[Himaran]

Bali walked in silence. The dwarves were restless, and there would be trouble if a path was not soon discovered. That waterfall there - maybe.... Just then, Haenir approached him. He was still smug, but seemed to have something important to relate. "Bali, if we could scale that rock face, we might be able to make it in. There seems to be a path into Rhûn behind the waterfall."

Bali pondered the thought for a moment, briefly disturbed by the fact that if the plan worked, it would be Haenir's idea; even though he had thought of the same thing moments before. Bah, what did it matter. If Haenir had had control of the group during the orc attack, they would all be dead. But perhaps he would prove instrumental to their survival later on...

"Its a far shot, but it might just work. Do you think the other lads are able to make the climb?" Bali lowered his voice as he spoke.

"Aye. They will have to; it is the only way."

_____________

And so climb they did. Up the rocky cliff, over the edge of the peaks, and onto a flat plateau. The dwarves were ecstatic. The ridge followed a group of mountains east, directly into the heart of Rhûn. Further along, a beautiful waterfall sent tons of water cascading down into the valley. Bali and the company were able to travel underneath of the verticle stream, and found a virtual stairwell down the other side.

Several hours later, after slow, treacherous scaling down the slope, the dwarves found themselves in a land much like Emyn Muil. The beauty of the falls was gone. Rocky hills and dense jungle forest spread out in all directions. It was impossible to tell if the land was flat of if it suddenly dropped hundreds of feet. The dwarves became restless. What if they got lost? They might never make it back to the mountains. And what strange beasts lived in the jungle?

Dwalin was suddenly angry. To have come all this way, and have them mumble that it was not safe? "Enough!" He yelled. "We either go in - or go back!"

The dwarves were silent for a moment, and one by one agreed that they could not go back. Forward was the only way now, and most did not savior making the long journey home. Exploring a new world would be far more exciting. "Then let us get on with it," shouted Haenir.

And so the party entered Rhûn, completely naive of what awaited them.