[Hookbill the Goomba]

"Ah," exhaled Dwaline, "It has oft been said in my home land that Hobbits praise good food and celebration over the treasures of all the world. I see that it is indeed true."

Examining Avalon, Dwaline smiled under his large beard. His bushy eyebrows and white hair had a familiar look to Avalon. Dwaline, however, did not seemed surprised by Avalon's words of being the only white crow he was ever likely to see.

"I once knew a very good white crow," he said with a slight chuckle in his voice, "Rark his name was. A faithful friend in my youth, he and his family were reliable bringers of news to the Dwarves of the mountain." his eyes seemed to stare off into the distance with happy memories, "Tell me Avalon, have you ever heard the name of a crow named Nelek?" Avalon was silent, "If you have, I would not be surprised. He was the great grandson of Rark. Nelek, son of Felm, son of Rark. He was the last white crow I saw, and that was a little over 70 years ago. So if he were alive, He would be old even by the count of Crows."

Dwaline had intrigued Avalon, he began a tale that he had heard and fitted together from many accounts. He fist asked her how well she knew the lands between the shire and the Lonely Mountain. She nodded and said it was good enough.

"Well," he began, "When he was but 10 years old, Nelek grew to a mighty crow, and was respected about his family and friends. He soon, however, grew tired of the mountain and so announced one day that he would leave. I begged him to stay as he was a good friend and reminded me of Rark. Still he decided to leave and never return. I know that he met with some unfriendly Spiders in Mirkwood and stayed a while in Thranduil's halls.

"Through many miss adventures over the misty mountains he came to the shire and was among the first of his kind to see the western sea. Desire grew hot in him to see where it ended. He flew out one day over the sea. Companions he had acquired on his journey watched him as he flew far into the sunset. They say he came to the undying lands. Some say Earendill found him near death and so he keeps a keen eye from his ship. Some say, rather that he died in the sea.

"But he was so strong in his spirit. he had flown so far, I believe that he did not die in the sea. I feel rather that he lives yet. It is a good story, no?" Avalon looked slightly impressed with the dwarf's tale.