True to his word, Bard led Raven down into The City of Dale to give her the tour. He first led her to the front gate, saying that it will be easier to give the tour by starting at the front gate.
"So Dale is situated in the valley between the south-western and south-eastern arms of the Lonely Mountain. The city is nestled in a sharp U-shaped bend of the River Running. Dale is known as the merry town that trades, mainly in food-supplies, for the skills and craft-pieces of the Dwarves."
Pulling out a map of the city, Bard pointed to where they were. "We're in the upper part of the city. The lower part of the city is towards the top of the U. The middle between the two arms of the U is where the fountain and the city square are located. Different shops are located along the arm closest to this gate. Various houses line the other arm closer to the gate on the far side of the city, where you and I happened to bump into one another yesterday. Various houses also line the lower inner loop of the U; overlooking the fountain and the city square." Raven watched Bard point to different parts of the city as he explained everything.
Bard tucked the map away in his coat then beckoned for Raven to follow him with a hand. He led her down the nearest set of steps along the edge of the city. Raven indeed saw various shops lining the outer edge of the city on her right and along the adjacent wall; city square and fountain overlooked between the wall and the houses.
Raven found smaller booths set here and there near the fountain along the edges of the city square; overlooked by the houses too. One of the booths Raven recognized, as the woman standing behind the booth was very familiar. Bard followed her line of sight. "That is Hilda." He explained, "she's the one who gave me the paste for your back and recommended your top to Sigrid."
Bard followed behind Raven when she walked over to Hilda's booth, the older woman beginning to set up her table. He watched the other woman turn her head in their direction, as if she sensed someone approaching her. A smile pulled at her mouth when her brown saw him walking up to her behind Raven, who the other woman pulled into a gentle hug, careful not too put pressure on her back.
"How's your back?" asked Hilda.
"Sore." Raven gave a light shrug. "I will live though."
"Did Bard relate my directions to you?"
"Yes," Raven confirmed. "Apply the salve to my back twice a day."
Hilda narrowed her eyes at Bard. "You didn't tell her when to apply the salve to her back?" her voice was accusatory.
"It may of slipped my mind," admitted Bard.
Hilda turned her attention back to Raven. "Apply the salve twice a day: once in the morning and once in the evening - particularly after you bathe. After you apply the salve to your back, let the paste soak into your skin for two hours before you get your back wet, though I would recommend staying away from water until the lashes are fairly healed." The woman shot Bard a glare again. "And make sure you remember that as well, your majesty."
Bard held his hands up in surrender while Raven laughed a musical laugh.
Raven allowed Bard to continue the tour through Dale. He led her back over to the shops along the edge of the wall and named each one as they walked past. "The rug shop is the building closest to the stairs we had just walked down, then you have the tea shop, then the florists." Her eyes landed on a cute opaque shop in front of the adjacent corners of where the two walls connected. The shop was set between the florist and a shop that looked as if it sold jewelry. The windows were large, benches sat behind the windows on either side of the door. Atop the two benches sat little gadgets and nicknacks made of wood.
"Would this be the toy shop?" Raven asked Bard. A voice spoke up behind her and The Dragon Slayer.
"Aye. This is the best toy shop in all of Dale."
Raven and Bard simultaneously spun around to take in two Dwarves standing behind them. One wore a floppy hat that reminded Raven of the hats Russians would wear. A braid stuck out on either side of his head underneath the hat. The Dwarf standing beside him had an axe in his head, and his salt and pepper hair looked as if it had been stuck in a light socket.
"Good morning, gentlemen." Bard greeted the two Dwarves.
"Hello Master Bard," replied the Dwarf with the floppy hat. Raven figured Bard knew the two Dwarves because their eyes lit up when they took in the site of The Dragon Slayer. The Dwarf with the floppy hat shifted his eyes to her. "Who might you be, Lass?"
Before Raven could say anything, Bard introduced, "Bofur and Bifur, allow me to introduce my new advisor and emissary for Dale, Erebor and Mirkwood, Raven."
Raven turned her eyes to Bifur when he said something in Khuzdul, extending his hand out towards her afterwards. Raven, not missing a beat, took the Dwarf's offered hand. "It's so nice to meet you too, Bifur. My name is Raven." She replied in Khuzdul.
"Wait, you're King Bard's new advisor?" Bofur asked, shocked.
"And his emissary for all three kingdoms," confirmed Raven.
"King Thorin looks forward to meeting you, Raven." Bofur explained, "Thorin wants to also invite you to Erebor for dinner tomorrow night."
Raven returned the smile. "Tell King Thorin that I am equally excited to meet him as well, and I greatly accept his invitation."
After bidding Bofur and Bifur a good morning, Bard continued giving Raven the tour of Dale. While he enjoyed showing his advisor and emissary, he had a feeling there was deeper haunch for Raven going to have dinner with the Dwarf King other than discussing business.