[Folwren]

Bror looked at Riv, considering his question. He broke his gaze for a moment to look over towards the elvish camp. Then he sighed and looked down towards the ground. Skald had not yet made any reply and Riv waited for one or the other of his brothers to speak.

Thoughts fled through Bror’s head one after another. This was a difficult and terrible choice to make. He remembered the council that the King had called when the Dwarves had decided to help the elves in this hopeless war. He had wanted to go out and fight. He still wanted to. But Riv had always been there to lead him. And now Riv was going back. If he stayed, it would be without him, and maybe even without Skald.

Bror shook his head and kicked at a half buried rock in the soil. He had to go beyond his fears and do what he thought was right for him to do. He had to go and fight, even if both Riv and Skald went back home. Well, at least someone would be waiting for him if...no - when he returned home. Hope wouldn’t be given up yet.

Finally, Bror formed his reply and raised his eyes once again to Riv’s face.

‘I want to stay. There are Dwarves to guard our homes, and you go back to help in that endeavor as well. I will go on with the reassurance that whatever happens, back home will be safe. You’ll be there with your family, and with our father and mother, and when I come back, I’ll return to a fire and music...not to dark and silence. I’ll fight to help drive this dark army away and scatter it. Perhaps the bright elven city can still be saved. I would like to see it. One more time at least.’

Riv’s eyes locked with Bror’s in a unbroken gaze for several seconds. Bror wondered if he guessed the reasoning behind the decision, or if instead he saw the fear of being separated, regardless of the show of bravery he had tried to put up. He couldn’t help it, though. His eyes dropped and he broke the gaze.

Don’t let my hope by in vain. I want to see him again.