[Arry]

Skald let Bildr take the lead while he fell back to talk with Bisi. The two Grimsteel brothers were twins and his closest friends in the western caverns. They were engravers like him; though most of their work was done on the metalwork of helm, shield, and weapon. Bildr was the first born of the two by the very small space of a few moments and claimed himself the leader by virtue of it. It was natural that he should head up the little group of companions and lead the way.

Spirits were high as they walked along, and none of the Dwarves in Skald and Bror’s company complained of being tired. There were jokes and singing and brave curses against the Orcs as they trod the main east-west roadway through the cavern. A sense of camaraderie and boldness prevailed as is common among young men who go to battle. And if there were fears, none showed - save by the way that even here in these safe havens of Moria they might clutch their weapons a little tighter when the Orcs were mentioned and speak their oaths against them with a little more force than needed.

Bror, Skald could see, was enjoying the company of his friends. They buoyed each other up with their lighthearted merriness. In one of those moments that happen between siblings, Skald felt a deep affection welling up as he looked at his little brother. Then a shiver crept between his shoulder blades, though no breeze blew in the caverns, disrupting the pleasant sensation.

Mahal and my right arm see you through this! he vowed quietly to himself.

On his left, Bisi spoke to him, asking him some question, and Skald pushed away for the while his feeling of foreboding . . .

- - - - -

Near morning found the Dwarves well past the halfway point on the road. A short ways to the south was the workshop of the Brassbeards and next to them the Hardhammers. Skald picked up the Brassbeard cousins, Fastor and Grimsi; Bildr went on to the other forge and brought back the three Hardhammer brothers – Manni, Vetr, and Tef.

Grimsi Brassbeard, seeing they companions looked rather tired despite their protestations, brought them back to the Brassbeard quarters and fed them. Full bellies and a few mugs of ale and soon the Dwarves who had marched through the night were taking their rest, sprawled out on the great bear rugs near the common room hearth.

- - - - -

In the late afternoon, Grimsi woke them and the group, now swollen to fourteen, proceeded on their way. By late evening they were near the Eastern gate, about ten miles from the doors. ‘Let’s stop here,’ Skald said. ‘The Hardhammers have an uncle with quarters nearby. We’ll get a good night’s sleep and arrive at the gates tomorrow morning, well rested. Riv and Uncle Orin should be along soon after that.’