[Hookbill the Goomba]

Dwaline grabbed Johns arm and looked him deep in the eyes. John saw something odd in his face, no longer the solemn distressed but full of fear.

"John there is something you do not realise," he said, "I do not have a son."

At this John sat, rather too quickly. He tilted his head as Dwaline told him this. He asked him what to make of this note. Dwaline took the parchment and read over it again.

"I can only assume," he said, "That this is an impostor. And I think I know who it was. Although, I cannot know for certain until I enquire with Fáinu. I believe it was the Dwarf who murdered my wife."

John was getting interested and now realised why Dwaline had been emotional, it had brought back all the memories of his wife. Dwaline took out his pipe and lit it. He coughed, more to clear his thought than anything else. Still with a stern look on his face, Dwaline decided he'd better explain the whole story.

"You were right, John. My nosing in other business cost me more than my life was worth." he began, "Many years ago, I discovered that a young Dwarf named Killil was plotting against Dwalin, who reclaimed the lonely mountain on the journey with Bilbo, and was a high power at the lonely mountain. When I reported this, I received much praise, but Killil was executed. I objected to this, but the Dwarf lords are stubborn. Killil's son, Fillil, swore revenge on those who had put his father to death. First, the hangman himself was found in the river, a rope about his neck.

"A few days later, the judge at the trial was found hung in his own room. All of his Gold and treasure had been stolen. After this pattern continued, I took action, seeking Fillil, for I suspected him. I came up with nothing, but upon returning to my home, found Fillil stooping over the body of my wife. He was laughing, and held in his hand my own Axe.

"'Ye fool!' he said to me, 'I now have the chance to avenge my father. You, Dwaline are the last name on my list. If you're wife had not found me here, she might be alive, but, plans must change.' enraged I wrestled with the young dwarf until I threw him down and pointed my sword hilt at him;

"'See here,' I said onto him, 'I will spare you're life, though you deserve it not. I prey that you rot in the deepest caverns.' I then took him to the jails and locked him away, after I had taken his right hand, with which he made the blow to my wife."

John was slightly confused by this. How could he have been in Rivendel if locked away in the jails of the lonely mountain? Dwaline got up and took his mug.

"I shall get us both a refill of ale," he said, "Then I will tell you the rest of this tale. And perhaps, you can tell me yours." With that, he went to the bar.