~~Foreman Thormoth was not happy to receive me as a guest to his camp at Durin’s Threshold
He told his company of explorers and miners that I was likely a jester sent by his old friend Krowl as a joke. Little did they know I was here for their goodies and harassing me would only make my success that much more thrilling.
Their stable hand Fith was having wagons loaded with magnificent ores harvested in the process of them searching for greater gems. I snagged one of his work orders as he exchanged words with the camp’s provisioner. Quickly smudging the address I neatly wrote Miss Amber’s just above it. Certainly master Williric could put the materials to better use for the Spoons. I barely snuck the parchment back into the pile when my chronic cough set Fith’s gaze immediately back to me.
“Oi, jester did you need to arrange a ride out? I’m not sure what Krowl Thunderfist paid you but it’s not safe for you to stay” he proclaimed dim witted. Shaking my head and grinning I made my way towards the steep steps flowing from the mines and began the long climb.
A pair of guards eyed me as I reached the top, unaware of the discrediting merriment their men just had at my expense. “Are ye lost lad?” one of the Guards inquired. I adjusted my collar as I prepared to give them a thick slice of my tongue. “At ease gents!. I am agent Hillcrest of mine security operations; I’m going to be fixing these issues of thievery you have had to ensure you can focus on your important bits!” The guards looked at each other somewhat baffled as I turned and waved to two on looking dwarves ahead of us. They waved back at me confused “I must be off, looks like your boss wants to speak with me” confidently approached the two and introduced myself in a similar way.
“Evening, afternoon and good morning gentlemen, as if any cared or could tell the time of day in here” The two looked at each other bewildered then back at me. “Tubi Thickfist of the Iron Garrison,… “ I interrupted him… “Ah yes! Krowl’s nephew?,..” I guessed, knowing I could escape the two now being beyond the guards. “A smile stretched Tubi’s beards “Well lad, what can we do for you then?” he asked obviously proud of being recognized in front of one of his fellow miners.
“I am here on official business, you see.” My eyes darting about the tunnel ahead looking for inspiration to my next lie. “Oh?,..” pondered Tubi as I caught the sight of a discarded dwarven axe not far down the corridor. “Ah see here, it appears the goblins have been dragging your weapons out of camp disarming you gradually” Tubi’s face took on a scowl “Where is Kambi? This is his weapon!” His fellow miner looking frazzled at the possibility of being punished “I,… I..I’m not sure,.. I will find out” he answered.
“Gentlemen,… gentlemen please… this is exactly what I was sent here for, I will track down Kambi and return him to you” Tubi whipped his glare back towards me. “Ah good lad, yes it will be nice to have some help keeping the less organized,.. organized” I saluted him and set forth into a cave lit by warm orange crystals. The beauty of the trail lead me deeper into Moria and now being alone I know things would get more risky.
My confidence was soon shattered by the echoing shrills of goblins throughout the mine, yet I had hardly left the safety of the dwarven guards. In my auntie’s adoring words “The stew just got real”.
Nervously I rushed down the path in a bit of a panic not noticing the crystal formations ending and I stood amongst stalagmites and deep-claw hunters. Before me lay a massive shattered mirror in the shape of a hand, it was trimmed in ornate brass and defiantly of dwarven make. Gazing upon the wreckage I soon spotted a purplish glimmer in the distant dark, shuffling down a small ramp into a larger chamber was a sight to behold. Nested in the courtyard of an abandon shelf of dwarven architecture was an enormous amethysts capsule vibrantly sparkly on its open end. Standing in awe I wondered what it would look like being erect in the middle of the shire.
Bathing in its light I soon realized I was out in the open and needed to seek cover, surely there had to be a dwarven outpost close by to such an impressive monument. Dwarves are rightful vain about their craftsmanship of such things.
Back tracking up the ramp I was startled by goblins standing in front of a sacked dwarven vault and decided to head the opposite direction. After leaping across a trench spanning the ground my nose trapped the smell of meat cooking on an open fire not far ahead. As I drew closer I heard the drum of dwarven voices mention “Dolven-View” and snuck past as them not to continue the chain of suspicion I left in my wake.
It was certainly well guarded but the layout proved to be advantageous for a hobbit. Leaping over the ram pen fence and slipping behind an outer guards back got me into a chamber I overheard them call it the stone council. Waterfalls flowed from stone bearded statues wrapping the inner walls into the precipice below. “Was it too far to head back?” I thought to myself, the others would want to know where I am just in case. With that I sought out a means to get word to my friends.
It was a relief to cast my eyes on a heavily guarded chamber full of dwarves. Sneaking looked too risky so I decided to act as though I was expected. One hand on my hip the other swinging alongside me I marched directly into the settlement towards a townsperson that was minding his own business. It appeared to have worked, even though the guards tracked me with their eyes somehow my confident strut and focus of destination didn’t raise the alarm. “Now then, time for my tongue to take the next challenge” I muttered under my breath. The towns person spun his head like an owl as I approached “Who are ye lad and whada wanting?” questioned the seated dwarf.
“I’m a guest at Dolven-View and I grew tired of their messenger questioning the contents of my letters, at the right price I assume this won’t be a problem with you as well?” Before the townsperson had a chance to retort I tossed a bag of silver on his desk nearly knocking his ink well over. He peered in the bag, the glimmer of polished silver coins reflecting off his greedy eyes as he sat silent for a moment. “Nay lad it won’t, I will send love letters to a troll at this price if ya asked it”
“Very well my good man, happy to hear it” I replied as I stole a stack of paper from his desk, his nearly toppled ink well and the quill from his very hand. Striding over to an empty desk next to him I sat and begun to write each of my friends the same encoded rhyme not chancing the dwarf to my real intentions in his halls. I wrote Ceciliy first, Sunnflower second, Kynethryt third, Kitii fourth and Miss Amber last.
Your swell pal Hillcrest here, braving the dark and having a beer!
Down I went and up I’ll come, by the time you read this I’ll already be done
I’m two days in the Ol’mines of Mori, just have a seat and I’ll tell you my story
My leads had a start, the ends have no tail so I’m being a good lad and sending you this mail
Soon after the send off I’ll cross the lonely span, hit the trail running and stick to my plan
If you don’t hear back from me in a week or two it’s likely I tripped and lost my good shoe
Please don’t worry you’ll know when I’m done
I’ll return to the shire and we will have lodes of fun
After finishing the last copy I drew little pictures on each of the letters to brighten the spirits of my friends, then folded them up and placed them in the stingy dwarf’s hand. I gave him a glare before heading out but asked him directions to the famous lonely span.
It took some poking around Dolven’s cooling chamber but eventually I found a path down towards the span’s staircase. Ascending the steps at the end of the path revealed the grander of the lonely span, immediately it lived up to its name, none were about this colossal stone bridge. I stayed hidden against the wall reloading my crossbow “Shoot-ums” and after a long while of not hearing as much as a whisper I started a long silent stroll across the bridge. Half way I peered off the edge out of curiosity,… it was deep, so very deep…
Suddenly I felt my heart leap out of my chest, this was not the first time I’d been here,.. the visions,.. Evendim’s pool showed this very place to me. A high pitch squeak of a single cave bat drew my attention upwards and when I focused back on the bridge my eyes were met by a pack of Warg-riders. I spun myself back the other way but a wall of seething goblins stood abreast completely blocking any retreat
They were too far to hit with my crossbow, I lowered it in compliance with their numbers.
As I stood vulnerable with nowhere to hide I noticed the goblins part for their Uruk Hai leader.
He marched towards me his crude blood rusted blade dangling off his swollen arm. “Think Dudon, Think!” My eyes bounced around the cavern for options but there was none.. It was the simplest trap and I should have known better as we used the same tactics playing tag in the shire as younglings.
I knew if I shot the rest would charge and mince every bit of me. I stood with my arms at my side as he approached. He towered over me more so than any man in Bree ever did. “Hi there!, you are a big o….”
Before I could finish my greetings he swung an unarmed backhand, I ducked but when I sprung back his sword hand was already connecting with my face. I stumbled back and fell flat, I rolled to the side just in time to see my crossbow get kicked behind him towards his cheering goblins horde.
I locked up in helpless fear as the Uruk Hai lifted me from the ground into the air, holding me while turning slowly to show off his flailing trophy. Our eyes met as I prepare my greatest lie “I’m not afraid of you!” As the last word passed from my lips the savage creature slammed my mouth into his forehead and broke my front teeth. My mouth was filled with the flood of warm blood. He roared something in his black tongue before launching my body into the solid stone bridge at extreme force. I could feel one of my legs break, I cried out in suffering as he bellowed out a hate filled laugh. As I lay helpless he collected my crossbow and pointed it at my shoulder firing my own poison laced bolt into my shoulder.
I squirmed and wiggled in pain as he struggled to reload my mechanically superior crossbow. Flashes of Sun’s masked smile flickered before my eyes, Ceciliy’s voice echoed in my mind “you mad bro?” she teased. The daft Orc dropped his blade and used both hands in an attempt to reload my crossbow my mind swirled in confusion as I saw myself sitting at Kitii’s table with everyone sharing in a massive feast
She served me an extra slice of pie and gave me a wink just as Miss Amber pinched my cheek asking if I was full. The bolt locked as time seamed to slow, all color draining from my failing vision as slow flakes filled the cave. For a brief moment all my enemies vanished and I lay cold and alone, on the lonely span.
Standing over me I heard Kynethryt’s voice sooth my suffering “Dudon,.. you silly goose, fly away”
I came to my body and mind throbbing with pain, the vindictive Orc aiming the crossbow at my face. His eyes spoke before his finger could pull the trigger, I rolled myself off the bridge as he shot at me hitting me in the back.
Into the darkness I fell,.. weightless,.. lifeless and hopeless.
