Chapter Eight: Hilfars Mistake (10 entries)
8.1
Judge Hammerfall sighed, she believed she had failed in her attempt of a fair hearing and bowed her head. "We will proceed with the testimonies regardless", she spoke, "I wish to hear master Tholdurin first... and then master Hilfar", she paused a moment and looked at the crowd that stood baffled. I ask the Sabâj to find any still living relations of this Walin Stormhand. Furthermore", she uttered confidently, "anyone attempt to assume control over this chamber again will be thrown out and punished. Master Tholdurin, your testimony please... ."
(By Fryjpora)
8.2
Tholdurin stepped forward with hesitant steps, pearls of sweat shining off his brow. The miner took a frightened look at the judges and spoke in a soft voice: "now?", wondering if he could start his testimony.
"Go ahead master Tholdurin", spoke one of the judges, nodding to Tholdurin and gesturing to take a few more steps forward.
"I.. uhm.... I... uhm, "stuttered Tholdurin, clearly having tremendous trouble conquering his nerves. "Calm down master Tholdurin, take a deep breath and tell us in your own words what happened that day in Othrikar", one of the judges spoke, attempting to calm Tholdurin down somewhat.
Tholdurin nodded, closed his eyes for a second, took a deep breath and said: "I was just outside the mine of the DFTC with Daingorf and Thalamath..if I remember correctly... yes", he nodded to himself as if making sure of every word he was saying, "yes... that was it... and then master Goldthumb came up to us and starting mocking us, then he insulted the company.... so I got angry and then Thalamath tried to calm me... but Goldthumb then insulted the boss... so I pounded him in his snotlocker, I did", Tholdurin looked pleased with himself taking a deep breath, believing that would be it.
"Just a moment master Tholdurin, not so fast... ", spoke the junior judge, "if you say -mocking us- what did master Goldthumb say exactly? Also what insult did he use against the company? And who is this boss you speak of , do you mean master Hilfar or master Duinn? And uhm... what is a snotlocker?", asked the judge with a quizzical look.
"Well, uhm... he mocked us by... uhm, by saying... stuff... ", you could see Tholdurin was doing his utmost best to remember the details but his brain had never been used for such tasks. The reach of his intellect and memory hardly went beyond remembering the right chisels and right picks for the proper mining job. Tholdurin sighed and continued... "I'm sorry, but I don't remember your judge-nesses. He insulted the company by saying... well, more... stuff", he looked disappointed at the judges. "Then he asked me if I would join the GMC, or in fact he said something like - you should join the GMC, I can pay you more -and then he spoke about master Hilfar and said something nasty....", Tholdurin tried to search for the exact words again but failed utterly, "well I can't remember, but it was pretty nasty. So in the end I got so angry, I punched him in the snotlocker... uhm, I mean the nose. But that was after Thalamath had warned me not to. That's all I know your judge-nesses... oh, and I'm dreadfully sorry to master Goldthumb, I shouldn't have done that... you know I told him so after it happened, but he didn't want to hear me."
"I see, thank you", spoke one of the judges, "I believe it might be best if we get a testimony of master Daingorf or Thalamath as well, hoping they might remember more details", the judge pointed at Tholdurin saying he could sit back down. "First master Hilfar, as judge Hammerfall has ordered", said the third judge, "come forward and make your account master Hilfar".
Tholdurin sighed, knowing he had done a terrible job, as he had feared and sat back down utterly miserable.
(By Kandral)
8.3
At the back of the chamber a rather small young pointy-nosed dwarf with a pen and ledger was noting down as lightning speed. None had noticed him before. What was he doing there, why and what was he noting on his ledger?
(By Midarin)
8.4
Hilfar coughed and got up slowly from his chair. He pulled his neat shirt down over his belly and tried to pass the other dwarrows without stepping on their toes “ouch!” someone bellowed “Oh beg my pardon, master.” Hilfar walked towards the judges and bowed deeply “Hilfar son of Ullfar son of Allfar, Ironhammer family line”. Hilfar straightened his beard and looked at the judges with a slight smile, a smile of a salesman.
He coughed politely and started his plea “Honorable judges, fellow dwarrows, I will try to make it short as my tale is a long one. For almost a year now I am the trade master of Othrikar for the DFTC. It was a troubled and turbulent time, and with great effort and loads of hurdles had our workforce managed to get caravans filled with ores and hides for the wealth of our kin!”. A proud glimmer sparkled in his eyes, and for a moment he glanced at Tholdurin “It was I who contracted master Tholdurin, and I have not regretted it ever since. He is the hardest working miner that ever walked these halls. Loyal, honost and yes also a bit rash.”
Hilfar looked at the judges with his arms opened “So regarding the punching incident. Did Tholdurin hit Goldthumb? Yes. Was this wise? No.,not at all. These are the facts, but it is put into the wrong context”. Hilfar looked more grim “You see, Goldthumb wanted us out the day we entered Othrikar, and he used every means he had to see that wish come to life. Including two attempts of murder on me and my workforce”. Hilfar pulled up his sleeve and showed the fresh burning mark on his lower arm, and then covered it again. “But I will limit my tale to the punching incident, for now..”.
Hilfar continued ”I have only once seen Master Goldthumb outside his grand office, just once! It was at the fall of last year. I heard commotion outside my office on the main square, near the smelting station. Here I saw Goldthumb, alone leaning on his stick, and a very angry DFTC workforce before him. The incident could have happened that very day. Goldthumb had a smirk on his face, tossing endless insults and mockery towards our fair workforce. Fists were already raised, but I got there in time. It was sheer provocation I say!”.
Hilfar sighed “I managed to douse the tension then, but I failed to keep the order ever since. Goldthumb never got out in public again. Yet he never left us alone. Theft, threats, murder attempts and riots kept bothering our operation. And when I was out in Bree for a restock, the old master thought it was the right time for another provocation! He scolded the workforce again, and master Tholdurin fell into his trap. This punch on his nose was all that Goldthumb needed to drag us before court and stop our operation in Othrikar..”
Hilfar looked at Brina “Why would an old man go about miners and scold or bribe them? If I would do such a thing towards GMC miners, I would get my share of violence, wouldn’t I? Tholdurin is the second honost hard working dwarrow who fell in his snake pit. Last winter we also had to let go of Master Skaril who was forced to act against his will, as Goldthumb threatened to kill his family members!”. Hilfar glanced at Skaril as he said this.
“Honorable judges, Tholdurin is my responsibility, so whatever your judgement befalls him, I will carry that sentence in his stead..” Hilfar bowed deeply before he returned to his seat.
(By Hilfar)
8.5
Thalamath nodded earnestly as Hilfar spoke. He made some sound points, and reasoned well. He stopped nodding, however, as Hilfar declared he'd take the punishment. What was he doing? It wasn't his crime, not his action that had resulted in this lousy court case. Surely he didn't mean to take the punishment. Tholdurin, however good a miner he may be, needed to pay for what he'd done. Such an action could not go unpunished.
As Hilfar returned to his seat, Thalamath leaned over, whispering "What are you doing? You cannot be punished in his stead. Besides, our laws wouldn't allow it. The punishment must be carried out by the offender, not whoever wants to do it. You must let Tholdurin take this burden himself. To take his punishment would bring dishonour upon him. Let him learn the lesson of responsibility!"
Thalamath settled back into his seat, thinking through what he'd say when called to speak.
(By Thalamath)
8.6
Duinn had sat still since Ebenizer's and Thinpen's departure, he was now pondering on Tholdurin's statement when a sudden utterance caught his attention from Hilfar's statement, "Tholdurin is my responsibility, so whatever your judgement befalls him, I will carry that sentence in his stead..” Hilfar concluded his statement.
"By Mahal's Beard! What is he doing?" Duinn looked puzzled turning to Khlosi, then looking at Hilfar who nodded, "If the court allows it, another dwarf is needed in his stay! A great loss for DFTC!". The judges looked busy talking amongst themselves, so Duinn waited for what was to come, "Daingorf and Thalamath! I suspect someone from GMC to testify too..." Duinn thought.
(By Duinn)
8.7
Tholdurin heard master Hilfar talk about him in words of kindness and honour and he felt a pride run through his blood.
It was a sensation he almost had forgotten.
Suddenly master Hilfar said: "...so whatever your judgement befalls him,
I will carry that sentence in his stead".
The strong miner jumped up, forgetting for a moment his place, nor that he had not been called to speak and uttered in a strong voice, convinced of his beliefs:
"No, boss! Don't!
Your judge-nesses! Don't let him do this! I'll mine for free, chained for the rest of my dies,
I'll take lashes, beatings, banishment...
You can even shave my beard if you like!
At that the entire Hall gasped at the loyalty this miner displayed for his master.
Tholdurin ran to the judges table and shouted: "Do with me as you like!",
at which Tholdurin dropped to his knees, showing both of his wrists at the judges, as if asking to be chained there and then.
(By Kandral)
8.8
Judge Skegrym made an exasperated sound, somewhere between a growl and a gasp. "Oh get up, for the love of Mahal! You're not a prisoner here, so stop acting like one."
He scowled at the miner grovelling on the floor before the bench and gestured for him to stand. "You may not be aware of the finer points of our laws, but Master Hilfar certainly should know better."
He turned his frown on Hilfar. "You must be aware that you cannot - I repeat, cannot - arbitrarily take another Dwarrow's punishment on yourself. Where is the justice in that? And if we're not here for justice, what in all the stars ARE we here for?"
(By Glorieskh)
8.9
Both Steingi and Orhn looked shocked when Goldthumb and his ''minion'' decided to just leave and take what ever punishment they would get. After Tholdurin had shared his statement it was Hilfars turn. Steingi looked like he wanted to protest even if he only were a viewer of the court. Hilfar taking the punishment of another Dwarf? That would bring shame on Tholdurins and his whole family. ''By my beard. That is...'' Steingi said silently.
Orhn looked at Steingi, and calmed him down. ''Do not worry grandfather, I am sure it wont be allowed.'' he said with a calm and silent tone. Then suddenly they saw Tholdurin running up while talking loudly about different punishments he could take and such. One of the judges, Skegrym stopped him and said a few words. Steingi shook his head at Tholdurins behavior.
(By Dhordur)
8.10
Tumult raised after Hilfar made his last remark. When Thalamath whispered in Hilfar's ear that this would bring shame upon Tholdurin, Hilfar had to act. He knew he made a big error. After Skegrym made clear that his request was folly Hilfar stood up "Forgive my ignorance, I should not attempted to carry the verdict for Master Tholdurin, for that my deepest apologies".
Hilfar bowed and raised again "I couldn't bear to see more harm done on the loyal dwarrows of Othrikar. Honorable judges, let the hammer of justice strike true and precise!".
Hilfar sat down again, grumbling silently.
(By Hilfar)
