As Bilbo had guesstimated, it took about two hours before they could start seeing the trees thinning out. Light began filtering through as well, the air sweeter with each step. The dwarves slowly came to from the haze they were under the closer to the edge they got until sunshine at last caressed them.
"How did we get here?" Balin scratched his beard in confusion.
"We can be regaled later. Let's get far away from this forest."
"I couldn't agree more, Dwalin."
They hurried away from Mirkwood and found their way to the banks of the river that lead up to Laketown and the Lonely Mountain.
"Let's rest here and hear what happened." Thorin announced and they sat down to split up their rations.
"Emily kept us on the path and you all together. She's amazing." Bilbo began. "I really thought for a moment we would die when those spiders were chasing us, then she pulls out her sword and even with my eyes closed, I could see that the light was blinding."
"I was struggling to think of how to help us get out of the situation, then I heard my foster grandmother Lady Galadriel's voice and it calmed me down enough to gather my wits." She replied humbly. "Orcrist was once Echthellion's and it defeated those from darker depths than most of us now can imagine existed, for it had been forged by the High Elves of Gondolin and imbued with power it's wielder could call upon."
"So it doesn't matter if you aren't an elf?"
"Race doesn't define you, Bilbo Baggins. The only limitations we have are the ones we set for ourselves."
"What an inspiring speech, Emily of the Dúnedain."
"Hello, Bard of Laketown."
"You know this man?"
"Well enough. Bard, we need safe passage to Laketown and the Lonely Mountain."
Bard pursed his lips. "I am afraid that whatever you did in the Greenwood back there made King Thranduil put a reward out for the capture of people matching your group's description. The Master of Laketown would sooner turn you over than risk losing trade. You would have to be smuggled in and out of Laketown."
"We would be willing to pay you double your usual rate for that, laddie." Balin offered genially. "After all, I am sure you have a family at home to provide for."
"Aye, that I do." Bard glanced at Emily, then back to Balin. "Alright, you have a deal master dwarf, but only because you have the Dúnedain with you and I trust her. Follow me."
"Why does this man sound so certain about you?" Thorin asked her softly as they walked.
"I saved his life a few times. He has a dangerous job transporting cargo to and from the woodland realm and is often waylaid by orcs."
"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that Thranduil doesn't assign guards."
"I doubt he sees a point. At any rate, Bard is skilled with bow and sword and we can trust him." Emily glanced at the man as he helped the others and their gear loaded into the secret compartment in his boat. "He can get us to the Lonely Mountain."
Thorin nodded. "I hope so. Dúrin's Day is nearly here and if we cannot make it to where the words spoke of that Lord Elrond read to us from the map, then we would have to wait another year and we do not have that kind of time with the signs given."
"Alright you two love birds, in you go." Bard teased when he saw them close together talking.
Emily felt her cheeks color as Thorin took her hand in his and they walked below to where the others were, noticing Thorin hadn't protested any more than she had that their relationship wasn't romantic.
"Stay still and not a peep." Bard warned them before shutting his secret hatch. He rearranged the empty barrels from Mirkwood to look as if nothing was out of the ordinary. He shoved off when finished and rowed to Laketown like it was any other day, singing softly to pass the time.
"Good evening, Bard." The man at the passage in greeted when they arrived.
"Good evening, Percy."
"Got anything to declare?"
"You mean without stating the obvious?"
Percy chuckled. "Aye, we're all cold and tired. Your papers are in order, you may be on your way home."
"Hang on a second. You were supposed to be back hours ago, Bard."
"I had to avoid orc hunters, Alfred. Besides, I am back before sundown which is the Master's curfew."
"Always skirting by on the rules, Bard. One day you're going to get into a lot of trouble."
"I am certain the Master would love nothing more." Bard replied calmly as Percy opened the gate. "Good night, gentlemen." He rowed passed them into town and docked at a port for the barrels to be unloaded.
"Da!" A boy ran up to him.
"What is it, Bain?"
"Sigrid and Tilda thought you might want to know our house is being watched again."
Bard nodded. "It's okay, son. I had a feeling it would be after running into Alfred at the front gate. I will be home later, understand?"
"Yes, Da." The boy left reluctantly.
Bard tapped his foot on the floor boards three times and the dwarves looked at Emily questioningly.
She held up three fingers and mouthed: "Hours." She had assumed he would wait till after dark to smuggle them out, but his subtle signal confirmed it.
"Alright, we're all unloaded here, Bard."
"Thanks, Tom." He shoved off and rowed down the waterways to his house. He tied up his boat skillfully and went inside. Exactly at three hours, he snuck them out of the hold and into his home. "Sorry, you all must be starving."
"It's alright, laddie. Tell me, how long has the town been like this?" Balin asked as they were seated at the table.
"Since the Master came into power some years ago. Even before, we were struggling. Ever since Dale burned to the ground, commerce for our people hasn't been what it used to." Bard divided out food between everyone. "I ferry things back and forth to Mirkwood for business and smuggle items in to help out those who have nothing."
"Not much different from when we saw each other last then, except the Master seems to have it out for you now more than ever before."
"Aye, that's the truth."
"Too bad there isn't another settlement of Men for many leagues, otherwise I would suggest considering relocating." Thorin mused softly.
"Even if we lived closer, I couldn't bear to leave. These people are as good as family, apart from the Master and Alfred his scheming assistant."