The wind blew over the Blue Mountains and took with it a dust of snow and let it scatter and fall, some of it travelled through the wind that took it and found its way on the ground and some of it fell into one of the holes of the mountain and reached the water. In the water it melted and became one with it and reached the depths of the mountain as part of the waterfalls that pass through it. Next to the waterfall a man was making his bag, it was Fiontann, the night was coming and the man was preparing to leave the next day.
By now he has prepared what food he would take with him, some dried meat, cheese and bread, he calculated that they would be enough till he reached the Forsaken Inn, then he would resupply if needed. He put those in a bag, each of them wrapped in a clean piece of cloth, he also put a map of the Trollshaws and Eregion, some extra pipeweed, some clean bandages and other things he might need. He put the bag near the door of his house, on the saddle of Hedinn and walked up to the horse. He stroked its neck and side and talked to him, Fion spoke of the trip he was making ready for, the horse calmly neighed, as if agreeing and Fion went inside to prepare the rest of his things.
The jacket and the pants he was to wear were thrown on the barrels filled with ale and whiskey, so he looked around trying to find his cloak, he remembered that it was on the mirror in the bedroom and took it and threw it on the barrels as well. On his way out of the bedroom he stood for some moments to look at Rothrian, she was asleep for some time now, after returning from a day’s work in the forges, she was trying to prove her worth to a stubborn Dwarf and Fion offered his help. He would rather help her more but she was too stubborn to accept something more, so he made a plan and she agreed. Now she was sleeping, exhausted from the day’s hard work, but he could see that smile on her face, it was the smile a man has after doing what he loves to do and she loved making armours. She loved to play with the metals and give them the shape of armour that is going to be used in battle, just as much as he loved making weapons. He knew that she’s a skilled armourersmith so his idea was revolving around that. And now she was there, smiling, and he was looking at that smile that made him feel happy and powerful, made him feel complete and soothed him, the smile that he would do anything to see on her face.
It made him think of the task ahead again and now he was sure that everything would go well, they have done much harder things, and this would be easy compared to them. Now he took his spiked gauntlets and put them on the barrels, near the rest. He preferred those ones because they had to spikes just above the wrist; it was great for sudden attacks if needed. Next to the barrels were the boots, they also had spikes, each boot had a spike exactly on the knee, giving them a dangerous touch. He stood there looking at the set he was to wear the next day, the pauldrons were at the barrels to the left and right sides of the set, making it look one as it would look like once he’d put it on. With silent steps Fion walked to the office and put his pipe, the pouch of pipeweed and the map that Rogue gave him on the desk, his greatsword was sheathed and lying against it and his longsword and shield were next to the door, waiting to be hung on either sides of the horse the next day. The two bandages were on the desk as well, along with some pieces of parchment and the quill and ink; they were to be put in the bag the next day.
Just as he finished preparing all his things he heard the water boil, it was ready for the tea. He filled a wooden mug that was waiting for it on the fireplace and leaned against it, holding the map of Eregion, the map was in his right hand and the mug to the left. Fion’s eyes travelled across the lines of the map, now following the paths and then following the lines that Rogue made, the safer ones as he claimed. His eyes narrowed when they reached the gates of Moria and a smile appeared on his lips for some moments, but he restraint his thoughts, they’re going to Eregion to help Arthasdir, nothing more… for now. “The next weeks are going to be very busy.” he thought and his eyes went up, to the North this time…
