Just then there was a cry an explosion and shouts. The room shook. Baldrick muttered, 'Crumbs, I fogot about that attack by Dwarves an all!'

Baldrick remind me to feed you to my pet dragon, Tiddles!'

The next sequence of events despite their importance happened quickly for Dan. The lights went out and smoke covered the room. then, seemingly, the floor was cut open and from underneath several Dwarves sprang out. Dwarves were short, bearded of brown and white-skin, clad in tough mail and wielding axes. Whitesnake smartly moved out of the way crying for aid. Dan was impressed by the Dwarves surprising strength. One unbuckled his chained with an axe and the Dwarves more than held their own in the ensuing fight with Whitesnake's men despite been outnumbered.

Now by some strange chance it fell to Dan to take on Baldrick. I'm not sure I've told you this, but Dan was not the greatest fighter in the world and was very nervous about fighting Baldrick. But as it happened with a quick parry, Dan cut away Baldrick's sword with his own. He was thinking that Baldrick must be hopeless for him to defeat Baldrick so easily. Dan moved in for the kill.

But Baldrick begged and pleaded for his life. 'No, no, no please don't kill me, please!'

Dan wavered. At first he thought, ' as a corpse you may smell better!' as Baldrick really stank. But he did not or could not kill the wretched creature grovelling before him. You might think this was soft of Dan but I think it showed the humanity of the man. As Dan hovered though Baldrick whacked Dan in the codpiece with an axe making Dan's eyes water, then Baldrick ran away laughing.

One of the Dwarves remonstrated, 'What did you do that for Baldrick's got away now!' then 3 things happened at once. Firstly the Dwarves cried, 'Come on now's our chance lets get away,' and everyone started to dash down the underground passage. As he fled, Dan caught a glimpse of a cold, shadowy, armed creature which oozed fear and the mere sight of which froze his heart as it's red-eyes focused upon him.

Mr.N whispered to him, 'Sauron. He's here. In his fel form come on quick!' then Dan saw Turin. Turin was taking on four of Whitesnake's guards by himself,

'Come on at you!' cried he,

Dan called out, 'Come down, Turin, you damn idiot!' but it was too late. Turin did bravely slay one guard with a mighty swipe of his sword. But the other 3 in harmony stabbed Turin through his chest and out of his back with their 3 swords and Turin fell dead.

'Noooooo!' screamed Dan in horror. He was frozen, stunned but Mr.N urgently whispered

'come on Dan, there's nothing you can do for him now!' Dan agreed and settling for a silent 1 second salute for his friend with his sword scuttled underground into the dark with the others, tears streaming down his face.

But Dan found himself in a network of tunnels. Apparently in ages past the Dwarves had allied themselves to the Numenoreans and had dug vast mines fairly close to Whitesnake's mansion. The Dwarves who rescued Dan had simply extended this. 'Nice of you to rescue me like this,' Dan said to Jean the Dwarves leader.

Jean replied, 'Oh, were not rescuing you, we're rescuing Timbo here, who alas seems to have fainted in the excitement, he's a noble prince of Hobbits, you just happened to be here as well!

Dan was grateful that he was with Dwarves. Dwarves can see even in total blackness, far better than Men and more than once a Dwarf stopped him saying, 'watch out, there's a drop of hundreds of feet!' then would mutter, 'Only one of the race of men would be so blind as to miss a clear drop like that!' Dan journeyed in the dark for a number of days. He found somethings about Dwarves during his time with the species. Many Dwarves had travelled to Numenor in past years to work. But they had not fallen to evil the same way most of the Numoreans had.

As Jean said, 'We're not so tempted by everlasting life in the same way as some Men are!'

and Mr.N muttered, 'That's probably because Dwarves live to around 300!'

But Dan wondered if there was anything which tempted Dwarves. He was about to find out! After a few days of dark travel, Jean suggested it was time to move to the surface again. Dan emerged into a quiet but scruffy and dark town. Jean said, 'there is an Inn nearby which we Dwarves frequent. A charming place. We can relax there for a time!'

And so Dan and Mr.N found themselves in a Numenor inn. As he waited to be served an argument started amongst the Dwarves which looked like it was starting to get vilent. 'I have to pay do I? Why do I have to pay you son of a Troll?'

'It's your turn,'

'No, it's not don't foget about those boots I bought,'

'Will you pay Amjad?'

No chance, I'm paying for my own and will fight anyone who makes me!'

'Fine,'

'Fine,'

Fine,'