Bard

Bard was a man of Lake-town and descendant of Girion, Lord of Dale. He killed Smaug and fought in the Battle of the Five Armies before rebuilding and becoming King of Dale.
== History ==
=== Early Life ===
Bard was born as a descendant of the Lord of Dale Girion, whose wife and child had escaped the destruction of the town at the hands of Smaug. He lived in Lake-town and became a bargeman as a profession. He eventually met his wife and they had three kids - Bain, Sigrid and Tilda. Unfortunately, Bard's wife passed away while giving birth to their youngest and left Bard to look after the family himself. Bard made an effort to be a good man in the midst of the corrupt society in Lake-town and the Master of Lake-town saw him as a threat to his authority. At some point he heard of the prophecy that the King under the Mountain would return and that the Lake would burn as a result.
=== Meeting the Dwarves ===
In the year TA 2941, Bard was responsible for picking up the barrels sent down the stream by the Elves of the Woodland Realm. One evening he arrived at the bank to wait for the barrels and came across a group of 13 Dwarves and a Hobbit that had rode the barrels down-stream. He was immediately suspicious of them and drew his bow, fitting an arrow to the string. He aimed the arrow at Ori who was emptying one of his shoes. Dwalin ran in front and Bard shot the arrow at the large stick he was holding. Kíli rose his hand to throw something and Bard shot the projectile out of his hands. He warned them not to try anything again. Balin asked him whether his barge would be available for hire. Bard began loading the barrels onto his barge and Balin continued to talk with him. He asked Bard whether he had a family and how many kids. After Bard told Balin of his three kids Balin asked about his wife, not realising that she had passed. Balin quickly apologised after Bard told him. Bard told the Dwarves that he would like to know who they were and what they were doing in these lands. Balin assured him that they were simple merchants traveling to see their kin in the blue mountains. Thorin asked Bard whether he could give them weapons, food and supplies. Bard drew attention to the barrels and that he knew where they came from. He told them he didn't know what business they had with the Wood-elves but he assumed it didn't end well. Bard explained that the Master of Lake-town would see the Dwarves in chains before risking the wraith of King Thranduil. Balin wagered that there would ways to enter the town unseen and Bard agreed, telling him that for a task such as that they would need a smuggler. Balin told Bard he would pay him double the price to smuggle them in and the bargeman finally agreed.
=== Smuggler's job ===
Bard got the Dwarves to get on his barge and they departed for Lake-town. When they drew close to the town, Bard steered the boat quite near a large rock but didn't hit it. Thorin asked Bard whether he was trying to drown them and Bard responded by telling him that he had been born and bred on the waters and that if he wanted to drown them he wouldn't do it there. As they approached, Bard told the Dwarves to pay him then rather then afterwards. The Dwarves wished to get their weapons and supplies before giving up their money but Bard told them to trust him if they valued their lives. Bard had the Dwarves and Bilbo get into the barrels and then made a stop at the fishing docks where he had the barrels filled with fish over them. They arrived at the gate and Percy greeted them. Percy asked Bard whether he had anything to report and Bard told him he didn't but that he was tired and ready for home. Percy was about to let them through when Alfrid Lickspittle, the Master's deputy, stepped in. He drew attention tot he fact that Bard's job was to collect empty barrels from the Woodland Realm and that the barrels were full of illegal fish. Alfrid ordered his men to empty the barrles into the lake but Bard began to make Alfrid concerned about what the people would say when they heard the Master was dumping fish back into the lake. Alfrid told the men to stop and gave Bard a warning, telling him that the Master had his eye on the bargeman and that they knew where he lived. Bard told Aflrid it was a small town and everyone knew where everyone lived. Bard reached the marketplace and tipped over the barrels, letting Thorin and company out. He gave a coin to the man nearby to keep him quiet about the Dwarves and told him he could have the fish for free. They made their way through the marketplace and some of the people looked on at the Dwarves in surprise and wonder. Some guards almost discovered them and Bard distracted Braga and his men while the Dwarves hid. Bard showed Braga a dress, telling him his wife would look lovely in it. Braga asked Bard what he knew of his wife and Bard told him he knew her as well as any man in Lake-town and Braga angrily stormed off.
=== The prophecy ===
Bard was met by Bain who told him that spies were watching the house. Bard came up with a plan to get the Dwarves into the house. He had them swim under the house and up through the toilet which went straight into the lake below. As he walked into his house, he tossed a coin down to some of the spies posing as fishermen and told them they could tell the Master he was done for the day. The Dwarves asked for their weapons and Bard went down into the lower level of his house and pulled out a hidden bag of weaponry from the water, taking it up to the Dwarves. The Dwarves were enraged with the low-quality of the weapons and Bard told them they wouldn't find any better outside the city armory. Bard overheard Balin tell Thorin that they should just leave and that they had made do with much less before. The name Thorin sounded oddly familiar to Bard and after telling the Dwarves to stay until nightfall he exited the house. Bain came out to see where he was going and Bard told his son not to let the Dwarves leave. He went down to the marketplace and began looking for an old tapestry which displayed the lineage of Durin's folk as well as the prophecy that the King under the Mountain would return and that the lake would burn.
When Bard returned, the Dwarves had already left the house to try and infiltrate the armory. Bard quickly went to the Town Hall where the captured Dwarves were talking to the Master of Lake-town in front of the townsfolk. Thorin promised them a share in the treasure if they supported them in their quest. Bard quickly intervened and warned the people that dragon-fire and ruin would be all that they would bring. He told Thorin he had no right to enter the mountain and Thorin told him he had the only right. The Master, due to his greed and love for treasure, agreed to help the Dwarves much to Bard's dismay.
The following morning, a ceremony was held as the Dwarves left Lake-town to leave for Erebor. Bard stayed in his house while the commotion happened outside. Bofur, Óin, Fíli and a very injured Kíli came to his door and knocked. Bard opened the door, saw who was present and told them he wanted no more business with Dwarves, before trying to close it. Bofur stopped him and begged, telling him Kíli was extremely sick and they had nowhere to go. Bard let them into the house.
=== Capture ===
As evening came, Kíli's fever was growing more and more intense. Óin asked Bard if he had any herbs and Bard told him he had nightshade and feverfew but Óin told him they were no use. He asked if Bard had any kingsfoil to which the Man replied that it was a weed and they fed it to the pigs.
Later that night, the sounds of an awakened Smaug could be heard from the mountain. Tilda asked Bard whether they were all going to die and Bard told his kids that they wouldn't die if he killed the dragon first. He reached up and yanked a pole from above, revealing it to be a hidden Black Arrow that he had kept. He took Bain with him to go to the wind-lance and prepare for the inevitable arrival of Smaug. They were spotted by guards who for some reason wanted to take Bard in so Bard gave the arrow to Bain and told him to protect it with his life. They split up and Bard was approached by Braga and the guards. Braga told Bard he was under arrest and Bard asked on what charge to which Braga told him whatever charge the Master saw fit. Bard ran from the guards, jumping onto a boat and gliding across a water section. He managed to evade the guards and ran into an alley. However, the Master and Alfrid were waiting for him there and Alfrid stuck out his foot, tripping Bard. The Master then used a log to hit Bard in the head, knocking him unconscious.
=== Slaying the Dragon ===
As the Dragon left Erebor and came towards Lake-town, Bard was imprisoned in the Lake-town gaol and yelled for the guards to let him out. When he got no response he began looking around for a way to escape. When the Master's barge, full of gold and treasure, passed underneath the gaol, Bard hung a rope through the window and hooked it around the Master and the back of the boat. This action pulled the rope tight and broke the window bars, allowing Bard to escape. He quickly found a bow and quiver and ascended onto the rooftops, looking around at the fiery blaze caused by the Dragon. He identified that the wind-lance tower had been quickly destroyed by Smaug and made his way for the bell tower. Upon reaching the tower, he began shooting arrows at the Dragon, although none could pierce the scaly hide. After using his last arrow against the dragon, Bain arrived at the tower. Bard was shocked to see Bain and told him he was supposed to leave. Bain told his father he wanted to help but Bard told him that nothing would stop the dragon now. Bain told him that "this might" and produced the Black Arrow. Bard took the arrow and told Bain to get as afar away as possible. However, Smaug brushed past the tower and caused Bard's bow to snap and for Bain to almost fall off, hanging on by one hand, the Black Arrow in the other. Bard helped his son up onto the broken tower and took the arrow from his hand. Smaug landed and looked up at Bard. He asked the bowman who he was that would stand against him. He saw Bain and asked if he was his son. Smaug told Bard that his son would burn along with everyone else. After taunting Bard, Smaug charged at the bell tower. Bard used the two sides of his broken bow, wedging them into two sides of the tower and then rest the arrow on Bain's shoulder. He looked into his son's eyes, telling him not to look back and to move a little to one side. Smaug approached and Bard focused in on the missing scale which had been chipped off by Girion years ago. He released the arrow at the last second and it flew straight into the Dragon's weak spot, impaling him. Bard grabbed Bain as the Dragon hit the tower, knocking it into the water. Smaug flew into the air, gasping for breath and for his life, before dying and falling back down to the lake.
=== Leading the people ===
In the chaos following the destruction of Lake-town, Bard and Bain found their way to Sigrid and Tilda amongst the refugees on the shore of the lake. They tripped Alfrid Lickspittle over who was bothering the townsfolk, acting as if he had some authority. Percy yelled out that he had seen Bard slay the Dragon and everyone began to cheer. Alfrid stood up and began yelling "All hail King Bard", claiming he had always seen Bard as a leader. Bard snatched his hand away from Alfrid, telling the people that he was not the Master, asking where he was. Everyone began to attack Alfrid but Bard yelled for everyone to stop, asking whether they had not had their fill of death already. He told them that winter was upon them and they must look after the sick and helpless. One of the women asked him what would happen after that and Bard told her they would find shelter.
As Bard led the Men of Lake-town in their preparation to leave and look for shelter, Legolas Greenleaf of the Woodland Realm arrived and asked Bard where they would go. Bard told him there was only one place as Legolas looked up to the Lonely Mountain. Alfrid told Bard that going to the mountain was genius, drawing attention to the shelter and the gold inside. Bard picked up some firewood as he told Alfrid that the gold inside the mountain was cursed and that they would only take what was promised to them so that they might rebuild their lives. Bard put the firewood in Alfrid's arms before walking off, although Alfrid quickly offloaded it to a woman nearby. As Bard walked past Legolas again, the Elf spoke of others that might look to the mountain in the wake of Smaug's death. Bard agreed and asked him what it was Legolas knew. The Elf told him he knew nothing for certain but it was what he feared may come that concerned him greatly.
Bard led the people of Lake-town across the mountainside and into the ruins of Dale. There they set up temporary refuge as they realized the Dwarves had survived the wrath of Smaug and were alive in the mountain. Bard told Alfrid not to worry about the Dwarves as there was enough gold inside the mountain for everyone. Bard told Alfrid to take the night watch.
In the morning, Bard was walking through Dale, helping anyone in need and looking after the people. He made sure the children, the wounded and the women had priority with food and medicine. He asked Alfrid what news there was from the night watch which the man responded by telling him that it was all clear and that nothing gets past him. They walked outside to see a huge army of Elves from the Woodland Realm to which Bard said "except an army of Elves, it would seem". Bard walked through the Elf soldiers to see King Thranduil arriving on his elk. Bard greeted the Elven King and told him they did not look to see him arrive. Thranduil told Bard he heard they needed aid and a group of Elves with a horse and cart arrivied with food and supplies. Bard thanked Thranduil but the Elven King told him his gratitude was misplaced as he did not come on the people of Lake-town's behalf but rather to reclaim the White Gems of Lasgalen from the Lonely Mountain. Thranduil agreed to let Bard try and reason with Thorin and the Dwarves to seek fair settlement but was prepared to attack anyway, knowing that reasoning with them was a fruitless endeavour. Bard rode his horse to the gate of Erebor, where the Dwarves had built up makeshift ramparts where Smaug had broken through. Bard told Thorin that they were glad to find him alive beyond hope. Thorin asked Bard why he came before the King under the Mountain armed for war, referring to the army of Elves in Dale. Bard asked Thorin why the King under the mountain was fencing himself in like a robber in his hole. Thorin told him maybe it was because he was expecting to be robbed. Bard explained that they had not come to rob him but to seek fair settlement. Thorin agreed to speak with Bard and descended on his side of the ramparts, looking through a gap in the boulders. Thorin told Bard he was listening and the man began to request the Dwarf honor his pledge and give them a share of the treasure so that they might rebuild their lives. When Thorin refused based on the grounds that an armed host lay before his door, Bard assured him that the armed host would attack the mountain if they did not come to an agreement. Thorin told Bard that his threats did not sway him and Bard asked the Dwarf whether he could tell their cause was just. Bard told Thorin that his people had given aid to the Dwarves and in return they had only gotten ruin and death. Thorin began to raise his voice, asking Bard when the people of Lake-town had ever come to their aid but with the promise of rich reward. Bard exclaimed that a bargain had been struck and Thorin told Bard he had no choice but to strike a bargain in the situation. Thorin asked whether Bard called it a fair trade and why he should honour such terms, calling him "Bard the Dragon slayer". Bard told him he should honor the terms because he gave his word. Thorin left Bard's sight, behind the boulders, yelling at him to begone and let the arrows fly. Bard slammed his hand on the wall in frustration before returning to Thranduil. Thranduil told Bard to prepare his people for war and that they would attack at dawn.
As evening fell, Bard and the men began looking through Dale for weaponry and armour, arming the men for possible war. Thranduil set up a tent in Dale and it became Bard and the Elven King's command center. Gandalf arrived in the midst of the preparation and asked for the man in charge. In the tent, Gandalf told Thranduil and Bard they must put aside their petty grievances with the Dwarves, warning them of the Army of Dol Guldur getting closer and closer as they spoke. Bard asked Gandalf to elaborate but Thranduil told Bard "I can see you know nothing of wizards. They are like winter thunder on a wild wind rolling in from a distance, breaking hard in alarm. But sometimes a storm is just a storm." Gandalf told him it wasn't this time. Bard listened as Gandalf told them that the Dwarves were never meant to reach the mountain as Azog the Defiler had been sent to kill them and that the enemy wanted the mountain for it's strategic position and to reclaim the lands of Angmar. Thranduil and Bard decided to go ahead with the attack as Gandalf continued to try and stop them. Gandalf walked up to Bard outside and asked him whether he agreed with it. He asked whether the gold inside the mountain was worth the blood of the Dwarves and Bard assured Gandalf that it wouldn't come to that because it was a fight they could not win. The voice of Bilbo Baggins chimed in, telling Bard that the fact that they couldn't win wouldn't stop them. They brought Bilbo into the tent and he gave them the Arkenstone which Thranduil noted was the heart of the mountain and the king's jewel to which Bard added that it was worth a king's ransom. He asked Bilbo how it was his to give and Bilbo explained he had taken the jewel as his fourteenth share. He told them he believed there would be no need for war if they bargained with the stone.
=== Siege of Erebor ===
Bard led his people alongside Thranduil and his Elves to the front gate of Erebor at dawn and they lined up outside as the Dwarves lined up on the ramparts. Bard produced the Arkenstone and told the Dwarves that Thorin may have the jewel at their good will. Thorin believed it to be a ruse but Bilbo revealed he had given it to them. After the commotion with Bilbo, Bard asked Thorin whether he would have peace or war. Thorin saw the Dwarves of the Iron Hills arriving in the east and told him they would have war. Thranduil told Bard to stand his men down and let the Elves take care of Dáin Ironfoot and his rubble. Bard watched as the Dwarves and Elves engaged in a short battle before being interrupted by the arrival of Azog and his army.
=== Battle of Five Armies ===
Bard's first move was to order his men to fall back to Dale to protect the women and children who were still there. Azog had sent a second attack force straight to the city so Gandalf assisted Bard in defending it. Bard began looking frantically for his children and began asking the panicking refugees if they had seen them. He found out they were in the market but also overheard that the market was being overrun. Bard and his men reached the marketplace and Bard finally saw his children down the street but also noticed a large Ogre behind them. He acted quickly, jumping onto a cart and rolling down the street towards the Ogre. The Ogre lifted his mace to attack Bain, Sigrid and Tilda but Bard arrived just in time, yelling for his kids to duck. He rode the cart over them and jumped onto the Ogre, killing it. He told Bain to take the elderly, the women and the children to the Town Hall for safety. When Bain showed hesitation, Alfrid came out from behind a corner and told Bain to show his father some more respect. Bard told Alfrid to return to fight after taking them to the Town Hall, handing him Bain's sword. As soon as Bard left, Alfrid handed the sword back to Bain. Bard continued to fight for the city, leading his people against the Orcs of Dol Guldur. Eventually he realised all of the archers were dead and that huge quantities of his men had passed. He managed to save a cowardly Alfrid from an Ogre as the man ran away from the battle with some gold he had found. Bard told him to get up in a commanding tone. Alfrid refused to fall under Bard's authority and chose to leave instead. Bard called after him to tell the man his slip was showing but let him leave anyway. The surviving men managed to secure the city as the forces in the valley and the second Orc army from Gundabad were slaughtered by the recently arrived Eagles and the skin-changer Beorn.
Following the battle, Bard attended the memorial for the fallen that was held in the ruins of Dale. He gave the Arkenstone back to the Dwarves who placed it in the tomb of Thorin Oakenshield who had perished during the battle.
=== King of Dale ===
Bard would later serve as the King of Dale and rebuild both Dale and Esgaroth. He would earn a close relationship with the Dwarves of Erebor, now led by King Dáin Ironfoot.
=== Legacy ===
Following Bard's passing, Bain would become King of Dale.