In a small household to the east of the Lonely Mountain lived a young dwarf and his mother.
Torli sat at the table eating his share of this morning's hunt watching his mother as she waltzed frantically around the kitchen.
"Ma, just sit down" he said "you need to relax"
"Relax?! Relax?! How can I relax?" She retorted. "They're going to battle, on that hill. Right next to our house, Torli. They're going to destroy the place. And the dwarf leaders are going to find out about you."
"Then why don't you let me fight?"
"Because they'll kill you. They'll use you on the front line to protect they're own skin. You're worth more than that, Torli. You should have been a dwarf heir. But look what this war has done to us!"
Torli nodded. He hated being hidden all the time, but he knew that it made some sort of sense. Plus, his mother was not a lady you would want to argue with.
Just then packs of soldiers, elves by the sound of things, marched past the house. Torlis mother practically picked him up and put him in a small cupboard. Like he was a toddler. She was such a strong woman. He was used to it, and he knew the score. Keep quiet, and don't let them know you exist.
He closed his eyes for a while. He actually almost fell asleep. Then, without warning, he heard an almighty banging and clattering. He burst out of the cupboard to see the kitchen. Where he was sat before looked like it had been blown to smithereens. His mother sat on a chair staring at the wreckage.
"They plowed through." She said in shock. "They just marched through as if it didn't exist."
"Who did?" Torli walked to his mother
"I don't know. It happened too quickly "
Torli took his mother by the hand and helped her up.
"We have to get out of here. We need to go to the towns. It's safer there."
"You can't. Everyone thinks your dead. You'll be arrested as a coward on the spot"
"Disguise me, you have to"
Torli's mother took a scarf and draped over her sons head.
"My daughter Tali" she proclaimed with a smile and a pat on his cheeks.
The pair walked to the town. Weary, they travelled into the night. They found an inn eventually, the light from the candles bathed the windows in a warm inviting glow. The pair decided to go inside.
Before they did, however, they bumped into some dwarf soldiers.
"Ahh Delores, nice to meet you again," said one soldier shaking the Mothers hand. He turned to Torli, obviously deeply suspicious, "and you are?"
"This is my daughter, Tali" interjected Delores before Torli had time to explain himself.
"Is that so. Are you sure you're not Torli?," He saw right through the disguise. He tore off the scarf revealing Torli, undeniably a son, not daughter. "On your knees, boy"
Torli obliged. Other soldiers lay him on his stomach and cuffed him in irons.
"A coward." The soldier sneered, standing on Torli's head. "You're going to be locked away for a very very long time".
His mother wailed. "Stop! Stop!" She cried. "It's my fault... I hid him away from you. He wanted to fight. But please. Don't take him away. He's all I have, how will I be able to hunt for food or protect myself. I need him"
This was a lie, the woman could stand up for herself. Probably better than any of the soldiers. But it worked. The lead soldier took his foot off Torli's head and signalled the others to unchain him.
"Consider yourself under house arrest" he said down to Torli, who was still lying on the floor. "You must stay with your mother "
Then they walked away. Torli picked himself off the ground.
"You didn't have to" he said
"I did. You're my son" his mother replied as she took him into the inn.
It wasn't long before they were in their small inn room, with two single beds and a wardrobe. Torli lay in his bed, fully clothed. He was angry and was tossing and turning.
"What's the matter?" His mother asked
"I can't sleep" he retorted "I'm going down to the pub".
He sat up, stormed out and walked down to the pub. He ordered a beer and sat there nursing it for a while.
"Torli. Nephew. It can't be" said a voice next to him. Torli turned to see an older, cheery dwarf standing next to him. He had a round face and a long beard, knotted in many intricate braids. His nose was long, and it arched over is mouth. But Torli recognised those kind eyes. He stood without hesitation
"Uncle. Uncle Glein. My King" he bowed his head.
"No no no, Nephew. Not King."
"But your father died."
"He wasn't King when he died. Overturned by the nobles. Because he didn't want to go to war"
"He was still King to me. As you are King now."
"As you are my heir" Glein out his hand on Torli's shoulder.
"What are you doing here anyway?" Torli enquired "does my mother know you are here?"
"I'm afraid we meet entirely by coincidence." Glein grimaced "but I am on a quest... With these fine gentlemen."
Glein gestured towards 3 figures, a hobbit, an elf, and a man who were all smiling at the two dwarves. They all stood to shake Torli's hand.
"Thundad" said the elf, tall with blonde silken hair. "of the Mirkwood Relm"
"Percival Frudge" said the little hobbit. He was quite old, but had a cheery little face and curly hair.
"My name is Freddard" the man said lastly. He was a big man, with black hair and a black beard. Dirty , maybe. With a big open chest, exposing a black mane.
"And what are you doing here?" Torli asked.
"The Orcs, my boy. " Glein opened his speech "They're planning something most foul. They're using these wars to pit every species against each other. So, in turn, they can jump in and take over. They want to enslave the Earth for their own benefit. And, they will succeed, if they're not stopped soon."
"How do you know?" Torli asked, trying to keep his jaw from hitting the ground in shock.
"I heard them" Freddard piped up, puffing out his chest as he did so "On my walks to get away from war, I decided to visit Dol Guldor, to discover it for myself. But I found the Orcs had regrouped there. I heard their every word"
"You speak Orc?"
"Amongst many other languages, yes." Freddard seemed very proud
"And why haven't you told anybody?"
Thundad sighed very gently and said "they will not listen to us. It is up to us to stop them. For the good of the Earth."
Glein looked at Torli
"My boy, you are strong and have the heart of a Prince, ney, of a King. Will you do me the honour of joining our little adventure"
He went down on one knee and bowed his head. Torli looked around the room. Nobody, except the troup, were paying any interest. He got off his stool and slowly picked up Glein.
"Uncle, it would be an honour to fight for you"