[Thenamir]

Thenamir gauged the speed at which Dwarin was climbing and figured he had a good half-minute or so to meander over to the tree. He was not pleased with the way Guthrin had quitted himself since they left Rohan, and thought a good scare might do him good, and thus was in no hurry to slow Dwarin down.

Taradan stared as Thenamir unhurriedly approached and pulled a small dagger from his boot. Thenamir barked a commanding, "Dwarin!" from where he was, but the dwarf showed no sign of slowing down. Guthrin had been climbing higher into the tree, but now the branches were dangerously thin near the top and threatening to break under Guthrin's weight. Thenamir eyed the distance carefully, then with a zing threw his dagger into the trunk in the narrow space between Dwarin and his prey. As the dagger hit home inches from Dwarin's outstretched hand, Thenamir shouted "Khuzd!" in a gutteral scream. Dwarin stopped short, looked at the dagger, then slowly down at Thenamir.

"Khuzd Dwarin!" repeated Thenamir, "Dzik bund mak shakr shathûr! Baruk khazâd narag nik tumun theket turg-bark ghethen zrakh! Baraz kharesh ai-mênu, Dwarin, buzundushul!" ("Dwarf Dwarin! Your head does not belong in the clouds! The axes of the dwarves are black and hollow to so slay beardless cowards! A red curse upon you, Dwarin, son of a black root!")

Dwarin's mouth fell open in amazement hearing the words of his people from the mouth of a man, but his face flushed red at the last remark, and he scrambled down the tree, leaping the last 15 feet and bringing his axe down to meet the drawn sword of Thenamir. As the metal and the eyes locked, Thenamir said in a low and menacing voice, "Your petty argument with Guthrin will not stop the Dunlendings, nor avenge those we love who are dead."

Dwarin jumped back as if shocked. Thenamir's thought had brought back memory of Aspida, whose last breath had admonished him to follow Thenamir and no other as a man of honor. Thenamir continued, "your axe will not be honored to draw the blood of one such as Guthrin. I say he has learned his lesson, and ask you to put away your axe. I chafe also at the cowardice and haughtiness of Guthrin, but to slay a man for churlishness is not the way of the dwarves, or so I have heard. If you would slay him, you must first slay me."

[ February 18, 2002: Message edited by: Thenamir ]

[ February 19, 2002: Message edited by: Thenamir ]