The Story of Fruni Stouthammer

Born and raised in the Blue Mountains, Fruni is not your prototypical Firebeard dwarf. Where you would expect him to be fiery in all aspects of his life, Fruni is actually as serene and quiet as the stone he loves so dearly - except when in the thick of battle, when his Firebeard blood boils and brings him into a flaming frenzy.

His father Fingar was a respected elder, whose knowledge in the art of cutting jewels became nothing short of legendary. Fruni's family are descendants of a long bloodline that stretch back till the very first age of Middle-Earth. While their ancestors mingled with Longbeards in the aftermath of the destruction of Nogrod, they never forgot their true roots.Their initial forefather, whom records say was a warrior-skald at the Firebeard court of Nogrod, went by the name of Marazâl and was ennobled by the King himself for his services. His offspring would go on to live at Khazad-Dûm later on and in the course of many centuries their line grew wealthy and prominent.

Even though every young dwarf is prompted to learn the crafts at which their race has excelled since the awakening of the Seven, Fruni never pursued to master any of them. His mind was rather set on the wielding of iron, not on the forging of it. As soon as he reached the appropriate age of 30 winters, he took on the axe and joined the ever watchful guard at the rebuilt city of Tumunzahar.

His exceptional footing, smart maneuvers and quick reflexes seemed to point out that Fruni was to become a great warrior. His skill with the axe rivaled even that of his uncle Fikli, whom - as is custom amongst warriors of equal fighting zeal - felt both reverence and envy for his young nephew.

With such prospects, Fruni was hailed amongst his kin as a dwarf of great promise. Some even longed for a war to see his skills brought to their full potential. Fruni's own ambition for greatness rose equally to his newly received reputation, and he became slightly arrogant. But the time in which he was born was one of a long-lasting peace, and not much fighting happened in the Ered Luin in those days. Without the opportunity to really prove himself, Fruni grew restless as the days moved on. He took every chance he could get to escort caravans going east. And while there were instances in which his axe came in handy, no petty brawls could satisfy his lust for glory.

Warden of the Mines

Then came the day that Fruni's longing for battle was finally to be satisfied. The Dwarves of the Blue Mountains had ever sought to mine again in the north, by the Icebay of Forochel. It was known that many old mines lay there, abandoned and left to the unnatural cold. The last king of Arthedain once sheltered in one of them before his untimely death. Now the Firebeards decided to take back the northern mines one by one in their attempt to make the western kingdom great again. However, an exiled cold drake named Birizablag, a remnant of the cold drakes of Forodwaith, had made one of these mines his lair. Tall and clad in strong silver scales, this wyrm had taken whatever treasures had been left in the northern region and had hoarded them up inside. It is said that this wyrm was also the drake that devoured one of the seven rings of power, though the dwarves do not speak of it and one cannot trust the word of bards.

The cold-drake slew many of his company but Fruni fought the beast valiantly deep within the watery delving of the mines and with his mighty axe Balbuhkhud, he granted his fellows victory that day. After the battle, the dwarves hailed Fruni for his brave deeds and back home the Lord of Tumunzahar inferred upon him the title of Warden of the Mines. The gold they had found in the belly of the beast was used to craft him a fair but menacing helmet in the likeness of a dragon's head: The Dragon Helm of Ered Luin. Hailed as a hero amongst his folk, Fruni became ever more convinced that his path to everlasting glory would continue.

The Great Dissent

Meanwhile, quarrels divided his family, eventually causing a rift between the members of their bloodline. These quarrels did not cease after his grandfather's death, and not even the highly respected Fingar knew how to cease the burning hatred between the dwarves of their family. Where once there had been a gathering at every moon, the kin meetings were now merely annual, and they never ended well. But so it happened that, at one of the meetings, old Fingar, troubled by the state of his house, fainted in his attempt to call the brawling brothers to order. The event shocked everyone, and Fruni, whom attended the meeting at that time and was still held in high regard, took this as an opportunity to reunite the quarreling dwarves.

While Fingar was still recovering from his collapse, Fruni took his father's lead and brought a friendly fire back into their hearts. Even Fikli, whom still envied his cousin, was convinced of Fruni's intentions. Realising he had their attention, he convinced them to join the expedition to Moria; by order of the Lord of Tumunzahar, a company of dwarves would be sent to Balin's colony to help strengthen their defences of the ancient kingdom and serve as representatives of the Firebeard House. Fruni argued that their kin could awake from their careless slumber and become great once more like in ancient times if they lent their support to their Longbeard brethren trying to reclaim Khazad-Dûm like they had done in days of old.

And so it happened that they followed Fruni east on the road to glory. Fingar had by that time recuperated, and he feared that Fruni's ambition would prove his downfall. He did not agree with his son's longing for battle, for while he himself had fought in the War of Dwarves and Orcs, he had come to learn that there was nothing glorious about battle at all. But he could not find the strength to persuade them otherwise. And so it was that, after several weeks of marching, the fully armed warband arrived at the Walls of Moria.

The Hammerfall Tragedy

Here follows the account of the greatest tragedy in the history of the Stouthammer Bloodline.

The stout company, comprised of 7 family members and around 40 more heavily armed warriors, armed in scaled armour and carrying axes, swords and shields arrived at a lake that they had no recollection of. A thick mist lay hanging over it that day, and many of the company saw this as an ill omen and thought it safer to return until the fog cleared. But Fruni could not be swayed by a mere weather phenomenon, and he lead them onwards, looking for the Doors of Durin. Reluctantly, the company followed him into the thickening mist.

They were assailed by the Watcher in the Water, who took many of their company by surprise, flinging their bodies into the black water. The dwarves tried to fight the creature but they could not hold back the evil that haunted the lake that night and they were forced to retreat. Only when the fog cleared it became apparent what damage the creature had wrought: over half their company were taken. Many blamed Fruni for what had happened. Discouraged, broken and grieving their losses, the remainder of the company decided to head back home where they were to bring the ill news to the King. The King issued the order that none of his people were to venture there again, not until they would receive word of Balin that the entrance was made safe for all to pass.

Fikli would never stop reminding Fruni of what his foolish arrogance had wrought. Even after Fruni decided to permanently lay down the axe, turning it in for a chisel and a hammer, his mistake continued to haunt him for a long while. His father, Fingar, did not speak of it at all. This sad happening had broken the family's spirit, and for the next 18 years, they never took up the sword again.

Fingar's Final Wish

Several years later, after the death of Lindrod, Fruni would slowly start to regain his fighting spirit. Fingar had reached an age of over 300 winters, and his health was deteriorating rapidly. He himself knew that death was closing in. But he would not leave this world unless his final wish be granted. One day, he asked his son to accompany him on a travel to the Redhorn, for he had always longed to see the great mountain again. Fruni, having learned the cost of ignoring his family's wishes long ago, could not bear to deny his father's final wish. And so, they left on their expedition alone - an expedition of which Fruni knew in his heart that it would take a heavy toll on his father's health.

This journey did not come without peril: from brigands in Bree, to mad hermits in the midgewater marches, to orcs in the Lone Lands and wargs in the Trollshaws. It seemed like everywhere the forces of evil lurked. Luckily, they encountered some good folk on the road as well; in the Shire, they took shelter with a hobbit named Smigget - a witty little womaniser with a strong sense of humour. All the while, Fingar and Fruni bonded as father and son, taking the time to share their impressions on things earlier left unmentioned. But Fingar's health was also getting worse the further they went. Fruni feared they would not make the foot of the Caradhras in time.

Once they arrived at the Misty Mountains, fate indeed struck an ill blow to the two dwarves as Fingar died somewhere during the night. As he strapped his father's body to his goat the following morning, tears running down his face, he noticed the cold glint of steel coming from under his father's saddle blanket. It was his old axe. It never became clear what Fingar's intentions would have been for bringing his son's axe, but Fruni liked to believe that it had been his father's wish that he'd take it up again.

As he went on readying the goats, he was surprised by a cave troll that appeared from behind him. In the short skirmish that followed, Fruni managed to slay the beast and leave the creature to bleed upon that mountain slope with only little life left within himself. Fatigued and wounded of battle, he decided to spend the night in a nearby cave to await death's approach. This cave, however, was the home of a shady figure. The stranger talked to Fruni from the shadows, and when the dying dwarf demanded he'd step into the light, an elf appeared, dressed in black. The elf introduced himself as Tinnurion - he looked rather sinister, but he offered to mend his wounds and to care after his father's body. His mother had been a herbalist, and he had learned a thing or two from her. While Fruni did not trust the elf, he felt like he had little to lose at the time anyway. So it was that Tinnurion healed Fruni's body, and the remainder of the evening these two strangers talked about stars, mountains and past regrets.

In the morning, Tinnurion and Fruni decided to travel back to Ered Luin as friends. After a long journey, they finally reached Stouthammer Hall. Fikli was furious and did not trust the elf. But Tinnurion would embalm the body of Fingar nonetheless while Fruni and Burfi worked on a beautiful tomb. At the funeral, many dwarven friends came to pay their respects to old Fingar, whom had been a mentor to them. They all thought it strange to see an elf in Stouthammer Hall, and many did not agree with him being there. But Fruni, who was in debt with the elf for saving his life and helping him bring his father's body home, would not tolerate their intolerance. At sundown, the funeral was held in attendance of many friends - thus passed Fingar the Elder.

A Glimmer of Hope

Today, Fruni, Burfi, Fikli and his son Frir are the only living survivors of the Stouthammer bloodline. Fingar's death fell heavy upon Fikli, and he turned quiet and remote. Burfi wrote a lament on Fingar's death to cope with his sadness - for the written word was his form of soothing therapy. Fruni, however, found new strength in his father's memory; he worked hard to get back into shape to retake his position in the Firebeard army over at the reconstructed city of Nogrod. His interest in masonry did not cease, as he kept on working as a stone-cutter of great skill. Aye, it must be mentioned that Fruni had not suffered from his voluntary exile from the battlefield, as his craft gave him great pleasure and recognition in the many years after the tragedy. He also continued his old habit of escorting caravans east, but now more for the joy of being away from home than for the anticipation of a battle. With Fingar's death, his mistakes seemed to be buried, as none spoke of it anymore. Though Fruni would continue to feel responsible for the events that shaped his family's unfortunate future, he could finally be a hero to his people again.

With age, it seems, came temperance -  much like the temperance of his father before him. Now the time has come once more to live up to his name.

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Music by Howard Shore and James Horner

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