Hilda listened as Brand spoke. The meeting held in a now very familiar room. They were discussing the move of some of the people staying in Erebor back into Dale now that some of the apartments had been made livable again. He had a way of making these meetings feel like just a discussion between friends, though what he was saying was quite important, it was just the way Brand was. It was his aura that made one feel welcomed and at home.

"Now that Hilda has the school almost ready for more students and the apartments are ready I need to move some people back. Erebor has been so kind to us," He nodded to Gimli. "but we don't want to stay any longer than needed. Besides we need more carpenters and stone masons. We need more hands working on feeding everyone daily, doing laundry and just life in general for those working now. We also need more people to be able to teach the people of tent city about cooking with foods they are not familiar with. We need more hands making clothing for everyone so none freeze this winter."

"We will need to add a few more officers to the ranks of the law keepers as well. The more that come the more vigilant we must be. We must keep everyone safe as well as make them feel safe." Haldir suggested.

"See to that then Haldir, I agree with you." Brand nodded and looked around the room.

"With more children coming and the children of tent town starting class I need more teachers. I have a list of names of those I feel would do good in that job. I chose as many that have no families as possible to try and keep most of the apartments open. With the work being done on the north wing of the palace can we not set up a dorm of some kind to house them?" Hilda spoke up at the first chance she had. Kal grinned behind her veils and looked over her shoulder at Hilda and nodded.

"If you can make the accommodations comfortable I do not see why not." Edgar adjusted his new glassed on his nose. "I can spare a few more people to help with the north wing."

"That would be wonderful, thank you Edgar." Hilda smiled and from the corner of her eye she saw Bertha beaming.

A few minor points were addressed during the daily meeting before it was adjourned. Hilda and Bertha were hurrying off to get the classroom ready for more children and the news of more playmates was exciting to what she was calling her small ones. All wore smiles and the excitement showed in their eyes when she told them the news. All but Claressa. Her reaction was noted by both Hilda and Bertha.

The children hurried off to finish up their duties. Burt was finishing up painting the walls. A job the younger ones weren't allowed to do after they had painted pictures over the fresh painted walls Burt had just finished. They innocently explained they just wanted to room to be happy.

Claressa was painting the frames that had been made for the slate boards the children would be using to work on. She sat alone and sad looking at a table. Hilda wasn't sure what to do for her or what the real problem was. Harvelle soon joined her in watching Claressa.

"Oh, hello." Hilda greeted the healer.

"Why does she look so down?" Harvelle asked.

"She does not seem excited about the news of the other children joining classes."

"Oh, I see. I would chance to guess that had something to do with her current status." Harvelle said softly. "You should talk to her Hilda, I am sure she is worried about how she will be treated by these new children. Older children can be cruel."

Hilda sighed and nodded. "I didn't even consider that. She might not want to attend classes when she is further along." Pebbles hungry protests pulled her from those thoughts. "I will get this." Harvelle smiles, "Spending time with babies is one of my favorite things." She hurried towards the crib and scooped up a now giggling Pebble and taking her off for some food.

Hilda just didn't know how to approach this. She spun around to go see about the work on the north wing and ended up right in Callon's chest. "Oh My!" She stepped back and laughed. "You elves are so quiet it's almost creepy sometimes."

Callon blushed and looked down. "I am sorry Hilda. I was just heading to the north wing Haldir has a job for Borgil and I though Borgil has not caught up yet." Callon looked in to the classroom and smiled. He was smiling at Claressa who was looking over her shoulder but he spoke about the slate wall. "I can't believe it stayed together as well as it did. I was sure we were messing it up somehow."

Hilda hooked her arm with his and started down the hall. "I am going to the north wing too shall we go together?" Callon nodded and they disappeared from the doorway. Claressa simply turned back around and went back to her work.

The Hunter stood looking out over the darkened waters of the river. The clouds blocking what little light would come from the moon and stars. It had rained most of the day and the night threatened to bring more. I thick misty fog began to roll in. Bright lanterns were lit on various high points on the barge. Visibility began to disappear. He glanced down to the sleeping Patsy and nudged him with his boot.

"What is it?" Patsy grumbled.

"You need to be awake, Pack up As well. We will be leaving soon. This fog is thick and we are nearing the big barge. We will be transferring with the passengers."

Moravar didn't need his eyes to see through this fog. He could hear through it. He knew there was another barge to their right, no it was a boat. Though it had no signal light. Patsy made quick work of their camp. There was not much to pack. He began to see the signal lights of the big barge. He listened to the sounds of the oars on the water stop and now the barge was guided with large poles at the corners the bargemen yelling commands to each other.

Moravar focused his hearing on the big barge. Suddenly he stood tall and gasped. He looked to Patsy, "See to Undómë." Was all he said and he took off at a full run down to the front of the barge. Patsy looked to his back and watched him disappear into the fog.

The second the front of the barge came along side the bigger one He ran past the bargemen lining up to throw the ropes so they could tie off, with a mighty leap he cleared the distance between the barges. Making the men that witnessed it gasp and watch and then he was gone into the fog.

Selwyn was reading from the comfort of the bed. She was still a bit sore from her ordeal with Buster. Julian sat at the table writing in his book. Something made his ear twitch and he put his quill in it's holder and closed his book. He reached up and put the lamp light out which made Selwyn look up confused. "why did you.." The question was cut off by Julian jerking her up suddenly and dragging her towards the plain wardrobe in the corner. " I need you to be very quiet darling." He said as she struggled, "You need to stay in here," He pushed her inside the wardrobe. She looked to him wide eyed as she realized there was danger. "No matter what you hear do not open these doors." He warned and then shut her in the darkness.

He pulled his sword slowly and quietly and moved without a sound to the shadows by the door. He could hear them outside the door. Heavy breathers they were. Telling him these were men. "anim i cirith angren." he whispered to his sword before he closed his eyes and listened. The door shattered as they burst through it. The first to come through met his end when his head fell from his shoulders and tumbled on the floor. The others rushed through and where met with far more serious resistance than they had thought. The sound of steal meeting steal and the crushing sound of wooden furniture being demolished was making her shake and cower in the corner. She had no idea how many there where, who he was fighting but it sounded vicious.

Moravar ran down the stair case into the hall. Absolute chaos was erupting towards the end of it. Humans coward where they could, to stay out of the way. The hallway created a bottle neck into the room and Moravar was now coming up on those at the rear of it. They turned to engage him but could only fight one on one. He began to work his way through them. Their bodies would fall and he would have to step on them to make any leeway. He pulled his dirk as his sword became nearly useless in such close quarters.

He could hear the fighting within and the distinct sound of Julian's grunts and growls. Climbing over the bodies as Moravar comes to the last few combatants. His face streaked with their blood. The red stained his hands and clothing. He turned into the door way and there surrounded by the bodies of men inside was Julian. He looked at Moravar and barked, "What took you so damn long."

Moravar charged at Julian and he was forced to defend. Their swords crossed and Moravar's momentum pushed Julian into the wall. "Where is she?" He hissed lowly. Julian's bewildered gaze shifted just slightly then Moravar felt the cold steal against his neck. "I am right here." Moravar's eye's shifted and he could see the sword at his throat and the slender arm that held it.

"Selwyn?" He asked.

"Uh huh, now lower your blade very slowly." She ordered and he complied.

"I believe I told you to stay in the wardrobe darling." Julian smiled.

"Darling?" Moravar now looked at Julian wide eyed.

Bargemen began to show up in the hall. The captain was cursing loudly and Selwyn lowered the sword. Julian inhaled deeply and sighed. "I do believe we are about to be told to leave." He said lowly.

They sat in the brig, the three of them along with their luggage. "I do hope you have coin Moravar," Julian said a bit angrily. "I just spent everything I had simply keeping them from throwing us overboard."

Moravar rolled his eyes. "What did you mean by 'what took me so long?' where you expecting me?"

"I knew you were following me after we stole the blue stone. The night we acquired her I was busy leaving marks for you to follow. I need you." Julian spoke softly.

"You need me? Oh I think as soon as we get off this barge I am going to kick your ass 50 different ways then I am taking her home."

Selwyn blinked. "Your the one that helped my grandfather? Is he really ok?"

"Yes the old man is ok. He is with Calvin."

"well that is a relief. Calvin will take very good care of him." she said and looked down.

"See I told you darling." Julian started but Moravar cut him off. "Stop calling her that."

"He can call me darling if he wants and I am not going back yet. I am going to help Julian." She said firmly.

Now Moravar glared at Julian and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. "What enchantment have you used on her?" He snarled deathly low.

"None I swear." He said and held up his hands. "She had agreed to help me. She wants the adventure."

"You're sick Julian. I know what your plan is and it's folly." Moravar retorted.

Julian slapped Moravar's hand away. "No it's not."

"Psst, hey." Moravar looked to the corner where the bars met the wood. Patsy was there waving his hand. "I have but a moment. I bribed the guard. I am waiting on deck with Undómë, Hello Selwyn it is good to see you well." Patsy was smiling ear to ear.

"Fred?" She blinked and leaned forward to see better.

"Yes I mean no, call me Patsy." He shook his head then at himself. "Don't ask. We will talk later." He then disappeared as the guard ushered him off.

3 very large very angry Bargemen watched as they stepped off the barge and onto the dock. Patsy following with the stallion. Now the five of them stood on the main row of the port. They were not even sure which port it was. Moravar looked around for something familiar. "I am not seeing anything I know." He muttered and they aimlessly turned left.

Patsy with a keen eye spotted a very small low sign on a rather inconspicuous door. "Port Stanmere bargeman guild. I think this is Port Stanmere."

Moravar suddenly looked relieved though Julian looked disgusted by the news. "Great we are just south of Minas Tirith. We go to Osgiliath and get transport north there. Problem is I am short on coin myself. I can get us a place for tonight but we need money."

"You could always dance Moravar. I could too but do we want to make this money like that? Hum," Julian just grinned then. "I am game are you?"

Moravar stopped mid-step and turned to eye Julian hard. Both elves were of equal height and build so neither seemed to back down. The Moravar sighed and stepped back. "It would be the quickest way. The amount would be high. There isn't much between here and Minas Tirith. We would be in better shape to just go to Osgiliath with enough money to pay for transport and hope a barge will take us on with our current reputations."

Selwyn and Patsy just looked at each other then to the elves. "Excuse me," It was Selwyn that cleared her throat gently before she spoke further. "What do you mean dance?"

Patsy figured it out first and choked on his own saliva before he coughed. He hand pressing to his lips to hide the goofy smile that had curled the corners of his mouth up high. He held his breath to keep from laughing. Selwyn looked at him as he turned away. "Ah what is it Patsy?" She elbowed him in the ribs as he doubled over a bit he then died laughing.

"Oh my sweet Selwyn," He stood up and looked at her with laughter on his lips. His hands on her shoulders as he stooped down a bit so he could look her in the eye. "You are about to be scandalized."

Now both Moravar and Julian scowled at him.

Claressa was getting ready for bed. Gwen was fast asleep in her bed Claressa was awake and sitting at the desk working on number problems from school. Hilda peeked in from the hall to see Claressa in a single candles light. Chalk in her hand she was working through problems on her slate. Hilda reached onto the hall table and took a candle from it and walked into the room. "You will go blind working by just one candles light." She smiled and lit it using the other candle and she placed it on the desk.

"I am used to it Hilda, at night in the city, after everyone left it was very dark. We scavenged things from the homes and candles were taken. We just couldn't light a lot of them or we would be seen. so I would read to the children using one candle." Her voice very soft because she did not want to wake Gwen.

"You did a very good job taking care of everyone. I want you to know that. You have been their mother. Now you are really going to be a mother. How do you feel about that?" Hilda asked and lowered down to sit on the bed.

Claressa looked off and sighed so deeply her shoulders sank. "I am terrified," she laughed a bit. " but on the other hand I have you and Haldir. I have Burt and a sense of family now. I am not alone and that's comforting. Even Ro-laure makes me feel safe about giving birth. I know he wont let anything bad happen. Still I am rather scared."

"You are far more mature than you should be." Hilda reached out and took her hand into hers and held it. "I noticed the news of the other children joining classes did not make you as happy as it did the others."

"Do I have to attended classes when I am big? I really don't want to. I will do my work from here. I swear it, I just do not want to be around people my age then." Claressa looked into Hilda's eyes and Hilda saw the fear in them. "No you do not have to go then." Claressa was so relieved she threw her arms around Hilda and hugged her tightly.

Hilda walked out of the room and found Haldir waiting for her in the hallway. She hooked her arm with his and they walked slowly towards their room. Her head on his shoulder she whispered. "How much of that did you hear?" Haldir smiled and whispered as well. "All of it. You are becoming a rather good mother yourself."

Hilda blushed and smacked him on the back gently. Her arm no longer in his. "I am even more clueless than Claressa." She admitted. "How is Burt?"

"I have tried to speak with him." He paused and opened the door for her and they entered their room and He closed the door. "I do not think anything I say right now will mean much. He will come to me when he is ready. How am I doing as a father?"

She laughed. "Terrible, simply awful. Dreadful."

Haldir laughed and proceeded to pounce her.

Muta was walking back to the tent. He stumbled a bit and laughed at himself. He was a bit tipsy. When he looked to the tent flap there was something wrong with it. He pushed past it to grab a lantern from inside. He went back out and looked towards the flap and lifted the lantern. His eyes went wide and he gasped.

Haldir found himself roused from his sleep and urged to go to tent town. He met several law keepers as he entered the town and was taken right to Kal and Muta's tent. He stopped and one of the others lifted a lantern and his eyes narrowed. It was written in red paint across the dark tent flap. 'Traitor Whore' it read. He grumbled and pushed his way inside. Kal was sitting beside a low table in her hands was a cup of tea. A distraught Muta looked to him and held out a cup of tea. "I think you may need this." He said softly and Haldir took the tea with gratitude.

He lowered down on the cushions across from her and took a drink. "I don't think this message was for Muta."

"You have that right, I am a virgin." Muta sassed.

Kal almost choked on her tea. "Muta! I know you're upset but please."

"Strong-Nor warned me about this. He said that the closer I became with Brand that the others on the council would start to see me as no longer able to represent my people because I would be beholding to my man then. I did not think they would see me as being traitorous as well." She said bitterly.

"I think perhaps you should come to the palace with me. If this is their belief then you may no longer be safe here." Haldir suggested calmly.

Kal leveled her gaze on him and shook her head. "I am not leaving tent town Haldir. They will take that weakness and a sign they were right."

"I don't know Kal maybe you should. You do know some come from fanatical tribes." Muta said with worry.

"Absolutely not Muta." She slammed her tea cup on the table.

The sun was starting to peek over the horizon as Haldir walked back towards Dale. He was dreading giving this news to Brand this early in the morning. "Good morn Haldir." Bertha greeted him as she walked towards him from the kitchen. "Good morn Bertha." He mumbled out and kept walking as she turned to go set the table for the King's breakfast.

He stopped outside Brands door and sighed as he hesitated to knock. Finally his knuckles met the hard wood with a tap followed by another. No response, so her opened the door just a bit and looked in Brand was snoring. He sighed as he entered and closed then door then went and opened the curtains. Light spilled into the room and Brand grumbled. "Close the curtains Bertha."

"I'm not Bertha."

"Haldir?"

"Yes."

"Oh shit what happened?" Brand was suddenly sitting straight up.

Haldir sat at the table with Brand. They both had breakfast before them. "She was talking about this not long ago. I hate to see this happening. It is not fair to her."

"I put extra men around her tent, she even fought me on that." Haldir sighed.

"I will go talk to her after breakfast and see if I can convince her to come here. Though I doubt I will have much luck either."

After his shared breakfast she and Haldir began to walk together to Tent Town. Brands guard now joined and surrounded them as they walked. The need for the security was warranted this time. When they reach Kal and Muta's tent, a canvas maker was already working on changing the flap.

Those who had gathered to watch them take down the flap that bore the slur in red watched the King and his guards walking towards them. "What will you do my Lord?" He heard called from the crowd. "Kal does not deserve this." He heard a woman call out. He looked to the faces he passed and saw the worry in the eye's of his new people.

He stopped to speak with the canvas maker. He offered to pay for the work but he would not take it. "I will change the flap as many times as I need to for free my Lord. I owe her that. I would not be here today if not for her."

Brand nodded and thanked him. Brand then entered the tent along with Haldir. When she saw him she threw her hands in the air and rolled her eyes. "Well Haldir, You ran to the King because I refused your ridiculous offer?" She shook her head and looked away.

"The offer was not Ridiculous." Brand looked at her hard for a few moments then sighed and his expression softened.

"Kal, from what everyone outside just told me, they back you and love you. If you come to the palace for your safety they will not hold it against you." He pleads with her. "Pack your things and come with me."

"You men just don't get it. I am not a shrieking violet. I am a warrior in my own right. I am not leaving my home or my people. Post as many guards around me as you wish. I am staying right here." She was determined and trying to reason with her was hopeless.

He began to grind his teeth together as his lips pursed tightly together. He was becoming frustrated and angry. He considered just throwing her over his shoulder and walking off with her screaming and kicking. He then considered having her arrested. He could have anyone arrested whenever he choose that was a perk of being a king. She would be safer in one of his cells than she was here.

Ultimately he chose a compromise. "You will have guards outside and you will have one inside. I will make sure whoever it is, is female. There are a few that serve under Haldir. You will not go anywhere without her or the guards outside. Do not test these conditions Kal." The look in his eye said he was serious and her unwavering resolve did not bend. She had said post as many as he liked.

Brand left the tent and walked back towards Dale. Haldir had remained silent the whole time now suddenly spoke. "She called me out for going to you. Like I am a farmer that has never seen battle."

Brand who had been tense the whole walk suddenly began to fight back laughter. "Yes she did didn't she. I am guessing it stung a bit."

"I do not understand human females and this ability to just hit that nerve." He frowned.

"It is one of their gifts. One you try to avoid and trust me you do not want to go into the argument you will have if you call them out. Trust me I was married once. I loved that woman but her temper was quick." Brand ended with a small laugh.

Haldir went silent again and just let this new information sink in.