Autumn sat up groggily, Tilda's face looking down at her.
"She's awake," she called, "Da, she's awake."
Bard came into view and Autumn tried to muster a small smile. Her head pounded like she had drank ten gallons of ale and her limbs were weak. The liquid Tara had used had that kind of effect on her.
"Where are the dwarves?" Autumn immediately demanded.
"They left," Bain explained, "Just a few minutes ago."
"We cannot let them enter that mountain," Bard said, and explained the prophecy to Autumn.
"We must hurry then," Autumn said, finally regaining her strength, "They went to the armory."
"How do you know?" Bard asked.
"Remember when they were complaining about those tools you gave them?" Autumn reminded him, "They would not enter that mountain without something to defend themselves with."
Bard nodded and ran out the door, Autumn close to his heels. She told Sigrid to watch Amber and to stay in the house. As they reached closer towards the armory, she saw the dwarves and Tara being shoved out of the armory and towards the master's house.
This can't be good Autumn thought before following the crowd.
The dwarves started stacking on top of one another reaching to the window. Tara was the first to run up them and dive into the window. She rolled on the ground, remembering Faedra teaching her, and landed on her feet. The place was filled with weapons of all sorts, but none as beautiful as elven weapons. The swords in the armory looked too heavy to wield compared to the elven swords, which were light and easy to spin and twist.
A few of the other dwarves, like Thorin, Fili, Kili, and Nori, started gathering up the weapons. Thorin started to stack weapons in Kili's arms, as he tries to stay standing under the weight. He moved away towards the stairs while the rest started gathering more. A loud clanging was heard from the stairwell and Tara immediately dropped the weapons in her arms and ran to Kili's aid. Men from outside started yelling and footsteps pounded towards the armory.
"Quick," Tara said, trying to pull Kili to his feet.
She was dragged forward and she let out a scream.
"Tara," Kili said, but halted when a dagger appeared at her throat.
"Grab them," She recognized the voice that belonged to Braga.
Kili was pulled to his feet and pushed forward as were the rest of the dwarves. Tara was forced to walk in front of Braga, the dagger still close to her neck and an arm wrapped around her chest. The came into view of a tall mansion and a huge man exit the house.
"What is the meaning of this?" he demanded, most likely the master.
"We caught 'em stealing weapons, sire," Braga explained.
"Ah," the Master spoke, "Enemies of the state, then."
"This is a bunch of mercenaries if ever there was, sire," a pale skinny man spoke.
"And who is this?" the Master gestured at Tara.
"'This' has a name," Tara spat.
She had the temper of her mother, like Faedra.
"Just a little elfling to play around with is my guess, sire," the pale man spoke.
"Hold your tongue," Dwalin demanded, stepping forward, "You do not know to whom you speak. This is no common criminal; this is Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror!"
Thorin stepped forward and the crowd murmured in amazement.
"And this," Dwalin gestured to Tara, "Is Tara Indukala, sister of the black assassin leader."
Braga immediately released Tara in fear from the name 'black assassin.'
"We are the dwarves of Erebor," Thorin announced, "We have come to reclaim our homeland. 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."
The townspeople nodded in agreement.
"I would see those days return," Thorin continued, "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, and the Master looked on, calculating. Suddenly, a voice calls out over the crowd, and Bard and Autumn stride forward.
"Death!" Autumn called out, "That is what you will bring upon us. Dragon-fire and ruin.
"If you awaken that beast, it will destroy us all," Bard finished for her.
"You can listen to this naysayer," Thorin said, obviously trying to win over the people, "But I promise you this; If we succeed, all will share in the wealth of the mountain. You will have enough gold to rebuild Esgaroth ten times over!"
The people shouted in excitement and they applauded. The Master looked on, smiling and nodding at this turn of events.
"All of you! Listen to me! You must listen!" Bard yelled.
"Silence!" Autumn screamed.
The people immediately went silent and Bard gave her a thanking look.
"Have you forgotten what happened to Dale?!" Bard reminded them, "Have you forgotten those who died in the firestorm?! 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 Thorin stared at each other angrily, the crowd got louder, but then the Master stepped forth.
"Now, now, we must not, any of us, be too quick to lay blame," The Master said, "Let us not forget that it was Girion, Lord of Dale, your ancestor, who failed to kill the beast!"
The Master pointed accusingly at Bard, and the crowd began to clamor. Autumn shot the Master a death glare as Bard looked away.
"It's true, sire. We all know the story," the pale man said, "Arrow after arrow he shot, each one missing its mark."
"Be quiet, Alfrid," Autumn yelled at him.
Bard stepped forward, an earnest look on his face.
"You have no right," he said, "No right to enter that mountain!"
"I have the only right," Thorin said.
Autumn looked at Tara, a pleading look on her face. Tara looked back at her but broke eye contact by looking at her shoes.
"Tara," Autumn spoke, stepping towards her old friend.
The crowd went silent as they looked at Autumn and Tara.
"You and I both know that Faedra would agree," Autumn spoke softly, but loud enough for all to hear, "If she were here now, she would not agree to let these dwarves enter the mountain."
Tara looked back up at Autumn.
"You do not know that," Tara said, and looked at Thorin.
"I speak to the Master of the men of the Lake," Thorin said, "Will you see the prophecy fulfilled? Will you share in the great wealth of our people?"
The people quietly watched in anticipation.
"What say you?" Thorin called out.
The Master thought for several seconds, then smiled and pointed his finger at Thorin.
"I say unto you...welcome!" he spread open his arms, "Welcome and thrice welcome, King under the Mountain!"
Autumn and Bard stayed still in silence of defeat. They seemed to be the only ones who knew what would really happen. Thorin climbed up a few steps and turned to face the audience. The people hug each other in excitement and joy. Thorin stared at Bard, and Autumn before the couple walking away. Tara looked at Autumn turned back, guilt building up inside her. A few hands grabbed her shoulders and turned her to the inside of the Master's mansion. Tara looked forward and her guilt was quickly forgotten when she noticed a table full of food.