Chapter Text
They were drinking tea in the sitting room even as the ships rose and the prows pointed south.
Killer pawed at Dwalin’s leg, which was very unusual for him. He was sometimes dopey, but often well-mannered.
“Wha’s up, pup?” Dwalin teased him.
“Love yeh, Da. Jus’ needed t’say it in people words while I still can.”
Dwalin looked like he swallowed his own tongue.
He wrapped his arms around Killer’s neck and hugged him.
“Love yeh, too, yeh mad thin’. Now go back t’ bein’ a menace b’fore yeh make me blub li’e a badger.”
Sundown might seem a strange time to leave Valinor, but It would take an entire day at full speed for the ships to reach the R’jiv.
“Remember,” said Carna, “we need to arrive at or after sun down, as that’s when the R’jiv are awake.”
Bard nodded.
“Probably not a good idea to bother them before they’ve had their coffee, or whatever they drink.”
“Tea,” said Dew. “Lots of tea. Almost as much at the Tin-Na. You have to try their moss variety. It’s beyond belief.”
Ori hoped that didn’t mean it tasted like dirt.
Many did go down to bed right away, to nap, at least, as dinner was still ahead.
Ori found himself restless and returned to the deck instead, where Bujni, Buer, and Zaris consulted on the chart images the array had made from their journey over the sea to Valinor, and then all over the continent.
Dipfa sat on a hatch a little ways away with her sketchbook.
Ossë and Uinen guided them, glowing seafoam green in the water, so they were easy to spot, even from a great height. The air at this altitude was breathable, but rather cold for the humans.
Ori noticed that the Ihn-K’zar crew wore different jumpsuits than before. The cloth hung on them differently, the necklines were built up to the height of their chins all around their necks, and came with matching hoods and gloves.
“Is this your doing, Dipfa?” he asked.
“Oh, yes, it’s something Boo and I worked out together. The suits each contain a tiny array unit that distributes warmth throughout the garment and its accessories. It works on what Boo calls dwarven biological principles. The colder it gets outside, the warmer the suit becomes. That includes a barrier of heat emanating from the neckline at the face.
“Boo is still working with King Ulfr on the mechanism which will produce more oxygen for flying in extreme altitude. For now, they’re to go below decks and their stations will be taken by dwarrow any time it becomes necessary.
“Oh, and they have to be careful how much they curse while they’re wearing the suits,” said Dipfa.
Ori could only imagine that barrages of expletives would somehow lessen the warmth of the suits. He rather doubted that, though.
“Er, Dipfa…”
“Yes, Lord Ori.”
“Why?”
“Why?”
“Do they have to be careful not to curse?”
“Oh! Each of the suits receives and transmits voices, like a two-way crowdspeaker. That was Buer’s idea. That way they can communicate and not have to shout. They don’t enjoy shouting the way dwarrow do. It’s quite perplexing.”
Miss Lael stood at the railing in a jumpsuit of her own, and watched the lights of Valinor fade from sight.
She gasped.
“This is the farthest I’ve ever been from where I was born!” she cried.
Ori said, “I know the feeling. The first time I left sight of Dale, I got a strange, blizzardy feeling in my belly. It’s excitement with a little edge of dread.”
“Yes!” she cried. “Yes, exactly! Oh, I need to go below and help Mistress Dazla with the final dinner preparations. I’m such a ninny! Even the idea of making dinner is exciting to me now!”
He smiled as he watched her go. He hoped she never lost that sense of excitement. She’d now seen pictures of the inside of Dale Hall, and spoken to Mistress Milgr via the array, and Ori noticed that Teyan appeared more often than before, and the dead dwarf and the living elfmaid chattered like hobbits about everything and nothing.
Among the Company, being dead didn’t lessen your chances of making friends.
Eventually, his stomach sounded its usual complaint of emptiness, and he returned to the sitting room.
A buffet had been set up along one wall.
Thorin sat in an armchair with his raybook open on his lap. From the speaker, Ori heard voices with a background of screaming dwelf.
“Kili,” Thorin asked, “are you wounded? You have blood all over your tunic.”
“No, I’m fine, Idad. Celeg is cutting blood fangs.”
Ori went around to look. If it was really a private conversation, Thorin wouldn’t conduct it in the sitting room.
“Fangs?” Thorin asked. “As in, more than one at a time?”
“Three,” said Kili, and he nodded enthusiastically. He looked terrible, but was somehow still his cheerful self. “He’s a Durin, so, you know, an overachiever. I’ve been sleeping days and Tauri’s been sleeping nights so there’s always one of us to walk with him while he screams like a dying moose.”
“Oin hasn’t been able to give him anything for it?”
“Believe me, Idad, no one wants to put their fingers that close to Celeg’s mouth right now. We’re feeding him at arm’s length. You should see him chomping his way through beefsteak. We don’t even have to soften the pieces for him.”
“Does steak help?” Thorin asked.
“More than the cram did. I’ve never seen anyone bite cram clean in half before. Have you?”
Thorin grinned.
“Your amad managed it, but only after all her first teeth came in.”
“We rubbed some topical pain reliever on him, on his back, so he can’t touch it. That takes the edge off, so right now he’s only middling cranky.”
If this was ‘middling’ cranky, what volume did Celeg reach when he was really on a tear?
Thranduil said, “He is lucky he’s a dwarf. Human and elf babies would be sick swallowing that much blood.”
“Then, I’d say he got the dwarf stomach, too,” said Kili.
“How did you and Tauriel parcel out your duties?” Thorin asked.
Dwarf parents rightly limited their time away from home when their badgers were cutting blood fangs. Three fangs emerging at once meant no one would blame even a prince of the line for staying at home and tending to his family first.
“Gimli and Legolas have been splitting my patrols between them. Binni has been taking most of my and Tauri’s meetings.”
“That’s a lot of work for Binni,” said Thorin.
“I thought it might be too much for them, too, but they’re kind of bored without Dori around. Also, they’re using it as an opportunity to scout new redecorating customers.”
“Of course they are,” said Thorin with a chuckle.
“Gilmur’s organizing our correspondence. I think we’re going to have to cave and hire a dedicated scribe, like Fi and Sig have. What?”
Kili turned and listened to someone at a distance repeating themself. It sounded like Oin.
“You changed his nappy?” Kili yelped. “Oin! You’re a bigger hero than Captain
Blackfeather! Idad, I should make sure Celeg eats before I crawl off to bed.”
“Kili, before you go,” said Thorin, “have you had any time at all for yourself during all this?”
Kili grinned and singsonged, “Yes, I-dad.”
“And what have you been doing, o prince of Durin?”
“I’ve been sparring in the training ring and taking archery practice. Oin takes care of Celeg while Tauri and I are out. Oin’s ‘selective deafness’ is big time useful right now. Tauri and I even get an occasional dinner alone together. We sit there and just laugh, and miss our badger. Parenthood is weird.”
“It is,” said Bard and Thorin at once, and then snorted at each other.
“Hey, Ori!” Kili hollered. “How’re you keeping?”
“Very well, thank you,” said Ori with what he hoped was a sympathetic smile.
“You know, Fi and Sig were freaking out because Duris slept all the way through the afternoon. Idad was just saying it’s because she wasn’t ‘in residence’ here while you were partying with the valar.”
“Sunny explained it to us,” said Ori. “Duris came back to the Halls as Durin IV just for the party. Udadel Mahal thought he, and Dazla, deserved some time together to talk, and not just have Duris babbling and spitting up on Dazla, not aware of who she used to be.
“Ummm, is Celeg going to be alright?”
“Yep,” said Kili, and he nodded. “If he’s dwarf enough to cut three blood fangs at once, he’s dwarf enough to survive not sleeping through any of it, but he’ll probably be sleeping a lot next week.”
Oin appeared with a red-faced and bellowing Celeg, and a thick slice of barbecue, which Celeg seized in his own fist and immediately shoved into his mouth.
The temporary silence was startling.
Oin chuckled and said,
“Righ’ now he only stops cryin’ when he’s eatin’, an’ he’s doing a lot a’ tha’, too… as yeh kin hear… or no’.”
They were whizzing along high above the sea late the next day, when Crowley leaned over the rail, then turned and shouted,
“Slow down or we’ll overshoot.”
The speed bled off quickly and everyone on deck peered over the side to see.
There was the Island of the R’jiv far below them.
“Bugger,” rasped Dain. “It’s still ligh’. They’ll be asleep.”
“We can remain where we are and study the area until what they would call a decent hour,” Thorin said as he and Bilbo came up from below.
Ori went to the rail with Dwalin and they both looked down. The airships were high enough that Ori could see into the depths of the sea.
The Island didn’t seem to have much of a shoreline, and beneath the waves the land sloped down quickly.
“Tha’ is weird,” said Dwalin. “Am I th’ only one who’s seeing this?”
“What have you found?” Thorin asked, as he and Bilbo came over to join them.
“The sea t’ th’ nor’wes’ side a’ the island drops off quick an’ deep, dark as yeh’d expect.”
Thorin nodded.
“While th’ sea t’ th’ east drops off just as quickly, but after th’ dropoff, the water doesn’ look tha’ deep,” Dwalin commented.
Thorin peered down.
“Interesting,” Thorin said slowly. “Why is it not as deep? It’s not so close to the Arda continent that it’s just a strait. The mountain is, literally, on its own in the middle of the ocean.”
Thorin turned as Bard, Thranduil, and Tilda came up on deck.
“Are we there yet?” Tilda asked and hurried over.
“We are,” Ori told her, “but it’s still daylight and too early for visiting.”
“Like stopping for a gossip before first breakfast,” Tilda nodded. “Rude.”
They heard the crew settling the airships into hover mode close to each other so people could move freely between the ships via the walkways.
Dain, with Bujni and Buer in attendance, began helping Sculdis, Ferenis, and M’agahn set up the array on a large table on the deck. Elrond and Lindir with Finarfin arrived carrying trays of tea and goodies.
Bard came to the side at Thorin’s gesture and looked over.
“It’s rather shallow to the east,” Thorin said.
Bard stared.
“That’s weird. Pretty sure I shouldn’t see bottom-feeding fish from this height.”
Dain bellowed for them and they joined the group at the table.
“Glad to hear you’ve recovered your voice, Dain,” said Thorin.
“Aye,” said Sculdis, “they kin hear him in Forochel, too.”
There was a wide, three dimensional projection above the table of what the cameras caught from the hulls of the airships.
Ori thought Buer and Bujni were showing off.
They all settled and looked.
Bujni began, “We are high enough that the cameras can pick out the far shore of Arda. This puts the Island of the R’jiv about a quarter of the way between Arda and Valinor. From the analysis of the area, the sea is startlingly shallow from Arda to here, then the usual deeper water of the sea resumes to the west.”
Buer touched a panel and the view changed to a topological map showing the depths of the sea in different places.
“How odd,” Finarfin murmured.
Ori scribbled then wondered what it would look like sideways.
“Our Bujni,” Dwalin said, frowning a little, “kin yeh turn it sidelong?”
Ori squeezed Dwalin’s hand in thanks as Bujni raised a brow at Buer, who fiddled with the panels. The view switched so they were looking at the shore of Arda with the waters, side by side with the island from the same height.
“It’s like a shelf,” Ferenis observed. “Arda slopes down, then there’s this shelf between it and the island, then another slighter decline from the mountain’s northwest slope and then the sea is of the usual variety of depth between two hundred to five hundred feet deep.”
“Perhaps it was ice?” M’agahn suggested. “There are legends that ice covered much of the north.”
Ori let his thoughts drift. He remembered when he had first walked the shores of Long Lake at the Inn with Dwalin before Thorin was crowned. Dwalin had been telling him about miners finding fossils of sea creatures in the mountain.
“Maybe it’s like when Erebor was under water,” he said slowly. “Except here the water hasn’t completely receded yet. Only the R’jiv island is sticking out, as it’s a mountain.”
“That’s a possibility,” Bard said thoughtfully. “We’ll have to ask if any fossils of sea creatures have been mined out of the mountain.”
Dain leaned over as Sculdis frowned and tapped a few panels. The view remained as it was, but lit up with different colors.
“Mahal’s bloody boots,” hissed Dain.
“Aye. R’jiv Tae’s all chert an’ banded iron f’rmations,” Sculdis said. “Look, we kin see the western par’ a’ southern Arda where th’ River Sool’m’gahn drains int’ th’ sea then the ‘shelf’ goin’ out t’ the R’jiv’s island. All tha’ sea floor’s made a’ th’ chert an’ banded iron includin’ their mountain then we have a natural drop off, with differen’ mineral composition t’ their west.”
“That is very strange,” M’agahn nodded.
“Look here,” Ferenis pointed to the shores where the River Sool’m’gahn reached the sea. “The river is very deep here and the array analysis shows that much of the river water drains down into the aquifer beneath the lands and the sea. So the R’jiv must be getting their potable water from that deep aquifer.”
“On the other side of the sea? They must be masters of stonework,” Buer nodded. “To be able to get through all that iron band and chert. Wonder what tools they use?”
“Aye,” Dain added, “An’ wha’ they usin’ t’ power ‘em?”
Dew and Carna arrived and Sculdis gave them a quick rundown of what they had found out.
Dew and Carna looked at each other.
“They have never offered gems or fine stone to trade,” Dew said. “At least not that I recall.”
Carna shook her head.
“No, but that is not to say they do not have fine things to trade.”
“Might we have a closer look at the mountain itself?” Thranduil asked.
Buer and Sculdis rearranged the cameras and the mountain showed as looking from above in the slowly sinking sunlight.
“The surface looks like a crumpled up heap of brown paper,” Bilbo commented.
The cameras focused in closer. The mountain was shaped much like a large cone with a smaller one crushed almost completely into one side. They could all see a thin trail of smoke coming from the smaller peak.
Both were almost completely devoid of vegetation. No wonder they didn’t feel waves of residual heat on the ship. There was nothing down there to hold then release it.
Sculdis frowned and tapped the controls. The focus went to a ledge that shaded a small area. In the depths they could all see a few scraggly bushes and something like moss that grew in the furthest back under the ledge. Throughout this were what looked like reddish brown boulders, though very regular is shape and size.
“What are those?” Finarfin asked.
“I have no idea,” Dew said. “Is it possible to view them closely?”
The cameras refocused and they all leaned in. Now they could see that the ‘boulders’ were very wide, and about three or four feet tall, and came to a cone shape at the top.
“Are those…?” Carna began.
“Are those weird plants?” Ori asked, taking in what looked like arrow-shaped bark covering the sides of the boulders.
“That is the weirdest looking bamboo I’ve ever seen,” M’agahn gasped.
“It is bamboo!” Dew cried. “Red Bamboo! No wonder it’s so expensive! If it only grows under ledges like that!”
Thorin frowned and rose to peer at the array projection.
“Those bushes,” he said.
The focus changed to the bushes.
“Creosote,” Thorin murmured. “It grows in the desert beside the Stiffbeard kingdom. Do the R’jiv trade in perfumes?”
“Why yes,” Carna said.
“That’s how they make it,” Thorin said, nodding. “And Ti ‘am mentioned moss tea. Would that be the moss?”
Dew sighed,
“Unfortunately we don’t know as they never told us. If so, we can assure you the tea is delicious.”
“I’ve no doubt,” Thorin chuckled. “Using moss must taste better than lichens.”
“Speak for yourself, Oakenshield,” Thranduil murmured.
Everyone giggled and looked closer.
“Hmm,” Sculdis muttered. They mus’ have other ledges li’ tha’ t’ harvest enough f’r tradin’.”
“Do you think they water the plants from beneath the mountain?” Finarfin asked.
“Tha’ or they’ve fog oases,” Sculdis said. “They’re right next t’ the sea an’ the heat’ll draw up th’ water an’ th’ fog’ll condense in those cooler areas under th’ ledges.”
“Guid t’ know,” Dwalin nodded.
The array continued to map the mountain as they all watched and discussed the area. There were many more ledges and within its recesses, more strange red bamboo, moss, and the creosote bushes.
The cameras began with mapping the top of the mountain then moved down. The ledges were larger as they neared the wide base.
Under the largest they could see very shiny buildings coming out of the mountain side.
“Look a’ tha!” Dain rumbled. “Greenhouses li’ wha’ we go’ a’ home! Looks li’ they’re glassed in wi’ mica.”
“They traded with us for that,” said Dew. “We assumed it would be for windows, and they were, but this is a very clever use of it.”
The cameras focused closer.
“I can see plants,” Bilbo reported.
“There’s a cavern!” Ferenis squeaked excitedly.
There was a long low cavern at the foot of the mountain. Ori saw the waves flowing in and out of it.
“That must be the entrance to their realm,” Thranduil said.
The cameras took in the shoreline around it. Here a few shrubs clung around the cavern entrance. They could see some pale flowers which Thanduil said were seagrass flowers.
They were so busy examining the new place via the array, that when Ori looked up it was dark.
The slopes of R’jiv Tae were steep, and what little they had for an entry would never accommodate three enormous airships. The R’jivs’ own, oceangoing ships were docked in the flooded cavern under the mountain.
Bard was excited to hear that they had developed rigging that was easily laid down when ships were at dock, and pulled into place once outside the mountain, but it meant that the ships had to leave the cavern with the outgoing tide, and return as it rose. Or, they had to row.
Ori had no idea how they were ‘going ashore’.
Crowley, Aziraphale, Uinen, and Ossë appeared on the deck and laughed at them.
“Oi, peeps!” Crowley addressed them. “Pull the ships back a bit then hover just above the water’s surface. We’ll arrive that way. While you’re doing that, We’ll go and let the R’jiv know you’ll be here soon. Give ‘em an hour before you come int’ sight.”
“Yes,” Dori cried, coming on deck. “And that will give all of you some minutes to get washed and dressed.”
People went back to their ships and the bridges between were withdrawn, then the airships turned and flowed back aways.
Ori, with Dwalin, went to their cabin. They helped each other wash and dress, then did each other’s hair. Killer lay on the bed watching while Garnet and Quartz sat on his back and made commentary about what their dwarrow were choosing to wear.
“You’re going to wear that?” Garnet asked Dwalin archly, as Dwalin put in Ori’s braids.
“Me uniform? Aye. Yeh wan’ me t’ go skippin’ through in me skivvies?”
“Would be funny,” Quartz mused.
“Aye, a laugh riot,” said Dwalin dryly
He smiled fondly as he put the earring of blaze stone in Ori.
“This’ll be ane thin’ they don’ have,” he murmured.
By royal decree, no one but Ori was allowed to wear it. Nor could they sell it, or trade for it.
If Ori ever had doubted his place in Thorin’s affections, this would have put paid to that.
The embargo on trade of the stone didn’t keep people from going to the place where the healing orbs were made and chipping off pieces of it where it built up under all that flowing majick; but if someone wanted a finger-long piece of it as a good luck charm, as long as it didn’t come from the great wall of blaze stone near Dale, the crowns were content to look the other way.
The Company gathered on the decks in their finery.
Dori gave the twins each a small ‘spit bath’, as if there was a smudge anywhere on either of them, or their amethyst tartan jumpsuits. Then Dori turned to do the same to Ori, who raised his eyebrow, and Dori threw their hands in the air and muttered,
“I tried. Mahal knows I tried.”
The maiar and the Tin-Na had given them advice as to what to expect of the R’jiv, and what to do, and certainly what NOT to do.
“Though, Idad,” said Frodo, “I don’t know how Sam and I would look them in the eye, even by accident.”
For the R’jiv, looking someone square in the eye was reserved for family and very close friends. Looking anyone else in the eye constituted a challenge to fight to the death.
Really, it was best to address someone’s chin.
“It was a bit of a problem when we first started trading,” Dew admitted. “They are a little taller than us, and rather round and soft-looking, but do not let that fool you!”
“They might just be terrible chipmunks,” Bilbo murmured to Ori, and giggled.
“Now, Daughter,” said Red Queen to Scarlet Princess, “you must remember that these people are not like our Durin flock.”
“Yes, Mamma.”
“And we have it from Dew and Carna that it is frowned upon to shout across the dinner table. And to speak with one’s beak full is right out!”
“Yes, Mamma. I’ll remember to swallow. But, no shouting? Their table must be very quiet.”
“Perhaps, like Bonebreaker kind, they derive greater satisfaction in listening to the crunch.”
“Oooooh. Looking for things we have in common! You always tell us to do that, Mamma.”
“Yes, for example, it may bring them comfort that Bonebreakers, like themselves, do not eat other living persons.”
Ori thought they could all derive comfort from that.
The airships skimmed at about ten feet above the waves. The Raven in the lead with the Battle Boar and the Dipfa close behind. Buer’s tiny lights wound around all the railings and up all the rigging. Ori couldn’t help but grin when he saw that the mithril nets also had the little lights woven into them.
The Raven was decorated in Durin blue lights while the Battle Boar had red and yellow and the Dipfa green and orange.
Ori thought they must look very fine, gliding silently across the sea like this. He turned as he heard Bujni state,
“This is the Beebeesee. We are reporting from the airships as we approach the Realm of the R’jiv people. First, some images from the hull cameras to show you the Island.”
“Oh, look!” Dori cried. “How pretty!”
Everyone saw that the cavern ahead was now flooded with light and four long, stout ships came out of the entrance. The ships raised their rigging once they cleared the opening and the Company saw each ship was very large with four masts each and long rectangular sails of dark blue.
Thorin stood ready with Dew beside him and Carna beside Bard.
“Is the color usual for the R’jiv sails?” Thorin asked.
“Er, no,” Dew said. “Their sails are usually a pale yellow. I believe they have tried for Durin blue.”
“I must compliment and thank them immediately,” Thorin said thoughtfully.
“What a lovely gesture.” Dori seconded.
As the R’jiv ships drew near, they saw that the sails were for show right now, as each side of the R’jiv ships had a full complement of rowers. They rowed to the beat of a deep, bass drum, and someone called out maneuvers. The R’jiv glided up and circled around the area below the airships. From the prow of the lead ship, a pale man in dark blue robes called out.
Thorin nodded to Dew, who hurried to the side and replied.
Dew came back,
“They shall escort our ships to the entrance, then we may anchor there and disembark onto their ships.”
“Excellent,” Thorin replied. “Make it so, Lord Bujni.”
The airships lowered to hover just above the waves and moved slowly forward.
At the entrance of the cavern, the R’jiv sailors of the first two ships dropped their sails and the boats slid into the cavern.
The airships stopped and the other two R’jiv ships slid between them to the entrance.
R’jiv sailors threw out ropes and the two ships were tied fast to the entrance. The Raven turned sideways and the mechanical plank slid out and lowered to the deck of one of the R’jiv ships. The man in the dark blue robes hurried forward.
Thorin went and stood at the top of the walkway and raised his arms to shoulder height and gave one open-handed wave with both hands.
“Nee-how yan-day-gae R’jiv Tae!” he called out, smiling.
The sailors on both boats cheered and laughed then called the first word back.
“What did he say?” Tilda hissed.
“He said ‘Hello people of the R’jiv Realm,” Ori hissed back.
The old R’jiv man in the dark blue robes replied in westron,
“Hello people of Arda. The yan-day-gae R’jiv welcome you kindly to our home.”
Thorin led the way down the gangplank and the man eagerly held out his arm to Thorin.
They clasped wrists.
The ancient-looking R’jiv man had piercing black eyes beneath his magnificent white eyebrows. They were bright, and it was very obvious he missed nothing.
A very high forehead rose from them, into a bald pate. Pin straight, white hair flowed from just above his ears and joined with his beard down to his ankles.
He reminded Ori of Tharkûn.
There was even a staff to complete the image, though the man stooped a little, and leaned on it, so it probably served a practical purpose, other than just as a weapon for smiting annoying people.
What Ori originally thought was a blue coat with a stripe and some dots, was a blue coat patterned with cunningly wrought rectangles with R’jiv script embroidered inside them, and the stripe a wide gold sash that held the robe closed .
Thorin nodded to Dew who immediately told the man who they were and that he and his wife were the Tin-Na-Lan ambassadors to Erebor in Arda. The man looked delighted with Dew and gave an arthritic version of the Tin-Na-Lan bow to Carna. Then he beamed at Thorin and began speaking.
“I am Dakt,” he said. His westron was accented but quite clear. “I am the leader of the Entrance City, which is our capital, and high priest of all R’jiv Tae. I am very happy you have arrived here safely in your beautiful ships.”
“Greetings to you, Head of the Entrance City,” Thorin replied graciously. “We are all delighted to be here, and thank you and all your sailors for their escort of your lovely ships with their fine blue sails.”
Dakt actually chuckled.
“We wanted to show your color in welcome, King Thorin.”
“I am honored, Head Dakt. Please convey my pleasure and thanks to all who escorted us.”
Thorin turned to Bard.
“This is my brother King, Bard of Dale. Our kingdoms will be one when we abdicate as Bard’s eldest, Crown Princess Sigrid, is married to my nephew and heir, Crown Prince Fili, who are currently rejoicing in their first child, who was born less than a year ago.”
Bard gave Dakt the open-handed gesture and said,
“Nee-how, Head Dakt.”
Thorin stepped forward,
“Head Dakt, have you heard of what we call the array?”
The word caused murmurings among the sailors as Dakt’s eyes lit up.
“Yes, we have! Some of our people who do trade with Arda have seen it aboard ships, and the cameras that connect to it. It is one of the reasons we have invited you here. We wish to become more active in our part of the world. The Emperor of the Tin-Na-Lan was kind enough to send a copy of the treaty all of you of Arda and the Tin-Na signed. We are most eager to discuss such a treaty with the allied realms, and to negotiate, as the Glorious Ma’ati, Empress R’jiv, has willed.
Thorin inclined his head and gestured to Bujni, who hurried forward.
“This is Lord Bujni Oinuil, the son of my cousin, Healer Oin of Erebor. He is currently broadcasting our meeting to all our allied realms. Is this comfortable for you and your people?”
“Of course!” Dakt’s eyes gleamed as he took in the camera resting on Bujni’s chest. He leaned in a little and said, “Greetings, Arda!” Then he continued to Thorin, “Please come, we shall conduct you to our place of public meeting, and there we can talk and get to know one another better. And then… we eat!”
The air ships detached and withdrew a little ways.
The two R’jiv boats were turned and rowed toward the cavern shore opposite.
When Ori craned his neck, he saw a mass of people around the edge of an immense harbor, all waiting, all looking at them. They were all seated on cushions placed on risers so all could see.
Music of wind, string, and drum instruments began to play. Ori listened intently. There was a strangeness to it, but it was also heavily influenced by the Tin-Na people. Ori tried counting the beats to measure next to the wind and strings, but wasn’t sure how they fitted.
“Cycle a’ five,” Dwalin’s voice said in his head.
Ori concentrated and the rhythm fell into place. He squeezed Dwalin’s hand in thanks.
As they neared, people began to cheer and wave long streamers dyed dark blue.
“Interesting,” Dipfa murmured. “They appear undivided in the crowd, but they’re really separated by their clothing colors and design choices, even the dressing of their hair. Mistress Carna?”
“You are correct,” said Carna. “Their clan styles are distinct, but there is much more to it than that. You’ll soon see.”
The boats arrived and sailors, who were dressed in something like trousers and short coats, crowded forward and made the boats secure. A bamboo walkway was locked to the deck and the end resting on the cavern platform covered in matting dyed with beautiful brightly colored symbols. On this stood six other dignitaries all of whom looked impressive.
Four were obviously mature people, but two of them seemed startlingly young.
The five males dressed similarly to Dakt, though in different colors and patterns, with their hair shoulder length and precisely clipped. Some had facial hair, but all shared a similar build.
The sixth, Ori thought was female. She wore an under robe of a contrasting color and pattern to their outer robe, which was open at the front, and her sash was wider. The others had pouches attached to their sashes. The woman wore a pieced-cloth bag on a long strap from one shoulder down to the opposite hip.
Her hair fell loose past her knees.
Seven clans, Dew had said.
If these were all clan leaders, including Dakt, only one of them seemed happy and at ease.
He wondered if Dakt had made a unilateral decision to invite them in. As far as he knew, they were the first outsiders ever invited to R’jiv Tae.
The people all around them began to sing.
Flutes and other wind instruments wove through the words, binding together the unfamiliar five-count pattern.
Ori glanced over at Thorin
The king’s eyes sparkled over his unstoppable smile.
Ori sent a prayer to Mahal that this visit would go well, and be everything Thorin wanted it, and the R’jiv needed it to be. They were all aware that the Ardites could visit and leave in a moment without losing anything, but the R’jiv felt desperate.
He heard Dwalin in his mind.
“ They’re lucky it’s Thorin they’re dealin’ wi’, an’ no’ Thror. ”
“ Thror would never have gotten on an airship, ” Ori replied in kind. “ He would never have allowed one to be built. ”
As the song finished, Thorin thanked them through Head Dakt, and spoke of their gratefulness for such a warm welcome.
They were directed down a broad avenue between the harbor offices, with what Ori thought must be single-storey sailors’ barracks, then little shops, on each side. In any case, the buildings seemed to be bamboo frames wrapped in rough cloth, closer to permanent tents, and the shops had open fronts, the goods offered in large piles on the ground, and occasionally on tables.
And there were people, R’jiv along the sides of the avenue, peering from the doorways and around the sides of the buildings, even from rough ledges higher along the walls, everyone cheering and waving banners.
The avenue ended where two natural walls nearly met, and beyond them, an open space lit by torches burning an unfamiliar smelling oil.
The open space reminded Ori of a training arena, with its circle at the center, its benches and water spout at floor level for the combatants, and a hallway across the circle that went off to what was likely a place to bathe, relax, and for the treatment of any wounds.
Rough circles of carved out seats for spectators rose steeply all the way around, in eight sections divided by steps. Two of the eight sections were much wider than the others, and another one backed onto a more shallow cavern, open to the sea.
“This is the great audience space of the R’jiv,” said Dakt. “We gather here for meetings, and to hear opinions, but also to play music, to dance.”
“And, to train for combat?” Thorin asked.
Dakt nodded.
Dakt gestured to each clan as they entered behind the Durins, and introduced the dignitary in charge of it, and then that clan filled in a section of seats. The final space that backed onto the water held similar seats for the visitors.
Ori looked around and saw what Carna meant.
One of the two largest sections was entirely filled by grown women, and that was where Deyen Tu, the lone female clan leader, sat. The other large section held men, women, and children, apparently family groups. This was Dakt’s clan.
Three of the smaller sections for R’jiv were entirely occupied by grown men. The last R’jiv section was filled by sailors and what looked like other warriors, led by Master Zel, the military head.
If Ori focussed, he could see that, though they were dressed and coiffed entirely the same, some of the sailors at least were female.
Ori made note of it, as much as a puzzle for himself to figure out as a fact.
Bujni asked permission to open the array and Dakt nodded. Bujni went to an aisle between two clans and set a projection part of the array on the floor and came back with the controls.
The other guests were seated and served steaming tea.
The cups were cylindrical, obviously bamboo, and held in the palm by a built in base because the heat of the tea seeped through the cup walls.
Ori recognized the scent of the brew as young needle sprouts of a pine tree, though there were no pines here, as far as he knew. His first sip was a revelation, as the refreshing pine gave way to nearly floral notes, and a sweet, honey-like finish, though the tea itself was unsweetened.
He heard people gasp in surprise all around him.
Dew, seated behind him, leaned forward and asked, “Is it not wonderful? It’s like nothing I’ve ever tasted. I am almost being disloyal, but it is equal to any tea I tasted in Tin-Na-Lan.”
Meanwhile, Bujni tapped on the array controls then said clearly,
“This is the Beebeesee. The Company of the Second Royal Tour has arrived here in R’jiv Tae, and we are enjoying a warm welcome from the people. Head Dakt of the R’jiv has graciously given his permission and the array is open.”
The projector beamed upwards and a viewing panel the size of one of the clan sections opened roughly fifteen feet above the ground in a ten by twenty foot projection and boxes began to open.
All around the projection perimeter, even larger boxes appeared, each containing a ruler. Ori grinned to see that despite the lateness of the hour every ruler was splendidly dressed and on their thrones. Fili and Sigrid sat on the sofa in Durin House while Duris snoozed on their laps.
The R’iv gasped, chattered, and some stood up in wonder. True to form, the people of Arda, Tin-Na, and Valinor called out greetings and waved.
Ori heard the same words over and over: ai een.
“What are they saying?” he asked Dew.
“It translates as: the world,” said Dew.
Several Tin-Na and Umbari sailors called out to friends and there was a break in formalities while people greeted friends, introduced others to them, and gossiped.
While Ori sketched and wrote, he noted that Thorin and Dakt had their heads together with Dew and spoke quickly and quietly.
The discussion ended with Dakt nodded vigorously and saying aloud,
“I am looking forward to it very much, my friend!”
Thorin, Bard and Dakt rose and walked to the middle of the open area. They looked around at everyone talking and laughing for a few moments then Thorin raised his voice to battle pitch.
“My friends, if we may have your attention.”
The R’jiv stopped and stared.
Ori wondered if they knew anyone who could project their voice as Thorin could.
In the ensuing quiet, Thorin smiled.
“Thank you. First, I would like to thank all of the R’jiv people for their warm welcome and kind hospitality. Up until now I have only heard rumors of your moss tea and now having tasted it, I highly recommend it to all. It is delicious.”
“Brilliant!” Dain bellowed. “Tastes li’ th’ freshes’ pine buds.”
While Dakt translated, Bujni switched the focus on the camera and his cup of tea immediately dominated the projection. There were ‘ooo’s’ and ‘ahhhs’ from the array before Bujni switched it back.
Thorin nodded thanks to Bujni then turned to Dakt and gestured to him.
“My friends, my people, this is Dakt. He is the Leader of the Entrance City, which is their capital, and high priest of all R’jiv Tae.”
All the R’jiv saw the people bow from the array and the leaders inclined their heads, smiling.
“Please, my friend,” Thorin invited Dakt to address the people on the array.
Dakt cleared his throat and looked at all the faces on the array.
“Man-hau tung foon-jing. Greetings and welcome as we say. We are all very happy to see you from the outside world. We know so few of you, and we wish to become better acquainted. I am Dakt as your kind king has told you. I lead the R’jiv and am guided by our Goddess Ma’ati, Preserver of our people. May her name be praised.”
All the R’jiv said something which Ori interpreted as the answer to the invocation.
Dakt went on introducing each of the clans and what their duties were.
Thorin and Bard exchanged a look and Bard then introduced the leaders of their allies.
When it was Theoden’s turn, the Rohan King was beaming. He clasped Harriet’s hand and introduced her as his betrothed.
The array nearly exploded with cheers and the Company as one leapt to their feet applauding, cheering, and teasing.
“I shall personally make your blueberry jubilee!” Dori cried. “When’s the ceremony?”
Harriet and Theoden grinned at each other and Harriet said,
“When you get here, Dori.”
Dori squealed.
“Yes,” Theoden laughed. “All is ready and when your tour arrives here we shall all celebrate.”
There was more cheering and as word was translated and spread, the R’jiv joined in on the congratulations.
Once things calmed down again, Thorin introduced his Company. On finding out Bilbo was a scholar and the author of Captain Blackfeather’s exploits the R’jiv cheered for him, making Bilbo blush and Thorin almost burst with pride.
Thorin introduced Dain and as one the R’jiv shouted,
“Dain!”
Dain swelled with pleasure, rose and bowed.
“Yeh’ve heard a’ me. Guid. Here’s me delicate jewel o’ a bride, me Queen Sculdis.”
Sculdis rose, laughed, and greeted them. Chopper pushed forward and oinked loudly sending the R’jiv into whoops of laughter.
When Thorin got to Violet, she bounced forward to clasp hand with Dakt and the other dignitaries, chatting happily.
“Yes, I’m a dragon but I only look like this. I hope all of you like oatmeal raisin cookies because I have baked enough for everyone.”
There was silence as Herzog was introduced and stared at.
A child’s voice sounded. Dew and Carna choked on laughter. Dakt blushed and muttered to Thorin, who laughed.
“What was the question?” Herzog asked, looking amused.
Still a little red, Dakt said,
“One of our chicks, he is very young and means no offense.”
“And?” Herzog said teasingly.
Dakt swallowed and said,
“They asked how much you eat at dinner?”
The Company laughed heartily and Herzog grinned with all his teeth.
“My people were wanderers and did not have much in the way of food until we came among the Durins. Since then the Blessed Bearer is bent on fattening us up. I am required to eat everything on my dinner plate when it is put before me until the Blessed Bearer has decided I am fat enough. I have yet to achieve their desired fatness.”
“I could see all their ribs when we met,” Dori cried.
Thorin introduced The White City Bang Crash and Snog and the R’jiv began calling out to Dakt, who looked harassed.
“Friend Dakt,” Thorin grinned, “both bands assured me they would be happy to play for your people.”
Dakt turned and shouted something that Ori thought meant “Happy now?” to the resulting cheering.
The ravens and Red Queen were introduced next and they came out of the Company group, so people could see them.
“We are all delighted to meet you,” Red Queen rasped, “Before we arrived we took a flight over your island. It is altogether fascinating.”
Both Letty-pie and Pork waved their wings, nearly every child waved back.
Roäc introduced his accompanying ravens and explained how they had worked with the dwarrow through the ages.
“They’re a lot of work,” said Roäc, “but they’re mostly worth it.”
There was a great deal of murmuring then a few whistles.
Hummingbirds appeared and flitted about the ravens.
“Our birds can make many musical sounds that seem a little like our language,” Dakt told them, “but they do not speak as you do.”
Roäc cawed and creaked at the hummingbirds then snickered.
“They do speak,” he told Dakt. “They speak very fast and they say your people need to catch up.”
This made everyone chuckle.
Dakt looked at Chopper and the wargs.
“These er… furry people?”
Ori could imagine that the R’jiv would wonder if this was not simply another sovereign race of Arda. He supposed, in a way, they were.
“Animal companions or pets,” Thorin said.
“Pets!” Dakt cried, opened his wide sleeve and dug, then produced what looked like a gray-brown bunny with a long tail and shorter ears. The face was a little more boxy than a rabbit’s and the body much rounder.
“That is a beautiful creature,” Thorin said as he and Bilbo leaned forward to look.
“Are they friendly?” Bilbo asked. “With wargs you hold out your hand so they may sniff you as a greeting.”
“Yes,” Dakt nodded.
Bilbo held out his hand to the creature which snuffed him interestedly then gave a big hop. Bilbo caught it and it began snuffling his face and neck.
“And its whiskers tickle just like a warg’s!” Bilbo laughed, stroking and hugging the creature.
Dakt looked pleased enough to pop.
“That is Chia, and he likes guests very much. He also liked to be scratched between his ears.”
“Oh,” Bilbo chuckled, “we can take care of that right away.”
Thorin nodded to Dwalin, who brought Killer up to Dakt and the other dignitaries.
“Sit a’ be nice,” Dwalin said. “Shake hands like yeh know how t’ properly.”
Killer sat on his haunches and offered a paw to Dakt, who was delighted to shake. Dakt stroked Killer and then put his fingers deep into the fur. The other heads drew forward to marvel at how thick the warg’s fur was. Killer enjoyed this and gave Dakt’s entire face a friendly swipe of his tongue.
“Sorry,” Dwalin said, quickly to Dakt. “No slobberin’, yeh beast,” he hissed at Killer who looked a little contrite.
The R’jiv were all laughing hysterically along with Dakt, who wiped off his face.
“He likes yeh,” Dwalin said by way of an explanation.
The other heads immediately began patting Killer, commenting on the texture of his fur. One began scratching Killer behind the ears and Killer collapsed on the ground, showing his belly and wagging his tail, making eager noises.
“Chia does that!” Dakt cried and the heads immediately plopped on the decorative matting to give Killer belly rubs. One of them hit the right spot and Killer’s leg galloped. Apparently Chia and other viskacha had the same habit and it was considered cute here as well.
Dwalin face-palmed.
“Warg diplomacy,” Thranduil teased as the others immediately dug in their sleeves and pulled out two more viskachas, a lizard, and a large cavern spider which looked to be made of glass.
Chopper pushed forward to see what was going on and was given the same love, making him snort approvingly. The R’jiv could barely stop laughing as they petted him.
“They think his snout’s funny lookin’?” Dain asked.
“Er…no,” Dakt said, then blushed. “It’s funny to us as Chopper’s er…natural grunts and other noises are considered to be stylized, funny sex noises.”
The Company roared with laughter as Dain threw back his head and groaned.
“Position twenty shall haunt you forever, Dain!” Bard teased.
“Shurrup,” Dain groused. “I ain’t ‘splainin’ Kivi t’ any a’ them.”
“There’s a copy of Ori’s annotated edition among the presents,” Bilbo said breezily.
Dain nudged Finarfin,
“Ten coppers says me wee dumplin’ popped tha’ in.”
“Not taking that,” Finarfin replied. “Too easy.”
Dakt looked at Dew, who said ‘dumpling’ then gave an explanation.
Dakt’s eyes lit up and he said ,
“We have dumplings here, too. They are sweet with honey. They are called gow-tzu, which is also an endearment.”
The Company chuckled and Dain beamed.
“Aye, Dori here’s me younger siblin’, so I call ‘em dumplin’.”
This was declared ‘cute’ or ‘dak-tzee’ making Dori giggle .
Dori brought Puff forward and she was recognized from pictures as a Tin-Na temple dog.
The R’jiv were also familiar with cats from the Tin-Na as Eridani brought Beans forward.
Dis followed, displaying Rutile on her hand. Rutile waved to everyone and bounced on her legs.
Dis leaned down to Pork and Norbet hopped out of his in his aerated dome onto her other hand.
Thorin explained that both spiders were capable of speaking but their voices were so soft it required the array to hear them.
“How did you speak with them before you had the array?” Another dignitary asked.
Thorin looked at Dis, who smiled naughtily.
“They can write,” Dis told them.
The dignitary who had the transparent spider edged a little closer.
“Spiders are not often friendly to each other…” he began.
Norbert leaped from Dis’ hand back into his dome and began spinning with his legs going in all directions on the touch pad. The array spoke.
“Hello, I’m Norbert. My amad, Rutile, says she is happy to meet your friend.”
The dignitary and Dis extended their hands toward each other. Everyone watched intently and the two spiders looked at one another. Rutile bounced a little, flexing all her legs. The other paused, then did the same.
Rutile jumped to the ground as did the other spider they ran around in a small circle and looked at each other.
Dis put down a piece of paper from her pocket and added Rutile’s ink, which was a tin box with an ink-soaked fabric inside.
Rutile hopped on the fabric then danced across the paper.
Dis grinned at Bujni who focused the camera on the paper while Dis read what Rutile had written.
“Greetings people of R’jiv Tae. I am Rutile.”
The other spider watched this then had a bobbling leg-and-antennae waving discussion with Rutile.
The spider then hopped around on Rutile’s ink pad and leapt to land on the paper. The spider then made rapid tiny hops while spinning in a tight circle, to the point where it seemed the spider was almost vibrating. One by one, left to right, down and up, R’jiv characters appeared. The dignitary, nearly weeping with delight, read out.
“Greetings guests. I am Gai-leng Gezi-chee.”
Cheers rose from the cavern and the array.
“We knew they were very intelligent,” Dakt cried, “But this is unprecedented.”
Finally Thorin smiled and beckoned to Ori.
“Now last but certainly not least, I understand that the two adventures of Lord Ori have been translated into your language.”
Wild chatter commenced and both Dakt and Thorin had to work to get people to calm down.
Dwalin came and put his hands on Ori’s shoulders.
Thorin smiled at Ori.
“Here is my royal scribe, the Scribe of Mahal, Lord Ori.”
Silence.
“Nee-how and hello,” Ori chirped in the stillness.
There was a crash of applause and the volume of the cheering almost raised the cavern ceiling.
Ori felt himself turn beetroot as he heard the laughter of the Company and those on the array.
The R’jiv were on their feet, shouting questions and praise. Thorin and Bilbo beamed at him.
“One a’ a time, “ Dwalin bellowed. “Me husband’s only go’ two ears an’ one mouth.”
Ori forced himself into his Open Court manners and said,
“Thank you all for your kind support and, as I can see her on the array, please render your thanks to Miss G ‘ran, who translated and illustrated the scrolls sent to you. I am very grateful to her for all her tireless work.”
Miss G ‘ran’s eyes were like saucers. Ori thought she was sitting with her family, who were pushing her forward. She shuffled closer on her knees and made a profound obeisance.
She was cheered and complemented until she turned raspberry and grinned foolishly at Ori, who nodded to her with a big smile.
Thorin, Bard, and Dakt murmured together then Thorin said to the crowds,
“Questions?”
The R’jiv stared and looked at each other, not sure how to proceed
The other rulers laughed and Hild called out,
“King Thorin, how old are you?”
“Dear little cousin,” Thorin said, “I am exactly 31 days older than you. And,” he turned to the R’jiv, “one inch taller.”
Everyone giggled.
“I am one hundred and ninety-five,” Thorin said with a smile. “Next?”
“Do you have a map of the known world?” a R’jiv woman asked. Dakt grinned and beckoned the woman forward.
“This is my wife, Atima. She is a much praised cook,” Dakt said proudly.
“I am delighted to make your acquaintance, Mistress Atima,” Thorin said. “I hope you are willing to give my own husband some time to chat as he is also very fond of cooking. To answer your question, we do. Our trip allowed us to use the camera to map our travels. Lord Bujni?”
Bujni had the projection show the current maps of Arda with each kingdom, then Sinya asked for one including Valinor.
The images from the hull cameras showed it along with Bujni including a small bar that showed the measurement of one mile with the corresponding measurement of the Tin-Na.
After this was admired, Thorin spoke again.
“We did keep track of our journey from Valinor to here and if you wish, we can show you that as well.
There were yells of agreement. Bujni called up the image of Arda and its western coast and Valinor were shown.
“And your island is right here,” Bujni announced.
The island appeared as a red dot.
Yelling ensued as everyone discussed where they were on the map and where everyone else was.
Bujni tapped the controls, so each capital city was a red dot as well.
Ori could see everyone on the array leaning forward to see the map closely.
“Lord Bujni,” Dakt said eagerly. “Were you able to take images as you approached our land?”
Bujni smiled and the array showed the place where the Island had been sighted. As the airships had lowered, the mountain came closer and then the focus showed the close views of the mountains. The thin trail of smoke from the lesser peak and the various ledges and greenhouses.
“Now we have a few questions for all of you,” Thorin said. He turned to Bujni.
“The mineral analysis, if you please Bujni.”
Bujni explained how the array could analyse rock and soil and changed the focus to the images of the shore of Arda, the River Sool’m’gahn draining into the sea and the sea between the Island and the western shore of Arda.
Sculdis came forward and explained how the rock formations were displayed.
“We’re righ’ curious as to the shallowness a’ the sea between the River Sool’m’gahn an’ yer island. Wha’ kin yeh tell us o’ this?”
Sculdis waited, then chuckled as she realized the R’jiv were still taking in the image and discussing it.
Dakt beckoned a young woman from the crowd and she came up to the group in the middle. She raised her open hands to them, and bowed her head.
Ori saw she had Dakt’s bright, black eyes. She dressed in a robe identical to his, and her hair was pulled back into long braids.
“My granddaughter and acolyte, Amita,” said Dakt proudly. “She also studies the rock formations.”
Thorin grinned over at Ferenis and M’egahn.
“A new friend for you two.”
The girls squeezed each other’s hands and looked eagerly at Amita.
“As you have shown in your rock map,” Amita said. “We have two types of stone, which you called iron and chert. With the iron, we can make steel using a crucible. Which, I think, is something like your forges. The smaller peak with the smoke is where this work is done. Of the shallow waters between Arda and our land, I apologize, for I can tell you nothing except it has always been that way since the Great Catastrophe. Our legends tell us that the Great Goddess Ma’ati, may Her name be praised, turned disaster to plenty, as it gives our fishermen ease of catching food for us.”
Sculdis and Thorin exchanged glances, mouthing catastrophe, but Sculdis went on.
“Guid t’ know. We didna see anythin’ like a lava point, but yeh do seem t’ have hot water springs. Wha’ yeh do abou’ drinkin’ water?”
“Oh,” Amita smiled. The water is cooled then boiled and is then pleasant to drink, though we do tend to make tea instead of drinking it plain.”
“Aye,” Sculdis smiled on the young woman, “Nuthin’ li’ a guid cuppa. I’m righ’ partial t’ yer moss tea now tha’ I’ve tried it. Kin yeh tell me wi’out offense, wha’ yer burning f’r the crucible?”
“All waste,” Amita told her. “That which has no further use is given to the flames.”
She and Dakt shared a look, then Amita continued.
“It is a part of our culture that once the dead are dedicated and prepared, they also feed the fire that gives our people life.”
Bard nodded.
“We do something similar in Dale. When we get to the subject, I will happily show you.”
The R’jiv looked pleased. Ori thought that it helped that Bard offered the same information that was given to them. It was shared so the conversation remained balanced.
And on it went, two questions for the Company, then they asked two.
These ranged from information about the array, to when Emperor Ti ‘am was going to visit.
Theoden and Harriet showed off Master Eorl.
Fili and Sigrid showed off Duris who snored throughout her introduction. Gorp popped in to bellow at Tireek as to whether he was eating properly.
Fili and Sigrid laughed helplessly while Tireek blushed and Herzog face-palmed.
Stonehelm showed off Beaky and Wee Snort. The R’jiv were delighted and laughed uproariously when Bump shoved forward and bawled into the array.
“Sit yersel’ doon, Bump,” Dwalin called.
“His name is Shield,” Thorin explained, “but my dratted cousin insists on calling him Bump.”
“Yer jus’ fussin’ as Bump likes blackberries,” Dwalin told the R’jiv. “Tha’s our King Thorin’s fav’rite food. He’s protective a’ them.”
Thorin shot him a sour look.
Ori glanced over and saw Atima , Dori, Eärwen and Dazla having a quiet conference. He didn’t have to wonder long about the subject as Atima went up to him beaming.
“Husband, we and our guest have all greeted one another and been introduced. It is time for the feast.”