The Identity Quest-Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Erebor! 

Six days after starting from Mirkwood, Melda and her friends arrived at Dale. Bard the Bowman had rebuilt the town and became the king, since he was descended from the kings of Dale in olden days. His son, Bain, ruled there now; but he was beginning to feel the pains of old age. It was expected that he would soon turn the crown over to his son, Brand.

Dale was impressive. It was an important trading center between the Wood-elves and the Dwarves, and now was both happy and prosperous. Marvelous goods of all sorts were made there* and shipped down the river to Laketown or went up to Erebor.

*Those who have read The Lord of the Rings might remember that the “marvelous crackers” that Gandalf brought to Bilbo's Birthday Party came from Dale.

Melda was awed. Laketown had seemed large, but Dale was twice and half again larger than Laketown! Great towers rose up on each corner of the city. The walls were high and in good repair. The Battle of the Five Armies had not yet been forgotten! The Orcs had been taken care of for the most part in the intervening years, but the people were still wary. However, farms now lay in the lands nearby. It was autumn, and the harvest was in full swing.

At Dale the three friends obtained more provisions, then went on to Erebor. They were accompanied by a dwarf who knew Linwen, since their Wood-elvish escort would not go beyond Dale. It did not take them more than a day's journey to arrive thence; even though they were on foot, it was not a hard, nor a long, road. So it was that on the seventh day from their starting in Mirkwood they arrived at Erebor.

Erebor was no less majestic than Dale; indeed, it was more so! The Gate was wide, with pillars on either side. It was just about to open; the sun had risen over the horizon not more than five minutes before. On the Gate was inlaid in gold the design of an anvil and hammer surmounted by a crown with seven stars. The mountain rose up almost as high as the eye could see. It was scored with paths, doors, guardhouses, and the like. Guards stood at the Gate with axes and pikes and bright mail. Their helms glinted in the morning sun.

Melda and Galenloth were awed. Linwen was also, though somewhat less; she had seen the mountain more than once before, if never at sunrise.

“I never knew that such majesty and grandeur existed,” said Melda softly.

“And power,” added Galenloth. “The mountain radiates overwhelming might.”

“You will never see the like,” said Linwen, “for although 'tis said that Gondor is splendid, nothing can compare with The Lonely Mountain.”

They walked up to the Front Gate as the doors swung open.

Inside, Erebor was just as imposing. Dwarves' tread could be heard on the stone floors, their heavy boots clunking loudly. Rich hangings decorated the walls in the corridor leading to the throne room. Great pillars rose up to the high ceiling and merged flawlessly. Melda and Galenloth gazed at the lofty heights and soaring ceilings; they had never seen the like before. Linwen led them on until they reached the doors leading to the throne room. These were inlaid like the gate, with the crown of Durin surrounded by seven stars over a hammer and anvil in gold.

“King Dain will open his audience chamber soon. He receives visitors for two hours about an hour from this time usually, “ whispered Linwen to the other two. They waited, watching the dwarves begin to go about their morning business. Two dwarf-children were playing in a hall nearby; you could hear their laughter. They walked out into the open space where Melda, Galenloth and Linwen were standing.

“You go, Nara,” whispered one. She nudged her companion.

“No, you go, Naugwen!” the other, presumably Nara, whispered back. This went on for several minutes. Finally Naugwen came up to where the three friends were standing. “Greetings,” she said in Dwarvish.

“Greetings,” the three friends replied.

Melda and Galenloth were eager to see what Dwarves looked like, so they looked at Naugwen curiously. She was not very tall, about 4 foot 11, with blond hair and bluish-green eyes. She was wearing a dark blue dress and brown leggings; the dress was almost a tunic in length. She wore boots, something that seemed strange to Galenloth; Wood-elves wore only light shoes.

Naugwen, in her turn, had never seen a Wood-elf, or even a half-elf before. She looked over the three standing together near the door. They had on long tunics, almost dresses, just past the knee, that were green and trimmed with brown. Their leggings were brown, and they wore light shoes that were almost moccasins. The tallest had long brown hair well past her shoulders and brown eyes. She wore a belt of leather with a metal clasp; the clasp had a strange symbol on it. The other two were about the same height; one had brown hair, and the other had golden-red. The one with brown hair had green eyes. Her belt was purple. The other girl, the one with the golden-red hair, had green eyes also. Her belt was a light turquoise-blue.

“I am Naugwen,” said the dwarf who had greeted them. “This is my friend, Nara.”

“I am Melda,”

“I am Galenloth,”

“and I am Linwen,” finished Linwen.

“Have you ever been to Erebor before?” asked Naugwen after a pause.

“No,” answered Melda and Galenloth.

“Yes, I lived here for many years,” said Linwen. “Have you ever lived elsewhere?”

“No,” answered Naugwen and Nara.

“Are the three of you sisters?” asked Nara.

“No,” Melda answered, “though Linwen and I are first cousins once removed.”

Linwen nodded. “Are you and Naugwen sisters?” she asked.

“No, we are not,” Naugwen replied, “though we may act as such from time to time.”

At that moment the gate opened. The hall inside was decorated with hangings on the walls, carpet on the floor, and gems inlaid within the stone. The throne was near the far end of the room. Linwen lead the other two to the edge of the red and purple carpet surrounding the throne, then halted. “O king, we have a request to make,” she said.

“What is your request?” the king asked. His face was grim and stern, but not unkind.

“I bring two of my friends from Mirkwood, O king, where I went not yet four months ago. They have near kin here, since they are descended from Dwarves and Elves both, ” Linwen replied. The king mused for a moment. “Come up next to Linwen,” he commanded Melda and Galenloth. He spoke in the Common Speech, thinking not that they understood Dwarvish. “Who are your parents?”

They looked at each other, then Melda spoke. “O king, I am the daughter of Ranfea and Tolowen.”

“And I, O king, am the daughter of Tharir and Calmire,” finished Galenloth.

King Dain mused again. “I have heard of Tharir and Calmire,” he said, “and also of Tolowen. But Tolowen merely visits once a year. And Ranfea is a Man. Calmire visits at times, though it has been several years since last she came here. What are your names?”

“I am called Melda, O king,” said Melda.

“And I, O king, am called Galenloth,” said Galenloth.

“Galenloth, you are half Dwarf, and therefore welcome to our halls. Melda, I must consider your case. In the meantime, you may stay with Linwen and Galenloth. Do not leave them until I have given my verdict,” the king told them.

The three bowed, and made their way to the doors. As they were leaving, one of the guards asked her something teasingly in Dwarvish. Melda answered him fittingly, and was about to leave when King Dain said “Halt!” They did, and turned to face him. “When did you learn to speak Dwarvish?” he asked Melda. She looked at Linwen and Galenloth.

“What should I do?” she mouthed.
“Answer me!” the king commanded.

“I taught her, O king,” answered Linwen after a pause. “Galenloth also.”

“My mother had begun teaching me a few words, but I knew very little until Linwen taught me. We made certain that none overheard,” Melda added hastily.

The king mused. “If your mother saw fit to teach you some words of our tongue...” he broke off and was silent for a time. “You may stay and learn here,” he said at last. “However, beware lest you betray our secrets. They are not for all ears. And Dwarves have long memories.” With that, he dismissed them.

When they left, they saw that Nara and Naugwen were still lingering outside. “Do you have a chambers yet?” Naugwen asked.

“No,” answered Galenloth, “although Linwen does, I think.”

Linwen nodded. “We have spoken to the king, and he will give orders for chambers to be prepared for them.”

The Dwarves gathered for a hearty supper at eventide. The tables were well laden; Dwarves consume large amounts of food, when they are hungry (which is almost always). Laughter echoed in the halls as the mead was passed around. Soon Melda felt that the day had really failed and night had come. She glanced nervously at the boisterous dwarves. Some had already had their fill of mead, and Melda thought that more would go down that path as the night wore on. “Linwen!” she whispered. “Had we not best leave before the night wears on farther?”

Linwen glanced around the room. “A wise plan. I had nearly forgotten, in my joy at returning, how wild Dwarves can be when lost in mead.”

The three friends went up to Linwen's chambers. A dwarf was waiting for them. “Rooms have been prepared for Galenloth and Melda. I will show you to them,” he said. The three followed him first to Galenloth's rooms, then to Melda's. Both were close to Linwen's; Galenloth's were four doors farther on, and Melda's were six down in the other direction. “These will be your chambers for the duration of your stay,” their guide told them before he left.

Melda looked around her room. It was bare of any decoration, save a tapestry depicting Durin, one of the seven Dwarf Fathers, as he walked the earth in the dawn of days. There was a fireplace at the far end of the room. A bed stood in one corner, a dresser in another, and a table and chair in the middle. There was a torch-bracket on the wall, and candles stood on the dresser and table.

The table had writing utensils on it, along with parchment; Melda wondered why. She went over and looked at it. The topmost sheet of parchment was a map of Erebor, not including the mines. As she examined it, she began to suspect that she would need it the first few days in that new and confusing place. She crossed over to the bed. Freshly washed sheets covered it, and the pillow was soft. Looking in the dresser, she found two complete outfits. “These Dwarves are certainly not miserly hosts!” she thought. Since the night was wearing on, Melda went to bed. Wondering how they told time in this windowless place, she soon fell asleep. 

Bell