Chapter 14: Fire and Water. 
Now if you wish
like the dwarves to hear news of Smaug
you must go back again to the evening
when he smashed the door and flew off in
rage two days before
the men of the lake town escorts were
mostly indoors for the breeze was from
the Black East and chill but a few were
walking on the keys and watching as they
were fond of doing the stars shine out
from the smooth patches of the lake as
they opened in the sky from their town
the Lonely Mountain was mostly screamed
by the low hills at the far end of the
lake through a gap in which the running
river came down from the north only its
high peak could they see in clear
weather and they looked so damn at it
for it was ominous Andrea even in the
light of morning now it was lost and
gone plotted in the dark
suddenly it flickered back to view a
brief glow touched it and faded said one
the lights again last night the watchman
saw them star and fade from midnight or
tutorial something is happening up there
perhaps the king under the mountain is
forging gold said another it is long
since he went north it is time the songs
began to prove themselves again wish
King said another with a grim voice as
like as not it is the marauding fire of
the Dragon the only King doubt of the
mountain we have ever known oh you're
always foreboding gloomy things said the
others
anything from floods to poison fish
think of something cheerful then
suddenly a great light appeared in the
low place in the hills and the northern
end of the lake turned golden
that's the King beneath the mountain
they shouted his mouth is like the Sun
his cell phone like a fountain
his rebus golden rod they cried and
everywhere windows were opening at feet
were hurrying
there was once more a tremendous
excitement and enthusiasm but the
grim-faced fellow ran hotfoot to the
master the dragon is coming or I'm a
fool he cried cut the pleasures to our
lungs then morning trumpets were
suddenly sounded and echoed along the
rocky shores the cheering stopped and
the joy was tense to dread so it was
that the dragon did not fight them quite
unprepared before long so great mr.
speed they could see him as a spark of
fire rushing towards things and growing
ever huger and more bright and not the
most foolish doubted that the prophecies
had gone rather wrong still they had a
little time
every vessel in the town is filled with
water every warrior was armed every
arrow and dart was ready and the bridge
to the lands thrown down and destroyed
before the war of smell was terrible
approached me loud and the lake rippled
red as fire beneath the awful beating of
his wings amid shrieks and wailing and
the shouts of men who came over there
swept towards the bridges and was foiled
the bridge was gone and his enemies were
on an island in deep water too deep and
dark and cool for his liking if he
plunged into it a vapor and a steam
would rise enough to cover all the land
with a mist for days but the lake was
mightier than you it would quench and
before he passed through
swept back over the town hail of dark
arrows leaped up and snapped and rattled
on the scales and tools and the shadows
felt that kindled by his breath
into the lane no fireworks you ever
imagined sites that night the twining of
the bows and the shearling of the
trumpets the Dragons Roth blazed to its
height to
dare to give battle to him for many an
age nor would they have dead now if it
had not been for the Grim voiced man
bard was his name who ran to and fro
cheering on the archers and urging the
master toward them to fight to the last
arrow fire left from the Dragons shores
lighting old
the trees by the shores shown like
copper and like blood with leaping
shadows dense black of their feet then
down this route straight through the
hours
Heelys in his rage taking no heed to
turn his scaly sights towards his foes
seeking only to set their town a place
fire beautiful match hooves and wooden
beams as he hurtled down and past and
round again though all had been drenched
with water before he came once more
water was drunk by a hundred hands
wherever a spark appeared black swirls
of the great house crumbled and smashed
down flames unquenchable sprang high
into the night another suit and another
and another house and then another
spider fire and fell and still no arrow
or hurt him more than a fly from the
marshes
men were jumping into the worlds on
every side women and children will be
important to inter Laden
weapons were flung down there was the
mourning and weeping we're but a little
time ago the old songs of mirth to come
had been summed about the dwarfs now men
cursed their names the master himself
was turning to his great gilded boat
hoping to row away in the confusion and
save himself soon all the town would be
deserted and burnt down to the surface
of the lake that was the dragon's hope
they could all get into boats for all he
cared there he could have fine sport
hunting them or they could stop till
they starved let them try to get to land
and he would be ready soon he would set
all the shoreland woods blazed and
wither every field and pasture just now
he was enjoying the sport of town
baiting more than he had enjoyed
anything for years but there was still a
company of archers that held their
ground among the burning houses their
captain was Bard grim moist and grim
faced whose friends had accused him of
prophesying floods and poisoned fish
though they knew his Worth and courage
he was the descendant in long line of
Tyrion Lord of Dale whose wife and child
had escaped down the running River from
the ruin long ago now he's shot with a
great Huber till all his arrows but one
was spent
his companions were leaving him he bent
his bow for the last time suddenly out
of the dark something fluttered to his
shoulder he started but it was only an
old thrush I'm afraid it perched by his
ear and it brought her knees marvel he
found he could understand its tongue for
he was of the race of Dale wait wait
it said to him the moon is rising look
for the hollow of the left breast as he
flies and turns above you and while bard
paused in wonder he told him of tidings
up in the mountain and a war that it had
heard then bar drew his bowstring 2zf
the dragon was circling back flying low
and as he came the moon rose above the
Eastern Shore and silvered his great
wings are Oh said the Bowman black arrow
I have saved you to the last you have
never failed me and always I have
recovered you I had you from my father
and he from a vault
if ever you came from the forges of the
true king under the mountain go now and
speed well
the dragon swooped once more lower than
ever and as he turned and dived down his
belly flitted white with sparkling fires
of gems in the moon but not in one place
the great boat towards the black arrows
sped straight from the string straight
for the hollow by the left breast where
the fore leg was flown white so fierce
was its flight that in it smote and
vanished bard shaft and feather with a
shriek that deafened men felled trees
and split stone into the
turned over
and crashed down from on high in Rouen
full on the town he felt his last throes
splitted it to sparks and bleeds the
lake bored
steam leaped up white in the sudden dark
under the moon
his Akashi world
and then silence and that was the end of
smoke and descoth
but not of Bart
the waxing moon rose higher and higher
and the wind grew loud and cold it
twisted the white fog into bending
pillars and hurrying clouds and drove it
off to the west to scatter in tattered
shreds over the marshes before Mirkwood
then the many boats could be seen dr.
dark on the surface of the lake and down
the wind came the voices of the people
of a scores lamenting their lost town
and goods and ruined houses but they had
really much to be thankful for
had they thought of it though it could
hardly be expected that they should just
then three-quarters of the people of the
town had at least escaped alive their
woods and fields and pastures and cattle
and most of their boats remained
undamaged and the driving was dead what
that meant they had not yet realized
they gathered in mournful crowds upon
the western shores shivering in the cold
wind and their first complaints in anger
were against the master who had left the
town so soon
while some was still willing to defend
it he may have a good head for business
especially his own business
some murmured but he is no good when
anything serious happens and they
praised the courage of bard and his last
mighty shots if only he had not been
killed
they all said we would make him a king
bard the Dragon shooter of the line of
Givi on a loss that he has lost and in
the very midst of their talk a tall
figure stepped from the shadows he was
drenched with water his black hair hung
wet over his face and shoulders and a
fierce light was in his
Bart is not lost he cried he dived from
Ascot when the enemy was slain I am part
of the line of Killian
I am the Slayer of the Dragon they
shouted but the master around his chest
rig teeth was Lord of Dale not king of
Azeroth he said in the lake town we have
always elected masters from among old
and wise and have not endured the rule
of mere fighting men let King Bard go
back to his own Kingdom Dale is now
freed by his honor and nothing hinders
his return and any that wish can go with
him if they prefer the cold stones under
the shadow of the mountain to the green
shores of the lake the wise will stay
here and hope to rebuild our town and
enjoy again in time its peace and riches
will of King brought the people near at
hand shouted in reply we have had enough
of the old men and the Pony counters and
people further off took up the cry till
the clamor echoed along the shore
I am the last man to undervalue bard the
Bowman said the master wearily for Bard
now stood close beside him he has
tonight earned an eminent place in the
role of the benefactors of our town and
he is worthy of many imperishable songs
but why o people and here the master
rose to his feet and spoke very loud and
clear why do I get all your blame for
what spunked am I to be deposed who
aroused the dragon from his slumber I
might ask who obtained of us rich gifts
and ample help and led us to believe
that old songs could come true who
played on our soft hearts and our
Pleasant fancies what sort of gold have
they set down the river to reward us
Dragon Fire and ruin from room should we
claim the recompense of our damage and
aid for our widows and orphans as you
see the master had not got his position
for nothing the result of his words was
that for the moments that people quite
forgot their idea of a new king and
turned their angry thoughts towards
Thorin in this company wild and bitter
woods
from many sides and some of those who
had before sung the old songs loudest
were now heard as loudly drying that the
dwarves had stirred the dragon up
against them deliberately
said Bart why waste words and Roth on
those unhappy creatures doubtless they
perished first in fire before Smaug came
to us then even as he was speaking the
thoughts came into his hearts of the
fabled treasure of the mountain lying
without guard or owner and he fell
suddenly silent he thought of the
Masters words and of Dale rebuilt and
filled with golden bells if he could but
find the men at length he spoke again
this is no time for angry words master
offer considering weighty plans of
change there is work to do I serve you
still though after a while I may think
again of your words and go not with any
that will follow me then he strode off
to help in the ordering of the camps and
in the care of the sick and the wounded
but the master scowled at his back as he
went and remained sitting on the ground
he thought much but said little unless
it was to call loudly for men to bring
him fire and food now everywhere Bard
went he found talk running like fire
among the people concerning the vast
treasure that was now unguarded men
spoke of the recompense for all their
harm that they would soon get from it
and wealth over and despair with which
to buy rich things from the south and it
cheered them greatly in their plight
that was as well for the night was
bitter and miserable shelters could be
contrived for few the master had one and
there was little food even the master
went shorts many took ill of wet and
cold and sorrow that night and
afterwards died who had escaped
uninjured from the ruin of the town and
in the days that followed there was much
sickness and great hunger meanwhile bard
took the lead and ordered things as he
wished though always in the Masters name
and he had a hard task to govern the
people and direct the preparations for
their protection than housing probably
most of them would have perished in the
winter that now hurried after autumn if
help had not been to hand but help came
swiftly for bard at once had speedy
messengers sent up the river to the
forest to ask the aid of the king of the
elves of the wood and these messages had
found a hosts already on the move
although it was then only the third day
after the fall of Smaug the elven King
had received news from his own
messengers and from the birds that loved
his folk and already knew much of what
had happened very great indeed was the
commotion among all things with wings
that welt on the borders of the
desolation of the dragon the air is
filled with circling flock
and they're Swift flying messengers flew
here and there across the sky above the
borders of the forest there was
whistling crying and piping far over
Mirkwood tidings spread Smaug is dead
leaves rustled and startled ears were
lifted even before the elven King rode
forth the news had passed west right to
the pine woods of the Misty Mountains
Bayon had heard it in this wooden house
and the goblins were at Council in their
caves but will be the last we shall hear
of Thorin Oakenshield I fear said the
king he would have done better to have
remained my guest it is an ill wind all
the same he added but blows no one any
good for he too had not forgotten the
legend of the wealth of thrall
so it was that bards messengers found
him now marching with many spearmen and
bowmen and crows were gathered thick
above him for they thought that war was
awakening again such as had not been in
those parts for a long age but the king
when he received the prayers of bard
had pity for he was the Lord of a good
and kindly people so turning his march
which had at first been directed towards
the mountain he hastened now down the
river to the long lake he had not boats
or rafts enough for his host and they
were forced to go the slower way by foot
but great store of goods he sent ahead
by water
still elves are light-footed and though
they were not in these days much used to
the marches and the treacherous lands
between the forest and the lake there
going was Swift only five days after the
death of the dragon they came upon the
shores and looked on the ruins of the
town their welcome was good
as may be expected and the men than
their master were ready to make any
bargain for the future in return for the
Elven kings aid
their plans were soon made with the
women and the children the old and the
unfix the master remained behind and
with him was some men of crafts and many
skilled elves and they visit themselves
felling trees and collecting the timber
sent down from the forest then they set
about raising many huts by the shore
against the oncoming winter and also on
to the master's direction they began the
planning of a new town designed more
fair and large even than before but not
in the same place they removed northward
higher up the shore forever after they
had a dread of the water weather dragon
lay he would never again return to his
golden bed but was stretched cold as
stone twisted upon the floor of the
shallows there for ages his huge bones
could be seen in calm water
amid the ruined piles of the old town
but few dared to cross the cursed spot
and none dared to dive into the
shivering water or recover the precious
stones that fell from his rotting
carcass but all the men of arms who was
still able and the most of the Elven
kings array was ready to march north to
the mountain it was thus that in 11 days
from the ruin of the town the head of
their host passed the rock gates
at the end of the lake and came into the
desolate lands
you
