Ya'aburnee

Laketown

"Halt!" A man called out as they approached, "Goods inspection! Papers please!" a man with a lantern emerged from a building to the right of the boat. "Oh, it's you Bard."

"Morning Percy," Bard replied.

"Anything to declare?" the man, Percy asked.

"Nothing," Bard replied, "But that I am cold and tired, and ready for home." He handed a paper to Percy. He glanced over his shoulder. "This is my cousin, Lillian. She's come to visit my family."

"Oh, lovely to meet you," Percy told her, and she smiled, giving him a polite bow. He walked back into the building to stamp the paper, walking back out, handing it to Bard. "There we are, all in order."

"Not so fast." A slimy looking man emerged from the shadows, snatching the paper before Bard could take it. He read the paper. "'consignment of empty barrels from the Woodland Realm.' Only, they're not empty." Guards flanked him as he approached the boat. "Are they Bard?" He threw the paper over his shoulder. "If I recall correctly, you're licensed as a bargeman." He lifted a fish from one of the barrels. "Not a fisherman."

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

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

"Oh come on Alfrid, have a heart. People need to eat."

"These fish are illegal." That man sure loved a power trip. "Empty the barrels over the side." Her heart clenched in worry, but she maintained a cool façade. The slimy man, Alfrid, turned to her. "Can't have people breaking the law, can we miss?" He winked at her and she looked quickly away, trying to mask her disgust.

"You heard him, in the canal," One of the guards said, walking onto the boat. "Come on, get a move on!"

"Folk in this town are struggling," Bard said, eyeing the guards nervously. "Times are hard. Food is scarce."

"That's not my problem," Alfrid replied.

"And when the people learn that the master is dumping fish back in the lake? When the rioting starts? Will it be your problem then?" Olivia bit the inside of her lip so as not to smirk. She liked Bard. He seemed like a good man.

Alfrid looked displeased, but raised his hand in command. "Stop." The guards stopped tipping the barrels, walking off of the barge. "Ever the peoples champion, eh Bard? Protector of the common folk. You might have their favor now, bargeman, but it won't last." He turned and walked a short distance.

"Raise the gate!" Percy called, and Bard returned to the back of the barge, steering it through.

"The master has his eye on you," Alfrid turned back to angrily lecture at Bard again. "You'd do well to remember: we know where you live."

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

***

Soon enough, he found a secluded dock, Olivia helping him tie up the barge. Her hands were numb, and she was still shaking, but promise of warmth very soon made it not so bad. Glancing around, Bard lifted a foot, pushing one of the barrels over, Nori sliding out with a pile of fish, coughing.

He dumped another barrel, Dori spilling out. He moved to push over another barrel, but Dwalin emerged, spluttering from the pile of fish. "Get your hands off me!" The other dwarves began to emerge from the barrels, Olivia, despite the urge to gag, helping them out as Bard paid off a stander-by.

Once the dwarfs had been off-loaded, Bard began to walk. "Follow me." The group fell into line, slipping through the shadows to avoid being spotted by too many.

A boy met them on their path. "Da!" Bard turned to him, "Our house, it's being watched." The boy stopped and looked in confusion at the dwarves, hobbit, and human woman.

Bard looked around, coming up with a new plan. He turned back to the dwarves. "I'm sorry, but you will have to go back in the water."

"Not Olivia," Thorin insisted. 

"No," Bard agreed, the woman's shivering had started to get a little worse, her clothes hanging, frozen solid on her body. He turned to the boy. "Bain, this is your cousin, once removed, Lillian." The boy quickly understood the ruse, nodding.

***

She walked with the two of them as the dwarves broke off. They would be entering the house through the back. She was led up the stairs, Bard motioning for her to go ahead of him into the house, as he paused at the entrance, throwing an apple down to one of the fishermen below. "You can tell the master I'm done for the day."

"Da!" A young girl said excitedly as the door was shut, rushing towards the door. She faltered slightly upon seeing Olivia, but ran to her father regardless. "Where have you been?"

"Father, there you are," an older girl, probably sixteen or seventeen stood, walking over to hug her father as well. "I was worried!"

"Here Sigrid," He handed his bag off to her, looking out the window. She could tell the older girl, Sigrid, wanted to ask who she was, but was trying to be polite. "This is Olivia," Bard introduced her, "She fell in the water, do what you can to get her warm." He turned to his son. "Bain, get them in."

The older girl sprung into action, though still curious about what her father meant by 'get them in,' leading Olivia to sit by the fire, rushing to get her some dry clothes. "I'm Sigrid," She motioned to her sister. "This is Tilda." Returning with a clean dress and slip, she led Olivia behind a curtain, giving her the clothing to change.

Olivia nodded gratefully. "Thank you." Sigrid nodding, leaving her to change privately. As she changed, she heard the dwarves stomping in loudly, re-entering the main room before all of the dwarves had filed into the room.

Olivia sat close to the fire, being given a blanket to wrap around her shoulders as well, unbraiding her hair to let it dry out. Everyone huddled around, freezing. It was cold, nearly November, and they were far in the north.