[Koobdooga]

Frór is greeted by a fellow Dwarf

Ibun Lodestone tucked the napkin Cook had delivered along with his tray into the collar of his tunic. His long beard was parted at the chin and done into two thick braids that hung down his chest. Now normally, he was not a messy eater, but he feared that the scrambled eggs and the thick sliced bread loaded with butter and jam might just decide to plant parts of themselves on the front of his shirt. And this tunic was his only clean one at the moment.

He paused for a moment, giving thanks to Mahal for the finding of this most excellent Inn. The smells from his plate made his mouth water in anticipation. Picking up his fork and knife, he tucked into the generously piled platter with gusto. Thick sliced ham and eggs as light as clouds soon found their way to his mouth.

As he chewed, he could not help but notice that nearby was one of the Hobbit serving girls speaking to another Dwarf he hadn’t noticed before. Ibun put down his utensils and wiping his mouth, he went over to where the other Dwarf sat.

‘Well met, Master Frór,’ he said, smiling at the dwarf. He had heard the server say his name as she left to fetch Frór’s food. ‘My name is Ibun. Ibun Lodestone. From Khazad-dum.’ He paused for a moment. ‘I was wondering,’ he went on, ‘if you’d like to join me at my table.’ He pointed to where he’d been sitting. ‘I’d like the company, if you don’t mind mine. What do you say?’