It is just as short but I kept going so here it is.

Ch 24 No Negotiation

Bard was escorted into Erebor, horse reined outside, and brought to a visitor's room to wait for the wizard. He was honestly surprised at the hospitality of the dwarves concerning him and Gandalf. Then again, they both assisted in helping them gain back their home. He wasn't sure how much time had passed when the door opened again and the grey wizard stepped into the meeting room.

"It is late in the night for a visit, Bard. I was coming tomorrow." Gandalf took a seat with a groan, pulling out his pipe.

"Why did you imprison that young girl in my home?" Bard demanded quietly.

"She is many thousands of years old, to start, and I didn't make her a prisoner, it is for everyone's safety."

The words fell to Bard's ears calmly, but he felt any emotion except that one. "Safety? How is it safe to trap someone in a building?"

"Ildri could easily escape from Dale if she wanted, but she won't risk such a feat against me."

"I don't know what secrecy and plans you have her wrapped up in, or her companions for that matter, but I will not have a guest in my home that is a prisoner. It doesn't matter you say she isn't; it is the fact that she knows she is right now." Bard spoke over whatever Gandalf was about to say.

Releasing the smoke into the air, birds flitting around him before disappearing, Gandalf regarded the man. Kili and Tauriel had disagreed with his actions when they discovered he had done the same to their rooms. But after seeing Ildri try her hand at her magic again, they reluctantly agreed it might be a good idea. Then again, Ildri hadn't spoken her mind about it at all.

"What would you have me do, when her magic is wild right now and could destroy anything?"

Bard stared down the wizard. "When you trap a wild animal, it doesn't end well for the animal most times. If something is free to begin with, it should remain unfettered. No one deserves to be contained like this."

"This is your opinion from being with her for a few hours. But what if she were to lose control, hurt those you care about dearly?"

"I see no maliciousness in her."

"You didn't answer the question."

"Because I do know how I would react, no one possibly could." Bard sat on the edge of the table, "Even yourself."

Gandalf nodded. The man was wise, more so than he expected from his previous interactions. "What would you do if you were me?"

A dark brow rose at the question. "That is beyond my knowledge."

"Try to answer it anyway."

Bard frowned and looked to the floor. "Let her live like a normal person. If it is possible, restrict her magic. I cannot say what kind of life she has lived before this, but perhaps being around myself and others would help."

"Sadly, I cannot limit her, I can only create barriers." Gandalf stroked his beard in thought. "However, I could do a section of the town. All of Dale is impossible without losing strength in containment unless that isn't something you would mind. The possibility of her losing control is very real, should that happen, I would hate for parts of Dale to be irreparable."

"I would worry about that if and when that should happen."

The door was thrown open and Kili entered the room, startling Bard. "What is going on?" Tauriel stepped into the room after him.

Bard glanced at Gandalf, who seemed very interested in his pipe suddenly. "I have concerns about my guest."

"Is Ildri ill?" Tauriel took a step closer, worry lining her face.

"No, no, no." Bard stood straight, "Nothing's happened to her. I came here because she can't set foot outside my residence."

Kili and Tauriel turned at the same time to Gandalf. "I wasn't aware you were going to restrict her at Dale," Kili said, mouth tight from anger.

"While she has progressed a lot, something could still happen."

"Undo it."

"Now, Kili…"

"That wasn't a request. I sent her away so we could deal with whatever is going on with Dain, I won't have her in further anguish because you have trust issues."

Silence fell over the room as Kili and Gandalf held eyes.

"If you insist, I will do so tomorrow when I see her." The wizard stood, "Now if you'll excuse me."

Bard waited until he left the room to speak again. "I cannot say your decision is the best one."

"Which one?"

"To leave her with me, I still stand that there is somewhere more suited to help her."

This time it was Tauriel who spoke. "I don't believe so. From what she has told me, us, your people are what she needs. She has wandered Middle Earth for a long time without a home. While she is part of us, I don't think she knows what family is, and she should know. Please, help her where we cannot."

Bard inclined his head. "I will do what I can, but my skills are few."

"Sometimes, it is what we doubt that becomes our strength," Kili said softly. "Just treat her like anyone else, but don't touch her, she doesn't like it."

With a nod, Bard excused himself and left. Kili and Tauriel stood in the room alone now and the Elf sunk into a chair after a minute.

"Did we do the right action, sending her away?"

Kili walked over to her and caressed the ruby red braid hanging freely. "I don't know."


Morning came quickly and found Bard knocking on the door to Ildri's room. He pushed the door open at her acquiesce and saw her sitting at the window, looking towards Erebor.

"I have news." He waited until she turned to look at him. "And a question."

"Does this have to do with your late-night visit to Erebor?"

"Yes." He noted she was still in her clothes from last night. "I'm assuming you didn't sleep."

A wane smile graced her face, "Not in the slightest. Now, what did you have to tell me?"

"Gandalf is removing the barriers and I was wondering if you could come with me to check out the structures here in Dale, to see if the buildings are sturdy?"

Her ice-blue eyes met his dark brown ones. "How did you manage to convince Gandalf?"

"Anything that happens while you are here is my responsibility, and if you take out a wing of the city by some unavoidable circumstance, then I will take care of it. I don't want to see you give up on your life."

"Whatever gave you that impression."

"Phrases often give away more than people plan," Bard said lightly, thinking back to when she called herself a tool. "While it appears you have others at your side, it couldn't hurt to have more. Now, would you like to come with me today?"

Ildri stared steadfastly at the man. Somehow, he had gotten through to the older wizard in a way that Kili and Tauriel hadn't before and it gained respect for him in a whole new way. "I can't guarantee how much help I will be."

"Considering the years of life you have on me, more than you realize." Bard backed out of the doorway, "Do you need to eat?"

She paused for a moment, "A fruit or vegetable."

"I will see what Sigrid's Garden has produced. Do you have a preference?" At her shrug, Bard left her alone.

Ildri returned to her previous perusal of the Lonely Mountain. Her eyesight was better than a normal man but not on the scale of an Elf. She spotted a flash of red at the ramparts and knew it was Tauriel, by herself or not was the question. Ildri wondered if she could see her at the window in Dale. The sun rose steadily up the horizon and melted the frost covering the ground while she watched Erebor. She looked away when there was a knock at her door again. A teenage girl poked her head in and smiled.

"I have a basket of food for you to choose from," the door opened further, and a medium-sized basket showed itself. "I didn't want to pick something you wouldn't like."

Ildri stood and opened the door fully, taking the basket from the girl. "Your family is very kind to a person they don't know."

"My name is Sigrid," She gave a small smile. "You don't seem like a bad person, anyways."

That made her smile as well and Sigrid set the food on the bed, inspecting the contents. "How were you able to grow plants in the winter?"

"King Thranduil lent a hand with his magic, helped grow all kinds of food."

That made Ildri's eyebrow shoot up, the pompous Elf must respect the bowman greatly to give such a gift. "That was…kind of him."

"Life-saving. I was wondering," Sigrid paused and looked at the clothes Ildri wore. "Would you like a change of clothes?"

She shook her head, "No, I prefer my own. I have a couple more sets at Erebor, I just didn't think to bring them in case your father didn't agree for me to stay." Choosing an apple and bundle of grapes, Ildri turned back to the girl, "Now where is your father? He asked me to help him today."

"Oh! I forgot, there is someone here to see you."

"Is it an old man who looks like he has too much time on his hands?"

A grin pulled at Sigrid's lips, "I couldn't say, haven't met many of those kinds."

"Remember his look well, it's in the eyes." Ildri muttered as she tucked the apple away. "Let's get this over with, hopefully, he'll leave us alone."


There is no promise I will keep on this regularly, if the muses continue, I shall post. Please leave reviews to let me know what you all thought or want to see happen.