Still alive. I wrote this listening to Patty Gurdy, One by One

Ch 23 Freedom is a Cage

Bard stared at the troupe standing before him. Bewilderment couldn't begin to describe what he was feeling. In his makeshift house were three dwarves, an Elf, a wizard, and a young lady whose origin he could only guess. "Come in?"

"Many thanks, Sir, the weather is still holding onto winter." Gandalf ducked through the doorway, leaving the rest to follow him inside.

Making sure the door was secure, Bard went back to eying the people gathered in the common area. His children were away, doing whatever with the people of Laketown, as he had been doing not long prior to the surprise visit. He had only returned to see if any of his children had come back and checked on the condition of the structure. "What can I do for you?"

Feet shuffled as a few of them looked between each other, seemingly trying to elect a person to speak. Balin, the same dwarf who had talked Bard into giving them a ride on his boat, sighed. "We would like to ask a favour of you."

Bard frowned. "I'm not sure what position I am to help anyone with anything."

"It isn't about money or of that nature, in fact, we would help you."

Dark eyes stared down the old dwarf.

Balin cleared his throat, "There is something amiss with our cousin, Dain. He is acting much like Thorin had been before he joined the battle and while we have taken care of anything that might turn his personality sideways, he appears to be getting worse."

A frown pulled at Bards face as his brow furrowed. "I'm not sure where I come in on your problem."

"The only thing left that could cause this change, due to some…strange circumstances is Ildri." Balin gestured to the pale redhead. "We were wondering, hoping, that she could stay in Dale for a short time. Let us try and deal with Dain."

"I could just rid us of him, I doubt many would care," Ildri muttered, crossing her arms.

Tauriel cast a glance between her two soul halves. Ildri seemed particularly annoyed today, worsening from when they told her and Gandalf of the plan to arrive in Dale. Kili was rubbing his neck, torn emotions showing on his face.

"I'm going to need some more details if there is a chance my family will be in danger." Bard kept an eye on the smaller redhead.

"You will not be in danger, you have my word." Gandalf insisted.

"Your word means nothing to me, I mean no great offense, but I don't know you."

A snort of laughter came from more than one person in the visiting party.

"He's more trustworthy than most, old man." Ildri stepped forwards and pulled back a sleeve. "I absorbed the Arkenstone."

Bard took a step closer, eyes narrowing at the lines decorating the pale skin. He jerked when they started to glow blue and he looked up to see her eyes had changed colors too. The same rainbow colors that the Arkenstone had been swirled in her eyes, entrancing Bard.

"How?"

"We would all like to know that answer." Ildri took her hand back and shook her arm, letting the sleeve back down.

Bard backed up and rubbed his beard in thought, taking in the state of his visitors. "This is affecting Dain greatly and you think the solution is to hide her. Here. Why not somewhere further away? Perhaps with the Elves?"

"No!" All eyes turned to Kili at the outburst. "She stays nearby, if not in Erebor then here. Please, Bard, will you let her stay with you?"

The bowman looked down at the Dwarf King who was all but begging him. "You swear you won't harm anyone in Dale?" He asked this of Ildri.

She thinned her lips before answering after Gandalf cleared his throat. "You have nothing to worry about from me."

"Of course, I would be stopping by regularly." Gandalf inserted, "No harm will come to you or your people."

"Our accommodations aren't on the scale of what you're used to, I'm afraid."

Ildri cast an eye over the fixed-up home, "Believe me, I've lived and slept in much worse conditions. The mountain is a new experience."

Tauriel and Kili looked at her curiously, this wasn't something Ildri had shared before. Bard nodded in acknowledgment, taking a step back and gesturing further into the home.

"Then I will show you where you will be staying."

When Kili made to step forward, he was stopped by Balin. "We best be getting back, Your Majesty."

His crestfallen expression was loud and clear, he didn't want to leave her here. It was literally like leaving a piece of him behind. "I'll be back," Kili swore, no matter what it would take.

Ildri just nodded and walked away, following Bard out of the entry landing and down a hallway. No one spoke for a minute.

"I'll be sure to check on her often," Gandalf tried to reassure the dark-haired dwarf.

Kili ignored him and spun on his heel, throwing the door open and descending the steps quickly. His heart was in pain. Why were they in this predicament? If her separation from Erebor did nothing to Dain, he might do as Ildri suggested and get rid of his cousin. Everyone jumped back on their respective horse or pony and rode solemnly back to the mountain. No one spoke a word and upon arriving at Erebor, Kili immediately went to his study with Balin, leaving everyone else behind. Tauriel wandered off in the opposite direction after watching him ascend the stairs.


Dinner was an interesting affair at Bard's home. The presence of a new person had the children curious and on edge, more staring than talking over their plates at dinner. Bard ended up excusing them when his guest didn't touch her food, gaining reproachful looks from his children. He stared pointedly at them until they left the room, casting backward glances over their shoulders.

"Are you not hungry?"

Ildri shrugged, "I don't need to eat much. Save your food, I can find my own."

He held back a sigh and lean onto the shoulder of his chair, putting his chin in his hand. "You are a guest in my home, I would rather you let me treat you as such."

"I'm not a guest, but a prisoner."

The whispered words seemed to echo around them. A frown settled on Bard's face, "You are free to leave anytime, I'm not holding you here."

"I'm sure you couldn't if I tried to leave, however it isn't you stopping me."

"I don't understand."

Ildri stood, "Come. Let's see if I'm right." She left the room and walked to the front door.

He quickly followed her and watched her open the doors, letting in the chill night air. She lifted a hand, caressing the air in front of her at the entrance, like she was looking for something.

"Don't be shocked." She said this right before throwing herself at the open entrance.

Bard lurched forward at the sudden movement and then back as she bounced back, sprawled out on her back. He dropped next to her, lifting the young woman up by the shoulders and helping her sit. "What was that? It looked like you slammed into an invisible wall!"

"In short, yes. Gandalf erected a border so I can't leave here, just like my room in Erebor." Her eyes were dead, "I am nothing but a tool."

He could hear the pain in her voice. While he knew nothing of her or their affairs, it wasn't right to take away someone's freedom. He had seen enough of it in Laketown and it wasn't going to happen in Dale, no matter if she wasn't one of the townspeople. "Let's get you to bed, we will talk in the morning."

Ildri let the Bowman help her to her feet and escort her back to the room he showed her earlier. It wasn't a terrible room, it was clean and had a bed, with a window that she could see the mountain. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she watched him set a dress next to her from the table by the door.

"I took the liberty of finding you something to sleep in since you didn't come with anything."

"Thank you."

Bard nodded at the quiet words. He left the room, gently shutting the door behind him. Back at the entry hall, Sigrid was waiting for him, the doors shut once more.

"Da, who is she?"

"A troubled young lady, you be kind to her. Along with your brother and sister." His eyes were on the door as he spoke to his daughter. "What did you hear?"

"Most of it all."

She had keen ears, his eldest daughter. "And your siblings?"

"Nothing that I know of, they were in their rooms." Sigrid bit her lip, "Will she be okay?"

With a sigh, Bard tugged at the end of his hair. "I'm not sure." He stared at the door for another moment. "My coat, please. I'll be back late." He told her after she passed his coat to him, shouldering the heavy material. He wasn't going to wait until morning to discuss this issue. The sun had already set but there was enough light from the moon and torches in the valley to guide his way.

Taking one of the few horses from the temporary stable, Bard set out to Erebor. It took no time at the quick pace of his horse. He slowed the steed down as he approached the gate, dwarves already outside waiting for him as he jumped from the blanket seat.

"I need to speak with Gandalf."


Hopefully it won't take as long to update again. Thank you to everyone still hanging on to this story.