I have been busy but here is the next chapter. Enjoy.
o0o
The elves had never seen King Thranduil in such a rage. Several elves had been killed and injured by Kenway, including himself and his son, several were killed by orcs while the dwarves escaped. What made him even more irate was the fact that all the elves had to show for it was a lone orc.
Tauriel and Legolas, who had to wear a bandage over one eye, were the only ones brave enough to stay in the Kings presence. Thranduil paced angrily around the orc that Legolas held down in front of the throne.
"Tell me what you know of this man who travels with the orcs." Thranduil ordered as he paced.
"He ain't nuthin but a brute." The orc replied.
"Oh he's much more than that." Thranduil hissed as he drew near to the orc's face. "Considering he just bested the finest in all of Mirkwood!" He shouted.
"You were tracking a company of thirteen dwarves, why?" Legolas said, trying to change the subject.
"Not thirteen, twelve." The orc replied. "The young one. The black haired archer." He went on. This drew Tauriel's attention. "We stuck him with a Morgul Shaft. The poison's in his blood. He'll be choking on it soon."
"Answer the question filth." Tauriel ordered.
"I don't answer to dogs She-elf!" The orc spat in black speech as he fought against Legolas' iron grip.
Tauriel quickly drew one of her blades and brandished it in front of the orc.
"I would not antagonize her." Legolas stated.
"You like killing things orc… You like death… Then let me give it to you!" She snapped and brought her blade up to the orcs face.
"Tauriel, leave!" Thranduil ordered.
Tauriel stood up and sheathed her blade and walked off as she glared at the orc. Thranduil and Legolas continued to question the orc as Tauriel made her way through the city. She walked down to the armory and grabbed her bow and quiver and went towards the gate.
'All they do is stand by and watch the world pass.' She thought as she walked out of the gate and into the woods.
'I will find them myself.'
o0o
"Damn these things." Edward muttered as he came up on a party of orcs. Sentries were everywhere so Edward couldn't pass.
'Then again they probably know where they are going.' He thought. He continued to watch the orcs for a short while when they were diverted by a noise. One orc shouted orders to the others and half of the party ran off with their weapons.
Edward quickly climbed into a tree and positioned himself above the six orcs. He raised his hood and leaped down on two orcs, impaling them through the back with his swords. Before the others reacted he had already beheaded one and stabbed another. One of the remaining two attacked him but Edward quickly blocked the blow and landed a jab straight through the orcs neck. He released the dead orc and turned to the last one. He had a horn in his hand and was about to blow to attract the entire pack that was camping all over the area but Edward swiftly cut off the orcs hand. He grabbed the orc by the throat and held him down.
"Where are you headed?" He hissed.
"I'm ain't telling you nothing." The orc spat.
Edward then grabbed his remaining hand and started to twist it.
"Tell me." He warned.
"No." The orc replied.
Edward then twisted it with a jolt and snapped his wrist.
"Agh! Okay, okay. Lake Town, Lake Town!" The orc cried.
"Which way?" Edward pushed as he squeezed the broken hand.
"Follow the river!" The orc replied in anguish.
"Thank you." Edward said. He lifted up his hidden blade and, ignoring the orcs pleas, thrust it into his neck.
o0o
Edward had ran the rest of the night along the river. He eventually arrived at the exit into the lake. He looked across and saw a town that had been built upon the lake.
"I guess that's Lake Town." Edward said to himself.
He then heard a noise. It was very quiet and he could barely pick it up over the rushing of the water. But he heard the creaking of a bow.
He whipped around with both pistols drawn and saw Tauriel standing there with her bow drawn and pointed at him.
"So you came all this way to avenge your boyfriend?" Edward said.
Tauriel couldn't help but roll her eyes at this statement.
"I came to find the dwarves. Specifically the archer." She said.
"You must mean Kili." Edward replied as he holstered his weapons. Tauriel put the arrow back and kept her bow in her hand.
"They are in Lake Town." She said.
"It's not just us who know." Edward said gesturing to the animal remains that were left by the orcs when they passed the overlook.
"I know. We don't have much time. The arrow that struck Kili was poisoned. I need to find him." Tauriel said.
Without a word Legolas came running towards Edward. Before Tauriel could stop him he was airborne bringing down a hammering strike. Edward deflected the both with his hidden blades and leapt back.
Legolas jumped forward before Edward could make another decision and release a fury of slashes. Edward barely deflected them all and one grazed his wrist. Edward then locked blades with Legolas and struck his knee. Edward then grabbed Legolas and threw him several feet back. Legolas recovered and came up, bow drawn. Edward met his attack with dual pistols.
"Legolas stay your arrow." Tauriel said.
"Why?" Legolas replied.
"He can lead us to the dwarves." Tauriel answered as Edward remained clueless of what they were saying.
"You have your argument. I will be leaving." Edward said, slowly backing away, pistols trained on Legolas.
"I am coming with you." Tauriel said.
"No." Edward and Legolas said in unison, each lowering their weapons.
"I am pretty sure some of the elves that died were your friends. How do I know you want backstab me?" Edward said.
"You have betrayed our Kings trust. Return to him and make it right." Legolas said.
"I will not sit back as the dwarves die." Tauriel replied to Legolas.
"It is not our fight!" Legolas snapped.
"It is our fight." Tauriel replied.
"It's at least mine. So can I leave now?" Edward interrupted.
"No." Legolas challenged as he redrew his bow.
"Legolas, I know what he has done, none was meant to only harm our people." Tauriel pleaded.
"He struck down six of our kin, he injured us and our king. You are willing to let that go." Legolas all but shouted as he kept his imperious aim on Edward.
"We cannot undo that damage. We wrought that upon ourselves." Tauriel replied.
"He struck first!" Legolas snapped.
"Did we not give him reason to?" Tauriel replied.
"For the love of Heaven, what the hell are you saying?!" Edward shouted.
Legolas cautiously lowered his bow.
"I do not trust him. He betrays us and he dies." Legolas threatened.
"What did he say?" Edward said looking to Tauriel.
"He said don't attack us or you will meet a gruesome death." Tauriel replied.
"Well wonderful!" Edward said happily. "Let's have this fairytale rabble be on its way."
Tauriel and Legolas quickly started making their way along the lakeside followed by Edward who kept one hand on his sword.
o0o
The Assassin and the Elves reached the main access to the town and found a foreboding sight.
The guards were dead. Black arrows protruded from their chest. Orcs were already in Laketown. They spotted orcs moving through the sleeping town towards an unknown target.
Edward quickly broke off from the Elves and made his way up one of the houses. He moved silently and took out several orcs as he ran. He reached a high crested house and peered out over the town. He noticed the orcs converging on a house which still breathed out light. He began leaping from rooftop to rooftop towards the house. When he got close he noticed the two Elves were not far behind.
The orcs clambered onto the roof of the house where what Edward hope was the dwarves sat clueless of their presence.
Then the orcs started to smash through the roof and any other part of the house. Edward instantly leapt into action he slipped through one of the windows and began attacking the orcs.
"Where is everyone?" He asked as he tossed an orc through the window.
"Thorin and the others have reached the mountain." Fili said as he head butted an orc.
Edward looked back as Tauriel and Legolas entered the house and noticed that only Fili, Kili and Oin where here along to two girls. He stepped back as Tauriel cut through the orcs. Edward then pulled out his pistol and sent an orc into the wall with a skull shattering force. Eventually they finished off the last of the orcs inside the house.
"Tauriel come, they are escaping." Tauriel looked to Legolas and looked to Kili who laid on the table dying. Her eyes told Legolas all he needed to know.
Bofur then burst through the doorway, almost tripping over the bodies, holding some sort of plant which Tauriel instantly grabbed. She quickly reached Kili, who was on a table screaming in pain, and started chanting as she crushed the leaves in her hands.
Edward quickly got out of the house and followed the orcs who were retreating. He reached an alleyway and ducked as Legolas went flying over his head. He turned and saw and enormous orc charging him with a mace. He ducked the heavy blow and thrust his sword into the orc's leg. It howled in pain and quickly tried to grab the Assassin but he backed up and drew a pistol. He fired at the orc's head but nothing happened, but the orcs head did snap back. Upon closer inspection Edward saw pieces of metal that were screwed into the orc's head. He clambered up the nearby pole as the orc ran at him. He quickly climbed up and made his way onto a cable that connected two of the houses. Legolas had re-engaged the orc when Edward had positioned himself. He pulled a rope dart out of his belt as Legolas was being pounded. He quickly then launched it and wrapped the cable around the orcs neck. Before he even had time to finish the orc grabbed the line and flipped Edward over onto the wooden walkway. After the orc freed himself of the line he quickly ran off. Edward got up and dusted himself off.
"What were you thinking?" Legolas asked.
"Mate, where I come from that usually works." Edward replied.
Legolas said nothing as he started running down the path the orc had taken.
Edward merely started walking back to the house. He eventually arrived and saw that all was quiet. He walked up onto the small porch and looked out over the town.
"Kili fell asleep." Tauriel said walking out of the house onto the porch.
"He is well I hope?" Edward replied.
"He will be fine, where did Legolas go?"
"Ran off after some big orc." Edward was puzzled. "Why would you assist me?"
"Kili was dying. You couldn't save him." Tauriel replied.
"I killed several elves." Edward said.
"We made the mistake of crossing you." Tauriel answered.
"Let me rephrase that. I brutally murdered you people." Edward said, giving Tauriel a flat stare. "I am pretty sure 'he's dying' is all there is to it."
Tauriel didn't say a word and she retreated into the house. Edward was about to pursue for answers but he heard a commotion.
Edward peered around as several armed men started moving down by the house.
"Oy mates. What goes on?" He asked.
The leader halts them and glares at Edward.
"None of your business citizen, go back inside." He replied. Then he and his men began their march again. Edward discreetly followed them as the marched to the edge of town. They reached an area where several other men had gathered.
"What do you think it is captain?" One man asks.
"Some odd ship." The captain replied.
Edward looked out over the water and saw a familiar sight. A ship. Its black sails almost invisible as it pushed its way through the still water. It began moving towards the town and Edward began to recognize it. The thirty cannons protruding from the sides. Four chase cannons were locked in front. Steel armor coating the outer oak shell. The multiple masts culminating in the Black Flag. The Jackdaw had come to Lake Town.
"Ahoy there!" A booming voice called out as the ship neared the dock.
"What is your business here?" The captain called out.
"Merely finding our bearings good sir." The voice called again. The Jackdaw halted at the dock and Edward found that the voice belonged to his burly quartermaster Adewale.
"You are not to enter Lake Town. You hear?" The captain said as the other men drew their swords.
"Ade!" Edward called out.
"Ah Edward I was wondering where you might be. Good to see you my friend!" Adewale said as Edward stepped out next to the guards.
"And you too Ade. Captain I think it would be wise of you to lower your weapons. My men haven't killed anyone in a while and they have itchy fingers." Edward said. At these words most of the guards dropped their swords and ran away leaving the captain and a few others.
"The Master will hear about this!" He said defiantly.
Edward quickly drew his sword and disarmed the captain in a flash and held the weapon up to his neck.
"He can't hear what isn't said." Edward replied.
After Edward spoke a dreadful roar sounded throughout the area and a great dark form appeared over the mountain.
"Crew! Load the guns!" Edward shouted. He sheathed his sword and boarded his great warship.
o0o
So the Jackdaw is back and Smaug has awoken. Cannon fire galore. In the next chapter.