Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter.
Let's get to it.
Chapter 17- Lake Town
"Anything behind us?" Thorin calls out as the Company drifts through a calm stretch of the river.
"Nothing behind us! Looks like we outran the orcs!" Balin says.
"But looks like we didn't outrun them!" Fili says happily with a smile on his face as he points to the river bank up ahead, where Steve and T'Challa are standing on an outsretch of rock stretching out into the river, waiting for the Dwarves.
The Company begin to cheer at the sight of their two friends. The Wakandan and the American smile and wave before walking down to the edge of the water. As each Dwarf reaches the river bank, T'Challa and Steve help them out of their barrels.
The dwarves spread out across the rocks, some emptying their boots of water while others try to find ways to dry off their clothes. Kili, however, stumbles a few steps across the rocks before he collapses, unable to stand from the pain in his leg from the arrow wound.
Steve hurries over to Kili. Taking a moment to examine the wound in Kili's leg, Steve then turns to Thorin in concern. "Thorin, this wound looks bad. We need to bind his leg. We need at least a few minutes," Steve says.
Despite Thorin's concern for his nephew, he knows that his Company may not have yet outrun the Orcs for good, and the Orcs may yet be pursuing them. Nor is he entirely convinced that the two Avengers can fully protect them when they have no weapons to defend themselves. He knows the Company cannot afford to linger for long. However, he also needs Kili cannot go on without medical attention.
"Very well. Bind his leg. You have two minutes," Thorin says.
Steve and Oin get to work on removing the arrowhead and bandaging up Kili's wound, while the rest of the Dwarves continue to try and dry themselves off.
As Ori takes off one of his boots to shake the water out of it, he suddenly catches something out of the corner of his eye. He slowly turns his head to the right and sees a dark figure standing further up the bank. While he can't make out all of the person's features, he can tell it's a man, and that's he's carrying a bow.
The rest of the Company quickly begins to notice the man. Dwalin picks up a branch, standing for a moment between Ori and the bowman before he makes a motion as if he's going to charge. But, before he can move, the bowman shoots an arrow right into the branch. Kili quickly raises his hand, a rock held in it, but before he can throw it, the bowman fires another arrow, knocking the rock out of his hand.
"Do it again, and you're dead," the bowman says.
Seeing this man as a possible threat, T'Challa leaps in between the bowman and the Company as his suit forms around him. He lowers into his fighting stance, extending his claws. The bowman hesitates upon seeing this, having never seen anything of its like before.
Balin, however, sees something beyond him, on the other side of the outcropping of rock, and recognizes an opportunity. He steps forward and carefully says, "Uh, excuse me, you're from Lake-Town if I'm not mistaken. Uh, that barge over there…it wouldn't be available for hire by any chance?"
The bowman lowers his bow, looking at Balin curiously. Finally, he says, "And why would I help you?"
"Those boots have seen better days. As has that coat. No doubt you have some hungry mouths to feed," Balin says cheerfully. He pauses for a second for asking, "How many bairns?"
The bowman looks back at Balin for a moment before saying, "A boy and two girls."
"And your wife, I imagine, she's a beauty?" Balin asks, still trying to build a good impression.
The bowman looks off into the distance as he says, "Aye. She was."
Balin's face falls, as does Steve's and several other dwarves. T'Challa finally eases up from his battle stance and lets his mask deactivate.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…" Balin says, trying to show he meant no harm by his comment.
Dwalin, on the other hand, has never had his brother's sensitivity, and it shows in this moment as he grumbles, "Oh, come on, come on, enough of the niceties."
The bowman looks over at Dwalin. "What's your hurry?" he asks.
"What's it to you?" Dwalin demands of the bowman.
"I would like to know who you are, and what you are doing in these lands," the bowman says simply.
"We are simple merchants from the Blue Mountains, journeying to see our kin in the Iron Hills," Balin says in a fairly convincing tone.
However, it's clear that the bowman doesn't entirely buy it. However, instead of pressing it, he turns to Steve and T'Challa, who are now standing together, and says, "Now, I don't think you two are from the Blue Mountains, are you?"
Steve smiles as he shakes his head. "No. I am Steve Rogers, also known as Captain America," he says.
"I am T'Challa, the Black Panther, and King of Wakanda," T'Challa says.
The bowman raises an eyebrow. "And what is a king of Men doing travelling with a company of Dwarves?" he asks.
"That is quite a long a story," T'Challa says.
"Indeed," the bowman says. He then nods respectfully and says, "As you were kind enough to share your names with me, I see it only fair I return the favor. I am Bard."
Thorin, hoping to get to the point, says, "We need food. Supplies. Weapons. Can you help us?"
Bard is quiet for a moment before saying, "I know where these barrels came from."
"What of it?" Thorin asks.
"I don't know what business you had with the Elves. But I don't think it ended well. No one enters Lake Town but by leave of the Master. All his wealth comes from trade with the Woodland Realm. He would see you in irons before risking the wrath of King Thranduil," Bard says.
T'Challa comes up with a quick solution to the problem. "I am sure that with a smuggler, one could enter the town unseen. And for that, we would pay a very handsome reward," he says.
Bard looks at T'Challa for a moment before saying, "Very well. On the condition you help me load these barrels." The Dwarves groan, but consent and begin gathering up the barrels and helping Bard carry them over to his barge.
With the whole Company helping, it doesn't take long for them to get the barrels on the barge. As soon as all the barrels are on the barge, Bard unties the mooring ropes and pushes off from the docking slip built on the outcropping of rocks.
For the next several hours, Bard maneuvers his barge across the surface of the lake. The members of the Company take up their seats across the barge and settle in for the trip to Lake Town.
As the hours pass, Steve and T'Challa try to pass the time by chatting with Bard, sharing with him some of their stories. Bard is very intrigued by the stories they have to share.
After a long time on the water, as Steve is sharing the story of the Sokovia Accords and the subsequent fight between the Avengers, a series of large stone ruins sticking out of the water come into view up ahead.
"Watch out!" Bofur yells out of reflex. However, Bard easily maneuvers the barge between the ruins without any worry.
"What are you trying to do, drown us?" Thorin demands of Bard.
"I was born and bred on these waters Master Dwarf. If I wanted to drown you, I would not do it here," Bard says.
Dwalin looks at Bard out of the corner of his eyes and mutters, "I've had enough of this lippy lakeman. I say we throw him over the side and be done with it."
"I could say the same about you, Dwalin," Steve says with a teasing grin. Dwalin just scowls at Steve.
At the front of the barge, Balin is counting out the Company's coins for their payment to Bard for his help. As Steve turns to look at them as Balin is trying to convince Gloin to give them what coins he has, he sees something beginning to appear through the fog in the distance. "Is that what I think it?" he asks, pointing in its direction.
The Dwarves all look in the direction he is pointing, and they all go quiet and slowly stand as the Lonely Mountain comes into view. Steve and T'Challa stare at it too. Their first glimpse of the Lonely Mountain is one of awe. It certainly lives up to the stories of its appearance.
"Bless my beard," Gloin says. He then finally holds out his money pouch and says, "Take it. Take all of it."
As Balin takes the pouch, Bard hurries towards the Dwarves. "The money. Quick. Give it to me,"
"We will pay you when we get our provisions, but not before," Thorin says dismissively.
"If you value your freedom, you'll do what I say. There are guards ahead," Bard insists, gesturing forward with his head.
Everyone turns and looks ahead, and sees Lake Town coming into view, and a series of docks between them and the main town. The Dwarves quickly recognize that Bard will likely need the coins to pay off people to keep quiet.
Balin quickly gathers all the coins ins his hands and hands them off to Bard. Bard pockets the money, then looks at them all and says, "Climb into the barrels. Quickly."
The Dwarves and Bilbo don't really want to get back in the barrels after what happened the last time they did so. But, knowing they have to stay hidden, they quickly do so, leaving just Steve and T'Challa standing with Bard.
Bard maneuvers his barge up alongside the docks, where he climbs out and heads a short distance down to the dock to talk to a man, leaving Steve and T'Challa on the barge.
Steve and T'Challa watch as Bard talks to the man. From his barrel, Dwalin asks, "What's he doing?"
Bilbo looks through a small hole in his barrel and sees Bard talking with the man. "He's talking to someone," he says. Then, as Bard points towards the barrels, Bilbo says, "And he's pointing right at us!"
Bard then turns back to the man and shakes his hands. "Now they're shaking hands!" Bilbo exclaims.
"The villain. He's selling us out," Dwalin growls.
Seeing what Bard is really doing, Steve quickly says, "No, he's not. But you're probably still not going to like what he is doing."
The dwarves hear cranking noises. Then, a moment later, they begin groaning and protesting as fish begin to be dumped into the barrels. After a minute or so, every one of the barrels is full of fish, completely covering the Dwarves and Bilbo.
Bard gets back onto the barge and looks at Steve and T'Challa. "You two will not exactly be easy to hide. What do you want to do?" Bard asks them.
T'Challa looks at Bard and asks, "Do you have any hoods or cloaks?" he asks.
"Yes," Bard says. He quickly grabs a pair of hooded cloaks from a small box on the barge and hands them to Steve and T'Challa, who quickly put them on.
"What's your plan?" Steve asks.
"Just follow my lead," T'Challa says.
Bard gets his barge back underway. He's already so close, that it doesn't take much longer for him to reach the gate into Lake Town.
As they approach, the three Men can hear groaning and murmuring coming from the barrels. Bard gives the closest a small kick and says, "Quiet. We're approaching the tollgate."
Bard slows the barge as it moves towards the tollgate. Waiting at the gate is Percy, a friend of Bard's. Percy is Bard's friend in part because unlike almost every other public official in Lake Town, he uses his position of authority to help the people of Lake Town in any way he can instead of lining his own pockets.
"Halt! Goods inspection. Papers please," Percy calls out as he walks out of the gatehouse. He then sees that it's Bard and says cheerfully, "Oh. It's you, Bard."
"Good morning, Percy," Bard greets his friend.
"Anything to declare?" Percy asks.
"Nothing, except that I am cold and tired and ready for home," Bard says as he hands his papers to Percy.
Percy takes the papers into the gatehouse, does a quick check, and stamps the papers. He walks back out to Bard and says, "There we go. All in order."
"Not so fast," says a haughty voice as a hand snatches the papers out of Percy's hands.
Bard sighs inside as he recognizes Alfrid, the deputy of the Master. Alfrid is the definition of a corrupt politician. He is the possibly the most hated individual in Lake Town. He continually does his best to make things harder for the people of Lake Town just to exercise his power.
Alfrid looks at the papers and says, "Consignment of empty barrels from the Woodland Realm. Only, they're not empty, are they, Bard?"
Steve and T'Challa exchange a look and a small nod. As they do, Bard looks Alfrid right in his eyes and says, "That's none of your business."
"Wrong. It's the Master's business, which makes it my business," Alfrid says snidely with a big smirk.
"Enough," T'Challa says as he stands up, head bowed so that the hood hides his face. Alfrid and the soldiers that accompanied him look at T'Challa in confusion. Steve stays where he is, resting against the edge of the barge.
"These fish are mine. I bought them and hired the bargeman to bring them into town as a gift to the people to establish a relationship of friendliness," T'Challa says in a low voice.
"I don't care who you are, traveler. These fish are illegal," Alfrid says.
T'Challa takes a step forward, then whips his hand up as he lets out his claws, holding them right under Alfrid's chin. Alfrid jumps back, eyes flying wide open. The soldiers move to put their hands on their swords, but Steve holds up his hands, still keeping his face hidden, and deploys his gauntlets, making the soldiers hesitate.
"I would advise you not to cross me. Not if you want to give up on wealth and trade beyond your imagination," T'Challa says. He then lets his mask form before raising his head enough for Alfrid to see his face. As Alfrid sees T'Challa's mask, his face pales.
"I am not one to trifle with," T'Challa says slowly. He pauses, then says, "Tell your Master, if you wish for any chance for a trade agreement between my land and Lake Town…" He then lets his eye coverings come up, so that Alfrid can see his eyes, and says, "Do not interfere with the wishes of the King of Wakanda."
Alfrid is quiet for several moments before hastily nodding and saying, "Of course, Your Majesty." He then hurries away, not wanting to test T'Challa's patience further, and the soldiers follow close behind.
Percy looks at T'Challa for several moments in surprise. Bard, however, does not look at all surprised, having already seen T'Challa as the Black Panther, and recognizing this was his plan.
Percy quickly recovers from his surprise and calls out, "Raise the gate!"
The man manning the gears quickly raises the gate. Bard gets the barge moving again, slowly entering Lake Town and maneuvering the barge along the canals of the town. As he does so, T'Challa makes his way back to the back of the barge.
"Well done. I must say I've never seen Alfrid back down from anyone," Bard says. T'Challa just nods in response.
Finally, Bard pulls the barge to a stop along a stretch of canal and tosses a mooring lane to a man on the shore. After looking around, he tips over one of the barrels, sending Oin spilling out. He goes to tip over another, but Dwalin pops his head out and pushes Bard away. The rest of the Dwarves and Bilbo begin to climb out of their barrels, helped out by T'Challa and Steve.
The man tying up the barge to the dock looks at the Dwarves in shock. Bard leans over to him, handing him a few coins, and says, "You didn't see them. They were never here." He starts to turn away, then pauses long enough to say, "The fish you can have for nothing," before turning away.
"Follow me," Bard says. The Dwarves and Bilbo follow Bard as he leads them away, Steve and T'Challa bringing up the rear, the two of them still wearing their hooded cloaks given to them by Bard.
As they walk, Bilbo looks around and says, "What is this place?"
"This, Master Baggins, is the world of Men," Thorin responds.
T'Challa and Steve take the time to look around more carefully at Lake Town, taking in the town. In its heyday, they imagine that the town would've been much more beautiful and a much nicer place to live in. Now, buildings that would have once been very nice have fallen into decay. Rubbish and broken wood line many of the walkways and docks. The entire place stunk of multiple foul smells. Everything seemed to be in disrepair, save for the Master's house that towered over the other buildings of Lake Town. Nor is there a single sign of anything one might consider truly nice or a luxury. It's clear the leadership of Lake Town cares nothing for its citizens, and hoards all the wealth of the town for themselves. Both Steve and T'Challa begin considering the possibility of helping the people of Lake Town rid themselves of the rather totalitarian regime in Lake Town. However, their thoughts are quickly distracted as Bain, the teenage son of Bard, comes hurrying up to them.
"Da! Our house, it's being watched," Bain says. Steve guesses from Bain's tone that this is not necessarily an uncommon thing for Bard's family.
Bard turns to the Company. "I have an idea of how to get you all past them," he says. He then looks at Steve and T'Challa and says, "But you two are too big."
T'Challa and Steve glance at each other and have a brief silent conversation before nodding. T'Challa then looks back at Bard and says, "Why not try our ruse at the gate again?"
Bard, Bain, T'Challa, and Steve all make their way along the walkways and docks towards Bard's house, moving very calmly and acting as if nothing is wrong. T'Challa and Steve still have their faces hidden.
As they get closer to the house, they are spotted by the first of the Master's spies. The spy sends a signal to two more, who hurry along the wharf towards Bard's house, sending a signal to yet another spy. He lights his pipe, signaling two spies on a small boat in front of Bard's house, who dip their fishing rods into the water while pretending to be fishing.
As the four approach Bard's house, the spies listen intently to their conversation.
"Here is my house, Your Majesty. I know it is far from what you are used to, but I hope it will be sufficient for your needs for the time being," Bard says.
"This lodging is hardly becoming for the King of Wakanda," T'Challa says in disdain, trying to keep from smiling at the trickery.
The two spies look at each other in surprise. A king of a previously unknown nations has come to Lake Town? This has never happened in the town's history, as far as they know.
"I apologize, Your Majesty. You will find little better in this town outside of the Master's home," Bard says.
T'Challa lets a momentary bit of anger pass at the injustice of this whole situation before saying in his previous tone, "This first impression of Lake Town is not a favorable one. Should your Master have any hope of establishing business between himself and my land, he should hope to make a far better impression when I meet him."
"I understand, Your Majesty," Bard says before opening the door and ushering T'Challa and Steve in.
As soon as the door closes, the spies look at each other again, then hurry to send their report to the Master, hoping that if the Master has time to prepare himself, perhaps he might be able to make a better impression on this mysterious king.
As they enter the house, Bard whispers, "Do you think they believed us?"
"I feel confident," T'Challa says in his normal tone.
As Bard shuts the door behind him, the younger of his two daughters, Tilda, rushes up to him to hug him as she says, "Da! Where have you been?"
"Father, there you are. I was worried," his elder daughter, Sigrid says as she also hurries to hug her father.
Bard embraces his two daughters, then looks over at Bain and says, "Bain, get them in." Bain nods and hurries down the stairs.
As Bain goes, Bard holds out a bag of some rare spices that T'Challa had bought at the town market with coins he had been given from the troll hoard back in the Trollshaws. T'Challa had bought the spices as a gift for Bard's help, hoping to give something to Bard and his family to give them a bit more happiness in the toughness that is life in Lake Town.
"Father! How did you get these?" Sigrid says, never having seen these spices other than in passing glances in the market.
"You can thank our generous guests," Bard says. At this, T'Challa and Steve pull back their hoods before removing their cloaks completely, leaving them in their suits.
Sigrid and Tilda look at them in awe. After a moment, Tilda asks, "Are you kings?" Their manner of dress and the look of nobility about them both makes her thinks of stories of kings of ages past she's been told throughout her life.
Steve smiles. "You have good insight, Tilda," he says, Bard having told the names of his daughters to Steve and T'Challa on their way to his house. He pauses for a second before he says, "I'm not a king. My name is Steve, but some people call me Captain America. T'Challa here, though, he is a king. The king of Wakanda."
Sigrid and Tilda look at T'Challa in complete awe, not believing that they are in the presence of a king. However, before they can say anything, they are distracted by noises coming from downstairs. As they walk over to the stairs, they see Bilbo and the Dwarves climbing out of the toilet, which was open to the lake beneath the house.
"Dad, why are there Dwarves climbing out of our toilet?" Sigrid asks.
"Will they bring us luck?" Tilda asks innocently. Steve and T'Challa can't help but turn to each other and share a smile.
Bard and his children quickly get a fire going and get some towels for the Company to use to dry off. Steve and T'Challa mostly just stand around and watch.
As the Dwarves begin to try and dry off, Steve catches Thorin standing next to a window, staring out of it intently. Steve looks out the window, and sees that the window looks towards the Master's house. And on a tower at the top is an interesting looking device.
"A Dwarvish Wind Lance," Thorin mutters just loud enough for Steve to hear.
Bilbo walks over and says, "You look like you've seen a ghost."
Balin joins them as he says, "He has. The last time we saw such a weapon, a city was burning."
Balin pauses for a moment, then continues, "It was the day the dragon came. The day that Smaug destroyed Dale. Girion, the Lord of the city, rallied his bowmen to fire upon the beast. But a dragon's hide is tough. Tougher than the strongest armor. Only a Black Arrow, fired from a Windlance, could have pierced the dragon's hide. And few of those arrows were ever made. The store was running low when Girion made his last stand."
Thorin looks out the window at the Windlance again. "Had the aim of Men been true that day, much would've been different," he says, voicing a belief held by all of Durin's Folk.
Steve then notices that Balin's storytelling has drawn the attention of Bard. The bowman looks at the three and says, "You speak as if you were there."
"All Dwarves know the tale," Thorin says to deflect suspicion.
Bain then walks up behind his father as he says, "Then you would know that Girion hit the dragon. He loosened a scale under the left wing. One more shot and he would have killed the beast."
Dwalin chuckles and says to Bain, "That's a fairy story, lad. Nothing more."
Thorin is feeling a bit impatient. Durin's Day is approaching fast, and he feels he cannot afford to waste a single moment.
"You took our money. Where are the weapons?" Thorin demands.
Bard looks at him in silence for a moment before he says, "Wait here," before walking towards the stairs and walking down them.
As they wait for Bard to return, Tilda looks towards T'Challa, feeling very intrigued by his suit. "Excuse me, King T'Challa. But is your clothing made of silk? It looks so soft," she asks.
T'Challa smiles at her. "No, young Tilda. The fabric used is not silk. However, my suit is made not only from fabric, but it is also woven with vibranium," he says.
"What is vibranium?" Tilda asks.
"Vibranium is a metal found in my homeland. It is the strongest metal in existence, possessing powerful properties. It is nearly indestructible. Hence why my suit is made heavily from it," he says.
"Wow," Tilda says in amazement, drawing another smile from T'Challa.
Right then, Bard comes back up the stairs, carrying a long bundle under his arms. He sets the bundle on the table and unwraps it, revealing a pile of homemade weapons.
The dwarves begin to pick up the various weapons and examine them with heavy disappointment. Thorin picks up one and demands angrily, "What is this?"
"A pikehook. Fashioned from an old harpoon," Bard says.
"And this?" Bofur demands of what he's holding.
"A crowbill, we call it. Fashioned from a smithy's hammer. It's heavy in hand, I grant, but in defense of your life, these will serve you better than nothing," Bard says.
Steve can't fault Bard, now having seen the state of Lake Town. However, he knows that these weapons are not going to be sufficient for the Company.
"If only we had some of your country's weapons," Steve says as he leans in towards T'Challa, who just nods in understanding.
Gloin, feeling cheated out of the money they gave Bard, says, "We paid you for weapons. Iron forged swords and axes."
"It's a joke," Bofur says as he throws the crowbill back. The rest of the Dwarves begin throwing their weapons back.
"You won't find better outside the city armory. All iron forged weapons are kept there under lock and key," Bard says.
Balin now turns to Thorin. "Thorin, why not take this and go? We've made do with less," he says. However, Thorin doesn't respond.
After a moment, Balin says, "I say we leave."
"You're not going anywhere," bard says.
"What did you say?" Dwalin growls.
"There are spies watching this house and probably every dock and wharf in this town. You must wait til nightfall," Bard says before walking away.
Thorin eyes Bard as he walks away, then motions for Steve and T'Challa to come closer. As they get close to him, he whispers, "We're going to leave as soon as we can. We're going to wait for nightfall, and then take what weapons we need from the armory. But we need a boat too. I want you two to go find a boat and secure it, and wait for us to join you."
"Understood," Steve says. He looks at T'Challa, and the two nod. They then settle in, waiting for the opportune moment to slip away.
And, I'll end there. I wasn't sure where to end this chapter, but I decided this was probably the best.
I hope you like how I got them past Alfrid. I figured, since there would be no way to hide Steve and T'Challa, this would be the best way to get them through. I figured it would also be a bargaining point for T'Challa to use against the Master later on.
Alright. Next chapter should be up fairly soon. Until then, please leave a review, and stay tuned for further updates!
