Bard of Laketown

Part Thirty-Two

PART THIRTY-TWO

AREYA'S POV

I see Bard's outline in the shadow by the gate. He is turned away from me, so I walk up silently. The boards of the dock creak a few times, but he is too lost in his thoughts to even notice.

"Bard." I whisper quietly in his ear. He does not turn to look at me, does not smile. It is as if I am not there. I take his hand.

"Go with them now. I am staying here." His voice is so hard, so unfeeling. Hurt and confusion rises up inside of me. What can be wrong? He was so happy this morning! "I will not leave without you," I say firmly.

"Go. It is what must be done." He turns his back to me, and it is clear that he does not want to speak to me.

A sharp pain blossoms in my chest, and I try to push it away, but it comes back, sharper than any wound I've ever had before. I take my hand off of his, and stand up, angry tears blurring my normally clear vision. As I walk away, I glance behind me once more, hoping to see him smiling at me, but he remains hunched in the shadows.

As I push open the door of Bard's house, Fili and Kili jump up from the floor. "Is he coming?" Fili asks eagerly, a wide smile on his face.

I shake my head slowly. "No. He will not come."

Their smiles drop, and they frown slightly.

"What happened?" Kili asks me softly.

I sink down onto my knees, still shocked. "I... I don't know. I walked up to him and he acted... like I wasn't even there."

"What's going on in that bloody head of his now?" Fili says loudly, throwing his hands in the air.

"Hush!" I whisper, gesturing to the sleeping children. His mouth makes an 'o' and we step outside. I consider taking them up to talk on the roof, but after what happened last night, it feels- sacred somehow.

Instead I lead them to the back of the house, and we stand in the shadow of the wooden walls. For the first time in weeks, I reflect on what has happened. Leaving Mirkwood, meeting Bard, falling in love- can it truly be called love?- and being rejected by Bard.

I have allowed myself to be taken in with this... this stranger? "I barely know him," I mutter to myself.

"Hmm?" Fili asks me. I shake my head.

"It's nothing." I smile slightly.

Kili is looking out on the Lonely Mountain, awe in his dark eyes. "Being so close to Erebor, it really makes everything more real."

"Including the dragon." Fili says absentmindedly, watching the misty sky.

"Smaug is as good as dead." Kili's eyes are lit with excitement. "He hasn't been seen in many years."

"Think, little brother. He is a dragon, sleeping atop more gold than you could ever imagine. The wealth of the richest kingdom in all of Middle-Earth, and it belongs to him. One does not simply leave that amount of gold and jewels to be taken by another."

I smile to myself and block out the sounds of their bickering. I close my eyes, picturing Bard with his penetrating, mysterious eyes. He has left a mark on me- I can't just leave him.

"Fili, Kili. I am going to find Bard."

They turn their heads slightly, then nod. I run quickly and silently down the docks, darting around the few people who are not at the small market.

I reach the spot in the gate where I found Bard, and take a deep breath. "Bard," I say, "I know you told me to without you, but I cannot do that. I am going with you, whether you like that or not."

I look down at him, but when he turns his head, I am shocked to see... it is not Bard who is looking up at me.

"What have you done with him?" I say, fear creeping into my mind.

A/N: OOOHHHH!!! ANOTHER CLIFFHANGER!! THANKS SO SO MUCH FOR READING AND COMMENTING!!! IT SERIOUSLY TURNS ME INTO A MASS OF FLOWERS AND RAINBOWS AND I FEEL ALL MUSHY INSIDE!! SO.. THANK YOU!! I REALLY HOPE YOU'RE STILL ENJOYING THE STORY!! DID YOU LIKE THE TRIBUTE TO BOROMIR?? 😀 -Natasha