"Tara?" Autumn asked.
Tara ran up to her, embracing her in a hug.
"It has been ages," Autumn said after releasing.
"Last I saw you, you were but a child," Tara said, "Now you're grown up."
"And you haven't changed a bit," Autumn said.
"Do you mind introducing us to your friend?" Tara heard Dwalin say in a gruff voice.
"Right of course," She said.
She introduced Autumn to all the dwarves, though she could tell Autumn got confused after the first three dwarves. She was never good with names. Autumn just smiled and nodded, making Tara roll her eyes.
"You didn't get any of that did you?" Tara said.
"No," Autumn said.
"Any way," Tara said, "Is that your barge over there?"
She pointed at the boat that was tied up in the water. Autumn nodded and walked towards the barrels. Her and the man started to wheel the barrels towards the barge. As the dwarves talked to the man, Tara spoke with Autumn.
"So who's the strapping young lad?" She asked.
Autumn started to smiled.
"His name is Bard," She said, "He saved my life two months ago. I lived with him and his family for a while and ended up falling in love with him."
"That's adorable," Tara said.
She has always loved romance stories.
"So why are you with a company of dwarves?" Autumn changed the subject.
Tara stiffened a bit, not sure on whether to tell Autumn the truth. Yes, she trusted Autumn, but she wasn't so sure about Bard.
"I met them on the road," She lied, "One of their friends were hurt, so I healed him. I then joined them to make sure they get to the Iron Hills safely."
She felt Autumn's eyes studied her for a moment. Tara could tell she knew she was lying, but Autumn was going to have to wait until she was ready to tell her the truth. She rolled the last barrel over towards Bard who was speaking with the dwarves.
Tara only caught the words of what Balin said, which was, "For which we will pay double."
Tara looked at the dwarves confused as did Autumn. Tara moved her gaze to Bard who seemed conflicted. Autumn then grabbed Bard's arm, leading him away from them. Tara wasn't like Faedra and Faren, nosy. She didn't eavesdrop on their conversation, but she did glance every now and then at them. They seemed to be in a bit of a whispering argument until she noticed Autumn sigh. Knowing Autumn had been defeated, Tara picked herself up off the rocks.
"Very well," Bard said, gesturing them to get on the barge.
Tara looked back once more, hoping to see Faedra burst through the trees. The fog started to hide the view of the land, until it was gone.
No turning back now Tara thought.
Autumn stood next to Bard, keeping a close eye on those dwarves. There was something about them that she didn't trust, but she didn't know what.
"How do you plan on getting them into town unseen?" Autumn whispered to him.
"I'm not so sure just yet," Bard said.
Autumn rolled her eyes and started to think up a plan herself.
"We could toss them overboard," she whispered jokingly.
He smiled as he poles the barge between two rock formations.
"What are you trying to do, drown us?" Obviously the leader of the dwarves asked.
"I was born and bred on these waters, Master Dwarf," Bard said, "If I wanted to drown you, I would not do it here."
Autumn stifled a laugh, but kept quiet when one dwarf glared at her. She then snapped her fingers after looking at the barrels.
"We could hide them in the barrels," Autumn whispered.
Bard cocked an eyebrow as he looked at the barrels.
"Wouldn't they see them?" He asked.
She rolled her eyes. Sometimes men could be so oblivious.
"We could fill it with something to hide them," Autumn said.
She looked down at the water and whispered again, "Like fish."
Bard thought about before saying, "That's a good idea. I knew there was a reason I loved you."
He pecked her on the lips before approaching the dwarves. After a bit of arguing, the dwarves got in the barrels as instructed. Autumn grabbed some of the money from Bard and walked on the docks, him at her heals.
"Excuse me," She said kindly.
All the men had stopped working or started to work slower to stare at her.
"Do you mind filling up those barrels of fish?" She asked, pointing at the barrels.
He nodded and they shook hands. Fish started to fall on the dwarves, and Tara, making Autumn smile. She felt so bad for them, but it was quite funny. They boarded back on the barge, moving towards the main gate.
"Oh god," Autumn heard a dwarf say.
Both her and Bard kicked the barrel in front of them.
"Quiet!" Autumn ordered.
"We are approaching the toll gate," Bard finished for her.
Slowly getting closer to the gare, a man's voice rang out from a building on their right.
"Halt! Goods inspection," She heard Percy call out, "Papers, please. Oh, it's you, Bard. Hello Autumn."
"Morning, Percy," Bard and Autumn said.
"Anything to declare?" Percy asked nicely.
"Nothing, but that I am cold and tired, and ready for home," Bard said.
He handed the gatekeeper some papers.
"You and me both," Percy said.
As the gatekeeper went into his office to stamp them, Autumn looked around warily.
"Here we are," Percy brought back the paper, "All in order."
Alfrid then appears out of nowhere, snatching the papers out of Percy's hand.
"Not so fast," he said.
"Consignment of empty barrels from the Woodland Realm," he read, "Only, they're not empty, are they, Bard?"
Alfrid tossed the papers to the wind and approached him, with some of Laketown soldiers behind him.
"If I recall correctly, you're licensed as a bargeman," Alfrid said, picking up a fish, "Not a fisherman."
"That's none of your business," Bard spoke.
Autumn clenched her fists as she glared at the soldiers.
"Wrong," he spat back, "It's the Master's business, which makes it my business."
"Oh come on, Alfrid," Bard said, "Have a heart. People need to eat!"
"To bad he doesn't have one," Autumn muttered to herself.
"These fish are illegal," Alfrid said. "Empty the barrels over the side."
The soldiers, lead by their captain, Braga, moved to comply.
"You heard him," Braga said, "Into the canal. Come on, get a move on."
The soldiers began tipping the barrels over and letting the fish fall into the canal.
"Folk in this town are struggling," Autumn said, "Times are hard. Food is scarce."
"That's not my problem," Alfrid said.
"And when the people hear the Master is dumping fish back in the lake," Autumn said, looking at Alfrid, "When the rioting starts, will it be your problem then?"
Alfrid looked at Autumn then glared at Bard.
He raised a hand, "Stop."
The soldiers stopped tipping the barrels over and return to the buildings.
"Ever the people's champion, eh, Bard?" Alfrid said, as if everything was his fault, "Protector of the common folk? You might have their favor now, bargeman, but it won't last. Neither will your marriage."
Autumn lunged at Alfrid when he turned, but Bard caught her around the waist.
"No," Bard said, "Autumn, not here, not now."
"Raise the gate!" Percy called out.
Autumn reluctantly stopped struggling and forced herself to calm down. Bard began to pole his barge through. As he passed, Alfrid turned around and shouts to him.
"The Master has his eye on you," he sneered, "Both of you. You'd do well to remember. We know where you live."
"It's a small town, Alfrid," Bard said, "Everyone knows where everyone lives."