[General POV]
-Bard's House-
"Tauriel?! What are you doing here?!"
Hearing the door open and Legolas's exclamation made Sigrid stop cooking. Curious, she peeked her head out, only to see her father at the door, looking at her beloved Legolas with a raised eyebrow. Behind him was an extremely beautiful red-haired elf, so beautiful that Sigrid felt her reddish hair illuminated their home.
Next to the beautiful elf stood a very handsome young man with a cordial smile. His hair, black as the night, gave him a noble appearance, and his fine features made him pleasant to look at. If she hadn't noticed his ears, she would have thought she was in the presence of a high-ranking elf.
To her eyes, the three of them made a perfect contrast. Legolas's platinum blonde hair resembled the first rays of the morning sun, the elf's soft reddish hair was like the sunset, and the man's shiny black hair was like the starry night, the culmination of the day.
Without a doubt, it was a truly beautiful sight, and there was no question that their mere presence brightened the gloomy atmosphere that permeated Lake-Town. She and her sister were witnesses to this beautiful event.
"Legolas? When did you arrive?" Sigrid heard the beautiful elf say, whose name, according to Legolas's exclamation, was Tauriel, a strange name to her, as she found most Elvish names to be.
"Do you two know each other?" she interjected, perhaps out of jealousy or something else. She wasn't sure, but she wanted to clarify the relationship Legolas had with Tauriel.
"Yes, she's my sister," Legolas responded calmly, making Sigrid's eyes widen in surprise. She quickly removed her apron, tossed it onto the table, and took a few steps forward, ignoring both Bard and her brother, who were watching her with raised eyebrows.
"It's a pleasure to meet you," she said, extending her hand, which was reciprocated. However, she noticed a slight hesitation in Tauriel's touch. She didn't smile as Sigrid had imagined, but Sigrid attributed it to the natural behavior of elves. After all, Legolas had told her that elves only opened up to trusted people and loved ones.
"Likewise," Tauriel responded curtly before falling silent. Sigrid wasn't bothered; she considered it a great achievement that an elf other than Legolas had returned her greeting.
"Sigrid?" Bard asked, confused by his daughter's behavior. It was the first time she had ignored him in such a manner.
"Sorry, Dad," Sigrid nervously turned around and apologized, realizing her mistake. It was inappropriate behavior, especially ignoring her father.
"I'll prepare dinner, you can wait," she said quickly, running back to the kitchen, but not without grabbing her apron first.
Sighing at his daughter's behavior, Bard turned to those following him and, with a smile, gestured for them to enter. "Come on in, please excuse my daughter's behavior. She tends to get nervous around people she doesn't know," he explained as he stepped aside to let the others in.
"No problem," Aldril said, unconcerned. It was very evident that Bard's daughter was nervous, particularly when Legolas addressed Tauriel, though Aldril noted a small spark of jealousy. Still, the presence of Legolas in Bard's house, and Sigrid's jealousy, made him think there might be a close relationship between them.
"Ah, young love," he heard Bilbo murmur as the hobbit cheerfully walked past Bard. It was a funny sight, in Aldril's opinion.
"Have you seen many scenes like this?" Aldril asked the small hobbit, who looked up at him and nodded several times.
"Yes, indeed. In Hobbiton, it's very common to see many young couples in love," Bilbo said as he walked toward the lit fireplace. Aldril hadn't noticed, but Lake-Town tended to be very cold, especially since it was built on a lake. He could only imagine the suffering the dwarves were enduring in the near-freezing water.
Tauriel followed Aldril toward the fireplace, partly because she wanted to listen to what he was discussing with the hobbit, especially when he mentioned "love." Perhaps she hadn't fallen in love with Aldril over the past few days, but she had grown fond of him, particularly due to his approachable nature. Who knows? Maybe, in time, she would understand what "love" truly meant.
While they moved toward the fireplace, Bard and his son Bain watched the calm Legolas, who at some point stood and walked over to them. With elegance, he extended his hand.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Bard. Sigrid has spoken highly of you and how you've cared for the people here during their time of hunger," Legolas said in a polite and complimentary manner.
"The pleasure is mine. I never imagined the Elven Prince of Mirkwood would be in my humble abode," Bard said with a teasing expression, already suspecting why Legolas, the Elven Prince, was in his home.
"It may be humble, but it's filled with warmth," Legolas replied to Bard's comment.
---
While the two of them were chatting, Aldril continued talking to Bilbo about Hobbiton and what their wedding celebrations were like. It was a peculiar topic that hadn't been explored much, so Aldril took the opportunity to soak in all the knowledge about these festivities. It was well known that Hobbits celebrated in grand style, so both Aldril and Tauriel paid close attention to every word Bilbo said.
"Usually, the whole town is invited. It's a celebration that lasts all night. Ha, many times I've lost sleep because of their music," Bilbo explained with a nostalgic smile. He missed his home, and it was evident in the way he talked about Hobbiton and the Shire.
"But nothing's more bothersome than my cousin, haha. She's always after the family fortune, particularly my mother's jewelry," Bilbo ranted about his cousin, veering off-topic, only to be interrupted by the small voice of a child.
"Excuse me, are all the people where you come from this small?" asked Tilda, Bard's youngest daughter, who was looking at Bilbo with curiosity. It was understandable; at her age, everything seemed fascinating.
"Excuse me?" Bilbo said, confused. He turned around and saw the little girl. Her faded blue dress showed the family's poor situation. Understanding that she was just a curious child, Bilbo patiently explained, "Yes, everyone in Hobbiton is small like me."
"And why is that? Are you smaller than dwarves?" Tilda continued asking.
"Well, we're small so we can be more agile, and yes, we're smaller than dwarves. You can tell us apart by our quick feet," Bilbo said with a laugh, amused by the girl's curiosity.
Bilbo was known for being great with kids, always satisfying their curiosity. In fact, he was quite popular among the children of Hobbiton for his stories and the way he answered their questions.
Because of his wealth and his kindness toward children, Bilbo had also earned much popularity among the women of Hobbiton. However, he focused more on his books and hadn't thought much about starting a family.
Tilda nodded. She might have been small, but she understood everything Bilbo had said, a sign of her intelligence. Yet, as she was still a child, she tended to get distracted quickly. Noticing Tauriel and Aldril, she approached them, looked at their hair, and exclaimed, "Your hair is such a pretty color! It's just as nice as Legolas's. Can I touch it?" she asked cheerfully, looking expectantly at Aldril, who smiled and nodded.
"Sure," Aldril said as he crouched down to her height, allowing her to touch his silky hair. His kindness toward children made Tauriel gaze at him dreamily.
While Tilda stroked his hair, Aldril noticed the worn condition of her dress. Knowing that the people of Lake-Town were going through hard times, he decided to help Bard's daughter, at least a little.
With a flick of his hand, he pulled out five gold coins and a few more in silver from his storage ring. He had taken plenty from the trolls' cave, so he didn't worry about those coins.
"Here, tell your dad to buy you new dresses," Aldril said with a smile. Tilda instinctively reached out her hand. The amount of coins, which seemed a lot to her, made her eyes widen as she shook her head.
She extended her hand to return the money to Aldril. "I'm sorry, sir, but I can't take your money. It's too much," she said nervously. However, Aldril stood up, gently tousled her hair, and smiled.
"You can keep it; it's a gift. I'm a friend of your dad's, and I want to help," Aldril said as he leaned down slightly and whispered, "With that, you can also buy clothes for your brothers."
This last part made Tilda think. If her father had invited these people into their home, it meant they were friends, so there shouldn't be a problem. She nodded and whispered back, "~Thank you very much~"
Bilbo smiled at the interaction. Watching them reminded him that they still had some dwarves to collect, so he turned to Bard, who was talking with Legolas.
"Excuse me for interrupting, Mr. Bard, but where is your bathroom?" Bilbo asked, making Bard look at him and recall their arrangement.
"Right, it's downstairs," Bard responded, then glanced at his son. "Bain, guide the hobbit to the bathroom; we've got a delivery to take care of."
Nodding, Bain prepared to lead Bilbo, but just as they were about to head down, a loud banging at the door silenced the conversations taking place. The door was being pounded on, and a voice outside shouted.
"Bard! Open up! You're under arrest!"
Recognizing the voice, both Aldril and Bard frowned. That annoying voice could only belong to the fool, Alfrid.
Bard exchanged a tacit understanding with Aldril, who promptly placed Tilda behind him. Legolas, understanding the situation, stood up and walked toward the kitchen, positioning himself to protect Sigrid, who was peeking out at the commotion by the door.
Aldril glanced at Bilbo, who nodded and quietly followed Bain downstairs toward the bathroom. Though Bilbo didn't show it through his calm demeanor, after months of learning from Aldril, he had become capable of defending himself against at least two men at once.
"Open the damned door, or we'll break it down!"
Alfrid yelled from outside. He was eager to arrest Bard and finally rid himself of the thorn that had been bothering both him and the Master of Lake-Town.
After ensuring his children were safe, Bard walked over to the door and opened it, coming face-to-face with the most hideous sight he had ever seen. Maintaining his composure, he met Alfrid's gaze.
"What's the matter, Alfrid?"
"Don't play dumb, Bard! We know your daughter entered with a stranger who didn't register! That's a clear violation. You're under arrest and will be interrogated!" Alfrid spat as he shouted, his saliva spraying onto Bard's face, causing him to frown in disgust.
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Bard replied, keeping his calm demeanor despite his disgust.
"You heard me, Bard! Arrest him!" Alfrid, gloating at his long-awaited opportunity to bring Bard down, shot him a mocking grin. However, seeing Bard's calmness fueled his frustration from earlier that morning. In a cowardly act, he turned to the guards behind him. "Take his children too!"
This lit a fire in Bard, who stepped into the doorway, blocking it. "Don't be stupid, Alfrid! Leave my children out of this!"
"Oh? So, you're admitting a stranger entered with your daughter?" Alfrid's grin grew wider. He finally had Bard in his grasp. Now, all he needed was an excuse to keep him locked up. But he could think of that later, he still wanted to humiliate Bard further. The commotion was drawing the attention of the townsfolk, who began to gather around, as Alfrid had intentionally stirred up the scene.
This was a tactic Alfrid had often used with others who opposed the Master of Lake-Town. Now, he hoped to tarnish Bard's reputation in front of the people who supported him. After all, public opinion could change quickly.
At Alfrid's question, Bard remained silent, which Alfrid interpreted as acceptance. With a triumphant smile, he looked at the guards behind him, then barked, "What are you standing around for? Arrest him!"
The guards quickly moved past Alfrid and grabbed Bard by both arms. Bard could only look at Alfrid with indifference, swallowing the fury building inside him.
Now that Bard was restrained, Alfrid stepped inside the house, a victorious grin on his face. However, the moment he entered, he froze. Inside stood the Elven princess and the human, but there was no sign of the hobbit. Aldril's indifferent gaze unnerved him, and in a meek voice, Alfrid addressed the two who were standing guard over Bard's daughter.
"Good afternoon. Apologies for the intrusion, but I need to take the girl."
"The girl is under my protection. I suggest you don't do anything foolish that you'll regret later," Aldril said firmly, while Tauriel positioned herself behind Aldril, standing protectively beside Tilda, making it clear that she, too, was guarding the girl.
Alfrid needed no more words from Aldril. He decided to save himself the trouble of dealing with the imposing figure, who he might have mistaken for an orc if not for the fact that he lived in Lake-Town. Besides, Tauriel's cold demeanor toward anyone other than Aldril made her equally intimidating.
"Oh, I understand. No problem," Alfrid stammered. He wasn't stupid. He had noticed the small actions of the Elven princess, who was shielding Bard's daughter. If he dared to take her by force, it could ignite a war with the Elves of Mirkwood.
A loud "crack" echoed from below, immediately catching Alfrid's attention. With renewed vigor, he glanced towards the stairs leading to the lower level of Bard's house. "Follow me," he ordered, descending quickly.
Upon reaching the lower floor, accompanied by two guards, Alfrid spotted Bard's son, Bain, staring towards the bathroom. Confident that the intruder his informant spoke of was hiding there, Alfrid shoved Bain aside.
"Hey, wait, you can't go in there!" Bain protested.
"Is it occupied?" Alfrid asked with a mocking smile as he kicked the bathroom door open, only to be met with an unexpected sight: Bilbo, sitting on the toilet with his pants down.
"How rude," Bilbo said, glaring at him in annoyance. "Could you let me finish?"
"Ugh..." Alfrid grimaced, slamming the door shut in disgust. He hadn't found anything, and knowing that Bilbo was in the company of the man and the elf princess, he decided to leave him to his business.
When Alfrid returned upstairs, he was met with an even bigger shock—Bard was free. His confusion was immediate. "Why did you let him go, you idiots?" he barked at the guards by the door, who lowered their heads in silence.
"It was because of me," came a melodious but irritated voice. Alfrid turned to the source and froze in place. Standing before him was a tall elf with platinum blonde hair, holding Bard's daughter by the hand.
"Ahem, excuse me... and who might you be?" Alfrid stammered, trying to recover, but a sense of dread loomed over him.
"I am Legolas, son of King Thranduil, and the one you're looking for," Legolas replied, his arrogance unmistakable. This lowly human had dared to barge into Sigrid's home, attempting to arrest her father without reason.
Alfrid felt the world collapse around him. His knees nearly buckled. He had gotten himself into deep trouble, never imagining that the "stranger" entering Bard's home was the elven prince himself. There was no doubt; Alfrid recognized the name Legolas, as well as his distinct hair.
"My apologies, Your Highness. I thought it was a stranger who had entered. But, if I may ask... what brings you to Lake-Town?" Alfrid mustered the courage to inquire, knowing it was inappropriate but desperate to find a way out of the situation.
"Do I need to explain why I've entered this poor, crumbling town?" Legolas responded coldly. "You should focus on feeding these starving people instead of asking stupid questions."
"No, forgive me, Your Highness. I'll take my leave so as not to disturb you," Alfrid replied meekly, quickly exiting Bard's house with the guards, who were just as shaken and covered in cold sweat.
The quick departure of Alfrid was met with mocking laughter from the townsfolk outside. Some had armed themselves in defense of Bard, but it seemed their intervention was no longer necessary.
Inside Bard's home, the tense atmosphere quickly dissolved into laughter as Aldril, who had come down to check on Bilbo, couldn't contain himself.
"Are you telling me you pretended to be... you know, just to hide the dwarves? Haha!" Aldril chuckled, thoroughly amused by Bilbo's strategy.
"Curse you two bastards! Open up already!" came a voice from below.
"Hurry! We're freezing down here!" more dwarves complained, their voices echoing from beneath the floor.
Recovering from his laughter, Aldril gestured to Bilbo to lift the toilet lid and let the dwarves out.
"Make a wish, Bain," Aldril said with a grin, "you're about to witness the 'birth' of dwarves."
***
Disgusting orcs! It seems there was an attack from the elves of Rivendell, our language has been distorted! They're attacking us!
Joking aside, sorry about that, I just want to take this moment to thank you all for your constant support. This is the first fic I've taken seriously, and it makes me really happy to see how far it has come in these past few months. I'm truly incredibly grateful.
15 chapters ahead on Patreon. "p@treon.com/Mrnevercry"