Dearest Readers,

I hope you enjoy this long chapter, it was a lot of fun to write, of course. And for those of you who wish I would have written more at the end... let me know, maybe I'll go ahead and add some of the scenes that were too raunchy for this first cut ;)

XOXO Ally Layne.

Into That Good Night

Chapter 24 - The Town on a Lake

I immediately found myself walking next to Varis, who was on one side of Kili while Fili was on the other, supporting him as they walked. "I'm sure Goldilocks would be willing to carry you, Kili," I jokingly told the young dwarf.

Varis didn't react to my joke, which spoke volumes at just how pissed off she was at the dwarrow she was helping.

"I do not know if he would be so inclined," Bilbo spoke from my other side.

I nearly jumped at how silently he had snuck up on me. "Dafuq, Bilbs! Why is it that you always scare the living cripes out of me whenever you do that?"

He grinned up at me. "Perhaps you ought to check your ears."

Now this made Varis laugh, as well as many members of the Company. Thorin even spared a few chuckles, and he was in his serious leader mode as he led us as far from the carnage as possible.

Bilbo smiled over at Varis, but his features waned once he caught sight of her arm. "Miss Varis, what happened to your arm?"

Varis looked down at the arm that was not currently wrapped around Kili. "Oh, it looks like an Orc just gave me a scratch."

Fili looked around his brother to try and spot where Bilbo had pointed out. "Are you hurt, Varis?"

Kili now was trying to look around her body as well to see the "scratch." "You didn't say anything," he scolded her.

She glared at the dark-haired dwarf. "No, I did not, considering you were just shot in the leg, Master Dwarf."

Both Fili and Kili winced at the venom in her voice.

No, she was not pleased.

"I will have someone check on it as soon as we stop next," she spoke, before turning to give Bilbo a wry grin. "Does that settle your worries, Bilbo?"

The hobbit nodded graciously. Although, his eyes were looking over at Kili and Fili in slight disdain. "Of course, Miss Varis. Let me know if you need anything before then, as I would try to be of service to any friend of mine."

It did not go unnoticed by me or anyone close to us that Bilbo carefully left Kili out of the conversation, nor did he give the dwarf any offer of assistance.

It appears that Varis and I are not the only ones that are upset with his latest actions.

I patted Bilbo on the shoulder as we continued our trek, and mouthed my thanks if only to keep Varis from trying to chew my head off.

He gave me a nod with a knowing grin, and we moved on.

It was nearly an hour downstream when we finally stopped.

Elrohir moved over to unravel the wrappings of Kili's leg, and Fili watched with annoyance (mostly toward his own brother) as the elf investigated the wound.

Elladan had gone over to Varis and made her sit down as he inspected her "scratch" which I knew wasn't really a scratch at all and instead was a gaping wound.

"You should have said something sooner, mellon nin," Arwen admonished from where she was peering over her brother's shoulder. "This could have caused you to bleed out, had Master Kili not been putting weight on your arm."

Varis rolled her eyes. "I am fine."

Oin bustled over to their side and looked closely at the minding that Elladan was doing. "Aye, the elf is right, lassie. This wound is too deep to be safe for ya."

Fili turned his head to look at Varis in a different kind of annoyance. "You said it was just a scratch."

She grimaced. "Okay, maybe it is slightly more-"

"Try a lot more," Elladan cut her off. "This will need many stitches."

"We don't have time," Arwen spoke, looking over to where Thorin was watching Kili get looked over with a scowl, and turned back to face her brother. "We will have to place a wrapping around this and hope that sustains her until Lake Town."

Closing my eyes, I finally felt my body slowly fall from the high that I had just experienced from the fight. I was seriously lacking the energy that I had during the small skirmish, and realized just how strongly I used my powers- especially considering how little use they've gotten lately, I was pretty close to a burnout.

I felt a familiar hand trail down my arm, before grabbing me and pulling me back against a solid chest. I let myself lean into his arms, and let out a long sigh.

"Are you okay, Nemir?"

I slowly blinked my eyes open, and looked up at Glorfindel. "Just tired, meleth."

His answering chuckle thrummed against my back, making me snuggle up against him even more. "I would be surprised if you were not, as you put on quite the display of power against Azog's forces."

I nodded slowly. "It felt… stronger, too. I guess that makes me weaker afterward."

His hands tightened in their grip. "I have you, do not worry."

I pat his hands contentedly. "Thanks, Goldilocks."

Aldarion's scarred face came into view. "Well, well, well, look at the tired Princess, now."

I rolled my eyes. "When Alma's not around you're more insufferable than ever."

His eyes filled with worry. "I suppose so."

"They're fine, I know it," I told him, reaching out and placing my hand on his shoulder. "Geoffry will make sure of it."

He let out a laugh. "I know him well enough, Persie. Of course, he will." Aldarion nodded to himself. "But that does not take away my worry."

"Alma is lucky to have-"

Ori let out a squeal just as an arrow sliced through the air, hitting a branch Dwalin grabbed to go on the offensive against the man wielding the bow.

He immediately shot the knife that Kili went to throw right out of the dwarf's hands, shocking everyone to a quick and sudden silence.

"Do it again," the man spoke, "and you're dead."

He had dark hair that fell slightly past his shoulders, a long, tan coat that looked like it had seen better days, and furry boots that looked as though they had been patched together after years of use.

I knew exactly what that was like.

He was strong, but skinny. I could tell he didn't eat right, because for the last years before I came to this world, that was what I looked like whenever I looked in the mirror. But, I don't think we were the same in that stance for the same reasons.

Balin then went on to show everyone just why he was such an exemplary diplomat. "Excuse me, but you're from Lake Town, if I'm not mistaken?" He walked closer to the man, holding his hands up to show he meant no harm. "That barge there… it wouldn't be for hire, by any chance?"

I blinked. Barge? What Barge?

I looked over the large stacks of rocks and saw there- a small wooden barge just in the shallows.

A mode of transportation.

I nearly fell down to my knees. No more walking, thank the gods!

The man rolled his eyes at Balin and turned away to start loading hauls of barrels onto the barge with a scowl plastered on his face.

We followed him and watched as he worked. However, Elladan and Elrohir refused Kili and Varis to move as they kept working on their patients.

Oin and Fili watched the twins work, keeping a keen eye on every move they made. Arwen walked at my side and stopped with the rest of us as we eyed the newcomer curiously as he continued to roll barrel after barrel onto the barge.

He stopped, and looked up at us. "And what makes you think that I would offer you my services?"

"Well, those boots have seen better days, as has your coat…" Balin started. "And no doubt you have some hungry mouths to feed." He placed his hands on his hips. "How many bairns?"

The man paused. "One boy and two girls."

He quickly continued to roll the barrels onto the barge, only quickly moving to make a few adjustments to the ropes.

"And your wife, I imagine," Balin added. "A beauty."

He stopped in his adjustments, making my heart squeeze for the poor soul. "She was."

Balin shook his head. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"

"Oh, come on, enough with the niceties," Dwalin grounded out.

The man looked over at him curiously. "What's the hurry?"

Thorin crossed his arms. "What's it to you?"

His eyes narrowed, and he turned to walk toward the Company. "I would like to know who you are, and what you are doing in these lands."

Arwen stepped forward, gliding to Balin's side and placing a hand on his shoulder. "I am Arwen, Daughter of Elrond, Lord of Rivendell. My company was attacked by orcs and saved by these merchants from the Blue Mountains," she spoke, her voice enchanting to both me and apparently to the man as well.

His eyes were wide, before scanning the rest of the company. "Merchants, you say?"

"Along with some other Lords and Ladies from Rivendell," Glorfindel spoke up from my side, his hand still entwined with my own. "We were attacked just outside of the Mirkwood Realm, where a few of us had to ride to the safety of Lake Town. We will need to reach them, and ensure their arrival was safe as it was swift."

His eyes narrowed. "Such a small traveling company for Lords and Ladies."

I raised a brow, ignoring the squeeze of my hand from Goldilocks as I said, "We don't like to attract too much attention, which is exactly what happens when traveling with too many numbers."

"You do not look like an elf," He commented.

I smirked. "And you don't look like one either."

Thorin took a few steps forward. "We need food and supplies," he told the man. "Is there any way you could help us?"

The man frowned. "Perhaps. But no one enters Lake Town without the okay of the Master."

"You shall leave the Master to us," Arwen spoke, clasping her hands together. "We will pay you for safe passage and extra as well for your troubles."

He paused once more, making Aldarion roll his eyes visibly. "Ach, enough of this," he said, grabbing a bag of coins from wherever he had kept it on his person, and tossed it over to the bargeman. "Will this suit?"

The man looked at Aldarion with widened eyes, but quickly fell into a small grin. "Aye, welcome aboard." His entire countenance changed to become more easy going. "The name's Bard, at your service."

The ferry ride was obviously nerve-wracking for most of the dwarves considering there were so many rock formations and different currents that I could feel under my feet that this journey on the water was dangerous. But, for his part, Bard seemed to be able to navigate it all very well.

"You were born on these waters, huh?" I asked the man, walking up to where he stood at the helm while the dwarves and elves were all grouped together along the deck.

Varis was visibly as far away from Kili as she could get herself, with Arwen and the twins at her side. Fili was awkwardly standing at his brother's side where he sat on one of the barrels. Thorin was speaking deliberately with Glorfindel, Aldarion, Balin, and Dwalin, about what their next steps were going to look like.

Bard spared me a glance. "I do live on top of this lake."

I shrugged. "Good for you, I guess."

"You guess?"

"Do you get a back fog coming in whenever it gets really cold in the mornings?" I asked, noticing that there was quite the fog right now. Luckily the guy seemed to know exactly where he was going without much visibility. "And does anyone ever fall into the water because they can't see anything in front of them?"

He let out a snort. "Only when drunk."

After a particularly close call, with a large formation in the water, Bofur let out a shriek and fell off the barrel he was sitting on. Thorin looked over at Bard in fury. "What are you trying to do? Drown us?"

I rolled my eyes. "Do you really think I would let him if he tried?"

Thorin sighed, then turned back around to continue his discussion with the others.

Bard looked at me more intently, this time. "What do you mean, you would not let me drown them?"

I smiled. "Yeah, no, we just met, Bard. I'm not gonna tell you all my secrets."

Arwen looked over at us with a small smile. "Do not take offense at my friend's words, Master Bard. She is quite straightforward and does take some getting used to."

He raised a brow. "I can see that," he said, before looking back at me. "But you are on my barge, and I need to know if you are going to be putting me or the people of Laketown in any danger."

I shook my head. "The only beings in danger of me are orcs and goblins and anyone who tries to hurt me or my friends," I told him. "I am loyal to a fault, you see."

"She tells the truth," Goldilocks called out, from nearly across the entire deck from us.

I blinked. "Do you always need to interrupt my conversations?"

His answering smile was blinding, even in the shroud of the overcast skies. "Of course, Nemir. Especially when it comes to you."

Bard looked between the two of us curiously. "A human and an elf?"

"Stranger things have happened," I told him. "At least it's not a dwarf and an elf." I finished my words with a strong glare toward Kili.

"Ah, one cannot help whom they love."

From the corner of my eye, I noticed Arwen nodding to herself as she looked far off into the distance.

A small sigh escaped my lips. "No, they cannot."

We were silent the rest of the way to Laketown. It was obvious there were many tensions between us, but there was one thing I knew for sure- Bard was a decent guy and before this was all over I had a feeling I was going to be seeing a lot more of the man.

"Halt! Goods inspection!" A man called out from behind the table at a gate checkpoint. He held up his lantern and inspected us as he walked over, though a small smile appeared on his lips. "Oh, it's just you, Bard."

"Morning, Percy," Bard said.

I blinked.

"Anything you want to declare?" Percy asked, looking at us all with widening eyes. "Or… anyone you want to declare, Bard?"

Bard stepped away from the rudder and handed his papers to the man. "Nothing, beside the obvious. They were in peril, and asked for my assistance. Apparently they are Lords and Ladies who seek discussion with the Master."

Percy nodded slowly. "Aye. That is something you all will likely receive."

The sound of a large amount of footsteps approaching got my attention, and quickly it became apparent that we were probably not too much of a surprise for the people of Laketown. Or, if we were, we were definitely in a town where outsiders were not welcome.

As soon as Bard started to tie the barge up against the docks, soldiers started to walk right up to us, and a man wearing an odd-looking hat looked between the elves with greed. "Ah, we were warned of your coming."

Bard paused from where he was finishing tying a knot. "You were?"

Glorfindel walked up to Bard and made sure to thank the man before we would be dragged away.

"Have there been any elves that have arrived in Laketown recently?" Aldarion asked one of the soldiers.

The man wearing the hat gave him an eerie smile. "The three who arrived before you were the ones to warn us of your arrival."

I closed my eyes, thanking the Valar for their safe arrival. At my side, I noticed Arwen and Varis doing the same.

The man took the paper from Percy and his smile only widened. "Consignment of empty barrels from the Woodland Realm." He looked at the barrels with a nasty gaze. "Only, they're not empty, are they, Bard?"

Bard pursed his lips as the man threw the paper away and jumped onto the barge.

"If I recall correctly, you're licensed as a bargeman," he spoke, eyes narrowing. "Not a fisherman."

He then took off the top of a barrel, picked up a stray fish, grinned a grossly yellow smile, and tossed it to the ground.

"Oh, come on Alfrid, have a heart," Bard tried to appease him. "People need to eat."

Alfrid's only response was to have his soldiers start dumping the barrels into the water.

I grit my teeth as Glorfindel walked up to my side and took my hand in his own.

The last thing I needed to do here was make a fuss.

"Folk in this town are struggling. Times are hard and food is scarce!" Bard added, trying to make his point clear.

Alfrid shrugged. "That's not my problem."

Okay, that was officially enough of the bullshit.

"It will be your problem when the people find out that you threw fish that could have been their food into the canal. What will they say? That you're throwing away their hard-earned meals? I doubt they would be pleased," I spoke, crossing my arms.

He held up his hand, turning to face me with a sneer. "Stop." A lone eyebrow rose. "Now, who exactly are you, missy?"

Glorfindel took a few steps toward him, letting go of my hand. His power seemed to radiate off of him, as he let his walls down just enough for the man to feel intimidation from his sheer power. "I am Lord Glorfindel of the House of the Golden Flower, Sworn Sword to the House of Elrond of Imladris. And she is Lady Persphone of Imladris, my betrothed. She is worth your time and respect, though it does not seem you are worthy enough to be afforded any yourself."

Alfrid's mouth fell open. "Why I oughta-"

"We come to speak with the Master of this town. I am sure you are aware that we were coming, given the large numbers you brought with you," Glorfindel cut him off.

"We were not warned of the dwarves," Alfrid spit out, making most of the company behind us start to speak amongst themselves in anger.

Arwen glided forward, the perfect picture of a queen. "I am Lady Arwen, daughter of Lord Elrond of Imladris," she introduced herself. I nearly cackled at the way he had immediately become entranced with her beauty. "The dwarves with us are traveling with my company, and shall be treated as any member of my company is expected to be treated. Now, you have spoken that you will bring us to meet with the Master?"

"I did?"

She smiled softly. "Of course, you did."

He nodded. "Well, yes, of course I did. Follow me, then, and bring that company of yours with you. We will greet the Master at once."

I had to hold a hand to my mouth to keep myself from bursting out into laughter, ignoring the knowing smile that Glorfindel gave me as he turned around to pull me to his side.

"Do not say a word, Nemir."

"Oh, I don't think I could if I tried," I snickered.

He smirked, and we all followed Alfrid to the largest house in the small, disgruntled town.

Really, from the looks of it, this place was falling apart. This place almost needed a dragon to come to give them a reason to start over.

Key word being: almost.

Meeting the Master was as bad as I had thought it would be.

He was wearing expensive looking clothing and was fatter than all of them put together, which really told me much more than I needed to know about the kind of leader he was in this town.

The only good part was seeing Alma, Gerda, and Geoffry alive and well once again. Alma came sprinting out of the Master's house as we approached and jumped right into her brother's arms, while Gerda and Geoffry followed her at a much slower, yet direct pace.

I took them both into my arms with a grin. "I knew you'd be okay," I told them.

"Did you doubt my ability to protect them?"

I looked up at Geoffry with a small smile. "Never, mellon nin."

"Ah, look at who has come to grace the steps of my front door," the Master spoke, his voice loud and deep, ringing along the docks that made this town. "Lords and Ladies of distant realms… and dwarves. Whatever are you all doing here?"

So, we explained, for the most part. Not everything needed to be shared with the Master or with the people who had all come to gather.

But the story we made up was a very simple tale, to say the least.

And smartly, exactly what we told Bard. Save for one thing.

Thorin had decided to make himself known. As soon as the words of dwarves started to whisper amongst the large group of people who gathered from the town to see what all the commotion was about at the Master's House, they all soon became entranced at the different beings that graced their homes.

"I would see those days return," Thorin continued "I would relight the great forges of the dwarves, and send wealth and riches flowing once more from the halls of Erebor!"

Masses of cheering ensued, ensuring us that we might just have a place here after all.

"And inflation for Middle Earth?" I grumbled from where I stood at Glorfindel's side.

He pinched my arm, and I immediately went quiet. Yep, not the time.

Or the place.

"Death!" Bard pushed his way through the crowd. "That is what you will bring upon us!" He shouted as he broke through the curtain of soldiers surrounding the Company and it's newcomers. "Dragon fire and ruin," he spoke, spitting out each word, before looking at Thorin with anger. "If you waken that beast, it will destroy us all."

"You can listen to this naysayer," Thorin spoke out, looking past Bard to the people beyond. "But I shall promise you this. If we succeed, all will share in the wealth of the Mountain!".

I looked up at the Master to see him licking his lips.

Dear gods, help us all.

"You will have enough gold to rebuild Esgaroth ten times over!"

Cheers erupted once more.

Bard turned to the crowd. "All of you! Listen to me, you must listen!" The crowd fell silent again, allowing the bargeman to be heard. "Have you forgotten what happened to Dale? Have you forgotten those who died in the firestorm? And for what purpose?" He turned and glared at Thorin. "The blind ambition of a Mountain King, so driven by greed, he could not see beyond his own desire!"

"Now, now!" The Master yelled, motioning for silence. He pointed to Bard. "We must not, any of us, be too quick to lay blame. Let us not forget it was Girion, Lord of Dale, your ancestor, who failed to kill the beast!"

I blinked. "Well that just got awkward."

This time, Arwen nudged me in the ribs.

"Owe!"

"Shh."

"You have no right." Bard spoke to Thorin. "No right to enter that mountain."

Thorin tilted his head slightly, eyes wide and earnest. "I have the only right." Then, he turned to look to the Master. "I speak to the Master of the Men of the Lake. Will you see the prophecy fulfilled? Will you share in the wealth of our people?"

The Master looked on at him, mouth still wide and gaping.

"What say you?" Thorin demanded.

"I say unto you… welcome!" The Master joyfully cried out, arms spreading wide. "We shall have a feast tonight to honor the arrival of the King Under the Mountain!"

Thorin nodded to the Master before turning toward the people to soak up their roaring applause.

I sighed.

It didn't take an idiot to recognize that Bard was pissed. I hoped that didn't mean he was going to be mad at all of us, because I was curious to know how he fit in with the rest of this town.

Something inside told me he was important- I just didn't know how important he really was.

Elladan and Elrohir immediately asked one of the soldiers for directions toward the nearest sightings of athelas, or kingsfoil in common.

"Kingsfoil? What do you need with that weed?" the soldier immediately asked in curiosity, before falling back into an emotionless mask. "It would be found in any of the stables, my Lords. Kingsfoil is used to feed the pigs."

They shared a look before nodding, but before they could make their way to leave, I stopped them. "You both need athelas?" I had spent enough time in the healing ward to know what kind of injuries needed such measures. "Is it for Kili or Varis?"

Glorfindel whipped his head over to the twins. "The injuries were made by a morgul blade?" he questioned the two.

Elrohir looked at the townspeople that were still gathered and watched them in awe, likely rarely seeing elves in their lifetime. It's not surprising considering how isolated Thrandy made himself. He quickly dragged Glorfindel and I to the side and only spoke using his Sindarin tongue.

"Kili was struck by a Morgul Arrow," Elrohir confirmed. "And Varis was cut with a blade that was poisoned with a substance we have not yet seen before."

I blinked. "Are they…"

My eyes immediately went to the two, and saw that sweat was starting to form on Kili's forehead. He was hardly putting any weight on his leg, considering Fili was practically holding him up. His body was certainly trying to fight something off.

Whereas, Varis, who was leaning against Alma's side, and her face was ashen white.

"They will be fine," Glorfindel assured me, placing a warm hand on my shoulder. "They are in two of the greatest hands in Arda." He then looked at the twins. "Go with haste, find the Athelas, and come back. Arwen and I will ensure their survival until then."

"We gave our sister and Master Oin instructions of the poultices they need," Elladan spoke. "That should be enough until we come back."

Glorfindel grabbed my hand as we watched the two hurry off.

His eyes glittered as they looked down at me. "Now, I believe there is a feast we must prepare for."

The servants of the Master's house showed us to our rooms, but not once did he let go of my hand. Arwen and Varis were rooming together, as had many of the company paired off. Gerda was already sharing a room with Alma, and Aldarion jumped aboard to room with Geoffry at the chance.

The dwarves were paired up, and I noticed that Bilbo was plenty happy to share a room with Bofur.

Hmm.

Thorin, of course, as King Under the Mountain, had a room for himself.

I felt my eyes widen as Glorfindel softly informed the young woman guiding us that we would be rooming together.

Well, okay then.

We walked into the room, Goldilocks still holding onto my hand with a tighter grip.

The door shut behind us as I let myself slowly exhale at the sight of a nice bed and a tub that was waiting for use.

I smiled.

Glorfindel used his grip on my hand to tug me into his side, using his other hand to slowly wrap around my waist.

"Is it just me, or is this place seriously corrupt?" I asked, leaning back into his embrace.

He let out a hum as he leaned down and kissed my neck.

"This is luxury compared to what the others in this town must have-"

"Shh… there is time for that later, meleth nin."

He slowly worked my top down my shoulders, kissing down my neck as he went.

I let out a low, pleasured moan.

This was going to be awhile.