^ ^ ^ ^ ^ Erebor, Lonely Mountain ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Thorin III Stonehelm watched as his mother led the family in the daily ritual of mourning. She cupped her hands to her heart, her lips, and her forehead and bowed three times. He followed suit and then lowered his eyes to the ground as she picked up each stone which had been positioned around the ornate silver oil lamp, a stone for every member of the family lost in the War. Each stone bore a rune, the work of his own chiselling, which represented the name of one of those dwarves now gathered by Mahal to the Halls of Mandos. Thorin wondered if it was these relics which caused elves to think that at death dwarves returned to stone, but he wondered how it could have been that an elf had seen the ritual.
His mother's voice called him out of his thoughts.
Thorin king-son, you have often been lost in thought since we received Telcontar's invitation.
There is much to contemplate, many honoured Queen-Mother. Instead of celebrating victory over Sauron, I become ill at ease over the rise of men. It was a sombre omen which accompanied the arrival of the messenger. Five black crows!
Stonehelm shook his head and lifted his right arm to wave over his left shoulder, pushing the omen away.
And then this news that Gimli son of Gloin chooses to camp out in trees. It is an ill sign when a dwarf chooses not to return to his people.
Ruthen nodded, put out the lamp, closed the silver door to the family shrine, and offered to listen to her son's concerns. The two sat together, falling into a discussion of the summons to Minas Anor.
Stonehelm wanted a delegation which reflected Erebor's broad interests. The only remaining dwarf from his father's council, Glaven Strongpen, could be relied upon to gain Elessar's ear concerning Khazad-dum, the dwarves' ancient city. Surely only the dwarves should own its artifacts and recolonize it. That was crucial. On the other hand, the contractor Frain Thaneson would know how to advance interests not only in trade but also in Stonehelm's new plan for the Royal Corps of Dwarven Engineers. They would act as Telcontar's unique corps to be deployed wherever public works like roads, bridges, highways, buildings where needed. There were too many male dwarves in Erebor with nothing to do since the War ended and too many nightly drinking sessions. Frain could handle those engineers like no one and knew how to push a good contract, although perhaps his own hand might be too close to the till for the good of Erebor. Yes, those two, Glaven and Frain, would complement each other.
And servants. Ruthen had advised Stonehelm to choose the servants wisely, for oft to them fell the most important task of listening to the wind and the stream to see where others tread. That would mean sending either Hringa or Halgen.
Then the maidservant Hrethel came for Ruthen, who left to lead the morning devotions at Ingeld's school. Stonehelm smiled at the thought of Ingeld. Brains and beauty made a rare but very attractive package. Stonehelm had bid Ruthen give his greetings to Ingeld and compliments on the success of her school. Ruthen had smiled quietly, bowed three times, and withdrawn with a last observation.
But there still remained the question of how large a delegation to send and whether to contact the mad elf Thranduil of Eryn Lasgalen or Bard II of the Dale. Stonehelm took a deep breath and recalled his mother's parting words:
Do not lose sight of the final prophecy. Whatever befalls, remember that when the world is destroyed in The Last Battle, Mahal will call upon us, not men, to rebuild Arda.
Stonehelm decided to have Hringa send notice to both Glavin and Frain of a royal audience that afternoon.
[ September 28, 2002: Message edited by: Bethberry ]