A/N: Have fun

"Come on," Bard called over the edge of the charred balcony he and Kali were standing on. The remaining population of Laketown had made it to the ruins of Dale and were quietly dispersing their way through it, "Keep moving."

 Alfrid shouted from a higher up city wall walkway, "SIRE! Sire! Up here!" Kali was silent as she followed Bard to where Alfrid stood. The three of them looked to the mouth of the Mountain. Alfrid motioned, "Look, sire. The braziers are lit."

 Bard gave a small noise that sounded as if it held some admiration, "So, the Company of Thorin Oakenshield survived."

 "Survived?" Alfrid questioned, "You mean there's a bunch of dwarves in there with all that gold?"

 "You double-crossing, greedy, sneaky," Kali broke her prolonged silence with a poorly-delivered insult, "Greasy little worm. You almost die thrice in a day (Kali had attempted to throttle him on the walk to Dale when he called her a 'good for nothing disgrace of a dwarf' She'd have succeeded, too, if Bard and Sigrid had not held her back) and yet your clouded mind still thinks of that cursed gold."

 "It does," Alfrid sneered, "What's it to you, not like you're going to get into that Mountain."

 "Alfrid," Bard warned lazily, "If you provoke her I will not stop her this time."

 Alfrid wrinkled his nose and leaned closer to Kali, grinning evilly, "That gold doesn't belong to you, half-breed. When I get into that Mountain I'll slaughter the lot of them and keep all that gold to myself."

 In a blur of movement, Kali's fist shot up and smacked directly into Alfrid's nose, "If you say anything like that again, I'll slit your throat."

 Alfrid's nose was bent at an odd angle, oozing blood down his chin and onto his hands that held his face, "That gluttonous little brat just broke my damn nose!"

 Bard didn't seem to hear him though, and only patted Alfrid's shoulder, "You should not worry, Alfrid. There is enough gold in that mountain for all." he released Alfrid's shoulder and walked back down to his original balcony, calling to the people, "Make camp here tonight. Find what shelter you can. Get some fires going," Bard glanced back up at the disgruntled Alfrid and had to hide his small smirk, "Alfrid, you take the night watch."

 They watched Alfrid walk away and Kali looked back towards the Mountain, "I do believe Alfrid had a point."

 "Before or after you broke his nose?" Bard jested, though he knew the seriousness of Kali's statement, "You cannot be serious, Kali. Alfrid's mind has been warped from decades with the Master. Nothing he says has any meaning."

 Kali removed her gaze from the Mountain, setting her glossy brown eyes on Bard, "They wouldn't want me anywhere near Erebor now that they know I'm..."

 "Thorin wouldn't," Bard clarified, "You hadn't seen how the others were worrying over you while you were hurt. No one would go through that much trouble for someone whom they care not for."

 "It's in their nature to worry," Kali brushed it off and stared at her boots, "I'm no exception to that. It doesn't make a difference, though."

"Get some rest," Bard told her, "We will talk more in the morning. As of now, though, I must check on my children and the rest of the people."

*

"Bard," Kali prodded Bard in the side, trying to wake him, "Bard. Bard!" He started and fell over, blinking rapidly, "Bard, there's a man who wishes to have a word."

 Bard stood, "Very well. Go see if Alfrid has anything to report."

 Kali cursed in Khuzdul but nodded, "As you wish."

 The two split off and Kali began aimlessly wandering around Dale instead of seeking out Alfrid directly, remembering the days in which it was a thriving city filled to the brim with life. The stone and bricks were a vibrant gold, cobblestones only slightly dusty. Children ran around in the streets, music played and people laughed with one another. Life was good, no worries at all.

 But after that fateful day all had changed. The golden bricks were now burnt black, singed from fire. The cobblestone streets were littered with forgotten, broken wagons, dried leaves and dead plants. Scorch marks disfigured everything in sight, leaving nothing unmarked. Windows were broken, roofs caved in. Wood rotted away and bricks and stones chipped with age.

 It was a brittle skeleton of a once beautiful city.

 Emotions flooded into Kali's chest. Anger. Frustration. Sadness. Mourning. It brought tears to her eyes, smudging her eyesight, "Miss Silverarm."

 She wiped her eyes quickly and wheeled around, "Legolas. What are you doing here?"

 "I came with my father," he answered shortly, "What are you doing here? I thought you'd be in Erebor."

 "I wish to be there," Kali huffed, blinking away the remaining tears in her eyes, "However, I've no way of getting there at the moment."

 Legolas snorted and walked away, leaving Kali wondering why he'd struck up conversation with her to begin with.Then she overheard Bard, "...war over a handful of gems!"

 "The heirlooms of my people are not lightly forsaken," Thranduil answered in a cold tone. Then he noticed Kali and his frosted eyebrow quirked, "The peredhil remains?"

 "I'm none of your concern, Thranduil," Kali hissed.

 "We are allies in this," Bard began, his voice rushed, "My people also have a claim upon the riches in that mountain! Let me speak with Thorin!"

 Thranduil's other eyebrow arched with the other and his inquiring gaze went back to Bard, "You would try to reason with a dwarf?"

 "To avoid war? Yes!" Bard's gaze flickered to Kali, "Plus, I've found some dwarves can be reasoned with."

 "Very well," Thranduil waved his hand, "Go. Attempt to reason with him. When you find it as useful as conversing with a brick wall, I and my option will be waiting for you."

 Kali stepped next to Bard, "I will accompany you."

 "You? Why?"

 "My reasons are my own," she whispered.

 "Very well," Bard led the way to seek out horses.