Ovor Speaks...

Greathall of Thrain II

A magnificently huge hall, full of light, sound, and dwarves coming and going, conversing with friends or haggling with traders. This was once the Feasting Hall of Thrain, and then, the room Smaug hoarded Erebor\'s wealth in. The walls and floor have since been repaired, and even improved, glowing a soft blue in the light of the crystal lamps hung from the hematite ceiling. Every surface the eye can find is smoothed and polished, proving that the dwarves have not yet lost their famed touch in stone working, save for one spot in the center of the floor, marked off by a ring of simple stones: a charred spot, a legacy of Smaug. The four clan gates exit from this hall, the hub of Erebor\'s society. It is still used as a feast hall on High Days, but day to day serves as a market for those without permenant demesnes in the Trader\'s Way.

[Ovor(#20753)]  It is mid-morning outside the Mountain, and a good time for breakfast. There are many amonst the Dwarves that live under the Lonely Mountain that is Erebor that are having the same meal. But not all of them, no. In the Greathall of Thrain II, there are still Dwarves going about their business, and a small group of Dwarves joins them from the Zinbar Arch.

It is not difficult to identify who they are: at their head is the Thane Ovor, while behind him are both Khaur the Old and another Elder: Giloin Keeneye. They move amongst the stalls of traders, looking at this item and that while carrying on their own discussion.

A movement in the crowd catches Hildis\'s attention. She looks up, her hands still on the stone carving she was polishing with a soft cloth. With a signal to the other dwarf working with her she moves out from behind the stand smoothing down the rich green of her gown, quickly patting her braided beard threaded with green stones. She moves through the crowd with the practised grace of someone who belongs among the traders and merchants with her chin held high ignoring the stares of the other merchants.

\"Thane Ovor, sir!\" she calls pitched to reach his ears.

[Ovor(#20753)]  When the call reaches the Thane\'s ears, Ovor frowns as he pauses in his conversation the two Elders pause as well, looking to their Thane. With an eyebrow arched slightly, the Thane turns, eyes sweeping over the other Dwarves to find who it was that called him. \"They better have a good reason...\" Is all the Thane murmurs to the Zinbar Elders.

The Thane\'s displeasure is not lost on Hildis. She swallows and closes her eyes as though offering a brief prayer and a space opens for her amidst the bustle. She stands before him and curtseys low, her gown billowing around her, her beard rippling among the folds of her skirt.

\"Sir, if I may have a moment with you,\" she asks with careful courtesy.

[Ovor(#20753)]  The Thane arches an eyebrow once more as Hildis approaches and speaks. He remains silent for a few minutes before his voice rumbles out. \"And what is it that I may help you with, I wonder?\" Khaur, who has a book at his side held by a fine strap of leather, simple snorts softly and mumbles into his beard about beardlings. Giloin simply continues to look at wares.

,

\"I...I...,\" her moustache covers her mouth, she bites her lips so hard to control herself. \"I believe you must remember me Thane. I would, I have...please, sir, with all respect on my part, could you help me with some questions I have?\"

[Ovor(#20753)]  \"Speak clearly, beardling, and do not stumble on your words.\" Says Khaur, almost snapping out his words before he snorts once more. \"It will make things much easier.\" Ovor sends a glance at Khaur before looking back to Hildis. \"Hmm... where would I remember you from, I wonder? But, at any rate,\" A hand is waved slightly, as if dismissing the question. \"What are your questions?\"

Perhaps Hildis\'s eyes flash displeasure at his manner but she is careful to hide it, curtseying again. \"I was arrested and imprisioned for carrying a letter sent by one Ranor. Now, he is leaving or has left the Mountain.\" Yet despite her own anger or perhaps because of it, she takes a deep breath to be able to continue. Her voice is a soft baritone both puzzled and sad. \"How could something deemed to be serious enough for me to be imprisoned be treated as nothing with his being released, sir?\"

[Ovor(#20753)]  \"Ranor is not of my clan, so I could not tell you. I also did not know that the letter was sent by Ranor for if I recall correctly, if you are Hildis, you would not reveal who the sender of the letter was, correct?\" The Thane arches an eyebrow for a moment. \"Your questions would be better asked to the Lord Gimli or to Ranor\'s Thane.\"

\"Yet, I did tell who sent the letter when I understood he would not own it himself,\" her face floods red as she says that. \"Were you not told, sir?\"

[Ovor(#20753)]  \"Given the current relations between Bundazanul and Zinbar, it is hardly surprising that I was not told.\" Remarks the Thane mildly, his rumbling voice quiet for a moment. \"At any rate, Zinbar is hardly invovled in the investigation. Filur is, as he is helping the Lord Gimli search for whomever the letter was to be delivered to.\"

Hildis looks at him, hope still in her green eyes,\"Yet, Zinbar imprisoned me. And then seems to wash its hands of the consequences. This is not the justice or values I have heard spoken of in same breath as Zinbar. That would be speaking ill of a great clan,\" her voice quavers slightly as she finishes but she holds her chin high.

[Ovor(#20753)]  \"You were never held in a Zinbar cell, beardling.\" Says Khaur before the Thane can respond. \"You were given into the hands of the Narag by Filur there is a difference. You were imprisoned by the Narag, while a Zinbar merely ficilitated it. If Ranor is, indeed, the one responsible for sending the letter, then you had best tell the Narag. You can rest assured that word will reach to Filur\'s ears of it.\"

Giloin speaks now, for the first time. \"Filur has certainly not washed his hands of it, but it is not a matter that concerns the clan as a whole. Filur is more than capable of tending to the matter. Only when he seeks the help of the clan will it become a clan matter.\" Here, Ovor nods slightly before he speaks once more.

\"Aye, they have the truth of it. Though I know full well what Filur has done and is doing, he would be the one that would handle it on behalf of Zinbar. I have trust in my Elders, lass, to handle such matters without needing to consult me every step of the way. I could take no action against Ranor even if I wanted to he has not wronged Zinbar directly. You must remember that Braldor has declared that no Bundazanul speak to a Zinbar which would mean Filur could not have stopped it even if he wanted to. It would seem Bundazanul is more to blame than the Zinbar.\"

\"Yet the ban has been lifted,\" the Barazin maiden says after waiting out each of the elders. Her gaze moves to each of them as if seeking to understand why she seems so unimportant to them. She frowns at the mention of Filur\'s name, shaking her head minutely. \"And Filur has not informed you of something that even the Narag thought important enough to investigate. I was put in the Narag prison to avoid further clan tensions or so I understood when I was stopped. I do not seek blame sir, only to understand.\"

[Ovor(#20753)]  \"Has it indeed? And when did this occur?\" The Thane arches an eyebrow slightly. \"For no news of it has reached me. Nor have they, to my knowledge, attempted to get in contact with us to resume trade between clans. And we know well enough what it is the Narag investigate, at least when we last heard Filur did inform us as to the contents of the letter, after all.\" So says Ovor, a slight frown upon his face. \"Have the Narag investigated Ranor?\"

\"I do not know, sir. I do not know. I thought perhaps you would since...at least for me, this all began with being stopped by Clan Zinbar,\" anxiety make her green eyes bright as she looks up at him.

[Ovor(#20753)]  \"Then you may wish to speak to the Narag about it if Ranor is involved in any manner, he needs to be questioned. We will, of course, give word to Filur of the matter, so he may do what he can from our end. That is as much as we can promise, however. Ranor is not Zinbar and we would not like to ruin our chances of mending this whole matter with Bundazanul by... taking the matter into our own hands.\" So says Ovor.

Hildis bows her head to him. \"I believe that our clan elders wish the best for all of us. I am sure that Filur will keep you informed,sir. I know the fate of one maiden among the great matters that concern the clans does not count for much, yet I have only your justice, that of my clan and the Narag to depend upon...thank you for your time, Thane.\"