Chapter 22
A Way into Laketown
I came to Nori's side and he wrapped an arm around me, pulling me tight against his side as Balin approaches the man with his hands held up.
"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. The man lowers his bow and then climbs aboard the barge that was behind him. We approach.
"What makes you think I will help you?" The man asked.
"Those boots have seen better days." Balin said. The man loads the empty barrels into his barge. "As has that coat. No doubt you have some hungry mouths to feed. How many bairns?" I reconized the dwarvish word for children and smile lightly.
"A boy and two girl." The man said.
"And your wife, I'd imagine she's a beauty." Balin said.
"Aye. She was." The man said. I felt Nori's hold around my waist tighten.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..." Balin was interrupted by Dwalin.
"Oh, come on, enough with the niceties." Dwalin said.
"What's your hurry?" The man asked.
"What's it to you?" Dwalin asked.
"I would like to know who you are and what you are doing in these lands." The man said.
"We are simple merchants from the Blue Mountains journeying to see our kin in the Iron Hills." Balin said. "Simple merchants, you say, but you travel with an elf." The man said. I open my moth to say something but Thorin speaks before I do.
"We'll need food, supplies, weapons. Can you help us?" Thorin asked. The man bends down and examines the barrels.
"I know where these barrels came from." The man said, looking at us.
"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 the Woodland Realm. He will see you in irons before risking the wrath of King Thranduil." The man said. I didn't see Thorin mouth something to the man.
"I'll wager there are ways to enter the town unseen." Balin said.
"Aye. But for that, you will need a smuggler." The man said.
"For that we will pay double." Balin said. The man looks at us, silent for a while.
"Get in." The man said. The dwarves get in.
"Thank you. I am Estelle or Ella daughter of Galadriel." I said.
"I am sorry if I was rude malady. I am Bard." Bard said with a light bow.
"No need to bow." I said. I got on and sit in front of Nori. He wrapped his arms around me as the barge starts moving. I curl into his warmth.
"Watch out!" Bofur called out. I looked up to see ruins come bout of the fog. Bard stars the ship around it.
"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 wouldn't 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.
"His name is Bard." I said.
"How do you know?" Bofur asked.
"I asked him." I said. Dwalin talks to Thorin as we hand Balin the money. I close my eyes as I lean against Nori.
"There's, um, just a problem. We're ten coins short." Balin said. I saw Thorin cross his arms and 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 talking as the dwarves stood up and I followed ad the Lonely Mountain came into view. It was beautiful. Nori stood with his brothers and I stood back with Bilbo.
"Beautiful." I breathed. Bilbo nodded.
"Bless my beard. Take it. Take all of it." Gloin said, handing all his money over to Balin. Bilbo coughs and I see Bard approaches us.
"The money, quick, give it to me." Bard said, holding out his hand.
"We'll pay you when we get our provisions, but not before." Thorin said.
"off you value your freedom, you'll do as I say. There are guards ahead." Bard said.
"Thorin, please." I said. Thorin nodded and Balin gave Bard the money.
"Into the barrels except the elf." Bard said.
"Into go with my friends." I said.
"I can pass you off as a messenger of the King." Bard said.
"I rather be with them." I said. Nori gets into a barrel and helps me get into his barrel. We slid down. It was a tight squeeze but we managed as Nori pulled me tight against his chest.
"I love you." I whisper.
"And I love you, woman." Nori said, kissing my temple. I felt the barge stopped.
"What's he doing." Dwalin asked as we heard Bard get off the boat.
"He's talking to someone. And he's talking to someone. And he's pointing right at us! Now they're shaking hands." Bilbo said.
"What?!" Thorin asked.
"That villian! He's selling us out." Dwalin said. We waited wondering what was going to happen. Something hit me and I saw a fish sitting at the bottom. More fish came and we were all covered. I don't know how but blackness took me.
I stood on a battlefield surrounded by elves, dwarves, and men fighting orcs and wargs. I saw Thorin fighting Azog and Azog suddenly get killed and I scream as I see Bold attack Thorin and give him a blow that brings Thorin down.
"Thorin." Fili and Kili yell. I saw them running towards Thorin but we're brought down by arrows. Tears fall down my checks.
"Ella!" Nori's voice yelled. I turn to see vision me laying dead in Nori's arms as he cried. I saw my twins sword sticking out of my chest and Byron laying dead near us with Nori's dagger in his back. I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to see my mother standing behind me.
"The Line of Durin must survive. Only you can save them and bring your brother from his darkness." Galadriel said.
I came out of the vision in tears.
"Ella? What's wrong?" Nori asked.
"Nothing. I am fine." I said in a whisper.
"The Master has his eye on you. You'd do well to remember. We know where you live." A man's voice came.
"It's a small town, Alfrid. Everyone knows where everyone lives." Bard said. I knew from the vision that a battle was coming and lives were bin sake and mine was one of them. But I knew my mother was right. I had to save the Line of Durin.
"Where are we?" I ask.
"Laketown." Nori said. We had made it to Laketown and I was hoping we can get to the Lonely Mountain in time.
An: There's the new chapter. First time doing it on my phone. It's hard but I did it. I'll update soon