All things are subject to change, and as our LOTR roleplay begins to transition to a new RP in the Realm of Arallyn, so will the build at Bag End, Bilbo’s titular home. It will revert back to the residence of its foundation RP character Mr. Beedle, local honey merchant, within the new ‘halfling’ shire, complete with a few familiar mementos from ‘The Hobbit’. We leave Thorin and Co. on a bit of cliffhanger just before their dangerous journey into the Misty Mountains. One can’t say goodbye to the wonderful world the sim owners created for ‘The Hobbit’ and LOTR without a bit of melancholy in seeing the story go unfinished, but applaud them for attempting something unique in SL; the telling of a beloved literary classic that remained faithful to its storyline and characters. The expansive playsets were the best LOTR builds I had seen in SL and the superb roleplay by participants and their character development a fitting testament to the skills of those who knew the material. Few of us can appreciate the immense expense of this enterprise, or the additional burden of meeting the expectations of a demanding storyline. So let me be among those to welcome the chance to explore a new fantasy RP with familiar races, offering few boundaries to RP in lands easier for its owners to maintain…if only to continue the fantastical journey with the friends we have made. Now that the LOTR RP is ending, I have been cleaning out my digital closet of video, images and dialog bits I had time to prepare in the 2 month hiatus since our last RP in Rivendell, and share them below in appreciation of the fine work all did in bringing ‘The Hobbit’ to (Second) life. DOWNTOWN TO GOBLIN TOWN After Rivendell, Thorin & Company make their way through the treacherous Misty Mountains during a violent thunderstorm, where Bilbo nearly falls to his death. Taking shelter in a cave ends when the stone floor cracks open, spilling Dwarves and Bilbo into peril at the hands of a waiting goblin horde. Only Bilbo manages to evade capture as his companions are herded towards a showdown with the Goblin King. Bilbo finds himself alone until a rogue goblin spots him and attacks. The video below was created to capture their fateful encounter into the unknown. DOWN DOWN TO GOLLUM TOWN Bilbo’s meeting with Gollum is perhaps one of the most signature moments in ‘The Hobbit”, as finding the ring of power is at the heart of Tolkien's works. The next video captured that moment. What follows next is Bilbo and Gollum’s signature scene. Since it was only a scene for two, it made sense to script it ahead, since the Gollum role had not yet been cemented. The movie script served as a basis for character dialog, as it often did in our RP, but I would supplement text from the book for Bilbo’s observations and responses wherever appropriate. These scenes also provided improvisational opportunities to accommodate the builds or players available, or to enhance the telling, such as adding a few new riddles into the mix, that other players following in group chat might chance to guess. RIDDLES IN THE DARK Few would have survived the fall to the cave floor below. The Goblin had landed on the remains of another unfortunate victim, and broken his back. Bilbo had landed atop the Goblin, breaking his fall. He was regaining consciousness slowly, sitting atop the heap of fallen bodies, dazed, with everything hurting. Bilbo: “Where am I?” he wondered aloud. “I can’t see a thing!” as no light escaped or entered that place. “The ground feels unusually warm and squishy.” He said, before realizing it was not the ground but the goblin he sat atop, before quickly crawling a safe distance away. The goblin had not followed, paralyzed beyond mobility except for the frantic searching of its sinister eyes. From the painful gurgling noises it was making, From the echo of it, Bilbo could tell he must be in a large underground cavern. Bilbo: “My sword!” was his first thought, recalling his fight with the goblin. But it was not in its sheath, nor near by, having been lost in the fall. “I must find it!” remembering its glow... “It might shed some light on my situation.” Not that he was afraid of the dark. Hobbits are used to living in burrowed tunnels and have a good sense of direction underground. They can move very quietly, even in the dark, as the bottoms of their feet are much more sensitive than ours for feeling out what is beneath them. Bilbo’s only real fear was the goblins would find him before he could find a way out. Bilbo: “If there is a way in, there must be another way out!” He hoped, slowly crawling across the cold damp cave to look for one. That’s when he but his hand on something smooth, round and hollow. “A ring by the feel of it.” which he picked up to examine in the dim light. But seeing few details, he put in his vest pocket and continued the search for his sword. After bumping into rock walls on his way, he saw a light blue glow in the distance beneath the mist moving across the cave floor. “That must be it!” Bilbo exclaimed, quickly moving to the spot, finding his sword and holding up its glowing blue blade like a torch. “Not so bright that goblins are very near, nor so pale they aren’t far enough away.” He said, “But certainly bright enough to see things clearer close by!” He could now see that his search had lead him around the back of the large rock where he and the goblin had landed, and would have returned, if not stopped cold by a sound like a snake, hissing and slithering towards the goblin lying on the other side of the rock making gurgling sounds. He stay hidden from sight to listen, quietly sheathing the light of his glowing sword. Gollum: “Yesss. Yes! Yes. Gollum. Yes! Gollum! Gollum! Nasty goblinses are better than old bones, precious. Better than nothing. Aah, too many boneses, precious! Not enough flesh. Shut up! Cut its skin off! Start with its head.“ As the sound of the voice started to echo into the distance Bilbo inched his way around the rock to see a strange creature dragging the goblin away by its feet. Pulling the sword from its sheath once more to light his way, he followed a safe distance behind in hopes of finding his way out. Bilbo: Soon he came to the edge of a pool of water and stopped. The creature and the goblin were nowhere in sight. “Now where could they have gone?” he wondered, fearing he had lost his chance to find a way out. Then he heard the snake like voice again across the water, as if in a song. Gollum: “The cold hard lands, they bites our hands, they gnaws our feet, for rocks and stones are like old bones all bare of meat, cold as death, without no breath it’s good to eat.“ The water was too cold and icy to the touch for Bilbo to cross. But not far beyond, on a small island in the middle of the lake, the creature Gollum looked up from the goblin he was about to devour to see a flickering blue light rippling across the water. Curious, he slipped back into the water and paddled to the shore, surprising Bilbo. Gollum: “Bless us and splash us, precious. That’s a meaty mouthful.“ Gollum: “Gollum! Gollum!“ Bilbo: Jumping back startled upon seeing a set of pale eyes emerge at the edge of the pool Bilbo shouted. “Back. Stay back. I’m warning you, don’t come any closer. Stop right there!” he said, dropping his sword at the creature’s throat as it asked questions to itself. Gollum: “It’s got an Elfish blade, but it’s not an Elfes. Not an Elfes, no. What is it, precious? What is it?“ Bilbo: “I am Mr. Bilbo Baggins if you must know.” Gollum: “Bagginses. What is a Bagginses, precious?“ Bilbo: "I’m a…hobbit from the Shire." Gollum: “Oh! We like goblinses, batses and fishes, but we hasn’t tried Hobbitses before! Is it soft? Is it juicy?“ Bilbo: "Now! Now, keep…keep your distance!” Bilbo said, waving his sword at Gollum. “I’ll use this, if I have too. I don’t…I don’t want any trouble, you understand? I have become separated from my friends…just help me find my way out and no harm will come to you and I’ll be on my way!” Gollum: “Why? Is it lost?“ Bilbo: "Yes. Yes, and I want to get unlost, as soon as possible." Gollum: “Oh, we knows! We knows safe path for hobbitses. Safe path in the dark. Shut up!“ Bilbo: "I didn’t say anything." Gollum: “I wasn’t talking to you!“ Gollum: “Oh yes, we…we was, precious, we was.“ Bilbo: "Look, I…I don’t know what your game is, but I…" Gollum: “Games?! Oh, we love games, doesn’t we, precious? Does it like games? Does it, does it, does it like to play?“ Bilbo: “Maybe” Bilbo said watching the strange creature literally jump for joy as if it had been a very long time since he had anyone to play a game with. Gollum: “What has roots as nobody sees, is taller than trees, up, up, up it goes, and yet never grows?“ Bilbo: "A mountain, I suppose." Gollum: “Yes! Yes! Ooh, let’s have another one, huh? Yes. Go, do it again. Do it, do it again, ask us.“ Gollum: “No! No more riddles. Finish him off, finish him now! Gollum, Gollum!“ Bilbo: Did not wish to do a game of riddles either, but watching the creature turn vicious and angry, quickly thought the better of it, “No! No, no, no. I want…I want to play. I do. I want to play. I can see…you are very good at this. Uh…so why don’t we have a game of riddles? Yes, just…just…just you and me." Gollum: “Yes. Just…just…just us.“ Bilbo: "Yes! Yes! And…and if I win, you will show me the way out. Yes?" Gollum: “Yes. Yes!“ Gollum: “And if it loses, what then? Well, if it loses, precious, then we eats it! If Baggins loses, we eats it whole.“ Bilbo: “Fair enough.” Bilbo said, after a moment weighing the consequences and realizing if riddles where his best chance for not being eaten and finding a way out, riddles it shall be. Gollum: “The Baggins first.“ Bilbo: Did not wish to go first, but was not in a position to disagree, and grasping his sword tighter. “All right!” he said wracking his brain to think of a riddle that could save him from being eaten by those sharp teeth, but it did bring a riddle to mind. “Thirty white horses on a red hill. First they champ, then they stamp, then they stand still.” Gollum: Teeth? Gollum: Teeth! Gollum: Yes, my precious! But we…we only have nine. Gollum: Our turn... “Voiceless it cries, wingless it flutters, toothless bites, mouthless mutters." Bilbo: “ Just a minute.” Bilbo said, taken aback at how quickly the creature had answered his last riddle and feeling lost to answer his. Gollum: “Ooh! We knows, we knows!“ Gollum: “Shut up!“ Bilbo: He contemplated a bad ending if he guessed wrong. Even if he had a sword, the creature knew the cavern better than he, and could wait until he weakened from hunger, or spring upon him in the dark like the wind. That’s it! guessed Bilbo “It’s wind! Of course it is!” Gollum: “Very clever, hobbitses. Very clever!“ Bilbo: “My turn!” Bilbo yelped asking his next riddle quickly to gain time until he could think of a really hard one. ”A…a box without hinges, key or…or lid, yet golden treasure inside is hid.” Bilbo: “Well?” He asked thinking it a dreadfully easy chestnut, though he had not asked it in the usual words. But it proved a real poser for the creature. Gollum: “It’s nasty.“ Bilbo: “Give up?” He asked again when the creature whispered and spluttered, but still did not answer. Gollum: “Give us a chance, precious! Give us a chance!“ Gollum: “Eggses! Eggses! Wet, crunchy little eggses, yes. Grandmother taught us to suck them, yes!“ Gollum: “We have one for you…“ “All things it devours; birds, beasts, trees, flowers. Gnaws iron, bites steel, Grinds hard stones to meal. Slays king, ruins town, And beats high mountain down.” Gollum: …Answer us.” Bilbo: “Give me a moment, please. I gave you a good long while.” Poor Bilbo was in the dark thinking of all the horrible creatures he had ever heard told of in tales, but not one of them had done all these things. Bilbo: “I don’t know this one.” he muttered under his breath. He had a feeling that the answer was quite different and that he ought to know it, but he could not think of it. Then he began to get frightened he could not solve it, and that is bad for thinking. Gollum: “Is it tasty? Is it scrumptious? Is it crunchable!“ Bilbo: “Let me think!" Bilbo blurted out anxiously. Gollum: “It’s stuck. Bagginses is stuck. Time’s up.“ Bilbo: His tongue seemed to stick in his mouth; he wanted to shout out: “Give me more time! Give me time!” But all that came out as sudden squeal was… "Time! Time!” which saved Bilbo by pure luck. For that of course was the answer, given the look of disgruntled affirmation on Gollum's face. Greatly relieved Bilbo responded quickly, “Now I have one for you.” he said after thinking of something Gollum would never have seen in his cave, like teeth, or time… ((The following riddle was not in the Movie or Book, for those following in Group to guess the answer.)) “I'm in plain sight, but yet unseen, lest light revealed by foe, I do not fast, nor do I feast, yet always shrink and grow, Smaller than those nearby, so around them I must go, I delight in cold of night, but in the day I'm rare to show.” Bilbo: “Well?”, he asks after giving him a long chance. “What is your answer?” watching as the creature whispered and sputtered. Gollum had been underground a long long time, and was forgetting this sort of thing. But just as Bilbo was beginning to hope that the wretch would not be able to answer, Gollum brought up memories of ages and ages and ages before, when he lived with his grandmother in a hole in a bank by a river underneath the sun and… “MOON!” Gollum cried out. “Sss, sss, that is the answer my preciouss!” Now it was Gollum’s turn again, but the ordinary above ground everyday sort of riddles were tiring for him. Also they reminded him of days when he had been less lonely and sneaky and nasty, and that put him out of temper. What is more they made him hungry; so this time he tried something a bit more difficult and more unpleasant: ((The following riddle was only in the Book, for those following in Group to guess the answer.)) Gollum: “It cannot be seen, cannot be felt; Cannot be heard, cannot be smelt. It lies behind stars and under hills, and empty holes it fills. It comes first and follows after, Ends life, kills laughter.” Bilbo: Unfortunately for Gollum Bilbo had heard that sort of thing before; and the answer was all round him any way. “The Dark!” he said without even scratching his head or putting on his thinking cap, delighting in how frustrated and disappointed the creature looked. Gollum: “Last question. Last chance.“ Bilbo: “Okay. Uh…” Bilbo paused wishing he had not answered the last riddle so quickly, to gain time to ask a really hard riddle. After clearing his throat once or twice and looking this way and that, no riddle came. Gollum: “Ask us. Ask us!“ Bilbo: “Yes. Yes, alright.” he said struggling to ask a difficult riddle gripping his little sword tighter; pinching himself and even fidgeting nervously with his other hand in his pocket where the ring he found lay forgotten, “What have I got in my pocket?” he asked to himself, but loud enough that Gollum heard it as a riddle, and became frightfully upset. Gollum: “ Well, that’s no fair. It’s…it’s no fair! It’s against the rules!“ Gollum: “You ask us another one.“ Bilbo: “No. No, no, no.” He said, realizing his fortuitous response and sticking to it. “You said, 'ask me a question'. Well that is my question... What have I got in my pocket?” Gollum: “Three guesses, precious. He must give us three!“ Bilbo: “ Three guesses, very well, guess away.” He agreed, taking his hand out of his pocket to hold up three fingers. Gollum: Handses! Bilbo: “Wrong. Guess again.” Fortunately having pulled his hand from his pocket just in time. Gollum: “Uuh! Fish bones, goblin’s teeth, wet shells, bat’s wings! Oooh! Aaah!“ Gollum: “Knife!“ Gollum: “No, shut up!“ Bilbo: “Wrong, again. Last guess.“ Bilbo said trying not to sound bold and cheerful on the eve of winning the game, as he was not at all sure how the game was going to end, whether Gollum guessed right or not. Gollum: “String! Or nothing.“ Bilbo: “Two guesses at once. Wrong both times.” sighed Bilbo very much relieved. Bilbo knew of course, that the riddle-game was sacred and of immense antiquity, and even wicked creatures were afraid to cheat when they played at it. But he felt he could not trust this slimy thing to keep any promise at a pinch. Any excuse would do for him to slide out of it. And after all, that last question had not been a genuine riddle according to the ancient laws, but accepted none the less. So just to be safe, Bilbo puts his back against the nearest rock wall, and puts his sword between he and the creature. Bilbo: “So. Come then. I won the game, you promised to show me the way out.” Gollum: “Did we say so, precious? Did we say so?“ Gollum: “What has it got in its pocketses?“ Bilbo: “ That’s no concern of yours. You lost. A promise is a promise.” Gollum: “Lost. Lost? Lost? He says frantically as he goes to put the ring on, but finds the ring is missing from its place on his loincloth.“ Gollum: “Where is it? Where is it?" He cries, looking around himself.“ Gollum: “No! Aaah! Where is it? Nooo! Lost, lost! Curse us and splash us, my precious is lost!“ Bilbo: “ What have you lost?” Bilbo asked realizing that Gollum was referring to the ring, which he then begins fingering in his pocket as the creature becomes more agitated, tearfully looking at Bilbo. Gollum: “Mustn’t ask us! Not its business! Nooo! Gollum! Gollum!" He laments crying for a moment, then looking at his reflection in the water. Gollum: “What has it got in its nasty little pocketses?" He asks, his eyes now turning cold as steel, realizing that Bilbo has got his ring, and he turns to look at him. Bilbo held his sword higher towards the vile creature convinced it knew he had the ring, and meant to murder him, when a painful death wail was heard from the middle of the lake. As the blue glow faded from the sword, Bilbo knew the Goblin had finally died, and so would he, if he didn’t run for his life! Gollum: “ He stole it. He stole it! Aaah! He stole it!“ He screams, chasing after Bilbo as he made a run for it. As Bilbo begins to run blindly back down the dark passage he had first come in by, he stays close to the wall, feeling it with his left hand and probing the air with his sword with his right. "What have I in my pockets that could be so important to this creature?’" he wonders, instinctively putting his left hand on the ring to secure it as he pants and stumbles along. Gollum: Give it to us! Gollum shouts. The hiss was now close behind him. Terrified, Bilbo tries to run faster, but suddenly trips his toes on a rock in the floor, falling on his back, and the ring flying out of his hand and into the air. Grasping for it as it falls, it instinctively slides onto his groping forefinger with a fate yet unknown, sending a cold chill through his body. In a moment Gollum was upon him. But before Bilbo could do anything more, Gollum simply passed by, taking no notice, cursing and wailing as he frantically looked in all directions for where Bilbo might have gone. Gollum: "Thief! Baggins!" Gollum shouts leaping from rock to rock in pursuit of Bilbo. “Curse it! curse it! curse it!” hissed Gollum. “Curse the Baggins! It’s gone! What has it got in its pocketses? Oh we guess, we guess, my precious. He’s found it, yes he must have. My birthday-present!” Gollum: "Wait, my precious. Wait! Gollum! Gollum!" He laments, suddenly sitting down and beggining to weep, a whistling and gurgling sound horrible to listen to. Bilbo halted and flattened himself against the tunnel- wall. After a while Gollum stopped weeping and began to talk, having an argument with himself: “But it doesn’t know what the present can do, does it? It’ll just keep it in its pocketses. It doesn’t know the way out. It said so, yes; but it’s tricksy. It doesn’t say what it means. It knows. It knows a way in, it must know a way out, yes. It’s off to the back-door! The goblinses will catch it then. It can’t get out that way, precious.” One of the goblinses will take it from him and put it on, and then no one will see him. He’ll be there but not seen." Bilbo: ''So that’s it!' Bilbo thought to himself, now realizing why the creature could not see him. 'The ring makes the wearer invisible!' As Gollum continues his search, Bilbo follows silently unseen behind him towards the back door and the way out. Eventually Gollum stops near a crack in a rock wall, where he sees the dwarves on the other side as they run towards the back door as well, Gollum hides behind the crack in the rock blocking Bilbo’s way out as the dwarves exit the mountain. Despairing he might miss this chance to escape, Bilbo raises his sword to strike down the creature in his way, but pulls short seeing the pitiful creature mourning the loss of the only thing of value in his life, referring to as his 'birthday present'. Instead, Bilbo takes several steps back and runs, leaping over Gollum, narrowly missing the top of the passage, and landing into the crack in the rock, just managing to shove himself through, popping off all all his vest buttons in the process. As Gollum sees the brass buttons appear out of thin air and bounce about the floor, he knows Bilbo has escaped with his ring, along with the others, and begins to howl and curse... Gollum: "It’s ours. It’s ours! Baggins! Thief! Curse it and crush it, we hates it forever!" BONUS RIDDLE not in Movie or Book but something a writer like Tolkien might have appreciated... We are little, airy creatures; Each with different forms and features, One in glass is barely seen, others easily in between. A third, less swift is found in tin, A fourth in a box you find within, And a fifth, if you shall pursue… Will never get away from you! BILBO'S BEST SCENE UNSEEN Bilbo and the Dwarves all escape out the Back Door of the mountain and rendezvous, leading to my favorite piece of dialog in the Hobbit after Bilbo reappears and responds to Thorin trashing once more. Gandalf asks the dwarves what happened to Bilbo... Thorin: “I will tell you what happened, He saw his chance and took it. He’s thought of nothing but his soft bed and his warm hearth since he first stepped out of his door. We will not be seeing our hobbit again, he is long gone.” Bilbo overhears and reappears to everyone’s surprise, fielding questions on how he got past the goblins, but does not speak of the ring (this was only in the movie version; in the book Bilbo credits the ring for not being seen). Gandalf: "Well, why does it matter? He's back!" Thorin: "It matters. I want to know - why did you come back?" Bilbo: "Look, I know you doubt me, I know you always have. And you're right... I often think of Bag End. I miss my books, and my armchair, and my garden. See, that's where I belong, that's home. That's why I came back... 'cause you don't have one, a home. It was taken from you. But I will help you take it back if I can." That bit of dialog was only in the movie, but I don’t think Bilbo’s quintessential character was ever summed up better, even in Tolkien’s book. Soon thereafter, Bilbo, Gandalf and the Dwarves are once again 'Out of the frying pan and into the fire' (Chapter VI of 'The Hobbit') when attacked by wargs, goblins and orcs. (Again, this was only in the movie version; in the book, the group is attacked first by wolves, goblins are on their way, with no mention of orcs. The Great Eagles arrive to investigate the unusual activity, not from Gandalf's magical message to a moth.) All appears lost until the dwarves and Bilbo are rescued by the Great Eagles. CHOOSING THE CARROCK OVER THE SHTICK Kavarek always went beyond the obvious to create an immersive experience for role players and had planned a spectacular escape by Thorin & Company from the Goblin Mines on the back of NPC animated eagles, captured in this next video, that highlighted Bilbo's and the dwarves flight to safety. The video seems the perfect Swan Song (if not Eagle) to end our LOTR flight of fancy on. Happy landings to all in your future endeavors! - Bilbo Baggins (Beedle Beedit)

Lady Mercy & Unnca Dain As the words of disapproval drifted to her ears, as she remember the moment Zhurin's mother turned to her beloved son. She looked upon him with eyes full of love. "I feel the union between you and Lady Mercy would not be wise, I can not give you my approval". She looks upon her son then back at Lady Mercy. Mercy could only keep her head and eyes high, as she felt her heartbreak in many pieces. Without hearing anything else, she left the home, leaving Zhurin and his family in peace. She mounted her horse and gathered her traveling companions and rode down the road. She did not notice the beautiful sky, the song of the birds, or the blooming of those wonderful flowers. Her eyes refused to let the tears flow, but her heart pounded in her ears and yet no tears came. Her horse seemed to know where she needed to go to find peace, a place where there was unconditional love. And so she traveled to the Iron Hills, sometimes riding through the night. She could not find any joy of the wondrous nature, the sounds of animals or the sweet touch, taste of rain upon her head. The rain fell where her eyes would not. Several weeks passed, she did not pay much attention to the way of where or how she was traveling, she rarely stopped to hunt, which was one of her greatest pleasures. Her horse stopped occasionally when he needed to taste the cool water of a brook, lake, or pond. He knew his mistress, how she felt, her sorrow and he just led her to where he knew she needed to go, or so it seemed. Mercy knew the way, and as she came upon familiar grounds, she sped her horse towards the warmth she knew she'd find in the Iron Hills. Lady Mercy Dwarvenheart arrives in the Iron Hills, her heart a bit less heavy now she's home, as she arrives she eagerly knocks on her Unnca Dains' door. Dain hears a knock and shouts, "Come in already!! The door nay be locked!!" Lady Mercy Dwarvenheart rattles the locked door...bangs playfully.." you'd keep your niece out"...chuckles once more before trying the door once more.* Dain - "Oh my GOODNESS!! MERCY!!!" Dain bellowed as he sprang out of his seat and rushed to embrace her. Lady Mercy Dwarvenheart, "Unnca Dain...*throws her arms around his broad shoulders, giving him her best hug* Dain "Oh my Blessed Smith! What brings you to see us? Never mind. Just glad you came." more hugs Lady Mercy Dwarvenheart "It is so wonderful to see you and the Iron Hills again, my journey has been long and well not filled with much happiness" *hugs more happily* "Let me get a good look at you. Yes, same Mercy. Not aged a day, which is ta be expected from an elf. But, what's this? I see some shadow of sadness in yer eyes." Dain says Dain "Come sit by me." Lady Mercy Dwarvenheart *holds her head high, gives a slight nod, then joins her Unnca on the sofa to finish the conversation* Lady Mercy Dwarvenheart "I am not sure where to begin actually," *she looks in earnest to her Unnca Dain..she adjusts herself on the sofa, letting out a big sigh* Dain "Well let us start with Zhurin and you. I cannot help but notice he nay be with you." Lady Mercy Dwarvenheart *reaches down and picks up Tharkun, placing on the sofa, "That is why I am here, this is my home, and ye are my kin. He and I are no more" Dain: Dain's eyes narrowed and his face flushed with anger. "Tell me what happened, before I put a price on that dwarf's head." Lady Mercy Dwarvenheart *lifts her hand, looks to her Unnca.* "That will not be necessary, he only obeyed the wishes of his mother, who did not approve of the union. I have to understand and respect that, some are not so open when it comes to relationships and traditions." Dain cools a bit, eyes still narrow. "Aye, that be a hard one. A hard choice between one's heart and one's mother. It is much easier to go against a father's wishes." "But then I speak as a lad. I suppose many lasses would find going against the father the harder choice." Dain "or against a dear uncle, eh?" he chuckled Lady Mercy Dwarvenheart *chuckles softly at his comment* "I am sure it was for him, and leaving without a mate, a part of my heart and soul. I know parents only desire the best for their children, and the best for nephews and nieces, It came more of a surprise I suppose. I am not ...as some think a pampered princess...I even brought meat to her table" * reaches down to pet Tharkun, her gaze still upon her kin* Dain: "I suppose respecting one's mother be the more honorable choice, as dwarven honor goes, but truly only a wee bit more honorable than followin' ones own heart. Did yer grandmother give her approval or was she opposed to it?" Lady Mercy Dwarvenheart "I had not had the chance to speak to Grandmother, but I do not feel she'd disapprove, so long as I was happy" Dain "Oh she might ha' disapproved. I heard she was nay happy over Calathiel's choice to wed Thranduil the Sylvan elf king. And sadly it led to her death by orcs and to the hardening of Thranduil's heart. That is confidential information, though. Something kings know, but not fer everyone ta hear. "And I heard that Lord Celeborn was of the same mind as his Lady." Lady Mercy Dwarvenheart nods slightly in full understanding* "Well, it matters not now, he is there, and I have traveled home" Dain: "Oh, he remained in the Grey Mountains then? Perhaps there was more to his mother's disapproval than just his choice in a bride. Perhaps she nay approved of his line o' work." Lady Mercy Dwarvenheart shakes her head*"Oh no it was me, not his line of work, considering he's been doing that line for a great many years, it was the choice of the bride. He has remained." Dain: "Ah well she may not entirely approve of his profession as a roving hunter. Few dwarf parents would."My guess is she will try to persuade him to give it up and do something more respectable." "Nothing will change my mind on that point...I feel in my being. I guess I have the stubbornness of dwarves too" *she giggles softly* "Oh I woul' never try ta change yer mind about anythin', unless yue were about to do somethin' untrue ta yerself." Lady Mercy Dwarvenheart *pats the sofa, as she clears her throat...* "So, how are things here in the Iron Hills..and yourself and the wee lad of yours, I am sure he's grown so much since I've been away for a spell. She changed the subject, as she works in her mind to mend the shattered heart that felt heavy in her chest* "Oh he has. He be away visitin' kin of ours in the Blue Mountains. He and a cousin of his be close friends. The Lord of the Blue Mountains be a third cousin o'mine and this cousin of Purinek's be his son and Purinek's fourth cousin." "That is so wonderful" she spoke with earnest interest. "The lad also be the firstborn and heir to the throne there. So two little future lords bein' chums." he laughed. Lady Mercy Dwarvenheart "That is so great for them both, and it is always nice to have a companion" "And very good for diplomacy and preservin' our alliance," Dain added That will be important in the future for them both" Lady Mercy Dwarvenheart acknowledged the importance of allies. "And good for both our peoples. So be your still huntin' ?" Dain inquired "I have not while I traveled here, but I shall return to it, it is where I find my peace, and to become one with nature.” She lowered her eyes only a brief moment Dain, "Ah yes. In harmony with the world, what the gods over the sea done make. And through them what The One done make." [18:39] Lady Mercy Dwarvenheart spoke with positive air “ I will just keep myself busy, enjoy what I have around me, and not seek another* "Oh you weren't seekin' anyone when you met Zhurin, or so it seemed to me." Dain offered his view "No, I was not seeking, he and I just happened" [18:45] Dain - Thorin (Borelek Resident along. Yue were happy alone afore yue twu met and you can be happy again than alone again. If someone comes along, maybe yue will be a tad more cautious, but a patient lad be a better lad, me thinks." Lady Mercy Dwarvenheart *nods* "oh yes , I will heal here at home, then I will continue on my journey and walk the path I choose with or without another" "Life ha'nah got any guarantees. That be one thin' I know well. I di'nah expect me dear Lady to pass away in givin' birth tue our son and nothin' could ha' prepared me fer that. But it be what it be. No sense spendin' a life in grief. I sure hope that sylvan elf king learns that sometimes. For bein' thousands of years old, he sure do nah act very wise." Dain shared his wise words with her. "Aye, I do understand that, and I do not tend to grieve much more, now that I am here with you. I always return home. I can now say I have loved and lost, but as it is written somewhere, this is the journey we must be on to gain knowledge of the world around us." "Aye and lovin' and losin' be a right good teacher. I was in love afore I married and then found myself faliin' fer me, Lady. I learned what love be and what it nay be." He continued. "Yes, I feel I have that understanding as well" "Well, I bet yue be hungry from tha journey. Shall I call fer some supper fer yue?" he offered "I am very hungry, shall we have some supper"? Dain -"O' Course." He range a bell and presently a servant appeared. "Supper for me and the Lady Mercy Dwarvenheart." the servant bowed and nodded to Dain and Mercy with a grin on his face, then bustled off to prepare them something. Mercy's reputation in the Iron Hills has not dimmed. Presently the servant returned with two large plates. Fish and vegetables and bread were on them. He laid them down for them and smiling and bowing again to them both, departed. Lady Mercy Dwarvenheart smiles brightly as she walks to the table, giving a polite nod to the servant. Joining her Unnca.."It is wonderful to come home, I do hope it will be alright iffin I stay a spell?" *looks up as the food is set down* "Thank yue" Dain calls out. "Ruby Red, yue may stay as long as yue like. I will only be happy if'an yue never leave us." "I know, but it is still respectful to ask" Dain "Well respect be duly noted, but me hopes yue know how much love I have fer yue." Lady Mercy Dwarvenheart "That is why when I have heavy heart, I come here to you" *her smiles expresses to him how her heartfelt at this moment, she looks at her food and eagerly digs in without ceremony* Dain -"Ah there be that dwarven heart comin' out. Eatin' like a dwarf be the right way t' enjoy a meal, that be certain." *With cheeks full of food, as she chews, she gives a half-grin only nodding.. Dain tore into his meal with dwarven passion. Soon the plate was vacant, his bread gone and his tankard of ale, which the servant had brought, was empty. Lady Mercy Dwarvenheart finishes up her meal, as well as the tankard. Places a hand over her mouth as she lets out a belch, her eyes widen when she shifts her gaze to her Unnca, then lets out a hearty laugh.."Pardon me" "Pardon for what?" he belched loudly. Lady Mercy Dwarvenheart laughs out once more, "Tis only right that a Lady at least asks for a pardon when she belches" "Hardly. A self-respecting dwarf lass never would. Besides it be an expected compliment to the host, which is me." he laughed. "And I feel very respected by it," Dain said Lady Mercy Dwarvenheart beams, well I do respect you" * another belch comes from out of nowhere, as she doubles over laughing, holding her words to be pardon* Dain belches again. "come let me show you where yue can stay. I had some remodeling done a few months ago. divided the master bedroom up so now there is a corridor to it and two guest rooms." He stood Dain - Thorin (Borelek Resident): "this be the Moria Room. the picture be an old paintin' of Moria before the Balrog." Lady Mercy Dwarvenheart walks behind him, as he leads her to the guest room, as he pushes open the door, her eyes light up. "Oh this is wonderful, This will be perfect" "The second room be the Erebor Room as the picture there be of Erebor in its glory days." Dain told her Dain "I thought of me dear cousin Thorin when I picked that one." "I like this, and it will do just nicely, oh I am sure he'd be honored. I do hope to see him again soon, he's in my prayers nightly" Lady Mercy Dwarvenheart said as her eyes shined with happiness and hope. "We all pray fer him, dearie. We all do." He replied Lady Mercy Dwarvenheart sets her bow down at the foot of the bed, her eyes speak volumes when they speak of her Unnca, and his cousin* "Soon, I am sure we will hear from him" Dain: "Well be at home. When you rise do nah hesitate ta ring the bell by the couch fer Klanuk to bring you some breakfast." Lady Mercy Dwarvenheart (Mercyea Resident): *steps close to her Unnca* "I am home, I will certainly do that, perhaps after breakfast to a bit of mining" *chuckles* Dain -"Sure. Nothin' like exercise to make you feel right as rain." he yawned. "Time fer me ta hit the sack." Lady Mercy Dwarvenheart: "aye, I am feeling the weariness of the road myself., I shall bid you a good night then." "Sleep well dear Ruby Red. I will sleep better-knowin' yue be here." "As will I Unnca, as will I" Dain kisses her on the cheek and turning, heads out and into his chamber. *returns the kiss on his cheek, watches as he moves to retire to his chambers*

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.