Note: Italics is thoughts, unless specified otherwise i.e flashbacks or visions. / is timeskip
ALEXA'S POV
It just had to be fish Alexa thought, a chocked gasp leaving her as she held in her vomit. She sat uncomfortably inside the barrel, unable to move as the weight of the fish forced her to remain in her crouched position.
Before the monstrosity which is fish was dumped onto them. The Dwarves, as usual, were as suspicious as ever, and automatically assumed that Bard was selling them out. Which was fair enough, I mean he did point towards them and shake hands with that guy. But come on!
Even though Alexa hadn't known Bard for very long, hell it's been about forty-five minutes tops. But with the force on her side, Alexa could sense whether or not Bard had ill intentions. Other than that, she was a good enough judge of character to know that Bard meant them no harm. Well, not serious 'this world ain't big enough for the two of us' kind of harm anyways.
"Oh, god," She heard Dwalin groan, making her chuckle, took the words right out of my mouth.
Not long after a thud sounded, a growl following it. It didn't take much for Alexa to comprehend that Bard had kicked the burly Dwarf's barrel in an attempt to shut him up.
"Quiet. We're approaching the tollgate,"
"Halt! Goods inspection. Papers, please. Oh, it's you, Bard," A new voice sounded, their voice muffled by the fish, probably the gatekeeper Alexa mused. Oh, force let this be quick!
"Morning, Percy," Bard said, stopping the boat next to the gate.
"Anything to declare?" Percy asked, his tone mandatory. Must be friends, thank the force for that. I can't wait till I'm out of this weirdly sticky barrel.
"Nothing, but that I am cold and tired and ready for home," Bard replied,
"You and me both. There we are. All in order," Percy said, his words making Alexa sigh in relief.
"Not so fast," Blast what is it now?
"'Consignment of empty barrels from the Woodland Realm.' Only, they're not empty are they Bard?" A new person lectured Bard. Alexa held her breath at the man's words; she had a bad feeling about this.
"If I recall correctly, you're licensed as a bargeman. Not a fisherman," The man continued, his voice making Alexa shiver uncontrollably; there was something wrong with that man. The creaking of floorboards sounded as multiple pairs of feet walked around the boat, all no doubt belonging to several guards.
"That's none of your business," Bard stated,
"Wrong. It's the Masters business which makes it my business," The man replied. Alexa frowned at the man's words, was there some kind of dictatorship going on here?
"Oh, come on, Alfrid, have a heart. People need to eat," Bard said, pleading the man for mercy. People need to eat? Were the people being starved? What is happening? Alexa thought, seriously worried. The conversation between the two men made her uneasy; After all, it had been her job, her life to bring peace and justice.
"These fish are illegal. Empty the barrels over the side," Alexa's eyes widened at the man's words, she stiffened in her barrel. Unable to do anything but breathe as she waited for their fate to be known.
"You heard him. In the canal. Come on, get a move on," Another man yelled; the clinking of metal followed by the scraping of wood met Alexa's ears. It didn't take her long to realize they were about to dump the fish back into the water; revealing the company and outing Bard.
"Folk in this town are struggling. Times are hard. Food is scarce," Bard continued; his voice was almost desperate. Which it should be, force knows what repercussions he could get for smuggling the company in.
"That's not my problem," Alfrid dismissed, his words making Alexa roll her eyes, what an idiot . Not long after the sounds of splashing started. Oh, force, do something Bard!
"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 responded, his tone threatening. Seconds passed before Alfrid spoke again.
"Stop," He muttered as the word left him the splashing had stopped. A sigh left Alexa, man were they indebted to Bard.
"Ever the peoples champion eh, Bard? Protector of the common folk. You might have their favour now, bargeman but it won't last," Alfrid snapped at Bard, threatening him back. The creaking of floorboards the only clue of the guard's departure.
"Raise the gate!" Percy commanded, allowing Bard and unknowingly the company inside the gates of the town. A sigh of relief left Alexa as she felt the boat begin to move again.
"The Master had his eye on you. You'd do well to remember: we know where you live," The slimy voice of Alfrid shouted, though his voice came through more like a whisper from the distance and the fish.
"It's a small town Alfrid. Everyone knows where everyone lives," Bard stated matter-of-factly as he guided the boat through the town.
Alexa cracked a grin at his words, unfortunately for her, that small movement caused a fish to slip down her face to her cheek. Her nose scrunched up as the smell of fish was now directly under her nose. This could not get any worse Alexa thought, gagging at the awful smell.
Soon, the boat had stopped and Bard had begun tipping over the barrels. At least that's what she had gathered from the grunts and groans erupting around her. Turns out she was right, as the fish around her was suddenly removed from her body and the wooden floorboards of the deck greeted her.
A groan slipped from her mouth as she lay half in half out of the barrel, the fish everywhere. Seeing a pair of boots in front of her, she tilted her head up towards the owner. Her neck releasing several satisfying cracks with the movement. A rather crazed looking Nori stood before her, his hair all puffy and wild from their previous escapades.
With a grin his hand grabbed her outstretched hand, pulling her out of the barrel. After a few slips and slides, Alexa got to her feet with Nori's well-needed assistance.
Thanking Nori, Alexa took in their surroundings. The town looked run down and filthy, the people were most likely poor she thought, thinking back to the conversation between Bard and the other men on board. Before she could think much more of it, something tugged at her hair making her jump. As quick as a flash, Alexa grasped the source of the pain and with it a hand. Wait what?
Turning her attention from the hand to its owner, a single eyebrow raised as she looked at Nori. Silently questioning her friend's motive. Without speaking, Nori tapped the hand holding his. The action caused Alexa to release her grip on his hand.
A disgusted look overcame Alexa's features as Nori pulled a fish head out of her hair. Oh, force! Alexa gagged, watching as he discarded the fish head over the side.
"Ewwwww gross, gross. Why did it have to be fish?!" Alexa whined, jumping onto Nori and wrapping her arms and legs around him like a koala in an attempt to escape the fish.
A grunt escaped the Dwarf beneath her as he wrapped his arms around her. Trying to get a better hold on her, as she scrambled up his body to get away from the fish.
"Seriously Al? It's just fish," he snickered,
"Don't you even start right now Nori. I have been violated by those fish, and I am not coming down until you carry me away from those slimy monsters," Alexa said, tightening her arms around his neck to show the Dwarf she wasn't kidding.
"Ookay OKAY. Mahal Al, let me… let me breathe," Nori wheezed as black spots started to cloud his vision.
"Oh, sorry No," she replied bashful, releasing her tight grip on the Dwarves throat so he could breathe properly again.
With her arms still securely wrapped around his neck, Nori lifted her slightly so he could get a better grip. Then walked as steadily as he could through their counterparts, who were still scrambling around in the fish themselves.
As Nori was carrying her, Alexa was silently thanking the sturdiness of Dwarves. There was about a ten-inch difference between herself and Nori, and yet he still carried her off the ground with ease.
"Wha's this I see?" the thick accent of Bofur asked, a teasing tone in his voice.
"Go suck a rock Bofur," Alexa muttered over Nori's shoulder, as she was carried off the boat.
"No need ta be rude lass, it was jus' a question," Bofur teased, his dark brown eyes twinkling.
A huff left Alexa, as Nori placed her down beside the playful Dwarf. "And jail is just a room," she quipped back, a smile twitching at her lips.
Before their banter could continue, Bard had instructed them all to follow him. Walking through the town, it was clear that they stuck out like a sore thumb. With several of the townspeople taking notice of the thirteen Dwarves, one Hobbit, and woman in strange clothes. Which was to be expected, not everyone could have an invisibility cloak, right?
Alexa had never wished for her cloak more as Bard led them through the town. She had already gotten some strange looks, no doubt due to her Jedi uniform. Keeping her head down, she followed in the footsteps of the Dwarf in front of her. They all weaved through crowds as quietly and quickly as possible, trying not to cause a scene or get noticed by anyone who might snitch on them. Despite their efforts, it wasn't long before a guard saw them.
"Halt! In the name of the Master of Laketown, I said halt!" he yelled, gaining the attention of all the surrounding villagers and nearby guards.
"Come on! Move!" Thorin muttered, quickly moving in the opposite direction of the guard.
Alexa followed after, with the rest of the company. Thorin suddenly stopped, as a guard blocked his path. His action making herself as well as several other Dwarves ram into each-other as they came to a sudden stop. A groan left Alexa as she slammed into Dori, then another as something solid hit her back. A quick sorry was muttered from the Dwarf behind her, as they all scurried away from the guard in front of Thorin.
"Alexa, watch out!" Ori called, holding a stick with a bag or something on the end.
Without question, Alexa dove over some baskets of food, a grunt leaving her as she landed hard on her side. She watched as Ori thrust the stick out towards a guard who stood where she was previously. Bombur was on his hands and knees behind the guard, making him fall over with the momentum.
Alexa looked around the company, who were all handling themselves incredibly well using their fists and whatever they could reach. Getting to her feet, Alexa joined the fight. A man in armour ran at her, clearly a guard. He held a spear sort of weapon in his right hand, raising it as he ran at her.
Twisting her hips, she moved her right foot back and her left forward and bent her knees slightly; in a defensive pose. She neglected using her lightsaber, as she didn't need it. Raising her fists, she closed her eyes momentarily, feeling the force flow through her. Sensing the guard's presence in front of her, she opened her eyes just as the man thrust his spear at her.
Releasing a deep breath, she leapt over the guard, avoiding the spear. Using his surprise against him, she quickly kicked the back of his dominant leg, sending him to his knees. She dealt him another blow, this time to his back; making him fall face-first onto the wooden floorboards.
Sensing another oncoming form behind her, she quickly snatched the spear from the fallen guard's side. Swiftly turning, she spun the wooden stick skillfully in her hands, circling her body in figure eight. She faced the oncoming guard with a smirk on her face, the head of the spear facing down her thigh.
The man ran at her, a yell in his throat. He thrust his spear at her, which she skillfully blocked with her own. Alexa had to admit, the guard before her was good but not as good as her. Seeing a blind spot in the man's form, she whacked his spear once more; the action and force of her swing snapping it in half. Swiftly she sent one sharp kick to the guard's abdomen. Now winded, Alexa took advantage of his state and spun the spear over her head. Before promptly bringing the wooden end down on his head, with a crack; rendering him unconscious.
Adrenalin pumped through her veins, giving her a heady rush. Glancing back towards the company who was still fighting, she looked for anyone who needed any help. She watched as Balin whacked a guard with a paddle, with Thorin following after and knocking said guard out with a log. Then Kili and Fili tripped another guard with some rope, with Gloin silencing the guard with one blow.
A sense of pride filled Alexa at seeing her companions defend each other. Looking around the scene, she noticed a guard with a raised spear running towards Ori.
"Ori!" Alexa shouted as a guard ran towards the unexpecting Dwarf.
Ori turned swiftly, with the stick still in hand. He thrust it out just as the guard came into reaching distance; knocking the guard down. A pained groan left the guard before he was silenced by Dwalin who made quick work of him; knocking him out where he lay and hastily dragged his unconscious body out of sight. The fight ended when Nori disposed of the last guard, bashing his head with a frying pan.
Sensing more guards approaching, Alexa hid behind a stack of cabbage baskets. A smile briefly etched on her face as she watched the townsfolk hide the unconscious bodies of the guards with strategically placed ropes and baskets.
"What's going on here?" a strained voice shouted,
"Stay where you are, nobody leaves," the man continued, his voice filled with authority. Must be the Captain of the guards Alexa mused, watching the group of guards from her hiding spot.
She watched as Bard approached the man and began talking with him. She strained her ears, to pick up on what they were saying. Something about not looking for nothing? A dull thud sounded close by, the sudden noise making Alexa duck behind the stacks of baskets. And good timing too, as the Captain had looked down towards her only a few seconds later.
Waiting a few moments, she slowly rose her head to check if he was still there. Seeing that he wasn't she averted her gaze back to Bard, who was now blocking the Captain and holding a dress?
"What do you know of my wife?" she heard the Captain say, instantly piquing her interest.
"I know her as well as any man in this town,"
Alexa's face flushed a dark red at Bard's suggestive comment, what? She watched as the Captain snatched the dress out of Bard's hands and marched away with the remaining guards following closely behind.
Once they had disappeared, Bard had told the company to follow him once more. So, Alexa trailed after him with Bilbo at her side. She could feel her friend's stare and knew then that her cheeks were still noticeably red. Blast her pale skin!
As they wandered under buildings and over docks, a young boy with dirty brown hair ran towards them. In particular, Bard.
"Da! Our house, it's being watched," The boy spluttered, his voice loud enough for Alexa and Bilbo to hear at the end of the company. So, this is Bard's boy…
Bard's gaze travelled over the company, before landing on Alexa. She stared back at the man, confused about why he was staring at her. Alexa watched as Bard seemed to be having an internal conversation and turned back to his son, before motioning for the company to follow him. Exchanging a look with Bilbo, she followed along with the company. Shortly after Bard stopped in the middle of the path.
"Into the water, all of you. Quickly," he muttered lowly, motioning the company to the edge of the path.
Alexa's eyes widened along with Bilbos as they were shooed into the water. Her breathing quickened as the cold water lapped at her stomach, her knuckles were white as she held tightly onto the edge.
And it just got worse.
