Chapter 21
Laketown
Stacia was passed to me quickly and Thorin stood in front of me protectively Balin came forward after noticing the barge that was in the river behind Bard.
"Excuse me, but, uh, you're from Laketown, if I'm not mistaken? That barge over there, it wouldn't be available for hire, by any chance?" Balin asked. Bard lowered his bow and then climbs aboard his barge as we approach. Thorin stayed in front of me.
"What makes you think I will help you?" Bard asked.
"Those boots have seen better days." Balin said. Bard looks at Balin and begins loading the empty barrels into the barge. "As has the coat. No doubt you have some hungry mouths to feed. How many bairns?" Stacia laid her head on my shoulder, tired and almost falling asleep. I kiss her forehead.
"A boy and two girls." Bard said.
"And your wife, I'd imagine she's a beauty." Balin said.
"Aye. She was." Bard said. Balin's smile faded and I frowned. I come to stand next to Thorin. Bard's eyes landed on Stacia and then looks at me. I give a small smile, but he doesn't return it.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to." Balin said.
"Oh, come on, come on, enough with the niceties." Dwalin interrupted.
"What's your hurry?" Bard asked.
"What's it to you?" Dwalin asked.
"I would like to know who you are and what you are doing in these lands." Bard said.
"We are simple merchants from the Blue Mountains journeying to see our kin in the Iron Hills." Balin said.
"Simple merchants, you say?" Bard asked.
"We'll need food, supplies, weapons. Can you help us?" Thorin asked, wrapping his arm around me. Bard studies the barrels where there are dents and nicks that were received during the fight with the orcs.
"I know where these barrels came from." Bard said.
"What of it?" Thorin asked.
"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." Bard said. Bard gets on the barge and tosses the rope to Balin.
"Offer him more." Thorin mouthed.
"I'll wager there are ways to enter that town unseen." Balin said.
"Aye. But for that, you will need a smuggler." Bard said.
"For which we will pay double." Balin said. Bard looks at us suspiciously, but lets us go on the barge. I sat near the front on the edge with Stacia sitting between Anna and I. Thorin stood beside me, leaning against the side. Bard paddles the boat across the lake. It was foggy as the barge pushes ice floes. A large formation comes out of the fog.
"Watch out!" Bofur said. Bard moves the barge between the rock formations which is ancient ruins.
"What are you trying to do, drown us?" Thorin asked.
"I was born and bred on these waters, Master Dwarf. If I wanted to drown you, I would not do it here." Bard said.
"Oh I have enough of this lippy lakeman. I say we throw him over the side and be done with him." Dwalin said.
Oh, Bard, his name's Bard." Bilbo said.
"How do you know?" Bofur asked.
"Uh, I asked him." Bilbo said.
"I don't care what he calls himself, I don't like him." Dwalin said, who was standing next to Thorin.
"We do not have to like him, we simply have to pay him. Come on now, lads, turn out your pockets." Balin said. Anna and I apologized for not having money and Balin understood.
"How do we know he won't betray us?" Dwalin asked in a whisper which I heard. Thorin sits beside me and pulled me against his side.
"We don't." Throin said. Balin counts the money.
"There's, um, just a problem: we're ten coins short." Balin said. I heard Thorin sigh and turned his head to look at Gloin.
"Gloin. Come on. Give us what you have." Thorin said.
"Don't look at me. I have been bled dry by this venture! And what have I seen for my investment? Naught but misery and grief and-" Gloin stopped as the dwarves stood up as the Lonely Mountain came into view. Thorin moved away from me. It was as beautiful as how the movies made it to look. Anna and I smiled at each other.
"Bless my beard. Take it. Take all of it." Gloin said, handing Balin a sack of coins. Bilbo coughs as Bard approaches us.
"The money, quick, give it to me." Bard said.
"We'll pay you when we get our provisions, but not before." Thorin said.
"If you value your freedom, you'll do as I say. There are guards ahead." Bard said. We turn and see rooftops of Laketown in the distance. Balin handed him the money after a nod from Thorin. "Get in the barrels. Not you three." Bard said, stopping Anna, Stacia, and me. Thorin looked like he was going to kill someone.
"Why?" Thorin asked.
"I can pass them off as survivors of an Orc raid that are looking for shelter for a few days." Bard said.
"Go. We'll be fine." I said, kissing him gently. Thorin nodded and got into one of the barrels. I sat back on the edge with Anna as we approached a dock. Bard hops off and speaks to a man. Anna and I share knowing glances and fight back a laugh.
"Shh, what's he doing, lass?" Dwalin asked.
"He's talking to someone." Anna said. Bard points back at the barrels while he's talking. "And he's pointing right at you guys." Bard shakes hands with the man. "Now they're shaking hands."
"What?" Throin asked.
"That villain! He's selling us out." Dwalin said. Anna and I started giggling as the fish was dumped in on the dwarves and Bilbo. Bard gets the barge moving.
"So glad it's not us." Anna said.
"That I agree on." I said.
"Eww." Stacia said.
"Not funny." Kili said.
"It is to us." I said.
"Oh god." Bofur said. Bard kicks one of the barrels.
"Quiet! We're approaching the toll gate." Bard said.
"Halt! Goods inspection. Papers, please. Oh, it's you, Bard." The Gatekeeper said, as Bard brings his barge to a stop and the Gatekeeper steps out to see him.
"Morning Percy." Bard said.
"Anything to declare?" Percy asked.
"I got three girls here that I found that survived an orc raid and looking for shelter for a few days before going South. So they'll be staying with me for a while. I am cold and tired also and ready for home." Bard said. Percy looks at us and gives us a nod as Bard hands him papers.
"You and me both." Percy said. The gatekeeper takes the papers and goes into his office to stamp them. Bard gives us a nod. Anna and I sat in silence.
"here we are. All in order." Gatekeeper said. He holds out the papers but Alfrid comes out of the shadows and grabs the papers.
"Not so fast. What do we have here?" Alfrid said, eyeing Anna and me. I pull Stacia close as Alfrid ran his eyes over me.
"Just some woman who are looking for shelter after orc raid and I offered them my place for a few days." Bard said.
"Maybe they would like to stay at the Master's where its nicer." Alfrid said as his eyes skimmed over me more than Anna. He reminded me of my ex and I was hoping Thorin wouldn't jump out of the barrel and kill him.
"Our husbands are coming to get us as soon as they help with search and cleaning up and I don't think they would appreciate how you're looking at my best friend and I." I said, holding my head high. Alfrid smirked and then started to read the papers while looking at the load.
"Consignment of empty barrels from the Woodland Realm. Only, they're not empty, are they, Bard?" Alfrid said, tossing the papers to the wind and approaches him. Laketown soldiers come up behind him. Stacia clung to me. "If I recall correctly, you're licensed as a bargeman, not a fisherman." I frown, not liking the man more and more. He picks up one of the fish from a barrel and holds it up. I saw Bombur's eyes looking up from the gap where the fish had been.
"That's none of your business." Bard said.
"Wrong. It's the Master's business, which makes it my business." Alfrid said.
"Of come on, Alfrid, have a heart. People need to eat!" Bard said.
"These fish are illegal." Alfrid said. He tossed the fish into the water. "Empty the barrels over the side." The soldiers move to do as they were told and begin to dump the contests into the canal.
"Folk in this town are struggling. Times are hard. Food is scarce." Bard said.
"That's not my problem." Alfrid said.
"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 asked. Bard and Alfrid stare at each other until Alfrid holds his hand up to the soldiers.
"Stop." Alfrid said. The soldiers set the barrels back and return to the building. "Ever the people's champion, eh, Bard? Protector of the common folk? You might have their favor now, bargeman, but it won't last." Alfrid said. I roll my eyes as Alfrid walks away.
"Raise the gate!" Percy yelled. The gate was raised and Bard moves the barge through it. Alfrid turns as we pass.
"The Master has his eye on you; you'd do well to remember. We know where you live." Alfrid said.
"It's a small town, Alfrid, everyone know where everyone lives." Bard said. We were now in Laketown with no problem.
AN: And I end it there. Next chapter will be Bard's house. Hope you all enjoyed and sorry for the wait.