Hummingbird Heartbeat

Chapter 29

Chapter 29

Maranda could be very loud when she wanted. And she wanted. The Company stormed through the streets, grim looks on their faces and cold looks in their eyes. Bilbo alone looked pleasant at any degree and followed Bard quickly through the streets. There was a huge ruckus as they arrived in front of the Master's hall and the man himself stormed out after only a moment.

"What is all this?" There was a crow like a rooster and Maranda jumped from the roof of the hall, diving down and swooping up again and landing at last with a fierce look on her face. She was in one of Bain's old trousers and had bound her chest again. She had a thick brown tunic on that was Tilda's and was just a bit too tight for her, before she cut the back for her wings. She looked a bit imposing actually. Like she might kill someone. Which was what she wanted.

"Look who finally decided to show up, lads," she laughed. "The Master himself. My liege." She swooped into a mocking bow, wings spread for all to see.

"Who are you?" snapped the Master in shock. Alfred was gaping at her.

"The Lady Antebellum of the Mountains. Oh, and these are my lovely boys. I don't like to get my hands messy, so my darling boys do all the heavy lifting. Don't you Kili, dear?"

"Aye," Kili said, voice rough. Maranda had a moment of familiar worry before she remembered the Morgul arrow in his knee.

"Why...why are you-"

"Here of all places? Good question." She launched herself off the ground and her wings buzzed, making the crowd gasp. She landed on the steps, looking up at the Master casually. "See, I heard there was a dragon 'round about these bits and pieces and I decided, hey, my collection could use some more fire drake scale and wee Ori needs some dragon heartstring. Not to mention the amount of absolute fun!" She laughed maniacally.

"What do you mean?" The Master said mystified.

"Oh don't tell me you haven't heard of us?" Maranda sounded offended. "The famous dragon slayers of the Blue Mountains?" The crowd shifted in curiosity. "What you lot too? Oh, well if this lug is keeping secrets from you like our gang, what else, I wonder." She glared and the Master shifted.

"We don't need a dragon slayer, the dragon is dead or asleep. He doesn't bother us," he snapped and Miranda laughed.

"Oh but see you don't have a choice. The reason I'm such a good dragon slayer is because I can convince dragons to do anything I want them to. I'm a speaker of wyrm words and they obey me and my power." She let loose a cloud of fairy lights that hovered in the twilight, causing awe in the crowd. "So you are either going to help us kill it, or I'll ride that thing down here and feed you to it." There was a stunned silence and the Master cleared his throat. "Besides. All that lovely, lovely gold tucked away up there...you could feed Esgaroth for weeks, months, years CENTURIES!" she roared and the people murmured excitedly.

"Nonsense," the Master mumbled.

"Nonsense? Nonsense he says!" roared Maranda, speaking to the people now. "I have spoken to the Dwarves that once called this land home and do you know what they say to me? Memories of diamonds as large as a man's heart! Rubies like a loaf of bread. A million sparkling jewels buried beneath that mountain ready for the taking. And your Master says 'Nonsense'!" she roared and the people shouted in anguish. "So, Master Whatsit. Gonna help or what?" Maranda grinned wickedly and Alfred looked at the Master in fear. The Master gaped.

"Well...Welcome of course!" He cried out. "Welcome a thousand times, come in, let us set to planning."

"My advisor, Bard will come with us," Maranda said extending a hand to the bargemen. "Come on lads, inside." The whole lot of them forced the Master into his own council room which was dusty and empty.