Lanthir lowered his sword. �I will lead them wherever I must.� Raising his sword again, he brought it down hard upon the thick rope that bound the Dwarf and in one swift stroke, the rope was split apart. The Dwarf stood and stretched his arms up to the sky. Then, he walked shakily to where I sat and put his hand on my other shoulder.
�I, too, have lost kin.� He spoke softly, tenderly. �More than possessions have been taken from me in the past. You have no choice now but to continue on. Persevere. Do not let your enemy defeat you.�
I looked up into the Dwarf�s grey eyes, but had no answer. It had to have been one of my family he had seen. Was I too late? Had they already perished and I had not been there to save them? I cursed myself silently for my foolish delay in starting out. If I had followed Aewvaran�s instructions earlier, this never would have happened.
Lanthir knelt before me. ��One who begins a path never to finish it is not worthy of trust.� We do not know but that the rest of your kin is alive. We must continue and finish what has begun. We must go to the Ettenmoors.�
I nodded. Slowly I stood with Priscilla beside me. �Yes. Let�s move on.� Priscilla and I gathered our packs and Lanthir walked to the edge of the glade.
�We bid you farewell then, Dwarf.�
The Dwarf did not respond. Instead, we heard a loud, exasperated howl. Turning, I saw the Dwarf standing by the stump of a tree, with his hand inside its empty hollow.
�Taken it! They�ve taken it!� The Dwarf then growled a long, low growl and if I had not seen him before my eyes I would have sworn some vicious animal had entered the clearing. �It�s mine! And I will get it back!�
I couldn�t help but feel sorry for the Dwarf. I did not know what he was looking for, but it obviously meant a lot to him. Staring at Priscilla, I thought of how I would feel if someone took what was most precious to me. My heart could not bear it.
The Dwarf turned then and shook his fist to the Northeast. �See if I let you take my possessions! L�m son of Galin will have what is rightfully his!�
Lanthir was watching the Dwarf with what seemed to be amusement. �You have no weapons, Dwarf. You cannot take on Orcs with bare hands.�
L�m turned to Lanthir and his words challenged the Elf. �You would give up this quest you are on if you lose that bow and your sword?�
Lanthir didn�t answer, but I saw the Elf grimace in chagrin. L�m was right. Lanthir would never consent to going home, even if all weapons were lost.
L�m looked back towards the Northeast again. �No. It is to the Ettenmoors that I shall return. These mindless Orcs haunt those hills and I will show them the courage that rests on the house of Galin!�
Once again, I found myself in awe of this Dwarf�s heart and strength. Without waiting to discuss my thoughts, I blurted them out. �As we are going to the Ettenmoors as well, would you not travel with us? There are only three of us and one more companion to guard us would not be unwanted.�
Suddenly, there was a harsh whisper in my ear. �What are you doing, Pady? He�s a dwarf and best left to himself.�
But the Dwarf responded at the same time Lanthir�s voice was hissing in my ear. �You speak truth and wisdom, young Hobbit. Four companions is better than three, and only a fool would say one is greater than four. I will travel with you as far as the Ettenmoors.�
I felt a strong grip on my arm and before I could answer L�m, Lanthir had pulled me aside and was speaking to me sternly.
�I have let him loose his bonds, is that not enough? Dwarves seek only gain for themselves. If we were to be attacked, he would desert us in a moment. Let him go his own way.�
I shook Lanthir�s hand from my arm. Speaking more roughly that I had planned I spat out, �He knows where the body is!�
Lanthir opened his mouth and then abruptly closed it. His eyes softened and he nodded. �Of course. You think of your kin.� Lanthir took one glance at the Dwarf, then turned back to me. �Very well. I will consent to his accompanying us as far as the Ettenmoors. I have vowed to complete this journey and if we are to discover who this Hobbit is that perished, I suppose we must accept this Dwarf for a time.� Lanthir said this reluctantly and I know he didn't want to walk any farther with L�m than he had to, but I was very glad for his consent. The trust I had in my Elvish guide had not waned and I needed his confidence at my side.
Lanthir stood straight and tall, then turned to L�m. �You may journey with us as far as the Ettenmoors. But know that I will keep a watchful eye on all that you do.�
The Dwarf grunted. �You may not choose to believe me, Elfling, but I am no danger to you or these Hobbits. My desire is to find what is mine. I will lose no time in acquiring it.�
Lanthir looked down at me. His eyes spoke his disapproval of the Dwarf, but I felt assured L�m meant only good and not harm for us. It was Priscilla, however, who spoke aloud.
�There�s no point in standing around here talking about this forever. You�re all wasting time and I don�t want to meet those Orc creatures he talked about. We know he�s coming with us, so let�s just go!�
With that, Priscilla began to march through the wilderness. Lanthir turned to follow her, but not before insisting I take up the rear. The meaning in his eyes was unmistakable: watch the Dwarf. I spent the rest of the day watching the back of our new companion. No one spoke as we traveled. I knew Lanthir kept silent to observe our surroundings and remain alert. The Dwarf kept looking this way and that and for a moment, I was struck by the realization that he was doing the same as our Elvish guide. At least there was one thing that Lanthir and this Dwarf had in common, even if they couldn�t see it. Priscilla, who had chattered constantly since we began, had settled into an uncomfortable silence. I wondered if her mind was troubled by the same thought as I: a dead Hobbit somewhere in this wilderness. It was this that consumed my thoughts. When we finally came to a stop after hours of walking, I ate little for lunch and sat silently. Even now, all I can think of is death. The dream I had two nights ago haunts me. Hobbits attacked and dying. Something out here desires to steal the life of all the Hobbits on Middle-earth. I know it. And it terrifies me.