The writing in this entry is different from the rest. This was not written by Thrarfi.
When I woke up, looking straight up at the stone ceiling, I couldn't tell where I was. It took a second for me to realise, and for the pain to return. I know not where it goes when I am asleep, but it always returns delayed, like a bad companion. I am still trying to hide it from others, but we all know I'm doing a bad job of it. Another day in the Deep Descent, each feeling darker than the rest. I agreed with Narali in wanting to leave this place behind, and yearned to see the rest of the City. I found her outside, with a shadow upon her. Whatever I felt for this place, she felt it tenfold. Our greetings were quieter than usual, even when my Uncle and the rest joined us. We all wanted to move on and we had a grim task ahead of us. Just as I was getting restless, Dzbog asked me if I had seen "it". I did not know what he was talking about and he explained that he and Braudin had found my shield on their little mushroom hunt. I rushed back downstairs with new vigour to see it. Battered and cracked and covered in blood and who knows what else, there it stood. Despite it all, it did not lose its shine nor its strength. Wearing it proudly on my arm, I walked back up and thanked them both profusely. I know they sought no reward, especially Braudin, but I will have to find something for them. But first, I will have to find a blacksmith to get my shield repaired, though that can wait. As all saw soon, I could not yet carry it around easily, never mind use it in battle. While we stood around conversing, Elewaru offered to share some of her pipeweed. My Uncle was curious to know what it really was, so I shared some of mine that I had picked up on the Shire, on our way East. It all seems like ages ago now. He did not take to it, I believe, but he did not stop smoking either. Maybe we'll try Elewaru's own some other time together, as Hobbits claim that some crops of pipeweed taste different to the others.
Soon after, we agreed it was time to interrogate the goblins. Narali wanted no part of it, especially knowing what we would do to them and Ronhus stayed outside with her. I did not fault either of them, it wasn't going to be pleasant. The rest of us walked down, footsteps heavy and loud with purpose. The two wretches looked as they always did, but my Uncle said it was time. Elewaru took her bow and nocked an arrow, while the others stood back cheering and yelling threats and Braudin's loyal hound growling. My Uncle approached them first and then called me over. We did not try to reason with them, to convince them or to make promises. Everyone knew that this was their last day, and the only question was how quickly would they meet their end. We asked them why they went after the map and what their overall goal was. As expected, they did not answer.
I pulled my axe and brought its blunt side down on the leg. And again, until half an answer escaped the creature's mouth. I felt fury rise within me and was unsurprised to see the same flame in my Uncle's eyes. The other one remained resistant. I grabbed the hand of the creature, and broke a finger. "Answer!" I demanded, breaking another finger without waiting for one. Still, it resisted, so my Uncle decided try the "truth serum" Dzbog had prepared. I know not what ingredients he used and by the smell alone, I decided I was content without ever knowing. The goblins scampered, trying to escape but the cold chains held them in place. I believe they might have even found the taste an improvement from their own vile brews. In the end the threat of it was enough.
I grabbed the ears of the other, smaller one and we received some more answers from it. My Uncle worked on the other one, the one with "a fire in him", as he said, but it answered him in fear as well. Soon we had learned all we needed and decided to finish the job. My Uncle pressed his axe at the goblin's neck, asking one last time if it had anything else it needed to tell us. The goblin said it had told the entire truth. "Good" my Uncle said, as he pressed his axe down harder. The goblin screamed in pain, saying it hurt. My Uncle pressed harder. "Good."
I looked at the one in front of me, it's eyes wide with fear. I had nothing to say, no speeches to make. I raised my axe and brought it down as hard as I could. And again. And again. Dzbog said "I think he's dead", but I barely heard him. I kept going, until my Uncle repeated the same words and stopped me. "A kinder end than they deserved", Braudin said just as Elewaru released an arrow at one of the goblins. I did not know if she wanted to be sure it was dead or if she had other reasons. My Uncle turned to look at me. "It is done, Kharsi". "It is done", I replied. I walked away to clean my axe and asked Braudin and Zirnr to take the bodies outside, to burn them. We all walked upstairs soon after, back to Narali and Ronhus. I believe they were having a rather pleasant conversation when we arrived. There we shared with them what we learned.
The goblins knew of us and our arrival. They were working together with poisoner, who has been a thorn at our side long before we arrived. According to the goblins, he intended to kill us all, one by one. Another reason to never wander alone. They also told us about their leader, which they referred to as "the Boss". They feared him and it must have been for good reason, as any goblin extraordinary enough to plan such attacks would have the cruelty to match its cunning, indeed. This "Boss" of theirs had the original map now. Even now he gathered their forces, intending to attack the Iron Garrison and claim the city as their own once again.
We decided that the best course of action was to notify the Garrison, who had already been attacked a few times by now. I did not want us to split up, but could not deny that a single rider would deliver the message much faster. Elewaru volunteered and none objected, as we knew her to be faster than any of us, but I was adamant that none would wander alone. My Uncle agreed to go with her. They left for the 21st Hall, riding as fast as their goats could handle. The rest of us left soon after, but we stopped briefly in Dolven View. Dzbog wanted to go look for Rompli who was supposed to be in the library there, looking for lineage records to prove that the mighty Rumpli, slayer of a million goblins was indeed his ancestor. And that he was real. I did not want him to leave alone and asked if any wished to join him. Braudin and Zirnr agreed. We kept our farewells brief.
We continued our journey East and passed into Nud-Melek. The bridge connecting the regions was vast, with figures of Dwarves carved into the rock above. While it was a pleasant sight, we had no time to stop and enjoy it properly, largely due to the many glimmering fires we saw in the distance. Goblins. They were telling the truth, after all. I gritted my teeth as we rode, part in anger of the goblins and part in pain that I could barely hide.
Finally we arrived at the 21st Hall, the largest of the Dwarven camps in Khazad-Dum. There at its gates, we found my Uncle waiting for us. I kept my greetings brief as I rode inside, seeking for somewhere to rest from the journey. I was not yet ready to ride so far and so fast as we did, and it had taken its toll. All followed me inside, except for my Uncle and Narali, who stayed behind in quiet conversation. Once I had found a comfortable chair and regained some of my strength, I decided to seek the leader of the Garrison here to volunteer our help as we waited for others. Without leaving my chair, I asked a nearby dwarf where we could find the leader here. He did not acknowledge me, except by raising a hand to point at a Dwarf who sat surrounded by crates and barrels. My Uncle and Narali joined us as we approached him. We learned that he was named Mögr, Foreman of the 21st Hall. I told him who were, though no doubt he had heard of us. Much to my surprise, he had not. In fact, he said that we barely looked like Dwarves. Hearing the angry remarks, he quickly claimed that he was joking, barely able to contain his laughter. I did not ask him if he was joking about us not looking like Dwarves or him having not heard of us. After a brief a conversation, we were tasked to take supplies North to the Jazargund camp, which defended the Northern flank of the 21st Hall. We brought our goats to near the crates and started loading them up. Nails, food, water, ale, spare tools, some cloth. Adonneniel said she would "remain unburdened, in case there are goblins about". I also said that I would "remain unburdened, in case I get tired." One good thing that comes out of being injured is that nobody can say no to me, so of course, I remained unburdened.
We rode North slowly, as this time there was neither rush nor danger. At the end of the hall, we came upon a tunnel, with a magnificent door halfway through it. My Uncle said that it was the Chamber of Mazarbul, where Balin had made his last stand. As we dismounted to walk in and pay our respects, I noticed Narali missing. She was standing outside the tunnel, white as a sheet. I told the others to go ahead without me and went to check in on her, making a note of Ronhus also waiting outside. These two were more alike than I had first realised. I asked her if she was alright and she replied that she was, as she always does, but I could tell that something about that place troubled her greatly. She refused to come in. I told her that it was safe, though I knew that was not her concern. She did not elaborate there and I did not press her, instead walking back to enter the chamber myself. It looked like a great battle had taken place there, confirming what my Uncle said. In middle of the room laid a tomb. "Here lies Balin, son of Fundin, Lord of Moria".
We did not tarry there for long, instead hastening to move away. Narali, who still looked terrified, saw that we were ready to leave and entered the tunnel in a gallop, passing by us like the wind. She is many things, but a coward is not one of them. We found her waiting for us at the end of the tunnel where it opened up to a large room. Adonneniel and Ronhus had noticed her expression. The Elf remarked that she looked pale and asked her if she felt unwell. Narali opened up, telling us more about the gift she had. She said that the Stone spoke to her, whispering both good and bad things, but she did not know how to tell it apart. She said that "sometimes it's personal", which made me shiver. I did not envy her, but I did not fear for her either. I don't doubt she will learn to manage it as she learns more about it, and me and my Uncle will be there with her all the way.
We continued our ride and came to a wide hall, filled with light as if it were right under the sun. There were so many mirrors, the chief of them in the middle, with a shallow pool beneath its base. I felt ease in my heart and indeed, everyone seemed to feel better there. Narali looked relieved as she stood by the Great Mirror, slowly touching the water. I went to find the leader of the camp and explained to him that I was a great lord who has come to help him, with my loyal dwarves. My Uncle heard it and made it abundantly clear that I was, in fact, not a lord. Well, not yet, but one day I will be!
I decided to join the others by the Great Mirror and while looking at the pool, I fell in. While it was shallow, I was soaked and the sound of the Elf's laughter echoed through the hall. I told them I intended to take a bath, something the Elf no doubt had heard for the first time in her life. We milled around the Mirror, conversing and joking and laughing. My heart felt lighter, each breath feeling more refreshing than the last. The Shadow did not burden us as much in here. As I tried to dry my boots, I noticed a light to the North. As we walked closer, we saw that it was the many crystals lighting the path in the Endless Stair. A Dwarven wonder, right before us. We looked up and down to see an end, and I even threw a rock down but did not hear it land. Though in the end, we determined that it must have an end, somewhere. Adonneniel told remarked that this must be where Gandalf and Durin's Bane fought their way up to Zirakzigil.
When we walked back to the Mirror, Narali approached my Uncle. She told him she was alright, and not to worry about her. She seemed to feel better here, as we all did. I told my Uncle that she was strong. He replied with a sadness in his eyes, saying that he wished she didn't have to be. Narali said that suffering was like breathing to her, prompting my uncle smirking and telling her that maybe she needs to get her lungs checked out. With the stress and the tension leaving us, two shared a hug. I, of course, saw my chance for a group hug and jumped in, Aunt Garfi close behind me.
Narali said that the voice in this place was better, that it made her understand important things. I believe we'll stay here a while longer. We all need it.
