𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐆𝐎𝐍𝐒: 𝑺𝑴𝑨𝑼𝑮 | FINISHED

~ch.19: Hold your tounge, Mortal

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Tatsuo

we'd gotten caught by the Laketown guards and are now brought to the master o the town. I see the dsiqueted head-on alfrid as he pokes his head out. "Get off of me!" I hear dwalin growl behind me. Lots of indistinct muttering and yelling. Alfrid closes the door and goes to get the master. Braga arranges all the dwarves under guard in the town square before the mansion's gates. As guards open the mansion's doors, the Master storms out, still putting on his coat. "What is the meaning of this?" he calls, and the captain of the guards strides forward, holding a look of pride on his face. I growl, feeling anger bubble as I move in the guard's holds. but I stay silent and try not to make any further commotion. "We caught 'em stealing weapons, sire," Braga says, and the master smirks. "Ah. Enemies of the state, then," he concludes, and the little man alfrid inquiries sneakily. "This is a bunch of mercenaries if ever there was, sire." that's when I snap. I wriggle from the guard hiding me and step forward, earning looks of caution from both the master and alfrid. "you do well to remember holding your tongue around royal, mortal," I sneer. Then I gaklcne back at throin whose eyes are wide and curious. 

"You do not know to whom you speak. This is no common criminal; Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror!" I say and gesture to thorin, who steps forward—the crowd murmurs in amazement. "We are the dwarves of Erebor," he states clearly. The crowd whispers in shock and recognition, and people crane their heads to see better. I smile proudly, but then I notice the presence of Bard, and I grow weary at the energy that pulsates off hui. He's angry, but for what? My thoughts cant find the answer on their own, so I wait until he shows himself. in the meantime, thorin continues his speech, and I listen but am no longer happy. "We have come to reclaim our homeland. I remember this town and the great days of old. Fleets of boats lay at the harbor, filled with silks and fine gems. This was no forsaken town on a lake! This was the center of all trade in the North." Thorin speaks earnestly to the crowd, and the people nod in agreement.

"I would see those days return. I would relight the great forges of the dwarves and send wealth and riches flowing once more from the halls of Erebor!" The people cheer and clap, and the Master looks on, calculating. My mind hiss lies! suddenly a voice calls out over the crowd, and Bard strides forward. "Death! That is what you will bring upon us: Dragon fire and ruin. If you awaken that beast, it will destroy us all." once again, the name of my kind is vastly used as a wrong term. But once again, I stay shut. The people whisper anxiously, and thorin glances at the bowman before turning to face the people of lake town. "You can listen to this naysayer, but I promise you this; If we succeed, all will share in the wealth of the mountain. You will have enough gold to rebuild Esgaroth ten times over!" I shake my head at the excitement that runs in the prominent people, but I do not have the heart to crush their hopes. Not now. The people shout in excitement, and they applaud. The Master looks on, smiling and nodding at this turn of events. 

"All of you! Listen to me! You must listen! Have you forgotten what happened to Dale?!" Bard's voice since the people, and they nod sadly. Even I get solemn. I wasn't there that day, but from the images in the dwarf king's head, it seems so sad. I take a deep sigh as the guard that held me had long since let go of me. "Have you forgotten those who died in the firestorm?!" Bard called, and the people answered him, "no!" "And for what purpose? He could not see beyond his desire the blind ambition of a mountain-king so riven by greed!" I glance at throin, seeing the stone-cold exasperation on his cichlid face. the master suddenly steps in. "Now, now, we must not, any of us, be too quick to lay blame. Let us not forget that Girion, Lord of Dale, your ancestor, failed to kill the beast!" my eyes whip over to Bard as the crowd begins to clamor. As Bard looks away, Thorin looks at him in shock and anger. 

I growl loudly, attracting the attention of the people and lake town master. "hold your tongue. No blame shall be delivered. No hate shall be hollow, for the men is at the fault of the man's failure—no, the man himself. Do not blame the bowman for something his ancestor did. He has no reason for getting blamed this way. A dragon's hide is tough, Master of Laketown. Nothing can price it except another dragon's claws.

As you know, there are more dragons in the world. So give him some slack before I kill you" your words were harsh and calm, the tone of venom ringing through the crowd. Even Bard looked at you in utter confusion and awe. the master of the Laketown was a loss for words, but then Thorin spoke up, not machining either your or Bard's voice. "I speak to the Master of the men of the Lake. Will you see the prophecy fulfilled? Will you share in the great wealth of our people?" The people quietly watch in anticipation. "What say you?" thorin ehocs again, and I even turn to the Laketown master. 

He thinks for several seconds, then smiles and points his finger at Thorin. I say unto you...welcome! Welcome and thrice welcome, King under the Mountain!" The Master opens his arms in welcome, and the crowd erupts in cheers. Bard looks on silently, as do I. Thorin climbs up a few steps and turns to face the audience; the people hug each other in excitement and joy. Thorin and Bard stare at each other. The mountain king's gaze then turned to me and softened. I send him a small smile but stay quiet. 

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