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Lîn growled with disgust, and gave a snort. "Calculations. Lass, if you knew your lore you'd know that even a hobbit can get through Mirkwood in less time than that. Do you really think that Bilbo could do it and we cannot?"

Mali eyed Lîn with considerable ire. Balin waved him off. "Lîn, I think the point's been made. Let it be, lad. Let it go."

Lîn's eyebrows climbed, and Lîn lapsed into sullen silence. But then Narin joined Lîn, and said, "Aye, that's right. Where hobbits have gone, how can a dwarf possibly fear to tread the path? Indeed we shall not fear. Indeed not."

"I didn't say that," Lîn replied. "All I said was it wouldn't take us three years." Don't go putting words in my mouth." Lîn eyed Balin uneasily, who scowled again. Narin continued.

"I put nothing in your mouth that didn't belong there!"

"You did! There's plenty to fear. And if you had a head on your shoulders you'd fear it too!"

Narin roared with indignation, and Lîn dropped his pack and made fists. "Loudmouth!" Lîn shouted. "If the leaders say go around, then around we go, and you'll not stand in their way!" Lîn took the first swing, and grazed Narin on his jaw.

Narin respondd with solid fury.