Fredericka chided herself for her insatiable curiosity. It often lead her to the wrong places at the wrong times. Now, visiting Thorin’s Hall's dark chambers may have been the best idea. Maybe, associating with the Dwarves was not worth the effort, at all. Maybe, she shouldn’t even care about people suffering from Orc raids in North Downs? She wasn’t even from there! Yet, she cared about them, cared to make North Downs a better place. Everyone needs a noble goal in life.
Fredericka and Erasm were on the mission. They were going to assemble an able-bodied team to travel to North Downs to negotiate with the Dourhand Dwarves. The Wyld Hunt have heard from sources that certain Dourhands didn't want conflict. Maybe, there was hope for them to join reputable good folk... Hopes die last.
At Thorin's Hall, Longbeards were all busy with something. It was hard to solicit even one of them, as they were all consumed with building and restoration. Yet, a few days later and with references and recommendations from Svaroh Steelword, they recruited two, and potentially three individuals. Fredericka wanted to meet with them the next morning, to go over contracts. She was excited to have succeeded, yet she withheld her aroused disposition from Erasm, and decided to tell the news to him later that evening.
Before they arrange supper and active planning for the trip, she was itching to do something else.
“We’ve been here a few days, and as an historian, you should know there is Skorgrim’s tomb here.” She mentioned to Erasm as they were descending the long stairs down the frore mountain slope of Thorin’s Gate.
Erasm probably noticed her enthusiasm, but he let her talk, only nodding in response. Fredericka immediately suspected that she wouldn’t surprise him with anything. This historian was still her mentor, and dedicated many more years to the books than she has.
"Would you ever consider finding it?” She suggested, not bothering to cover her excitement at the prospect anymore.
“I’ve been there” Erasm crumbled her anticipation “There is nothing interesting there. It is empty and cold.”
Fredericka sighed at the spoiled prospect of interesting discovery, but her curiosity was not yet sated for today.
“Would you please take me there?" She added after a pause, "I may, as a diplomat, gain an advantage visiting that tomb. When talking to the Dwarves in the North Downs, I would like to understand them more. They were Dourhands, I believe?”
Erasm nodded and has shown Fredericka the way to the tomb’s door. The walk was not long. Cold mists reduced their visibility once they came to the bottom of the stairs and proceeded to one of the stone paths. It was good to be somewhat covered, avoiding the Longbeards' inquiries about their destination. In five minutes, they have reached a door. It was decorated with carvings, ornamented in a manner distinguishable from Thorin's Hall aesthetic direction. She made a mental note to research more on the Dwarven clans' stonework. For now, she was in front of Skorgrim's tobm...
To Freddie's mild astonishment, the door yielded to her cold palm, and chilled gust of air from inside has enveloped her face. She expected the air to be stale, but it seems like the Dwarves took care of ventillation somehow. As if it mattered in a tomb... That was a reminder for Freddie to remain suspicious.
They entered the chamber and Fredericka studied the giant stone statue of Skorgrim. It felt somehow unfriendly to her all that time. Erasm did not enjoy the stonework either. Something felt leery… The stone pedestal supporting the statue was free of debris – it seems like someone has been sweeping it, caring for the proper. Fredericka gave the Dwarves the benefit of the doubt, again. Maybe, they simply can’t let their statues to dilapidate, Longbeard or not? She clearly needed to study the Dwarves more in order to understand them, to see what would be the red flags in their interaction.
Meanwhile Erasm called her in a hushed whisper. It alerted her: were they not alone here? She took a few steps on a steep walkway up to higher levels of the cave. The walkway was carved by the dwarves with precision, so it was easy to notice what Erasm was pointing at. There were signs of fight. Some small stones were knocked out of their place, and a shred of torn blue fabric smeared with blood was hanging on one of the parapet stones. Fredericka went cold. The blood was fresh. It was so fresh that it did not yet fully dry. The fabric looked new and wasn’t covered with dust. Quietly, Erasm and Fredericka have turned around and tiptoed down toward the bottom cavern with the exit. They were scanning every shadow, alert to every rustle. Fredericka pointed at something on the ground in a dark corner where the wall met the walkway at a meticulously perfect angle. Erasm went toward an object and picked it up, examining the object. It was a glass sphere with a black pit inside, surrounded by a colorful blue iris.
“Someone lost their glass eye”, Fredericka said, amused by both the circumstances of finding it and the craftsmanship of the prosthetics. Erasm hid the glass in his pocket and urged them to get out of the cavern. It was understood that someone might be back for their precious glass ball, and they truly didn’t want an accidental meeting. They were down on the ground of the bottom hall when Freddie ventured into the dark shadow, her curiosity getting the best of her, while Erasm urged them out. He knew they suddenly were not armed appropriately for this visit.
Fredericka went to a corner where, according to her calculations, there was a torn bloody piece of clothes on the walkway above. It was hard to see here, and she stepped carefully. She was hoping that someone didn’t trip and fell down. However, if they did, they could not be left down here to die. Or they may have needed a burial… Or hopefully, there was no one there at all! Hopes are always the last ones to die.
A sudden silly moment has put an and to Freddie’s curiosity. A bat, or some other eager creature above her head started making noises, sounding like wing flapping against the stone, and she felt dust coming down on her head. It was not enough to crumble any stone or to pose danger, but Freddie was at an edge. She jumped away from the walls and their shadows, suddenly feeling that she was stepping on something sticky and viscose. She did not want to admit it to herself, but she knew what it was.
"There is no one in the shadows, but there certainly was someone, injured badly enough to bleed", Fredericka whispered to Erasm while heading straight toward the exit. He did not need to be invited to exit.
