Slowly the company of Dwarf's, Elves and a hobbit made their way towards lake town the elven boat's silently cutting through the water. Eventually they arrived at what appeared to be a dock in front of the Master of Lake town's house.

Quickly jumping from the boat Hadrian looked around in disgust the whole of Lake town was run down badly maintained and the people clearly, we are living hand to mouth, yet the master's house was a tall three-story building maintained almost perfectly with the expensive carving's and trapping's that was expected on the house of a merchant in a successful city.

The clear greed and corruption present sett Hadrian on edge, glancing at Thranduil and Thorin Hadrian was greeted with similar sneer's. As Fili and Kili the nephews of Thorin pulled Bilbo up and out of the boat a small man dressed in black peered out of the window at them before slinking back into the shadows.

A moment later the door burst open revealing a fat man in badly fitting clothing and thinning greasy ginger hair that was combed over a large bald patch to hide it yet only manged to accentuate the problem. Beaming at the company on his door step the Man cried out, "Welcome to lake town could you please inform me the Master of Lake town who you are and why you are hear?"

raising an eyebrow in disbelief Hadrian whispered, "I don't know if I should be more disturbed by the fact that he dosent recognise the face's on the coin's from his town's only source of income or the fact that he just referred to himself as me the Master of Lake town."

Shrugging slightly Thranduil whispered in reply, "the way he referred to himself." Turning back to Master of Lake town Hadrian in a loud clear voice that carried to the crowd's of people gathering to see what was happening said, "We have come to Lake town to make an announcement and will only do so in half an hour in the town centre assuming it still exists."

Nodding with a strained smile the master of the town said, "we will gather everyone to hear your announcement. "within half an hour the centre of Lake town was crowded with men, woman and children. Nodding to Thorin Hadrian signalled that he should start.

Taking a deep breath Thorin stepped forward and in a booming voice began saying, "I am Thorin Oakensheild son of Thrain son of Thror and I am the King under the Mountain. Tommorow My company and I will be heading back to Erebor to try and reclaim the mountain from Smaug."

Pausing for a moment Thorin scanned the crowd's gathered and was pleased to see that while not agreeing with then they weren't against the idea. Glancing at the elves Thorin continued saying, "However, this action on our part directly affects the people of lake town and if we fail for whatever reason lake town and it's people would be in danger."

Murmurs of anger and discontent quickly began spreading across lake town until Thorin raised his voice above the crowd's and said, "which is why I have negotiated with High King Hadrian and King Thranduil a place for the people of lake town to remain in safety while we try to reclaim the mountain."

Satisfied that they had a place of safety the people of Lake town calmed down. Leaning forward Hadrian nodded to Thranduil who quickly stepped forward and said, "We have set aside a large storage cave that the people of lake town used to leave the barrals of fish in until the barge man began delivering the fish directly to our city." Before Thranduil could continue a tall dark-haired man that despite the worn cloth's and slightly dirty appearance was almost identical to Girion the last lord of Dale.

Bowing quickly towards Hadrian the man said, "forgive me for interrupting but I would like to ask what happen's if lake town is destroyed." Remembering the image of the man slaying Smaug in his vision Hadrian replied, "that depends on you. If you stay we will help you rebuild and if you want to move to greener pastures, then we will help you get there."

Satisfied the man bowed once more and stepped back into the crowd. With a ugly scowl on his face the Master of the Lake said, "Now look here I will not have you outsiders coming in here and telling my people what to do so that you can reclaim Erebor and scam the survivors of Dale out of what is rightfully their's."

Turning to the disgusting selfish man Thorin sneered in disgust as he said, "As a gesture of the Durin's folk's gratitude and Thanks to the elves it has already been decided that once Erebor is reclaimed everything in the Dwarven Kingdom's will be audited to separate that which solely belongs to the dwarf's, that which has been taken from the elves during raids on their cities and stronghold in age long past from all but elven memory."

Pausing for a breath Thorin was interrupted as the Master of Lake town began screeching, "you see, you see they are going to steal the wealth of our ancestors from us." Growling lowly Fili and Kili moved toward' s the master of the Lake only to be hauled back by Oin and Gloin.

Raising his voice above the Master of the Lake's shrill voice Thorin yelled, "and that which belongs to the Men of Dale will be returned to the Men of Dale." Scowling lowly the Master's assistant moved forward and grinning greedily up at Thorin hissed, "They are just saying that so that they can keep the gold for them self's."

Murmur's of worry and confusion spread through the crowd shaking his head Thorin in a booming voice yelled, "That which belongs to the men of Dale will be returned to the men of Dale if we wanted to take the gold of your people we would not have stopped in Lake town to offer you safety from Smaug."

Ignoring the master's screeching the company began climbing back into the boat's and began sailing away from lake town. As the Dwarf's and were climbing out of the boat's at the edge of the lake Hadrian spotted the Barge man making his way toward' s them.

Once the barge came to a stop the man bowed quickly to them and said, "I'm not sure if I introduced myself earlier but I am Bard and I would like to inform you that the majority of lake town is willing to take you up on your offer." nodding happily Hadrian replied, "thank you for informing us Bard your people have a week until the dwarves try and reclaim Erebor to make their way to the cavern."

Turning back to his barge Bard pulled a long cylindrical object wrapped in cloth then presented it to Hadrian. Accepting the object Hadrian pealed back the layers of dirty cloth to reveal one of the wind lances gifted to the last lord of Dale.

Shifting nervously Bard said, "this is one of only two wind lances that we have supposedly my great grandfather Lord Girion knocked one of Smaug's scales of with this lance." Nodding Hadrian looked over the lance and was surprised to find that it had been altered.

Frowning Hadrian showed the lance to Thorin as he said, "this lance has been altered." Running his finger's threw his hair Bard stepped back in surprised before a look of realisation crossed his face. Looking Hadrian in the eye Bard said, "there were rumours that the lace was damaged when it removed Smaug's scale and that the dwarf's how fled Erebor altered it so that it could still be used."

Nodding in remembrance Dwalin stepped forward and said, "yes I remember the remaining weapon's crafters and Black smith's made the lance so that it could be fired from a bow or wielded like a spear."

Once Bard had left returning to begin moving people and their belonging's to safety Thranduil and his elves made their way back to the palace while the dwarf's, hobbit and Hadrian began the long trek through the empty landscape.

After three day's of walking they reached the empty shell of Dale it's blackened stone and the occasional crumbling wall lending an air of silent horror and sadness to the city. Gazing up at the ruin's in awe Bilbo, Fili and Kili all began debating what Dale would have looked like and what all the different part's of the city were used for.

Watching the younger one's exploring the city Thorin sighed, "when I was young one of the elder's of my grandfather's council told me not to judge the elves for their reclusive tendencies as a man will live through one major event that shapes the history of middle earth and Dwarf's can live through two but the elves will live through every major event good and bad. They will remember the peace and the darkness of ages past while everything changes around them."

Pausing to contemplate what Thorin said Hadrian replied, "I have heard many of the older elves who remember Gondolin, Menegroth and Nargothrond say similar thing's but I personally am to young to truly understand what the older elves talk about. After all I'm only nearly 4 and a half centuries old."

Behind Hadrian and Thorin Fili choked on his water staring at Hadrian in shock before gasping, "Only four and a half century's your bloody ancient not young." Laughing at Fili's shock Hadrian replied, "if at 4 and a half centuries is ancient to you what is my mentor Cirdan after all he has been around since the years of the tree's?"

Shaking his head in denial Fili whispered, "if he is that old then he should be dust." Turning to Thorin Hadrian whispered loudly, "I think I broke your nephew."