Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts, the Characters, or any Game, Movie, or TV Show content that are mentioned in this FanFiction story. They belong to their respective owners and I honor & respect their great works.
(The High-Fells)
Gandalf walks up a hill and finds some ruins. He carefully climbs a narrow stone ledge built into the side of a tall, bare, mountain. Just as he reaches a door in the side of the mountain, the stone ledge he was standing on crumbles away, and he nearly falls off, but he manages to catch himself and climbs into the entrance of the doorway.
A set of metal bars that had covered the doorway in the past was broken and bent away from the opening. Gandalf steps through the doorway and into a short tunnel going into the mountain. He was suddenly grabbed by some invisible force and he is pulled swiftly into the mountain. The tunnel ends in a vast, cavernous hollow in the mountain, and the ground falls away at the end of the tunnel. Gandalf manages to stop himself from falling into the pit. He blows the end of his staff and makes it glow with light. Gandalf examines his surroundings. On the far wall of the cavern, he sees a door and goes into it, carefully walking on narrow stones set in the sides of the cavern.
The metal grate had also been broken and bent away. Gandalf enters the crypt and sees a tomb inside. The cover of the tomb was broken. Suddenly, a bird flies out of the broken tomb at Gandalf. Gandalf jumps with a start, turns around and finds
Radagast behind him.
"Oh, it's you." Gandalf says
"Why am I here, Gandalf?" Radagast asks
"Trust me, Radagast. I would not have called you here without good reason." Gandalf says
Radagast removes his hat, and three birds fly into the nest on his head. He then places his hat back on his head.
"This is not a nice place to meet." Radagast says
"No, it is not." Gandalf says
The two wizards exit the crypt and look around at the cavern.
"Theses are dark spells, Gandalf. Old, and full of hate. Who was buried here?" Radagast says
"If he had a name, it's long since been lost. He would have been known only as a servant of evil. One of a number. One of nine." Gandalf says
Gandalf illuminates the lower part of the cavern, and eight other crypts like the first had their metal bars bent and broken away from the insides of the crypts. Gandalf and Radagast leave the mountain and walk away.
"Why now, Gandalf? I don't understand." Radagast says
"The Ringwraiths have been summoned to Dol Guldur." Gandalf says
"But it cannot be the Necromancer. A human sorcerer could not summon such evil." Radagast says
"Who said it was human?" Gandalf asks
Radagast stops abruptly upon hearing this
"The nine only answer to one master. We've been blind, Radagast, and in our blindness, the Enemy has returned." Gandalf says
Radagast looks shocked.
"He is summoning his servants. Azog, the Defiler is no ordinary hunter. He is a commander, a commander of legions. The Enemy is preparing for war. It will begin in the east. His mind is set upon that mountain." Gandalf says
Gandalf turns and begins to walk away.
"Where are you going?" Radagast asks
"To rejoin the others." Gandalf says
"Gandalf!" Radagast calls
Gandalf turns around and looks at Radagast.
"I started this. I cannot forsake them. They are all in grave danger." Gandalf says
"If what you say is true, the world is in grave danger. The power in that fortress will only grow stronger." Radagast says
Gandalf looks away.
"You want me to cast my friends aside?" Gandalf asks
(Elsewhere)
Devon, Luna, Spyro, Cynder, Hiccup, Toothless, Astrid, Stormfly, Fishlegs, Meatlug, Snotlout, Hookfang, Tuffnut, Ruffnut, Barf and Belch, the Dwarves and Bilbo reach the bottom of the river now that it has calmed down. The dragons swim along with their riders on their backs and the Dwarves paddle along in their barrels with their hands.
"Anything behind us?" Thorin asks
"Not that I can see." Balin says
"I think we've outrun the Orcs." Bofur says
"Not for long. We've lost the current." Thorin says
"Bofur is half drown." Dwalin says
"Make for the shore! Come on, let's go!" Thorin says
The group paddle to the riverbank and reach the shore. The Dwarves climb out of their barrels onto a slab of rock jutting out a bit into the river. Devon and the Viking Teens climb off their dragons and walk onto the shore. Luna, Spyro, Cynder, Toothless and the other dragons shake themselves dry from the water.
"Come on!" Dwalin says
Kili walks onto shore and falls to his knees in pain from the arrow wound in his thigh. The wound had been bound with cloth, but blood was seeping through. Bofur looks at him concerned.
"I'm fine. It's nothing." Kili says
"On your feet." Thorin says
"Kili's wounded. His leg needs binding." Fili says
"There's an Orc pack on our tail. We keep moving." Thorin says
"To where?" Balin asks
"To the mountain. We're so close." Bilbo says
"A lake lies between us and that mountain. We have no way to cross it." Balin says
"So we go around." Devon says
"The Orcs will run us down, as sure as daylight. We have no weapons to defend ourselves." Dwalin says
"Bind his leg, quickly. You have two minutes." Thorin says looking at Fili
While Devon and some of the Dwarves bind Kili's leg, the rest of the group sits down. Ori kneels by the river to empty his boot of water. Unbeknownst to them, a man named Bard sneaks up over the pile of rocks and aims an arrow at Ori. As the
group realize Bard was there, they jump up and face him. Dwalin leaps in front of Ori, holding a branch as a weapon. He raises the branch and begins to charge, but the man shoots an arrow and it embeds itself right in the middle of the branch,
between Dwalin's hands. Kili raises a rock to throw, but Bard shoots the rock out of his hand.
"Do it again, and you're dead." Bard says
Balin saw a barge floating in the river behind Bard. He talks to Bard, approaching him slowly with his hands held in the air.
"Excuse me, but, uh, you're from Lake-town, if I'm not mistaken?" Balin says
Bard aims his bow at Balin, making him stop.
"That barge over there, it wouldn't be available for hire, by any chance?" Balin asks
Bard lowers his bow and climbs aboard his barge as the group approach. Bard begins loading the empty barrels into his barge.
"What makes you think I will help you?" Bard asks
"Those boots have seen better days. As has that coat. No doubt you have some hungry mouths to feed. How many barins?" Balin says
"A boy and two girls." Bard says
"And your wife, I'd imagine she's a beauty." Balin says
"Aye. She was." Bard says
Balin's smile fades when he realizes that Bard's wife was dead.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-" Balin says before he was interrupted
"Oh, come on, come on, enough with the niceties." Dwalin mutters
"What's you're hurry?" Bard asks
"What's it to you?" Dwalin asks
"I would like to know who you are and what you are doing in these lands." Bard says
"We are simple merchants from the Blue Mountains, journeying to see our kin in the Iron Hills." Balin says
Bard looks at the group, examining each and every one of them, starting with Devon and Luna. Next, he moved onto Spyro and Cynder. Then, he looked at the Viking Teens and their dragons.
"Simple merchants, you say?" Bard asks
"We need food, supplies, weapons. Can you help us?" Thorin asks
Bard looks at the barrels and examines the various dents and nicks they received during the fight with the Orcs.
"I know where these barrels came from." Bard says
"What of it?" Thorin asks
"I don't know what business you had with the Elves, but I don't think it ended well. No one enters Lake-town 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 says
Bard boards his barge and tosses a rope to Balin. Balin turns and looks at Thorin who whispers to him.
"Offer him more." Thorin whispers
Balin looks back at Bard and speaks.
"I'll wager a way to enter that town unseen." Balin says
"Aye. But for that, you will need a smuggler." Bard says
"For which we will pay double." Balin says
Bard looks at Balin suspiciously.
(Elsewhere)
The Orcs run beside the river in pursuit of the group with Bolg leading them.
"Sha mogi obguryash! (Don't let them get away!)" Bolg says
(Meanwhile)
In the Woodland Realm, Legolas and Tauriel had brought their captured Orc named Narzug to Thranduil's throne room. Legolas stands with his dagger pressed to the Orc's neck while Thranduil paces around it.
"Such is the nature of evil. Out there in the vast ignorance of the world it festers and spreads, a shadow that grows in the dark. A sleepless malice as black as the oncoming wall of night. So it ever was, so will it always be. In time, all foul things
come forth." Thranduil says
"You were tracking a company of thirteen Dwarves. Why?" Legolas asks
"Not thirteen. Not any more. The young one, the black-haired archer, we stuck him with a Morgul shaft." Narzug says
Tauriel looks worried, knowing who the Orc spoke of.
"The poison's in his blood. He'll be choking on it soon." Narzug says
"Answer the question, filth." Tauriel says
"Sha hakhtiz khunai-go, Golgi! (I do not answer to dogs, She-Elf!)" Narzug says
Legolas pushes the Orc a bit as Tauriel whips out her dagger.
"I would not antagonize her." Legolas says
"You like killing things, Orc? You like death? Then let me give it to you!" Tauriel says
Tauriel rushes forward with her dagger, but Thranduil speaks.
"Farn! Tauriel, ego! Gwao hi. (Enough! Tauriel, leave! Go now.)" Thranduil says in elvish
Narzug snarls at Tauriel, but she manages to regain her composure and leaves.
"I do not care about one dead Dwarf. Answer the question. You have nothing to fear. Tell us what you know and I will set you free." Thranduil says
"You had orders to kill them. Why? What is Thorin Oakenshield to you?" Legolas asks
"The Dwarf runt will never be king." Narzug says
"King? There is no king under the mountain nor will there ever be. None would dare enter Erebor, whilst the dragon lives." Legolas says
"You know nothing! Your world will burn." Narzug says
"What are you talking about? Speak!" Legolas asks
"Our time has come again. My master serves the One. Do you understand now, Elfling? Death is upon you. The flames of war are upon you." Narzug says
Thranduil's eyes widened upon hearing about 'the One'. Narzug began laughing until Thranduil quickly whips out his sword and beheads the Orc, leaving his head in Legolas' hand.
"Why did you do that? You promised to set him free." Legolas says
"And I did. I freed his wretched head from his miserable shoulders." Thranduil says
Narzug's body twitches violently. Thranduil stomps on it's leg to stop the twitching.
"There was more the Orc could tell us." Legolas says
"There was nothing more he could tell me." Thranduil says
Thranduil turns and walks away, sheathing his sword.
"What did he mean by the 'flames of war'?" Legolas asks
"It means they intend to unleash a weapon so great it will destroy all before it." Thranduil says
Thranduil addresses the Elf guards.
"I want the watch doubled at all our borders. All roads, all rivers. Nothing moves but I hear of it. No one enters this kingdom, and no one leaves it." Thranduil says
After saying that, Thranduil walks away. Legolas approaches the Elves guarding the entrance to the Woodland Realm.
"Holo in ennyn! Tiro i defnin hain na ganed en-Aran. (Close the gate! Keep it sealed by order of the King.)" Legolas says in elvish
Legolas turns to walk away, but one of the guards calls out to him.
"Man os Tauriel? (What about Tauriel?)" An Elf guard asks in elvish
Legolas stops short upon hearing Tauriel's name.
"Man os sen? (What about her?)" Legolas asks in elvish
"Edevín eb enedhor na gû a megil. En ú-nandollen. (She went into the forest, armed with her bow and blade. She has not returned.)" The Elf guard says in elvish
Legolas walks toward the gate and the guard points out toward the forest in the direction Tauriel went. Legolas looks anxious, but now he knew he had to go after her.
(Meanwhile)
Bolg and his Orcs arrive at the rock where the group met Bard. One of the Orcs tastes a pool of liquid.
"Tum nash! Agra-yi. (Dwarf blood! They were here.)" The Orc says
"Nuzdi-arg nash. (There is another scent.)" Bolg says
Bolg looks around, sniffing the air for the scent. He soon realizes what it was.
"Hum an bunish! (Man flesh!)" Bolg says
Bolg looks toward the lake.
"Kir lanish orkir zar. (They have found a way to cross the lake.)" Bolg says
(Elsewhere)
Bard paddles the barge with Devon, Luna, Spyro, Cynder, the Viking Teens, the dragons, the Dwarves and Bilbo across the lake. It was very foggy, and the barge pushes aside ice floes. Suddenly, large stone formations appear out of the fog.
"Watch out!" Bofur says
Bard poles the barge between the rock formations, which turned out to be ancient ruins.
"What are you trying to do, drown us?" Thorin asks
"I was born and bred on these waters, Master Dwarf. If I wanted to drown you, I would not do it here." Bard says
"Oh, I have enough of this lippy lake-man. I say we throw him over the side and be done with him." Dwalin says
"Oh, Bard, his name's Bard." Bilbo says
"How do you know?" Bofur asks
"Uh, I asked him." Bilbo says
"I don't care what he calls himself. I don't like him." Dwalin says
"We do not have to like him, we simply have to pay him. Come on now, lads, turn out your pockets." Balin says
The Dwarves begin pulling out their money pouches and valuables. Dwalin whispers to Thorin.
"How do we know he won't betray us?" Dwalin asks
"We don't." Thorin says
Balin counts the money and realized something.
"There's, um, just a problem: we're ten coins short." Balin says
"Is there anyone who has some spare coins?" Devon asks
The Dwarves look at Glóin.
"Glóin. Come on. Give us what you have." Thorin says
"Don't look to me. I have been bled dry by this venture! And what have I seen for my investment? Naught but misery and grief and-" Glóin says before he stops
Glóin stops talking and saw everyone slowly stand up and were looking at something in the distance. As the fog thins, the Lonely Mountain could be seen.
"Bless my beard." Glóin says
Glóin hands Balin a sack of coins.
"Take it. Take all of it." Glóin says
Bilbo coughs and gestures his head toward Bard who was approaching the Dwarves on their end of the barge.
"The money, quick, give it to me." Bard says
"We'll pay you when we get our provisions, not before." Thorin says
"If you value your freedom, you'll do as I say. There are guards ahead." Bard says
The group turn and see the rooftops of Lake-town in the distance.
(Moments later)
Bard's barge stopped at a dock just outside the city. Bard hops off and speaks to a man. Devon and his friends, the Dwarves and Bilbo hid in the barrels on the barge. Fortunately, Bard had extra barrels for Devon and his friends to hide in. Luna,
Toothless and the other dragons were with their riders in the barrels, but they were the size of large dogs thanks to Devon's magic. Spyro and Cynder had also shrank in size, being as tall as large dogs.
"What's he doing?" Dwalin asks
Bilbo peers through a hole in his barrel.
"He's talking to someone." Bilbo says
Bilbo sees Bard point back at his barrels while talking to the man.
"He's...pointing right at us!" Bilbo says
Thorin looks anxious. Bard shakes the man's hands as if to an agreement.
"Now they're shaking hands." Bilbo says
"What?" Thorin says feeling slightly shocked
"The villain! He's selling us out." Dwalin says
"Wait! I hear something." Devon says
The group in their individual barrels listen anxiously. Suddenly, dead fish were poured into the barrels. The group splutter in surprise.
(Moments later)
Bard poles his barge toward the gate of the city. On deck were twenty-four barrels all full of fish, with Devon, Luna, Spyro, Cynder, the Viking Teens with their dragons, the Dwarves and Bilbo inside as well. The Dwarves mutter inside the barrels. Bard kicks a barrel closest to him.
"Quiet! We're approaching the toll gate." Bard says
Bard brings his boat up to the gatekeeper's office, and the gatekeeper steps out to see him. The man in charge was named Percy.
"Halt! Goods inspection. Papers, please." Percy says
Percy looks on and saw that it was Bard on the barge.
"Oh, it's you, Bard." Percy says
"Morning, Percy." Bard says
"Anything to declare?" Percy asks
"Nothing, that I am cold and tired, and ready for home." Bard says
Bard hands Percy some papers.
"You and me both." Percy says
As Percy takes the papers and goes into his office to stamp them, Bard looks around warily.
"Here we are. All in order." Percy says
Percy holds out Bard's papers, but another man named Alfrid Lickspell suddenly steps out of the shadows and grabs the papers from Percy's hand.
"Not so fast." Alfrid says
Alfrid reads Bard's papers, then looks at his cargo.
"Consignment of empty barrels from the Woodland Realm. Only, they're not empty, are they, Bard?" Alfrid says
Alfrid tosses Bard's papers into the wind and approaches him, with some of Lake-town's soldiers behind him.
"If I recall correctly, you're licensed as a bargeman, not a fisherman." Alfrid says
As he speaks, Alfrid picks up one of the fish from a barrel and holds it up to Bard. Fortunately, he doesn't see Bombur's eyes looking up from the gap where the fish had been.
"That's none of your business." Bard says
"Wrong. It's the Master's business, which makes it my business." Alfrid says
"Oh come on, Alfrid, have a heart. People need to eat!" Bard says
"These fish are illegal." Alfrid says pointing to the barrels
Alfrid throws the fish he was holding into the water, then commands the soldiers.
"Empty the barrels over the side." Alfrid says
The soldiers, lead by their captain, Braga, move to comply.
"You heard him. Into the canal. Come on, get a move on." Braga says
The soldiers begin tipping the barrels over and letting the fish fall into the canal.
"Folk in this town are struggling. Times are hard. Food is scarce." Bard says
"That's not my problem." Alfrid says
"When the people hear the Master is dumping fish back in the lake, when the rioting starts, will it be your problem then?" Bard asks
Bard and Alfrid stare at each other intensely for a few seconds, then finally Alfrid raises his hand to the soldiers.
"Stop." Alfrid says
The soldiers stop tipping the barrels over and return to the buildings.
"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 says
Alfrid walks away.
"Raise the gate!" Percy yells
A large portcullis blocking the channel is raised upward, and Bard begins to pole his barge through. As he passes, Alfrid turns around and speaks to him.
"The Master has his eye on you. You'd do well to remember. We know where you live." Alfrid says
"It's a small town, Alfrid. Everyone knows where everyone lives." Bard says
(Lake-town)
Lake-town, as it's name implies, was a town built in the middle of the lake, looking quite poor and ramshackle. There were many channels of water throughout the town which various boats float. Bard poles his barge down the main channel.
Somewhere in the town, Alfrid was in the Master's bedchamber, and the Master had just woken up and was standing in his nightgown.
"All this talk of civil unrest. Someone's been stirring the pot, sire." Alfrid says
Alfrid empties the Master's chamber pot out a window. The Master groans and moans as he stumbles about, then sits down, rubbing his knees.
"Gout playing up, sire?" Alfrid asks
"It's the damp. It's the only possible explanation. Get me a brandy." The Master says
Alfrid moves to comply.
"The mood of the people, sire, it's turning ugly." Alfrid says
"They're commoners, Alfrid. They've always been ugly. It's not my fault that they live in a place that stinks of fish oil and tar. Jobs, shelter, food, it's all they ever bleat about." The Master says
Alfrid hands the Master a glass of brandy, and he drinks it all in one shot.
"It's my belief, sire, they're being lead on by troublemakers." Alfrid says
"Then we must find these troublemakers and arrest them!" The Master says
Alfrid and the Master, who was now dressed, move down into the Master's study. The Master was drinking another glass of brandy on his way down.
"My thoughts exactly, sire." Alfrid says
"And all this talk of change must be suppressed. I can't afford to let them rebel, band together and start making noises. The next thing you know, they'll start asking questions, forming committees, launching inquiries." The Master says
At his desk, the Master pours yet another tall glass of brandy.
"Out with the old, in with the new." Alfrid says
"What?" The Master asks
"That's what they've been saying, sire. There is even talk of an election." Alfrid says
"An election!? That's absurd. I won't stand for it." The Master says
"I don't think they'd ask you to stand, sire." Alfrid says
The Master opens glass doors and walks out onto his balcony, looking over Lake-town, muttering to himself.
"Shirkers. Ingrates. Rabble-rousers. Who would have the nerve to question my authority? Who would dare? Who..." The Master says
The Master soon stops when he suspects one man in Lake-town, one that everyone was familiar with.
"Bard. You mark my words, that trouble-making bargeman is behind all this." The Master says
"Indeed, sire. Bard has the favor of the people. They see him as their leader. Someone they can truly admire. Modest, intelligent, handsome." Alfrid says
"I wonder, I wonder if some ancient law might exist that forbids bargemen from asking questions, hm? You think such a vulnerable stature might exist?" The Master says
"Almost certaintly, sire. I'll write one immediately." Alfrid says
Alfrid takes his leave while the Master stood at the balcony.
"You've picked the wrong man to contend with, Master Bard." The Master says
(Meanwhile)
Bard docks his barge. After looking around, he knocks over one of the barrels, and a dwarf falls out along with a pile of fish. Bard continues knocking over barrels. He reaches for Dwalin's barrel, but Dwalin pokes his head up through the fish.
"Get your hands off me." Dwalin says
Devon, Luna, Spyro, Cynder, the Viking Teens, and the dragons emerge from the barrels. Luna emerges with Devon with a fish ontop of her head. Her eyes dart up to look at the fish. The remaining Dwarves and Bilbo struggle out of their barrels,
looking greasy and slimy from the fish. Once they were out, Devon changes Luna, Spyro, Cynder, Toothless and the other dragons back to their regular size. The dock keeper looks on in shock. Bard approaches him and slips him a coin.
"You didn't see them, they were never here. The fish you can have for nothing." Bard says
Bard looks back at the group.
"Stay close." Bard says
Bard leads the company away into the town.
"Follow me." Bard says
"What is this place?" Bilbo asks
"This, Master Baggins, is the world of Men." Thorin says
The group walked through Lake-town, following Bard's lead. They looked around and watched as the people go about their business. None of them paid any attention to them, except for some soldiers.
"Halt!" The soldier shouts
"Come on, move!" Thorin says
Devon and his friends move with the Dwarves and Bilbo to hide from the soldiers while they make their way to them.
"In the name of the Master of Lake-town, I said halt!" The solder shouts
The group moves around one side of the building, but stopped when another soldier spots them.
"Hey!" The soldier shouts
"Back! Back!" Thorin says
The group tries to move back, but the cluttered space proved to be difficult. The soldiers moved in and tried to seize the group, but they fought back.
Devon punches one soldier, delivering a right-hook at his head, knocking him out. Hiccup takes his prosthetic leg and hits a soldier with it. Luna and Toothless both trip two soldiers with their tails, making them hit the floor unconscious.
Ori grabs a pole and whacks a soldier in the head, making him stagger backwards. Bombur was down on all fours, making the soldier trip and fall. Balin grabs an oar and hits a soldier in the stomach. Thorin grabs a short pole and hits the soldier in the face, knocking him out cold. Fili and Kili both grab a rope and hold it out, making a solder trip and fall backwards. Glóin grabs a pan and hits a soldier in the head, knocking him unconscious. Dwalin punches another soldier in the face, knocking him out as well.
Once the soldiers were knocked unconscious, the group moves to hide them. A woman working on a boat happens to look up and she sees the group deal with the unconscious soldiers. Just as the group manages to hide the unconscious soldiers,
Braga comes in with two other soldiers.
"What's going on here?" Braga asks
Devon and his friends along with the Dwarves and Bilbo hide from Braga and his men. Devon, Luna, Spyro, and Cynder hide behind a collection of large boxes and crates. Hiccup, Toothless, Astrid, Stormfly, Fishlegs and Meatlug hid underneath a
large tarp while Snotlout, Hookfang, Tuffnut, Ruffnut, Barf and Belch hid underneath another one.
"Stay where you are. Nobody leaves." Braga says
Braga and his soldiers move through the town, searching for what was causing the commotion. Suddenly, Bard walks up to him.
"Braga." Bard says
"You. What are you up to?" Braga asks
"Me? Nothing. I'm looking for nothing." Bard says
Braga looks around and saw nothing was up. He soon gave up and walked away with his soldiers.
(Moments later)
The group continues following Bard through the town. As they stride through Lake-town, Bard's son, Bain, runs up to Bard.
"Da! Our house, it's being watched." Bain says
Bard looks at the group and hatches a plan.
(Moments later)
Bard and his son walk along back to their house. As they walk, a fisherman in a boat sees them and drops his eye patch over one eye, then knocks with his staff on a wall nearby Upon this signal, two boys run from the wall, and one knocks over a contraption which causes a hammer to hit a bell. At this signal, another man lights a match to light his pipe. He turns and looks at two men in a fishing boat right next to Bard's house, and they nod and switch their poles to the opposite sides of the boat than before. Bard and Bain reach their house and enter through the door. Just before Bard enters, he tosses an apple to one of the fisherman.
"You can tell the Master I'm done for the day." Bard says
Inside the house, Bard's daughters, Sigrid and Tilda, greet their father.
"Da! Where have you been?" Tilda asks
"Father! There you are. I was worried." Sigrid says
Both daughters run to their father, and they hug him. Bard then hands his bag to Sigrid.
"Here's something to eat. Bain, get them in." Bard says
Bain goes down some steps to the lower floor of the house which was open to the water. After looking around, he knocks on the wall near the toilet three times. Dwalin's head appears through the toilet, which is open to the water below.
"If you speak of this to anyone, I'll rip your arms off." Dwalin says
Dwalin raises the seat and begins to pull himself out of the toilet. Bain reaches out to help him, but Dwalin slaps his hand away.
"Get off." Dwalin says
"Up there." Bain says
Bain points up the stairs, and Dwalin goes up. Bilbo pokes his head up through the toilet, looking flabbergasted, and Bain helps him out. The rest of the Dwarves follow and head upstairs.
"Da...why are there Dwarves climbing out of our toilet?" Sigrid asks
"Will they bring us luck?" Tilda asks
After getting Bilbo and the Dwarves, Bain heads over near the open water. He knocks on the floor three times. Devon and his friends swim out from underneath the floor and pull themselves up. Luna, Spyro, Cynder, Toothless and the other dragons
shake themselves off from the water and they head inside the house with their riders. As they head inside, Luna looks over to Bain and winks at him with a smile, then follows Devon into the house.
(Moments later)
The Dwarves were wrapped in blankets, and their wet things were laid infront of the fire to dry. Luna, Spyro, Cynder, Toothless, and Meatlug had no problem fitting inside the house, but Stormfly, Hookfang, Barf and Belch had to shrink down to their
size to fit inside.
"It may not be the best fit, but it'll keep you warm." Bard says
Tilda passes out blankets, and Bilbo thanks her when he receives one.
"Thank you very much." Bilbo says
Tilda gives out a blanket to Devon and he thanks her as well.
"Thanks." Devon says
Thorin looks out a window and sees a wooden tower not far away. Atop the tower was a Wind-Lance, a giant cross-bow
type weapon with four arms. Thorin looks at it in shock.
"A Dwarvish Wind-Lance." Thorin says
Devon and Luna saw Thorin looking out the window and they followed his gaze at the Wind-Lance.
"You know what that weapon is?" Devon asks
"I do." Thorin says
Bilbo was sipping a hot drink from a mug when he looks at the wind-lance too.
"You look like you've seen a ghost." Bilbo says
"He has. The last time we saw such a weapon, a city was on fire. It was the day the dragon came." Balin says
(Many years ago)
Smaug was attacking the city of Dale. He blows fire, destroying buildings.
"The day that Smaug destroyed Dale. Girion, the Lord of the city, rallied his bowman to fire upon the beast."
A man in armor, Girion, leads a group of archers in shooting at the flying dragon.
"But a dragon's hide is tough, tougher than the strongest armor. Only a black arrow, fired from a Wind-Lance, could have pierced the dragon's hide, and few of those arrows were ever made."
Girion runs to a rack holding three long, heavy, black arrows, each made of metal and at least four feet long, and grabs one. He turns and loads it into a Dwarvish Wind-Lance, and draws the arrow. He turns the Wind-Lance, aiming for the dragon.
It was difficult since the dragon was flying swiftly and that the air is full of smoke. Girion fires, and the arrow hurtles through the air. It hits the dragon in the chest, but bounces harmlessly off.
"His store was running low when Girion made his last stand."
Girion grabs another black arrow into the Wind-Lance and fires. This arrow too finds it mark, but bounces off the dragon's chest.
(Present Time)
"Had the aim of Men been true that day, much would have been different." Thorin says
Bard approaches Thorin.
"You speak as if you were there." Bard says
"All Dwarves know the tale." Thorin says
"Then you would know that Girion hit the dragon. He loosened a scale under the left wing. One more shot and he would have killed the beast." Bain says
"Ha ha ha! That's a fairy story, lad. Nothing more." Dwalin says
Thorin walks up to Bard.
"You took our money. Where are the weapons?" Thorin asks
"Wait here." Bard says
Bard goes down the stairs to the lower part of the house. After looking around to make sure no one was watching, he pulls on a rope hanging off a small boat and pulls up a wrapped package that had been hidden underwater.
Thorin, Balin, Fili, and Kili talk quietly together while Bard was busy.
"Tomorrow begins the last days of autumn." Thorin says
"Durin's Day falls morn after next. We must reach the mountain before then." Balin says
"And if we do not? If we fail to find the hidden door before that time?" Kili asks
"Then this quest has been for nothing." Fili says
Bard returns and lays the package on the table as the group stand around it. He loosens the wrappings and reveals a couple of hand-made weapons. The Dwarves look at them in shock, then pick up the weapons and look at them in disgust.
"What is this?" Thorin asks
"Pike-hook. Made from an old harpoon." Bard says
"And this?" Kili asks
"A crowbill, we call it, fashioned from a smithy's hammer. It's heavy in hand, I grant, but in defense of your life, these will serve you better than none." Bard says
Thorin and Dwalin look disgustedly at each other.
"We paid you for weapons. Iron-forged swords and axes!" Glóin says
"It's a joke!" Bofur says
Bofur throws his weapon back on the table, and the other dwarves follow his example.
"You won't find better outside the city armory. All iron-forged weapons are held there under lock and key." Bard says
Thorin and Dwalin look at each other out of the corners of their eyes, hatching a plan.
"Thorin." Balin says
Bard looks up at the mention of Thorin's name as if the name sounds familiar to him.
"Why not take what's been offered and go? I've made do with less, so have you. I say we leave now." Balin says
"You're not going anywhere." Bard says
"What did you say!?" Dwalin says
"There are spies watching this house and probably every dock and wharf in the town. You must wait till nightfall." Bard says
Hearing this, the Dwarves begin to settle down. Kili leans on a pole in pain and he slowly slides down the pole and sits on a couch. Wincing in pain, he examines the bandage on his leg while making sure no one is looking.
Outside his house, Bard stands on his porch, trying to recall where he'd heard the name 'Thorin' before.
"Thorin..." Bard says
He whirls around and looks at the Lonely Mountain in the distance. The door opens, and Bain sticks his head out.
"Da?" Bain says feeling confused
"Don't let them leave." Bard says
Bard hurries down his steps and into the town.
(Elsewhere)
Tauriel, in pursuit of the Orcs, comes to a rocky promontory at the end of the river and at the banks of the lake. Far across in the lake was Lake-town. On the rocks were pieces of a deer that the Orcs had shot and ripped apart. Hearing something
behind her, Tauriel turns her head slightly and reaches for something at her side. She whips around and comes to a crouch with an arrow nocked to her bow. Several yards behind her was Legolas, also with his bow drawn.
"Ingannen le Orch. (I thought you were an Orc.)" Tauriel says in elvish
"Cí Orch im, dangen le. (If I were an Orc, you would be dead.)" Legolas says in elvish
The two Elves both lower their bows.
"Tauriel, you cannot hunt thirty Orcs on your own." Legolas says
"But I'm not on my own." Tauriel says
Legolas smiles.
"You knew I would come." Legolas says
Tauriel smiles.
"The king is angry, Tauriel. For six-hundred years, my father has protected you, favored you. You defied his orders. You betrayed his trust." Legolas says
Legolas then spoke in elvish.
"Dandolo na nin...e gohenatha. (Come back with me...He will forgive you.)" Legolas says in elvish
"U-'ohenathon. Cí dadwenithon, ú-'ohenathon im. (But I will not. If I go back, I will not forgive myself.)" Tauriel says in elvish
Tauriel then spoke in English.
"The king has never let Orc-filth from our lands, yet he would let this Orc-pack cross our borders and kill our prisoners." Tauriel says
"It is not our fight." Legolas says
"It is our fight. It will not end here. With every victory, this evil will grow. If your father has his way, we will do nothing. We will hide within our walls, live our lives away from the light, and let darkness descend. Are we not part of this world?
Tell me, mellon, when did we let evil become stronger than us?" Tauriel says
Legolas looks conflicted as to know whether or not to go with Tauriel or to obey Thranduil's orders.
(Lake-town)
Bard runs through Lake-town and runs into a shop, and the storekeeper greets him.
"Hello, Bard. What're you after?" The Storekeeper says
Bard begins looking through a pile of tapestries.
"There was a tapestry, an old one, where's it gone?" Bard asks
"What tapestry you talking about?" The Storekeeper asks
"This one." Bard says
Bard picks up a tapestry and unrolls it on a table. This tapestry had the names of the members of the Line of Durin sewn into it. He overhears the woman who saw the group earlier speaking to some other townspeople not far away.
"There were Dwarves, I tell you. Appeared out of nowhere. Full beards, fierce eyes. I've never seen the like." The woman says
"What are Dwarves doing in these parts?" A Fisherman asks
"It's the prophecy." An old man says
"Prophecy?" The Fisherman asks
"The prophecy of Durin's folk." The old man says
Bard traces through the lineage on the tapestry and finds the last entry, Thorin. He looks up, thinking deeply, and talks to himself.
"The prophecy...Prophecy." Bard mutters
The people of Lake-town begin talking about the Dwarves now as the word spreads.
"The old tales will come true." A man says
"Vast halls of treasure!" A woman exclaims
"Can it really be true? Has the Lord of Silver Fountains returned?" Another woman asks
Bard 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 as the setting sun causes the lake to glow orange. Bard bursts into his house and finds that the group was gone. Bain comes up to Bard.
"Da! I tried to stop them-" Bain says before he was cut off
"How long have they been gone!?" Bard asks
(Later that night)
Devon, Luna, Spyro, Cynder, the Viking Teens and the dragons sneak through Lake-town with the Dwarves and Bilbo toward the armory, hiding from watchmen. They hide behind a boat as two watchmen walk by.
"Shh! Keep it down." Dwalin whispers
"As soon as we have the weapons, we make straight for the mountain. Go, go, go!" Thorin whispers
With the watchmen gone, Thorin points to Nori who gets a running start and runs up a pyramid of Dwarves who have pressed themselves against the walls of the city armory. He reaches a second floor window and dive through.
"Next." Thorin whispers
Bilbo climbs up and heads through the window. Devon was about to climb up next, but he turns to look at Luna, Spyro, Cynder, and the dragons.
"Luna, Spyro, Cynder, you and the other dragons wait here and keep watch. We'll help the Dwarves get the weapons." Devon whispers
"You got it." Luna whispers
"Sure thing." Cynder whispers
"We'll keep an eye out for guards. You just hurry." Spyro says
Devon climbs into the building. Hiccup, Astrid, Fishlegs, Snotlout, Tuffnut and Ruffnut climb through the window and follow Devon inside. Soon, Devon and the Viking Teens along with Bilbo, Thorin, Kili, Bofur, and Nori were in the armory, and they begin collecting the weapons stored there. Kili struggles under a load of several different weapons, and Thorin hands him another one.
"You all right?" Thorin asks
"I can manage. Let's just get out of here." Kili says
Thorin looks at Kili, then lays another sword on the pile Kili is holding. Kili begins walking down the stairs, but his wounded leg gives way and he falls with a cry. The weapons make terrible clanging noises as they fall down the steps. Luna, Spyro, Cynder, Toothless, the dragons and the Dwarves both inside and outside look around warily. In the distance, the watchmen cry out and approach the armory.
"Run!" Dori says
The Dwarves outside begin to run, but they were stopped by two watchmen pointing pikes at them. Luna, Spyro, Cynder, Toothless and the other dragons also had pikes pointed at them. Devon, the Viking Teens, Bilbo and the Dwarves in the armory grab weapons, but several other guards point pikes at them too. Braga, the captain of the guard, holds Kili witha dagger to his throat. Kili looks sadly and guilty at Thorin.
Alfrid pokes his head out of the door to the Master's mansion to see the commotion. He sees the soldiers dragging the group to the mansion, with multitudes of townspeople following behind.
"Get off of me!" Dwalin yells
There was lots of indistinct muttering and yelling. Alfrid closes the door and goes to get the master. Braga arranges Devon, Luna, Spyro, Cynder, the Viking Teens, the dragons, and all of the Dwarves under guard in the town square before the doors
of the mansion. Toothless got poked with a pike at his side and he growled at the guard that poked him. As guards open the doors of the mansion, the Master storms out, still putting on his coat.
"What is the meaning of this?" The Master asks
"We caught 'em stealing weapons, sire." Braga says
"Ah. Enemies of the state, then." The Master says
"A bunch of mercenaries if ever there was, sire." Alfrid says
"Hold your tongue! You do not know to whom you speak! This is no common criminal! This is Thorin, son of Thráin, son of Thrór!" Dwalin says
Dwalin gestures at Thorin, and Thorin steps forward. The crowd murmurs in amazement.
"We are the Dwarves of Erebor." Thorin says
The crowd whispers in shock and recognition, and people crane their heads to see better.
"We have come to reclaim our homeland." Thorin says
Thorin turns to look around at the people.
"I remember this town in 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." Thorin says
The people nod in agreement.
"I would see those days return. I would relight the great forges of the Dwarves and send wealth and riches flowing once more from the halls of Erebor!" Thorin says
The people cheer and clap, and the Master looks on, calculating. Suddenly, a voice calls out over the crowd, and Bard strides forward.
"Death! That is what you will bring upon us. Dragon-fire and ruin. If you awaken that beast, it will destroy us all." Bard says
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. You will have enough gold to rebuild Esgaroth ten times over!" Thorin says
The people shout in excitement and they applaud. The Master looks on, smiling and nodding at this turn of events.
"All of you! Listen to me! You must listen! Have you forgotten what happened to Dale?!" Bard says
The people quiet down and shake their heads sadly.
"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!" Bard says
Bard and Thorin stare at each other angrily. The crowd shouts loudly, but then the Master steps forth.
"Now, now, we must not, any of us, be too quick to lay blame. Let us not forget that it was Girion, Lord of Dale, your ancestor, who failed to kill the beast!" The Master says pointing accusingly at Bard
The crowd begins to clamor. As Bard looks away, Thorin looks at him in shock and anger. Devon and his friends looked at Bard shocked. They never knew that Girion was Bard's ancestor.
"It's true, sire. We all know the story. Arrow after arrow he shot, each one missing its mark." Alfrid says
Bard looks around as the crowd yells angrily at him. He then strides forward and speaks to Thorin earnestly.
"You have no right, no right to enter that mountain!" Bard says
"I have the only right." Thorin says
Thorin turns and faces the Master.
"I speak to the Master of the men of the Lake. Will you see the prophecy fulfilled? Will you share in the great wealth of our people?" Thorin asks
The people quietly watch in anticipation.
"What say you?" Thorin asks
The Master thinks for several seconds, then smiles and points his finger at Thorin.
"I say onto you...Welcome! Welcome and thrice! Welcome, King under the Mountain!" The Master says
The people cheer and clap, accepting the group into their town. Bard could not believe what was happening. These people would rather seek to plunder themselves with treasure rather than value their lives. He was afraid that if the Dwarves reached the mountain, the dragon, Smaug, would awaken and bring ruin to Lake-town.
Bard soon turned and walked away, moving past Devon and his friends who watched him go. Devon and Luna looked at each other with concern in their eyes and looked to where Bard went. They both felt that Bard was concerned for the safety of Lake-town, and this made them feel concerned as well. It was in that moment they made a solemn promise. If the dragon, Smaug, would try to destroy Lake-town, they would do everything in their power to stop him.
Author's Note: Welcome to Lake-town. After escaping the Orcs with help from Legolas and Tauriel, Devon and his friends stop at a riverbank. There, they meet Bard, a bargeman from Lake-town who helps them cross the lake. Meanwhile, Legolas and Tauriel interrogate an Orc they captured during the ambush who tells them that Azog serves the One. Of course we know who that is. Tauriel decides to follow the group and Legolas reluctantly tags along with her. Devon and his friends reach Lake-town and follow Bard. First, they were sneaking through the town. Then, they go about stealing weapons. And now, they are welcomed into Lake-town by the Master. Who would've thought things could change so quickly? Elsewhere, Gandalf meets with Radagast in the High Fells, uncovering the secrets behind the tombs. They then realize that the Enemy has returned. Now what will happen? Let me know what you guys think. No flames please. Hope you guys like and don't forget to review!