Lacy

~~~

Bard guides the boat cautiously through large rocks and dangerous waters.

The entire time I just stare at this company I've joined.

Allie sits wringing her hands, veins still running black. Kili clutches Alex's hand, drifting in and out of consciousness. Alex lays limp looking dead. Sam, Bilbo, and Jacob whisper quietly to each other.

Why did I come here?

"Watch out!" Bofur complains every time the boat nears an obstacle.

"What are you trying to do? Drown us?" Thorin snaps and Allie elbows him.

"I was born and bred on these waters, Master Dwarf. If I wanted to drown you, I would not do it here," Bard counters, a smirk on his face.

"Oh, I've had enough of this lippy lake-man. I say we throw him over the side and be done with him," Dwalin growls and receives a smack from Ori.

"Oh, Bard. His name's Bard," I snap.

"How do you know?" Dwalin asks.

"Uh...I asked him," I reply and roll my eyes. I've no peppy laughter left. Im beginning to see how this journey ends.

"I don't care what he calls himself, I don't like him," Dwalin grumbles, crossing his arms. I send Bard and apologetic look.

"We do not have to like him, we simply have to pay him," Balin states and I look over the dwarves shoulders to see Balin counting out coins. "Come on, now, lads. Turn out your pockets." Everyone starts to shuffle trough their pockets.

"How do we know he won't betray us?" Balin whispers to Thorin.

"We don't," Thorin utters.

"I'm really sorry for them. Dwarves can be quite rude but you warm up," I mumble to Bard.

"You have surprising patience," Bard praises and I shrug.

"It's wearing thin," I admit.

"There's um...just a wee problem. We're ten coins short," Balin observes and I turn to see nine piles of ten coins on the table.

"Gloin, come on. Give us what you have," Thorin orders and Gloin glowers.

"Don't look to me. I have been bled dry by this venture! What have I seen for my investment? Naught but misery and grief and-" He suddenly gasps and I turn to see it.

The mountain comes into view, making all rise to witness. It looks simply magnificent.

"Bless my beard." Gloin glances at Allie who isn't paying attempting to anything. She's absorbed in pain. "She has all my money. I lost a few bets." Thorin nudges Allie and she looks up suddenly.

"Oh sorry. Here," she says and carelessly tosses her money bag onto the table. It lands with a loud thump. It is obvious she has won more than a few bets. Bard leaves his post at the head of the boat and walks over to the clump of dwarves.

"The money, quick. Give it to me," Bard demands and holds out his hand.

"We will pay you when we get our provisions, but not before," Thorin responds in kind.

"If you value your freedom, you'll do as I say. There are guards ahead," Bard warns. I glance ahead and see a port.

"He's not lying," I confirm. Balin nods and hands over the money dutifully.

"Hide in the barrels."

"My wings will not go in!" Allie exclaims.

"Then you are the angel of Middle Earth play the part!" Bard says quickly. Allie bawks and her eyes widen.

"O-okay."

The rest of us buckle down in the barrels and wait as the boat floats along.

"Ssh. What's he doing?" Jacob mutters as the barge comes to a stop.

"Quit he's just talking to some guy," Allie answers. "He's talking to someone. He's pointing right at us. Now they're shaking hands. They must be friends."

"What?" Jacob says he's probably wondering how naive Allie can be while having obliviously gone through some shit.

"He's selling us out!" Dwalin hisses. Allie doesn't reply only kicks the barrel. I hear footsteps approaching a metal creak and then pounds of fish are poured into my barrel and all the others I assume.

"Thank you very much sir," Allie thanks.

"Aye anything to help Bard and the lovely angel," a strangers voice says.

"All of you stay silent and bear the fish," Allie growls out a minute later. "Please."

The boat starts moving again.

"We're approaching the toll gate," Bard informs.

"Halt! Goods inspection. Papers please!" someone shouts. "Oh, it's you, Bard! But who's this."

"Morning, Percy," Bard greets. "This is the fabled Angel of Middl Earth."

"Oh my my! I've never seen a legend before! Have you come to help us?"

"Of course but I'd prefer to be discreet miracles are best done quietly," Allie lies.

"There we are, all in order," the man, Percy, remarks. "I won't say a word miss Angel."

~~~

Allie

~~~

I feel sick to my stomach doing this but I put on a smile and wear it professionally.

Percy is kind and agreeable. He gives Bard back the goods papers in an instant.

"Not so fast," a new man says and steps out of the shadows. I can tell his face is as ugly as his soul. The man grabs the papers and glares at me. "Consignment of empty barrels from the Woodland realm." The man looks at the barrels then at Bard. "Only they're not empty. Are they Bard? Also bringing I'm strangers? If I recall correctly, you're licensed as a bargeman. Not-" he picks up a fish and reveals Bomburs eye. I bite my lip. "A fisherman or an ambassador allowed to invite people in."

"That's none of your business," Bard counters.

"Wrong. It's the Master's business, which makes it my business."

"Oh, come on, Alfrid. Have a heart, people need to eat," Bard reasons as I debate stepping in.

"These fish are illegal," Alfrid points out and throws the fish down on Bomburs eye. "Empty the barrels over the side." The guard inst ally obey, grab Bilbo and Emily's barrel, and start dumping them. I hesitate for a moment before holding up my hand.

"STOP!" I demand sending a flow of power through my words. "The fish are going with me and Bard into the town for the people. It is my duty to help and that's what I will do. One black soul will not stop that." The guards stop immediately and set the barrels back up while Alfrid gapes.

"She really is the Angel," one of the guard gasps.

"Yes now Bard and I will be taking our leave," I state, glaring. Alfrid reluctantly steps off the barge while the guards scramble.

"Ever the people's champion, hey, Bard? Protector of the common folk. Bringer of the angel. You might have their favor now, bargeman, but it won't last."

"Raise the gate!" Percy yells and the fate into town slowly raises. Bard smirks and guides his barge through it.

"The Master has his eye on you. You'll do well to remember, we know where you live,"'Alfrid threatens.

"It's a small town, Alfrid. Everyone knows where everyone lives," Bard retorts.

We enter the miserable town silently.

~~~

The townspeople stare and whisper as Bard sails by. I try not to notice.

Bard guides the barge to a back post. A man sits smoking idly by it.

"Kick them over," Bard mumbles and kicks over a barrel. I nod and start shoving all the barrels over. The company flops out. Sam picks Alex up while Fili shoulders Kili. I grab Emily's arms and shake her gently so she can refocus. Bard hurriedly gives coin to the man sitting.

"You didn't see them, they were never here. The fish you can have for nothing," Bard whispers and the man nods. "Follow me," Bard says to the company.

We sneak through back pathways of the town though people still see. Everyone seems to be friends with Bard so nothing is said and no guards are alerted.

"Da, our house! It's being watched," a small boy yelps and runs into Bard. I assume it's his son.

"What do we do then?" Thorin asks angrily. I put a hand on his shoulder but accidentally transfer some pain so I yank it back.

"I have a plan," Bard states and proceeds to explain in a low voice.

"That is a fucked up plan," Jacob mutters.

"I'm gonna tell you right now all of the plans we have our fucked up," Sam responds.

~~~

Grace

~~~

Natalie and I stand at the edge of the borders staring off where we last saw the dwarves. A tree branch cracks and I whip around, now at ready to shoot. Tauriel and Legolas stand smiling sheepishly hands held up.

"I thought you were an orc," I insult a smirk on my lips.

"Well fuck you too," Tauriel snorts.