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Luin's hunch that the survivors of Laketown would turn to Dale, was correct. As he circled over the ruins, several fingers pointed up at him as he flew by. He spotted Bard and the majority of people assembled in the square at the centre of the ruined city. The man looked up as Luin glided downwards.
"Wizard", he greeted as Luin hopped off the sword. He walked over and clapped Luin on the shoulder with a smile. "Luin the blue, you have returned". He seemed relieved and happy. Nothing really made friends as saving each other's lives.
"Bard", Luin smiled back. "I have returned to see if I can offer any help".
"What about your dwarf friends?" Bard asked with a frown.
"No. My quest with them is over", Luin assured. "I just want to help in anyway I can".
Bard laughed. "You have given us a great deal of help already. You and you're elf friends saved my daughters. You saved both me and my son and you helped us kill the dragon. You owe us nothing my friend".
Luin opened his mouth to say more, possibly thank Bard for his welcoming attitude. He was, after all, apart of the quest that unleashed Smaug on Laketown. He wouldn't have been surprised if they turned him away.
"Who are you and what do you want with our lord Bard?" A short greasy man with limp hair and black clothes yelled. He came stalking over arrogantly, jerking his face rudely close. Luin looked down his nose at the rude man, trying not to back away from his stinking breath.
"Alfred!" Bard stated sharply. He sighed as Alfred refused to back away. "This is Luin the blue. Step away and show him respect!"
"Just because some weird slit eyed blue fellow flys down and says he's a wizard does not mean that he deserves our respect", Alfred hissed. Luin rolled his eyes and waved his hand. A sharp spark of blue Qi hit the man in the middle of his forehead. "Just go back to where you- mmmff". Alfreds words were abruptly cut off as his lips sealed together. He struggled, muffled noises coming from his mouth as he clawed at his lips.
"What did you do?" Bard asked amusedly. "I've been wishing he'd shut his mouth all day".
"Just a silencing spell", Luin commented off handedly. "It shall leave him unharmed and verbal again in about half an hour. If he doesn't force it of course". Alfred made a muffled shrieking noise and stormed off. Luin and Bard laughed loudly.
"It's you!" A woman's voice made them turn. A blonde woman in her twenties was pointing at Luin. She stumbled over and grasped his hands. "You saved my baby". Luin paused as she gripped his hands tightly. Her face was streaked in soot and dirt but he recognised her as the woman from the raft. He relaxed and smiled sheepishly at her thankful expression.
"Thank you. You're a hero. You saved my Isak". The woman let go and turned and picked up the toddler that Luin had saved last night. Little Isak had been hiding behind his mother's skirt. Now that Luin's sight was not obscured by smoke and flames, he could see that Isak had a head of adorable blonde curls. The baby hid his head shyly in his mother's shoulder.
"Hello Isak", Luin said softly. Isak peeked at him for a moment before hiding. Isak's mother laughed. Luin looked up. Bard had moved away and was talking to another group of men. He was gesturing at the ruins, probably instructing them to build shelters. "Any there any injuries?" Luin asked. "I'm a healer and can help".
The woman nodded and led him through the ruins to a large stone building that once must have been a town hall. It was now dusty and partly caved in in areas. It was one of the few buildings with a mostly intact roof. The windows were smashed and the floor was covered in leaves but the heavy stone walls still stood strong and large partially destroyed doors covered the entrance. Isak's mother led him in inside where dozens of people were crowded around. Children huddled in corners. Families were in close groups for warmth. The injured were lying on blankets on the floor, people around them trying to heal them the best they could with the meagre supplies they had saved.
Luin rolled ups his sleeves and crossed over to the nearest blanket. On it lay a young man, probably in his early twenties. The man's pregnant wife was kneeled at his side, sobbing quietly. The man had severe burns up each of his arms, both covered in ripped cloth to act as bandages. Luin glanced around the injures as he knelt down. It would be a wonder if they could save his hands. Luckily, Luin wasn't a wizard for nothing. He peeled back the cloth and got to work.
Taking a deep breath, he ran his hands over the air above the man's injuries. His fingers tingled and the air pulsed as Luin sent spiritual energy over the wounds. A blue tinge emitted around his palms as he spread them up and down the burns. Slowly, but noticeably, the man's colour returned. Luin concentrating on circuiting his Qi through the other's body. The wounds began to close, the infection leaking out in yellow goo on to the floor as the spiritual energy washed it from his system. The pregnant woman gave a gasp as her husband groaned.
Luin pulled back and rubbed his sleeve along the sweat on his face. "Keep them clean. Wash them with boiled water twice a day if you can. Any herbs you know can help, place them under the bandages", he instructed. The woman nodded, eyes still wet from crying.
"Thank you, you have saved my Husband's life", she grabbed both Luin's hands and pressed a kiss to the back of each one. Luin tried not to blush. He was unused to this hero treatment. He nodded at her and pulled away, walking over to the next patient.
Luin spent all day healing people as best he could. He moved from patient to patient. By the time the sun set, he was exhausted and drained. At some point, Bard had come and checked on him. The man had offered him food but Luin had declined. The wounded and the children came first. There was little resources and he didn't need a meal as much as some of the others. He could always practise inertia. The skill allowing him to go for weeks without food, but it was a huge drain and he only used it when necessary.
When the sun finally set, Luin climbed up onto one of the remains of a upper floor. He had to glide up in some areas where the stairs were destroyed. The second floor itself had fallen in, leaving little nooks and perches where Luin could gain some peace. He flew up and settled down on one big enough to sit crosslegged on, a corner of the second floor that jutted out like a balcony above the people below. He took his guqin from its case in his back and played a slow soft melody that echoed around town. It was a tune his father had taught him. One designed to heal and bring calm. Throughout the night, Luin switched between playing and meditating. He could deal without sleep. These people couldn't.
His meditation was disturbed the next morning by Bard's heavy footsteps below. The man looked up at him as Luin opened his eyes. "So this is where you were", Bard commented with a slight smile. He looked around in confusion. "How did you even climb up there?"
Luin demonstrated by jumping off and flying gracefully down to the floor. Bard shrugged as he swung his case back on to his back, his expression still mystified. He muttered under his breath about the strangeness of wizards before raising his voice. "There is a elf king with wagons of resources at the door demanding to speech to to the both of us", Bard said. He walked Luin through town and out to the main courtyard at the main gate. Luin's eyes widened at the sight of a whole army of gold plated elves standing to attention on the cobbles. Thranduil stood at their head astride a magnificent large grey moose. The elven king regarded Luin with a gaze of that of amusement, and maybe even a slight bit of respect.
"Luin the blue", Thranduil greeted. Behind him were several wagons full of food and weapons. Several enthusiastic towns folk were helping to share it all out.
"King Thranduil", Luin replied with a bow. He quirked an eyebrow. "The supplies are very welcome but I assume that helping the survivors of Laketown was not your motive for coming here".
"It was not", Thranduil replied coldly. He unsaddled himself from his ride in and elegant movement and walked up to where Bard and Luin were standing. He towered over Luin, eyes dark and brows furrowed. The gleam of his own armour shining blindingly against his hair and crown. It made his icy blue eyes stand out harshly. "There is something in that mountain that I wish to claim. They are rightfully mine. I heard that the people of Laketown were also promised a claim on the treasure, so I have offered to unify our goals".
"By turning them into more forces of your army?" Luin asked, face cold.
Thranduil chuckled, seemingly amused. "Little wizard. I no longer underestimate you. You are a powerful person who I do not see as an enemy yet, regardless of the company you keep. My son is inexplicably fond of you, much to my downfall. Accept the deal. It has its benefits".
"It is not my deal to accept", Luin retorted. "Bard is the king of Laketown".
Bard stepped forwards at the mention of his name. "I accept the deal. We too were promised gold from the mountain. I thank you for the supplies". Bard bowed at Thranduil, the elven king inclining his head back. The deal was struck. Luin just hoped that this deal would end positively.
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