Authors Note: I am SO sorry it took so long to get this out. I actually just spent an hour and a half writing this all. I've been super sick the past week and some. I caught a cold and somehow it turned into laryngitis and I lost my voice due to it. I just had no energy and couldn't keep myself focused on anything for long periods of time. Plus procrastination. But I had the house to myself for the day, (on top of finally getting over my cold, which is just a bad cough now), so I was able to finally sit down and put on the movie so I could write the new chapter. I'm guesstimating I only have about 2 or 3 more chapters to write before I have to stop and wait for the movie.
Speaking of which, WHO'S TOTALLY EXCITED FOR IT?! I watched the new trailer the other day and ugh, it looks so amazing. I wanted to cry knowing what's coming. Granted I've never actually read the books XD Believe it or not, I didn't get into the LOTR or Hobbit fandom until DoS ._. And this story came out shortly after that.
ANYWAY! I should stop rambling so you can read the story. I'll try and get another chapter out sooner than a week. I'm hoping. Fingers crossed! Enjoy~!
Disclaimer: I own naught but Sylwen and Lucy.
The silence was thick in the air, the Dwarves whispering among themselves, a few casting glances in their direction. Well, rather towards Sylwen. They were uneasy in the presence of an elf. That much was clear to her. Though if she were in their shoes, and by what Bard had observed earlier, after just escaping the elves, she wouldn't be too keen on seeing another so soon after.
She cast her gaze backwards, lingering on the forest they had just left. Mirkwood Kingdom. King Thranduil. She recalled her father speaking of him from time to time, though she never paid much attention to mention of the King. He sounded rather stuck up and unpleasant all around.
As the fog began to obstruct her view, her gaze unconsciously shifted to the Bargeman. Her mind flitted back to their moment earlier, feeling butterflies in her stomach. It then brought her to the question..
What was it? Well it was obviously a kiss. Correction. An almost kiss. But what did it mean? Had it just been a one time thing, or perhaps he did feel something towards her. Though at the back of Sylwen's mind, the thought of his wife still plagued her.
A soft ahem came from beside her, drawing her out of her thoughts, causing her to realize she had been caught staring as Bard looked down at her, a soft smile playing on his lips. A blush blossomed across her cheeks before she heard movement to her right, turning her head as she found the Hobbit sitting beside her. She had never actually met one before, merely heard of them.
"Hello." He offered awkwardly, after finally catching her attention.
Sylwen stumbled with her words a bit, trying to regain her composure as she cleared her throat again. "I'm sorry, I was just off in my own world." She laughed weakly, feebly apologizing. To which the Hobbit only chuckled quietly.
"It's quite alright. I'm Bilbo Baggins." He introduced himself to her, holding his hand out. He had gotten tired of listening to the Dwarves grumbling and complaining, and curiosity brought him to the young elven woman.
Sylwen smiled softly. The little hobbit was definitely more appeasing than the Dwarfs. "Sylwen." She said, taking his hand as they shook. Once they separated their hands, Sylwen glanced at the Dwarves once more. "Did they send you over?" She asked curiously.
Bilbo shook his head. "No. No!" He cleared his throat slightly, though they hadn't actually sent him over, it was something he wouldn't put past him. "I was just.." Bilbo tried to word his question properly. "It's rare to see an elf so far out this way." He tread carefully.
"I'm not from Mirkwood if that's what you're worried about." Sylwen assured him, and she could see his shoulders visibly relax. "Actually, Bard saved my life." She said, gesturing back to him since he hadn't bothered introducing himself yet. Though she didn't think he was going to.
Bilbo sat quietly and listened as Sylwen explained how she had ended up where she was. He wanted to feel sorry for her, though he hadn't experienced memory loss, he didn't think it was quite pleasant. But despite it all, she seemed to be happy where she was. So he figured there was no need for pity in this situation.
Large rock formations came into view through the fog, Sylwen glancing up as she realized they weren't heading in the normal direction back home.
"Watch out!" One of the dwarves shouted, fearing they were going to crash the boat.
Bard was silent though as he kept his concentration on maneuvering the barge, knowing these waters like the back of his hand.
They all watched as the barge slid by with ease, though thoroughly unimpressed.
The one from earlier, who seemed to be the leader of the company, turned round on the Bargeman, clearly on edge. "What are you trying to do, drown us?" He snarled out.
Bard's eyes snapped down toward the Dwarf, the tension rising in the air.. "I was born and bred on these waters Master Dwarf." He replied smoothly. "If I wanted to drown you, I would not do it here." He stated as if it was a simple fact, leaning into the ore as their direction changed very slightly.
Sylwen bit her lip slightly as the two stared each other down, finding his comeback rather amusing despite the situation. It was true though. That much she could vouch for.
Dwalin groaned. "Oh I've had enough of this lippy lake man." He grunted, glancing back. "I say we throw him over the side and be done with him."
Bilbo sighed after returning to his original seat. "Bard. His name's Bard." He said, turning around as he glanced at the group, arms crossed over his chest in order to stave off the cold.
"How do you know?" Bofur inquired.
Bilbo tilted his head to the side in a thoughtful manner. "Uh, I talked to them." He stated, though it had really only been Sylwen he had spoken too.
"And the elf?" Thorin asked, stepping forward. He hadn't realized it before, but the more he stared at the elf, the more he seemed to recognize her. Mahal he couldn't put a finger on why he did though.
"She's half elf." Bilbo corrected him. "She's from Bree." He stated, not going any further into her background than he should.
Dwalin was quick to intervene though. "I don't care what he calls himself or where she's from." He stated, leaning on the barrel as he stared at the two. "I don't like them."
"We don't have to like them. We simply have to pay him." Balin spoke up, sitting on the floor of the boat as he counted out the coin. "Come on now lads, turn out your pockets." He told them, as the others began to scrounge for whatever coinage they had in their pockets.
Dwalin glanced at Thorin. "How do we know they won't betray us?" He asked in a hushed tone.
Thorin stared ahead at them, still uneasy. "We don't."
Sylwen could overhear bits and pieces of their conversation, rubbing her arms slightly as she stood up, looking up at Bard. "Where are we going?" She asked, going to stand beside him as she glanced out at the waters.
"Remember the post I was telling you about before. We're stopping by there quickly." He explained to her, his plan already set in his mind. He glanced down at her, seeing her shivering. "We'll be home soon. I promise." He told her, smiling lightly.
A smile of her own tugged at her lips, as Bard had been tense most of the ride across the lake, making her worry. "I'm alright." She reassured him.
The fog began to part around them, making it a bit easier to see. She watched as the all the Dwarves began to stand, staring across the lake.
Sylwen's gaze followed theirs, feeling her body still as she found herself staring at the mountain. The Lonely Mountain. The fog had just parted enough to give her a fairly clear view of it, much more than she had seen the previous day.
And just like before, she was drawn to it. Some part of her unconscious being was drawn towards the mountain, feeling like something important laid within its walls..
"You are to never leave these walls." The voice echoed in her mind, causing her to flinch at the beastly tone. A hand raised to her head, casting her gaze down onto the dark waters.
"This...this cursed gold. Is worth more to him than I.."
Sylwen lowered herself to the floor of the boat, shutting her eyes tightly as she tried to overcome the intense dizziness that washed over her.
Bard stepped down from the back of the boat, approaching the Dwarves. "The money, quick. Give it to me." He demanded quickly, holding out his hand.
The leader cast a glance in his direction. "We will pay you when we get our provisions. But not before." He replied sternly, in no mood to quarrel with the human.
Bard was in no mood either. "If you value you're freedom, you'll do as I say." He stated, in no way to be questioned. His gaze flickered forward, gauging the distance they had before sailing into the post. "There are guards ahead." He told them, and as if to prove his point further, the sounds of voices and shouts could be heard from not far ahead. The small post slowly coming into view over the fog.
Reluctantly the Dwarves handed over the coins to the bargeman. "Into the barrels." He told them, returning to the back of the boat as he looked at Sylwen.
"Syl?" He put a hand on her shoulder, causing her to jump. Concern washed over him as he watched her. "Are you alright?" He asked her.
Sylwen jumped at the sudden touch, so lost in her thoughts as she looked back at Bard, feeling herself relax slightly. "I'm fine. Just odds and ends of memories." She shook her head. "Still nothing vital." She told him, though it was technically a lie. The memories scared her, the voice in her mind. She was beginning to wonder if she even wanted to remember..
Once the Dwarves were jammed into the empty barrels, Bard docked the barge and stepped off. Sylwen followed behind, needing to stretch her legs as she trailed quietly behind Bard. Some of the folk stared, unusual to see an elf in this neck of the woods. Sylwen was beginning to get used to that look. Bard spoke to one of the fishermen, exchanging most of the coins in order to fill the barrels with fish. Brilliant idea really.. She just hoped it would work in order to get them into Laketown.
Bard turned around, looking down at Sylwen who still seemed distracted. Something still worried him though. It seemed she only began to recall her lost memories whenever she caught sight of the mountain, or spoke of it. He knew well what lied beneath the stone walls. But how did Sylwen tie into all of that?
"Are you sure you didn't remember anything important?" He asked her, placing his hands on her shoulders as she looked up at him. His dark gaze bore into her emerald ones, his hand moving to rest on the side of her neck as his thumb gently trained across the bottom of her jawline.
Sylwen looked up at him, meeting his warm gaze as she smiled softly, reaching up as she placed a hand over his. "Nothing important." She reassured him, if only to reassure herself too. "Nothings as important to me now as being here."
Her words sunk into him, causing a smile to form on his lips as he leaned forward, his forehead pressing against hers as he closed his eyes. If only, for a moment.
Sylwen felt her heart leap in her chest again, her hand closing around Bard's as she squeezed it gently, closing her eyes. "Sorry." She murmured, feeling his body shake with a quiet chuckle that ghosted across her face.
"For what?" He asked her, opening his eyes as he gazed down at her. Her hair fell gently around her face, framing it perfectly. He hadn't noticed it before, but a faint layer of freckles sat across her nose and cheeks. Her skin was a pale ivory, not quite as ghostly pale as other elves he had met. It wasn't until now that he could really see her human features shining through. More so than before.
Her eyes opened, meeting his dark gaze as she bit her lip slightly. "For making you worry." She told him, blinking a couple times as she felt his thumb brush against her hand. As she stood there, she could feel her worry slowly begin to seep away.
True, he had been married once upon a time. Pledged himself to a woman long ago. And though passed on now, she knew his wife still lived in his heart. And even so, as she stood with Bard, she knew the guilt in her gut needn't be there. It was a clear conscious and unspoken decision they both made on their own parts, otherwise he wouldn't be standing there with her at that moment.
Bard pulled away from her, placing a soft kiss on her forehead. "Don't be." He said, seeing the barrels had all been loaded with the fish and they were clear to leave dock. "Cmon." He told her, dropping his hand from her should as he took her hand instead, leading her back to the boat. He tried to focus on the moment at hand, pushing the thoughts of the implications that he could run into when entering Laketown to the back of his mind.
Authors Note: Also don't forget to check out my facebook page. Link is in my profile. Along with an amazing Bard video I found on youtube which fits so well with the story. It was actually what gave me the idea for making this story x3