𝐄𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐘━︎━︎L. Greenleaf

❝CHAPTER ELEVEN❞

▌𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 ━︎━︎ 𝐋𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐧 ▌

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐀 𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐑𝐔𝐍𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆, she followed the stream as fast as she could but that talk with Legolas had put more distance between her and the Dwarves than she had anticipated. She ran faster, noticing the current was beginning to slow down. They would've went to land. Voices sounded from the distance, familiar voices. She looked up, a smile spreading across her lips. She'd snuck past the Orc's, killing a few stragglers but for the most part she remained unseen. She climbed over a hill just in time to see a man with a bow pointing a spear at the Dwarves.

     Ellaria quickly pulled out her bow, notching an arrow and pulling it back, pointing it at the man. "I suggest you drop your weapon, my friend." Her voice was dangerously low, eyes narrowing as she silently dared the man to release another spear, having released two before she'd arrived. The Dwarves looked at her, smiles gracing their faces. The man turned to her, now pointing his weapon at her. "Hurt my friends, and I won't hesitate to murder you right where you stand."

     "An elf with a company of Dwarves. Unheard of." The man said.

     "Drop your weapon. I won't ask you again." She pulled the string tighter, the arrow begging to be released.

     Balin stopped them from killing each other. "Excuse me, um, you're from Lake Town, if I'm not mistaken." The man glanced at him, but kept his aim on the she-elf. "That barge over there. . . it wouldn't be available for hire, by any chance?"

     Slowly, he lowered his weapon and Ellaria pointed her arrow to the ground, carefully loosening her grip on the string. She carefully watched him as he made his way to his boat, beginning to load it with barrels full of fish. When she was sure that he wasn't going to hurt them, she replaced her arrow. "What makes you think I would help?" Bard asked, lifting another barrel onto the boat.

     "Those boots have seen better days." Balin claimed. "As has that coat. Uh, no doubt you have some hungry mouths to feed. How many bairns?"

     Bard paused to look at the white haired dwarf. "A boy and two girls."

     Balin smiled. "And your wife, I imagine she's a beauty."

     He placed another barrel onto the boat, standing there for a moment. "Aye." Ellaria cocked her head, noticing the way his body language had completely shifted at the statement. "She was."

     Balin closed his eyes in realization. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to―︎"

     Dwalin groaned. "Oh, come on, come on. Enough of the niceties."

     Bard turned his head to look at him. "What's your hurry?"

     "What's it to you?"

     "I would like to know who you are and what you are doing in these lands." Bard made his way towards them.