As the Leaves of Lorien Fall, Chapter 2
Legolas looked around the clearing, trying to see where Galadriel had gone, and, seeing that he was alone with the basin and the moonlight. He stepped carefully up to the basin, and looked inside. At first he saw only stars, and his own reflection, but then, the image, far away, but incredibly clear, of a stone chamber, a great hall. Legolas recognized it as the hall where they had spent their last night in Moria. But it was not dark and foul. In the image it was as it had been in Gimli's song, full of light, with great works of gold all around; the throne on which the Dwarf-king sat was magnificently carved, and gleaming with reflected light. There were many dwarfs gathered around the King, all dressed in resplendent robes, and an elven lord was seated in front of the King and seemed to be discussing some important matter. This then, must be Moria, back when it was Khazad- dum, back when Durin was king under the Mountain.
Even as Legolas realized what he was watching, he found that he could hear what they were saying...
Celebrimbor, the Elf-Lord of the kingdom of Hollin, sat quietly as he listened to the Dwarves endlessly debate the details of the treaty, the same details he had thought they had ironed out the week before, and only the composition that comes from several thousand years of life saved him from displaying his annoyance. Anyone who had ever accused Elves of talking too much, he thought bitterly, had never spent time with dwarven bureaucrats when there was treasure at stake.
The two kingdoms had done a great deal of trade together in the past, as the elven-smiths made great use of the mithril that the dwarves found in their mines. It was still a rather tenuous relationship, as the distrust and hatred that Thingol had aroused between the two races with his greed had still not abated. Celebrimor hoped that by making a full treaty with the dwarves of Khazad-dum, rather than merely an economic one, he could help to repair that relationship. He hoped that an alliance between the two cities of artisans would promote a friendship between the species, which was why he did not let his irritation show on his face.
King Durin and his diplomats had finally agreed to a cooperative program for apprentice stone and metal masons that Celebrimbor had pushed for, hoping to promote greater understanding; and the talk turned to the matter of the West Gate. It was still rather rough and unimpressive, but Celebrimbor hoped that it could become a symbol of the friendship between the two kingdoms.
"Your majesty," Celebrimbor broke into the argument that had just broke out over what sort of stone would be best to use in building a new gate, "I would propose a joint venture for building this gate, that it truly be representative of both our kingdoms. It would, of course, be constructed according to traditional dwarven practice, but incorporate elven elements. With your permission, I would like the greatest of my silver-smiths to work with the greatest of your stone-masons, and, with their cooperation, the doors of Khazad-dum will be the wonder of the lands East of the Sea."
King Durin stroked his beard, as his councilors protested allowing an elf to be witness to their ancient practices. Finally, sticking his thumbs inside his gold and jeweled belt, said loudly,
"Enough of this arguing about details! We know that we can trust the elves of Hollin, or we wouldn't have considered this treaty in the first place. It shall be as proposed; I'm sick of all these endless meetings, and I'm sure that Lord Celebrimbor is as well. GrÏin, inform Narvi that he is to meet with the elven silver-smith tomorrow to begin work on the gate. Oh, and tell the kitchens to begin work on a feast, we need to celebrate this treaty properly!"
The king, after watching his advisors scatter, like leaves tossed by a sudden wind, turned to Celebrimbor with a smile, and suggested that he send for his silver-smith, and have him attend the feast that night, "it will give him a chance to meet Narvi, after all, they should be working close together! Now, who is your best silver-smith?"
Celebrimbor smiled, and said politely, that he would be working on the West Gate himself, as he had been trained in metal work by Aulë himself in Valinor.
"Indeed," boomed the dwarf king, "then let us hope that you like Narvi, then!" And he took Celebrimbor by the arm, and led him from the chamber.
So that was the origin of the great doors we saw at the West Gate, Legolas thought to himself, as the surface suddenly went dark and showed only stars once more. I don't see how it helps my situation any, though, he thought, unless Celebrimbor had an affair with Durin...But then he noticed that another image had begun to appear in the basin...
Legolas looked around the clearing, trying to see where Galadriel had gone, and, seeing that he was alone with the basin and the moonlight. He stepped carefully up to the basin, and looked inside. At first he saw only stars, and his own reflection, but then, the image, far away, but incredibly clear, of a stone chamber, a great hall. Legolas recognized it as the hall where they had spent their last night in Moria. But it was not dark and foul. In the image it was as it had been in Gimli's song, full of light, with great works of gold all around; the throne on which the Dwarf-king sat was magnificently carved, and gleaming with reflected light. There were many dwarfs gathered around the King, all dressed in resplendent robes, and an elven lord was seated in front of the King and seemed to be discussing some important matter. This then, must be Moria, back when it was Khazad- dum, back when Durin was king under the Mountain.
Even as Legolas realized what he was watching, he found that he could hear what they were saying...
Celebrimbor, the Elf-Lord of the kingdom of Hollin, sat quietly as he listened to the Dwarves endlessly debate the details of the treaty, the same details he had thought they had ironed out the week before, and only the composition that comes from several thousand years of life saved him from displaying his annoyance. Anyone who had ever accused Elves of talking too much, he thought bitterly, had never spent time with dwarven bureaucrats when there was treasure at stake.
The two kingdoms had done a great deal of trade together in the past, as the elven-smiths made great use of the mithril that the dwarves found in their mines. It was still a rather tenuous relationship, as the distrust and hatred that Thingol had aroused between the two races with his greed had still not abated. Celebrimor hoped that by making a full treaty with the dwarves of Khazad-dum, rather than merely an economic one, he could help to repair that relationship. He hoped that an alliance between the two cities of artisans would promote a friendship between the species, which was why he did not let his irritation show on his face.
King Durin and his diplomats had finally agreed to a cooperative program for apprentice stone and metal masons that Celebrimbor had pushed for, hoping to promote greater understanding; and the talk turned to the matter of the West Gate. It was still rather rough and unimpressive, but Celebrimbor hoped that it could become a symbol of the friendship between the two kingdoms.
"Your majesty," Celebrimbor broke into the argument that had just broke out over what sort of stone would be best to use in building a new gate, "I would propose a joint venture for building this gate, that it truly be representative of both our kingdoms. It would, of course, be constructed according to traditional dwarven practice, but incorporate elven elements. With your permission, I would like the greatest of my silver-smiths to work with the greatest of your stone-masons, and, with their cooperation, the doors of Khazad-dum will be the wonder of the lands East of the Sea."
King Durin stroked his beard, as his councilors protested allowing an elf to be witness to their ancient practices. Finally, sticking his thumbs inside his gold and jeweled belt, said loudly,
"Enough of this arguing about details! We know that we can trust the elves of Hollin, or we wouldn't have considered this treaty in the first place. It shall be as proposed; I'm sick of all these endless meetings, and I'm sure that Lord Celebrimbor is as well. GrÏin, inform Narvi that he is to meet with the elven silver-smith tomorrow to begin work on the gate. Oh, and tell the kitchens to begin work on a feast, we need to celebrate this treaty properly!"
The king, after watching his advisors scatter, like leaves tossed by a sudden wind, turned to Celebrimbor with a smile, and suggested that he send for his silver-smith, and have him attend the feast that night, "it will give him a chance to meet Narvi, after all, they should be working close together! Now, who is your best silver-smith?"
Celebrimbor smiled, and said politely, that he would be working on the West Gate himself, as he had been trained in metal work by Aulë himself in Valinor.
"Indeed," boomed the dwarf king, "then let us hope that you like Narvi, then!" And he took Celebrimbor by the arm, and led him from the chamber.
So that was the origin of the great doors we saw at the West Gate, Legolas thought to himself, as the surface suddenly went dark and showed only stars once more. I don't see how it helps my situation any, though, he thought, unless Celebrimbor had an affair with Durin...But then he noticed that another image had begun to appear in the basin...