Bard looked on ahead and realized how close they were. He ran to the others and asked them to pay him right then.
"We will pay you when we get our provisions, but not before," Thorin said.
"If you value your freedom, you'll do as I say. There are guards ahead." Bard pointed out.
The dwarves turned to look ahead and saw the docks as the fog swirled around the lake's surface. They all quickly got into the barrels and hunkered down as far as they could. Halien accompanied Bard when he went to speak with a fisherman.
"Hello, Bard. Heading back home?"
"Aye, though I have a favor to ask," Bard said. "You see those empty barrels? I was hoping you had a catch that could be spared. I can bring it into town myself in those barrels, hand it out before the main shipment comes in."
"Of course. May I ask who this beautiful elven lady is?"
Bard looked over at Halien as she smiled and bowed to the Man.
"Greetings, good sir. I am Halien, an ambassador of the Woodland Realm. I was tasked with ensuring that our alliance and trade with Laketown is going well. I am accompanying Bard on his journey home so that I may see for myself how it goes in Laketown. I wish to give a full report back to King Thranduil upon my return. If you would be so kind as to help me with my assignment, I would be in your debt."
Bard and the fisherman gazed at her in wonder, surprised by her regal mannerism. The fisherman nodded and motioned for the others to load the fish onto the barge.
None of the company could see what was going on, but after a few minutes, a huge catch of fish was suddenly dumped on top of them. The barge began to move again and the dwarves were grunting and moaning at the smell.
Bard kicked one of the barrels and said, "Quiet! We're approaching the toll gate." He directed the barge towards the gate and stopped when the gatekeeper stood.
"Halt! Goods inspection, papers please!" he called out to Bard. "Oh, it's you, Bard."
"Morning, Percy," Bard replied.
"Anything to declare?" Percy asked.
"Nothing, but that I am cold and tired and ready for home." Bard said, handing his papers to Percy as the Man replied with, "You and me both."
Percy looked at the elven maiden. "Who are you, lass?"
"Oh, do forgive me, sir. I am Halien, an ambassador sent from the Woodland Realm. I am tasked with giving a full report to King Thranduil upon my return in regard to how our trade fares with the good people of Laketown. I do not wish to cause any issues with the Master or cause trouble. I can come back another time if you would prefer?"
Percy seemed to blush at how polite she was. "Oh, no, lass, it is quite alright. Please, enjoy your visit to Laketown. I hope you are pleased with what you find."
Halien smiled and thanked him.
The Man stamped the papers and handed them back to Bard. "There you are. All in order."
"Not so fast." A sleazy-looking man said. "Consignment of empty barrels from the Woodland Realm."
Bard sighed.
"Only, they're not empty, are they Bard?" The Man said. "If I recall correctly, you're licensed as a bargeman, not a fisherman."
"That's none of your business," Bard replied.
"Wrong. It's the Master's business, which means it's my business."
"Oh, come now Alfrid, have a heart. People need to eat!" Bard retorted.
"These fish are illegal," Alfrid said. "Empty the barrels over the side."
One of the Men with Alfrid ordered the others to do as they were told.
Alfrid at this point had just noticed Halien standing there. "And who might you be, my dear elven beauty?"
Bard rolled his eyes and stepped closer to Halien as Alfrid tried to advance toward her with a disgusting smile on his lips. Halien put a hand on Bard's arm and smiled reassuringly. 'Bard, do not start. I will handle this, but you must trust me.'
Bard nodded, hearing her voice in his head as clearly as he would if she had spoken aloud. He watched as Halien approached Alfrid.
"Hello. As I have told your gatekeeper here, I am Halien. I am an ambassador from the Woodland Realm and I am to give a full report to King Thranduil upon my return on how our business and trade with Laketown is faring. I have the papers here if you would like to see the order yourself." Halien said, then pulled out a bundle of papers.
Alfrid shook his head when he saw the large bundle. "No, no, it would be unwise for us to doubt the legitimacy of your assignment. We value our trades with the Woodland Realm."
"As you should," Halien replied.
Just as the men began to tip the barrels over, Bard said, "Folk in this town are struggling. Times are hard. Food is scarce."
"Not my problem," Alfrid said.
"When the people hear that the Master is dumping fish back into the lake, when the rioting starts, will it be your problem then?"
"Your name was Alfrid, was it not?" Halien asked. "I have allowed these fish to be transported in the barrels. Bard has the royal pardon of his majesty, Thranduil. Are you willing to risk his wrath should he learn that you were interfering with official business?"
Alfrid was afraid of the idea of a riot and even more so by the thought of the Elven King's wrath, so he ordered the Men to stop. "Ever the people's champion, eh, Bard? Protector of the Common folk? You even got the elven ambassador on your side. You might have their favor now, Bargeman, but it won't last." And with that, he stalked away.
"Raise the gate," Percy called out. Bard thanked him and steered his barge through the gate and into the town.
"The Master has his eye on you," Alfrid said to Bard, stopping for a moment. "You'd do well to remember: we know where you live."
Bard scoffed and said, "It's a small town, Alfrid. Everyone knows where everyone lives."
Bard navigated through the waterways and stopped when it was safe. He kicked over a few barrels and pushed over some of the others. He helped Halien off the barge and smiled a bit when she silently thanked him, then paid the old man that was standing there staring at them.
"You never saw them, they were never here," Bard told him. "The fish you can have for nothing."
The old man nodded and Bard led them through the streets, through the throng of people. The people of the Lake stared and muttered amongst themselves.
"Keep your heads down and keep moving," Bard instructed.
As they made their way through, a guard spotted them. "Halt! Oi!"
Halien stopped and looked at Bard. 'We have to get away, Bard. We cannot be stopped!'
"We have to move. Come on." Thorin said and they started to run.
"In the name of the Master of Laketown, I said halt!" the guard called again.
Halien looked desperately at Bard as the dwarves weaved through the people. The guards chased after them and they incapacitated them.
The guard commander, Braga, came up with some more men and looked around.
"What's going on?" he demanded as the people scattered and went back to their business. "Stay where you are. Nobody leaves."
Halien and Bard stood next to each other while the dwarves hid. As Braga came around the corner, Bard acted as if he had just run into the Man. "Braga."
"You." Said, looking at him sternly.
"Sorry?" Bard asked as Halien came up beside him.
"Is everything alright, commander?" Halien asked.
Ignoring her, Braga glared at Bard. "You, what are you up to?"
Behind them, one of the guards was beginning to stir, but the woman potting Kingsfoil discreetly knocked over one of the pots and it hit him on the head. The people quickly covered him up and made it look like there was nothing but the weed and crates.
"Me?" Bard asked. "Nothing. I'm looking for nothing."
"Yeah," Braga said, suspiciously. As he investigated the noise and found nothing, Bard came up behind him with a blouse.
"Hey, Braga," Bard said. "Your wife would look lovely in this."
"What do you know of my wife?" Braga demanded.
"I know her as well as any Man in this town," Bard replied, shrugging innocently.
Halien giggled a bit when the commander stormed off with his men behind him. Bard motioned for her and the others to follow him.
As they continued through the back paths of the town towards their destination, wherever that may be, Bard's son came running up to him.
"Da, our house. It's being watched." He said.
Bard nodded and had the company hide. He and Halien went up to the house, following his son. Bard took an apple and whistled to the Men below. "You can tell the Master I'm done for the day." He said and tossed the apple to the elder of the two.
Bard followed Halien into the house and Halien stepped aside as a young girl and her older sister ran to him.
"Da! Where have you been?" the youngest said.
"Father! There you are! I was worried." Said the eldest.
"Here, Sigrid," Bard said, handing the satchel he carried to her. Then to his son, he said, "Bain, get them in."
The youngest girl looked at the elf maiden standing by the door as her brother ran downstairs. "Who are you, miss?"
Halien smiled at the girl. "I am Halien. You are Bard's children?"
The girls nodded. The eldest looked at Halien. "Are you visiting Father?"
Halien shook her head. "No, I am here on business. Your father has been kind enough to help me."
