I peeked through a crack I managed to make to watch Bard kick the barrel closest to him.
"Quiet!" he hissed. "We're approaching the toll gate.
I was trying very hard to breathe through my mouth and not my nose. And also to remain calm and not freak out by the tight, enclosed space.
"Halt!" the Gatekeeper commanded. "Goods inspection. Papers, please. Oh it's you, Bard,"
Bard steered his barge up to the gatekeeper's office. The entire town seemed dank and falling to pieces. I shrank away from the crack in my barrel. The gatekeeper stepped out to see him. I couldn't see the gatekeeper properly.
"Morning, Percy," Bard greeted him.
"Anything to declare?" Percy asked.
I held my breath. This is it, this is the part where Bard sells us out, takes our money and sends us to yet another prison. I don't think I can handle another prisoner. I don't think my torn nails and arms could.
"Nothing but that I am cold and tired and ready for home," Bard announced.
I breathed a sigh of relief. Bard handed Percy his papers.
"You and me both," Percy chuckled, taking the papers.
Percy disappeared monetarily into his office to do something with the papers. Bard glanced around warily. After what felt like forever, the gatekeeper emerged from his office.
"Here we are," he said, handing Bard back the papers. "All in order,"
Out of the shadows stepped the creepiest looking dude I have ever spied on in my life. There was just something unsettling about him.
"Not so fast," He sneered.
He was like Snape only everyone sees him for the asshole he truly is. He snatched Bard's papers and glances over at the barrels. I shrank back into the shadows, my heart hammering loudly.
"Consignment of empty barrels from the Woodland Realm," the creepy dude read out loud. "Only they're not empty, are they Bard?"
I really want to smack him in the face with my bow loaded with an arrow. He tossed Bard's paper into the wind, sending them flying everywhere. He approached Bard and two men followed him. They looked like possible guards or soldiers.
"If I recall correctly, you're licensed as a bargeman, not a fisherman," the creepy man sneered.
I couldn't see what he was doing but next thing I know he has a fish in his hand. Fear shot through me. We're going to get caught and things are going to go rapidly downhill from there. Our luck can only last for so long now, especially the amount of times we have pushed it at this point in our journey.
"That's none of your business," Bard said darkly.
"Wrong," the creepy man declared. "It's the Master's business, which makes it my business,"
"Oh come one, Alfrid, have a heart!" Bard urged. "People need to eat!"
"These fish are illegal," Alfrid announced smugly.
I'd really like to show him what I'd do to my barrel off fish. There was a splash as the fish was tossed over the edge. Oh god, oh sweet god help us.
"Empty the barrels over the side," Alfrid commanded.
More soldiers appeared in my line of vision as they move to tip us into the filthy water below.
"You heard him," what appeared to be the head soldier. "Into the canal, come on. Get a move on,"
This is it, the moment of discovery. I wonder how Alfrid would react to a bunch of dwarves, a hobbit and a human in the barrels. I could hear fish slowly splash into the water.
"Folk in this town are struggling," Bard protested. "Times are hard. Food is scarce,"
"That's not my problem," Alfrid sniffed.
I'll make it your problem you stuck up bastard, I thought fiercely.
"And when the people hear the Master is dumping fish back in the lake, when the rioting starts, will it be your problem then?"
I like Bard. There was an intense stare off between Bard and Alfrid. I could see the clogs turning in Alfrid's head. He eventually raised his hand.
"Stop," he commanded.
The soldiers stopped tipping the fish into the barrels and disappeared into the nearby buildings.
"Ever the people's champion, eh Bard?" Alfrid taunted. "Protector of the common folk? You might have their favour now, bargeman, but it won't last,"
Alfrid turned and stalked away. I let out a sigh of relief and regretted it as the stench off fish overwhelmed me.
"Raise the gate!" the gatekeeper cried.
A large gate opened and Bard began to move the barge through, into the town. He passed Alfrid who turned to yell at him.
"The Master has his eye on you; you'd do well to remember," he threatened. "We know where you live,"
"It's a small town, Alfrid; everyone knows where everyone lives," Bard called back calmly.
Bard guided his barge through the narrow and crowded canals. It sort of reminded me of a wooden version of Venice. The thought of a place back home brought back painful and unwanted feelings. I pushed the thoughts away and focused on what was going on around me. After about ten minutes, Bard finally pulled his barge up to the docks. There was a heavy thud and the disgruntled grumble of a dwarf. Several thuds followed before my barrel was knocked over. I slid out of the barrel with a cry of surprise. I clambered out the fish and began wiping off the slim. Surprisingly my clothes were clean as a daisy, and the smelt fresh too. The same thing couldn't be said for my exposed skin and hair. I felt disgusting. Bard approached Dwalin's barrel just as Dwalin's head appeared through the fish.
"Get your hands off me," Dwalin snarled.
The others struggled out of their barrels, looking as greasy and slimy as I felt. The doc keeper looked at us in shock. Bard approached him and slipped him a coin.
"You didn't see them, they were never here," Bard said quietly. "The fish you can have for nothing,"
Bard began leading us away from the docks. "Follow me,"
We hurried through the town, keeping to the shadows and creeping under people's houses. A young boy came running up to us. He looked remarkably like Bard. I guessed it was his son.
"Da!" the boy called. "Our house, it's being watched,"
The boy looked concerned. Bard turned to Thorin and they began to hatch a plan quietly. Thorin just scowled and seemed to disagree with everything Bard said. After a few moments, Thorin reluctantly agreed.
"Girl, come with us," Bard said, turning and leaving with his son.
I glanced at Thorin who nodded, looking unhappy about this arrangement.