What follows is a recollection of Renif's final three days in the Lonely Mountain, just an hour after he received the letter from Daisy informing him of her father's plans.
Renif was furious, blustering along one of the many winding alleys in Erebor, clutching a small, bunched-up note in his hand. He swore as he raged past, his cloak brushing behind his feet, as if covering up his footprints so none could follow. His father Lunred was hurrying along on his fat, stumpy legs, huffing and puffing far behind him, praying that Renif was not about to wreck both of their lives in one fell swoop.
Renif had never felt more enraged in his entire life. How could Daisy's father do this?! He knew of their secret love, and yet insisted on forcing Daisy into a marriage of lies?! He would do something about this. No matter what Daisy said, Renif would change this madness. He would do anything necessary to right this wrong.
As he was nearing the bustling street in which Daisy's house lay, Lunred made one last, desperate attempt to halt Renif, calling over the steady drum of noise permeating throughout Erebor.
"RENIF! Stop this madness right now! There is nothin' you can do! Come now, we'll find another pretty Dwarf maiden for you! Renif, please! We've 'ad dozens of letters asking fer you to marry their daughters! Please, just stop this and we can take a look at the options!"
Lunred was lying, of course. Renif was far too unruly and brash for any proud Dwarven nobility to want him as part of their family. All the maiden's letters were directed at his older brothers, who were far calmer and more docile than the reckless Renif.
Renif ignored his father's determined pleas, and finally came to a stop at Daisy's front doorstep. He hammered on it, the noise of the door clattering on it's hinges echoing around the caverns.
"Come out 'ere you drunken son-of-a-wench and face me!" He bellowed, heard not only by Daisy's father Glamrund, but also his neighbour, and his neighbour's neighbour, and his neighbour's neighbour's neighbour, and-
You get the picture. It was a loud shout. There was a moment of silence after this, as if the house were steeling itself for the oncoming onslaught of verbal abuse. Then, the door slowly opened, and there stood Glamrund, his brow set in a look of anger.
"By Durin's beard, you drunkard, what are you doing at my door shouting like that?!"
"You know why I am 'ere, ye' rotten little fool! I want Daisy!"
"Well you can't bloody well have her, can you? It's already been arranged. The wedding is going ahead whether you like it or not, you little selfish brat!"
At this Renif grabbed the hilt of his as-of-yet unnamed hammer, and held it in front of him. Glamrund's eyes widened, and he slowly drew a small dagger from it's sheath at his belt. At this moment, Lunred appeared, huffing and panting, bent over, trying to catch his breath. Upon seeing the two facing each other, snarling, weapons drawn, Lunred gave a cry of despair. This would surely tarnish any respect his fellow dwarves still held for him. He quickly positioned himself between the two Dwarves, smiling apologetically.
"Glamrund, my friend! How are you?"
Glamrund glared at Lunred before answering.
"Not very well, Roughbeard, seeing as your son is stood before me, threatening to murder me!"
Lunred then gave Renif an icy glare, before turning back to Glamrund.
"Look, alright, I apologise for this... I really do. Me an' the lad will make it up to ye', won't we, Renif?"
Lunred urged his son to humour him, but Renif did nothing of the sort.
"I'll make it up to 'im by smashin' 'is skull into tiny pieces and makin' a vase out o' it." Renif spat, still glaring at Glamrund.
"Renif! For goodness sakes! Stop this, right now!" His father pleaded, begging Renif to stop the madness before it went too far.
"Aye. She never loved you anyway. She always told me you were a fool. She just felt sorry for you." Glamrund smirked, clearly enjoying this.
Renif roared, and was about to throw himself upon Glamrund like a ferocious bestial nightmare, when a clear, golden voice rang throughout the area.
"Renif. Go, now. I wish to never see you again." Daisy stood at the bottom of the staircase just to the right of the doorway, glowering at Renif. Renif stood silent, his mouth agape. Tears sprung to his eyes, and he aggressively blinked them away, not wishing to show weakness. When he finally uttered a word, it came out as more of a croak.
"But... Daisy?" His voice wavered. Renif's heart felt like someone had reached inside his chest and was cruelly tugging at it, trying to loosen it. He felt as if this was the end, as if everything he had fought for had been pointless, that he could just lie down and starve to death right there on Daisy's doorstep.
"No, Renif. Our relationship is at it's end. You have caused too much trouble already. Let us finish this with a handshake, to bring closure to this subject."
Renif frowned at this, clearly confused. This was an odd gesture. Even Glamrund looked a little puzzled. Renif, his eyes still brimming with tears, stepped forward, gently nudging Glamrund and his father aside, and took Daisy's hand in his, having dropped his hammer by his side. Renif could not believe it. This may be the last time he would ever touch Daisy's soft skin, feel the warmth radiating from her body. He closed his eyes.
However, instead of Daisy's soft skin against his hand, he felt the rustle and crackle of paper. He snapped his eyes open, looking at Daisy. Her expression was still the same. However, she was definately passing him something. A note? Renif's heart soared, as he realised that perhaps their relationship was not doomed. He withdrew his hand, the note clenched in his palm, and bowed, smiling slightly.
Glamrund was pleased.
"There we go then, you filthy little dog. You've been told. Now get. If I ever see you again around this house, or even this street, I am going to call the guard." With that, he shoved Renif out of the house, and slammed the door behind him. Lunred shook his head at him, dissapointed, and walked away in the direction of the Roughbeard estate.
Renif, however, ran in the other direction. Down another alley. He didn't know this part of the city, but he didn't mind. He needed to find somehwere safe and secure, where he could read the note away from prying eyes. He felt as if everyone in the city were after the information the note held secret, locked away in the ink.
He finally found a dead end to sit down in, his back to the wall. He excitedly unfurled the note, his hands shuddering anxiously. He wiped away the remaining unspilt tears from his eye, and then read the soft lettering on the paper, clearly Daisy's handwriting:
Meet me tonight, at our old meeting place. Do not give up hope, my love.
