Hoping to learn about Thórin Oakenshield, Bard runs through the city of Esgaroth and makes his way into a tapestry shop which was run by one of his closet friends, Iarl Loorman. and the storekeeper greets him.]

"Hello, Bard." Iarl greeted his friend. "What're you after today?"

Bard begins looking through a pile of tapestries. "There was a tapestry, an old one; where's it gone?"

"What tapestry you talking about?" Iarl asked, concerned.

"This one." Bard said as he picks up a tapestry and unrolls it on a table. It has the names of the members of the Line of Durin sewn into it. That was when he overhears Hilda Blanca who saw the dwarves earlier speaking to some other townpeople not far away.]

"There were dwarves, I tell you." Hilda began her story about what she saw today. "Appeared out of nowhere. Full beards, fierce eyes; I've never seen the like."

"What are dwarves doing in these parts?" A man named Rennar asked.

The Old Fisherman named Malloc, overheard his conversation and answered. "It's the prophecy."

"Prophecy?" Rennar asked, looking confused.

"The prophecy of Durin's folk." Malloc began.

While listening, Bard traces through the lineage on the tapestry and finds the last entry, Thórin He looks up, thinking deeply, and talks to himself.

"The prophecy... prophecy." Bard whispered

The people of Esgaroth were beginning to talk quietly about the dwarves, and now, word was beginning to spread all over. Alfrid, who had disguised himself as a poor civilian, overheard their conversation, but he didn't get all of it.

"The old tales will come true." A citizen said.

"Vast halls of treasure!" A woman whispered excitedly.

"Can it really be true?" Another woman asked. "Has the lord of silver fountains returned?"

This phrase jolts Bard's memory, and he begins to recite the prophecy to himself.

The lord of silver fountains,

The king of carven stone,

The king beneath the mountain shall come into his own,

And the bells shall ring in gladness at the mountain king's return,

But all shall fail in sadness and the lake will shine and burn.

Bard runs quickly to his house; the setting sun causes the lake to glow orange as he recites the last line of the prophecy. Bard burst into his house and finds no dwarves remaining. His son comes up to him.

"Da! I tried to stop them..." Bain admitted.

"How long have they been gone?" Bard exclaimed.

At around night, Alfrid was standing outside the balcony while Calamar had been busy writing something.

"Prophecy?" Calamar asked. "Who dragged up that old nonsense?"

"People, sire. They're gathering in the streets." Alfrid explained his report. "They're saying that a king will return to the Lonely Mountain, and that the rivers will once more run with gold."

"Rivers of gold?" Calamar burped suddenly. "Poppy... cock."

"As you say, sire. But people will believe what they want to believe." Alfrid said. "It's been a long time since they've seen any riches. The old tales... offer them hope."

Meanwhile, the Dwarves and Scoobies were quietly sneaking through the city. The city was quiet and looked very empty as they head toward the armory.

"It looks empty and quiet." Jonathan whispered, believing that everyone was inside and fast asleep.

"Don't get lathered up Jonathan." Larry whispered next to him. "There are guards wandering about."

"And let's hope we don't get caught." Harmony whispered. "Or else its the big house for us."

As they continue to move forward, they hide behind several boats as two guards were walking by.

"Shh! Keep it down." Spike shushed.

"Okay, so the plan is we grab the weapons, steal a boat, and make our way straight for the mountain." Buffy discussed quietly about the plan.

"Buffy, are you sure this is a good idea?" Willow asked quietly, looking very nervous. "I mean breaking into a armory is considered a crime."

"We're actually robbing." Percy whispered next to her. "I have never done this before in my entire life."

"Okay, so does anyone wish to stay behind and keep their eyes open for guards?" Xander asked to anyone quietly.

"Nah, will go for it." Scott whispered. "Let's just try and not get caught."

Faith peeks her head and looks around to see if there were any more guards coming by their direction.

"Anything?" Angel whispered to her.

"All clear." Faith whispered and waved her hand about. "Let's go."

"Go, go, go!" Buffy ordered.

With the watchmen gone, Thórin points to Nóri who gets a running start and runs up a pyramid of dwarves who have pressed themselves against the walls of the city armory. He is able to get high enough that he can reach a second floor window and dive through.

"Wow, pretty kneet." Larry whispered in remark.

"Wish we could do that." Heidi whispered.

"Next." Thórin whispered.

Buffy turns to Bilbo. "Bilbo, your next."

Bilbo does the same thing as Nori and makes his way up inside.

Anya looks around and looks very disgraced.

"This is not a good plan we're doing." Anya whispered unhappily. "We're going to get ourselves caught if we stay here."

"Anya, don't be such a wuss." Cordelia whispered.

"I am not a wuss." Anya whispered sharply to her. "I just don't like this plan. You know what its called... its a criminal plan that will get our asses in jail."

"Not unless we're quiet as couple of mice." Cordelia added in a whisper.

"I hate mice." Anya whispered back.

Inside the armory, Thórin, Nóri, Bilbo, Buffy, Angel, Kíli, Faith, Xander, Larry, Percy, Willow, Oz, Devon, Kyle, Rhonda, Roy, Dwálin, and Glóin were busy collecting a lot of weapons that were stored while Fíli, Bálin, Dóri, Óin, Óri, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Cordelia, Spike, Riley, Anya, Harmony, Tara, Spike, Heidi, Tor, Jonathan, Lance, and Owen were outside, keeping their eyes out for any guards.

"Come on, hurry!" Buffy whispered hastily. "We're wasting time."

Kíli struggles under a load of several different weapons as Devon hands him a sword.

"You all right?" Devon asked, whispering to the dwarf.

"I can manage." Kíli whispered back.

"Are you sure your okay?" Rhonda asked him, looking concerned. "I mean your wounded. You should be resting."

"Let's just get out of here." Kíli said, waning to leave the armory.

Rhonda looks at Kíli, then she lays another sword on the pile Kíli was holding. Kíli begins walking down the stairs, but his wounded leg gives way and he falls with a cry.

"Oh no!" Xander croaked.

The weapons make a terrible clanging noise, and the both the Dwarves and Scoobies that were inside and outside look around warily. In the distance, the watchmen cry out, and running footsteps approach.

"I don't like the sound of it." Spike whispered.

"Okay, I think its time for us to run." Cordelia grinned.

"Everyone, run!" Riley cried. "Run!"

Fíli, Bálin, Dóri, Óin, Óri, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Cordelia, Spike, Riley, Anya, Harmony, Tara, Spike, Heidi, Tor, Jonathan, Lance, and Owen start to run, but are stopped by a large number of guards that point their pikes at them.

"Well so much for that." Jonathan whimpered.

Inside, Thórin, Nóri, Bilbo, Buffy, Angel, Kíli, Faith, Xander, Larry, Percy, Willow, Oz, Devon, Kyle, Rhonda, Roy, Dwálin, and Glóin grab weapons, but a large number of guards point pikes at them too. Captain Braga holds his Kíli with a dagger to his throat. Kíli looks sadly and guiltily at Thórin.

Hearing a loud commotion, Alfrid pokes his head out of the door to the Master's mansion and sees hundreds of soldiers taking the Dwarves and Scoobies towards the mansion, with thousands of Esgaroth's civilians follow behind.

"Get off of me!" Dwálin growled at one of the guards.

As lots of indistinct muttering and yelling were going around, Alfrid anrgily closes the door and goes to get the master and inform him of what had happened. Braga arranges all of the Dwarves and Scoobies under guard in the town square that was very wide in all. As one of the guards open the doors of the mansion, Calamar storms out as he puts his coat on.

"What is the meaning of this?" Calamar asked angrily.

"We caught 'em stealing weapons, sire." Braga said.

"Ah. Enemies of the state, then." Calamar assumed.

"This is a bunch of mercenaries if ever there was, sire." Alfrid said.

"Hold your tongue." Dwálin growled at them. "You do not know to whom you speak. This is no common criminal." He gestures at Thórin. "This is Thórin, son of Thráin, son of Thrór!"

Immediately, Thórin steps forward and pats his friend on the shoulder. Now, the whole crowd murmured in amazement.

"We are the dwarves of Erebor." Thórin revealed himself.

The crowd whispered in shock and recognition, and people crane their heads to see better.

"We have come to reclaim our homeland." Thórin continued and walked around to address to speak earnestly to the crowd. "I remember this town and the great days of old. Fleets of boats lay at harbor, filled with silks and fine gems. This was no forsaken town on a lake! This was the center of all trade in the North."

Many of the civilians nod in agreement while some were concerned of this.

"I would see those days return!" Thórin raised his voice. "I would relight the great forges of the dwarves and send wealth and riches flowing once more from the halls of Erebor!"

The people cheer and clap until a voice calls out over the crowd.

"Death!" Bard yelled. "That is what you will bring upon us. Dragon-fire and ruin." He stares at him. "If you awaken that beast, it will destroy us all."

The people whisper anxiously.

"You can listen to this naysayer, but I promise you this; If we succeed, all will share in the wealth of the mountain." Thórin promised them and opened his arms. "You will have enough gold to rebuild Esgaroth ten times over!"

[The people shout in excitement and they applaud. Calamar looks on, smiling and nodding at this turn of events. That was when the celebration was interrupted by Alfrid.

"Why should we take you at your word, eh?" Alfrid asked. "We don't know nothing about you." he stares at the Scoobies. "Who here can vouch for your character?"

"Me." Buffy said, raising her hand and steps forward to stands next to Thórin. "I'll vouch for him. Now, me and my friend had travelled far with these dwarves through great danger, and if Thórin Oakenshield... gives his word." She looks down at the dwarf with a smile. Then he will keep it."

The crowd continue to cheer, but Bard tries to shout and get their attention.

"All of you!" Bard yelled at them. "Listen to me! You must listen! Have you forgotten what happened to Dale?"

The people quiet down and shake their heads sadly.

"Have you forgotten those who died in the firestorm?" Bard continued to shout and turned his head towards Thórin. "And for what purpose? The blind ambition of a mountain-king so riven by greed, he could not see beyond his own desire!"

As Bard and Thórin stare at each other angrily, the crowd gets louder, but then Calamar steps forth.

"Now, now, we must not, any of us, be too quick to lay blame." Calamar spoke. "Let us not forget that it was Girion, Lord of Dale, your ancestor, who failed to kill the beast! Hmm?"

Calamar points accusingly at Bard, and the crowd begins to clamor. As Bard looks away in disgust, Thórin and Buffy look at him in shock.

"It's true, sire." Alfrid agreed. "We all know the story: arrow after arrow he shot, each one missing its mark."

Bard looks around as the crowd yells angrily at him. He then strides forward to Thórin.

"You have no right." Bard said earnestly and shook his head. "No right to enter that mountain!"

"I have the only right." Thórin replied back and turns to face Calamar. "I speak to the Master of the Lake. Will you see the prophecy fulfilled? Will you share in the great wealth of our people?"

The people quietly watch in anticipation.

"What say you?" Thórin asked.

Calamar thinks for several seconds, then smiles and points his finger at Thórin. "I say unto you." He opens his arms in welcome and yells. WELCOME! Welcome and thrice welcome, King under the Mountain!"

As the crowd erupts in cheers, Bard looks on silently and leaves.