5بخش

Simple merchants, you say?

We need food supplies, weapons.

Can you help us?

BARD: I know where these barrels came from.

What of it’?

I don’t know what business you had with the Elves but I don’t think it ended well.

No one enters Lake-town but by leave of the Master all his wealth comes from trade with the Woodland Realm.

He would see you in irons before risking the wrath of King Thranduil Offer him more.

BALIN: I’ll wager there are ways to enter that town unseen.

Aye.

But for that you would need a smuggler.

For which we would pay double.

THRANDUIL: Such is the nature of evil.

Out there in the vast ignorance of the world it festers and spreads.

A shadow that grows in the dark.

A sleepless malice as black as the oncoming wall of night.

So it ever was So will it always be.

In time, all foul things come forth.

You were tracking a company of 13 Dwarves.

Why?

Not 13.

Not anymore.

The young one the black-haired archer we stuck him with a Morgul shaft.

The poison’s in his blood.

He’ll be choking on it soon.

Answer the question, filth.

I would not antagonize her.

You like killing things, Orc?

You like death?

Then let me give it to you.

I do not care about one dead Dwarf.

Answer the question.

You have nothing to fear.

Tell us what you know and I will set you free.

LEGOLAS: You had orders to kill them, Why?

What is Thorin Oakenshield to you?

The Dwarf runt will never be king.

LEGOLAS: King?

There is no King Under the Mountain, nor will there ever be.

None would dare enter Erebor whilst the dragon lives.

You know nothing.

Your world will burn.

LEGOLAS: What are you talking about?

Speak!

Our time has come again.

My master serves the One.

Do you understand now, Elf ling?

Death is upon you.

The flames of war are upon you.

Why did you do that?

You promised to set him free.

And I did.

I freed his wretched head from his miserable shoulders.

LEGOLAS: There was more the Orc could tell us.

There was nothing more he could tell me.

What did he mean by “the flames of war”?

It means they intend to unleash a weapon so great it will destroy all before it.

I want the watch doubled at our borders.

All roads, all rivers.

Nothing moves, but I hear of it.

No one enters this kingdom.

And no one leaves it.

Watch out!

THORIN: What are you trying to do, drown us?

I was born and bred on these waters,

Master Dwarf.

If I wanted to drown you.

I would not do it here.

Oh, I’ve had enough of this lippy Lakeman.

I say we throw him over the side and be done with it.

Bard, his name’s Bard.

BOFUR: How do you know?

Uh, I asked him.

I don’t care what he calls himself.

I don’t like him.

BALIN: We do not have to like him.

We simply have to pay him.

Come on now, lads.

Turn out your pockets.

How do we know he won’t betray us?

We don’t.

BALIN: There’s just a wee problem.

We’re 10 coins short.

Gloin.

Come on.

Give us what you have.

Don’t look to me.

I have been bled dry by this venture.

What have I seen for my investment?

Naught but misery and grief and–

GLOIN: Bless my beard.

Take it.

Take all of it.

Ahem.

The money, quick.

Give it to me.

THORIN: We will pay you when we get our provisions but not before.

If you value your freedom, you’ll do as I say.

There are guards ahead.

What’s he doing?

BILBO: He’s talking to someone.

He’s pointing right at us.

Now they’re shaking hands.

What?

DWALIN: The villain.

He’s selling us out.

BARD: Quiet.

We’re approaching the tollgate.

PERCY: Halt!

Goods inspection!

Papers, please!

Oh, it’s you, Bard.

Morning, Percy.

Anything to declare?

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

You and me both.

There we are.

All in order.

Not so fast.

“Consignment of empty barrels from the Woodland Realm.”

Only they’re not empty are they, Bard?

If I recall correctly you’re licensed as a bargeman.

Not a fisherman.

That’s none of your business.

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.

You heard him.

In the canal.

Come on.

Get a move on.

Folk in this town are struggling.

Times are hard.

Food is scarce.

That’s not my problem.

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

Stop.

Ever the people’s champion eh, Bard?

Protector of the common folk.

You might have their favor now, bargeman but it won’t last.

Raise the gate!

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.

All this talk of civil unrest.

Someone’s been stirring the pot, sire.

Gout playing up, sire?

It’s the damp.

It’s the only possible explanation.

Get me a brandy.

The mood of the people, sire, it’s turning ugly.

They’re commoners, Alfrid.

They’ve always been ugly.

It’s not my fault they live in a place that stinks of fish oil and tar

Jobs, shelter, food.

It’s all they ever bleat about.

It’s my belief, sire, they are being led on by troublemakers.

Then we must find these troublemakers and arrest them.

My thoughts exactly, sire.

MASTER: And all this talk of change must be suppressed.

Can’t afford to let the rabble band together and start making noises.

The next thing you know, they’ll start asking questions forming committees launching inquiries.

Out with the old, in with the new?

What?

That’s what they’ve been saying, sire.

There is even talk of an election.

An election?

Heh.

That’s absurd.

I won’t stand for it.

Ha!

I don’t think they’d ask you to stand, sire.

Shirkers.

Ingrates.

Rabble-rousers.

Who would have the nerve to question my authority?

Who would dare?

Who–?

Bard.

You mark my words:

That trouble-making bargeman is behind all this.

Get your hands off me.

BARD: You didn’t see them, they were never here.

The fish you can have for nothing.

Follow me.

BAIN: Da!

Our house, it’s being watched.

BARD: You can tell the Master

I’m done for the day.

Da!

Where have you been?

Father!

There you are!

I was worried.

Here, Sigrid.

Bah, get them ‘m.

If you speak of this to anyone.

I’ll rip your arms off.

Get off.

Up there.

SIGRID: Da why are there Dwarves climbing out of our toilet?

Will they bring us luck?

They may not be the best fit but they’ll keep you warm.

Thank you very much.

A Dwarvish windlance.

BILBO: You look like you’ve seen a ghost.

He has.

The last time we saw such a weapon a city was on fire.

It was the day the dragon came.

The day that Smaug destroyed Dale.

Girion, the Lord of the City rallied his bowmen to fire upon the beast.

But a dragon’s hide is tough.

Tougher than the strongest armor.

Only a Black Arrow fired from a windlance could have pierced the dragon’s hide.

And few of those arrows were ever made.