Adonneniel

Having delivered the second package to the guards at Hrimbarg, with a second copy of the instructions for use of the poison-antidote, the friends realize it is wiser to wait out the night before striking out on the long journey back to Imladris. Filegris has a skin of wine; Menelamdir has a fable about a helpful woodpecker; and Glorfingwë, rather unusually, has a fully strung musical instrument wrapped in his pack. He plays a bit but shortly turns it over to Filegris, who has spent many a long night before in company who required morale.

Glorfingwë's handpicked team accompanies him to the fortress where Krimruk. the Dwarf who held a deadly grudge, lords over his gang of petty criminals. The group waits tensely as Glorfingwë exerts his considerable powers of persuasion. Will the slightly altered pipeweed have the euphoric and addling effects the Lady promised it would? Thanks to that -- and a bit of improvised acting by Arradril, who praises Krimruk's red hair and pretends to be Glorfingwë's spoiled daughter -- things take an interesting turn.

In possibly the worst, seediest, but therefore most dark and private watering hole in Erebor, Snufi, a friend of the slain Vigfús, gives counsel and valuable information regarding how to approach the likeliest suspect in the Elves' quest to obtain justice on behalf of the fallen Dwarf's family. He does so in between being struck by the beauty of Lady Adonneniel, despite her beardlessness, and wishes the Elves a safe journey home.