Unexpected

Chapter 15: Bard The Bowman

The man was tall and wore a long tan coat with fur trim. He wore fingerless gloves and held a large bow. He carried a leather quiver on his back. The human wore a brown tunic and loose pants, which were tucked into his boots. A barge floated in the river behind him.

Balin approached the stranger slowly. His hands were raised, showing his intentions meant no harm. "Excuse me, but, uh, you're from Laketown, if I'm not mistaken? That barge over there, it wouldn't be available for hire by any chance?"

The man lowered his bow. "What makes you think I will help you?"

"Those boots have seen better days."  The old dwarf reasoned.

The bowman gathered the empty barrels from the side of the river and loaded them into his barge.

"As has that coat. No doubt you have some hungry mouths to feed. How many bairns?" Balin asked.

"A boy and two girls." He answered.

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

"Aye." The human paused. "She was."

Balin's smile faded. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"

"Oh, come on, come on." Dwalin interrupted, "Enough with the niceties."

"What's your hurry?" The human inquired.

"What's it to you?" Dwalin was losing his temper.

"I would like to know who you are and what you are doing in these lands." The bowman said plainly.

"We are simple merchants from the Blue Mountains journeying to see our kin in the Iron Hills." Balin lied.

"Simple merchants, you say?" The man raised an eyebrow.

"We'll need food, supplies, weapons." Thorin stated. "Can you help us?"

The bowman examined the barrels. "I know where these barrels came from."

"What of it?"

"I don't know what business you had with the elves, but I don't think it ended well." He ran his fingers over the barrel's dents. "No one enters Laketown but by leave of the Master. All his wealth comes from trade with the Woodland Realm. He will see you in irons before risking the wrath of King Thranduil."

The man climbed aboard his barge.

"I'll wager there are ways to enter that town unseen."

"Aye." The man nodded. "But for that, you will need a smuggler."

"For which we will pay double." Balin offered.

•

Bard paddled across the lake in his barge. It was extremely foggy and Eili could only see a few meters in front of her. A large stone formation appeared in the fog.

"Watch out!"

Bard swiftly whisked around the rock formation.

"What are you trying to do, drown us?" Thorin frowned.

"I was born and bred on these waters, Master Dwarf. If I wanted to drown you, I would not do it here." Bard said knowingly.

"Oh I've had enough of this lippy lakeman. I say we throw him over the side and be done with him."

"Bard, his name's Bard." The hobbit responded, slightly angry.

"How do you know?"

"Uh, I asked him." Bilbo answered.