The fog begins to clear as they can see a little port before heading to LakeTown. Bard gets off and starts talking to several people, slipping a few coins in their hands. The dwarves are all in the barrels as Bilbo watches from a hole in his bucket.
"What's he doing?" Dwalin snapped.
"He's talking to someone.....he's pointing at us! Now they're shaking hands" Bilbo reported as Thorin snarled.
"What!" Thorin declared through gritted teeth.
"He's selling us out" Dwalin hissed as the dwarves all pause and draw silent when they hear creaks and crane noises before their barrels are filled to the brim with fish. As the fish pile into their barrels they all gag to the smell, holding their breaths at the discomfort of being covered in slime. Bard keeps going heading towards LakeTown as the dwarves groan and complains about the smell.
"Quiet we're approaching the toll gate" Bard warns as he kicks a few barrels causing the dwarves to hush. Bilbo was still able to see through the small hole in the wood of his barrel as it drew over towards Artemis. Bard had obviously placed some boxes around her to shield her from view and placed a thicker blanket to assist her cold. Bilbo could swear he could hear her shiver and teeth chatter against each other as he felt the boat come to a stop.
"Halt! Goods inspection, papers please....oh it's you Bard." Percy called out before smiling to the familiar face of Bard.
"Morning Percy"
"Anything to declare?" Percy asks as Bard shakes his head and ensures his position hides Artemis' boots which had come into view when she had shaken to get more comfortable, resulting in her legs stretching.
"Nothing, but I am cold and tired and ready for home" Bard tiredly spoke with relief as he hands over his papers to Percy.
"You and me both. There we are all in order "Percy states as he takes the papers and stamps them before handing them back to Bard.
"Not so fast...." Alfrid snarls mischievously as he sprung out from the shadows and snatched the papers from Percy. Bard lifted his chin up slightly to show no fear when in reality he feared for Artemis more than the dwarves who were hiding in his barrels. Alfrid examined the papers before smirking knowing he had caught Bard this time.
"Assigned empty barrels from the Woodland Realm. Only they're not empty are they Bard if I recall correctly your licence is a bargeman not a fisherman" He snaps as he throws his papers away and takes a fish from Bilbo's barrel holding it up. Bard noticed from the corner of his eye that you were able to see Bilbo's eye which widened as he merely smirked at Alfrid.
"That's none of your business" Bard states as Alfrid growls.
"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! empty the barrels over the side!" Alfird ordered as he tossed the fish over the side of the boat into the water. The two guards that had accompanied Alfird nodded and start to 'try' and move the barrel over to the edge of the boat to empty them. Bard looks nervous slightly as he angles himself slightly in front of Artemis and gently nudges her boots with the back of his as she curls them up subconsciously into her snug blanket.
"Alfrid people in this town are struggling. Time are hard. Food is scarce" Bard tries reasoning as he watches the soldiers, trying to get them to stop as they begin to lift one barrel. The dwarves kept their horror silent as they clung desperately to the sides of their barrels as a few were beginning to slip in the direction of the water.
"That's not my problem."
"And when people hear that the Master is dumping fish back into the Lake? When the rioting starts? Will it be your problem then?" Bard states as Alfrid holds his hand up for them to stop. The guards wait for his hand to drop to resume their duty when instead it falls back to his side as he snarls up in Bard's face.
"You think you're the peoples champion Bard? Protector of the common folk? You might be their favourite now bargeman but it won't last." He warns as the soldiers take their leave from the barge. Alfrid went to leave as Bard and the dwarves let out a sigh of relief before he paused and peered over Bards' shoulder.
"Whose is that?" Alfrid nosily demands as he shoves Bard to the side as he glances at Artemis wrapped up in blankets and cloaks. The dwarves all drew silent.
"An old friend of mine" Bard defensively growls as he tries to draw Alfrid's attention away from her.
"I have seen her before....smuggling now are we Bard?" Alfrid smirked as he knew he now had reason to arrest Bard. The dwarves frowned slightly and panicked when they heard that Alfrid recognised her. Bard was thankful that she was covered enough to prevent him from seeing her face as he knew his reaction would be nothing else but to toss her over the side of the boat.
"I ran into her along my journey home. She is sick and it's the least I can do for her..." Bard begins as Alfrid goes to wake her and question her before Bard steps in defensive.
"Leave her alone!" He warns dangerously as he sizes up the small Alfrid. Alfrid gulped uneasy and took this as a moment to escape as he turns to leave.
"Raise the gate!" Percy called out as the guards raise the gates and Bard goes through only to have Alfrid glare at him.
"The Master has his eye on you. You'd do well to remember...we know where you live" Alfrid warns as Bard scoffs at his threat.
"It's a small town Alfrid. Everyone knows where everyone lives" Bard smartly retorts as he makes sure they are a good distance away before checking on Artemis again to feel her body getting dangerously warm. Bard makes his way through the town and docks. When the coast was clear he knocked each barrel over one by one as all the fish fell out as well as the dwarves. He went to the next one when Dwalin poked his head out.
"Get your hands off me!" Dwalin hissed as he raised his hands up in defence as several others got out of the barrels themselves as a bystander frowned confused. Bard signalled them to follow him as they made their way off the boat.
"You didn't see them. They were never here. Fish you can have for nothing" Bard says in a mere whisper as he hands a few coins over to the man on the docks. Once he was sure that all the dwarves were all off the boat he removed the blanket from Artemis and eased her into his arms. She was still in her dwarf height it made it easier to manoeuvre her as the company watched her. Once they were all off the boat he made sure the coast was clear.
"Follow me" Bard spoke as they creep along the back streets of the town though one lady did see them but said nothing. Bard shifted Artemis in his arms slightly as her arm fell out from resting on her stomach, as Bilbo and Fili watched it hoping it would twitch. Fili stepping forward and placing her arm back on her stomach winced slightly by her burning skin, as they all paused to see a young boy running in their direction.
"Da! Our house it's being watched" Bain warns as Bard pauses before coming up with a plan. Guiding them to the area in which they would dip into the water Bard continues to carry Artemis as he casually makes his way home with his son. Those who are watching sent unnoticeable signals to two men sitting just outside his house 'fishing' as they changed the direction of their rods. He looks down and whistles as he throws down an apple.
"You can tell the Master I'm done for the day" Bard calls out as he goes inside to find his daughters.
"Da! Where have you been?" Tilda cried out.
"Father there you are. I was worried" Sigrid smiled as they both paused to see Artemis in his arms.
"Quick get warm bedding and dry clothes for Artemis her fever is getting worse." Bard instructed as he placed Artemis on the spare bed. The girls drew a curtain across as they removed her sword and wet clothing and placed her in a simple white night gown and tucked her into the bed before removing the curtain.
"Bain, get them in" Bard whispers to his son as Bain goes down the lower levels, ensuring no one is around and knocks as Dwalin's head up comes from the toilet.
"If you speak of this to anyone. I'll rip your arms off" Dwalin snarls as he lifts the seat before climbing out of the water. Bain goes to help him but he slaps his hand away and sneaks upstairs. The rest of the company doesn't look very amused as Sigrid glances down from upstairs confused.
"Da? Why are there dwarves climbing out of our toilet?" Sigrid asks uneasy as she resolves back to trying to look after Artemis as she was slowly beginning to break out in sweats.
"Will they bring us luck?" Tilda asks hopeful as Bard chuckles at his young daughter's naivety. Once they are all up, they were given blankets and some of their clothes as they sat around the fire.
"They may not be the best fit. But they'll keep you warm" Bard offers as Tilda hands Bilbo a coat as he smiles.
"Thank you" He politely responded when all of a sudden Sigrid bursts through from behind one drawn curtain with a fearful look in her eyes.
"Da!"
"What is it?" He frowns before she pulls him towards the bed. Artemis' eyes were a fiery red as her vision around her blurred and mixed. Voices slurred and cackled in her ears as she winced and struggles to draw away. Unable to recognise her friend from foe she confused Sigrid and Bard with a couple of her torturers from when she had been captured before.
"No. Please no" She whined as her weak attempts to push them away where meaningless as her hallucinations grew worse and more horrifying. Artemis keeps mumbling and trying to get away as her body shook. The dwarves watched as her back arched as though she was in agony as she seemed to be sobbing through her throat though no tears escaped her eyes.
"Tilda help me hold her down. Bain see if we still have that Firebolt juice" Bard instructed as the dwarves watched uncomfortably as Artemis tried to thrash about whilst Bard and his daughter's helped hold her down. Her voice seemed scratchy and she gave animal like growls as her eyes flickered a ruby red.
"From the Firebolt berry?" Thorin hissed defensively as several of the dwarves shifted uneasy.
"Yes"
"But that is a poison!" Thorin shouted out as Bard glared down at him.
"Rider's use it in their medicine. Hopefully the poison aspect of the berry will be able to help kill the fever" Bard snapped as Artemis started coughing, soft at first before growing louder and raspy. Her body shook with each cough as her energy was being drained and begins to get weaker and paler.
"BAIN!" Bard cried out.
"What's happening to her!" Bilbo watched horrified as her skin began to go a deathly white, her movements grew stiller as her eyes were struggling to close.
"BAIN! Hurry she doesn't have long left!" Bard cried out.
"I can't find it!"
"Tilda help him find it before it kills her." With a simple nod she scrambled away from the bedside.
"I found it!"
"There isn't much left da" Bain panted as he ran into the room with a nearly empty bottle.
"Pray that it's enough" Bard whispered as they held her down. Throwing the bottle across the room Bard uncorked it before pouring the liquid down her throat. Placing a hand over her mouth they made her swallow the bitter drink. A small drop of liquid trailed down her chin as she goes quiet and still, Sigrid and Tilda both hold their breath and let out a tear as the other think that she dead.
"Wait" Fili called out as they turned to her body. Red fire danced over her skin fading as they watched a red like glow flow through her veins. They all held their breath as colour slowly begins to seep back into her cheeks and her skin as they all hold high hopes. Her flushed cheeks gave Bard a happy sigh as he placed her back of his hand against her forehead.
"Will she be ok?" Thorin whispered numbly as he watched her in the bed.
"Her fever has gone down, but it's still there.....we can only hope she pulls through herself now" Bard sighed as they all camped out for the night around the house for the evening. Oin starts to take care of her as Thorin watched from a far nervous. As the night grows later Thorin nods towards Oin as he waited until the final dwarf was in a deep slumber before sitting beside her on the bed.
Thorin plays with her hair softly which was sticking to her neck and over her shoulders. He let his fingers hold her slightly warm hand as he let his thumb brush over her knuckles making him watch her lovingly with sadness. Placing a delicate kiss on her knuckles he let his lips linger before he leant up and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead and his breathing goes uneven.
"Fight it please" His hoarse broken voice begged as he laid her hand over her stomach and brushed her hair one last time before settling down the night, not knowing that Artemis heard every word as her mouth slowly turned up in a small smile in the corner of her mouth as her mind plunged back into darkness.
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Happy New Year My Wonderful Readers :D x