Daughter of The Darkness

Chapter 41

Aww Unexpected Journey was on the telly! When Dwalin eats the fish head! It's too good. Tbh the whole scene in Bilbos house makes me laugh. What's yours?

"Tomorrow begins the last days of autumn," stated Thorin. The company were sat around the dining table in debate, again.
"Durin's Day falls the morning after next, we must reach the mountain before then," muttered Balin. If they did not find the door before that, the whole quest would be for nothing.

Bard came through the door carrying the fabric package. He laid them out on the table and undid the parcel. Inside was a strange array of peculiar weaponry. Thorin looked at Bard "what is this?" he said.

Bard replied saying it was a pike hook made from an old harpoon. Another was a crown bill, apparently, made from a blacksmiths hammer.
"It's heavy in hand, but in defence of your life these will serve you better than none," All the dwarves dumped the man made weapons on the table.
"We paid for weapons, iron forged, swords and axes!"complained Gloin. Bard huffed "you'll only find that kind of defence in the armoury - and the key is kept by the Master, and its guarded all the time"

"Thorin, I say we take the weapons and go, we should leave now," pointed Balin.
There were grumbles amongst the dwarves. Suddenly Oin said "but Elfreda is up there, couldn't she cause a distraction?" The company agreed.
"Wouldn't it be... you know... dangerous?" asked Tilda "she is a lady after all,"
Dwalin chuckled" she's coped with far worse, Elfreda will be fine"
After attaching a note to an arrow, Kili loosened the message.

Bard turned to his son, Bain.
"Don't let them leave!" he said before rushing off out of the door again.

There was a thud against the ledge of the window. Still mocking the Master she reached over the edge and pulled an arrow out of the wood. She felt that there was parchment attached to the arrow.
"Still got any whiskey? I'm in need of a drink," Elfreda asked. The Master grumbled and went to the cupboard and began fumbling around.

Quickly Elfreda tore the letter off and opened it. It read:

Cause a distraction, we seek weaponry from the forge. Thorin.

Elfreda tutted. Then she looked out the window and spotted then gazing out of Bards window in expectation. She raised her arms.
"Here you go," said the Master, his breath already stank of the drink, holing out the tiniest glass of the cheapest whiskey. Elfreda took it gladly anyway- even though she hated the stuff. As she turned, she threw the note into the fire. The evidence of treason slowly turning to ash in the fireplace.

"She's got it," said Kili " but she doesn't look happy about it,"
"Well Elfreda has to make her share of sacrifices in the quest too," muttered Thorin.
"What sort of sacrifices? We didn't give up much for this, we came to gain not give" asked Fili.

Rushing around the market of Lake Town, Bard searched for a shop. He found it, a shop of trinkets and antiques.
"Hello, Bard can I help you?' asked the shopkeeper. Bard began digging his way through pieces of fabric.
"There was a tapestry, an old one, where is it?" Looking around, Bard found it. Unrolling the tapestry, Bard read the family tree of the royal dwarves of Erebor.
"The prophecy, and the bells shall ring out in gladness at the Mountain kings return. But all shall fade in sadness. And the lake will shine and burn."

Bard rushed out of the shop and through the market back to his home. Crashing through the door, he was shocked to find the company had gone.

"Da! I tried to stop them!" Bain cried.

"How long have they been gone?" asked Bard.

Inside the Master's study, Elfreda pretended to be drunk. The Master was different, he was so drunk he did not even notice Elfreda pour the drink out the window.
"Your old friend, Bard, has been driving me up the wall the last few years," the Master whined "he used to fancy you," he stuttered.
Elfreda smirked "oh really?"
But the Master continued "he's going to rise against me! Me of all people!"
"Why would anyone want to do that?" Elfreda murmured not to him but mockingly to herself.

After a rather amazing entry, the dwarves were gathering weaponry from the forge. Thorin handed a load to Kili who took the weight but struggled.
"You alright?" asked Thorin, being more of an uncle than a king. He was referring to the arrow wound that was healing in his leg.
"I can manage, let's get out of here," Kili replied. As he left to walk down the stairs, Kili tripped and tumbled down causing a terrific noise.
"Run!" shouted Dori as all the guards came rushing in. In a mad struggle all were caught and dragged out of the hold.

A knock came from the door to the office. The Master tried to father himself and hobbled over to the door. It was Alfred.
"A group of dwarves have been arrested trying to steal from the forge sire." He groaned. The Master agreed and turned to introduce his right hand man to Elfreda but she had disappeared.
"She was here, Alfred." The Master said. But Alfred ignored him and lead the Master down the stairs.

Elfreda was scaling down the building faster than she went up. Her friends were in danger and she had to help. But what had happened to Bard? What had to dwarves done to him?

Keeping to the crowds, Elfreda managed to sneak to the front of the group at the far side. But she was far enough forward to death glare Thorin who stood in the centre with the rest of the group. The prince of Erebor acknowledged her presence but kept his head low. She noticed that Fili was keeping a close eye on Kili. Fili caught her eye, he was concerned for his brother. There was a slight look of relief in his eyes too.

"Enemies of the state, eh?' called the Master, trying not to hiccup.
"A desperate bunch of mercenaries, if ever there was sire,"
Dwalin strode up to the front of the small huddle of dwarves and retorted "this is no common criminal. This is Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thrór!" As Dwalin called out to the whole of Lake Town, Thorin strode forward, next to Dwalin.

There was a murmur throughout the crowd. Elfreda pulled her hand through her hair. This was not supposed to happen. How was she going to get them out of this one? At least if they were imprisoned they could not get into the mountain.

Someone grabbed her hand and pulled through the crowd. Before she could scream, another hand covered her mouth. Out of the crowd, the hands released her.
"Bard!" she exhaled "what are you doing?"
"The dragon will destroy us all, including your dwarvish friends," said Bard "their leader is Thorin Oakenshield, heir o Erebor!"
Elfreda exhaled deeply "do you think I don't know that? I'm trying, alright, to figure out something that won't cause any casualties but dwarves are not the easiest people to stick to a plan,"
"You really would risk your life for them, wouldn't you? Just promise me that you'll be safe," warned Bard. Elfreda smiled.
"I would go to the mouth of hell for anyone I care for. But know this, if the dragon escapes, become the leader that is in your blood and look after yourself, promise me that,"
Bard nodded before shoving his way into the crowd leaving Elfreda by herself on the outside.
"Dragon fire and ruin. If you awaken that beast, it will destroy us all!" declared Bard. When she heard this, Elfreda also shoved her way through the crowd, a heated argument could erupt if they were not careful.