Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Lake Town Encounter

The barge rocked with a gentle motion as they crossed the still waters of the lake. It became almost eerie the farther they drifted as a dense fog took over any line of vision, only allowing them a few meters of visibility. With the dense fog came a damp coldness that seeped into the already damp and shivering bodies of company. They all sat in relative quietness, only whispers to those nearest them and the occasional trickle or splash of water as Bard guided them through the water with the till.

"Question for a question?" Fili said quietly as he shivered next to Thyra.

Thyra's body was hunched over as she curled as small as possible while still clutching her sword tightly between her chest and legs. She looked at him, her jaw trembling as her teeth chattered noisily within her mouth.

She gave a nod. "You first."

"Why is that sword so important?" He asked, nodding to the piece of metalwork.

Shoulders shaking with cold, Thyra looked down as she tightened her hold as best she could with numb fingers. "It's name is Dainsleif, it has been passed down for centuries among my people and is more of a distinguisher of the monarchy than any crown could ever signify," she answered. "And it is also what will buy me my freedom." She looked up to Fili who was trying to interpret her meaning before asking her question. "Why did you get it for me? After stopping me from doing the same?"

Fili looked down at his hands, unsure of how to answer. He shrugged and looked up at her. There was a pinched look on her face as she frowned at him.

"You have to answer," she demanded.

He let out a sigh. "I know, I just-" he shook his head- "I just don't know why. I just did it. I was standing in front of all of our weapons and I had to make a choice."

He managed to look up at her. Her dark eyes were squinted as she examined him carefully, trying to read the answer from his expressions. As always, he was struck with the force of her penetrating gaze. It was more than being just looked at, but looked into. Like she could see and read his soul.

Before they could continue into another round of their game, Bofur gave out a shout when out of the fog appeared an arched stone ruin protruding from the water. Bard quickly maneuvered the till expertly to avoid colliding with the stone structure. From then on, Thyra stayed at the bow of the ship, watching the water and reading it expertly as she warned a guided Bard of any other close collisions.

Fili watched her from afar as she moved about the front of the barge, staring down into the waters and looking out into the fog. As the boat rocked, she walked with a balance that made it seem as if she were on sturdy ground. It was almost mesmerizing, he had never seen someone so at ease on the water, especially a dwarf. Dwarves were known for having a preference to keep solid rock beneath their feet, but Thyra made most humans and even some elves look ungraceful at the way she seemed to be able to know exactly when the boat would dip and bob and adjusted her steps to flow with it.

They sailed through the maze of obstacles easily with the combined efforts of Thyra's navigation and Bard's expert sailing. As they made their way through the fog, Balin began moving around the barge, making his way to each dwarf and taking a collection of money to pay Bard.

"How do we know he is not going to turn us in as soon as we pass him the money?" Questioned Dwalin as he hesitantly passed his share of coins into Balin's outstretched hands.

"We don't," answered Thorin who had overheard the whisper.

Dwalin shook his head but handed over his coins. Balin immediately began to count the money making sure it was all there and accounted for.

"We have a problem, we are ten coins short of what we owe".

Thorin took the coins and counted them himself to make sure Balin was not mistaken. He was correct, they were ten coins short. He looked over to Gloin who was currently avoiding eye contact with the group.

"Gloin. Come on, turn out your pockets," he said.

"Why should I? I have already given my share. My finances have been bled dry from this journey and all I have seen and earned in return for my investment is misery and grief."

Just as he said this, they passed through the swirling fog and everything around them was clear. The walls of lake town where close and just above the shabby rooftops of Lake Town stood the mountain looking taller than ever. The mountain towered over its surroundings and if one focused closely enough, the large gates of Erebor could be made out.

"Bless my beard," whispered Gloin. Immediately he began rummaging in his pockets pulling out a purse with more than the ten coins needed and passed it to Balin. "Here take it, take all of it," he continued, not taking his eyes off of the mountain.

Just after the town came into view, Bard directed the barge slightly off course and towards a dock that stood alone just outside the city walls. He approached the group of dwarves as he adjusted a rope on the barrels.

"Quick give me the money," he said stretching forth his hand.

Balin handed him the purse in which they had their collection and Bard stuffed it into his pocket without counting it.

"There are guards ahead, you need to hide yourselves in the barrels."

No one was eager to be getting back into the barrels. But having no other options, they all began to hide themselves. Fili watched Thyra from afar, noting the hesitation, but before he could even move to try and help her, she was swallowing down whatever fear she had as she swung her legs over the edge and squatted down into the envelopment of the wooden barrel.

A strained groan of pain had him turning away from the direction of Thyra to his brother.

Kili was struggling to get himself into a barrel. Sigurd was standing next to him, trying her best but Fili could see she was struggling to help. Forgetting Thyra for the moment, he moved over to help Kili into his barrel, then proceeded to help Sigurd as well before hiding himself as well.

Kili did his best to try and alleviate the pain in his leg. It had been feeling better after Sigurd's treatment and all through the ride across the lake. But that had been because he had been able to keep his leg straight and still. Now, after walking to the barrel and climbing in, it had reawakened the pain. And as he sat crouched, with his legs bent in effort to fit his tall frame into the barrel, it took everything for him to not groan in pain. The wound was being pulled open and he was sure by the warmth that he felt trickling down his leg that he had started bleeding again. In an effort to forget the pain and distract himself, Kili strained his ears to hear past the hollow sound of his breathing and focused on what was happening outside the wooden walls of his confines as he peeked through a crack.

He watched as the barge came close to a dock then Bard came into view as he stepped off and tied a rope to the bow line, securing the barge from floating away. Kili then watched as he walked over to a man sitting down at the other end of the dock, next to a small stall. Bard was speaking with the man when he began pointing to the barge. It was then that Kili became aware that the other stowaways were beginning to whisper to each other.

"What is going on?" whispered Dwalin.

"I cannot see," replied Gloin.

"He is turning us in! I knew we could not trust him," exclaimed Dwalin, his voice becoming louder in his outrage.

"Shush," Kili heard Bilbo silence, "they are coming over, stay still."

At this announcement, Kili steadied himself as he continued to look through the crack. His vision was slightly impaired because of the positioning but he watched Bard and the stranger shake hands as Bard passed him a handful of coins. The man pocketed the money before they walked over to the barge together out of his range of sight.

He heard the dock man give out a sharp whistle, there were some other sounds that Kili strained to identify, but before he could recognize any of the commotion, a load of something heavy and slimy came pouring down on top of him, filling in the empty spaces of his barrel. Instantly the strong briny smell of fish filled his nostrils and he did his best to stay quiet as he gagged at the stench.

He looked down in what little space he had left and saw the dead body of a fish in his lap. He heard the sound of the muffled complaints of the others and could not help but agree with their disgust. Kili had never liked fish, now he disliked them even more.

Bard gave the dock man a pat on the back and untied the stern line as he boarded the barge again. Casually, he maneuvered the till and made for the front gates of Lake Town. As they neared the gates and passed through the archway, he shushed his stowaways to silence their groanings. Not long after, he was pulling up to the boardwalk that made up the city layout of Lake Town.

"Goods inspection," shouted a man standing on the deck. "Oh it's you Bard, anything to declare?"

"Morning Percy. Nothing to declare, just eager to get home and out of the cold," replied Bard politely, handing Percy a slip of paper.

"You and me both," replied the gatekeeper as he stamped the paper and handed it back to Bard. "Have a good night."

As the gatekeeper waved Bard onward, a hunched skinny man walked over to the barge. His hair, unkempt and greasy, stuck out from under a ragged hat. The man sneered as he caught sight of Bard showing a line of crooked yellowing teeth below his thin mustache.

"Oi! Bard what do you think you are doing?" He grabbed the slip from Bard's hand. "This passage slip says empty barrels. This don't look like empty barrels to me!" he said, speaking just as poorly as he dressed.

At this, Kili looked through the crack of his barrel again to see Bard looking at the man. It was obvious that this man was not liked by Bard, nor by the other inhabitants of Lake Town by the way they all looked at him as they passed by going about their business. Bard's expression suggested that he would enjoy nothing better than to push him off the wooden dock and into the frigid water.

"And since when did bringing a load of fish into town become such a crime," Bard asked, trying to keep the hatred in his eyes from seeping into his voice as well.

"The last time I checked, you were a barge man, not a fisherman," the man said.

"Aw come on Alfred, people need to eat. What is the harm of bringing in some meat?" Bard asked.

"These fish are illegal." He signaled to a guard who had followed him. "Empty the barrels into the lake."

Kili's eyes widened as the guards walked up to the first few barrels and began to tip them over the side. Kili could hear the small splashes of the fish being dumped and he waited with bated breath for a larger splash to sound, signaling that they had been discovered. But before that could happen, Bard spoke up, causing the men to pause in their wasteful task.

"People are starving, they are struggling to keep food on the table during these hard times."

Alfred looked at Bard with a sneer. "That is not my problem."

"It will be when the people hear that the Master is dumping fish into the lake. When the riots start, then it will be your problem," corrected Bard.

Bard stared at Alfred, waiting for him to give a command.

"Stop," Alfred said quickly.

Alfred took a step closer to Bard, loathing and malice written in his face as he spoke again, this time only just loud enough that Kili had to strain his ears to catch what he was saying.

"Always the people's champion, protector of commoners, you may have won their hearts for now, but that will not last long. Be aware that the Master will not hesitate to find fault and condemn you. What would your children do then with no father for protection and their mother gone as well?" He let out an amused laugh. "The Master has his eye on you; it would do you well to remember that. We know where you live."

Bard did his best to keep his face from giving away anything that he was feeling. "It is a small town Alfred, everyone knows where everyone lives."

With that said, he began to pole the barge through the gateway and into the town. Ramshackle homes and stores passed by as they slowly floated through the canals of the lake town. Everyone looked half starved and frozen as they wore layers of threaded and dirty clothing. Bard guided them easily through the channels of water that served as streets. Occasionally he would see a guard or two watching but most faces were friendly folk who greeted Bard with good cheer. It was obvious that Bard was a well liked man of the common folk, just as Alfred had pointed out.

It did not take long before Bard was tying off the barge to the deck and began dumping out the barrels onto the deck, emptying them of the fish and stowaways.

"Follow me," Bard said to the group as he began walking down the deck and into an alleyway.

The group quickly made their way through the town, avoiding busy walkways as they took the back allies and less traveled paths. Every once in a while Bard would come to a halt as a couple of guards walked by. Once they were no longer within a distance to notice the company of dwarves, he continued on.

Thorin watched many of the townsfolk look at him and his company in shock and surprise but none of them did anything to raise alarm of their whereabouts. As a small boy, perhaps a little more than a decade old, came running up to Bard, Thorin stopped his meandering eyes to focus on him. By the looks of similarity in the boy's face and eyes, Thorin guessed he was their smuggler's son.

"Da, our house it's being watched." As he spoke he noticed the dwarves following Bard. "Who are they?"

Bard thought for a moment, his eyebrows furrowed as he rubbed his scruffy beard in thought. Then as if the idea hit him in the head he looked up at Thorin.

"I have an idea, although it is not going to be pleasant."

Thorin almost grinned as Bard gave his warning. "In the past day I have broken out of prison, been chased by orcs, was tossed around in a river, and then soaked in a barrel of fish. I do not think it can get any worse," he replied.

Bard smiled and a twinkle lit up in his eyes. "Oh I think this will."

Bard was not lying, thought Sigurd as she came up from the toilet and into the lower part of Bard's home. Bain was standing near with an arm outstretched to help her out of the toilet. She grabbed on and pulled herself up and out. Dwalin was busy whispering threats to each and every person in the room if they ever mentioned what had just happened. With wide eyes she looked about the small area and noticed two girls were standing on a staircase, watching as each member of the company emerged from the privē.

"Da, why are there dwarves coming out of the toilet?" asked the eldest.

"Will they bring us luck?" questioned the younger one, eagerly watching each dwarf as she walked up to Dwalin, taking in the large muscled dwarf with her wide eyes.

Bard ignored his daughter's questions and motioned for them to go up stairs. Once Bilbo was pulled out of the gaping hole Bard guided them upstairs to a small room that contained a kitchen and small parlour.

"You can hang your coats up to dry there," he said, pointing to a rope that hung next to the fire. "Tilda, grab some blankets from the other room. Sigrid, will you put the kettle on and find some bread and cheese for our guest?"

The youngest daughter left the room and reemerged with a stack of thinly worn blankets. Despite the fraying edges, Sigurd accepted it gratefully as she took off her soaked coat and wrapped the blanket around herself. She took a seat next to Thyra who was quietly sitting near the window as she cautiously surveyed the surrounding area with wary glances. Kili joined them with the aid of Thrade and Fili as they set Kili down next to her.

"I think his wound started bleeding again," Fili explained before moving to sit on Thyra's other side. Only Thrade had made this same move and they were each found in each other's way. They paused for a moment, both of them silently eyeing each other before it seemed Fili gave in and grabbed a stool, setting it up next to his brother to help Sigurd as she tended to Kili's leg.

Before taking on her task, Sigurd glanced to Thyra to see if she had noticed. If she had, she did not show it as Sigurd found her face blank as she remained staring out the window, ignoring Thrade's presence. Sigurd glanced past to where Thrade was sitting and found that he too had a blank face, but she could tell by the way he sat straight backed, despite his shivering form, and by the way he fisted his hands, that he was frustrated.

Sigurd had yet to actually speak with Thyra since she had yelled and screamed at her in the dungeons. The things Thyra had said had hurt. Sigurd would be lying if they had not struck a chord, however with time she had grown to understand that they had been said under stress. It still hurt, but as always, Sigurd could not find it in herself to be angry with her, or at least not anymore. If anything she was just worried for her friend.

Sigurd did not pretend to understand Thyra. She was an enigma that she believed no one understood, at least not fully. In fact, deep down, Sigurd wondered if even Thrya understood herself. Despite the surety that she seemed to expel within her aura. However, even with her lack of understanding, Sigurd knew that what had happened back in the forest, and again in the dungeon, was something she had never witnessed.

It had been a genuine loss of control, fear, and panic. Things that Sigurd had hardly ever seen hinted at one or another at any time. While she still felt her actions were inexcusable, nearly getting herself killed and lashing out on others, Sigurd had decided to forgive her. Whether she got an apology or not, she knew by the way Thyra had let her easily sit next to her that she perhaps regretted her actions. However, it seemed things were different for Thrade.

In the recent week, with their own feelings resolved and settled between them, Thrade and Sigurd had become each other's confidant in matters of the heart. Thrade had told her everything that had happened between them that night as well as any other actions, looks, or shared words. The latter being very few over the past week and by the looks of things now, would soon be close to none.

So much had changed over the months, that it was starting to become overwhelming. As important as it was to be in the here and now, to address the near world changing task at hand, Sigurd was growing tired of it. She was ready for a pause or even for things to be done so she could finally process and understand what was going on with everyone around her. Not even just everyone else, but the complicated and twisted feelings that she had within herself. Speaking of which, she finally turned back to look at Kili who had his head leaned back in a relatively relaxed expression.

He was handsome, she could not help but acknowledge.

As if he could hear her thoughts, his eyes cracked open and he sat up when he noticed her staring at him. Feeling the heat beginning to grow, Sigurd quickly bowed her head and examined his wound in an attempt to hide her blush.

Yes, complicated and twisted feelings indeed.

Sigrid handed out cups of warm tea once the kettle began to whistle and the company gratefully ate the meager meal that they were provided with. Thorin was busy peeking out the window, making sure that the area was secure when something above the roofline caught his eye.

"That is a Dwarvish windlance," he said, surprised.

"Why are you surprised to see one? What is the significance of it?" Asked Bilbo.

It was Balin who was the one who explained Thorin's surprise at the large contraption's existence.

"The last time we saw such a weapon was the day the dragon came, when Smaug destroyed Dale. Girion, the Lord of the city, rallied his bowman to fire upon the beast. But a dragon's hide is tough, tougher than the strongest armor. Only a black arrow, fired from a wind-lance, could have pierced the dragon's hide, and few of those arrows were ever made. His store was running low when Girion made his last stand. Unfortunately his last arrow did just as the others and Dale along with Erebor was lost to the dragon's flames."

"Perhaps if man's aim had been more true that day, it would have ended differently," added Thorin, when Balin finished.

Bard walked towards Thorin with a small frown on his face. "You make it sound as if you were there yourself, to talk about it with such detail and accuracy."

Thorin looked at Bard, catching onto the suspicion in his voice. "It is a tale that every dwarf or man of Dale would know," he said factually, as if it were common knowledge.

"Then you would know that when Girion hit the dragon, he loosened a scale under the left wing. One more shot and he would have killed the beast," said Bard, a hint of defensiveness in his voice.

A scoff sounded from the corner where Dwalin was sitting. "That is nothing but a fairy story lad."

"It does not matter," Thorin cut in before Bard could say something back. "That is all in the past, what matters now is we gave you our money, now where is our supplies?"

"I will get you your supplies, do not worry I will keep my word," replied Bard as he moved across the room and began grabbing cloth sacks.

"We will also need a means of getting to the other side of the lake," added Thorin.

"Aye don't worry I know what we agreed upon. Passage and supplies is what was the deal and I will get it to you."

"Thorin we were in the dungeons for longer than I thought, the first day of Autumn is today," he said worriedly as he looked at a small pocket calendar in which he had been recording their journey's timing. "Durin's day is tomorrow. We cannot stay here for too long," whispered Balin just loud enough that Bard could only make out Thorin's name.

Bard looked up from his task of filling the cloth sacks of dried fish and bread. "Thorin?" he whispered to himself.

His eyebrows furrowed as he registered the name. Then suddenly turned around, looking out the window at the lonely mountain that stood above the rooftops. He turned his gaze to Thorin with a renewed knowing look in his face.

"There are guards and spies watching the house, you will have to wait until nightfall before you leave." He walked to the door and put on his coat. "Wait here, I will arrange your passage."

It had been almost an hour and the sun was setting. The company's clothes were dry and they were becoming restless as they waited for the return of Bard.

Thorin was standing by the window smoking his pipe and gazing at the mountain that stood above. Although his eyes were focused on the mountain his mind was focused on the quiet conversations taking place around him. It was idle chit chat but there was something calming about it. The normalcy of it all. After everything he and his men, and he supposed maidens, had gone through, he felt this moment of peace was what they needed. Especially with the largest challenge of their quest fastly, yet somehow not quickly enough, approaching.

"Thorin," whispered Balin, grabbing his attention away from the mountain and to the old face of his companion. "We need to get moving, it is nearly dark and Bard has still not returned. It will at least take us nearly a full day's time to get to the door. We cannot lose any more time."

"Aye," Thorin reluctantly agreed as he put out his pipe. He looked around, his eyes finally falling onto Thyra on the other side of the room. "Bard is taking too long, it's time we find our own way across the rest of the lake. I will send Thrya out to scout for a solution," he said nodding in her direction then looking to Balin for his opinion, to which Balin agreed. Thorin nodded. "Spread word to the others to prepare to leave, as soon as she comes back, we will depart depending on if she has found something."

Balin nodded in understanding and began to move around the room, gathering supplies and recruiting the others to do the same. Thorin walked across the room to where Thyra was sitting among the other younger dwarves of their company.

"Thyra," he called when he was close enough. She turned around and stood to approach him when he nodded his head for her to come. He placed a hand on her shoulder as he spoke lowly, making sure that none of Bard's children could hear. "I need you to slip out unnoticed and scout out a way for us to cross the lake. Do you think you can do that without drawing any attention?"

She nodded up at him, her face holding a confidence that no skeptic could ever doubt. He nodded and released her shoulder as she immediately went into action. Strapping her sword to her back with the makeshift sheath she had fashioned out of what little Bard's family owned, she ignored the questions and glances directed to her by her peers as she moved about, then suddenly, she was gone. Missing from the room and Thorin could not even tell by which exit she had taken. And again, he found himself astonished at just how genuine Asha's word had been when she had guaranteed the skills of the two girls. For at that moment, he saw Kili walking around in seeming almost no pain after Sigurd had provided some more extensive care of her healing abilities.

It gave him optimism that her other promises would be fulfilled as well. That she was in fact making her way towards the mountain just as he was, that she would be at his side. At his side meaning in battle of course, he corrected his mind. But even as he thought it, his heart seemed to respond with a different answer.

Thyra was back within less than half an hour's time, appearing at Thorin's side almost out of nowhere and whispering into his ear that she had found a way across the lake. Thorin gave her an impressed nod then looked around at the group who had gathered over the past minutes.

"We cannot waste any more precious time, we need to leave as soon as we can. We have given the lake man plenty of time and Thyra has found us a way across," Throin announced, looking expectantly around the room. His eyes landed on Kili. "Kili your leg was shot earlier how is it fairing?"

Kili looked at his wound and removed the bandage to show Thorin. It was red and swollen but it looked like it was healing already.

"It is fine, it still hurts but I will not let it slow me down. Siggy did a good job bandaging it," he replied, giving a fond look to Sigurd and causing her to look down at her feet with a bashfulness.

Thorin nodded then motioned for them to head to the door where Dwalin was covertly peeking out and checking that the coast was clear.

"Wait you can't go!" cried Bain in an attempt to stop them from leaving. "The guards, they will see you."

"Do not worry Bain, we will be careful," said Thorin as he proceeded to lead the company onward. He gave a short speech of gratitude to Sigrid for her hospitality, then proceeded to follow his men out, ignoring the insistence of the young boy that they needed to wait for his father.

Thyra guided them through the shadows of the town. It was dark and most of the alleyways where empty as people were now at home with their families. Every once in a while they would have to stop as a patrolman walked in their path but all they had to do was wait for him to turn a corner and walk out of sight before moving on. Not long after their departure Thorin found that Thyra had led them to a docking deck on the north end of the town, closest to the mountain. She had been right about finding a way across. There they found several boats in a line all varying in size and style.

Thorin signaled for them to pile into the smaller row boats, while not as fast, they would be the best way for them to cross giving that only one of their group would be well enough versed in sailing to handle the bigger vessels. They filled three separate boats and by the guidance of the stars and silhouette of the mountain against the moonlight, then plotted their course for the mountain's base.

The boat ride to the shore was cold, quiet, and long. The bitter cold wind blew across the wide lake taking the frozen temperature of the water with it and making each member shutter as it seeped through their clothes. The wind was blowing just hard enough to let a light mist spray up and soak their freshly dried clothes, making the chill soak even deeper into their bones.

The boats hit the shore with a dull thud and immediately the group began disembark by jumping out and pulling the boats onto the rocky shore as they prepared to head towards the ominous mountain that loomed above them. The group gathered into a tight circle speaking softly to each other while they waited for Thorin's command.

They made their way up the foothills and came to the ruins of what looked to be once a grand city but now it laid in ruin and ash.

"Dale", said Balin in a hushed whisper. "This used to be full of so much life. People from all over came here to trade and barter. Now look at it. Nothing but cold rubble and soot."

"We will camp here for a few hours, get some rest and food before we make our ascent," commanded Thorin. "Tomorrow is Durin's day, tomorrow, we enter the mountain."

Oh Alfred, I don't know why but as despicable as he was, I loved his character in the movies. Anyways this definitely was a shortened version of what happen in both book and movies but I wanted to move things along. To clear things up, Kili was shot but the arrow was not poisoned. Next chapter we will be doing a jump ahead and dive straight into Smaug. I haven't decided how much time I want to spend with the dragon but then we will get to the dragon sickness!

If you have thoughts or events that you want to see happen before that please let me know so I don't skip over them! Otherwise I will just keep as planned.

Stay well, be safe, and keep being excellent!