Chapter Six: The Elf Testifies (5 entries)
6.1
Thinpin had just sat down when the door opened, some dwarves turned to look, and the judges looked up to see.
"I do not think the witnessing has begun yet, we are in time" a slight whisper could be heard as Durinur entered. He looked around the assembly for a seat. "Come my lord! Seats are over there" Durinur whispered once more while quickly pointing at a few empty seats.
After Durinur came Muninn, a long white beard that told signs of many winters, his walking stick was a massive axe, and he was clad in the finest woven garments. Inlaid with golden threads on dark blue colors, and his cloak was like Duinn's. This was an important dwarf! "Good! Good! Let us take a seat and not disturb the court" Muninn replied in a whisper while nodding to the assembly.
The empty seats were near the back, close to a hooded elf, Durinur and Muninn bowed and took their seat and awaited for the Judges to speak.
(By Duinn)
6.2
"I thank you for those swifts arguments master Thinpen and master Drakenbane", said Brina as Muninn was taking his seat together with Durinur, "though I must add I do not think they have added much to the argument, as both parties still claim their initial charges and with heightened vigour it seems."
She paused for a while overlooking the room and after a moment spoke: "I see many have joined us since the opening of this chamber... please, be welcome and sit." She gave a few dwarrows one of her trademark icy gazes and said: "it is however unfortunate to see the elementary courtesy of arriving on time is an art that has lessened among the dwarves in recent generations.". Some murmured chuckles passed through the room, yet they died a swift death as judge Hammerfall made it clear this was no laughing matter.
She turned to Skegrym and said: "aye, let's first examine this book in more detail." The book, a fragile and old record that yet had survived the passing of time remarkably well was laid on the table of the judges. Brina took her inspection loupe as if she was about to inspect a valued gem and began to scan the document, then at lenght said: "I am no expert in authenticating documents, yet this seems the be consistent with the age mentioned earlier, wouldn't you agree judge Skegrym?". Skegrym nodded slowly while he was still inspecting the book, in awe of its detail and make. "They don't make them like this anymore", he said in a low voice as he continued to inspect it.
"Izbad Khlosi", judge Hammerfall exclaimed suddenly and unexpectedly, "I have asked you as head of the sabâj, to ensure the presence of master Varlin Swiftbind, head parchment keeper and bookbinder of Thorin's Hall, bring him before the chamber if you please". Khlosi nodded, bowed and then guided a very frail old dwarf toward the center of the judges table. The dwarf looked 250 at the very least, his long white beard missing the floor by an inch. "Master Swiftbind, can you give us your expert opinion of this book?, she slowly pushed the book across the table in the direction of the old dwarf.
"No, your eminence... I'm an expert in parchment and bookbinding, not a cook", the old dwarf spoke in a crackled old voice. Chuckles could be heard in the room, and even some loud roaring laughter, the old dwarf was clearly as deaf as a post. In a flash judge Hammerfall looked to one of the guards, clearly not pleased at the reaction of the chamber, they dropped their heavy hammers to the floor and all was silent once more.
"I ask you to examine this book and tell us something about its age, use and origin", the judge spoke now very loud, shouting in the ear of Swiftbind "Oh, why didn't you say so your eminence... well, let me see", said the old dwarf as he examined the book, mumbling in what seemed a strange language as he did so. "hmmm... interesting", spoke Swiftbind in a low voice, "very well", he continued in a frail yet clear voice, "I have no doubt this book was made in Erebor, in the year 2769, likely in the spring." Gasps of amazement could be heard in the chamber.
"You see", Swiftbind continued," the type of parchment used for this is an aspen/birch mix", he sniffed loudly at the paper, "40% Aspen and 60% Birch I believe", a mix commonly used in the late 2760s. The fact that it was double bound with thick cross stitches makes me believe it was from the region of Erebor, and more specifically from the King's Binders. You see their head-binder invented this technique in 2768, but only commercially used it in 2769. The binders seal at the headcap of the book was done in yarrow root ink. This was a practice almost exclusively done in spring time, due to higher humidity, this type of ink would hold to the spine better.... ".
Swiftbind went on and on about the make of the book until judge Hammerfall felt it time to stop Swiftbind and get to the matters at hand again: "that's all very well master Swiftbind, but can you tell us something about it's use?", she shouted loudly at the old dwarf. Swiftbind nodded and said: "The first three chapters about the earliest history of the family seem to have been written shortly after 2771, notice these spots and marks here, clearly written in the wild." - "Which would have been likely considering the attack of Smaug in 2770 on Erebor, continue.. ", spoke judge Hammerfall. "So I believe, judging by the pen-style and choice of ink an elderly member of the family wrote down their history in this book.", he paused a minute and went very carefully through the old pages of the book. "these chapters were written a few years later, likely round 2784, talking about more recent family history it seems, in a more firm and younger handwriting. While the last chapter concerning the family's trade business, seem to be written around early 2814, judging by the chosen ink and imprint on the paper. Oh, well here... this confirms it... there is a date mentioned in minute letters in the corner "2nd moon of 2814." The judges looked in amazement at the book and Swiftbind, what eye for detail, how did they miss that.
As there was no more Swiftbind could tell about the book he bowed to the judges and master Khlosi brought the elderly expert back to his seat. "You have our thanks master Swiftbind, I believe we have established, by an expert..", Brina stressed while looking at Thinpen and Goldthumb, "that this book was made in Erebor in 2769 and last written in round the 2nd moon of 2814. It seems clear to me, if we look at the family seals and historic record of the book this indeed is the family account of both business and lineage of the Goldthumb family." For a moment it seemed as if Goldthumb turned white.
"This last chapter though was never finished. I have read the account however and it seemed the family was heading from the wilds back to some of their holdings in Othrikar, given to them in 2590, to start a new life after the destruction of the dragon in Erebor. Now what we do not know at this stage is what happened to them. I've heard claims here that they were attacked, but this is not mentioned in this book here. Which I believe would make sense, dead dwarves cannot write a tale of their own demise in their own journal after all. So...", she paused choosing her words, ... the sabâj report has informed me of an elf by the name of Elreinion here present, that was present when the book was found and witnessed the night of this alleged attack. Let him come forward and make his account."
At that Thinpen, rushed on by his old master jumped up and spoke in a voice that seemed to slightly panic: "but surely you won't let an elf address this chamber judge Hammerfall!". "You will be quite master Thinpen or I will have you removed. Besides, a moment ago you asked for his testimony yourself... you'll get it", Brina spoke with a grin.
To everyones surprise a hooded elf seemed to come from a dark corner of the chamber and stepped forward, bowing in elf fashion to the judges. The entire chamber held their breath.
(By Fryjpora)
6.3
Duinn sat in his chair a bit confused at Thinpen's sudden reluctance at the elf's testimony, but was not all that surprised. Looking back Duinn could see his father sitting patiently next Durinur and listening.
Duinn knew that his fathers testimony would be very helpful as he was in The Vale at the time; Duinn turned his gaze to Varlin and wondered if he would be interested in working with him Thorin's Halls, he thought. A momentary lapse as Duinn's mind wandered but soon turned his sights on Elreinion as he passed by and bowed to the judges.
(By Duinn)
6.4
Hilfar chuckled out loud at Swiftbind's remark, it relieved some of his stress that seemed to increase by the minute. As the hammers hit the ground, Hilfar forced himself to shut his jaws together. As the elf passed his chair and removed his hood, he recognized him. It was the elf that came to his office one day, bearing the book that now lay before the judges. Hilfar remembered that he wasn't very welcoming towards the elf at first, he struck Hilfar in a bad mood back then. And now here he stands.. saving his reputation and that of his fellows. Silently he stared at the elf, anxious to hear his plea.
(By Hilfar)
6.5
Elreinion was pleased he could finally tell the account he had witnessed so many winters ago, allowing him to leave this strange folk and at length return to his elvenhome in the North Downs.
After bowing to each of the judges he said: "Elreinion of the House of Gildor Inglorion", and bowed once more before continuing: "I am here as you have requested and my Lord has bidden to tell the tale of what I witnessed on the path toward Estelidín." "The path toward Esteldín?, replied one of the judges seemingly puzzled.
Elreinion nodded and said: "On a winter evening of over two hundred winters ago, by common reckoning the year 2814 of the Third Age, I came across what appeared to be the wreck of a dwarven caravan. I took little notice of it, as these things were not my affair...", this statement sent of many shocked and disgruntled noises through the chamber, still Elreinion continued as if it was just another tale: "yet I reported it to our Lord on my return that evening."
"My Lord Gildor Inglorion thus instructed Daeron and myself to examine the remains of the caravan and so we returned later that night. There it was that, near the cross roads of the path from Esteldín to the West and Othrikar to the South, with closer examination we saw nine bodies of dwarves, all shredded by wargs, it was unmistakable." Sounds of shock and dismay from most of the dwarves in the Hall, yet none of the judges said a word, listening to every word of the elf.
"It seemed the caravan had been attacked by a pack of wargs, none had survived. To our surprise, when we were looking through the wreckage of the caravan we found, under a shrubbery, another body of a dwarf, this one almost intact, the tenth, this dwarf seemingly naked and almost entirely buried in the sand." The entire hall gasped at this disgrace, yet Elreinion continued at his usual pace, apparently untouched by this fact.
"His clothing was never found at the site.", Elreinion continued, "near day break we found the book you have here. We piled the pieces of the remaining bodies of the dwarves and burned them, as our Lord had instructed." A shock-wave of disgust went through the Hall. Brina raised her hand and the hammers of the guards brought the chamber back to order, yet with great difficulty.
"Why did you burn them?!?, exclaimed Brina Hammerfall, "this was a grievance to our people, you could have brought their remains to Othrikar." "We are unaware of your customs, nor of the destination of this caravan. The place you call Othrikar was at that time little more than a ruin, no dwarf lived there. Seeing that the remains were scattered and few, with the exception of the one body... my Lord decided it would be better to burn them so the animals could not profit from their demise", spoke Elreinion oblivious to the hurt he had done.
"So you say there were ten bodies at the site?", asked judge Hammerfall.
"That is verily so", answered the elf, "we counted the remains of no more than ten dwarves, one as mentioned nearly intact and naked."
"What else did you find out about the caravan and site of the attack?", questions another of the judges.
"We found no coins, nor any paperwork, apart from the book that was well hidden under the main carriage. I must note however that we did find a trail that ran a way from the site as well.", the elf stated.
"A trail you say? What kind of trail?", asked judge Skegrym.
"We believe it may have been a survivor of the attack, the only one to survive in fact, the trail went North. We searched for days but never found this dwarf, we assumed he had become lost and would not have survived the prowling wargs, so we halted our search at that point."
"So that's ten dwarves in total", spoke judge Hammerfall to the other judges, "consistent with the names of the dwarves that were part of this company as written in the last chapter of the Goldthumb family book", she nodded as she said it, "thank you master Elf, you may sit down for now, but do not leave this chamber, we might require further information from your part". Elreinion bowed and reluctantly sat down, he wondered how long this would last.
The crowd seemed positively enraged by these revelations, more than one of the attendees was clearly putting together the pieces of this two-hundred-year old puzzle. Could this dwarf going by the name of Ebenizer Goldthumb have been the last survivor of this caravan, stealing the clothes, gold and papers and identity of the real Ebenizer? Burying the real Ebenizer naked in the earth? The noise grew to new heights, some dwarves shouting at Ebenizer: "murderer!". The judges raised their hands to control the tumult, but no amount of hammer fall would quite the crowd. Goldthumb and Thinpen made themselves very small, this surely was not what they had in mind for this trial.
(By Kandral)
