"Well! Where are they then?" Bilbo demanded in frustration.
The three footsore Hobbits had been wandering in the foothills of Evendim for three days and there was no sign of the Dwarves workings. It had not dawned upon them how difficult it might prove to find their quarry until now. Farrimer, in particular had been positive that finding at least a spoil heap would have been possible, if only because of the waste that had emerged when extending the Thain's own halls the year before. Sadly Evendim was full of potential spoil heaps. Long slopes covered in grey and blue slate shale that cut their feet, adorned every other slope.
Now they huddled together in a small cwm, taking advantage of the small pool to ease their feet.
"I ain't going no further today," Tom grumbled, examining the cut on his foot and gently teasing a shard of stone from it. "If I never slide down another of those screes it'll be too soon. Now I knows why them Stocks wear boots. Never seemed right afore."
Farrimer, said nothing. Instead he sat, his back against the cool rock face of the cliff behind and tried to think.
He was certain they were near the Dwarf Halls. They had found and followed cart tracks into the deep 'U' shaped valley below two days ago, giving all a brief fillip of hope. From there the ground had become too stony to provide any help and the valley had led into three more smaller valleys. From the lip of the cwm they could see into the rock strewn extents of all three. There was no way a cart could have travelled far in them.
Finally he looked up. "Unless we see a cart. I don't think we are going to find them," he admitted. "The Thain said that the Dwarves are pretty good at concealing their entrances. Perhaps I should have listened more."
He was about to stand when the cliff behind him disappeared.
From the hole that was left three Dwarves appeared, coughing violently and heading for the pool.
"I told ye there were gas behind that rock!" One spluttered.
"No you didn't, you daft old fool. You said it was a cavity!" The second pronounced firmly and gesticulating with his axe.
"Fool yourself. You knows that there is gas in cavities. Goes with the coal!" The First protested righteously.
"Aye and when are we getting past all that useless stuff? Grydore said there is valuable stuff here. We've been digging like Orc's for three years an all you've found is useless slate and coal!" The third of the party joined the argument, whilst washing his face.
"Found the Malachite spoil last month didn't I?" The first declared. "Always a good sign!"
There was a sound somewhere between snarl and splutter and a lot of splashing, before they looked up and espied the three Hobbits.
There was a brief moments silence as both sides gazed upon each other mute surprise.
The first of the Dwarves regained his wits first. "Who do you be?"
"'N' What you do think you're doing here?" The third demanded, fingering for the axe hanging on his back.
The Hobbits backed away in alarm from the threatening dwarves, but rapidly found that any escape route was rapidly blocked off.
"We don't want no Orcs!"
Two dwarves looked incredulously at their third companion, whose red eyes were still watering from the gases in the tunnel. "You daft old geezer, Borin!" The first scolded.
Farrimer finally found his voice. "We are Hobbits from the Shire!" He declared hopefully.
"Don't want none of them either. Be off with you!" Borin continued stubbornly.
"We came to find you!" Farrimer protested.
"So you can bring Orcs!" Borin snapped, snatching his axe from his belt and bounding forward.
"We are named Dwarf Friend by Gimli, son of Gloin, son of Thorin, King Under the Hill, son of Balin!" Bilbo cried in desperation, reeling off the Dwarf blood line for effect. "We've nothing to do with Orcs! There ain't been Orcs here in o'er sixty year!"
It was fortunate for the Hobbits that the remaining two dwarves caught their comrade by the arms. "Perhaps they might, Borin. But only if they escape," the first muttered.
"Aye. And if we kill them here and they are Dwarf Friend of Thorin then it'll be worse than Orc's we have," the third added. "We'll take them to see Farin and Grydore. Grab them!"
The three Hobbit's found themselves caught by gnarled hands and dragged back through the cave entrance.
Behind them the entrance to the cave was closed again, leaving all dark.
"At least we will not have to tell them to duck," a muttered voice echoed, before becoming sharper. "Do not attempt to escape. It would be dangerous to try, there are shafts."
Pushed forward, with one of the Dwarves leading and the others following there was little option but to comply to the directions.
From the ridge opposite sharp Elven eyes and ears watched and listened on to the activities in the cwm.
"I do not know if I am glad that the Hobbits found the Dwarfs, Malindron," Othmiel observed quietly. "They could make things more complicated?"
"At least the Dwarves did not kill them," Malindron placated. "There may be more to the Hobbits than there looks. Elrond and Gandalf always claimed they are a stout people."
"But simple," Othmiel agreed. "They do not know what they are getting themselves into. Perhaps the Dwarves will let them go before they delve too far and find the seal?"
Malindron shook his head thoughtfully. "I doubt the Dwarves will allow them to go so quickly. Still the Hobbits have found the way into the halls for us. That entry was well hidden. Perhaps they will stop them looking?"
"We will wait for a little longer," he added.
