The Dwarf, the Lonely Mountain, and the Dragon

by eschscholzia

The people of Dol Amroth are a seafaring people, so knots are a key part of life. Knot-tying comes to some of them more easily than others. A series of interconnected ficlets as Ivriniel and siblings put their lessons to use on adventures. Or are they escapades? Misadventures are in the eye of the beholder.

1. Chapter 1: Bowline

"Try it again, please?" asked Ivriniel of the crusty white-haired First Mate of her grandfather's flagship.

He held his length of rope up between them. "Once there was a dwarf. He stored all his treasure in a tunnel in the Lonely Mountain. Then a dragon swooped down and caught him up."

Ivriniel was determined to master this knot, but she felt the tears starting to prick behind her eyes. She ducked her face in her long black hair. She wanted to make grandfather proud; she was of Dol Amroth, after all!

"I wanna try!" piped up a small voice beside them.

"Run along, Immy," she muttered through clenched teeth. She. Would. Not. Cry.

She turned herself to sit by the First Mate's side, facing his same direction. She pinched her rope at elbow's length. "Here is the dwarf, and he stored his treasure in the Lonely Mountain. Then the dragon swoops down and catches him up."

She handed over the knot to the First Mate. He clamped his pipe between his teeth while he pulled at the knot. It slid back and forth.

"Hmm… but you'll get it soon."

"Done!" said Immy, a perfect bowline knot swinging from his hand.