The Navigator

Lake-town

Vistial quietly sat near the back of the boat, shivering slightly.

"You're shivering. Here." Bard, as Vistial learned was the man's name, pulls off his coat and wraps it around Vistial's shoulders.

"Thank you." Vistail thanks. Bard nods and returns to steering the boat.

"Why is a lady like you traveling with dwarves?" Bard asks.

"They needed a navigator." Vistial replies.

"A navigator?" Bard questions, looking at the girl in confusion, who nods. "Why you? Shouldn't you have stayed home?" Vistial laughs. Clearly, the man didn't fully know who she was.

"I would except that I'm 'Middle Earth's best navigator', or so I've been called." Vistial replies. Bard's eyes widen.

"You're Vistial, aren't you?" The man asks. Vistial nods with a smile. "You're....younger than I had expected." Vistial laughs.

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"Watch out!" Bofur suddenly shouts from the front of the boat. Bard easily steers around the iceberg.

"What are you trying, to do, drown us?" Thorin demands, glaring at the man.

"I was born and bred on these waters, Master Dwarf. If I wanted to drown you, I would not do it here." Bard responds. Thorin returns angrily to the group, who huddle together.

"I'm sorry for my companions' behavior." Vistial says to Bard.

"It's alright. Dwarves are known for their stubbornness." Bard replies.

"You could say that again."

~~~

"Into the barrels, quickly." Bard directs the Company into the barrels, but stops Vistial as she starts to get in.

"There's no need for you to hide. You'll be able to gain entrance." He says. He sits her on the bench. "Keep the hood over your head. Do not speak." Vistial nods, pulling the hood up. She watches as Bard talks to a fisherman, pointing at the barrels. She almost laughs aloud as fish is dumped into the barrels, hiding the illegal cargo.

'I'm so glad I'm not in one of those.' Vistial thinks as Bard starts the barge off again. One of the barrels groan, and Bard kicks it.

"Quiet. We're approaching the tollgate." Bard steers the barge to a stop in front of the Lake-town entrance gate.

"Halt! Goods inspection!" The toll collector appears. "Papers, please! Oh, it's you, Bard."

"Morning, Percy." Bard greets the man.

"Anything to declare?" Percy asks.

"Nothing, but that I am cold and tired and ready for home." Bard replies, handing Percy the papers.

"You and me both." Percy clears Bard for clearance. "There we are. All in order." Suddenly, the papers are ripped out of Percy's hand.

"Not so fast." A man appears, reading the papers. "'Consignment of empty barrels from the Woodland Realm.' Only they're not empty, are they, Bard? If I recall correctly, you're licensed as a bargeman. Not a fisherman."

"That's none of your business." Bard says quickly, casting a worried glance at Vistial. She raises the hood slightly.

"Wrong. It's the Master's business, which makes it my business." The man replies.

"Oh, come on, Alfrid, have a heart. People need to eat." Bard says.

"These fish are illegal. Empty the barrels over the side." Alfrid finally spots Vistial and makes his way to her. She tries to keep her hood up, but the man rips it off, exposing her face.