has given her as it is her second chance to be truly happy. Many things have happened in Charlotte's life, and many more yet await since the quest is not yet done. Charlotte asks Elros if he will come with her to Númenor when her current task is complete, and Elros contemplates this thinking that it would indeed be an honor for a Silvan elf to look upon that great city, and so Elros agrees to accompany her.
Charlotte's patience has paid off when she sees the company being led over the bridge across the river, and to Thranduil's Palace. Charlotte decides to help her friends by getting their weapons back, and taking them to the lake shore for later use. Charlotte makes the water-snakes who proceed to strip the elves of the Dwarves and Faron's weapons swallowing them down into their massive stomachs. When one of the snakes goes for Orcrist Legolas reaches out, and touches the snake causing it to by pass him. The snakes do a final check for any more Dwarven weapons, and finding none sink back into the river from whence they came. Charlotte turns around, and forms the water she used to make the snakes into a pair of chests. Charlotte swims off with chests in tow toward Long Lake, and as soon as she gets there she pulls herself a shore at the end of the current. Charlotte jellies the chests making sure that none of the weapons have any water on them. As soon as everything is as she wants it Charlotte solidifies the chests until they are as hard as diamond, and after putting the chests down Charlotte dives back into the lake, and swims back up the river until she is in the portion of the river under Thranduil's Halls. Charlotte watches as Bilbo pops up every once in a while searching for a way to abscond with the Dwarves and Faron. Charlotte helps him as much as she can without being seen. Charlotte is sitting in the pool under the cellars when fourteen barrels drop into the pool, and while they are waiting for Bilbo to get there Thorin says.
"Charlotte where have you been if I may ask." Thorin
"I was stashing the companies weapons away for later use, and then I was helping Bilbo look for an escape route." Charlotte
"So it was you not Mr. Baggins that found the way out. I should've known." Thorin
"No you shouldn't because ultimately Bilbo is the one who found the way out." Charlotte
"I see. I'm sorry to have doubted him." Thorin
Charlotte smiles at Thorin for his restored faith in his friend. Kílí notices Charlotte's tail, and says.
"You have a tail!" Kílí
"Yes Kílí it comes with being a Sea Child." Charlotte
"Oh." Kílí
As soon as Kílí finishes his sentence Bilbo drops down from the cellar above, and is congratulated for his success by Thorin. The company then begins paddling until they catch the current, and Charlotte is swimming along next to them making sure that none of the barrels tip over.
They make it a fair ways down the river before the elves catch up with them, and close the Sluice Gate. Orcs attack the guard post, and battle ensues during which Kílí gets shot with an arrow in the thigh while he is trying to open the Sluice Gate. The Dwarves and Faron continue down the river with Charlotte following beside them, and soon the Dwarves join in the fighting. Soon they pass beyond the borders of Thranduil's kingdom, and Charlotte made sure to get a good look at Legolas' knives while giggling at his fancy footwork. The company makes it to the end of the current, and they come ashore exactly where Charlotte did. When they get there they see a pair of chests waiting for them, and Thorin says.
"What's in those chests over there?" Thorin
Charlotte exits the river in a cloud of steam, and says.
"Your weapons are stashed here for further use just like I promised." Charlotte
"Well done Miss Charlotte." Thorin
As Thorin finishes saying this a Bowman ambushes them before they have a chance to even reach for their weapons, and when they try to defend themselves the Bowman says.
"Do it again, and you're dead." ?
Balin looks around, sees the barge behind the man, and says.
"Excuse me, but you're from Lake town if I'm not mistaken. That Barge over there it wouldn't be available for hire by any chance?" Balin
As the Bargeman is loading the barrels he says.
"What makes you think I would help you?" ?
"Those boots have seen better days as has that coat. No doubt you have some hungry mouths to feed. How many bairns?" Balin
"A boy and two girls." ?
"And your wife I bet she's a beauty." Balin
"Aye she was." ?
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to." Balin
"Oh come on come on enough of the niceties." Dwalin
"What's your hurry?" ?
"What's it to you?" Dwalin
"I would like to know who you are, and what you are doing in these lands?" ?
"We are simple merchants from the Blue Mountains journeying to see our kin in the Iron Hills." Balin
"Simple merchants you say." ?
"We need food and supplies. Can you help us?" Thorin
"I know where these barrels came from." ?
"What of it?" Thorin
"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'd see you in Irons before risking the wrath of King Thranduil." ?
Thorin whispers to Balin to offer him more, and Balin says.
"I'll wager there are ways to enter that Town unseen." Balin
"Aye, but for that you would need a smuggler." ?
"For which we would pay double." Balin
The bargeman agrees to smuggle them into Lake Town for double the going rate for a boat hire.
They are making it across the lake while also finding out that the bargeman's name is Bard, and Charlotte slips discreetly back into the lake. When Bard comes looking to be payed he looks around, and says.
"Where did Charlotte go?" Bard
"She is following us unseen." Thorin
"How is that possible? We're in the middle of a lake?" Bard
"What's it to you?" Dwalin
"The money quick give it to me." Bard
"We'll pay you when we get our provisions, but not before." Thorin
"If you value your freedom you'll do as I say. There are guards ahead." Bard
Bard makes a deal with one of the fishermen, and fills all of their barrels with freshly caught fish. They all make it passed the Toll Gate, and on their way to Bard's house Charlotte who has been following Bard through every canal in the town hears of their plan to sneak the Dwarves into his house through the toilet, and follows the last Dwarf in the line. When Bain helps the last Dwarf out of the toilet Charlotte pops up and sticks her arms out asking to be pulled out, and when Bain does so he drops her back into the toilet in shock. Bain wanting to do what his father told him goes to get a blanket to wrap Charlotte in so as not to arouse suspicion from the Masters men. When Bain gets back he sets the blanket on the floor, and pulls Charlotte out of the toilet before placing her on the blanket, and wrapping her up before anyone sees her. Bain carries Charlotte in the house, and sits her on the chair by the fire. Bard can tell that something is bothering his son; So he walks up to Bain, and says.
"Bain what's wrong?" Bard
"I was pulling Charlotte out of the toilet, and when it got to her legs I saw the tail of a fish instead." Bain
Bard walks up to Charlotte who says.
"Bard have you heard the tale of the Sea Children?" Charlotte
"I've heard vague whispers that the god of the sea brought a people to live in his realm as his children." Bard
"Well those stories are true." Charlotte
Charlotte opens the blankets showing her tail to all in the room, and Bard says.
"You are one of Ulmo's children?." Bard
"Yes I am just like Dwarves are children of Aulë The Smith." Charlotte
"Except Mahal crafted us with his own hands whereas Ulmo liberated the Sea Children." Balin
"Liberated from what?" Bard
"The threat of Man." Balin
"What do you mean the threat of Man?" Bard
"Man has a tendency to harm that which they do not understand, and that makes Man extremely dangerous." Charlotte
"I don't know what folk are like where you came from, but here folk are decent with no desire to do such a thing." Bard
"I trust that you and your family wouldn't do such a thing That is why I feel safe being here instead of just swimming on to the other side of the lake." Charlotte
"We thank you for your confidence Miss Charlotte. For curiosities sake do all Sea Children look like elves with fish tails?" Bard
Before Charlotte has a chance to respond Thorin says.
"No the other Sea Children could be mistaken for Man when they are dry." Thorin
"Really then what makes Charlotte so different?" Bard
While they are talking Charlotte steam dries herself, and joins the conversation saying.
"I was the first one to be brought to Middle-Earth, and when Ulmo brought me here he gave me the choice of whether or not I would be mortal or Immortal based on the first person I touched. As it turned out I collapsed from exhaustion on the bank of the Andúin bordering Lothlorien, and was found by a Marchwarden named Haldir, and when he checked me for signs of life the choice was made. Now all Sea Children have the Immortality of elves without being Elves themselves, but for me that one touch turned me into an elf. I couldn't be happier with the way things have turned out if I tried." Charlotte
Bard and his children nod before the conversation turns back to other things.
With the business with Charlotte settled Thorin walks up to Bard, and says.
"You took our money where are the provisions?" Thorin
Bard walks over to his larder, and takes out all that he can spare also a sufficient amount of the fish from the barrels he smuggled the Dwarves into town in. Bard places all of the supplies on the table in front of the Dwarves, and says.
"In these hard times this is all that could be spared, but this amount should be sufficient to make it to the Iron Hills." Bard
"Very good. Charlotte can you retrieve our weapons please I would like us to leave before dawn tomorrow." Thorin
Charlotte nods, and leaves to retrieve their weapons from the lake. Charlotte returns into the house with two chest floating in mid-air, and when she puts the chests down the Dwarves and Faron go through the chests retrieving all of their weapons. Charlotte notices how sick Kílí is looking, pulls Thorin aside, and says.
"Thorin I think Kílí should stay here with me instead of going to the mountain with the company tomorrow." Charlotte
"Why what's wrong?" Thorin
"Kílí is very sick, and I don't think he can make the rest of the journey." Charlotte
"Alright Kílí stays, but why are you staying in Lake Town Miss Charlotte?" Thorin
"I have a plan for the Dragon that requires a lot of water." Charlotte
"I had a feeling that you might. Alright we'll do it your way I'll leave my nephews, Oin, Faron, and Bofur here to make sure that nothing goes wrong." Thorin
Charlotte nods, and is walking away when Thorin says.
"Mahal bless your work Charlotte." Thorin
"Thanks Thorin." Charlotte
Thorin nods before walking away to inform the company as well as Bard of the change of plans.
The time comes for the company to leave except for those who are to stay, and look after Kílí they cross the lake on a boat given to them by Bard. When they get there they travel until they reach the ruins of Dale. Balin explains to Bilbo that the ruins they are looking at was once the city of Dale. The company makes it to the mountain, and begins looking for the path that will lead to the hidden door. Bilbo finds the path, and they climb up the stairs until they reach a ledge. Bilbo discovers that the key whole is revealed by the light of the last moon of Autumn. The Dwarves come back after becoming discouraged, and leaving thinking that they had failed the quest. The Dwarves enter the Halls of their fathers, and it is a very emotional experience for them. Thorin tells Bilbo that he is there to take the Arkenstone from the Dragon hopefully without waking the beast, and Bilbo gulps while looking at the carving of the Arkenstone.
Back in Lake Town the poison in Kílí's leg has gotten to the point where it will kill him, and Bard lays him down on a bed presenting Oin with all the healing herbs that he has, but Oin says.
"They're no use to me. Do you have any Kings-foil?" Oin
"No it's a weed. We feed it to the pigs." Bard
"Pigs, weed, right. Don't move." Bofur
As they are waiting for Bofur's return a tremor reverberates through the Town, Charlotte stands up as Bard is taking the final Black Arrow from it's hiding place, and says.
"You won't be needing that." Charlotte
"Yes I will if I am to kill the Dragon." Bard
"That's exactly my point when I'm through you will not be needing to kill the Dragon." Charlotte
"What do you mean that Dragon is going to burn this town, and kill everyone in it." Bard
"By the time I am finished Smaug will be crying great tears of regret, remorse, and grief over all the evil he has done in his long life." Charlotte
Fílí interrupts the conversation there saying.
"Charlotte what are you going to do?" Fílí
Charlotte looks at Fílí, and says.
"As soon as Thror became ill I went to Rivendell to see if there was some way to cure him even if it is by magic, but Lord Elrond told me that there is no elvish magic that can cure the sickness gripping the King Under the Mountain. I thought about this, and asked Lord Elrond if the magic of the Sea Children could be used to cure my friend. He told me that no new magic skills have been created since the First Age, but that he would do everything he could to help me in my endevor. I spent many land cycles working diligently with Lord Elrond to craft the magic. When I finally succeeded I wrote Thorin to tell him the good news, and Thorin wrote back telling me that Thror had been killed in the battle for Moria." Charlotte
"And now you are planning to use this skill on Smaug." Fílí
"Yes that's the plan." Charlotte
"Are you sure that it will be enough?" Fílí
Charlotte smiles, and says.
"As I told Balin before leaving Ered Lúin I have the power to purge Smaug of all his evil, and now I have every intention of doing just that." Charlotte
Fílí smiles, and nods to Charlotte before going back to his brother's bedside. Bard looks at her,and says.