((Stand alone story, not linked to Hilfar))
Fiery Figurines
“Du bekâr, Durinul!” shouted the young dwarf as he placed his dwarf soldier figurines forward. The young Gísli, son of Ginni, of just 12 winters old was allowed to play a bit more before bedtime. The small tin figurines had full plate armor with shield and axe in hand. Behind them he had a dwarf figurine with a mighty beard that represented King Thrain. But his most favorite piece was a mighty looking dwarf with an oaken branch as his shield and his sword raised high, the fabled Thorin Oakenshield. Neatly he lined up the dwarf soldiers on the table forming a shield wall, backed up by Thorin and Thrain. He picked up a much larger figurine, red scales with spread wings and his jaws open wide. “Raaaaawwwrr!!” he shouted as the resemblance of Smaug flew over the dwarf figurines. Smaug the Tyrranical landed and he toppled over many of his warriors. Smaug was now facing Thorin. Gísli lowered his voice as he spoke for Thorin “Begone fell beast or I cut of your head!”. Smaug came forward but Thorin jumped so high, he landed on Smaugs neck, and Thorin the mighty was now a dragon rider! All these figurines were gifted by his uncle, a toy-maker of the Iron Hills named Hanni.
The game of Gísli came to an abrupt end. There was unrest outside their home in the vast halls of the Iron Hills. Gísli’s mother opened the door to see what was amiss. People were shouting in the distance at the other hand of the tunnel. A horn sounded and a deep voice bellowed loudly “Du bekâr, Durinul! Du bekâr!!”. An entire regiment of plated dwarrows passed their home, marching in order, their step echoed through the tunnel ‘thud-thud-thud’. Dwarrow civilians looked bewildered and ran around shouting “Smaug has awoken!” or “Doom is upon us!”, while someone else shouted “The men of the lake burn! We are next!”. Gísli still sat there at his table with Smaug and Thorin still in his hands. His mother quickly packed some rations and walked into the room of her son with fright in her eyes “We must leave now! Come”. Gísli protested and his figurines fell to the floor, his favorite figurine Thorin fell so hard that its head parted from the body “No! Where are we going, I don’t want to!”. Gísli’s mother took him firm by the arm “No time to lose! We head deeper into the caves where the water runs, now come!”. She pulled her son away from his toys. Gísli had a tear in his eye as he threw a final look at the broken Thorin on the ground. Ironically, the figurine of Smaug the Tyrannical lay on top of the beheaded Thorin as he got dragged out of their home.
((“Du bekâr, Durinul” means “to arms, sons of Durin!”))
