CHAPTER II
THE ART OF THE DEAL
Brand and his army walked through the green country of Dale, land of the Dwarves. The mountains, green as a result of spring, stuck out like the jagged teeth of a Warg. The only way they could tell which mountain contained Dáin was by the door, which glowed in the moonlight.
"What does it say?" asked a soldier.
"It says 'The Halls of Dáin, Lord of Dale' in Elvish", said Brand. "It also says 'Speak, friend, and enter'. I wonder what that could mean", He then sat down, thinking what the line meant, not knowing that what its intent was. He then repeated the lines in Elvish, and the doors miraculously opened.
"I must have said something", said Brand. He then walked in, but two Dwarvish soldiers, clad with thick armor and small axes, blocked Brand's way.
"Are you kin of Esgaroth?" asked a Dwarvish soldier.
"Yes", said Brand. "I am".
"Good", said the other soldier. "King Dáin would like to see you". Brand and his soldiers followed into the halls Dale, which were big even for a full-sized man. The halls were made up of large, ornate pillars, which were cloaked in characters from the Dwarvish language. There was a large bridge, and down below were legions of Dwarves, all mining for the ores that were in the contents of the mountain. They walked closer to find two large doors that were more impressive than the moonlit one they encountered earlier. The soldiers then opened the door and lead them to the throne room of King Dáin Ironfoot. The throne room was huge, with golden walls lined up with the rarest jewels of Middle Earth. His throne was just as beautiful, which was made out of gold, jewels, and had a seat made from Warg fur. There were dozens and dozens of soldiers in the room, so that Dáin could never be hurt.
"Well, well, well", said Dáin. "If it isn't King Brand of Esgaroth. I have been awaiting your arrival."
"Likewise", said Brand. "If I may ask you one question, was there a force of women, children, and old men led by a young commander by the name of Narodan?"
"Don't be hasty", exclaimed Dáin. "Yes, he came here about twelve hours ago. He was pretty worried about you, too. Wanted to make sure you guys arrived safely. Gráo, escort Brand and his soldiers to the hall with the other Esgarothians. Make sure they get a meal of red meat and our finest ale".
"Yes, sir", said Gráo. He then escorted the other soldiers out of the hall, but Brand refused to go.
"Why won't you go?" asked Dáin. "I'm insulted!"
"I'm not trying to insult you", said Brand. "I just want to talk."
"About what?" asked Dáin. "Don't worry- I've got all the time in Middle-Earth".
"That's the one thing we don't have", said Brand. "The Easterlings know we retreated to Dale, and they followed us. Within a day's time, they will launch an assault upon your city to try to destroy us all. Sauron is committing genocide! The world of men, Elves, and Dwarves shall be destroyed!"
"If you are saying I should go to war", yelled Dáin. "That is one thing we must not do."
"Why?" asked Brand. "To protect your little jewels?"
"NO!" yelled Dáin. "My miners are my soldiers, and they make up every single Dwarf in this rock. They have never fought any force other that a band of raiders. It would be a massacre!"
"The case was the same with my army!" yelled Brand. "But we endured! They heavily outnumbered us five to one, but we endured! Even though we lost our city, our men, and were forced to retreat, we endured, and we continued to live. We will not continue to live if you do not combine forces with me and destroy the menace of the Easterlings once an for all!"
"I CANNOT!" yelled Dáin. "I have miners, not soldiers. These are the matters for Men and Elves, not Dwarves!"
"That is what I hate about the Dwarvish attitude towards war", said Brand. "You think it is a matter we can handle, such as we did during the War of the Last Alliance. Leave it to the Elves and Men. You never take responsibility! The thing is, it's all our responsibility! Do you have children? You must, since you're the king. Anyway, what you decide today will affect their future. If we do not act today, not only will your children die but also all the children in Dale will die! What say you?" Brand knew he got to Dáin, for he had children and knew what Brand was saying was true.
"Please leave", said Dáin. "I will think about it in the evening."
"Very well", said Brand. He left the building with a heavy felling in his heart. He knew that Dáin would make a decision, but whether it would be a good or not was all up to him.
THE ART OF THE DEAL
Brand and his army walked through the green country of Dale, land of the Dwarves. The mountains, green as a result of spring, stuck out like the jagged teeth of a Warg. The only way they could tell which mountain contained Dáin was by the door, which glowed in the moonlight.
"What does it say?" asked a soldier.
"It says 'The Halls of Dáin, Lord of Dale' in Elvish", said Brand. "It also says 'Speak, friend, and enter'. I wonder what that could mean", He then sat down, thinking what the line meant, not knowing that what its intent was. He then repeated the lines in Elvish, and the doors miraculously opened.
"I must have said something", said Brand. He then walked in, but two Dwarvish soldiers, clad with thick armor and small axes, blocked Brand's way.
"Are you kin of Esgaroth?" asked a Dwarvish soldier.
"Yes", said Brand. "I am".
"Good", said the other soldier. "King Dáin would like to see you". Brand and his soldiers followed into the halls Dale, which were big even for a full-sized man. The halls were made up of large, ornate pillars, which were cloaked in characters from the Dwarvish language. There was a large bridge, and down below were legions of Dwarves, all mining for the ores that were in the contents of the mountain. They walked closer to find two large doors that were more impressive than the moonlit one they encountered earlier. The soldiers then opened the door and lead them to the throne room of King Dáin Ironfoot. The throne room was huge, with golden walls lined up with the rarest jewels of Middle Earth. His throne was just as beautiful, which was made out of gold, jewels, and had a seat made from Warg fur. There were dozens and dozens of soldiers in the room, so that Dáin could never be hurt.
"Well, well, well", said Dáin. "If it isn't King Brand of Esgaroth. I have been awaiting your arrival."
"Likewise", said Brand. "If I may ask you one question, was there a force of women, children, and old men led by a young commander by the name of Narodan?"
"Don't be hasty", exclaimed Dáin. "Yes, he came here about twelve hours ago. He was pretty worried about you, too. Wanted to make sure you guys arrived safely. Gráo, escort Brand and his soldiers to the hall with the other Esgarothians. Make sure they get a meal of red meat and our finest ale".
"Yes, sir", said Gráo. He then escorted the other soldiers out of the hall, but Brand refused to go.
"Why won't you go?" asked Dáin. "I'm insulted!"
"I'm not trying to insult you", said Brand. "I just want to talk."
"About what?" asked Dáin. "Don't worry- I've got all the time in Middle-Earth".
"That's the one thing we don't have", said Brand. "The Easterlings know we retreated to Dale, and they followed us. Within a day's time, they will launch an assault upon your city to try to destroy us all. Sauron is committing genocide! The world of men, Elves, and Dwarves shall be destroyed!"
"If you are saying I should go to war", yelled Dáin. "That is one thing we must not do."
"Why?" asked Brand. "To protect your little jewels?"
"NO!" yelled Dáin. "My miners are my soldiers, and they make up every single Dwarf in this rock. They have never fought any force other that a band of raiders. It would be a massacre!"
"The case was the same with my army!" yelled Brand. "But we endured! They heavily outnumbered us five to one, but we endured! Even though we lost our city, our men, and were forced to retreat, we endured, and we continued to live. We will not continue to live if you do not combine forces with me and destroy the menace of the Easterlings once an for all!"
"I CANNOT!" yelled Dáin. "I have miners, not soldiers. These are the matters for Men and Elves, not Dwarves!"
"That is what I hate about the Dwarvish attitude towards war", said Brand. "You think it is a matter we can handle, such as we did during the War of the Last Alliance. Leave it to the Elves and Men. You never take responsibility! The thing is, it's all our responsibility! Do you have children? You must, since you're the king. Anyway, what you decide today will affect their future. If we do not act today, not only will your children die but also all the children in Dale will die! What say you?" Brand knew he got to Dáin, for he had children and knew what Brand was saying was true.
"Please leave", said Dáin. "I will think about it in the evening."
"Very well", said Brand. He left the building with a heavy felling in his heart. He knew that Dáin would make a decision, but whether it would be a good or not was all up to him.