Man of the West

Greathall of Thrain the Old (Mazarbul Thingstead)(#10049RntAU)

A long, rather bare looking hall, with all the plainness and quiet architecture of the dwarves that inhabit it and call it home. This is the main hall of the Mazarbul Clan, with personal residences branching off from it in regular intervals, and though the hall is always busy, and is filled with things of learning and lore, it is hardly a well decorated chamber. The stonework is simple yet complete, leaving no surface uncut or unlit by the many lights that burn here. Wardens stand at the rear entrance to the gate, as well as the door to the Chamber of Mazarbul, more for greeting and directing guests than guarding, though they look to be more than competent when it comes to the handling of their weapons.

Contents:

Dain (IC Khazad) and Morfinion (IC Human)

Obvious exits:

Sandstone Arch (NorthEast) leads to Greathall of Thrain II.

Oak Door (West) leads to Thane Agarhaz\'s Chambers.

Steel Portal (North) leads to Chamber of Mazarbul.

Long Tunnel (Southwest) leads to Clan Mazarbul Gate.

[Dain] With no sight nor sound of the dragon for nearly two weeks now, there is a hubbub within the Lonely Mountain that there has not been for some months. Even in the halls of the clan of Mazarbul, a relieved lightness is in the air as dwarves go about their duties in this late morning. Here, in a chamber off of the Greathall of Thrain the Old, is a smaller room, long and lined with perhaps a dozen beds. It is perhaps as close as Erebor comes to an infirmiry, for the learned scholars of Mazarbul gather here to care for any accidents or mishaps that may harm the dwarves of the mountain. One or two of the healers circulate now, dressed in their habitual white tunics, but the room is quiet despite the rising excitement throughout the rest of Erebor.

[Morfinion(#26663)]

Morfinion is displeased with being laid up for such a length of time and has made it known during the times he has not been trying to sleep through the vicious pain of his burns. Simply called Stranger by the dwarves, he is half-asleep at present and staring up at the ceiling of the makeshift infirmary that he inhabits.

[Dain] The door to the infirmiry opens, briefly bringing with it the echo of the hubbub outside, but it closes soon enough and the room quiets again, though not for long. For as the newly-arrived visitors - there are three in all - pause at the entrance to the infirmiry, the two healers going about their business seem suddenly flustered and quickly approach their visitors.

Of the three, there are two dressed in gleaming armour and bearing axes at their sides. The third is quite old, his white beard wagging near his ankles and his face heavily lined, but he is dressed very finely, with rings and chains about his person as is the habit of wealthy dwarves. Unlike other wealthy dwarves, however, this one bears also a heavy, gleaming crown. The healers approach their visitors quickly, bowing frequently, but the old dwarf\'s eyes rove beyond, fixing on the bed of the man half-asleep.

[Morfinion(#26663)]

Morfinion is keen-eyed and alert even in his convalescence. When the doors open and the new arrivals enter he sits up, propping himself on his elbow and peering cautiously in their direction. His gaze alights on the crown for a moment before he decides to sling his legs over the side of the bed, standing up with a suppressed but audible grunt of pain and offering his best approximation of a bow given his injuries.

[Dain] Low words pass between the healers and their king, but when the man stands to offer an awkward bow, King Dain pushes past the two white-clad dwarves, leaving his guards at the door. His footsteps are accompanied by a certain heaviness, but he walks upright and tall despite his great age. Nearing Morfinion, Dain waves at the man, gesturing for him to return to his bed. \"Lay back, stranger,\" he greets in a deep rumble. \"Your injuries no doubt give you great pain in adhereing to such formalities. Lay back, if you will.\"

[Morfinion(#26663)]

Glad to be relieved of social obligations, Morfinion lays back down when the King bids him to do so. Relaxing into the bed with a loud sigh, he still looks attentive as he turns his eyes towards the figure of the old dwarf at his bedside.

[Dain] Dain draws up a chair beside the man\'s bed and seats himself heavily. He eyes Morfinion for a second, seems to grunt in thought to himself, then straightens. \"I am Dain son of Nain, King Under the Mountain,\" says the king, as if he needed introducing. \"I understand you have done this mountain a great service. Have you a name, stranger?\"

[Morfinion(#26663)]

\"I do,\" Morfinion answers with a touch of regret in his voice, \"But I am oathsworn to keep it secret. I trust you will understand this.\" He shakes his head slightly after a moment, \"And my deeds are nothing that your dwarves would not have done had the beast not kept them besieged and unable to come upon it in secret as I did.\"

[Dain] The elder dwarf\'s brows lift in interest when the man gives no name, but he is silent until Morfinion finishes speaking. Then Dain frowns and glances down in thought. \"Secrecy in movement,\" he says, slowly lifting his gaze again, \"is not something my people are naturally given over to. You are correct that we should have attempted such a feat as as yours in time, even should the wyrm have kept its vigil, but the loss of life would have been greater. So I am grateful to you nonetheless.\"

Dain pauses, frowning down at the large man for a moment before continuing. \"You are oathsworn to conceal your name, are you also so sworn to protect your place of origin? I should take you for a Daleman, save that your apparel is plainer.\"

[Morfinion(#26663)]

\"I hail from west of the Misty Mountains,\" Morfinion replies, the tone of his voice suggesting that a more specific location will not be revealed by him, \"I hope you will forgive my rudeness within your halls, King Dain. But my oath is of the greatest importance.\"

[Dain] \"From the west?\" Dain repeats, surprise in his tone. But he does not press the man, instead only nodding in understanding. \"Very well, stranger from the west, you may keep your oath. Your service has at least won you that right. I shall name you only as a friend of the dwarves then. It is two weeks now and the wyrm has not returned, and for that the dwarves are in your debt.\" The elder king twists in his chair and waves to one of the armoured guards at the door.

\"You dress plainly, but if your poverty is forced upon you, then I should like to see it banished. We shall provide you bed and treatment as long as you need it, stranger, and food when you leave us, but we have also more lasting gifts.\" At that Dain actually gives a small smile. \"We are dwarves, after all.\"

[Morfinion(#26663)]

\"I would not ask for anything save the provisions and a place to rest,\" Morfinion answers with a slight shift of his facial features towards a smile for the first time, \"But at the same time I shall not refuse the famed hospitality and gratitude of the dwarves.\"

[Dain] Dain smiles again at the man\'s reply, revealing a hint of the mirth that lingers beneath the elder king\'s usually somber visage. \"Then you shall have it,\" he rumbles. The king\'s guard appears at his elbow and hands Dain something wrapped in cloth before retreating again. \"Whatever of our gifts you can carry shall be given you when you are prepared to depart, but if you take nothing else, take this.\"

Dain unwraps the small parcel, revealing a small golden medallion, perhaps half the size of a man\'s palm, and attached to a thin golden chain. It bears a symbol at its centre, like a coat of arms. \"This is the device of the House of Durin, a medallion given only to those have given great service to the dwarves of Durin\'s line. It will mark you as a friend where you go in my lands or the lands of Dale.\"

[Morfinion(#26663)]

\"This is a great treasure indeed,\" Morfinion answers, taking the package gently and looking it over carefully, \"I shall ever keep it close.\" He continues to look it over appreciatively, turning it around in his hands, \"The skill of the dwarves is manifold.\"

[Dain] Dain nods deeply. \"It has been said of the dwarves in the past that we make poor friends,\" he says. \"Let it not be thought so in the west.\" And with that he stands, though it hardly makes him loom over Morfinion. \"You will rest as long as you need, friend. Be sure that you are well ready when you decide to depart. The dragon has not been the only trouble in these parts of late and you will likely have need to defend yourself if you seek to return to your home in the west. Even now the dwarves are readying to march to the aid of the Dalelands - I myself leave within the week for Esgaroth upon the Long lake. I understand you are already armed, but our armoursmiths and weaponsmiths are available if you have need of them.\"

[Morfinion(#26663)]

\"If it would so suit your purposes, King Dain, I wish to travel with you to Dale. If the dragon will threaten them there then I shall remind it what steel prised it from its roost here to begin with.\"

Morfinion shifts slightly in the bed, \"I am a friend of the Dwarves and what true friend would let them march to war while he remains in convalescence? It may come time for me to depart and I will need to do so with little warning but until then I am at your service.\"

[Dain] Dain pauses, frowning at the man with an appraising eye. \"You believe yourself well enough? I was given to understand that your burns were no small matter. I will not say nay to a man with the courage to attack the accursed wyrm, if you are well enough to stand your own.\"

[Morfinion(#26663)]

\"I am ... hardier than most men,\" Morfinion answers with that same air of mystery, \"And I have not healed fully but these scars are great and I cannot lay about for months while I wait for their pains to lessen. I shall go with you.\"

[Dain] A hint of a smile tugs at the corner of Dain\'s mouth. \"Now that I believe.\" He nods, running a hand through his snow white beard. \"Very well, do as you will. I shall send word when we are prepared to depart. Until then, rest as best you can, man of the west.\" Then the king gives Morfinion a shallow bow and turns to depart.