"So we're just gona trust this guy now? He could be a murder for all we know." Benna said eying the bargeman.
"We have paid him well to see us through to lake town." Bilbo reassured her.
Benna rolled her eyes "Oh Right because no one's ever killed someone else when there's money involved!"
"You know I can hear you?" The man said, walking past her to the helm.
"And?" She snorted, pulling Fili's jacket tighter around her "Can you prove me wrong?"
"How do I know you do not plan on murdering me?" The man countered. Benna thought for a moment then shrugged. "Then we are at an impasse." He grinned.
Benna grinned back at him. "Fair enough. So what do we call you?" She asked
"Bard. And yourself?"
"Benna McCallium and this is Bilbo Baggins."
"You seem more at ease on the water than your companions Miss. McCallium ." He said looking over to where Dori was retching over the side of the boat.
"I used to live near the sea," Benna explained "I am no stranger to the water, or boats for that matter."
"The sea?" Bard raised his eyebrows "You are a long way from home then."
"Very very far." She agreed.
"Watch out!" Dwalin yelled, drawing their attention as he pointing at a large block of ice in front of their path. Bard paid him no mind as he easily steered the boat around the ice.
Thorin scowled at him "What are you trying to do? Drown us?"
"I was born and bred on these waters," Bard said casually "If I wanted to drown you, I would not do it here."
"Oh, I've had enough of this lippy lake-man. I say we throw him over the side and be done with him." Dwalin grumbled.
"Oh yes and what then, have you steer the boat?" Benna said derisively "I've seen Titanic I don't need to live it."
Dawlin gave her an exasperated look "I swear lass I only understand about half of what comes out of your mouth sometimes. But whatever a Tee-tan-ic is can't be any worse than this bargeman."
"Oh, Bard. He's name's Bard!" Bilbo snapped.
"How do you know?" Dwalin asked
"…We asked him." The hobbit said flatly.
Dwalin huffed "I don't care what he calls himself, I don't like him."
"We do not have to like him, we simply have to pay him." Balin sighed.
Benna walked over to Fili, giving a tired yawn as she leaned her head on his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her drawing her close. "Bless my beard!" Gloin exclaimed from behind them. Benna and Fili turned at his outburst.
"Is that it?" She breathed as the shadow of a large mountain emerged through the fog.
Fili nodded "The lonely mountain."
"We're so close." She whispered.
"The money, Give it to me quick!" Bard called urgently. Drawing the company's attention back.
Thorin frowned at him, "We will pay you when we get our provisions, not before."
Bard shook his head "If you value your freedom, you'll do as I say. There are guards ahead." Thorin looked at him suspiciously, unmoving.
"Oh for God's sake," Benna groaned "Give him the money. I am not getting thrown in another jail!". Thorin stared at her for a moment before begrudgingly handing the money to Bard. "What now?" She asked, turning to Bard.
He pointed at the barrels sitting on the deck. "Into those all of you.". Benna somewhat begrudgingly got into one of the barrels, unhappy at having to get back into the cramped space. She looked up as Bard leaned over her barrel tossing her a blanket "Put that over your head." He directed.
Benna looked at him in confusion "Why?". He gave her a wink before walking away. She shifted in her spot as she pulled the blanket over top of her.
"What's he doing?" She heard Dwalin whisper as the boat came to a stop.
"He's talking to someone..." Bilbo whispered "...He's pointing right at us! Now they're shaking hands!"
"He's selling us out." Dwalin whispered urgently. Benna could hear footsteps approaching their hiding spot. There was a moment of quiet before the sound of something wet could be heard moving, then without warning a large pile of fish landed into the barrels.
"Oh come on!" Benna could hear the company around her grumbling clearly not given the same kindness of a blanket as she had been.
"Quiet! We're approaching the toll gate." Bard cautioned.
"Halt! Goods inspection." A man called "Papers please!"
"Morning, Percy." She heard Bard walking to the railing.
"Oh, it's you, Bard!" The man said happily "Anything to declare?"
Bard sighed " I am cold and tired, and ready for home." Percy laughed "You and me both. There we are, all in order." Benna looked out the small crack in the barrel as Bard began to walk back to the helm.
"Not so fast." a grating voice called. A thin greasy looking man approached Bard, eying him suspiciously. "Consignment of empty barrels from the Woodland realm. Only they're not empty. Are they? If I recall correctly, you're licensed as a bargeman." He reached down and plucked a fish from Benna's barrel "Not a fisherman."
"That's none of your business." Bard said coldly.
The man shook the fish at him "Wrong. It's the Master's business, which makes it my business."
"Oh come on Alfred. Have a heart, people need to eat." Bard said appealingly
"These fish are illegal." Alfred said, throwing the fish into the lake "Empty the barrels over the side!". Benna's heart raced as she felt her barrel shift as it was pulled towards the edge of the barge.
"Folk in this town are struggling. Times are hard. Food is scarce." Bard pleaded watching the guards lift the barrel to the edge "What about when the people hear the Master is dumping fish back in the lake? When the rioting starts? Will it be your problem?"
"Stop!" Alfred growled "Ever the people's champion, hey, Bard? You might have their favor, but it won't last." He sneered as he stormed off the boat "The Master has his eye on you. You'll do well to remember, we know where you live."
Bard shrugged "It's a small town, Alfred. Everyone knows where everyone lives."
...
"You can come out now." Bard called as he pushed the few remaining fish off of her.
"Thanks." She said, throwing off the blanket as he helped her out of the barrel.
Benna laughed as Bofur emerged from his barrel, a single fish clinging to the top of his hat. He pulled it off, chucking it at her, Benna jumping to avoid the fish. Bard gave a weary sigh before walking over to an old man who sat on the dock watching them "You didn't see them, they were never here." Bard said handing the man a coin "The fish you can have for nothing." He turned back to the company "Follow me."
Bard led them through the narrow gangplanks that wove along the town. as they turned a corner a young boy dashed up to him. "Da, our house! It's being watched". Bard sighed with frustration.
"Is there another way?" Thorin asked urgently
He gave them a sidelong look "Not one that you're going to like."
...
Benna gave a shiver as she looked into the murky water below. "There's got to be another way." Bofur pleaded.
Bard shook his head "It's the only way in without being seen. I'll meet you at the house to pull you up."
"I was just starting to get warm." Benna grumbled as she shivered again, wrapping her arms around herself.
Bard looked at her sympathetically for a moment. "Wait here." He said before disappearing around the corner. After a moment he returned with a long cloak. "Here put this on and keep your head down". She nodded, throwing the hood over her head.
Fili watched him suspiciously, pulling her back toward the company "How do we know we can trust you with her alone?". Bard looked affronted.
Benna threw her hand up as She looked over at Bard "Is our 'no murder' moratorium in place?" . He nodded. "Can we add one on kidnapping as well?" He nodded.
She looked up at Fili "See there we go."
Fili sighed "Fine but be careful".
"I never am" She smiled giving him a quick kiss "See you on the other side."
...
Benna followed closely behind Bard as they made their way through the back end of the city, finally stopping at a small house. "Da!" Two girls came rushing to him as he opened the door.
"Who is this?" the taller girl asked as Benna removed the hood.
"Bain get them in." Bard said to his son. Benna followed after Bard as he made his way into the lower part of the house. One by one the dwarves hauled themselves up through the latrine.
She watched as Dwalin's Tattooed head poke up through the toilet. He gave Bard a dark look as he hoisted himself out "If you speak of this to anyone, I'll rip your arms off."
One of Bards daughters peered down at them "Da, why are there dwarves coming out of our toilet?" The younger girl looked on excitedly
"Will they bring us luck?"
Benna snorted. "These dwarves don't have any luck in them…..OW!" She yelped as Dwalin smacked her.
Soon the company had gathered in the house drying themselves off as best they could.
Thorin and Balin gathered by one of the small windows frowning. "What's wrong?" Bilbo asked.
"Tomorrow begins the last days of Autumn." Thorin breathed "Durin's Day will be upon us soon. We must reach the mountain before then. If we do not then this quest has been for nothing."
Benna Jumped as a loud clatter broke through the silence. Turning she saw Bard emptying a wooden bin onto the table. "What is this?" Thorin asked picking up one of the pieces, turning it over in his hand.
"Pike hook." Bard said "Made from an old harpoon."
Kili pulled a pipe from the pile "And this?"
"A crow bill, we call it. Fashioned from a smithy's hammer. It's heavy in a hand, I grant. But in defense of your life, these will serve you better than none."
"We paid for swords and axes!" Gloin growled.
Bard shook his head "You won't find better outside the city armory. All iron forged weapons are held there under lock and key."
"Thorin, why not take what's on offer and go." Balin sighed "I've made do with less, so have you."
Bard looked up at them "You're not going anywhere."
The company tensed at his words. "What did you say?" Dwalin growled, narrowing his eyes at him.
"There are spies watching this house and probably every dock and wharf in the town. We must wait till nightfall." Bard explained.
...
"I would just like to once again say I think this is a horrible idea!". Thorin shot Benna an irritated look before turning back to Dwalin. "Not that anyone listens to me." she grumbled as they pressed themselves against the side of the armory.
"Don't worry lass it'll be fine." Gloin reassured her.
She snorted "You lot keep saying that but it never is."
"Lets go." Thorin whispered, Boosting Fili up through the window. He leaned out pulling the company members in one by one. The dwarves began rummaging through the chests lining the room piling up weapons as they went.
Benna watched as Fili tucked dagger after dagger away on his person. "Are you planning on stabbing the dragon to death all by yourself?"
Fili grinned "If needed."
She took a seat by the door as the company continued to pillage the armory. Suddenly her ears pricked up. From down below she swore she had heard a voice. She leaned down, pressing her ear to the floor boards. She could hear the voices clearly now and footsteps.
Benna snapped her head up "Thorin!" She hissed.
He turned to look at her. "Someone's down there!" She said gesturing to the door. Just as he turned to silence the company a metal helmet rolled off of one of the stands, clattering to the floor.
From below Benna could hear a man's voice shout "Who's up there!"
Footsteps pounded on the stairs as she scrambled away from the door just as it flew open. Armed guards rushed into the room their weapons pointed at the company
...
The company came to a stop as the guards halted in front of a large extravagant house, wholly out of place among the rundown buildings surrounding it. Benna shifted uncomfortably, as a crowd of townspeople began to form around them, trying to shift away from their scrutinizing stares.
"Steady lass." Nori said, putting a hand on her shoulder as she back into him.
The doors to the house flung open as a portly man stepped out first, his thinning hair slicked back down his large head.. Behind him stood the man from the docks. His small black eyes peered , over the crowd before them.
"What is the meaning of this?" The large man grunted
"We caught 'em stealing weapons, Sire." one of the guards called stepping forward
He gave a cry of delight "Ah! Enemies of the state, huh?"
"A desperate bunch of mercenaries, if ever there was, Sire." Alfred agreed.
Benna over up as Dwalin stepped forward. "You do not know to whom you speak. This is Thorin. Son of Thrain, son of Thror!" He shouted as Thorin stepped forward, squaring his shoulders as he fixed the man with a hard look.
"We are the dwarves of Erebor. We have come to reclaim our homeland." He stated firmly, turning to the crowd around them "I remember this town in the great days of old. This was no forsaken town on a lake. This was the center of all trade in the north! I would see those days return, and send wealth and riches flowing once more from the halls of Erebor!" Benna's mouth opened slightly at the normally subdued dwarf's speech.
"Death! That is what you'll bring upon us!" Bard marched forward "Dragonfire and ruin. If you awaken that beast, it will destroy us all."
Thorin scoffed "You can listen to this naysayer, but I promise you this; if we succeed all will share in the wealth of the mountain. You will have enough gold to rebuild Esgaroth ten times over!"
Bard frowned as the people cheered again "All of you! Listen to me, you must listen! Have you forgotten what happened to Dale? Have you forgotten those who died in the firestorm? And for what purpose? The blind ambition of a Mountain King, so riven by greed, he could not see beyond his own desire!" He looked at Thorin "You have no right to enter that mountain."
Thorin narrowed his eyes "I have the only right." He turned 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 great wealth of our people? What say you?"
There was a long silence as he stared company calculatingly before giving him a large smile "I say unto you…welcome!"