The Dwarf stilled and then looked slowly around the clearing. He had sat up when struggling and as his gaze came to rest on the three of us, I found that his eyes were hard, but not unkind.
�You�re not Orcs.� His voice was deep, gruff, as if coming from the bottom of his chest. He spoke uncertainly.
Lanthir�s eyes narrowed. �No.�
I found my voice. �I�m a�� But the glance Lanthir shot me caused my voice to disappear once again. It was clear he wanted the Dwarf to know nothing of who we were.
�Release me, then.� The Dwarf did not ask; he commanded.
�We will not. Not until you have answered our questions.� Lanthir returned the Dwarf�s command with his own stubborn authoritarian manner. �Why are you here in the wilderness? It�s not near the haunts of your kind. What business do you have so far from home?�
The Dwarf snorted shortly. �It�s none of your concern, Elfling.� He didn�t say it harshly, but matter-of-factly. Lanthir however, bristled visibly.
�It is my concern, Dwarf!� He spoke derisively and stood straight and tall, his eyes lowered to the Dwarf as if he was beneath him.
�What is it to you, Elfling? Where I have come from and where I am going is of no importance to you.�
This was too much for Lanthir. He spoke shortly and angrily. �We find you here, bruised and bound in the middle of a wasteland no living thing enters while we are being pursued by wolves and unknown dangers! You are of the utmost importance to us. Reveal who you are or receive our help no longer!�
I wished Lanthir hadn�t said �we� and �us.� I didn�t want to refuse the Dwarf help or force him to reveal his intentions in the this place. Yes, I was anxious, but now that the Dwarf was awake, he struck me as an honest fellow, good and kindly. I was just trying to be brave enough to argue with Lanthir when the Dwarf sighed and nodded his head.
�I see that you fear me�� Lanthir�s eyes flashed and I sensed he didn�t like being associated with the idea of fear. The Dwarf didn�t seem to notice, but spoke on. �I see that you fear me and I observe the bandage on your arm which tells me you must be in the midst of danger as great as mine. I will tell you what I must to set your mind at ease. Perhaps then you will have some peace, young Elfling.�
Lanthir stiffened. �Then do so.� Yet he spoke under his breath indignantly, �Elfling indeed!� I thought only I had heard his last comment, but the Dwarf answered.
�You are quite young, Elf.�
Lanthir started, but quickly regained his composure. �You forget yourself, Dwarf. We are the ones in charge here. Speak quickly.�
The Dwarf took a deep breath. �I am afraid your danger is in part due to me. You have stumbled into my dispute with some Orcs. They raided my trove and took my most precious possession. What kind of Dwarf would I be if I let my enemy plunder my troves and not seek to restore what is rightfully mine? I have been pursuing them for weeks and only two days ago came upon them. I took back what was mine. They, however, would not rest and attacked me in this very glade. That is why you found me as you did. It is they who left me in such a shameful state.�
�Why didn�t they kill you?� Lanthir said this accusingly, as if it was a bad thing that these Orc creatures hadn�t.
The Dwarf snorted again. �Kill me? Then they wouldn�t find their treasure, would they. I hid it before they assaulted me. No, they wanted to make me speak the truth, but I would not yield.� I admired this Dwarf for his courage. While speaking, he had sat up tall, with his broad chest stuck out. �There were not enough of them to force me to speak. They left to bring back more of their kind. As I talk, they may be on their way back, so I ask you again to release me from my bonds. Then we may both be on our way.�
Lanthir did not have a chance to respond, because Priscilla interjected a question of her own.
�What did they take?�
The Dwarf looked away. �It is enough that you know it is mine and my family�s, and worth more than the whole of our realm.�
�Your family�s?� Lanthir asked. �You have close kin. Why did they send a Dwarf so old on their behalf? If I count your age correctly, you are nearing the end of your life.� Lanthir said this with obvious scorn in his voice.
It was the first time I had seen anger in the Dwarf. His eyes narrowed and he spoke slowly, dangerously. �It is a good thing for you that I am bound, Elfling. If my arms were free and I did not sense a true courageous heart in you, you�d feel my backhand on your check for such insolence. I am the head of my family, who but I was responsible to go?�
Lanthir stared back at the Dwarf with a wry smile. �If you tried to come near me for an instant, I doubt you�d get far enough to harm a hair on my head.�
�Perhaps. But I do not think it will come to that. I have told you the truth and now you know why I am here. You must take my word that I am no threat to you.�
Lanthir creased his brow. I knew he was thinking deeply. The silence grew long as our Elvish guide considered the right course of action. I found the Dwarf had moved his gaze to me. His grey eyes were searching me and I felt as if he were questioning me even with no words being spoken. After a while, he turned his look back on Lanthir.
�Whether you decide to believe me or not, it makes little difference. With or without your help I will be free of this rope. But I believe there is something I know that might be of value to you.�
Lanthir brought himself out of his intense contemplation. �And what is that?�
�Before I answer, may I be so bold as to ask what it is that you are doing in this wilderness?�
Lanthir laughed. �If I do not trust you to tell me the truth, do you think I would trust you enough to share that information with you?�
The Dwarf shook his head. �If you do not believe my mission at least believe this. While pursuing my enemies, I have seen one just as these two.� He nodded his head towards Priscilla and I. �Small, tiny they are. As if little Dwarf children. I had never seen them before and seeing them for the second time, I am surprised.�
�The second time?� I spoke loudly, excitedly and without waiting for Lanthir, questions rushed out of my mouth. �Where did you see a Hobbit? Who was it? Did they give you a name? Was it a Proudfoot?�
The Dwarf spoke slowly. �Hobbits. Yes, I have heard of them. Though I thought of them as myth.�
�You have seen a Hobbit here in this wasteland?� Lanthir was looking at the Dwarf with a critical eye. �Where?�
�A week ago. Above the Ettenmoors. Only it was a body, not living like these two. I assume this is whom you are seeking. Why else would you be here?�
I sat down hard. Dead. The Dwarf had seen a Hobbit, but he was dead. My heart was wrenched. Priscilla came near to me and sat down with her hand on my shoulder. Small tears appeared at the corner of her eyes.
Lanthir suddenly grew fierce and drew his sword. Abruptly, he placed the sword on the neck of the Dwarf. �If this is a lie, it is a cruel tale to loose on these two.�