Elves and Dwarves (part 2)

Helping

"Bless my beard. Take it. Take all of it." He said as  handed Balin a sack of coins he had secretly withheld before. Bilbo coughed and gestured his head towards Bard, who was approaching the dwarves on their end of the barge.

"The money, quick, give it to me." Bard said

"We'll pay you when we get our provisions, but not before." Thorin snarled

"If you value your freedom, you'll do as I say. There are guards ahead."

The dwarves turned and saw the rooftops of Laketown in the distance.

.....

Bard's barge was stopped at a dock just outside the city; Bard hopped off and spoke to a man. Meanwhile, the dwarves and Bilbo were hidden in the barrels on the barge.

"Shh, what's he doing?" Dwalin asked

Bilbo peered through a hole in his barrel.

"He's talking to someone."

Bilbo saw Bard point back at his barrels while talking to the man.

"And he's...pointing right at us!"

Thorin looked anxious. Bard shook the man's hands.

"Now they're shaking hands."

"What?" Thorin asked

"That villain! He's selling us out." Dwalin said

All the dwarves in their individual barrels listened anxiously; suddenly, dead fish were poured into the barrels. The dwarves spluttered in surprise.

.....

Bard poled his barge towards the gate of the city; on deck are the 14 barrels all full of fish, with a dwarf or hobbit inside as well.

  "Oh god." Someone muttered

Bard kicked the barrel closest to him.

"Quiet! We're approaching the toll gate."

"Halt! Goods inspection. Papers, please. Oh, it's you, Bard." The gatekeeper said

Bard brought him boat up to the gatekeeper's office, and the gatekeeper stepped out to see him.

"Morning, Percy." Bars greeted

"Anything to declare?" Percy asked

"Nothing, but that I am cold and tired, and ready for home."

Bard handed the gatekeeper some papers.

"You and me both."

As the gatekeeper took the papers and any into his office to stamp them, Bard looked around warily.

"Here we are. All in order."

Percy said as he holds out Bard's papers, but a man, Alfrid, suddenly stepped out of the shadows and grabbed the papers.

"Not so fast."

Alfrid read Bard's papers, then looked at his load.

"Consignment of empty barrels from the Woodland Realm. Only, they're not empty, are they, Bard?" He asked,smiling evily.

Alfrid tossed Bard's papers to the wind and approached him, with some of Laketown's soldiers behind him.

"If I recall correctly, you're licensed as a bargeman, not a fisherman."

As Alfrid said this, he picked up one of the fish from a barrel and held it up to Bard. He didn't see Bombur's eyes looking up from the gap where the fish had been.

"That's none of your business." Bars said as he pulled Draco closer to his chest.

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

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

"These fish are illegal." Alfred said as he threw the fish he was holding into the water, then commanded the soldiers.

"Empty the barrels over the side."

The soldiers, lead by their captain, Braga, moverd to comply.

"You heard him. Into the canal. Come on, get a move on." Braga commanded

The soldiers began tipping the barrels over and letting the fish fall into the canal.

"Folk in this town are struggling. Times are hard. Food is scarce." Bard said

"That's not my problem."

"And when the people hear the Master is dumping fish back in the lake, when the rioting starts, will it be your problem then?"

Bard and Alfrid stared at each other intensely for a few seconds, then finally Alfrid raised his hand to the soldiers.

"Stop."

The soldiers stopped tipping the barrels over and returned to the buildings.

"Ever the people's champion, eh, Bard? Protector of the common folk? You might have their favor now, bargeman, but it won't last." Alfrid said and Henley walked away.

"Raise the gate!" Percy called

A large portcullis blocking the channel was raised, and Bard began to pole his barge through. As he passed, Alfrid turned around and shouted to him.

"The Master has his eye on you; you'd do well to remember. We know where you live."

"It's a small town, Alfrid; everyone knows where everyone lives." Bard said as he hid a smile.

High up above the city, you could see the view of Laketown; it's a town built in the middle of the lake, and it looked quite poor and ramshackle. There were many channels of water throughout the town, through which various boats float. Bard poled his barge down the main channel.