"Hmm? What day is it?" Paul extended his mind towards Esgaroth and he was greeted with the crowd surrounding the dwarves in front of the master of the Lake with Bard looking disgruntled and angry towards Thorin.
"I say unto you…welcome! Welcome! And thrice welcome, king under the mountain!" The master of Lake town said as the crowd cheered feeling that they might have a part in the share within the mountain.
"Oh, shit. Have I been that distracted here?" Paul knew that he could only exert much of his powers on his clones and he had indeed focused his control in this small area to make sure the sword is made with care.
Even his real Body felt that he somehow was on a trance even if he was controlling his clone remotely. Paul wondered as he held the sword but he shook his head a bit and reached out to the sheath he made using the scale of Smaug.
Somehow he had made a sword artifact that could recognize his owners so once Paul takes a bit of blood from Bard then the sword would only be used by his family line.
"Well time to wrap things up here." Paul then left the forge as he checked on the progress of his robots and seeing that they have now built the necessary pillars as well as supports to keep the underground hideout made Paul nod in approval.
"Okay, it seems the Moving Fortress is still about ten days late, I didn't account to it getting trapped in dragon burrows." Paul checked his fortress and found it was still far away so he checked his men's memories.
"Anyways, I'll go greet the land lord." Paul then went to the Lord's Keep and found an Armor set that was about Bard's size as well as other things still kept in good condition.
Paul then called for his dragon to him making him go towards the almost frozen water and dive down so they could swim towards Lake Town unnoticed. Paul made sure an air bubble was covering him and the head of the dragon as they swam downstream.
And just as soon as he arrived he saw the towns folk was in a festive mood while the dwarves were drinking and partying in the Halls of the Master of Laketown.
Paul contemplated but his eyes were drawn towards Kili who was still injured and progressing into a worse situation. Paul kept quite as him and the dragon lay low under the waters of Laketown.
Using his powers he cleansed the water around him and made a larger dome of air slowly. There various fish were found flopping about under the lake bed making the dragon drool.
"Okay, go eat you fill." Paul then had swarms of fish swing in the large bubble to feed the dragon. Paul looked around and saw how the foundations of Lake Town seemed to have built upon a series of marble pillars that seemed to be ruins of an older city.
Paul focused his mind and gathered all the gold and jewels that has fallen on the lake for centuries and was surprised he was able to gather a mound the size of a hill making his dragon happier.
There Paul sat and contemplated under the ways he should approach Bard to give him the sword. He thought about ways to just throw him the sword or should he go for sword in the stone archetype. But he just shook his head, maybe he could hire Bard to help him catch Smaug.
Maybe he should just use his telekinesis on the flying lizard but that still is not enough. He knew how strong his telekinesis is on this clone's body so might be hard to pull Smaug down.
Thinking about it Fili, Kili, Bofur and Oin will stay behind to take care of Kili who is sick. Paul took our standard weaponry as well as castle forged swords and axes. He even took out a set of Bow and a quiver as well as a dozen throwing knives.
Paul then waited as he thought of the other things he might have neglected and noticed that Gandalf was still not with the group. Paul focused his mind and tracked the marker he placed on the wizard and saw him being mauled by a hairy midget.
"Oh shit, so he still went on that place as bait huh. Should I save Thrain? Maybe but Sauron already mind raped the dude for years and might have been the reason Azog knew of the company." Paul wondered but he just took out a spear and wrote on a leather parchment.
Concentrating he teleported the spear with his banner attached as well as the letter on in on the overlook where the company of Thorin would arrive tomorrow.
"Well fuck that old dwarf, it's Gandalf's problem if he can't protect the old dwarf king." Paul said as he sat there thoughtful and still reviewed the things he might just have forgotten.
[The Next Day]
"By my beard is that the time?!" Bofur shouted as he heard the bugle and horns playing as he woke up drunk in the dining halls of the Master of the Lake. Getting his bearings on in a hurry he ran out after he took a bit of a sip of the brandy they have been drinking last night.
"Wait!" Bofur shouted as he ran as fast as he could to catch up to his company.
"Out of the way! No! No!" Bofur pushed the audience away as he tried to arrive before the others left but as he was there he realized he was too late. Seeing the boat already has left he felt sad but looking at the side he saw Fili, Kili and Oin.
"Ha. So you missed the boat as well?" Bofur asked as he smiled he was not alone. Fili looked at Bofur in confusion but Kili suddenly went weak and was about to fall over.
"Kili? Kili!" Fili and Oin was concerned with Kili and carried him towards the Master of Lake Town but the man was going to his Town Hall with his guards who were pushing people away to open the path for the fat man.
Oin, Bofur and Fili went to carry Kili towards them as they fear for their friend's weakening status. And as they arrived in the front door of the Master of the Lake's Town Hall they pushed aside the guards nearby to make way for the sick friend of theirs.
"Please, wait!" Fili shouted to get the attention of the Master of Lake Town. "Please, we need your help. My brother is sick!"
"Sick?" the Master of Lake-town reacted at the word. "Is it infectious? G-g-get back! A-Alfird! Alfird don't let them come any closer!"
His reaction made the dwarves stunned as they looked at the Master covering his face with a kerchief with his lackey acting protective of his master.
"Please, we need medicine!" Oin pleaded as he went towards Alfrid.
"Do I look like an Apothecary?"Alfrid said which made Oin widen his eyes in disbelief.
"Haven't we given you enough? The Master's a busy man, he hasn't got time to worry about sick dwarves." Alfrid's words made the dwarves wide eyed in disbelief at the sudden change in their treatment towards them.
"Be gone with you. Go on! Clear off." Alfrid and the master then turned around while the dwarves were being pushed out by the guards making them more desperate to find help for their friend.
Feeling more desperate they went towards the only person that had lent a hand in their hard times, Bard. The descendant of Girion, Paul saw them going towards the bargeman and smiled as he contemplated a while just now about how Thrain is about to be killed by Sauron and Gandalf captured and imprisoned.
He also saw that Radagast was already going to call for help from Galadriel, Elrond and Saruman to help free Gandalf in Dol Guldur. Paul then could see the party of Thorin already nearing the Overlook where they were supposed to meet Gandalf.
"So quiet." Bilbo said as he looked towards the surroundings filled with nothing but rocks and barren land.
"Wasn't always like this." Balin said as he stood near Bilbo and pointed with his hands the view in front of them. "Once, these slopes were lined with woodlands. The trees were filled with birdsong."
"Relax, Master Baggins." Thorin's words made the hobbit look behind him to the dwarf prince. "We have food, we have tools and we're making good time."
Thorin then saw the outline of the city of Dale making him hasten his pace in his steps. The dwarves and Bilbo followed behind making them watch over the ruins which is what it looks like from the outside but Paul had already cleaned and fixed most essential parts of the city.
"What is this place?" Bilbo asked as he watched the view.
"This was once the city of Dale. Now it is a ruin." Balin said as he watched along with the others the evidence of destruction brought upon by the dragon. "The desolation of Smaug."
"The sun will soon reach midday. We must find the hidden door into the mountains before it sets. This way!" Thorin said as he walked ahead but Bilbo reacted first.
"Wait, is this the overlook? Gandalf said to meet him here, on no account were we to…" Bilbo said but as he looked at Thorin something caught his eye.
"Do you see him?" Thorin asked but Bilbo just raised his hand and pointed at a spear that was not seen when they were climbing up because it was behind a boulder.
"We have no time…" Thorin was about to continue but he looked behind where Bilbo was pointing at and paused. The other dwarves followed where they were looking and they too were stunned as they saw a familiar banner and sigil on a spear.
"The Iron Lord's banner…" Thorin said as he was stunned in place at the spear's presence in the Overlook. Balin went over and saw something hanging beneath the banner.
"There is a letter here Thorin, it also has the seal of the Iron Lord." Balin went and took the letter while giving Thorin a glance.
"Prince Thorin…" Balin read the letter as he looked around the other dwarves. "…like I had promised I will help you in your quest as long as you leave the dragon's Fate to me. You might find it unbelievable but I always keep my word as long as you keep yours, a king's word, a leader's word is not some empty thing that you must forget…"
"…I know of the sickness that lies in your family, but do not forget the faces of those that bled and toiled with you to get you here. The Arkenstone just like in its name, a stone, do not let it depict who you are. Gold will also not make you king nor a crown but it's you people that makes you a king…"
"…A king is never about sitting on a throne giving orders, it is about leading and making sacrifice in your life so your people will thrive. It is a responsibility and not a right, for you to rule always remember these words…"
"…I hope you will see one day titles are empty but memories are more sacred. Be who you want to be remembered to be, Thorin Oakenshield. Be the King that will break the curse that plagues you bloodline, the king they chose and a king worthy of the name of Durin."
Balin said these words in a serious tone and looked up he saw Thorin regain a bit of clarity in his eyes as he heard the contents of the letter. Balin had been fearing Thorin's actions lately but he letter just arrived on time.
"H-how did this get here?" Bilbo asked making Balin smile as he read the letter.
"I knew Bilbo will ask how this letter came to be in the overlook, I have eyes watching over your journey young hobbit…" Balin smiled as he could see the faces of the others get confused as they looked around if Paul was present.
"…Also, you could proceed first as Gandalf was captured by the enemy's master. Worry not, the other Guardians of Middle-Earth will save him but the wizard was too late to save the Dwarf King Thrain from the grip of the enemy…"