Chapter 31

Ember studied the archer closely as he glared at the Company. He was quite handsome, although his clothing seemed a little careworn. He had dark brown hair with soft curls, and big brown eyes that seemed both kind and fearsome. She realized how they must have looked; a band of dwarves soaked to the skin, with a small woman in their midst. She glanced at her gown, feeling a bit modest at the way it clung to her wet body. Her hair was a mess, dripping cold water down her back. She gathered her strength, and smiled up at the man. "Thank you for your concern, my dear archer, the answer is yes, I am here of my own accord. However," she continued, as Balin shot her a quick glance, "we are in need of your assistance." Balin stepped forward, his palms open so as not to startle the archer.

"Excuse me, but you are from Laketown, if I'm not mistaken?" The man moved his eyes from Ember to stare at the dwarf before him. "That barge over there," Balin continued, "it wouldn't be available for hire, by any chance?" The man slowly lowered his bow.

"What makes you think I will help you?" he asked.

"Because you offered to help me," Ember said with a wry grin. A quick smile came and went on the man's face.

"Aye, and those boots have seen better days," Balin added. The man climbed aboard his barge, the dwarves following him at a safe distance. They watched as the empty barrels they had escaped in were loaded onto the barge. "As has that coat. No doubt, you have some hungry mouths to feed. How many bairns?" The man turned to Balin.

"A boy and two girls," came the answer.

"And your wife, I'd imagine she's a beauty."

"Aye. She was." The man looked again at Ember, his eyes softening. Kili growled protectively, and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to—" Balin was interrupted by Dwalin whispering loudly to Thorin.

"Oh, come on, come on, enough with the niceties." The man glared at Dwalin.

"What's your hurry?"

"What's it to you?" Dwalin retorted. Ember stepped forward and smacked Dwalin upside the head. The dwarf glared at her, but again the man seemed to give a brief grin.

"I would like to know who you are and what you are doing in these lands, before I consider assisting you."

"We are simple merchants from the Blue Mountains journeying to see our kin in the Iron Hills." Balin replied. The man eyed him.

"Simple merchants, you say? And the woman?" Every eye turned to Ember, who blushed deeply at her inappropriate attire, saying a quick prayer that her wet dress was dark blue and not white.

"Our kinswoman," Thorin spoke up. The man frowned, thinking this to be a lie. "Now, we'll need food, supplies, and weapons. Can you help us?" The man looked at the barrels, examining the various dents and nicks they received during the fight with the orcs.

"I know where these barrels came from," the man stated. "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 turned away, looking out towards the large lake.

"I'll wager there are ways to enter the town unseen." Ember's blue eyes twinkled with mischief, as the man gazed back at her, and finally a full grin spread across his face.

"Aye, my lady, but for that, you will need a smuggler," he replied.

"For which we will pay double," she answered. She heard Dwalin grumble behind her. The man found himself lost in her eyes, as Ember gently pushed her power towards him.

"Welcome aboard, my lady," he said, holding out a hand to help her onto the barge. "Might I have the pleasure of your name?"

"Ember," she said, accepting his hand.

"I welcome you, Lady Ember. I am Bard."

Legolas and Tauriel entered the throne room of the Woodland Realm. The Feast of Starlight had long been over, and King Thranduil sat on his high throne, extremely agitated. Ember had slipped through his fingers, and he was not one to let things leave the realm so easily. He fixed his eyes on his son and the she-elf, who approached warily, his son carrying a body in his arms. Thranduil frowned as he recognized Lindir. Rising from the throne, he stepped towards them. Legolas gently laid Lindir down on a nearby bench, as Thranduil approached. As he gazed into the piercing blue eyes, Legolas felt the disappointment wash over him. But he was surprised to find another emotion, just beneath the surface of his father's rough expression. Could it be fear? He turned to Tauriel, who still had silent tears falling from her eyes. As Thranduil looked down at the fallen elf, he realized that he could have easily been looking at the body of his son, and it troubled him greatly. Sighing, he turned to Legolas. "Such is the nature of evil. Out there in the vast ignorance of the world, it festers and spreads, a shadow that grows in the dark. A sleepless malice as black as the oncoming wall of night. So it ever was; so will it always be. In time, all foul things come forth." Legolas nodded silently.

"He was killed protecting your prisoners, my King," said Tauriel icily. "So what was the nature of evil in this case?" Thranduil backhanded her across the face at her hidden accusation, sending her reeling to the floor. Legolas rushed to her side, as Thranduil glared at them both.

"He betrayed your king, and you dare to insinuate that your King is at fault? That it was I that caused this useless death?" he snarled at the red-head. She stared up at him in fear, her cheek already bruising.

"Adar, you were the one who insisted on keeping the dwarves prisoner. You were the one who manipulated your own kin, seeking to use her for your own purposes!" Thranduil stepped back at the anger in his son's voice. "Lindir gave his life to ensure her freedom! An Orc pack was awaiting them! I only returned to gather more forces, we must…"

"Farn!" Thranduil growled. Legolas helped Tauriel to her feet. Thranduil turned to the guards in the room. "I want the watch doubled at all our borders. All roads, all rivers. Nothing moves but I hear of it. No one enters this kingdom, and no one leaves it." He watched silently as Legolas led Tauriel from the room. Legolas stopped at the door, glancing back at his father.

"What about Ember?" Thranduil glared back at his son.

"She has chosen her fate. Let her die along with the dwarves." He turned back to his throne, as Legolas stared at him in horror. Wrapping his arm about Tauriel, he silently left the room. He angrily headed towards the armory. It was time to show his father that the true meaning of family.

Bard paddled the barge slowly through the icy lake, the dwarves scattered throughout the deck. Ember lay on a small bench, her head in Kili's lap. He gently stroked her hair as she struggled against waves of nausea. The rough ride down the river had not made her feel sick, but Oin attributed that to the chaos of their escape. Now that everyone had a brief moment to relax, her body was coming to the quick realization that she hated boats. A lot. She moaned softly, when a voice cried out. "Watch out!" yelled Bofur. Ember sat up quickly at the shout, then immediately regretted moving so fast. She leaned over the rail of the barge, getting violently sick. Kili held her golden hair back, a worried look on his brow. As she clung to the rail, Ember saw large stone rock formations appear in the fog, and this is what had startled Bofur. She felt a faint rush of relief as she watched Bard expertly pole the barge through the rocks, which appeared to be ancient ruins of some sort.

"What are you trying to do, drown us?" Thorin growled. Bard chuckled.

"I was born and bred on these waters, Master dwarf. If I wanted to drown you, I would not do it here. A few miles south, maybe…" he shot a faint grin towards them.

"Oh, I've had enough of this lippy lakeman. I say we throw him over the side and be done with him." Dwalin hissed.

"I don't think I could handle travelling in a boat steered by you, Dwalin," Ember said weakly. The others chuckled lightly at her attempt to diffuse the situation. They all watched as she laid her head back down on Kili's lap, shivering slightly. Before they could protest, they watched their host move towards her. He laid his own cloak over her body, receiving a grateful look from Ember.

"You're shivering so hard, it's making my teeth rattle," Bard said. "Have you not traveled by water before?" Ember smiled.

"I have, actually. A long time ago with Gan-with a friend, but I was never sick." At this, Balin eyed her thoughtfully.

"Well, hopefully it's not my steering that is the problem," Bard replied. "Rest now, the journey won't be much longer." She closed her eyes, as Kili softly hummed to her. The others huddled together.

"Not sure I like him being so familiar with Ember," Fili muttered protectively. The others murmured their agreement.

"We do not have to like him, we simply have to pay him," Balin stated. "Come on now, lads, turn out your pockets." The dwarves began to pull out their money and valuables.

"How do we know he won't betray us?" Dwalin whispered to Thorin.

"We don't," he whispered back, watching Balin count the money.

"There's, um, just a problem: we're ten coins short." Balin muttered. Thorin eyed Gloin.

"Gloin. Come on. Give us what you have." Thorin watched as the dwarf spluttered in anger.

"Don't look to me. I have been bled dry by this venture! And what have I seen for my investment? Naught but grief and misery and…" he broke off as he realized that no one was listening to him. The others had slowly gotten to their feet, looking off into the distance. Through the thinning fog, the Lonely Mountain rose majestically into the sky. "Bless my beard. Take it! Take all of it!" Bilbo swallowed a chuckle as Gloin handed Balin a sack of coins he had been withholding. Bard quickly approached them.

"The money, quick, give it to me!" Thorin glared at him.

"We'll pay you when we get our provisions, but not before."

"If you value your freedom, you'll do as I say. There are guards ahead." Thorin turned to see the rooftops of Laketown ahead. As Balin handed Bard the coins, Bard continued. "Quickly now, into the barrels." The dwarves looked at him in surprise, but a nod from Thorin had them moving quickly. Kili made to move Ember and she groaned at the sudden movement.

"If I move, I will be sick," she moaned. Kili looked to Bard in dismay.

"The lass can stay where she is, I will ensure she is not bothered." Bard looked at her fondly, then back to Kili. Kili looked from Bard to Thorin to Ember, before placing a soft kiss on Ember's cheek, and scrambled into a barrel. The barge soon approached a dock just outside the city; Bard hopped off the boat, speaking to a man. Through a hole in his barrel, Bilbo watched Bard pointing at the barrels while he spoke.

"What's he doing?" Dwalin asked.

"He's talking to someone. And he's…pointing right at us!" If anyone could have seen Thorin's face, they would have seen a rare flash of anxiety. Had they been fools to trust this man? "Now they're shaking hands!" Bilbo continued. Dwalin groaned in fury.

"That villain! He's selling us out!" Dwalin growled angrily. Suddenly, the dwarves were startled as dead fish were poured onto their heads. They spluttered in surprise, but felt a wave of relief as the barge began to move ahead once more. As the barge finally approached the city gate, Bard kicked the barrel closest to him.

"Quiet! We're approaching the toll gate," Bard hissed. Silence fell amongst the dwarves. Ember lay whimpering softly, the smell of the fish doing nothing to help her nausea. Bard looked at her worriedly. "Try to relax, lass. The less they take notice of you, the better." She nodded warily, trying to take slow deep breaths through her mouth.

"Halt! Goods inspection. Papers please. Oh, it's you, Bard." The gatekeeper seemed pleased to see the bargeman. Bard smiled at him.

"Morning, Percy."

"Anything to declare?"

"Nothing, but that I am cold and tired, and ready for home," Bard replied, handing the gatekeeper some papers.

"You and me both!" Percy grinned. Bard glanced back at Ember as he waited for Percy to stamp the papers. "Here we are. All in order." Bard reached for the papers when a man suddenly stepped from the shadows, snatching them from the gatekeeper.

"Not so fast," the man sneered.

"Alfrid," Bard greeted the steward warily. Alfrid proceeded to read the papers, then looked at the barrels.

"Consignment of empty barrels from the Woodland Realm. Only, they're not empty, are they, Bard?" Alfrid tossed the papers to the wind, stepping towards Bard, who noticed a few Laketown soldiers behind him. "In fact, if I recall correctly, you're licensed as a bargeman, not a fisherman." He picked up a fish from the closest barrel.

"Oh come on, Alfrid. Have a heart. People need to eat!" Bard pleaded.

"These fish are illegal. The Master will not allow them into the town." Alfrid through the fish he was holding overboard, as he noticed Ember. "And a passenger, Bard?" He strode over to Ember, and froze at the sight of her. He greedily drank in her beauty. "My dear, "he cooed, "you look as though your journey has been difficult." Ember slowly raised her head. Alfrid was a small man, with greasy black hair and beady eyes. He reminded Ember of a weasel. Bard strode forward.

"She is my sister, Alfrid, and as such, has every right to enter the town as my kin." Alfrid sneered as Bard wrapped a protective arm around her shoulders.

"Sister? I certainly cannot see a family resemblance," Alfrid said suspiciously. Another barge appeared behind them, and Alfrid sighed angrily. He turned back to the guards. "Empty the barrels over the side." As the soldiers began tipping the barrels over, Bard gripped Ember's shoulders tightly.

"Wait!" Embers spoke up. She rose to her feet, catching the attention of the guards and Alfrid. She forced her power forward, holding their gazes tightly. "Folk in this town are struggling. Times are hard. Food is scarce." Her eyes blazed bright blue in the lamplight.

"And when the people hear that the Master has been dumping fish back into the lake, when the rioting starts, what will you do?" Bard added. Alfrid stared at Ember intensely, before raising his hand to the guards.

"Stop." The soldiers stopped tipping the barrels over, and returned to their posts. Ember sat back down, feeling her stomach roll over. "Ever the people's champion, eh Bard? Protector of the common folk? Seems like there is some family resemblance after all," he said glaring at Ember. "You might have their favor now, bargeman, but it won't last." Alfrid stepped off the barge, pausing for one final look at Ember, before striding away.

"You seem to be mighty persuasive, Ember," Bard said softly. She smiled back at him, her blue eyes now back to their icy blue color. She rubbed her head, feeling a little dizzy.

"Raise the gate!" Percy yelled. A large portcullis that had blocked the channel was raised, and Bard began to steer the barge into the town. As he passed Alfrid, the steward shouted out to him.

"The Master has his eye on you; you'd do well to remember. Make sure your sister is aware, as well. We know where you live."

"It's a small town, Alfrid; everyone knows where everyone lives," Bard retorted. Ember lay back down, as Bard steered the barge down the main channel through the town. After several minutes, he finally docked the barge. Quickly looking around, he knocked over the closest barrel, as hundreds of fish and one dwarf fell out. Dwalin poked his head out through the fish, and Bard made to help him.

"Get your hands off me," Dwalin growled.

"Dwalin, be nice," Ember chastised. He looked at her pale face.

"You alright, lassie?" he asked. She nodded, before leaning over the rail to throw up again. Kili ran forward as Bilbo and the others struggled out of their barrels. Bard grabbed Kili before he reached Ember.

"No offense, Master Dwarf, but you are slimy and covered in fish scales. You will not help her stomach." Kili looked at Ember achingly, but nodded his understanding. Wrapping her in his cloak, Bard helped Ember off the barge. The dock keeper was watching him in shock. "You didn't see them, they were never here," he said, slipping him a coin. "The fish you can have for nothing." The dock keeper nodded his head, as Bard turned back to the Company. "Follow me." Just as they turned, a young man raced up to Bard.

"Da! Our house, it's being watched!" Bard looked to Thorin, then at the black water of the lake channel.

"I have an idea," he said to the dwarf.

Accompanied by his son and Ember, Bard slowly walked back to his home. He quickly ushered Ember inside, before glancing around and closing the door behind him. His two daughters ran to greet him.

"Da! Where have you been?" the little one asked. He picked her up for a kiss as his other daughter frowned.

"Father! There you are, I was worried." He grinned as he pulled her close. He handed her a bag.

"Here's something to eat. Bain, get them in," he called to his son. He gently maneuvered Ember to a soft chair by the fire, and she sank down wearily. "Sigrid," he said to his oldest daughter, "make our guest some chamomile tea." Ember thanked him quietly, and he squeezed her hand gently, before turning to look out the window. Bain meanwhile had gone down the stairs to the lower floor of the home. After looking around, he knocked three times on the wall near the toilet, which was open to the lake below. Dwalin's head appeared through the hole of the toilet.

"If you speak of this to anyone, I'll rip your arms off," the dwarf muttered. Bain grinned as the dwarf began to climb out of the toilet.

"Up there," Bain pointed to the stairs, before turning to help poor Bilbo out of the hole. Tilda had followed her brother and stared in awe up as Bifur climbed out of the toilet to stand before her.

"Da…why are there dwarves climbing out of our toilet?" she called. "Will they bring us luck?" Bifur smiled at her innocence, and patted her gently on the head. She smiled shyly at him. Finally, the Company thumped up the stairs to the main floor.

Soon the Company was wrapped in blankets about the small home, their wet clothes laid out in front of the fire to dry. Some of them were still shivering and Ember, who sat cuddled on Kili's lap, reached for Fili's hand. By now, the Company knew what this ritual meant and were soon connected to each other, feeling the heat flow from their lass. "Are you sure you are up for this, lassie?" Bofur asked with worry in his eyes. She smiled fondly at him.

"I feel much better, Bofur, thank you." Kili ran his fingers through her hair, and she leaned back into his chest.

"You say you have never been seasick before, lass?" Balin asked innocently. She shook her head.

"We traveled once by the sea, as the roads had been washed out due to a flood. The sea was much rougher, like the river was, and I was not ill once. It's odd, I feel completely fine now." Balin studied her intently but before he could continue, Thorin interrupted, having caught sight of something outside.

"A Dwarvish Wind-Lance," he said in shock. Bilbo glanced out the window.

"You look like you've seen a ghost," the hobbit said.

"He has. The last time we saw such a weapon, a city was on fire. It was the day the dragon came." Balin stated sadly. Balin explained that the day Smaug destroyed the city of Dale, which lay at the foot of Erebor, Girion the Lord of the city had rallied his bowman to fire upon the beast. "But a dragon's hide is tough, tougher than the strongest armor," Balin continued. "Only a black arrow, fired from a wind-lance, could have pierced the dragon's hide, and few of those arrows were ever made." Balin finished by explaining that Girion had failed to pierce the dragon's scaly hide.

"Had the aim of Men been true that day, much would have been different," Thorin stated quietly. Bard approached the dwarf.

"You speak as if you were there," he said quietly. Thorin glanced at the others.

"All dwarves know the tale."

"Then you would know that Girion hit the dragon. He loosened a scale under the left wing. One more shot and he would have killed the beast!" Bain spoke up. The dwarves chuckled.

"That's a fairy story, lad. Nothing more!" Dwalin thumped him on the back, as Thorin turned to Bard.

"You took our money, where are the weapons?" he asked Bard. The man studied Thorin, before heading towards the stairs.

"Wait here." He headed down the stairs. After looking around to make sure no one was watching, he pulled on a rope that was hanging off of a small boat in the channel beneath the home. He grabbed a wrapped package that had been hidden under the water. He returned to the Company, laying the package on the table. The dwarves gathered around. He unwrapped the package, revealing some homemade weapons. The dwarves surveyed the tools in shock.

"What is this?" Thorin growled.

"Pike-hook. Made from an old harpoon," Bard replied.

"And this?" Fili asked.

"A crow-bill we call it. Fashioned from a smithy's hammer. It's heavy in hand, but in defense of your life, it will serve you well." The dwarves looked at each other in disgust.

"We paid you for weapons! Iron-forged swords and axes!" Gloin yelled. The others voiced their dismay.

"You won't find better outside the city armory. All iron-forged weapons are held there under lock and key! Besides, there are spies watching this house and probably every dock and wharf in the town. You cannot even think of leaving until nightfall." The dwarves grumbled, but began to settle down. Ember rose, and headed into the kitchen, which was separated from the main room by a ragged curtain. She spotted Sigrid preparing a stew.

"May I help you with this?" she asked politely. Sigrid looked at her thankfully. She wasn't used to cooking for such a large group. Finally, the meal was ready. Ember heard the dwarves talking quietly amongst themselves, and headed back into the main room with bowls. She smiled as she handed the food out to her family, noting that Tilda had seemed to take a liking to Bifur. The little girl chatted away on his lap, not understanding a word that he said in reply. Yet, they were enjoying each other's company, and that was a start. Turning, she handed a bowl to Bard, who bowed his head in acceptance. They ate quickly, praising Sigrid for the delicious stew. The girl blushed, and Ember smiled. Her dwarves sure could be charming. She sat down again on Kili's lap, and snuggled close to him.

"We will leave at nightfall," he murmured in her ear. "Sleep now, vol kaon, you need to rest." He kissed her brow, humming softly. She dropped off to sleep, unaware that their presence in Laketown would not remain a secret for long.

Okay, kind of a filler chapter, but there is another on the way...lots to happen in Laketown...