2946: Dragontide-The fellowship is formed

[Vladim]

Esgaroth, 2946

 

’There’s another one!’ said the Bride, prodding Gramtyng with her elbow and pointing with her other arm. ’Quickly! Go talk to him!’

It was clear that the novelty had not worn off. Dwarves still seemed like curious little creatures, for she had never encountered one in Mountain Hall. They much reminded her of Hartfast, although they were of course much shorter. The contradiction was most entertaining, for the old chieftain of Mountain Hall was usually the one looking down on her.

The journey through Mirkwood had not been uneventful. The weather had been good, but the caravan from Mountain-Hall, accompanied by a Horse-Lord and a Hobbit, woke up one day to find that two of their Woodmen companions were missing. After much searching, they were able to find one of the men, not far off the path, who had been mesmerized by the forest… although they were never able to locate his friend.

Still, there was safety in numbers, so the trading company faced no attacks. It reached Lake-town just before Dragontide, the festival celebrating the death of Smaug. The Woodmen traders quickly sold many of their goods at fine prices. Now, they looked forward to arriving in Dale, where they would overwinter, and hoped to make even greater profits there. Despite the long and arduous journey, these good tidings, combined with the celebrations, put everyone in a merry mood. And for a while, the long road back home was forgotten.

What had not been forgotten, however, was the task Hartfast had requested of Idunn and Gramtyng. Idunn eagerly searched for every dwarven trader she could see, but when it came to talking, she much preferred to leave the task to Gramtyng. And even though she did not speak a word, her less than courteous display of excitement had already driven off two members of that proud race. Perhaps, then, this third time would be luckier…

[Vladim]

Nori had just arrived in Lake-town for Dragontide. Even here, he was surrounded by his folk, craftsmen who, much like him, thought the competition was less stiff in Esgaroth. While this was true, he still had to content with a small spot in the Market square, which had to be protected at all times from the human merchants, who were eager to infringe on his territory. For the Men of Lake-town, although accustomed to dwarves, were particularly assertive during the festival season.

It was dangerous business, being pushed and shoved through the alleys and squares of Lake-town like that, with the danger of being thrown into the water (deliberately or by accident) ever-present. And when a Man was thrown into the cold waters of the long lake, there was only laughter and shouting, for the Men of Esgaroth were good swimmers, unkike dwarves.

Nori still made good progress though, but nothing like the profits the best craftsmen of his race were able to achieve in Dale.