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Thinlómien · 08-30-2006, 09:12 AM

Thin-Gloomy was hungry and tired. Having moved swiftly westward he had used most of his food. And of my strength too, he thought dryly.

And those were the reasons why he had ended up to the human settlements in Arthedain. It seemed the word was swifter than a darting bird of prey; the news of his arrival had arrived to the King from mouth to mouth in a few hours, when he was still pondering what would be the best place for him to stay.

He was taken to the King. The King was a noble man with piercing grey eyes and remarkable height. He seemed to be fond of pompous speeches. ”Hail you, o wanderer from distant lands! What be your name and where do you come?” Thin-Gloomy bowed down. ”I'm Thin-Gloomy the dwarf, at your service, your majesty. I am from the Iron Hills.” ”And what do you seek from here?” ”Nothing but a shelter and food, your majesty” the dwarf replied humbly. ”Ha! And that is what you shall get”, the King replied with a glint in his eyes. He turned to the servants who were awaiting their master's call in the sides of the big hall. ”Get this dwarf some good food from the kitchen and let him rest for a while. Then send him to me.” ”This a great honour, your majesty”, Thin-Gloomy said, bowing down again, though he did not understand what was happening.

------

”I have a mission for you, my guest”, the King announced. ”My own folk can't leave their duties, yet I desperately need to know the position of the army of Angmar.” The King made a little pause and looked at the dwarf. ”Will you go, Master Thin-Gloomy?” How typical of Kings! That was not a question, actually it was an order. And the dwarf had a debt of gratitude to pay. ”I will find the information for you, your majesty”, he said and sighed. The King smiled. ”Then you may stay here as long as you wish and be provided for. When you choose to leave, your food supplies will be filled.” Thin-Gloomy nodded. ”Well, will you go now?” the King asked impatiently after a while. ”Do ravens live in these hills, your majesty?” Thin-Gloomy asked.

------

”If you are ready to trust me on this serious matter, your majesty”, Thin-Gloomy said, ”then you must be able to trust these birds as well. They have been friends of my people for a long time.” The King looked sceptical, when Thin-Gloomy turned to young, beautiful raven with strong wings. ”I beg thee, that you go to thy people and ask them if they have seen a big army coming from the North. They are evil people, and will destroy these lands if they get here. They will destroy your homes as well as these people's. These people are the only ones who can stop this army and so we must help them. Go now, my winged sister, and find out where this terrible source of evil camps.”

The raven looked at him in the eye, spread its wings and flew away. ”There goes your scout, majesty”, Thin-Gloomy muttered, watching the black bird in awe and respect.

------

”North of the North-Downs, you say?” the King asked. He seemed to agree that it made sense, though he cast a pondering look at the young bird on the dwarf's arm. ”Yes. My sister here and her people tell me so. They have no reason to lie; the army of Angmar will destroy their homes as well as yours, you majesty”, Thin-Gloomy answered, ”And as for me, I couldn't provide you more reliable information myself even if I saw the enemy army with my own eyes. It would only take more time. If you trust a stranger, your majesty, you must trust his friends as well.” ”Wisely said, Master Thin-Gloomy. I trust your birds then, though I'm not sure if it bades well.”

------

When Thin-Gloomy left, he had rested and left with fresh food. Yet the most important thing he had gained was respect and trust. They were rare delicacies for the malformed and ugly dwarf. Maybe I'm not that bad, after all, he thought walking away from the city. He almost smiled. He was one step closer to the hoard.

08-30-2006, 09:12 AM	#132
Thinlómien Shady She-Penguin Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: In a far land beyond the Sea Posts: 8,093	Thin-Gloomy was hungry and tired. Having moved swiftly westward he had used most of his food. And of my strength too, he thought dryly. And those were the reasons why he had ended up to the human settlements in Arthedain. It seemed the word was swifter than a darting bird of prey; the news of his arrival had arrived to the King from mouth to mouth in a few hours, when he was still pondering what would be the best place for him to stay. He was taken to the King. The King was a noble man with piercing grey eyes and remarkable height. He seemed to be fond of pompous speeches. ”Hail you, o wanderer from distant lands! What be your name and where do you come?” Thin-Gloomy bowed down. ”I'm Thin-Gloomy the dwarf, at your service, your majesty. I am from the Iron Hills.” ”And what do you seek from here?” ”Nothing but a shelter and food, your majesty” the dwarf replied humbly. ”Ha! And that is what you shall get”, the King replied with a glint in his eyes. He turned to the servants who were awaiting their master's call in the sides of the big hall. ”Get this dwarf some good food from the kitchen and let him rest for a while. Then send him to me.” ”This a great honour, your majesty”, Thin-Gloomy said, bowing down again, though he did not understand what was happening. ------ ”I have a mission for you, my guest”, the King announced. ”My own folk can't leave their duties, yet I desperately need to know the position of the army of Angmar.” The King made a little pause and looked at the dwarf. ”Will you go, Master Thin-Gloomy?” How typical of Kings! That was not a question, actually it was an order. And the dwarf had a debt of gratitude to pay. ”I will find the information for you, your majesty”, he said and sighed. The King smiled. ”Then you may stay here as long as you wish and be provided for. When you choose to leave, your food supplies will be filled.” Thin-Gloomy nodded. ”Well, will you go now?” the King asked impatiently after a while. ”Do ravens live in these hills, your majesty?” Thin-Gloomy asked. ------ ”If you are ready to trust me on this serious matter, your majesty”, Thin-Gloomy said, ”then you must be able to trust these birds as well. They have been friends of my people for a long time.” The King looked sceptical, when Thin-Gloomy turned to young, beautiful raven with strong wings. ”I beg thee, that you go to thy people and ask them if they have seen a big army coming from the North. They are evil people, and will destroy these lands if they get here. They will destroy your homes as well as these people's. These people are the only ones who can stop this army and so we must help them. Go now, my winged sister, and find out where this terrible source of evil camps.” The raven looked at him in the eye, spread its wings and flew away. ”There goes your scout, majesty”, Thin-Gloomy muttered, watching the black bird in awe and respect. ------ ”North of the North-Downs, you say?” the King asked. He seemed to agree that it made sense, though he cast a pondering look at the young bird on the dwarf's arm. ”Yes. My sister here and her people tell me so. They have no reason to lie; the army of Angmar will destroy their homes as well as yours, you majesty”, Thin-Gloomy answered, ”And as for me, I couldn't provide you more reliable information myself even if I saw the enemy army with my own eyes. It would only take more time. If you trust a stranger, your majesty, you must trust his friends as well.” ”Wisely said, Master Thin-Gloomy. I trust your birds then, though I'm not sure if it bades well.” ------ When Thin-Gloomy left, he had rested and left with fresh food. Yet the most important thing he had gained was respect and trust. They were rare delicacies for the malformed and ugly dwarf. Maybe I'm not that bad, after all, he thought walking away from the city. He almost smiled. He was one step closer to the hoard.