Chapter 78: Lake-Town Pt 3
-Legolas and Sigrid, a few hours earlier-
"Keep the string tight and don't lose sight of your target," Legolas whispered to Sigrid as he helped her practice archery at her request.
Sigrid could feel Legolas' strong body as he guided her arms to draw the bow. Instinct told her to lean into his sturdy chest, but reason reminded her it wasn't the right moment. So she resisted the urge, pulling the bowstring back with Legolas' help. She took a breath and focused on her makeshift target ahead.
"Shis"
The arrow shot straight. Sigrid wasn't sure if it was Legolas' guidance or just luck, but the arrow hit the center of the improvised target made of clustered flowers. She raised her arms in victory.
"Yay! We make a great team, Legolas!" she exclaimed joyfully. She spun around and, in a move that caught Legolas by surprise, gave him a tight hug, radiating her happiness and affection.
Legolas hesitated for a few seconds before returning the hug. He caught the sweet fragrance of her hair, and as his arms wrapped around her delicate figure, he was careful not to hold her too tightly, afraid he might hurt her.
"You did it, Sigrid. We did it," he whispered, a radiant smile softening his usually stoic face. Every day they spent together, they grew closer, becoming more comfortable with physical affection, like hugs and kisses on the cheek.
The moment was magical. Something urged them to continue, or they might regret it later. Following the impulse, Sigrid looked up, locking eyes with those mesmerizing blue eyes that stirred her emotions. Rising on her toes, she brought her lips closer to Legolas'. He was stunned for a few seconds, but like her, he followed the impulse, their faces inching closer, ready to seal their affection with a kiss.
"Ting" "Ting" "Ting"
Their moment was interrupted by the ringing of Lake-Town's bell, signaling noon. Both snapped out of their trance, blushing from what had almost happened.
"Ahem," Sigrid stepped back, clearing her throat, her face lowered in embarrassment. "It's time for me to go. My father is about to arrive," she said, rushing to grab her basket full of fresh vegetables as she prepared to leave.
Legolas stood there, watching her, unsure of what to do next. A gentle winter wind rustled Sigrid's hair, making it dance in the breeze, and something stirred within him at the beautiful sight.
His mother's soft voice echoed in his mind, a memory of when she told him how she met his father.
-Flashback-
A young Legolas sat on his mother Thalwen's lap as she lovingly stroked his hair. "Mother, why is Father so serious with me?" he asked, his voice tinged with sadness.
Thalwen chuckled softly and hugged her son with all her maternal love. "Your father has always been like that, dear," she replied.
"Even with you?"
"Yes, even with me, my child," she answered. "You see, sweetheart, your father shows his love in a very different way from mine. He's strict with you because he loves you and fears something might happen to you."
A bright smile lit up young Legolas' face. "Hehe, Mother, how did you meet Father?" he asked, his mood lifted by her words.
With a nostalgic sigh, Thalwen smiled, and it seemed to light up the garden they were in. "It's a long story, dear, but I can tell you that your father was rather boring. After all, your mother is known for being the most expressive elf in Middle-earth," she said, laughing softly.
"It was a stark contrast to your father's usual stoic demeanor. Our relationship was like that for a while, until I got bored and decided to show him my love with a kiss at just the right moment," she continued, lost in the memory.
"So remember, son, don't let the moment slip by, you might regret it later."
Young Legolas nodded. "Okay, Mother. But...what's a kiss?" he asked, curious.
"Oh, you're too young to know that, my little one," she replied with a gentle laugh.
-End of Flashback-
"Don't let the moment slip by—you might regret it later," Legolas murmured, taking a deep breath. With determination, he quickly stepped toward Sigrid and gently took her by the arm. "Wait, Sigrid," he said.
Sigrid turned around, her face still flushed with embarrassment. "What's goi---?" Her words were cut off by an unexpected kiss from Legolas. Her eyes widened in surprise, but she didn't pull away. This was what she had longed for. Without hesitation, she returned the kiss.
-Present-
Sigrid walked cheerfully along the worn wooden streets of Lake-Town. The gloomy atmosphere and the hunger that plagued the town could not dim her happiness. Normally, she would have worried about the city's current state, but not today. Today had been one of the happiest days of her life, she had finally expressed her feelings to Legolas, and they had been reciprocated.
Glancing slightly over her shoulder, she noticed Legolas looking in a particular direction. Curious, she followed his gaze, only to widen her eyes in surprise. Her father was arriving with his boat, much earlier than usual. He typically took his time arguing with Alfrid.
Not wanting to get into trouble, she grabbed Legolas by the hand. "Come on, we need to hurry. I haven't prepared lunch yet," she said, quickening her pace, pulling a bewildered Legolas along with her.
-With Aldril and the Others-
The cold, somber atmosphere began to brighten with the arrival of Bard, who was well-loved by the surrounding community. After all, he always found a way to bring them food, a gesture they deeply appreciated.
"Bard! How was your day today?" an elderly man called out from his window, greeting him with a warm smile.
Bard smiled back. "Good afternoon, Rice. Today was a good day."
"Bard! Good afternoon!" a woman washing clothes by the lake waved at him, standing up immediately to greet him.
"Good afternoon, Rosie. Try not to get too wet; it's quite cold, and you could catch a cold," Bard responded with his characteristic friendly smile.
"Bard! Looks like you had a good day," added another woman, eyeing the barrels of fish that Bard carried.
"Today was a good day, Margarie," he replied.
As they moved through the town, more people warmly greeted Bard, and he responded with the same joy.
Aldril wasn't particularly impressed. He had a sense of why Bard was so well-received, but Bilbo, who was curious, didn't know. He approached Bard quietly and asked, "Are you always welcomed like this every day?"
In good spirits, Bard looked at Bilbo and nodded. "Yes. The people on the outskirts are often forgotten by the Master of the town, so I take care of them. After all, it's my duty."
"Duty?" Bilbo murmured, puzzled. He wanted to ask more, but he could read the room and knew it would be unwise to press further, so he remained silent.
At that moment, Aldril approached Bard with a teasing expression. "Let me guess, your governor is an obese, almost bald man, selfish, who wastes food and has no regard for you?"
Raising an eyebrow, Bard laughed heartily. "Yes, you've described him perfectly. Are you sure you've never visited Lake-Town before?" His question was more of a playful jab than a real inquiry.
As they laughed, they engaged in light conversation about Bard's usual activities. Bilbo, curious about Bard's way of life, shared details about how hobbits lived. Occasionally, Tauriel chimed in with comments about the Shire, but she spent most of the time silently by Aldril's side.
A few minutes later, the boat docked at a small pier where a young man, tasked with watching over the boats, waited. Upon seeing Bard dock, he quickly approached him with a cheerful greeting.
"Good afternoon, Bard. Want me to help you unload the barrels?" he asked kindly, just like the others who held Bard in high regard.
"There's no need, Roise," Bard replied. He then kicked one of the fish barrels, causing it to tip over, revealing Nori, who quickly stood up. "Ugh, now I smell like fish," Nori complained.
Aldril grinned and kicked another barrel, from which a furious Glóin emerged. "You bastard, you did that on purpose!" Glóin grumbled, glaring angrily at Aldril.
Bilbo, in his innocence, wanted to help, so he tipped over one of the barrels, only for a furious Dwalin to emerge. "Bloody hell, this stinks," Dwalin growled as he stood up, glaring at Bilbo. "Why didn't you warn me? I could've climbed out without being thrown!"
One by one, the dwarves emerged from their barrels, all grumbling and cursing the fish smell. Only Thorin and Balin were spared the indignity of being tossed out, as they were helped out of their barrels instead.
Seeing this, the young boatkeeper raised an eyebrow at Bard, but Bard simply tossed him a silver coin. "You didn't see anything, Roice. And help me distribute this fish to everyone, please." With that, Bard turned his attention to the dwarves, who were still complaining.
"Follow me," Bard said calmly.
At the sight of Thorin following Bard, the rest of the dwarves reluctantly let go of their gripes and trailed behind, marching along like penguins following their mother. This sight made Aldril chuckle under his breath, catching the attention of Tauriel.
"What is it?" she asked, noticing his amusement.
"The dwarves look like little children following their father," Aldril said with a grin. Tauriel glanced at the dwarves and, after a moment, let out a soft laugh herself. "Now that you mention it, their small figures are rather funny," she agreed.
The group moved through the various sections of Lake-Town. The worn wooden bridges, which served as makeshift streets, creaked underfoot. It was almost a miracle that the houses they supported didn't collapse. The mist that hung over the town only added to the gloomy atmosphere of the dilapidated streets.
At one intersection, a young man with dark hair and a medium build suddenly appeared from one of the shadowy alleys. He quickly approached Bard, his face filled with anxiety. "Father, our house has been under watch since you left," he explained, panic clear in his voice.
Thorin's face darkened upon hearing the news, clearly displeased by the growing number of obstacles they faced. Bard, however, merely smiled at his son and gently ruffled his dark hair. "It's alright. Nothing will happen," he reassured him, seemingly unfazed by the constant surveillance he had grown used to.
Knowing there was no way to sneak the dwarves into his home through the front door, Bard turned to Thorin. With his quick thinking, he had already devised a plan.
"I have an idea of how you can all enter without being seen," Bard said, a clever glint in his eyes.
***
There's your food, you filthy orcs!
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