The Firedrake's Lost Heir

Chapter 15

In Laketown the boatman Bard was out on his usual duties, patrolling the waters and sometimes bringing back food for the villagers. But he would soon come across the most unusual creature.

On the shore close to his village his eyes widened when spotting Brooklyn lying there on his back, his wings splayed out in odd angles, wheezing. Bard brought the boat in to the shore and stepped off after sticking it to the ground. The man carefully went up to the creature, holding a fishing spear in his hands for a weapon.

"What are you?" Bard muttered to himself. The new creature looked very dragon like in nature but didn't look like a dragon at all. Being careful he poked the creature in the arm. That made him groan, struggling to open his eyes.

Brooklyn felt groggy when waking up, gasping at the sight of a real human that wasn't an elf, a dwarf or a wizard. He scuttled back a little, flinching in pain from sore muscles. Bard glared. "You will tell me who you are and what your business is here creature." The human demanded gruffly, his trust issues at an all time high. Brooklyn held up his hands, not wanting to be stabbed by the fish hook, especially after his traumatizing events earlier.

Bard then noted the scratches on the creature's face but his trust didn't change. "Please don't... hurt me... mean no harm, I swear," Brooklyn begged weakly, tears falling down his face as flashbacks of him fighting the wargs and losing his friends came to him. Bard lowered his spear, brow raised at the sight of the creature crying. Well, at least the beak and wings were interesting to him.

"And what would your name be?" Bard asked softly. Gulping Brooklyn answered. "Brooklyn, am a gargoyle," He mumbled, lying about what he really was since this was an anti dragon town apparently. "Brooklyn," The hybrid replied in a soft voice, still holding up one of his hands in case the human decided to use it. It had been a while since he had seen a human. Bard raised his brow but saw the creature really didn't seem so dangerous, for the moment. He had no idea this was the son of Smaug but noted that Brooklyn was hurt.

He held out his hand. "You need your wounds treated." Bard said. He was one to help ones who were hurt. Brooklyn gulped again, but decided to accept this new human's trust for now, taking Bard's hand and struggled to his feet.

Brooklyn leaned on Bard's shoulder as the man led him to his boat and placed him in. "I'll have to cover you up to hide you when we enter Laketown. Our village especially the governor doesn't take too kindly to strangers," Bard informed him. Brooklyn nodded, wincing from his sprained wing and cuts on his face, gazing out over at the Lonely Mountain, eyes watering again as he was so close to reaching it only to have his traveling cut short again.

....

The two sailed to the entrance of the village where Bard quickly got a tarp and tossed it over his new 'friend'. Brooklyn did his best to remain still, lying there on the floor as Bard went through inspection. He was allowed through thankfully and eventually could come out of hiding again.

Brooklyn limped along as Bard snuck him through the streets to his home. As he opened the door two girls and a boy were there, happy to see their father but the older girl gasped in shock at the sight of their guest.

"Pa? What...?" She exclaimed in disbelief. Bard quieted her. Brooklyn himself blinked a little at the sight of all the children in front of him but still felt pretty weak from all his traveling and action that was happening. Bain's eyes rounded when looking at this strange creature. "Pa, where did he come from?" The boy asked, Bard leading Brooklyn to the nearest bed in the house, placing him there. Brooklyn grunted in pain, happy to lie down properly.

Bard glanced at his son and his daughters. "I found him hurt outside our town but he didn't attack me, so we're helping him. But I will ask questions, for certain." Brooklyn glanced around the house while Bard told his eldest Sigrid to get a blanket and some first aid for Brooklyn. Now that he was closer than ever to his father Brooklyn could feel his presence very near. He cringed, ears flat, the dragon form inside him threatening to burst open again and stay that way forever.