[Hookbill the Goomba]

The grey beard of the stout fellow was almost completely white now, and his face was certainly set with a thousand griefs. The sign of the Green Dragon burrowed into his mind as he stood at the door, as he sighed and drew himself up. It had been a night of doom and of disaster, and he knew that it would not be over, not as long as the memory lasted in his ancient Dwarvish brain.

The Inn was slightly sad, as if the passing of something was taking place soon, almost as if some sensed the grief that lay on the little Dwarf's heart. Yet some were dancing and singing, drinking and eating, a merry band of hobbits, reminding Dwaline of why he loved The Shire.

Cree was sitting at a table, a half full mug of ale in front of here and a look of bewilderment in her face. Adu was near by; Dwaline knew that she had been the first to speak with fell Fáinu when he came to the Shire. The Dwarf put a hand on her arm and whispered in her ear, yet only she heard what he had said. He stepped back and spoke a little more loudly, "If you wish to hear the full tale, I shall tell it. Stand near by."

The Dwarf hobbled over to Cree's table and sat down with a thump and placed his head in his hands. "My lady," he began, "I bring news. Grief here is twinned with hope. Yes, hope for ye." He took out of his pack a long and smooth black pipe; it looked as if it had never been used. "I was told to give this onto you. He said you would understand." Cree nodded and took the pipe.

"I met Fáinu coming out from the inn," continued the Dwarf, "and we spoke a while on the road. He told me much of your adventures with the Dragon, though I already knew much of it. He seemed so distant and full of cares. I soon realised that our steps were going westwards and when he called upon a horse, I knew for certain that we were going to the Heavens. How we got there so fast I do not know, but we did.

"As we walked out on the pier, Fáinu stopped, staring out to the sea, and with tears in his eyes, he fell to the ground. He helped him up and he tried once again to approach the boat, yet he fell once again. His eyes were blind with streaming tears and he cried aloud 'Curse you! Curse you! Dragon! Worm! I hate thee! Thy curse hath been fore filled! Release me! Release me!' yet nothing happened. He threw his fist at the ground and wept all the more.

"After a while he rose and walked away from the Heavens. He walked up along the cliffs and ever looked west. He stumbled once, yet regained his balance and stood long on the cliff edge, looking out over the sea. I came to him and said we should go back to the Inn before it closes, yet he shook his head.

"'I am not going back to the Inn,' he said, 'not now, not ever!' his hands were clenched in a fist and he shook. 'Now I truly have nothing. Do you see? Nought but the clothes I here bare; yet I am content. Yes, content to live in this cursed Middle Earth. Yet, while I wish to remain, to be with my friends,' he laughed a cruel laugh, 'how amusing. I never had a friend in my life. I was a cruel person, full of hate and pitiless to the point to leading a trusted friend into a Dragons den. Do those sound like the actions of a friend? I was never anyone's friend.'

"I began to get worried and I stepped towards him, yet he drew his sword and threatened me, saying, 'come not nigh to me! This is the last hour! See, the west has rejected me and I must flee thither to escape the cursed Dragon! Since the sea will no bear me, I must go to Mandos!' he threw then the pipe at me, saying that you would understand." Cree looked at the pipe, and it seemed strange to her.

"He then turned to the west and looked out over the sea, crying, 'Mandos! If you keep Dragons in your halls, tell the so-called son of Smaug that his slayer is coming! And I curse him! I curse him to the end of Arda! Curse ye Dragon! Curse ye Middle Earth! And a curse on ye, oh fell Mandos!' with that, he took the blade and forced it into his own breast." Cree's eyes flashed and she seemed to stop breathing for a second.

"Yeah, I attempted to lend my aid, yet it was too late. Before I could come there, he had toppled over the edge and fallen among the rocks and the sea had taken him." both Adu and Cree listened in amazement, yet now it all made sense. It had been coming for a while, and Cree could now see why.

"He believes, maybe," continued Dwaline, "that since he has gone to Mandos, you can take the boat to Valinor. I know not the matters of the Elves. Yet now, I believe, the tale of fell Fáinu is over, for the Dragon curse has left and all may be made right in this matter." he rose from the table and closed his pack. "I must leave now. I will go to Rivendel and seek out the family of the accursed." he laid a hand on Cree's shoulder, "farewell, lady, we will not meet again." and with that, Dwaline the Dwarf left the Green Dragon Inn, forever.