(AN: Thank Eru/Elbereth/Odin for the Dvergatal. I thought I would have to come up with Dwarvish names all on my own, but I found the Norse poem which Tolkien used for the names of his Dwarves, so thank you. Austri's name comes from the name of the Dwarf of the East Wind, obviously that fits because of where we are. He's also very important, as you shall soon see.)

Dwarves of the East

T.A. 1630

Nightfall on the foothills of the Orocarni. Austri's folk, whom he had introduced as the Blacklocks, made their camp in the fields. There was no threat of wild animals for, as the Wizards knew well enough, all the wild animals had fled the far east. Furthermore, the Dwarves set up sentries about the camp and their strong and sturdiness meant that they could stay up as well as any elf, if not better. Meanwhile, some of the rationed beer was being sent around and meats were being placed on the spits.

At the center of the camp, around one of the fires, Morinehtar and Romenasto sat looking at Austri, who was apparently some kind of leader among the Blacklocks. Curunir walked alone on the outskirts of the camp, and no one dared question his refusal to socialize. They ate what food was offered and drank the mead, which were both of good make.

"I think a pipe would go well here," Romenasto stated.

"I'm afraid we can't oblige you, Tharkun," Austri replied, shaking his beard. "Pipe-weed doesn't grow out here in the East, and it only comes this far in trade with the Longbeards. But we Blacklocks never see any barrels of the stuff: most of it goes to the Stonefoots or the Ironfists. It's as good as mithril in some parts."

"Who are the Stonefoots and the Ironfists?" asked Morinehtar.

"Clans of the Dwarves," Austri began. "My people are the Blacklocks, known for our hair, black as coal. The other clans that inhabit the Red Mountains are the Ironfists, the Stiffbeards and the Stonefoots. Two of these, the Stiffbeards and the Ironfists, form a loose confederacy. The Ironfists are the most warlike of the clans: they hate everything not Dwarvish and they don't trust any of the other clans. The Stonefoots are the traders, with their caravans going among the Gharki and as far south as Khand and west as far as Gazaz Bhanad, the Iron Hills."

"You've mentioned the Gharki before," Romenasto said. "Who are they?"

"Men," Austri stated. "The ones who worship Gor'khan. It is said he gave the Seven Fathers gifts in the Dark Years, which brought them great wealth and power. But those are just legends. The Blacklocks do not worship Gor'khan: he imposes heavy taxes of man, beast and tribute, and demands sacrifices of blood for the price of his protection. Dwarves have never been beholden to anything or anyone."

"What brings you from the mountains?" asked Morinehtar.

"You ask many questions, Tharkun," Austri stated. He sighed. "Nevertheless, you seem trustworthy and you have an air about you, like one of the oldest and wisest of our people." He nodded. "I feel that I can trust you."

"Go on."

"Several hundred years ago," Austri continued. "The wyrms began pillaging the lower halls of our mountain kingdoms, driving us up to the surface. During that time, a plague came upon our people, but we endured. The wyrms, however, have not been so easy to assuage. They come for our gold, for no reason better than to steal it and hoard it from its rightful owners. So many of them have their been that we have chosen to leave our ancestral homes and make for the Iron Hills. Perhaps the Longbeards will be more accepting of us than the Stonefoots or the Ironfists."

Austri sighed, then removed his gloves to warm his hands by the fire.

"What is that?" Curunir asked. Both Morinehtar and Romenasto turned about and saw the tall, white-clad Wizard standing behind them, peering with his long nose at the Dwarf's hand.

"Iimulrun, the Ring of Gold," Austri said, gazing at it. The ring was a band of pure gold, engraved with straight, blocky images typical of Dwarven architecture. But upon the face of the ring was a facet of mithril inlaid with a diamond. "This has been in my family for generations. My great-grandfather Anarr received his from the father of the Blackrocks in the days of Forin the Mighty, who fought with the Khozoh-baram in the Great Battle of the Last Age. It is said the Ironfists fought in that battle as well, against Forin and his allies."

Curunir took a seat next to Austri and began asking him questions. Morinehtar gestured with his head for Romenasto to part, and so they did, stepping away from the fire and coming to a place apart from the company where they could share a few words in private.

"What do you make of that?" Morinehtar asked. "Curunir only became interested when he saw Austri's ring."

"Well, that was his mandate," Romenasto replied. "Nevertheless, he is the most powerful of our order and he will no doubt want to visit the other clans to see their rings, or at least learn more about them."

"So?"

"So, we should go with him," Romenasto suggested. "And offer our help to the Blacklocks."

"I strongly caution against it," Morinehtar shook his head in disapproval. "The last time we offered our help to these people, we started a cult!"

"A cult?" Curunir asked. The two wizards saw their comrade was standing near them, a suspicious glare in his deep eyes. Whether he had indeed finished his conversation with Austri and was now coming to them by intent, or whether he had overheard them, they could not guess. But the look in his eyes was certainly not one of approval.

"Do you not remember your mandate?" he asked reprimandingly. "You were explicitly ordered not to use your power to rule over the races of Men!"

"It was unintentional," Morinehtar stated.

"It was my fault," Romenasto said with head-bowed. "I put my trust in a man who betrayed us. Morinehtar is not at fault in this matter."

"When I return to the West," Curunir said. "I will tell of your failure." He sighed. "As it seems, that shall not yet come to pass. I purpose to enter the mountains, and I will need these Dwarves to come with us. You may tag along at my tail if you desire so."

Curunir then turned about and walked back to Austri. He sat himself down next to the Dwarf and began elaborating on how a return to the Red Mountains would be profitable to the Dwarves and successful if they went with them. The Blue Wizards kept their distance, for this was Curunir's skill and he was proud and would not permit interruption from them. Nevertheless, they hoped and prayed the Valar would keep them from making another blunder as they had with Moren'tai.

(AN: Big reveal coming up in the next chapter, but I had to set some things down in stone. If the Blue Wizards disappeared into the East, never to return, how is it even guessed that they started cults? My guess is that Saruman said such when he returned from the East, which is why I have such here. I mentioned Forin from Last Alliance, and with the appearance of Iimulrun, I'm sure you can guess where we're going. Obviously, Saruman's voice can convince the Dwarves to return to the Red Mountains to do his business. But what that business may be is not for this chapter to tell, not yet at least.)

(As there is precious little Khuzdul in Tolkien's works, I've had to work outside a bit for some of the words. Thramili's Khuzdul from the LotrO community web-page was used for all non-Tolkien words, and "Gharki" is one I made up, meaning roughly "Gor'khan's slaves" or "-followers" in Khuzdul, refering all-inclusively to the Easterlings and Variags [whom I think I should make appear, what do you think?])