I pushed my way to Dwalin's side. I gently grab his arm gently and had him lower the branch. He looked at me.
"I don't think he's a threat." I whisper. Dwalin sighed but still held the branch as I kept my hands on his arms.
"Excuse me, but, uh you're from Laketown, if I'm not mistaken? That barge over there, it wouldn't be available for hire, by any chance?" Balin asked. I notice a boat right behind the Man as the man lowered his bow. The man climbs aboard the barge and we approach slowly.
"What makes you think I will help you?" The man asked.
"Thos boots have seen better days." Balin said. The man starts loading the empty barrels onto his barge. "As has the coat. No doubt you have some hungry mouths to feed. How many bairns?"
"A boy and two girls." The man said. I smile. I had a soft spot for children. Dwalin looked at me and I smile at him. He smiled but looked back at the man.
"And your wife, I'd imagine she's a beauty." Balin said.
"Aye. She was." The man said. I saw Balin's smile fade. I could tell Dwalin was getting impatient.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..." Balin began.
"Oh, come on, come on, enough with the niceties." Dwalin said. The man looked at us and stood up straight. Dwalin tensed as he glared at the man.
"What's your hurry?" The man asked.
"What's it to you?" Dwalin growled.
"Dwalin. Shush." I said.
"We are simple merchants from the Blue Mountains journeying to see our kin in the Iron Hills." Balin said.
"Simple merchants, you say?" THe man said, his eyes land on me. Dwalin pulled me close to his side. "And you have a young girl that travels with you."
"I'm..." I began.
"She's my daughter." Thorin said. I nod.
"I am." I said.
"We'll need food, supplies, weapons. Can you help us?" Thorin asked. The man looks at the barrels. There were various dents and nicks from the fight with the orcs.
"I know where these barrels came from." The man said.
"What of it?" Thorin asked.
"I don't know what business you had with the elves, but I don't think it ended well. No one enters Laketown but by leave of the Master. All his wealth comes from trade with the Woodland Realm. He will see you in irons before risking the wrath of King Thranduil." The man said. He boards the barge and tosses the rope to Balin. Balin looks at Thorin.
"Offer him more." Thorin said. Balin turned to the man.
"I'll wager there are ways to enter that town unseen." Balin said.
"Aye. But for that, you will need a smuggler." The man said. He turned and saw Balin standing there.
"For which we will pay double." Balin said. The man looked at us suspiciously.
"Get on." The man said. Dwalin gently pushed me forward and I got on with the rest of the dwarves. The man pushes away from the dock and we went down the river towards the lake. I stood with the dwarves. It was foggy. I crossed my arms from the cold as I shiver. I felt strong arms wrap around me and pull me close.
"Dwalin." I said.
"Helping you stay warm, love." Dwalin said. I laid my head on his shoulder as I felt myself warming up.
"Watch out." Bofur said. I look up to see a large stone formation appear out of the fog. The man moves the barge between the formation. They looked like ancient ruins.
"What are you trying to do, down us?" Thorin growled.
"I was born and bred on these waters, Master Dwarf. If I wanted to drown you, I would not do it here." The man said. Dwalin growled as he looked at Thorin, not letting me go.
"Oh. I have enough of this lippy lakeman. I saw we throw him over the side and be done with him." Dwalin said.
"Ohh, Bard, his name's Bard." Bilbo said, sighing angrily
"How do you know?" Bofur asked.
"Uh I asked." Bilbo said.
"I don't care what he calls himself, I don't like him." Dwalin said.
"You don't trust easily." I whisper.
"We do not have to like him, we simply have to pay him. Come on now, lads and lass, turn out your pockets." Balin said. I had over my sack of gold I had as the dwarves give the money.
"How do we know he won't betray us?" Dwalin asked.
"We don't." Thorin said. Balin counts the money.
"There's um, just a problem. We're ten coins short." Balin said. Thorin sighed as he crossed his arms and looked at Gloin.
"Gloin. Come on. Give us what you have." Thorin said.
"Don't look at me. I have been bled dry by this venture! And what have I seen for my investment? Naught but misery and grief and..." He trailed off as the dwarves stood up and looked in the distance. The fog thins. I grin as I see the Lonely Mountain come into view. "Bless my beard. Take it. Take all of it." Gloin hands Balin a sack of coins. Bilbo coughs and gestures his head toward Bard, who was approaching us.
"The money, quick, give it to me." Bard said, holding out his hand.
"We'll apy you when we get our provisions but not before." Thorin said.
"If you value your freedom, you'll do as I say. T here are guards ahead." Bard said. I turn and look to see the rooftops of Laketown in the distance. Thorin nods and Balin hands over the money.
"Get in the barrels." Bard said. Dwalin helped me into one of the barrels. I watch as he got in the barrel next to me. Bard moves the barge to a dock just outside the city. I watch as he hops off and speaks to a man.
"Shh, what's he doing?" Dwalin asked.
"He's talking to someone." I said. Bard points back at the barrels as he talks to the man. "And he's pointing rigth at us." Bard shakes the man's hand. "Now they're shaking hands."
"What?" Thorin asked.
"That villain! He's selling us out!" Dwalin growled. We listen nervously. Dead fish started pouring into the barrels.
"Oh Durin." I said as the smell was not good. The barge begins to move again.
"Oh God." Dori said. One of the barrels kicked by Bard.
"Quiet! We're approaching the toll gate." Bard said.
"Halt! Goods inspection. Papers please. Oh, it's you Bard." The Gatekeeper said. I move a fish so I could look out of the hole. Bard stops the boat up to the gatekeeper's office as the Gatekeeper steps out to look at him.
"Morning Percy." Bard said.
"Anythign to declare?" Percy asked.
"Nothing, but that I am cold and tired, and ready for home." Bard said. He hands the gatekeeper some papers.
"You and me both." Percy said. The gatekeeper takes the papers and goes into his office to stamp them. Bard looks around wairly. Percy comes back. "Here we are. All in order." He holds up the papers but a greasy looking man steps out of the shadows and grabs the papers.
"Not so fast." The man said. He reads the papers and looks at the load. "Consignment of empty barrels from the Woodland Realm. Only, they're not empty, are they, Bard." The man tosses the papers into the wind and approaches him. Soldiers come out behind him. "If I recall correctly, you're licensed as a bargeman, not a fisherman." He picks up a fish from a barrel and holds it up to Bard..
"That's none of your business." Bard said.
"Wrong. It's the Master's business, which makes it my business." The man said. I didn't like the man.
"Oh come on Alfrid, have a heart. People need to eat!" Bard said.
"These fish are illegal." Alfrid said. Alfrid throws the fish into the water and turns to the soldiers. "Empty the barrels over the side." The soldiers move to comply.
"You heard him. Into the canal. Come on, get a move on." The captain said. I felt my barrel start tipping. I put my hand to my mouth to stop from screaming.
"Folk in this town are struggling. Times are hard. Food is scarce." Bard said.
"That's not my problem." Alfrid said.
"And when the people hear the Master is dumping fish back in the lake, when the rioting starts, will it be your problem then?" Bard asked. There was silence for a little bit. I closed my eyes as I waited.
"Stop." Alfrid said. I sigh in relief softly as my barrel was set down. I look out the hole as the soldiers step off the barge.
"Ever the people's champion, eh, Bard? Protector of the common folk? You might have their favor now, bargeman, but it won't last." Alfrid said. He walks away.
"Raise the gate!" Percy said. The gate was raised and Bard moves the barge through. Alfrid turns towards Bard.
"The Master has his eye on you. You'd do well to remember. We know where you live." Alfrid said.
"It's a small town, Alfrid, everyone knows where everyone lives." Bard said. We were now in Laketown.
AN: New chapter up. Hope you enjoyed. Till next time.