A long corridor dark, nearly unlit. Hilfar took a right and a left and another right. He passed a grand metal door and a dark tunnel followed. The tunnel branched into five other directions, Hilfar took the fourth tunnel and passed another great metal door. After another long dark tunnel he nearly reached one of the tinkers halls. He entered a large room with a rather high ceiling, sturdy stone pillars gave the room a cold and clean feeling. The cool mountain air filled the room. One of the most impressive inventions of this hall, is how the light from outside is directed through mirrors to the center of the hall. The many mirrors divert the light to every workbench. Each bench was equipped with a magnifying glass and many metal ordening plates. Many dwarven tinkers were working in utter concentration. Nobody spoke, nobody sneezed, nobody looked up. Only the sound of tiny ticking hammers could be heard.
Hilfar looked around and saw some display cabinets with the finest gems he ever set his eyes upon. On the other end of the hall was a gem displayed the size as big as a troll, perfectly oval shaped, glistening purple in the diverted light. Hilfar always took a deep breath beholding that monstrous gem. He looked around for his father and silently stepped in his direction, well as silently as he could, which wasn't very silent at all. Ullfar did not look up but knew instantly his son was behind him waiting "Hold on boy, I'll be right with ye". Hilfar waited patiently looking at the dwarf that sat next to Ullfar. It was a very old dwarf with one glass eye, despite his age, his fingerwork with the small gems was remarkable. Nothing could disturb this old dwarf, it was just him and the gems.
Ullfar turned around and looked slightly irritated of being disturbed. Hilfar felt no need to talk and simply got the gem from his pocket which he traded with sir John last week. Ullfar's face brightened up "Ah, that opal ye told me about, let me have a look". Ullfar took the gem with care and started to examine it through the magnifying glass. Hilfar couldn't really see what he was doing so waited patiently again. For 15 minutes he just stood there impatiently as the anxiety grew in his chest "And.. what do you think?" Hilfar asked impatiently. Ullfar grumbled "Hush boy!". The wait continued, suddenly Ullfar looked up and tapped the old dwarf next to him on the shoulder. It took a while for him to look up. Ullfar spoke with respect to the old tinker "Excuse me master Olin, I think ye need to take a look at this as well." Olin took the gem from Ullfar without a word and started to examine it.
Olin turned around and looked at Hilfar from toe to beard and spoke in a rather harsh voice for an old man "How did such a young dwarrow like yerself, get yer hands on THIS!?". Hilfar shifted uncomfortable feeling a bit out of place by the cold grey eye of the old dwarf "I eh.... traded it with.. with a man from the south". Olin turned to Ullfar and spoke almost whispering, but it still sounded loud. "Then yer a lucky one, this is no ordinary opal nor a fire opal. This lads, is a 'GEM opal'!
There was an awkward silence between the three as he held the gem opal in a light beam coming from the mirror. The white looking gem reflected all kinds of colors and all three gazed at it with awe. Olin continued "I haven't set my eye on this for as long as I remember, this is hardly found in the blue mountains anymore. The south ye said? Where south? Where did he get it from!?". Hilfar merely shrugged. Olin looked dissapointed and handed the gem opal back to Ullfar. Olin spoke one more time before he continued back to his work "Ye better find out where he got it from lad, such stones are worth traveling south for."
Hilfar looked rather proud and his father shook his head in reply "What do you want to do with it?" Hilfar thought a moment "Can you make a broad silver ring with this fine gem encrusted in the middle?" Ullfar nodded and turned back to his work. Hilfar tried not to jump of joy when he merrily left the tinker hall.
