Last time:

"The money, quick, give it to me," Bard urged as he looked up towards the direction they were heading in.

"We'll pay you when we get our provisions, but not before," Thorin said calmly.

"The stubbornness of dwarves," Nariel murmured softly to herself. She opened her mouth to tell her companions to just give Bard the money, but Bard himself beat her to it.

"If you value your freedom, you'll do as I say. There are guards ahead," Bard warned, still holding his hand out for the money.

…..

Bard's barge 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. Nariel gets to remain standing out in the open. Though she soon wished she hadn't. Almost everyone was staring in her direction, no doubt wondering what an elf was doing in Esgaroth.

"What's he doing?" Dwalin asked trying to see out the small hole in his barrel. Meanwhile Bilbo looked through his own hole.

"He's talking to someone. And he's pointing right at us!" Bilbo exclaimed quietly,"Now they're shaking hands." As Bilbo speaks, Nariel watches Bard carefully.

"That villain. He's selling us out," Dwalin growled quietly, moving to get up. Nariel saw this and quickly leaned against the barrel.

"He is not selling you out. I've told you before he is of no threat to us and will not betray us," Nariel told the dwarf smiling slightly when she heard him let out a huff of frustration. Nariel moved away in time to watch all the barrels get filled with dead fish. She couldn't help but smile a little when she heard the dwarves splutter in surprise.

After the barrels are all filled, Bard poles his barge toward the gate of the city. He spared a glance at the elf beside him, but she seemed to be calm as any elf he'd ever seen. It was almost as if they were not going to try and get into a city with 14 barrels full of fish, dwarves, and a hobbit.

"Oh god," one of the dwarves said from inside the barrels. Nariel assumed that they were complaining about the smell of the dead fish they were surrounded in. She turned at the sound of one of the barrels being kicked to glare at Bard.

"Quiet! We're approaching to toll gate," Bard warned, ignoring the glare that the she-elf was giving him.

"Halt! Goods inspection. Papers, please," the gatekeeper calls out as he steps out of his area, "Oh, Bard, it's you."

"Morning, Percy," Bard replied,"This is my escort Nariel."

"Odd, you've never had an escort before," Percy said shrugging.

"It was a last minute thing," Nariel spoke up, saving Bard from having to explain further as to why she was there.

Percy nodded then turned back to Bard asking, " Anything to declare?"

"Nothing, but that I am cold and tired, and ready for home," Bard answered as he handed his papers to Percy.

"You and me both," Percy answered taking Bard's papers into his office and stamping them. Bard looks around warily.

"There we are. All in order," Percy says holding out the papers to Bard. Bard reaches to grab them but another man, Alfrid, steps out of the shadows and grabs them instead.

"Not so fast," Alfrid sneers and looks down at Bard's papers. After he's done reading it, he looks at Bard's load then up at Nariel.

"Consignment of empty barrels from the Woodland Realm. Only, they're not empty, are they, Bard? If I recall correctly, you're licensed as a bargeman not a fisherman," Alfrid said stepping towards Bard. Nariel watched carefully as the sneering Man picked up a fish and held it up to Bard. Her eyes widened a little as she saw Bombur's eyes peeking up between the fish, but she forced herself to stay calm and not seem agitated.

"And you, what are you doing here? This bargeman has never had an escort before." Nariel looked over at Alfrid, her eyes narrowing slightly.

"Excuse me?" Nariel asked, pretending that she had not heard him speak.

"I asked you what you are doing here," Alfrid repeated, an annoyed tone coming into his voice.

"I am here because I am a friend of King Thranduil and he asked me to come," Nariel told the man before her. She watched as his eyes widened and he took a step back nodding.

"Where did all these fish come from, Bard?" Alfrid asked once again turning towards the bargeman.

"That's none of your business," Bard snapped, glaring at the man.

"Wrong. It's the Master's business, which makes it my business," Alfrid corrected. Bard sighed and a desperate look crossed over his face.

"Oh come on, Alfrid, have a heart. People need to eat!" Bard exclaimed.

"These fish are illegal," Alfrid stated and waved his hand at gathered guards behind him. Nariel, who'd been standing quietly watching the exchange, decided to finally speak up.

"No they're not. These fish are not illegal," Nariel stated but the little man ignored her. Alfrid instead threw the fish that he'd been holding into the water and turned to the soldiers. "Empty the barrels over the side." The soldiers all nod and move forward to tip the barrels over the side.

"Wait, stop. This is a mistake," Nariel said trying to stop the men before her. They glanced at one another then at her then back at Alfrid before they simply moved forward, tipping the barrels.

"Folk in this town are struggling. Times are hard. Food is scarce," Bard desperately pleaded.

"That's not my problem," Alfrid stated with a cruel smile. Nariel could feel her gaze on the man harden as he spoke those words. But before she could open her mouth to say anything, Bard started to speak again.

"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 Alfrid. And before Alfrid could respond, Nariel started to speak.

"Not to mention you'd be risking the wrath of King Thranduil. These fish were a gift from him. You would dare to reject it?" Nariel asked, crossing her arms over her chest. She stared at the man intensely until he raised his hand into the air.

"Stop," Alfrid ordered. The soldiers complied then went back towards the buildings. Nariel was relieved to see that not much of the fish had been dumped as the conversations had taken place.

"Ever the people's champion, eh, Bard? And you?" Alfrid asked raising an eyebrow and turning to Nariel, "Protector of the Common Folk? You might have their favor now, but it won't last." At this statement, Nariel couldn't help but feel angry. The only thing keeping her from attacking Alfrid was the dwarves and the hobbit that were in the barrels behind her. So instead, she resigned herself to glaring intensely at his back as he walked away.

"Raise the gate!" Percy called out when the confrontation had ended, quickly going back into his office. Bard began to pole his barge forward, and Nariel thought they were going to get pass Alfrid without another word from him. This thought was crushed when Alfrid decided to turn around and shout back to Bard.

"You'll do well to remember that the Master has his eye on you. We know where you live!" Alfrid called. Nariel turned her eyes to Bard to see what his reaction was, but his face held almost no emotion as they passed Alfrid.

"It's a small town, Alfrid. Everyone knows where everyone lives," Bard calmly called back. He docked his barge a little ways away and looked around. Nariel too was scanning the area and when she saw no one, she gave a slight nod to the bargeman. Together, they tipped the barrels and watch as the dwarves slide out with the fish. Before long, Bard reaches Dwalin's barrel and goes to reach for it, but Dwalin poked his head up through all the fish.

"Get your hands off me," Dwalin growled causing Nariel to smile just a little.

"Dwalin, he's just trying to help," Nariel told the tall dwarf and all she got was a grunt in response. Once all the dwarves and Bilbo were out of the barrels, she took the time to look at them all. Each and every single one of them looked slimy and greasy from the fish, and it was all Nariel could do to not burst into a smile. Nariel turned and watched as Bard approached the shocked looking dock master.

"You didn't see them. They were never here," Nariel heard Bard say in a low voice as he passed a coin to the other man, "The fish you can have for nothing."

As Bard leads the company through Laketown, Nariel can't help but look around. In some ways there was a certain beauty in this place. But in so many others, it just looked like a shell of something that could be much greater. The she-elf was pulled out of her thoughts as soon as she heard the pounding of feet coming towards them. Her hand went to the hilt of her sword, but she stayed still as she watched a young boy run up to their group.

"Da! Our house, it's being watched!" the boy exclaimed. Bard turned looking at Thorin and Nariel before he beckoned them forward to tell them of the plan he'd just come up with.

"We're almost to my home. Master Dwarf, you're going to have to take your dwarves and swim around to beneath my house. Nariel, you can come with Bain and I. Hopefully, we can keep the attention focused on us," Bard said quietly. Nariel nodded but Thorin looked a little angry.

"You expect us to swim in that," Thorin said while gesturing at the murky water.

"You must if you want to avoid detection," Bard answered the dwarf before him. Thorin reluctantly nodded, and Nariel watched as the dwarves and Bilbo slipped into the water. Next thing she knew, she was following Bard and his son towards their home. They walked calmly but as they did so, Nariel could see other Men running ahead as soon as they appeared in the line of sight. As Bard and Bain led her around a corner and up some steps, she noticed two men sitting down in a boat fishing. She watched quietly as Bard tossed an apple down to them.

"You can tell the Master that I'm done for the day," Bard said before following as his son walked inside. Nariel lingered outside a moment longer before following them in as well. A small smile crossed Nariel's face as she watched two women greeted Bard.

"Da! Where have you been?!" one girl exclaimed, a young one Nariel guessed for she looked like it.

"Father! There you are. I was worried," another older girl stated as she wrapped her arms around Bard. Nariel's smile widened a bit as he watched Bard embrace his daughters.

After a moment, the bargeman glanced up at Nariel. All three of his children followed his gaze and their eyes widened a bit. Bard handed a bag to the oldest girl and told her that there was food inside to eat. The girl nodded her head and turned to bring the bag to the kitchen. She wasn't gone long for she rejoined them all a moment later.

"Nariel, this is my eldest Sigrid and my youngest Tilda. And this is my son Bain. Children, this is Nariel, daughter of Lord Elrond," Bard introduced them all. Bard's youngest daughter's eyes lit up once Nariel had been introduced.

"You're an elf!" the little girl exclaimed staring at Nariel with wide eyes. Nariel nodded and offered the girl a small smile.

"Tilda, don't stare," Sigrid said once she had finally noticed that her little sister was still staring at the elf before them.

"It's alright. I don't mind," Nariel said, a smile still upon her face," I offer you my friendship."

"You hear, Sigrid?! She's our friend!" Tilda exclaimed smiling up at her older sister.

"That she is, Tilda. Thank you, Nariel, we'd be happy to accept your friendship and offer you ours," Sigrid replied looking up at the she-elf who nodded her acceptance of their friendship to her. Bard watched the exchange between the three women for a moment before finally remembering the dwarves.

"Bain, get them in," Bard ordered turning to his son. Bain nodded his head then goes down some steps to the lower floor of the house, which is open to the water. After looking around quickly, he knocks on the wall near the toilet three times. Dwalin's head appears through the toilet while Nariel watches from above, a hand covering her mouth to keep from laughing.

"If you speak of this to anyone, I'll rip your arms off," Dwalin growled lifting the toilet seat so he could lift himself. Nariel watched as Bain reached out to help him but Dwalin slapped the boy's hand away and told him to get off. Bain then pointed up the stairs and Nariel watched the tall dwarven warrior walk up the steps.

Once Dwalin was upstairs, Nariel returned her gaze to the toilet below just in time to watch Bain help Bilbo up. One by one, she watched the dwarves came up through the toilet and up the steps. And with each passing moment, Nariel had to refrain herself from bursting out laughing.

"First fish barrels…." Nariel started finally allowing herself to giggle a little bit," and now this. Today is not your day my friends."

The dwarves all glared at Nariel as her laughing started to get louder. They did not think it amusing that they had to swim through water that was filled with human waste. When Nariel finally noticed they were all glaring at her, she bit her lip and worry slowly started to creep into her body.

"That was not funny whatsoever, Nariel. We'll get even for this," Fili threatened, referring to her laughing at them all and all the dwarves began to agree with him. More worry began to settle in the pit of Nariel's stomach, but she shook it off for the time being.

"You should all get in front of the fire," Nariel said as she noticed some of the dwarves and Bilbo were shivering, "Tilda, do you have any blankets around here?" The young girl nodded her head and ran off. Nariel meanwhile guided all the dwarves to sit in front of the fire. When Tilda came back with the blankets, Nariel took them from her and passed them out the the dwarves and Bilbo. As she handed the last blanket to Thorin, her eyes met his.

Nariel felt his fingers brush against her wrist, the wrist that held her bracelet. Looking down, she watched him as he carefully ran his finger over it. But after a moment, she pulled her hand away from him. She noticed that a hurt look crossed over his face, so she decided to sit beside him.

"Why does it mean so much to you?" Thorin asked her as he once again started running his finger over the bracelet.

"It was one of the last gifts from my mother before she sailed for the Undying Lands," Nariel answered, her voice becoming sad.

"I see," Thorin answered nodding his head slightly. "You miss her, don't you?"

"Yes, I do miss her. She's my mother," Nariel said smiling slightly. She stayed silent as she watched Thorin intertwine their fingers.

"I know what that's like. To miss a parent," Thorin told her to which Nariel nodded. Before either of them could say anything more, Sigrid came into the room with clothes in her hands. Nariel saw that she was struggling with holding them all so she got up to help the younger girl. Sigrid offered the she-elf a small smile as they both handed out clothes.

The whole time Nariel moved around the room. Thorin watched her do so. He couldn't help but let his mind wander to what the future could hold for the two of them. Of course any future with Nariel would be difficult once Erebor was remade and the rest of his kin populated it once more because she was indeed an elf. But she'd be stronger than she was now. Her personality would stay the same cause he would not have it any other way. The Company would be her second family just like they were now, but they'd be much closer and more tight knit. With a smile on his face, he pulled himself out of his thoughts but still continued to stare at the lone elf in the room.

"He must care for you," Sigrid whispered as she leaned over towards Nariel after they finished handing out the clothes. Nariel looked over at her and tilted her head.

"Who?" Nariel asked a little confused at the moment.

"Him, " Sigrid replied nodding her head towards Thorin. Nariel followed her gaze over the dwarf lord and started shaking her head.

"Why does everyone keep saying that?!" Nariel asked the young human beside her, her voice a little higher than usual. However, she couldn't resist looking over at Thorin.

"Because neither of you hide it and it's obvious you both care about each other," Sigrid answered the elf. Nariel started nodding slightly before looking back at Sigrid.

"I cannot deny that I do care for him deeply. However, I cannot tell him of my feelings," Nariel said looking away from where Thorin sat across the room and down to her feet.

"Why not?" Sigrid asked rather confused by her new female friend.

"Because sometimes once an individual gains your heart, they turn around and leave you," Nariel replied and walked away from her. She went outside to breathe in the fresh air and to clear her head. Meanwhile, Sigrid looked dumbfounded. An elf that had been hurt by love? She'd never heard of such things happening from the Mirkwood elves that resided in Lake-Town from time to time. Then again she'd never seen a female elf either since it was all male elves that stayed in Esgaroth. Her attention was diverted from the she-elf as soon as she felt her younger sister pulling on her skirts and dragging her over towards Bilbo.

Okay, I decided that this was a good place to end the chapter especially considering I have not updated in awhile. Hopefully it will not take me as long to write the next one. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please leave me a review?