Title: Of Fire and Stars (Part 8a)

Author: Ro

Rating: R (for strong language, violence, sexuality and disturbing imagery)

Warnings: Angst, deals with racial bigotry and violence).

Disclaimer: I'm not making any profit off this. With the exception of a few original characters, Gimli, Gandalf, and other characters belong to J.R.R. Tolkien (who's probably spinning in his grave as we speak).

Summary: Gandalf finds out what happened to Gimli while he and Thorin's company were away on their quest. Takes place during "The Hobbit", don't like Dwarves or Gimli? Then don't read this fic!

Notes: This is a Book-version, Not movie-version.

More notes: Someone from the past comes to Gimli's aid and we learn a little bit about Ursla's past.

And more notes: A massive "Thank you" to my beta-reader, Little My! If it wasn't for her this story would have sputtered out long ago, you rock girly ~_^! And a big thank you to everyone that left comments and reviews!

~~~

Of Blue Moons and Green Leaves

~~~

He walked under a night sky devoid of stars; for how long, he could not say. To where he was going and why, he did not know. All he knew was that he was on a journey.

The heavy tread of his footsteps echoed through the quiet and desolate landscape, as he continued down the strange path that cut through the ash covered landscape like a long meandering scar. Only the occasional skeletal tree dotted the otherwise flat and empty gray land that stretched for as far as the eye could see in either direction. The trees themselves were black as coal with no leaves covering their bare limbs, their bony finger-like branches stabbing into the night sky.

A large sickle moon the color of spilt blood hung above in the dark void of the sky, there was nothing but a sea of endless black and the red moon.

He walked on, having no idea of his destination or his purpose, when suddenly he heard faintly, as though from a great distance, the shrill neigh of a horse, and he immediately froze as icy fingers ran up his spine at the far off sound. It sounded like a horse but it was strange, having a quality to it that set his heart pumping in fear. As he stood there in dread, he began to hear the thundering gallop of hooves in the distance, steadily coming closer.

Slowly in the distant darkness, he saw something making its way quickly down the path towards him. Then he truly saw it, and his blood turned to ice water as he was seized by an old and paralyzing fear.

Galloping towards him was something from the depths of his darkest nightmares. A huge dark horse charged forward, its head down, its legs pounding the path and causing gravel to fly. But it was no ordinary horse, no, for its skin was drawn taut over its body, with large gaps that left bone, sinew and rotting organs to view. The horse's mouth had only a few bits of skin and tissue left clinging on it, exposing the wide teeth and part of its long skull, and its eyes were nothing but empty sockets.

It was a rotting, animated corpse.

It galloped towards him, its empty eyes lit from within by some dreadful fire, and Gimli was rooted to the spot, unable to move as he stared at the nightmare coming for him. Even as he found himself near incapacitated by fear, instinctively he reached for his axes-- only to find them gone. And that was not the only thing.

Suddenly he was no longer an adult of sixty-two, but a small Dwarf child of six again. Looking down at himself he could see he was even wearing his old red tunic, and his trousers with the large patches on the knee, his small feet bare, the hard sharp gravel of the path digging into the soles. He was nothing but a defenseless child again.

His heart thundering in his ears, he look back up with wide and panicked eyes and gave a yell of fright, throwing his arms up as the horse came to a skidding stop right in front of him not five feet away. Still frightened, but noticing that he had not felt the crushing and heavy hooves descend on him, he slowly lowered his hands to see the terrible vision standing quietly before him, as if waiting for him to do something. Terrified and confused, Gimli scrambled back.

Then he heard a hiss followed by a roar as flames suddenly exploded everywhere around them, swallowing the gray landscape in a hot tide of fire. The dark tree snapped and groaned as they were consumed by the ravenous flames until there was nothing about him but a raging inferno of licking and dancing flames to either side of the gray path.

His attention turned again to the horse as it lifted its great head, opened its mouth, and let out another terrible scream, causing Gimli to cringe and clamp his hands over his ears with a cry at the painful volume. He watched through frightened eyes as bits of tissue, blood and maggots flew from its gaping and rotting mouth as it screamed.

The terrible corpse horse then lowered its head to peer down at him again, silently watching him with those empty hollow eyes, seeming to take no notice of the roaring flames around them.

He noticed with panic that the path behind him was closing, the searing flames blocking it with a wall of fire-- he was trapped. Now he had no other choice; the only path through the flames was the one before him upon which stood the terrible horse.

Gimli.

He froze, still crouched and staring at the horse, watching as what was left of the corpse's one remaining ear perked forward as it lifted its head to gaze behind him. Greatly daring and with his heart racing, Gimli turned his face to look behind him.

At first all he could see was a wall of roaring flames, then slowly he started to make out what appeared to be a small figure making its way through the fire. As the figure advanced, Gimli watched with terrified anticipation, the sound of his heartbeat hammering in his ears competing with the deafening roar of the hot flames around them. What other horrible nightmare had decided to come and torment him now?

Finally the figure slowly emerged from the fires to reveal not a monster, but a small Dwarf child. He was no more than the age of six, wearing only a simple blue tunic and a pair of britches with large patches on the knees, just like what Gimli wore except for the color of the tunic.

The figure walked calmly through the inferno and stopped about thirteen feet from him, still surrounded yet untouched by the roaring flames. The small figure stood there then held out its small hand towards him, beckoning him, a grave but determined look shining in its almond shaped-eyes.

Gimli's heart gave a massive lurch, and his hands fell away from his ears as he stared in wide-eyed shock at the child. He knew this Dwarf child; he recognized the loose copper hair, the large deep brown eyes, for he was the exact mirror image of himself at that age.

Nin!

He stared in wonder at his lost twin for long moments, before looking back at the corpse horse. He found himself with a choice: go forward on the gray path, where the corpse horse still stood, or go back and face the hot flames where his twin waited.

Coming to a decision, Gimli gave the path before him one final look before turning his back to it and the silent horse, and walking resolutely into the burning flames where his brother beckoned.

The heat was immediately unbearable, but he struggled on. The flames licked at him, setting his clothes on fire then catching his hair alight and his skin began to blister and blacken, as his lungs and throat seared from the heat. The smell of his own cooking flesh assaulting his nose, but he would not be stopped. He was in agony as the unforgiving flames burned and ate away at his small body, but still he forced himself forward.

He could see Nin still waiting for him, just a little more, he raised his own blackened and peeling hand out to his brother, just a little farther

And suddenly his twin's hand was firmly clasping his own and Nin stood in front of him, a pleased smile on his small face. With a start Gimli realized that he was no longer in pain, he was no longer burning, in fact it wasn't even hot any more. He looked down at himself and saw he was whole and unhurt--the flames still jumped and danced around them but they remained untouched.

Gimli looked to Nin in confusion and wonder, still not understanding what was happening. "Nin?" he managed to whisper, his emotions all a jumble. Nin just gave a knowing smile and gave Gimli's hand a squeeze with his own.

A shrill scream broke the moment and they both turned to see the corpse horse, still on the ash gray path, rear up on its back legs. Its head tossed angrily and it kicked its feet as it trumpeted its sudden anger, but it was apparently unwilling to brave the flames to get to them.

Gimli's heart immediately shrank at the sight, but strangely Nin didn't seem scared in the least, only giving the apparition an emotionless glance before turning back to Gimli and motioning for him to follow him. Gimli gave the angry horse a final frightened look before following as his twin led him back through the flames in the direction that he had come, their small hands still firmly clasped. The corpse horse's angry screams still rang in his ears.

They walked for awhile and suddenly as if with a gust of wind, the flames around them vanished as if they had never been. The hard gravel under his bare feet turned to cool grass, and the dark starless sky with its red sickle moon disappeared as well, replaced instead by a bright sunny day with a deep blue sky and the occasional puffy cloud making its lazy way above. Nin continued to lead him until they came to a stop on a small rise that looked over the green hilly land around them. Gimli could see mountains in the near distance and quickly recognized them as the Blue Mountains, realizing that this was the same green land of his childhood, when things were good, before the orcs, before the bad times. When they were all happy…

"You're safe now," Nin said, turning to look at him. "Just remember to stay away from that path. If you go too far on that one, you can't go back." He released Gimli's hand and began to walk away.

"Wait! Nin! Please, I-I… W-why? Back there? The flames, the horse…why did…?" Gimli managed to ask brokenly, desperately catching and holding onto his brother's hand again to stop him from going. His twin turned to look at him once more, giving a blink as if not understanding the question for a moment.

"You got lost," he said simply, cocking his head, as if that explained all and for some reason that was good enough for Gimli too. "Now it's time for you to start a new path," Nin explained with an encouraging smile, swinging their linked hands a little.

Gimli gave a big swallow and his eyes began to well up with unshed tears-- so many emotions burst in his chest as he looked at Nin and felt his brother's small hand in his own.

"Nin…I miss you so much. I miss everyone so much! I've lost everyone! You, Mono, Minal, Daria, Mother, Ulfr, even Da and Uncle Oin are gone now! I-I'm… I'm so tired of being alone!" he cried.

"But you're not alone," Nin said, with a shake of his head. He picked up Gimli's other hand and laced their hand's together like they used to do when one was feeling bad and the other was trying to make them feel better.

"We could have been so close," Gimli said quietly after long moments, tears now falling unnoticed down his cheeks.

"But we are, Gimli! And we always will be," Nin said earnestly, giving their joined hands another squeeze as he gave him a sad smile. With that Nin pulled him into an embrace, and Gimli held on to Nin as hard as he could, tears still streaming from his closed eyes.

"Remember what Mother used to say?" Nin asked. "When even the hottest fire has burned out and the night is dark-- look up! For the fire in the stars still burns. The stars burn on. The stars burn always. You're our star, Gimli…"

With those final words his brother seemed to fade and he felt strangely adrift as if he were floating away on some gentle current, until everything seemed to settle once more.

When his rich brown eyes finally opened again, day had turned to night and he found that he was no longer a boy, but an adult once more. He could feel Star Smasher and Fire Reaper at his sides and the comforting weight of Blood Screamer on his back.

His arms were empty; Nin was gone. Yet strangely Gimli didn't feel alone; in fact he felt more whole than he had in many years.

As he looked up, he let his arms drop to his sides and stared out in wonder at the swirling sea of infinite stars above. A large, full and soothing blue moon hung low in the sky over a single mountain in the distance that he had never seen before.

It was time to start a new path…

~~~

"Bloody--! Look out!!!"

*BAM! THUNK, THUNK, THUNK, BAM!*

"Shit!"

"Damn it all, Sam! I told you to move Clots downstairs! Not throw him!"

"Sorry, Miss D! But he slipped. Least he didn't feel nothing', bein' dead and all!"

Gimli gave a sharp gasp, his brown eyes snapping open as he was violently startled awake by a sudden loud crash followed by more commotion and a lot of yelling and cursing from somewhere near by.

He blinked owlishly as he looked around, his mind still fuzzy from sleep-- all he knew at the moment was that he was lying on his side on something hard and he seemed to be under something. As he became more aware, he felt something wet roll down his cheek to drop on the dusty floorboard next to his arm. Looking down he saw it was a clear drop, and bringing up a hand he brushed his cheek and saw the shine of wetness on his broad fingertips. Tears… actual tears-- he stared in wonder at the realization.

He hadn't shed tears in many years, not since Daria's death in fact. He thought he was unable because there were simply none left, then he remembered.

The dream… Nin…. He tried to hold on to the dream, but it was futile. Already it had begun to slip through his fingers like quicksilver, until he could remember nothing except a strange feeling of peace. His heart did not feel quite so broken, the pain not quite so crushing.

As he slowly regained his bearings, he realized that he was wearing only the black tights Ursla had given him the night before and curled up in a near fetal position on a hard dusty floor, his back against a wall, and under what appeared to be a bed.

It took him a moment to realize that he was in Ursla's room, before the memory of the night before came rushing back, of following Ursla back to her room, since the old brothel owner's body was now occupying the guest room Gimli had been staying in before.

After wiping the last of the tears from his face, he uncurled fully and stretched out on his stomach, resting his chin on his folded arms (careful of the cuts and stitches) as he glared out from under the bed. He could see his three axes resting against the wall across the room by a dresser; his boots and belt lay scattered about the wooden floor. The filthy and stained sack of gold lay seemingly forgotten in a corner, along with a small dusty chest in which Ursla kept some of her more 'personal' things.

But how had he gotten under the bed? He remembered sharing the bed with Ursla, on her insistence, and falling asleep with her curled around him, her head resting on his broad shoulder as she hummed softly to herself while tracing patterns on his tan skin. It was a little known fact, but Dwarves are born cuddlers, which was quite nice when it was chilly out for their bodies put out a surprising amount of heat.

Listening quietly for a moment he surmised that he was alone in the room, and by the quality of the light in the room, it was another dreary day. He figured it to be sometime in the late morning or early afternoon, though he couldn't be sure. Either way it answered his question of Ursla's absence, for he knew her to be an early riser and no doubt she was downstairs doing something or other.

He must have crawled under the bed while he was sleeping, after the raven-haired Woman had left, unconsciously seeking a more enclosed space for comfort. He felt a wave of humiliation, disgusted at himself for such a pathetic show of weakness. Here he was, an adult of sixty-two, hiding under a bed like a child of four! he berated himself.

He was just debating with himself whether to try and go back to sleep or crawl out and face the world, an option which he didn't particularly care for at the moment, when he heard the soft footsteps of someone coming down the hall. The door opened and someone walked into the room; he could immediately tell it was Ursla by her scent as well as by the light steps and the swish of her long black dress. He watched as a pair of slender shod feet stopped in front of the bed, and he heard her put something on the bed before a moment later her concerned face peered under at him, her large gold hoop earrings tinkling merrily. A smile broke out across her burgundy painted lips upon seeing him.

"I see you're awake! I take it all that racket on the stairs woke ya up?" she asked, her gray-blue eyes sparkling with amusement. Gimli gave an annoyed snort, which only made her smile all the more.

"Aye."

"Sorry about that; Miss D had Sam movin' Clots downstairs, when he apparently got away from 'em," she laughed. Gimli snorted again and rolled his eyes, leave it to Sam, to have a corpse get away from him, before he turned to her again.

"How long have I..?" he asked.

"Ya been curled up under there asleep for almost half the day now. Are ya alright?" she asked, her smile dropping as she sat back on her heels.

"No," Gimli said simply. He ignored her look of pity as he climbed out from under the bed to sit beside her on the floor.

Ursla stayed quiet for a time, her pale hands twisting the material of the quilt draped over her bed before finally looking back at the Dwarf and asking the question she had wanted to ask since running out into the rain the day before.

"Did ya find him?" she asked. Her voice was surprisingly calm, though she felt anything but.

"Aye. He won't trouble anyone again, ever," he told her simply, knowing exactly to whom she referred. The image of Rowell's hanging corpse, with its open mouthed grimace and the empty eyes full of wriggling maggots immediately came to his mind.

This apparently was all Ursla needed to hear, for she gave a sharp nod of her head, her hands coming to rest on the quilt. It was a long moment before Ursla spoke again, breaking the oppressive silence that had crept over them.

"I was worried. Ya dinna come back, then when I saw ya…. filthy and soaked through to the bone in that alley! I just… Don't know how I managed ta get ya in the tub for a wash. Ya had so much blood in your hair…" She reached over and ran her long fingers through his thick hair then through his short beard along his cheek and jaw, marveling again at how his beard was just as soft and thick as the hair on his head, not wiry and bushy like the facial hair of Men. Gimli just sat contentedly still, his eyes now closed, enjoying Ursla's petting.

"Ya been sleepin' ever since," she continued, giving his beard a final pet before tugging it gently, unable to stop the smile that pulled at her lips when those deep brown eyes opened again and looked at her with an eyebrow now cocked in question.

"Gave me quite the scare, ya did, when I found the bed empty. Thought ya'd slipped out sometime while I was gone! Good thing I be checkin' under it," she said with a laugh, seeing his scowl before getting up and dusting off her skirts.

Gimli gave a sigh before he also got up and began knocking the dust off himself, which was quite a bit. With another laugh Ursla began to help him, with the occasional playful pinch, and soon he was dust free, although Gimli finally had to smack her hands away with a yelp and a growl when she decided he needed a tickle to finish the job.

"Hope ya don't be mindin' the shirt. I couldn't get the blood out, so I went ahead and dyed it-- see?" she said, picking up his now crimson sleeveless shirt from the bed where she had laid it. "Not bad, eh? Now ya can't be tellin' it was ever stained," she said, showing him proudly.

"My thanks," he said gratefully, taking it.

"Don't mention it, luv," she said, sitting down on the bed, watching as he pulled it on over his head. "Mavis still be mendin' ya britches, so you'll 'ave ta be wearin' what you're wearin' till she's done."

"It's a good color for ya. Red, I mean," she said, when his shirt was finally on. The deep red color contrasted nicely with the black material of his tights, accentuating his tan skin and the deep copper of his hair.

"Appropriate too, considering how I always seem to find myself covered in it," he said tiredly, running his hands through his hair. He walked over and picked up his boots before pulling them on, his loose hair curtaining Ursla's view of his face.

She gave a wistful little smile as she watched him. She had seen many Men in her profession and had seen many Dwarves in her day (both ugly and handsome), but there was just something special about Gimli. She could definitely see why her younger sister had fallen so madly in love with him, and she wondered what Gimli would think if he knew just how much Myia really had loved him. Her sister had confessed to her that the real reason she had left Black Hollow with Dreak was because she knew that Gimli could never truly love her as deeply as she loved him. She knew that she would never be the 'the one', and with Dreak she could at least be happy, even if he did not fire her heart like the copper-haired Dwarf she had left behind.

Ursla gave a mental snort, knowing most would think her insane if they heard her thoughts. She knew that most people thought of Dwarves in a less than favorable light, seeing only someone shorter than them with a beard, or the fat, ugly, and greedy beings that they'd always heard about. Their ignorance and bigotry blinded their view of the world and the truth. If only those people could actually 'see' what was in front of them, they would truly be surprised at the wide range of looks, builds and personalities of Aule's children. Just because Dwarves were different, didn't mean that they where all ugly.

Gimli stood at five feet even, about a head shorter than Ursla (who was an average-sized Woman). Like most of his race, he was stocky and broad-shouldered, with large strong hands, thick corded arms and legs, and a heavily muscled chest and back. He was all muscle and sinew, with not an ounce of fat on him, and though he was very muscular he was not overly so, unlike some of the veritable muscled juggernauts that she had seen in her travels.

The black material of the borrowed hose he wore clung sinfully to his lower body, accentuating his narrow hips, muscular thighs and firm rounded buttocks, not to mention the sizable bulge in the laced-up front. Surprisingly, with the exception of a light dusting of copper colored hairs on his forearms, chest and a trail leading down his flat muscular stomach to disappear under the waistband of the black tights, he was near free of body hair. She guessed, that some Dwarves, like some Men, were more hirsute than others.

His smooth tanned skin was interrupted only by the many angry scars over his back and arms, and he smelled like cinnamon and smoldering fires. A short and neat beard couldn't hide a fresh handsome face with its high cheekbones, strong jaw and small nose. His coppery mustache hid his top lip, leaving only his plump bottom lip visible, every now and then flashing a view of straight white teeth when he smiled or talked. But Gimli's most notable features were his large almond-shaped eyes colored a deep rich brown that seemed to burn from within by some hot internal flame, and a long thick mane of straight dark copper hair that reached to the middle of his back. Honorable to a near fault, with a surprising sense of humor and an easygoing attitude, it was no mystery that Gimli attracted many suitors, both Dwarven and Human.

Yes, she decided to herself, watching him buckling his thick belt around his hips. It would be very easy to fall madly in love with Gimli, son of Gloin, and it was then that she truly understood her sister's pain and decision. Because for a brief moment she too cursed her luck that she was born of the race of Men. For when she was a gray-haired old Woman, he would still be fresh-faced and young. She knew Dwarves were mortal, but they might as well have been immortal to her in that moment, as a hot pang flared in her heart.

Gimli happened to look over then and saw the sad and wistful expression flash over her pretty face.

"What troubles you?" he asked, coming over to sit beside her on the bed.

She just flashed him a smile that didn't reach her eyes and shook her head, her hoop earrings chiming with the movement. They both sat in silence for a time, until Gimli gently gave her a bump with his shoulder then leaned over and blew softly into the shell of her ear.

These were both Dwarven gestures; the bumping of the shoulder and the soft blowing into someone's ear were purely a playful sign of deep affection, usually reserved only for close friends and family.

Ursla gave a small laugh, understanding the gesture because of her and her family's familiarity with Dwarves, and gave him a bump back. Then she sighed sadly before turning to look at him.

"I was just thinkin' that you'll be forgettin' all about me, some day. I'll be long gone…nothin' but dirt and you'll be just as 'andsome and young…in your prime, travelin', 'avin' lots o' grand adventures. And I wont be anythin' but a half forgotten memory ya have about some no-name w-whore…"

She had meant for it to sound nonchalant, maybe even a little funny, but by the end of it she couldn't keep the sadness and even a little bitterness from her voice. She turned her gaze to the window, trying to will the tremor in her lip to stop, embarrassed at her confession as a scarlet blush colored her pale cheeks.

For a time everything was quiet in the room, save for the soft patter of the rain outside the window. Then she felt the bed shift a little before a pair of thick muscular arms wrapped around her small waist and pulled her back against a broad chest. Gimli's chin came to rest over her left shoulder as she relaxed against him.

"Don't be daft, Ursla. No one could ever forget about you, ever!

"I could never forget you-- or your sisters; all three of you have woven your way into my heart. I look at you and realize-- I love Myia…but if I were a Man, it would be you I would want as my mate." A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth at hearing his earnest words.

"But sadly, my heart belongs to another," he suddenly said, and her smile vanished.

Ursla sat up, pulling away from his arms to give him a curious and slightly hurt look.

"Yes, I fear I have lost my heart… to the Lady Grizalin," he said, as he dramatically put a broad hand to his heart and looked smitten.

She stared at him, her mind instantly conjuring an image of the foul-tempered and rather unattractive older Woman who worked with Mavis in the kitchen, before throwing back her head with a laugh. "She hates you!"

"Tis true," he sighed dramatically. " My heart knew the moment I saw her! When she opened the door for me that first day and stood there in all her glory. That stained apron, those monstrously huge hips, those squinty eyes and that giant mole with those two hairs on her pointy chin! Ahhhhhh, be still my pounding heart!"

Ursla by now was in a fit of complete laughter, her long legs kicking in the air as she fell back on the bed beside him as he continued with his ridiculous rhapsodizing.

"And that voice! Truly the very Elves would run and hide with jealousy to hear it. I tell you, every time she opens that mouth, I can hear the love pouring through her words!"

With that he suddenly pitched his deep voice, with a trick that Ulfr had taught him, into a high falsetto and did an extremely good impression of the cranky Woman's nasal tone.

"You, Dwarf! What ya' want?

"Ya damned dirt-rat! Get outta here, before ya get your mange in everythin'!

"Hey you, Dwarf! Don't think I know what ya doin', ya little pervert!"

Ursla was trying to stifle her laughter with one hand, her other arm wrapped around her aching stomach. Gimli also by now couldn't hold back his mirth, joining her as he leaned back propped up on his elbows.

Just then there was a loud knock that made them both jump, and their laughter immediately stopped at the sound of a Man's voice on the other side of the door.

"Eh, this Ursla's room?" called the voice.

"Oh no! I completely forgot! I be havin' one of Elisi's clients today, since she be gone visitin' her Ma!" Ursla hissed in a whisper, flopping back down on the bed again with a groan and a grimace. Gimli looked at the door for a moment then a twinkle came to his eye, before turning to look back at Ursla, who was pouting as she glared at the ceiling with her arms crossed over her chest.

"Has he ever seen or heard ya before?" Gimli asked her, motioning with his head to the door.

"Well no, he's one o' Elisi's regulars. I'm just takin' him this week as a favor for 'er, why?" she asked, turning to give him a confused look. But all he did was flash her a roguish smile.

"I have an idea," he told her mysteriously.

"Hey!? Ursla!?" the Man yelled.

"What are ya' up to?" she whispered suspiciously, knowing that twinkle in his eye could only lead to trouble. But he only held a up a finger, motioning for her to keep quiet and giving her a conspiring wink before turning his attention to the door as the Man behind it gave another series of loud knocks.

"Hey! Ya in there!? I ain't got all damned day!" came the muffled and impatient voice again.

Ursla watched as Gimli took a deep breath, quickly realizing that he was going to answer for her, but she was surprised when instead of pitching his voice high, he deepened his already deep voice until it was a very low scratchy baritone as he spoke.

"Hang on now! I'm not done gettin' pretty for ya! Let me be pickin' this last nose hair! Damned things seem ta grow over a foot, every night!

Ursla gave him a look of silent mock outrage, and smacked him on the shoulder, before having to clap a hand over her mouth to keep from laughing out loud. There was a long pause from the door, before the Man spoke again.

"Ah...um…forgive me, but…um….I seem to have gotten the wrong room! Sorry for the trouble…um…Ma'am!" This was followed by the sound of quickly retreating feet in the hall.

"Ouch! You're terrible!" she admonished him through her giggles, before snatching one of her pillows off the bed and beating him with it. All Gimli could do was laugh helplessly, while trying half-heartedly to shield himself from her attack. Eventually she wore herself out and they both lay panting on the bed, chuckling and snickering, before Ursla finally sat up.

"Oh! I've been needin' that. But, I wish ya 'adn't done that. Now I'll be owin' Elisi another favor. And I be needin' all the coins I can be gettin'," she said with a tired sigh.

It was quiet for a few moments as Gimli sat up as well and thought about her words. It was then that his eye caught sight of the dirty sack, still sitting in the corner where he had tossed it the night before.

He had just found the perfect use for the gold, why in Middle-earth he hadn't thought of it before!?

"No you don't, not anymore," he said, turning to look at her before getting off the bed and walking over to the corner of the room, motioning for her to follow him. Ursla looked at the Dwarf curiously before giving a shrug and getting up to go after him.

"I nearly forgot! I brought you back something," he told her mysteriously, as they both stood looking down at the filthy and stained sack.

"Go on-- open it," he urged her, squatting down as he watched her bend over and gingerly begin to undo the rope that held the sack closed. The uncertain yet curious look on her face, and the slight distasteful wrinkle of her nose at the feel of the dirty and stiff material, told him she had absolutely no idea what was in it.

When she finally opened it she gave a huge gasp, one hand flying to her mouth, the other to her chest in shock before sinking slowly to the ground, her dark skirts pooling around her.

"It's yours, all of it."

She stared wide-eyed at the large sack of gold before turning to look at the grinning Dwarf now kneeling next to her.

"But I can't-- it's too much!" she said shaking her head. "We'll split--," But Gimli only shook his head, holding up his hand to interrupt her.

"No, this is all yours. Myia told me how you saved up and bought Shala's then her contract from the brothel. Shala-- she had big plans. She and Myia were savin' up their wages so they could buy your contract and you could come to Black Hollow, then after about a year or two you three could pool your money and leave to anywhere you wanted and start up an inn somewhere. Before Myia left with Dreak, she made sure to leave her share of their saved wages with Shala. As you know, things…things didn't work out the way she had planned….

"But, in a way you can make Shala's dream come true. Now you can buy your own contract and do whatever ya want! You won't ever have to work in places like this," Gimli said motioning around the room, meaning the brothel.

"I ask only one thing, Ursla…" he said, looking back at her.

"Anythin'!" she managed to squeak out, her painted lips trembling.

"Take Gwen and Rayden with ya when you do go."

She gave a nod of her head, tears running down her face. "I was already plannin' to. There's so much… We can start an inn, just-just like m-me Shala wanted!" she cried.

"Shhh, don't cry Ursla," he gently admonished her, wiping away her tears with his broad fingers and giving her a lopsided smile. "You're supposed to be happy."

She gave a watery laugh as she looked back at him, then leaned forward and wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a crushing hug.

"But I am! Silly! Thank ya, Gimli, you're my Dwarf in shinin' armor!" She released him and scrubbed at her tears with sniff.

"I'd give you the sun, if it were in my power. You have shown me such kindness, Ursla," he said, his smile faltering before falling altogether.

He looked at her with haunted and frightened eyes, as if suddenly fearing her thoughts of him, and an urgent need to confess his sins to her judgment took hold of him.

"Kindness that I don't deserve. Ursla, when I was….I--I…I saw a part of myself that truly frightened me. I killed--slaughtered all those Men, and I reveled in it! In every scream of agony, I basked in the terror I saw in their eyes. They were not warriors, just thugs, just opportunistic peasants…but I didn't care. I became something I know not. I was so blinded… killed an innocent-- a mere boy, without a thought or care! If…if you had seen what I did, you would turn away from me--"

"Shhhh," she hushed him, putting a slender hand gently over his mouth to halt his words. She waited until he was silent and looking at her before moving her hand to caress his cheek, her blue-gray eyes gazing at him not in disappointment or judgment, but with compassion and sadness.

"I won't be tellin' ya what ya did was just. I won't tell ya it's all gonna be flowers and wine from here on out…'cause we both be knowin' it won't," she told him in a soft yet firm voice, looking him right in the eyes.

"But ya can't be lettin' that eat ya up! Don't let this be turnin' ya into somethin' your not! Ya gotta take that part of youself, no matter 'ow dark, and be makin' yourself the stronger for it. Don't let the demons of your heart taint who ya truly are," she told him, before letting her hand drop as she turned away from him. She looked down with suddenly haunted eyes at her limp hands now resting in her lap, her dark hair curtaining her pale face from Gimli's silent gaze.

"Miss D was right with what she be sayin' last night; we all have our own dark pasts," she said quietly, her smooth voice sounding startlingly tired. Gimli remained quiet as he listened to the dark-haired Woman beside him.

"When I was nineteen summers, our Ma died of the coughin' sickness (1.). Shala was fifteen summers, but Myia was only ten-- our Da had walked out on us a long time ago by then. So we went ta stay with me Mother's elder brother.

"We were there 'ardly a week when the bloody bastard started comin' into me room. I managed ta fight 'im off that first night. I bloodied his nose somethin' awful! I remember…I was so proud of meself! Course that changed the next night," she said with a bitter laugh. Gimli continued to listen quietly, feeling a hot anger sear in his belly, directed at Ursla's uncle.

Attacking and taking advantage of members of your very own kin was utterly unspeakable, one of the greatest dishonors one could do. But rape, while very rare, was one of the ultimate crimes in Dwarven society, and the rape of a female resulted in an instant and painful death sentence.

"Wasn't long before I was with child, and even that still didn't stop 'im. Don't know how, but I-I somehow managed ta hide it; not even Shala and Myia noticed. Towards the end people just thought I was gettin' fat," she said with an emotionless laugh.

"I was walkin' down to the river ta fetch some water for dinner when the birth pains came. Gave birth right there in those tall reeds, half in the water, bitin' me hand so no one would be hearin' me scream. Don't remember 'ow long, but by the time it was over the water was all red and I held 'him' in me arms.

"He was so beautiful…so perfect… Valar, he was just so beautiful…

"But me vengeance just couldn't be quenched-- that beautiful little bundle represented everything that 'ad happened ta me. The humiliation, the betrayal…me anger. He was so beautiful and sweet, but…but I couldn't bear ta touch 'im...ta look at 'im.

"So…so I gave 'im to the river. I drowned me very own baby in that bloody river…I murdered my baby!" she finished quietly with a sob, still staring down at her hands.

Her last words seemed to echo in the quiet room. Gimli said nothing; what could he say? So he just sat there watching her in silence, his heart aching for her, seeing the raven-haired Woman in a new light.

"I've never told no one that, not even Shala or Myia. Just couldn't be facin' 'em…they trusted me. Trusted me ta be there and look out for 'em. I just couldn't face 'em, so I pretended nothin' happened.

"That same night, while me uncle was passed out from drink, I stole all his money and packed the only food in the 'ouse, then went and woke both me sisters up. We left…never saw that bastard again. Heard tell he got himself hung for stealin' a horse a few years back. Valar rot that Man's soul!" she spat, her hands clenching into fists.

"Am I just some black-hearted beast that should be dragged out in the street and killed for what I done? Does that be makin' me some evil… thing, Gimli?" she softly demanded, turning to look directly at him.

For long moments all was quiet as they looked at one another, both still kneeling on the wooden floor of Ursla's room with the sack of gold in front of them, as the sounds of children playing in the street below drifted through the open window.

Gimli could say nothing, no words could articulate his thoughts and feelings, so he decided to let actions speak for him. He shifted and sat down fully on the floor, then reaching out he took hold of Ursla's arm and dragged her unresisting form gently into his lap. Brushing her dark hair from her face, he gave her a reverent kiss on the temple before simply wrapping his muscular arms around her as she relaxed against him, leaning his head against her chest. She sat sideways in his lap, her arms coming up to wrap around his neck, and with a sigh she rested her cheek on the top of his head as she absentmindedly ran her long fingers through his dark copper hair.

It was quiet in the room for long moments before Ursla finally spoke again.

"We all got our demons, Gimli. Just depends on how we be fightin' 'em. And that we do fight 'em."

~~~

It was two hours later when the raven-haired Woman and the copper-haired Dwarf finally emerged from Ursla's room. As they walked down the narrow hallway, their footsteps ringing across the polished wooden floor, they were greeted every now and then by the brothel's other residents.

Gimli received a few 'welcome backs' as well as few whistles and catcalls; apparently his new change of clothes was a hit with many of the residents.

"Ooooh! I'm likin' them new duds 'o yours, Master Dwarf!" laughed someone down the hall.

"Where ya been, sweet-cheeks?" greeted a slender burnette by the name of Terry, with a wink as the two walked by.

"Hey Gimli! Ya get tired of stayin' in Ursla's room, ya can stay in mine," purred Relena as they passed the plump dark-haired beauty, who was leaning in the doorway of her room, clad brazenly in a corset and nothing else.

"Ya can't 'ave 'im! He's mine, get your own!" Ursla growled playfully, suddenly latching onto him possessively causing the other ladies to laugh.

Gimli, a little flushed with embarrassment at the attention, smiled as he greeted or joked back with them.

When they finally came downstairs and into the kitchen, they could see that four other people were already there.

"Well look who it is! Finally awake, I see-- thought ya be sleepin' the day away," Lady Mavis said, looking up from her cooking as they stepped into the room.

"Nay! I could not stay asleep when I knew that you would be gracing the kitchen with your beauty this day, my Lady Mavis," Gimli said, flashing the plump Woman a wicked grin.

"Oh! Listen ta you!" she laughed merrily, a pretty blush rising to her round cheeks. "Ya ain't foolin' me a bit with that silver tongue o' yours, ya rogue! Ya only down 'ere for me cookin'!"

"Oh, and don't ya be givin' me them big puppy eyes!" she said with a laugh, shaking a wooden spoon at him before going back to stirring the contents of a large pot over the cooking fire.

"Damn, thought we were finally rid of you! Well, I see like most vermin, you've returned," one of the people at the table sneered.

"I'm happy ta see you too, Ruby!" Gimli told her cheerfully, purposely ignoring her insult, which he knew from experience would greatly annoy her. Ursla, on the other hand, glared and gave the auburn-haired Woman a very rude hand gesture, which Ruby immediately returned. They probably would have started their usually verbal (and sometimes physical) sparring if another figure sitting at the table hadn't chosen to speak up then.

"Gimli! You're back!" Gwen chirped happily, a big smile on her scarred face as she scrambled up from her chair where she sat beside May, doing a happy hop before rushing over and giving the amused Dwarf a crushing hug.

"Lady Gwen, I'm most happy to see you as well!" he chuckled, gently patting her back.

Ruby just gave a snort, rolling her eyes before pushing away from the table and sauntering out of the room. Ursla was still glaring after her when she suddenly became distracted as someone wrapped their arms around her waist to give her a hug. Looking down she saw it was Gwen.

"Why ya huggin' me, luv? I been 'ere all along," Ursla laughed affectionately, returning the girl's embrace.

"I-I don't know, I'm just happy," she answered shyly, stepping back, her cheeks flaming as she twisted her fingers.

"Well that be soundin' like a perfectly good reason ta me," Gimli said with a smile, giving Gwen a wink as both he and Ursla took seats across the table from Gwen's chair. He returned May's small greeting with a smile and a nod of his head to the blond Woman as he sat down, before Ursla engaged him in a conversation about daggers.

"Gwen, dear? Could ya get the butter out 'o the larder and on the table for everyone?" Mavis asked the small teenager, who gave a quick nod before trotting over to the larder.

"Lunch is almost ready," Mavis told them over her shoulder, after taking a testing sip of the soup, then tossing some more pepper into it.

"I had a big breakfast this mornin', so I'll be passin' on lunch, Mavis," May said, speaking up for the first time, before picking up her mug and draining the last of the coffee in it.

"Suit yourself," Mavis called back with a shrug as she wiped her hands on her apron.

Putting her empty mug back on the table, May pushed her chair back and got up, heading for the stairs. When she strolled past Gimli's chair, he looked up from his conversation with Ursla and gave a sudden sniff. Immediately his nose wrinkled and he gave a grimace of disgust. Quickly clamping a hand over his sensitive nose from the sudden stench, he looked around for the cause of the stink before quickly zeroing in on the small blond.

"By Mahal! Forgive me, May, but ya reek!" he said, looking at her in shock. Having been around and worked with Men over the years, he was no stranger to just how foul smelling the average human was, but such a stench coming from a Woman was something entirely new. "When was the last time ya bathed?"

"Not long, 'bout a month. Why?" she asked, stopping to look back at the Dwarf in confusion, not understanding his sudden reaction. Mavis, Gwen and Usrla said nothing, all of them having grown accustomed to her smell, as well as some of the brothel's other more odorous residents and patrons.

"Please, I beseech you. BATHE!"

"Bathin' so much is bad for ya-- ain't healthy (2.). 'Sides, me clients like the way I smell!" she said, her temper rising. Here she was being told she stunk by a Dwarf, of all creatures!

"Tis not bad ta bathe often, it's good for you! As for the latter, just proves my thoughts that the Men that come here are all a might 'touched in the head'."

"Humph! Shows what you know!" she snorted angrily, before stomping up the stairs in a huff.

"I suppose you'll be leaving soon?" asked Mavis conversationally as the small blond left, not looking up as she took a fresh loaf of bread that had been cooling on the counter and cut it into thick slices.

"Aye," Gimli said, giving a nod.

"So soon?" Gwen asked sadly, visibly disappointed at hearing the news of his departure. Gimli was just about to answer her when Mavis spoke up.

"Can't we get ya ta stay for just a little bit longer? A couple o' days, maybe?" Mavis asked.

"Nay, I really must be--" he started to say, before Mavis spoke up again, interrupting him.

"Or I'll be cuttin' up them clothes of yours and ya can just go walkin' through the wilds naked as a jay-bird." Her hands were on her ample hips as she waited expectantly for his answer, the look in her eyes telling Gimli that it was no idle threat.

There was a long pregnant pause in the room, before the wide-eyed Gimli could manage to form a response .

"But on second thought, I think I could spare a few days," he said finally, while he rubbed the back of his neck.

Ursla gave Gwen a conspiring wink, and as Gimli threw them both an annoyed glare, Gwen only gave a happy giggle from behind her hand.

"I suppose when ya do go, you'll be heading for Ered Luin?" asked the plump Woman, coming over and setting a bowl of steaming onion soup and a plate of bread in front of him and Gwen.

"Nay, I'll be heading for the Iron Hills."

"Oh? Awful far, that. Why not the other? 'Lot closer, that's for sure," she said as she continued bustling about the kitchen, before turning to Ursla. "Ya want some soup, dear?"

"No thanks, I'll just be havin' some bread," she said, taking a slice from the plate that Gimli pushed in her direction.

"Well for one, I wouldn't be welcome there," Gimli explained to her, also taking a slice of bread and slathering some butter on it before taking a bite.

Ursla looked a bit surprised at hearing this, "Why ever not? Thought your Da be related to that Thorin Oakenshield fellow--thought 'e ruled those Halls," she asked as she buttered her own piece of bread.

"Aye, in a way," he said with a nod, after swallowing. "But the Halls of Ered Luin are truly ruled over by the Lady Dis, only daughter of Thrain II and sister to Thorin, and both my parents fell greatly out of favor with her many years ago. That's why my family has been of 'the wandering folk' and not living in Ered Luin all these years," he explained, taking a spoonful of the soup, before turning to look over his shoulder at the plump Woman still puttering around the kitchen.

"My compliments, my Lady Mavis! This here soup is delicious!" he praised, to which she gave a proud smile with a nod of her head before going back to what she was doing.

"Ouch…must 'ave been somethin' awful ta be keepin' that kind o' grudge," the raven-haired Woman said before taking a bite of her bread.

"Maybe if ya apologized to her?" suggested Gwen, looking up from idly stirring her soup with her spoon.

"Gwen, luv. Eat up, ya hardly touched your soup!" Ursla admonished her gently, and Gimli gave an agreeing nod of his head.

"I'm not hungry," she said quietly, ducking her head a bit.

"Well ya ain't leavin' that table till ya finish up that bowl," scolded Mavis, putting a hand on her hip. "You're such a skinny thing, nothin' but a wisp! Mark my words, you'll be walkin' somewhere and some breeze is just gonna pick ya up and carry ya off like a leaf!"

"I'm sorry," Gwen apologized, taking a mouthful of the fragrant soup. Mavis, satisfied that the teenager was now eating, went back to chopping vegetables for that night's dinner.

"I wish it were as simple as that, Gwen. But it's a wee bit more complicated," Gimli finally answered her before taking another spoonful of his soup; he was already halfway done with his own bowl. They continued to eat and talk, when Sam lumbered into the kitchen.

Sam, who was the brothel's resident bouncer, was a large bear of a Man standing at nearly six and half feet tall. To Gimli's astonished amusement, he had more hair on his back than he did on his completely bald head. But contrary to Sam's hulking presence and big talk, he was a gentle Man and quite the 'softie'.

He was also apparently unable to grasp how a person who only came up to his lower chest, could be stronger than him.

"YOU! I want a rematch!" he demanded, jabbing a finger at the Dwarf, who only lifted an eyebrow at the Man.

"If you two are going to be makin' a mess in my kitchen, I'll have both your hides!" Mavis warned ominously, gesturing with the large knife in her hands.

"No worries, Mavis," Sam promised her hurriedly, before taking a seat across the table from the Dwarf.

"Sam, why do ya keep torturin' yourself? He beats ya every time!" Ursla said in exasperation, sitting back in her chair.

"Silence, wench! This time will be different, I can feel it!" he said, not looking up from glaring down at the Dwarf. Leaning forward, he put his elbow on the table, waiting for the Dwarf to do the same.

Gimli just gave a shrug before pushing his bowl out of the way, then put his elbow on the table like Sam. Ursla rolled her eyes as she watched the two males firmly clasp each other's hand.

"Fine! Be a fool, Sam! But I better not hear ya belly achin' when he makes ya cluck and scratch like a chicken in the middle 'o the street again!" she snorted, folding her arms over her chest, clearly miffed at Sam's brush off. Gwen watched excitedly with big eyes.

"Ya ready, Dwarf?" Sam demanded. Gimli just gave a nod of his head as a smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Hmmmm…I wonder if Sam does a good impression of a duck? he thought to himself.

"All right! On the count of three! One! Two! Three!" And with that the large Man threw all his considerable strength into slamming the Dwarf's hand against the table, as he grimaced in strain.

Ursla gave a tired yawn as Gwen happily cheered for both competitors from her seat. "Yay! Go Gimli! Go Sam! You can do it!" Unfortunately for Sam, even with all his confidence, will and strength, he still hadn't moved the smirking Dwarf's hand even an inch back. With his free hand, Gimli calmly picked up his piece of bread and took a bite, watching all the while with amused glittering eyes the grunting, straining, and now bright red faced Man across from him. Mavis shook her head as she watched the one-sided struggle from behind the heavy counter. Males! Always thinking they had to prove somethin'!

"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" They all jumped as a sudden blood-curdling scream came from somewhere upstairs. This was followed a moment later by Gimli effortlessly smashing Sam's fist onto the table, the force causing the table to jump, knocking over a bowl and other things.

"That be comin' from Ruby's room!" Mavis said, as all of them looked up. The next second there was the screech and crash of chairs on the flagstone floor followed by a stampede for the stairs.

Mavis gave a tired huff as she looked at the deserted table and quiet kitchen, surveying the knocked over chairs, the tipped over bowl of soup spilled on the table and dripping onto the floor, and the plate with the slices of bread scattered. A wide-eyed Gwen was still seated at the table, her bowl in front of her, as she looked in the direction of the stairs where the three had thundered up.

"Drat it all!" Mavis huffed angrily, tossing down a rag on the counter in front of her. She had just cleaned the kitchen, too!

~~~

"Since I won, you have ta get this one, if he's naked!" Gimli yelled to Sam, who grumbled, his hand still hurting as they pounded up the stairs before running down the hallway towards the sound of the screams. Getting to the closed door, Gimli stepped back and rammed it with a broad shoulder, causing it to immediately burst open and smash against the wall.

Sam and Gimli leapt into the room, fists up and ready for trouble. Only there wasn't anyone else in the room, except for Ruby who was screaming her head off as she perched standing on a chair.

"Wha--?" Gimli asked in confusion as he looked around the room with the equally confused Sam.

"Kill it! Kill it!" Ruby screeched at them, pointing to something under her bed as she held her skirts up. The Dwarf and Man looked to see a rather large rat peek briefly out from under the bed before quickly disappearing again, only the scuttling scratching of its feet telling them it was still there.

"I'm a Dwarf, not a cat!" Gimli snorted, dropping his fighting stance and crossing his arms over his chest.

Sam was rubbing his head as he peered around the room, before turning to look at the highly agitated auburn-haired Woman again.

"I told you to keep your door open once in awhile so Mordor and Ginger can come in here," he said. Mordor was a big black scruffy-looking tom cat with a crooked tail and Ginger was a smaller orange female; both of them were the 'Red Blossom's' resident mousers and other pest hunters.

"I don't want those two flea-bitten hairballs in my room!" she yelled angrily in answer.

"Well ya either let them in or the rats will keep comin' in here; damn things live in the walls," said Sam, giving the wall next to him a knock. Just then the rat made another appearance, this time giving an angry squeak before ducking back undercover, causing Ruby to shriek again with fright.

"EEEEEEEEEKKKK!" she screamed, as she did a near jig on her tiptoes on the chair. Gimli almost burst out laughing at the sight of it.

"What's that, Ruby? A new dance?" he asked innocently, somehow managing to keep a straight face even though his brown eyes were sparkling with barely suppressed mirth.

"Shut your face, you little troll--Ahhhhhhhh!!! DO SOMETHING!! KILL IT, KILL IT!!!" she screeched, her insults forgotten as the rat suddenly scuttled out from under her bed and vanished beneath her dresser that happened to be next to the chair she was perched upon.

"Well? What be all the ruckus?" said Ursla, peering carefully into the room. She'd stayed in the hallway, letting Sam and Gimli asses the situation first.

"There's a rat in Ruby's room," Gimli said, looking over his shoulder at her and jabbing a thumb in the direction of Ruby's dresser.

"Ha! What's the matter, Ruby? Visiting relatives won't leave?" Ursla asked the smaller Woman snidely, as she strolled in to watch the show.

"Listen here, you noxious COW! I'll--HEY! Where are you going!?" she yelled, her attention suddenly moving to Gimli as he made to leave.

The Dwarf paused only long enough to look over his shoulder.

"Sorry, Ruby, I can't help you. Being a fellow vermin and all," he snorted before leaving. Ursla gave a snicker before strolling out after him, leaving only poor Sam to face the agitated Woman's ire alone.

"Damn it all! GET BACK HERE!!!" Ruby screeched angrily after the chuckling Dwarf, who suddenly seemed to have gone deaf.

~~~

At the same time in an alleyway not seven blocks away from the brothel, a group of three Men were gathered around the decomposing remains of a dark-haired Man. The crumpled body lay on its back, its head at a strange angle, and it was nude, no doubt having been robbed of its clothes and boots by the various urchins and vagrants in the town.

The three Men looked up when they heard the clicking sound of footsteps, and saw two more Men approaching from the mouth of the alley.

One was a rather tall Man with shoulder-length hair and an apple in one hand, the other was younger and shorter with dark hair. All the Men wore deep blue tunics embroidered to show that they were of the local constabulary, with sheathed swords cinched at their waists.

"What took you two? I told you to be here half a hour ago," snapped the oldest Man there, his mustache and shorn hair salt and pepper colored.

"Sorry, Captain. But that Man the Rangers brought in yesterday was at it again," apologized the younger of the two Men, who had a large slash scar on his face.

"Screaming about that fire-eyed demon again?" asked a blond Man.

"Aye. The poor bastard's clearly mad," snorted the tall Man with the apple.

"I'm not so sure…," said the rangy-looking Man, who was kneeling next to the body, trying without success to shoo away the flies buzzing above the corpse. "I talked with one of those Ranger fellows-- says they found him wailing on the ground with a broken leg in the middle of a big destroyed camp, on the road towards Bree. Whatever those Rangers saw spooked 'em. An entire camp of armed Men and two dogs slaughtered, and get this! They only found one heavy set of boot prints leading away. Who knows? Maybe the poor bastard is right, maybe there really is some 'fire-eyed' demon out there. There still be plenty of evil walking around the wilds of Middle-earth.

"Don't be gettin' me wrong. I mean he's clearly mad, but I think whatever it was he saw drove 'im to it. Ya know?" Several of the other Men nodded their heads or looked thoughtful.

The Captain gave a nod of his head before turning their attention back to the mystery in front of them. "I agree, but either way the business of the Rangers, and what happens outside of this town, does not concern us," he said, and with that, the topic was closed.

It was quiet for a time as the group studied the body, then the blond Man spoke again.

"Look at this," he said motioning to the large, almost black bruise on the corpse's stomach. The mark was clearly in the shape of a large fist.

"I swear I've seen somethin' like this before…but I just can't be placin' it…" the kneeling Man said to himself, rubbing his chin in thought.

"His neck's been broke," said the younger Man with the scar, motioning with his chin to the odd angle of the corpse's head.

"Well, whatever did this, wasn't no Man," said the tall Man. He stood looking over the blond's shoulder, eating his apple, and was apparently completely unbothered by the decomposing body or its pungent smell.

"An orc?" he suggested, around a mouthful.

"And how would an orc get this far into town, with no one seeing it?" snorted the kneeling Man, looking up with a cocked eyebrow.

"Could have been one of those Elves, maybe?" suggested the Man with the scar, who was called Ferdirand.

"Hey, yah!" the tall Man nearly shouted, after swallowing another mouthful. "Remember when Olif pinched that real pretty little blond filly's bum, when that group of 'em passed through a couple of years back? Valar, she was a beauty! And what an arm; popped him one and-- Bam! Knocked out three of his teeth and broke his nose somethin' awful. One hit!

"Poor bastard was out cold for four days--no lyin'!" the Man laughed, before taking another big bite of the crisp fruit.

"Gara, ya do know that that 'pretty little filly' was a male?" the blond Man asked

"That's right, what was his name again? Rinder…Hildar…oh! Haldir! Yes, that was it!" laughed Merin, who was still kneeling.

"What!?" Gara yelled, spraying bits of food everywhere. "There ain't no way!" he said vehemently to the other Men, who looked extremely displeased at being splattered with part of Gara's snack.

"Believe, my friend," the shorter blond Man said, his lip curled in disgust as he knocked the half chewed bit of apple from his face and tunic. He glared at Gara before turning to the corpse again. "But that still don't be explaining these marks, and these are fist marks if I ever saw 'em," he said, motioning to the large bruises on the body's face and stomach. "And look here-- at these smaller bruises on his face, see these five?

"Four on one side and a bigger one on the other--do you see it?" he asked the others, before putting his own hand over the corpse's face for demonstration, careful not to touch the body. "See, it's the imprint of fingers. Whoever it was had large and very strong hands," he concluded.

"Well, Ron, that still leaves us at the same question. What could have done this?" Gara said around another mouthful.

"It had to be a Dwarf." The other four Men looked to the older Man, who was their captain.

"A Dwarf? That's not possible-- saw a group of them going down the river once, near Bree. They're far too small, there just ain't no way!" Gara said, shaking his head.

"Don't be a fool, Man. Those where Halflings!" Ron said in exasperation, but the taller Man only gave him a glare before turning back to their Captain.

"Well then, Captain, how can you be so sure it was a Dwarf?" Gara snorted.

"I know because, unlike you all, I've had dealings with Dwarves," the older Man said in a flat monotone, not looking up from studying the corpse. "And the worst thing you can do is underestimate 'em. I once saw three Men try and mug a drunk Dwarf down in Shiprock. Staggering drunk, that creature killed one with only his bare fists-- must have broken something inside the poor bastard. Then near twisted the arm off the one that tried to pull a knife; the other one ran off after that."

The young Ferdirand visibly paled at hearing this. "Cricky! Me Da was right! Don't be messin' with Elves or Dwarves if ya want ta be stayin' in one piece, he'd say!" he gulped.

"Good advice," agreed Ron.

"Hey! Now I remember where I be seein' bruises like these!" The other three looked at the dark-haired Man still kneeling by the corpse, as he suddenly spoke up. "Ya all remember findin' Crasus's body awhile back?"

"Ya, didn't he have his throat cut though?"

"Aye, he did. And we just assumed he musta gotten rolled in that alley. But I noticed somethin' odd then; he was covered in bruises, nothin' strange about that, but now that I look at these I realize. Whoever done this fella in, must have done Crasus in!" Merin said, as he finally got up.

"Ya be meaning we got a rogue, murderin' Dwarf on the loose in Ocendade?" Gara said excitedly around another mouthful of apple.

"But that still leaves the question; if this Man and that other one were murdered by a Dwarf… where's the Dwarf?" Ron said, looking around at the others.

"I ain't seen one of them for quite some time," mumbled Merin, scratching his head.

"Saw two of 'em the other day, only passing through though. And they only stopped long enough for a pint at the "White Goat" tavern on the east side o' town," said Ron

"Wait! There's one working over at the 'Red Blossom'-- been hearing down in the taverns how he's roughin' up some of the more rowdy customers. Tossed that big fella Ondren out a window when he refused to leave a week back," said Ferdirand.

"I think it's time we pay 'The House of the Red Blossoms' a visit," the captain said simply, looking thoughtfully towards where the brothel lay with sharp gray eyes.

Part b, coming soon!

(1.) Tuberculosis

(2.) Gross but true. Many people in certain areas in the past believed that bathing was unhealthy. You can imagine just how ripe your average person in Middle-Earth would be.