting starts, will it be your problem then?" Bard asked. I watched as Alfrid and Bard stared each other down. I bit my bottom lip worried that my friends would be discovered.
"Stop!" Alfrid finally yelled. I sighed in relief as the soldiers brought the barrels down and stepped off the boat. "Ever the people's champion, eh Bard? Protector of the common folk? You might have their favor now, bargeman, but it won't last." Alfrid said.
"Raise the gate!" Percy yelled. The gate was raised and Bard begins to pole the barge through it and towards the town. Alfrid turns to face him.
"The Master has his eye on you, you'd do well to remember. We know where you live." Alfrid said.
"It's a small town, Alfrid, everyone knows whre everyone lives." Bard said. We finally made it into Laketown. I stood up and looked. The town was eerie and different from what I read and heard about it. Bard pulled the boat to a stop and started kicking over barrels. Fili burst out of his and I dropped the blanket to go into his arms.
"I was so worried." I said.
"We're all fine. Stop worrying, my love." Fili said, kissing me gently.
"Get your hands off me." Dwalin said. Others started popping out of theirs and getting out. We got off the boat and I saw Bard hand money over to a man that saw us.
"You didn't see them, they were never here. The fish you can have for nothing." Bard said. He was a kindhearted man and cared for these people. I don't understand why Alfrid was being harsh on him. "Follow me." We follow him through Laketown. A young boy comes running towards us.
"Da! Our house, it's being watched." The boy said. Thorin and Bard started talking and I felt Fili's arm tighen around me.
"Your going to have to swim. The girl will have to come with me. They saw her." Bard said. I kissed Fili's check as the dwarves hurry to get in the water. I was introduced to Bain, Bard's son as we walked. Bard kept a hand on my arm as we walked. I saw two men fishing when we arrived and Bain and I stepped inside with Bard behind us shortly ater. Two girls hurry towards Bard.
"Da! Where have you been?" The youngest asks, hugging Bard. The eldest joins the hug.
"Father. There you are. I was worried." The eldest says.
"Here's something to eat. Sigrid. Get her some dry clothes. Bain. Let them in." Bard said. Sigrid leads me to her and the yongest, who's name was Tilda.
"I'm sure I got clothes in here that will fit you." Sigrid said. I looked out the window and sighed. "Here we go." I looked to see Sigrid hold a light blue dress. I smile.
"Thank you." I said.
"Are you a dwarf?" Sigrid asked.
"Half elf, half dwarf." I said. Sigrid nodded as I slipped into the dress. Sigrid helped me lace up the back. I head out in time to hear Balin finish the tale of the Black arrow. My eyes were only on Fili and I caught his eye. I ran into his arms and he held me close.
"Its good to see you back in a dress." Fili said, holding me close. I went to sit on the couch as Bard left the room and Fili and Kili went to talk to Thorin anad Balin about plans. Bard came back, but I didn't join them as I looked out the window lost in thought. We were so close, but I didn't know if I could help save my family from their fate. I heard the door close and saw Bard had left us. Kili slid down on the couch next to me.
"How's your leg?" I ask.
"Still hurts, but I'll be fine." Kili said. I saw that he was paler then normal. I frown, but didn't question.
"We're going. Come." Thorin said.
"Where?" I ask.
"We're going for weapons." Fili said. FIli and I help Kili stand.
"No. Your not going anywhere." Bain said, but Dwalin moves him out of the way. We were going to the Lonely Mountain now, hopefully if our plans succeed.
AN: There's the new chapter. I hope you enjoyed. Next chapter will be a surprise. I plan to update it soon, because I've been wanting to do it since I started this story