[Mithadan]

A tall Elf wandered into the Inn. He was dark-haired and bore a scar on one cheek. His grey cloak was weather-worn and covered a black tunic and matching breeches. He looked about in distaste at the Mannish denizens of the common room before approaching the bar. He ordered a mulled wine then seated himself at a vacant table.

Nearby, an Elf maiden was being tended to by a healer. A wolf bite from the look of it. Such injuries were painful and could fester easily. He nodded to the Elf maiden in sympathy. She looked at him curiously as her arm was wrapped. "Do I know you sir?" she asked.

"I do not think so," he replied. "Then, well met," she continued. "I am Galadel of Lorien." He recognized the name but did not comment. Her mother's dislike of the Fëanoreans was legendary. For his part, he had no quarrel with Galadriel and had known of her while he had dwelt in Eregion. "I am Nardol," he answered simply.

Galadel inclined her head and introduced her companions. One, another maiden named Amanaduial bantered with him a bit, then asked, "Have you a tale to tell us today?" Others sitting nearby chimed in, "Yes! A tale! Do tell please."

Nardol sighed, and was silent for a moment for he was ill at ease among so many Men. But then, he sipped at his wine and began to speak. "An age and more ago, to the west of the Misty Mountains was the kingdom of Eregion. And that country was builded nigh unto that Dwarvish nation which is now called Moria. Much profit did the Elves of Eregion and the Dwarves of Moria have in their dealings with one another. Now the Lord of Eregion was Celebrimbor who was a mighty jewelsmith. And he was great friends with a Dwarvish smith named Narvi.

"Upon a time, Celebrimbor visited Narvi in the halls of Moria and the Dwarf showed him a spool of wire made from the finest mithril. And Celebrimbor, seeing the beautiful silver colour of the mithril conceived of crafting a stone which might shimmer like truesilver. But after many attempts, he could not make such a gem and he called upon Narvi for his assistance.

"So Narvi came to Celebrimbor in Ost-in-Edhil, the chief city of Eregion, and together they laboured. Narvi took the spool of mithril wire and from it he weaved a band which might be fastened and worn about the throat, and that woven band shimmered like the scales of a fish in the noon sun. But Celebrimbor fashioned a gem which appeared to be clear, and when he removed it from the forge he did not let it cool but joined it with Narvi's band so that the mithril entered the jewel.

"Celebrimbor's stone thereafter shone bright silver and the edges of its facets were silver fire. And if placed in the light of the moon the gem glowed like a beacon of silver. The Isilmir it was named and it was the greatest of all the works of Elves and Dwarves together save perhaps the Nauglamir."

Nardol fell silent, but Susan looked at him intently and asked "What became of this mighty work?" Nardol looked up and answered, "None know where it is for sure. But it is said that ere the fall of Eregion, Celebrimbor sent it into Moria where it was locked in the nethermost vault under mighty spells to prevent the chamber's opening. Moreover, it is told that the fate of Moria is locked in the Isilmir and if it can be found Moria will rise and become great again..."