They approached the toll gate quickly. Bard kicked one of the barrels, summoning them all the be quiet as the groans of disgust from the dwarves could be heard through the piles of fish that sat atop them.
"Halt!" the Gatekeeper shouted. "Goods inspection. Papers please," he said, before looking up fully. "Oh, it's you Bard."
"Morning Percy," Bard nodded kindly.
"Anything to declare?" the Gatekeeper called Percy asked, looking warily at Bard's hooded stranger but said nothing of it.
"Nothing but that I am cold and tired and ready for home," Bard replied.
"You and me both," Percy nodded and took the papers Bard held in his hand for him. He went in to the little shack on the dock, stamped the papers, and came back.
"Here we are, all in order," Percy said, handing the papers back. Or at least, attempting to. A large hand fell on Percy's shoulder, halting his actions before snatching the papers right from his grasp. A man with gruesome yellow teeth, greasy hair, and a devilish smirk came into view, examining the papers thoroughly.
"Not so fast," the man, whom Elvira recognized as Alfrid, although he looked much worse than he did when Elvira was last in Laketown, sneered, reading from the papers. "Consignment of empty barrels from the Woodland Realm. Only, they're not empty, are they, Bard?" he questioned with authority, although he had none. Alfrid tossed the papers in the air, watching as they caught the wind and blew into the water. "As I recall correctly, you're licensed as a Bargeman, not a fisherman."
"That's none of your business," Elvira chimed in, cursing herself afterward, but she simply couldn't stand Alfrid and hated seeing Bard treated so horribly in a town where all he did was serve people.
"Wrong, it's the Master's business, which makes it my business," Alfrid stated arrogantly before turning more to Elvira. "And who are you?" Alfrid asked, his tone signifying that he truly didn't care all that much, and was more annoyed than anything else.
Elvira reached up and brought her hood down off of her face, holding her chin high in the air. "I am Elvira Valnir, rightful Queen of Rivendell," she answered, deciding to use the title Legolas mentioned she seemed to possess. It seemed to work though, as Alfrid's face grew pale as he looked at her in astonishment.
"Queen of Rivendell you say?" he hummed. "Well, Queen or no, these fish are illegal. Empty the barrels over the side," he ordered the few guards standing behind him, who upon his command, moved to the barrels on the boat and began to tip them into the water. Very soon, they would reveal 13 angry dwarves and a hobbit if they continued, and both Bard and Elvira realized this.
"Folk in this town are struggling," Bard began, slightly panicked. "Times are hard, food is scarce."
"That's not my problem," Alfrid shrugged, revealing just how cold and heartless the man truly was.
"And when the people hear the Master is dumping fish back into the lake?" Bard questioned.
"When the rioting starts?" Elvira added darkly.
"Will it be your problem then?" Bard finished. Alfrid hesitated before throwing his hand in the air and muttering, "Stop." Bard and Alfrid stared at each other intensely for a few moments before Alfrid speaks again.
"Ever the people's champion, eh Bard?" his silver tongue bled. "Protector of the common folk? You might have their favor now, bargeman, but it won't last." Alfrid began to walk away.
"Raise the gate!" Percy called out quickly, and the gate to the entrance of Laketown opened up slowly. "The Master has his eye on you. Don't forget, we know where you live," Alfrid threatened quickly.
"It's a small town, Alfrid," Bard replied, already steering the barge away. "Everyone knows where everyone lives." Leaving Alfrid on the dock with a horrible sneer, Bard pushed the boat further into the little town on the lake. People watched and some nodded or waved as Bard came past, and their fleeting glances then moved to the stranger in the silver cloak. Elvira kept her hood down, and watched as the town she recognized from so many years ago came flooding back to her in waves.
crappy ending to a crappy chapter
but since we hit 1k reads i figured i would treat you all
ps thanks for 1k --> legit never thought this book would even get 2 so 1k is pretty huge and i adore every single one of you
also shoutout to my gurl foodiefanatic. ur my fav
stay relevant
em
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The Ranger ➵ Kili Durin
Fanfiction"Are you and my brother courting yet?" She sighed, annoyed. "No Fili, we aren't." "Well, tell me when you are. If he hurts you, I'll kill him." "Shouldn't you be threatening me? He's your brother, after all." "I figure you are perfectly capable of k...
