A youngish dwarf of auburn hair and beard was at work in the smithy, pounding away at a glowing hot sword upon an anvil.

A female human wandered around the grand hall and admired everything she saw when she turned her head to hear the sound of a hammer close by. “Greetings to you m'lord I hope I’m not interrupting your hard work. I was just having a wander-around, really."

The dwarf had been so engrossed in his work he had not noticed her come into the smithy. Looking up, he smiled. "Welcome Miss, to the Smithies of the Iron Hills. I am Dali. Is there some way I may be of service to you." His voice was husky and manly-sounding and his manners were friendly.

The woman smiled warmly “it’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Quills and I’m a citizen of Rohan. I’m out exploring to get to know these lands a bit better" she said in a soft and gentle tone

"A woman of Rohan you say...I heard the women of that fair land are strong and valiant like the men." He seemed impressed.

Quills smiled softly and did not think of herself as strong and valiant at all. “We have that reputation and I’d say some of us definitely have those traits."

The dwarf nodded. "Oh, very highly prized by the Sons of Durin, of which I am one. We look for those qualities in a mate.”

Quills nodded with a smile and seemed impressed with all the hard work that had been done in the smithy. "This all must be very hard work. Are you working here by yourself?" she asked curiously.

“I am just a common smith. Am I right to think I am in the presence of a noble Lady?"

“I’m not nobility at all m'lord. I work at Edoras' stables and take care of the horses and other animals there."

"Well, I am not a Lord either, so Dali will do me fine. I am alone working here right now, but usually there are two of three of us working together. The other two lads went off to get some lunch," he laughed. "I will do the same when one of them returns. So, you care for horses. Noble beasts!! A bit too large for a Son of Durin to ride, unless one gets a smaller one, like a Pony."

Quills nodded with a smile. “They are noble indeed, and most clever too. I’m honored to take care of such incredible creatures," she said with pride.

"I bet they are happy to have such a gentle lass care for them." Dali was a good judge of character and could sense a person's personality type rather well.

The woman smiled at the kind words and wondered where she deserved the kindness, after all she had only just met Dali. “I thank you for your kindness, Dali. I do my best to do our king proud and I get a lot back from the horses themselves too. I’m a very blessed woman.”

Dali smiled. “Well, I am blessed to meet you, and such a FAIR lass too. Are all the lasses in Rohan golden or pale of hair like you?"

“Most of us are actually," she answered kindly.

Dali’s eyes went wide. "A land of golden-haired people? What a wonder that is! There are a few golden-haired dwarves, most notably a fellow smith of mine, named Glori. His family name is Goldbeard, who tend to be light of hair."

“That is wonderful to know!” she said and was glad there were other light-haired folk around.

Presently a black-haired smith returned and resumed work. Dali said he would take his lunch break now. "Miss Quills, I do not wish to offend with forwardness, but it is our custom to offer hospitality to newcomers. May I be so bold as to invite you to share a lunch with me in my home?"

Quills smiled at the offer. “Oh, that would be lovely. I’d be honored," she said in response.

“Follow me then. " Dali led the way to a tunnel that descended from the smithy, then stopped before a wooden door in the right-hand wall. He unlocked the door and opened it to allow Quills to enter before he came in himself. "Welcome to my home, such as it is. Please have a seat. What may I bring you to drink? Wine, mead or ale?"

Quills walked over to the couch and sat down. "I’d have some wine if that is possible ' she said.

"Certainly." Dali turned to fill a mug of sweet, spiced, red berry wine and brought it to her along with a mug of ale for himself.

Quills smiled and took a sip from her mug. “That is very tasty. Thank you, Dali,” she said and took a look around.

"My home likely looks strange to your eyes." Dali said self-consciously.

“It looks very cozy and warm," quills replied honestly.

"Ah well that is what motivated my decorations. bearskins...wolfskins... cheer the place up."

Quills noticed the animal skins around and did feel a bit bad for the creatures but remained quiet. "It’s pretty and it fits here very well,” she said and took another small sip from her berry wine

"I thank you." if she felt awkward about animal skins, Dali did not read that. "So, is this the first time you've visited a dwarven city?"

Quills nodded in agreement. “Yes, it has and I’m very impressed. It all looks so organized,” she said.

Dali nodded. "Well, that is one of our ways, orderliness. We have other oddities too. We like being underground like we are here, we love stone, metals, and crystals. We are often stubborn, but that also means we don't easily get corrupted by lies and fear-mongers. We tend to be valiant and loyal too."

“Those are very good traits to have Dali. We in Rohan are loyal, hard-working, sometimes a bit hard-headed too." She smiled at that comment and took another sip from her wine

Dali chuckled, this his face become solemn. "I had heard that about the folk of Rohan. Your king and your people came to the aid of our kinfolk from Erebor when the dragon came and took it from them. That was a kind and noble deed and we do not forget such kindnesses, not ever. Many call the men of Rohan dwarf-friends now." His eyes watered up a little, when he spoke of this, and a tear trickled down one cheek to lose itself in his beard.

Quills listened to the tale and wondered what exactly happened with that dragon. “Is that beast still down there?" she asked a bit worried she might have asked the wrong thing

Dali nodded sadly. "He is. He is not only giant in size and strong with fire for breath, but he has magic, the bad sort. I heard a rumor that some of the dwarves of Erebor are on their way to try to reclaim it. I am not sure how they can do that. The day the dragon arrived, there were many thousands of warriors armed to the teeth, and that did not avail them. Most of the warriors were burned alive."

Quills shivered at that thought. “Oh my! that does sound horrible. I just wish I could help, " she said silently.

Dali looked thoughtful. "Well prayers to the Mighty Ones beyond the Great Sea are always appreciated. I would not wish for the riders of Rohan to face the dragon in battle. I doubt any number of warriors could stand before him. But should they be successful, I am certain they will need provisions until farms can be replanted and harvested. And I doubt not they would show their gratitude in gold."

Quills smiled comfortingly. "We would not even ask for any reward other than your friendship and fellowship. That tends to be far more important than any treasure,” she reassured him

Dali smiled. "Well, in weapons then: swords, bows and crossbows, arrows and bolts, battle axes, maces...and in shields and armor"

Quills nodded and took another sip." That would work, of course. It seems like we might need them, unfortunately."

Dali nodded. "A kingdom always needs a sound defense, and no one makes better armor and weapons than the dwarves, not since the days of Gondolin when the elven smiths rivaled us in skill."

“That I have heard, and I do tend to believe it is true," she said. She knew that the dwarves were very skilled in making all sorts of weaponry

"We still do,” Dali continued, “though some of the ancient skill and knowledge was lost. Durin's folk in Moria built a city that surpassed even Erebor, which is but a shadow of that glory. Even the elves felt at home when they came to visit. There were fountains and waterfalls under the mountains, and gardens and orchards lit by sun-crystals."

Quills listens quietly and wonders what could possibly be better built then this

Dali continued. "I said rivalry in skill between elves and dwarves in those ancient days, but it was the rivalry of close brothers. The elves were like family to us then and we to them. Ah for those days, when no hostility existed between the races of Middle Earth, before the darkening of the world."

Quills didn’t really know a lot about that except some old tales her mother used to tell her, and she looked apologetic.

"We are all of us schooled from the earliest age in the lore and history of our people. As a young boy I would sit with my family by the fire and Mother and Father would tell us these histories and it was magical. I would gaze into the flames and see the great shining City of Dwarrowdelf in Khazad Dum, not yet called Moria the realm of Darkness. When they told us of Gondolin of the elves, I could see it in my mind, a glorious city of gilded white stone rising from the hidden valley. Those were happy days, when elves and dwarves dwelt in brotherly friendship and rejoiced in one another. Oh, how I wish such days could be renewed in the world."

Quills wondered if she would ever even get close to an actual elf and live to tell the tale. "That sounds like a glorious time indeed. I’ve never met an elf, I believe," she said.

Dali looked down. "Elves and dwarves these days are wary and secretive, and they have much cause to be so. ‘Do not venture near to Lothlorien,’ it is said, ‘for the elves there will shoot when you have not even begun to dream they are watching you.’ That woodland is protected by powerful magic and nothing ventures within its borders, without the Galadhrim and their Lady being aware.

Quills nodded. “I shall remember those words," she said and made a mental note for herself not to forget.

"As for the realms of men,” Dali continued, “Gondor too was once glorious and mighty. All of the races of this world are in twilight and shadow now and everywhere is love mingled with grief... Oh! Lunch. I almost forgot." he stood and going to a wall, pressed a secret button and a door appeared. He went in and was gone a short while, then returned with bread, cheese, butter, and sausage. He cut the bread into thick slices and buttered them, then cut the cheese and meat into thin slices and laid it all on a silver platter. Coming back to the couch, he set the platter between them and taking a slice of buttered bread, loaded it with sausage and cheese slices and began eating. He gestured to Quills to do the same. The food was very cold from having been stored in his ice-cellar beyond the hidden door.

Quills smiled and took some food from the platter. “This is most generous, Dali. Thank you this is delicious."

"Oh, it’s just cold cuts, nothing fancy," Dali shrugged, "but, I am glad you like it."

Quills smiled softly and nibbles on the food.

Dali had several such piles of sausage and cheese atop buttered bread before he was satisfied, though his giant mug of ale seemed to last the whole meal. "Did you ride here?" he asked. "Rohan is at least two weeks distance from here on horseback, much longer on foot."

“Yes, I did. It was a bit further than I thought, to be honest," she said and thought about her poor horse

"I assume you left your steed in the care of the grooms at the gates. your horse will be well cared for. Feel free to stay here with us as long as you like. There are guest homes, or you may rest here on my couch."

Quills nodded gratefully "Thank you for your hospitality, Dali. You are very kind," she replied and yawned a bit tiredly.

"Feel free to stay with me then. I will make sure you have meals and can sleep. There is also a bath and soap in the bedroom through that open doorway."

Quills took a look and remembered the way pretty easily.

Dali set down his empty vessel. "Well, I need to return to work. Please feel free to rest here. I will leave the rest of the lunch here for you in case you are hungry again. Feel free to wander the city too. The mines are down the corridor and through the coal chamber is a ladder leading down to a seam of gold we are beginning to mine."

“Thank you again, Dali. I think I might just go sleep a bit," she said.

"After such a journey, that is very wise." Dali stood. "I will leave you then. You are very safe here. The folk of Rohan are always welcome."

Quills smiled and remembers his kind words.

Dali smiled again and departed back into the sloping corridor and headed uphill into the smithy to resume his work.