Note: Chapters 17, 18 and 19 will be out Thursday!

Chapter XVI

Feren and Eruanna rode into Dale. Eruanna's dragons had taken on a smaller form and were flying around. Eruanna liked Feren and looked to him as another sworn protector when Glorfindel wasn't around. Feren saw the Princess as a dear companion, one he would give his life to protect.

Dale was desolate. A once prosperous city reduced to ash by Smaug's fire. Snow, dust and ash covered the floor. Metal was bent and twisted into ugly shapes. Buildings were in a poor state. Hardly a place worth living in.

"SIRE! SIRE!", Alfrid called Bard. "Up here!." Bard went to follow him.

Eruanna frowned as Feren led his lady inside a tower. "You must eat something", he said, offering her some Lembas. "Hannon le", she said, taking a bite. Galadriel taught her how to make Lembas and she shared it with the Woodland elves. The bread sent wonderful memories of her Eruanna's way.

"Eruanna!", Bard called to her. "The braziers of the mountain are lit. The Company survived", he said. Eruanna breathed a sigh of relief. The dwarves had survived.

"Thank you for telling me", she responded. "I thought you would go with them", he said.

"They have no further need for me. More so now that the dragon is dead thanks to the bravery of you and your son", Eruanna told him. "I will stay and help out here as much as I can. Then I shall return to my kin. I miss home more than ever."

Just then, Alfrid stormed in.

"It's her fault we're in this situation! If she and those bastard dwarves never came into Laketown none of this would've ever happened!", Alfrid shouted, grabbing Eruanna's arm and throwing her down. "You miserable little wench!", he shouted.

Eruanna's dragons escaped from her cloak and screeched in anger. "And the witch even has five dragons", Alfrid shouted.

Feren grabbed him and threw him across the room. Alfrid screamed in pain, falling onto the hard floor and holding his head. "You dare accuse the Princess in that disgraceful manner! Dishonor her again, and you shall have the wrath of King Thranduil!"

"What!?!", Alfrid snapped back.

"She is the heiress to three elven realms. She is Eruanna Úlumiel, Princess of Mirkwood and Lady of Imladris and Lothlórien. The one true Dragon Princess East of the Sea. You owe her your utmost respect and allegiance."

"She is no Princess!! All she does is bring trouble", Alfrid boomed.

She glared at him. "I am Princess Eruanna of the Woodland Realm, Lady of Imladris and Lothlórien. I am the Mistress of Dragons. The next time you lay a peasant hand on me, will be the last time you have hands!" Her cold expression shook Alfrid to the bone.

"I should also add that my victory against Smaug was not won alone", Bard said sternly. "She helped me greatly."

The people of Laketown who watched the commotion immediately bowed to her. "Please rise", Eruanna gently commanded. They did. "You have all lost much but I promise you, I will see to it your lives are restored and the dwarves as well as myself pay back the massive debt you are owed", Eruanna said. They all cheered and the dragons roared.

Eruanna looked out from one of the towers. She saw the dwarves barricading the mountain with large stones. "What are they doing?", Eruanna wondered. Her dragons curled up to her as night settled in. She heard footsteps and she looked to see Feren approaching her.

"My Lady, we must rest", Feren said. Eruanna stayed silent for a bit.

"The dwarves are locking themselves away. Thorin has a promise to keep", Eruanna said. Feren looked at her, confused.

She looked back at him. "Thorin promised a share of the treasure to the people of Laketown in return for their aid. But I don't think he will keep that promise."

"Hence why he is fencing himself in", Feren realized.

"If they don't keep their promise", Eruanna turned around. "Bad things could follow." "What do you mean, my lady?."

"I feel something stirring. I don't think the mountain is entirely secure. Even if it is, I don't want to leave these people here to starve and die. If Thorin doesn't keep his promise that will happen. They die and we lose a valued trading partner", Eruanna explained to him.