Dain arises to go work in the mines. It always clears his head and leaves him in a peaceful state of mind, not one to sit in his royal suite and fail to work alongside his people.

Lady Mercy Dwarvenheart sits on the bench near the walkway and waterfalls of Rivendell having only arrived a few days ago, she decides to send word to her kin in the Iron Hills. She writes a letter out for her Unnca Dain, sending it by a raven..."Dear Unnca Dain, I've made it to Rivendell…and enjoying the peace here, I do miss you all so much…Your loving niece Lady Mercy Dwarvenheart.." places the note on the raven, sending it off into the sky...her eyes follows it until it is out of sight. Places her hand over her chest, as the feelings she's experiencing is something different, new. Hoping she'd get the needed answers, to her questions. as she gazes at the waterfalls...Her thoughts are of the last part of her journey. and the Dwarf she met.

Lord Dain receives the raven-borne note and reading it smiles with joy that his dear Ruby Red is doing well. he writes her a reply and dispatches it with a raven. "Dear Mercy, me bright Ruby Red. How I miss you. I will be coming your way, departing today astride Borek, and should be there in a couple of days. I want to know how everything has been going. Love you darling, Uncle Dain."

Rising at first light, she dresses quickly eager to see her Unnca, since receiving the raven, saying he would be visiting, knowing it will take a few days. Having taken the same route as he would be. She prepared refreshments out to the bridge near the waterfalls. Happily, sits and waits and would wait forever how long it took

Dain departs astride his great mountain ram Borek. He dispatches easily with the distance to the ruins of Dale and rounds the shores of Long Lake. Rising early the second day, he travels the old Elven Road through Mirkwood and crosses the Anduin Valley to the foothills of the Misty Mountains where he camps the second night. At daybreak on the third day, he climbs a little-known pass that the dwarves use, and descends to the plains of Rhudaur, just north of Rivendell, and arrives at the hidden way to City of Waterfalls in the mid-afternoon. He winds his way carefully through the short tunnel, then down the tortuous slot canyon, until at last, he sees Imladris of the many falls open before him from a cliff above the city.

Dain wound his way through the city until he found a certain red-haired elf sitting alone. He stood there and blasted out at full volume. "Ruby RED!!!" with a big smile.

Lady Mercy Dwarvenheart jumps up hearing the booming voice of her one she knew as her loving Unnca Dain... rushes into his arms

"Me sweet Mercy Darlin'. Was so happy ta get yer note."

Lady Mercy Dwarvenheart hugz him so tight, then looks at him with a large bright smile that shone in her eyes as well as her lips, as she clasps his hands. "Oh, I was so excited to hear from you and to find you were coming here as well.I was so happy"

"I be full o' joy as a freshly poured tankard of ale, full and overflowin'. It be so grand ta see yue."

He hugged her again.

Lady Mercy Dwarvenheart returns the hug feeling the love, happy to have him near.. "oh I have such things to tell you..come come..sit...I brought refreshments...a tankard with your name on it...

Dain "How grand!" He receives the ale and sits down on one side of a stone bench. "So how ha'yue been? Tell me everythin'."

Lady Mercy Dwarvenheart pours him out a tankard, and a platter of meats, cheese, and honey bread, she turns and settles next to him, she cannot help but have a bright smile on her face.

Helps himself to the food, not shy and too hungry to eat slower.

"Well...where shall I start.."*she watches him, and wonders where to start, but the news she wanted to share seemed important, and didn't want to just idle chat with him.* "I met a dwarf...on my journey here"

"Well now, 'magine that! A dwarf, really? Dwarves be so rare in this world. How did yue manage that kind o' luck?" he laughed heartily.

Lady Mercy Dwarvenheart smiling, "Aye, I have come across his path a few times over the years on various parts of my travels. He's a very nice man..funny..smart..he's a hunter like I am, he travels a lot "

Dain got a knowing look in his eyes and calmed down his sense of humor. "I see, and I can see yue be sweet on 'im and want me approval. Eh?"

"I was on my way here to Rivendell, and ..."*looks to him as the question* "Well, I am not sure.."*she lowers her voice and whispers to him* "he kissed me"

"What!!! I hope yue fought him off, unless o'carse yue wanted him tue."

"Anyone that would like to court me will have to be approved by my Unncas'.., I did not know how to respond to him, and well I did not fight him off, it was rather ..um nice"

Dain got a tender look in his eyes. "Well, at least he di'nah force hiself upon yue. So yue clearly like this fellow, in a courtin' way. As fer me approval, that be a matter o'character. Yue know tha primary dwarven virtues? Tell me how well he measures up?"

"My chest did something funny, was and is not like how I feel about my family..and I do know and see what my parents are like together and Auntie Z and Uncle V..but. that is them...I know about affection...Well.. he is a hunter, from I believe he said the Gray Mountains, he hunts, cooks his meats, and sells his goods to various towns. He was very polite, kind, and respectful...If not he'd have my arrow in his chest."

"Oh that be a gued sign. He respects you, aye that be gued. And what of his honor and honesty?"

"When we first met years ago, he was arrogant, cocky and thought lying was the way to a girls heart, I stood up to him, then after many years, I met him again in Bree, after I left Iron Hills, then on the road some months later. He seems to have matured...He seems to be honest and honorable..but time will tell will it not"

"Well I was cocky and not altogether honest in me own youth. Yue woul'nah hold that against me now. Sure give it some time. Where be the lad right now?"

*Looks to her Unnca Dain, shifts in her seat* "He traveled with me here, he wanted to spend more time with me, he said." * Nooo I would not, he was not in his tent when I went to find him, so I figure he headed out to see if he could sell his wares"

"Likely. Well, I will be here for the week. so maybe I can meet this lad o'yours. What be his name?"

"His name is Zhurin of the Gray Mountains"

"Zhurin, that be a gued name of a good family."

“Do you know of him?"

"Not the lad, but his family. given names tend to stay within a family."

"He mentioned his family, he was thinking about heading home, since he'd not been home in a while, she said

"That be a gued sign tue. A lad feels duty-bound to see his family." Dain smiled. "Anything else?"

*Shakes her head* "I do not believe so." *rubs her chin as to think if there was anything*

"Yue say he be a hunter. Likely duenah live nowheres in particular. That be somethin' ta consider."

*She nods hearing what he was saying, "His life span is less than mine, I worry...if that would be a concern for him., yes I do not feel he'd like being confined to one home, but how often do I sit still"

Dain sees a dwarf approach and looks at him.,

“Her words were cut short by seeing Zhurin arrive...she rubs her hands upon her gown..her eyes find his...then looks to her Unnca.."Zhurin… you were not at your camping area when I came looking”

Zhurin "Yes, Sorry Mercy, I left before dawn to try to find buyers." He looked at the red-haired dwarf with locks like tusks sticking out of his beard. He was not sure who this is but bowed all the same. "Greetings to you cousin. I am Zhurin, at your service,"

Dain smirked but tried to look dignified. "Dain Ironfoot at yours," he said, nodding. He turned to Mercy. "So this be the lad?"

Lady Mercy Dwarvenheart nods and lets a smile form over her lips, as she looks at Zhurin.."This is one of my Unncas'"

Zhurin felt like someone had knocked the wind out of him. "Lord Dain of the Iron Hills." He bowed again, even lower.

Dain received the proper respect shown by Zhurin well and smiled. "Come an' join us. There be plenty ta eat and drink. Mercy here was jus' tellin' me about yue. A hunter I understand."

*She listens and watches them both, she reaches over to pour out some ale in a tankard for Zhurin..offers it to him then settles back next to her Unnca*

"Yes, my Lord." he suddenly felt nervous about his craft and how that would look in the eyes of Mercy's Unka Dain. But timidity and self-abasement were not respected among dwarves, so he put his best foot forward. "I have been hunting for 40 years now. I season, smoke and dry meat when far from populated areas, or sell it fresh in towns. I do well, not to boast. People pay well for my produce. Even some elves I met this morning purchased some."

Dain nodded and listened. "Well I can see yue have proper self-respect and if yue can sell meat tue elves, you must deserve it." He winked to Mercy. "But be not a hunter's life difficult and, well, homeless?"

She catches the wink and smiles, she turns her gaze back to Zhurin, keeping out of the conversation for now*

Zurin smiled, seeing that Dain liked him. "That all depends on what one finds difficult I suppose. Living out of doors and sleeping in a tent is not difficult for me..." he looked toward Mercy, "...or for others of a similar spirit. I do well and now and again enjoy a rest in an inn or a place such as Rivendell. It was on such a hunt that I met Mercy this third time, a formidable huntress in her own right."

She only nods

Dain listened and nodded. "What yue say be true. Mercy is a great huntress and were always a flighty bird, spendin' naught be a little time at home in Lothlorien, and most of her time wanderin' tha lands alone or with her hobbit friend Robyn. Yue two seem ta be similar in spirit, and maybe fate ha' brought yue tagether. Odd how yue had already met twice and those some time apart. Well, Mercy has asked me permission fer yue ta court her. Not that she needs it, seein' as she has always had her own mind about things and I woul nah have it any other way, but alright. Yue may court me Ruby Red."

Zhurin smiled and nodded deeply. "I thank you, Lord Dain, your honor, me. Mercy already knows me to be honorable, not so much in the folly of my youth, but one who has learned from experience the truth of the Dwarven Way. I will of course treat her honorably as if I could do otherwise." He smiled and winked to Mercy.

Lady Mercy Dwarvenheart smiles at them both. "I have an arrow and dagger that say otherwise, only iffin your intentions Zhurin were less than honorable and if courtin would be on ye mind,"* as her dialect seemed to just flow when she's around her Unncas, she reaches over to take Dains' hand squeezing it, her eyes bright with perhaps the prospect*

"Perhaps this be a gued fit. An elven lady with the fiery valiant heart of a dwarf, and a dwarf with a heart as loves freedom out of doors like an elf." he smiled and chuckled, thinking this was just too cute for words. Dain said in earnest.

Zhurin nodded and smiled. "I love that about her, that fire and courage. That freedom within her, that dignity and self-respect. I know I am walking with a lioness when we walk and must always respect her. And I love her. I know that. I had never really loved until we met."

Her eyes widen slightly at the word love, she glances at her Unnca as if to ask do Dwarves fall so fast, so hard. She then looks to Zhurin, *"Ye be sure that what ye feel is love, and not some sense of commonality. Perhaps while on your travels, yue just lonely from the road?" *she holds her Unncas' hand tighter*

[16:01] Dain - Thorin (Borelek Resident): "Hmpf. Well that be grand and all, but yue must earn not only Mercy's love, but her trust as well. And that will take time." he shot Zhurin a knowing look. "Well, I will be off tue meet Lord Elrond and find where I am ta sleep tanight. Yue tue do what yue due." he stood to leave.

Zhurin stood in respect. "A fair evening to you Lord Dain. I am honored to have met you."

Lady Mercy Dwarvenheart rises as Dain rises, she opens her arms to him, embracing him tightly, whispers.."Thank you"

Dain hugs her back. "Remember yue be a Lady. Make sure he treats yue like one." he hugged her close and shot a severe glance at Zhurin with a respectful nod. "Gued ta meet yue tue, Zhurin. Treat Mercy like the bright perfect Ruby she be ta me." He then turned and left.

"So that is Lord Dain...Unka Dain!" Zhurin said wiping sweat from his brow.

She turns to face Zhurin, as her Unnca Dain leaves, she can only smile at him, extending her arm out in the direction he went. "Well, that is one down" she laughs softly

"How many more are there?" he asked with an ironic smile.

She holds up her hand and shows him 4, "Four more if you are willing"

"Four. Are they all as...well...like him?" Zhurin says.

"Well, there is Unnca Thor..as in Thorin Oakenshield, Darlin'...Dwalin..and Sori...Ie Zori and Unnca Dwarfs..ie Gloin she says with great pride.

"Thorin Oakenshield? I heard he can be quite severe." Zhurin said.