Chapter Forty-six: Secret Plans
Bella silently followed Bain as they darted through the night heavy walkways. Bard's house was still being watched, thus making it impossible for Bard to attend the secret meeting. So, it had been decided that Fili would outline their plan to Bard and the rest of the Company, while Bella would tell the townsfolk of their quest and the evacuation precautions. It was true that it would be less suspicious for Bain to be with a girl that could pass for his little sister in a pinch. But Bella found herself desperately praying that the townspeople would listen to her.
Bard and Thorin had both laughed when she voiced her concern, pointing out that she had handled an entire invasion of dwarves and made them listen to her. Between this reminder and Fili's confidence boost (a kiss and murmured, "I know you can do it"), Bella felt a little more certain of herself.
Finally, Bain stopped at a door and knocked.
"What are you about?" a voice asked through the wood.
"Nothing but watching stars," Bain answered.
The door opened allowing them in only to then be sent straight down a ladder. Bella shivered as she realized that they were going into a watertight room, like a cellar in the middle of the lake. She may know how to swim, may be a bit more comfortable with it than most other hobbits, but even she had her limits when it came to water.
She then realized that it was a cellar with scattered food items until Bain knocked on a panel and pulled a shelf back like a door. He ushered her in before closing it behind him.
Bella immediately saw possibly a dozen men and women. All looked aged before their time, even as one of the women cared for a small baby.
"Bard couldn't make it then?" one of the men asked. She recognized his voice. Percy from the toll gate.
"No, the Master is watching our house," Bain answered. "Is this everyone?"
"It is," another man said. "Your father tends to be the only one to attract the attention of the Master."
Bain crossed his arms. "It's not as if my father can help his ancestry."
"Bain?" Bella asked.
The boy shook his head. "I'll let Da tell you once we return."
"Ah, is this the reason why Bard asked to call the meeting," the second man said.
"And the reason he asked for fish," Bella confirmed. "Well, one of fifteen."
The man's and Percy's eyebrows shot upwards. "Oy," the man cried. "How'd you manage to turn the worrier into a smuggler?"
Bella raised her own eyebrow. "Admittedly, he was initially reluctant. But my fellows and I shared our mission and had enough coin so that he agreed to aid us. It is also because of this mission that he did his best to pass on the need for this meeting."
"Right then," Percy said. "We'd best get some introductions through then. I'm Percy. The other fellow you may know is Harris." He continued naming each person in attendance, even the baby.
Once he finished, Bella gave a slight curtsy. "Bella Baggins of the Shire, currently employed as a ranger and burglar." She straightened, taking a deep breath. "I am also the betrothed of Fili, grandson of Thrain son of Thror. And upon that authority, I am to tell you of our intended mission."
Several heads perked at the names of Thrain and Thror. "The Lord of the Silver Fountains?" the mother, Arly, asked.
"Thror King Under the Mountain at the Fall of Dale?" Harris asked.
Bella nodded. "The same," she answered. "It is Thror's grandson, Thorin, who was but a prince then, who has led our Company of fifteen from the Shire and to this land. But," she cautioned, "for the time being, we are here in secret. For we just escaped wrongful imprisonment by the hands of the Elvenking, and we wish to avoid the same from the Master. Or the possibility of being hand delivered to the King."
"What of the dragon?" a rough man by the name of Asher asked.
"That is the main purpose of this meeting," Bella answered. A wave of tiredness hit her.
Bain caught her arm before she stumbled.
Bella nodded her thanks. But she was forced to privately acknowledge that despite the quiet afternoon, she was still worn from all the excitement of the past twenty-four hours. Actually, she was needing to properly recover from the stress of the past two to three months.
"Where are our manners?" a white-haired woman, Hazel, cried. "Garith! Pull out a chair for her! Merid, get her something warm to drink."
One of the younger men hurriedly offered Bella a chair as a middle-aged women drew some ale from a barrel. Bella thanked them as she forced her energy to transfer from keeping her upright to being able to communicate with the people around her.
"Now," Bella said, "when the Company of Thorin Oakenshield set out from the Blue Mountains and the Shire earlier this year, we set out with the intention of reclaiming the Lonely Mountain. We did not know what we would face, nor whether the dragon Smaug still lived. As we traveled, Fili and I started to consider a growing concern: if Smaug still lived and we failed to kill him, what then? So, we started to create tentative plans. It wasn't until the past couple months that we sat down and seriously discussed the most likely ones in greater detail."
"How would you even get in the mountain?" Garith asked.
"We found a way thanks to some moon runes on an old map," Bella answered. "But you need not concern yourself with that. What Fili and I are wanting you and everyone else in this town to take care of are plans just in case Smaug still lives and decides to wreck destruction again."
"What do you suggest, Lady Bella?" Hazel asked.
"Evacuation," Bella answered. "Before we even leave for the Mountain, we want to make sure that everyone is safely hidden away on shore. A select few will ensure the illusion of people in their homes, easily controlled hearth fires, candles set in safe places. Anything that at first glance will convince a dragon that the town is still inhabited." She looked apologetically at Arly and some of the older members. "This could potentially mean going without fires during the night unless we can find suitable shelter that will hide all light."
Arly straightened. "So long as we have a way to stay out of the wind, we'll manage for a few nights," she said. "There are some in this town who can barely afford a fire during the winter at the best of times." Her words and the resulting nods caused Bella's heart to clench in response.
"We will do all that we can to make you as safe and comfortable as we are able," Bella said. "We hope to have most of the plans set into motion, if not near completion, before we reveal ourselves to the Master. Especially now that we have heard what sort of man the Master is. We want to make sure that the most vulnerable to the elements have the best shelter." Her eyes hardened as she scowled. "Even if I have to go full ranger on him, I refuse to let him bully anyone out of a proper shelter."
Hazel and a balding man, Bert, chortled, even as the rest looked a bit fearful. "Oh, that would be a sight to see, Lady," Hazel proclaimed.
"But could you, truly?" Percy asked.
Bella raised an eyebrow at him. "I have beaten Thorin King Under the Mountain in a sword draw. I have dared to have his nephews and cousins perform household chores. If I hadn't needed to keep my own presence a secret from the Elvenking, I would have dared to slap that arrogance off his face. I landed the killing blow on the Goblin King within Goblin Town. I faced down the Pale Orc Azog and slayed his beast from underneath him. If the so-called Master of the Lake is as formidable as any of these noble or ignoble leaders, tell me so that I may better prepare myself. If not, then both he and his lackey should prepare themselves to face a woman who is getting sick and tired of continually meeting rulers undeserving of their position."
"You killed a warg?" Bain gasped.
Bella smiled at his childish awe. "I did. The dwarves even insisted that I wear some of its hide on a new winter coat."
Harris chuckled. "Well, with that reputation, I would say that the Master would have something to fear. Though he may question why we haven't heard of any of these exploits."
Bella's smile shifted into a smirk. "All of those events are just from this quest," she answered. "But, if wearing the fur of the white warg will help convince the Master that my claims are true, I'll make sure to wear my coat when we first meet."
"We could even start circulating some rumors," Merid said.
"Anything else noteworthy of your companions?" Percy asked.
"My brother riddled against a creature in the dark of a cave and beat it," Bella said. "We overcame three trolls. We have the favor of Lord Elrond of Rivendell and Lady Galadriel of Lothlorien. We are friends of the skin-changer Beorn, Radagast the Brown, and Gandalf the Grey." A sly smile crossed her lips. "The Lost Maiden of the Shire and the Beast of the Green Dragon are said to travel with them," she said.
"The who and what?" Harris asked.
Bella explained the lore she and Bilbo had created around these characters and confirmed that the Lost Maiden had played a part in their beating the trolls.
The women especially latched onto the idea, conspiring how to weave the gossip into their conversations. The men asked for more details on the favor of elves and wizards, even agreed that letting it slip within the Master's and Alfrid's hearing that the Company were friends with a giant who could turn into a bear would be beneficial. Once satisfied that they had enough information to craft gossip and tall tales from, they turned to the equally pressing matter of evacuation plans.
Bella outlined plans to send people ashore to see what shelter could be found among the trees. Were there any caves? Felled trees that could easily be used to build even simple lean-tos? Any other sort of supplies that would be needed as the townspeople waited for Durin's Day to pass and up to a week beyond?
"Might there be a way to communicate once you reach the Mountain?" Garith asked.
"My father understands thrushes," Bain offered.
The people chuckled, making the boy blush red, though in embarrassment or anger, Bella didn't know him well enough to tell.
"I for one think that may work," Bella said. "A thrush should already be in the area at that time. We'll just make sure that the thrush stays with us long enough for us to investigate and then pass on our findings."
"You are willing to trust to some old wives' tale?" Harris asked.
Hazel got up and smacked him upside the back of his head as the other women voiced their protests.
"The dwarves of old had a contract with ravens for communication purposes," Bella said. "Thorin and Balin clearly remember this fact. If the dwarves could communicate with ravens, then I do not doubt that some special skill has been passed down through the race of men. Now, I suspect that we have made quite enough plans for one night," she said, standing. "I and the rest of the Company have had a trying time these past months, and I am sure that it is getting beyond Bain's bedtime. I will report what we've discussed, and once more is known than we'll meet again in order to plan properly."
"Of course, Lady Bella," Percy said, eyeing Hazel to make sure he didn't share Harris's fate.
"Good," Bella said. "Bain?"
The lad nodded, leading the way out once again.
As they headed down a walkway, an idea came to Bella. "Can you take me to the point closest to the shore?"
"Of course," he answered. "May I ask why?"
Bella smiled. "Oh, I just thought I would create a reason as to why the dear ladies of the town would be speaking of the Lost Maiden." Just at the bridge, out of sight of all, Bella released some clear, haunting notes. As a finishing touch, she sang a single line: "Home is behind, the world ahead." All as drawn out and haunting as if she was preparing to hunt her prey.
Bain's eyes were wide in a mixture of fear and awe. "Are you truly alive, or half-spirit?" he whispered.
"I am fully alive, Bain," she assured him. "Now, let's hurry on back to your home."
Once they returned, Bard wrapped Bain up into his arms. "Is all well?"
"We made it safely, Da," Bain assured him, as they came through the door.
"It was just we heard that voice," Bard said, shutting the door.
"You actually heard it all the way across town?" Bella asked. "I hadn't fully expected that, but I had hoped."
"What?" Bard asked.
"We said you had nothing to worry about," Fili said, wrapping an arm around Bella's shoulders and kissing her temple. "Though I had to wonder why the Lost Maiden made a momentary appearance."
"I had to give the ladies something to gossip about," she answered. She then recounted the meeting and thus what had prompted her to play the Lost Maiden.
"I don't know if it was fully your skill or aided by the cold waters," Bard said, "but you had me fearing ghost stories I had near forgotten."
"Thank you," Bella answered.
"I would agree on the waters possibly aiding you," Thorin said. "You were more haunting than even I recall."
"How's Kili?" she asked.
"We made sure he was snuggly tucked in," Sigrid said. "He is starting to develop a slight fever."
"But he assured us that Tauriel should be here within the next week," Fili added. "Provided that no orcs waylay her."
Bella nodded. "That's good. How much athelas do we have?"
"We have about three and a half of the initial four bundles," Oin answered. "But, if we had used as much as I would have liked to give him." The healer shook his head. "I suspect that they will last us four days if Mahal favors us."
"What is this athelas?" Bard asked.
"A healing herb," Bella answered. "It's also known as kingsfoil."
"We feed that to our pigs," Bard said chuckling. "It's about the only thing that grows consistently around here."
"Is there a way to bring some here without arousing suspicion?" Fili asked.
"I'm sure that we can figure out something," Sigrid answered. "For now, I think that we all need to get to bed. Da has another barge job in the morning and everyone else has had quite enough excitement for one day."
Bella smiled. "I fully agree with you, Bard. She is certainly a mother."
"No amount of flattery will get you out of bedtime," Sigrid said, though a smile sprouted to her lips.
"Wouldn't dream of it," Bella answered. A few minutes later, she lay on the floor with Fili at her back, his arm round her waist and their fingers intertwined.
"If separation is this bad even before our souls unite," Fili whispered, "I am never leaving your side for more than a day."
"Then we best start praying for eternal peace once Erebor is reclaimed," she whispered back. "Because I am not going onto any battle field."
His warm chuckles tickled her neck before he pressed a chaste kiss there. "Indeed, Amralime."
She released a soft breath through her nose, fully relaxing for the first time in months. Then she knew no more.
Author's Note: And thus ends the Company's first day in Lake Town. Admittedly, not much but laying groundwork.
Actually . . . I don't really have anything to say since everything seems pretty straightforward and I don't really have any extra thoughts. So, please, drop me a comment or two. It can be as short and sweet as "I enjoyed it," or you can blow me away with a paragraph or two about what you've read so far. I always love hearing from you and do my best to answer if able. Until next time.