Chapter one- Passing on the Legacy

The sun was slowly rising on the Eastfold plains. On the Graymare Estate the stable hands were already busy grooming the horses and changing the hay, for it was a very special day for the family. A number of very important guests were due to arrive today and everything had to be in perfect order. Arduin Graymare, named after the brother of the infamous Donhelm Graymare, was also busy grooming his favourite horse, Silvermane, said to be a descendant of Donhelm’s horse. Every day the lad could be found at Silvermane’s side, who himself would only allow Arduin to ride him. Suddenly a stable boy came running in. “They have arrived!”, he yelled and quickly turned round and out again. Arduin, after giving Silvermane a quick look and a pat on the head, swiftly followed the boy outside. As his eyes adjusted to the bright light of the sun, he saw the caravan approaching. Ahead, sitting on a pony, was an old yet sturdy dwarf wearing magnificent armour, of such quality only the dwarves could make. Riding slightly behind and left of him was a tall, pale elf with dark hair in an outfit made of gold; just by looking at him filled Arduin’s heart with warmth and hope. On his right rode an elven maiden, her robes very intricate, with natural patterns and forms woven into them. Behind them many cheerful elves, dwarves and men followed. Arduin believe he even saw a few hobbits among them! Amazed by the sight of the travel companions, Arduin stood still for a while, trying to take it all in. He did not notice the elf who, in the meanwhile, had come to stand just behind him. “Quite a sight, don’t you think Arduin?” the elf said and he put his hand on Arduin’s shoulder, enjoying the view of his long time friends arriving. Recognizing the voice, Arduin turned around and yelled: “Althruil!” and hugged the elf. “Mae govannen, my good friend”, Althruil said, who had become used to this style of greeting many years ago. “I suppose it’s no coincidence such a party of elves and dwarves arrive on the same day as you, Althruil”, the young man said. “Indeed it is not. Great news will be announced tonight, and you might do good to put on your finest clothes and attend the party”, the elf said with a smile on his face. Before Arduin could say another word, a silence coveted the courtyard; Lord Graymare had stepped outside to welcome the guests. “What a sight for sore eyes! You have arrived! Welcome Thorstyn, welcome to the Graymare Estate!” “There’s no need for all this, truly”, the Dwarf said and looked around at the amassed crowd of family members and stable boys alike. “What did I miss?” whispered a voice behind Althruil and Arduin. “Well, the arrival of Dellannan, Natulcien and Thorstyn by the looks of it, Felothad. And you’re late…as usual”, Althruil answered. They both smiled. “If you would excuse us, Arduin, we’ll see you tonight but for now we must join our old friends.”, Althruil spoke and the two elves walked towards Thorstyn and Lord Graymare and entered the Lord’s quarters with the others. Arduin didn’t expect this and wasn’t entirely sure what Althruil meant by the whole dressing up and attending the party, but then again most of the time he didn't know what the elf was blabbering about. With the courtyard emptying, he decided it was time to go back to Silvermane and have a ride through the fields before having to face the whole getting dressed up for the party business. After he returned too late from his little excursion with his horse, Arduin ran across the courtyard towards his room. Above him, night had already set, stars glimmering in the sky and the moon, Arduin could have sworn, shone more brightly then he ever had seen before. He knew the party would have started about now and he scolded himself for losing track of time. Quickly stumbling into his room, he undressed himself, threw some water over him and only then saw the orange elven hauberk and matching cloak lying on his bed. There was a letter attached to it: “Arduin, The hauberk and cloak you see here, belonged to your ancestor, Donhelm Graymare. His cousins Essea and Althred had a similar one, many, many years ago. We would be honoured if you wore these tonight. Signed, The Unfinished Tales” Arduin looked at the clothes in front of him, and was in awe when he realized it once belonged to Donhelm, his direct ancestor of whom he had heard so many stories of. He put them on immediately, and nearly forgot to put on his boots again. He blew out the candles and went to the Hall of Feasts from which he could already hear laughter and music come. He swung the door open and right there in front of him, at the long table, where the Graymares had been seated for generations, now sat his father in the company of many free people and the old dwarf, who, according to the rumours in the Hall, was at least 230 years of age. All of them, except his father and the elven maiden, wore the same orange coloured hauberk, although their cloaks had subtle differences. He wasn’t the only one who had seen the apparent connection between the clothes he was wearing and those the guests wore, as suddenly all fell silent and stared in his direction, visibly asking themselves why he was wearing the same hauberk as all those who had come today. Although they did not know it, he was asking himself that question as well. Thorstyn was the first to break the silence as he stood up and let out a loud cough. People quickly turned towards the dwarf and waited patiently for what he was about to say. The dwarf’s eyes still rested on the young boy, as if he saw something only he could see. “My friends, may I first of all thank you for your hospitality, after so many years entering the courtyard still feels a bit like coming home.” The dwarf smiled and the elves nodded, Althruil looked at Arduin and gave him a quick wink. “Now most of you, or at least those that have reached a certain age, have at one time or another heard about the Unfinished Tales.” Some of the people in the hall nodded, mostly those that already looked rather grey and old, thought Arduin. As for himself he had only heard it in stories of Donhelm, but did not know what it meant. “In years long passed now, the Graymares were an important part of our ‘kinship’. Donhelm, Essea and later on Althred. Common men, dwarves, elves and even hobbits, for we were no more than that, joined together to try and rid Middle-earth of the combined shadows of Angmar and Mordor. Many of us we lost since then, amongst them our Graymare brothers, but also many whom none of you ever had the chance to meet. One of them was my dear friend, Ghralin Stonecleaver.” As he thought of his friend, Thorstyn stood quiet for a few seconds, then continued his speech. “We thank their combined efforts for their parts in destroying Angmar and Mordor, small or big as they may be.” The room cheered after these words and the dwarf had to wave his hands to try and get everyone quiet again. “We believe, me and my friends you see here, that it is time to hand over the accounts of The Unfinished Tales and the key to our old Kinship Halls in Torcliff to someone who would honor the legacy of those we called our brothers and sisters.” The dwarf turned to Arduin again, smiling conspiratorialy. “Arduin will you come over here please, lad?” With those last words, Thorstyn’s smile and the hints Althruil gave him, it all started to become clear to him now. This was why he said to put on his good clothes, put the old hauberk of Donhelm on his bed, and said he had to attend the party. Although a bit bedazzled from all the attention he suddenly received, he slowly walked a bit unsure towards Thorstyn, who stood next to his father, who, he couldn’t help but notice, was clearly proud of him. Whilst putting his large hand on Arduin’s shoulder, the dwarf said: “Lad, you probably wonder why we chose you. Ever since you were but a little boy, Althruil kept an eye on you and saw you grow up to be a young man worthy of the name Graymare. A man our great friend Donhelm, would have been proud of, a man with respect for those around him, determination and the will to do good. You are the perfect person to give you this.” Thorstyn picked up a big and old-looking tome that lay on the table before him and gave it to Arduin. All people in the hall held their breath as most of them didn’t know what exactly happened, but all knew it was something magical and worthy of remembrance. “You’ll find every single tale, song, poem or story Ghralin Stonecleaver, keeper of records and accounts of The Unfinished Tales, has ever written. Tales lived by those who called one another brothers and sisters, who regarded each other as friends and family, who called themselves… The Unfinished Tales!”