Having been granted leave to explore the environs of Lothlorien unattended by any minder, I was walking upon the old Moria road near the borders when I chanced to hear the ringing of arms. Dashing to the source of the disturbance, I was quite astonished to see a short stocky figure laying about him with a broad axe at a pack of goblins who had waylaid him.
Being ill disposed to suffering any goblins to take another breath under Anar and Isil, I immediately cranked my windlass and loosed three quarrels, slaying the pair of goblins nearest the dwarf, who himself dispatched another with his own weapon before the remaining pair fled amidst a chorus of panicked cries.
I emerged from the treeline and introduced myself to the dwarf who called himself Narkonond or some such gibberish. The dwarfish language reminds one of nothing so much as a grinding of gravel and metal! It is said they will not willingly teach it, yet I cannot imagine anyone should wish to learn it. Nonetheless, the stout traveler was cordial and admitted to being quite lost. I informed him that he was within the very borders of the Golden Wood and should he continue upon this road, he should very likely be taken prisoner at the very least. He professed curiosity about my weapon, which I explained was indeed of dwarven make and an heirloom of my family, made by a master craftsman of Erebor. We agreed that I should accompany him along the border of the land of Lorien so that he might not be mistaken for an orcish scout or other spy.
We proceeded quickly to the borderers who were keen to know the business of a dwarf upon this road. It was agreed that if I would accompany him and be held responsible for his behavior, he would be allowed to pass south to the lands where the Celebrant flowed into the Anduin. Being quite keen myself to behold the area, I agreed with little reluctance, as I perceived it was a test of my trustworthiness by the Galadhrim who are ever wary .
The journey passed without incident and my charge was quite relieved to hear the story of my crossbow and how my father had got it and the sword that was given in exchange. The two of us exchanged many pleasant hours in quite conversation and I was able to shew him the city of Caras Galadhan from afar. He was quite pleased to know that I myself was not permitted entry as of yet! We bid farewell to one another and I bade him take good care, as the folk of Rohan are held in Lothlorien to be quite insensibly hostile to the elves and, in my own opinion they should serve dwarves as they do orcs, they not having ever had commerce with any of that people insofar as my education has informed me. We parted on good terms and shared a draught of some bracing liquor I had procured in Imladris.
