Title: Of Fire and Stars (Part 8b)

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: Thank you to everyone that commented and has shown an interest in this story ^_^! And a special 'Thank you' to Little My, my fabulous beta-reader!

~~~

"Of Blue Moons and Green Leaves"

~~~

It was the next day that Gimli woke up sprawled on his stomach in Ursla's bed, feeling the warm furry weight of Ginger sleeping curled up in the small of his back. Ursla was apparently not the only one to take advantage of a warm Dwarf during the chilly nights; with some amusement he could feel the small orange cat's rumbling purr reverberate through his body. Opening his dark brown eyes he found Mordor glaring balefully at him from a few inches away, where the big scruffy- looking black cat sat on the pillow next to his. Gimli just gave a big yawn, then a snorted softly in amusement when the cat flicked his ear back in annoyance at being yawned at.

Hearing movement in the room he turned his head on the pillow, careful so as not to disturb the purring cat still snoozing on his back, to watch Ursla bustle about the room. As usual, Ursla had gotten up earlier than him, and at the moment she was standing naked in front of her dresser mirror, her back to him as she tried to decide which dress she should wear. She was alternating holding up a dark green or black and blue dress to herself, while Gimli just appreciatively admired the view.

Contrary to popular speculation of other races, most Dwarves are not body-shy when it comes to nudity. Dwarves are natural lovers of beauty and that usually included a healthy appreciation for the beauty of form. Gimli found Ursla's pale curvaceous form lovely to gaze upon, but open nudity and other flaunting of one's nicer assets didn't always mean sex when it came to Dwarves. Touching and other intimacies in Dwarven culture were allowed only if invited. And while both he and Ursla found one another attractive, both were just not ready yet for any type of romantic interludes as of yet; they were both still reeling from the incidents of Black Hollow and their own personal pain.

The raven-haired Woman was holding up the green dress again when she noticed that she was being watched in the mirror, and a smile spread over her face that was devoid of her regular make-up (1.) Gimli always thought she and a few of the other residents of the 'Red Blossom' looked better without it, but they insisted it accentuated what they wanted or covered their flaws, even though Gimli could see none.

"Bout time ya woke up! Here now, what ya think? The green or the blue 'n black?" she asked, holding the dresses out for him, completely unabashed in her nudity. "I want to be lookin' real nice for today!"

"Well…I think ya be gettin' more attention if ya just went out the way you are now," he said with a teasing smile, wiggling an eyebrow suggestively at her, causing her to laugh. Man or Woman, no matter what age or race, it was always nice to be told that one was fair and attractive.

"But if I had to pick…the green one--but why does it matter which one?" he asked curiously, lifting up his head. His hair was sleep mussed and spread around him, and Ursla watched in amusement as he irritably blew some long strands off of his high-cheekboned face.

"Cause I'm going shoppin'…and you're comin' with me!" she added, staring pointedly at him in the mirror as she put her other dress away, making it clear he had no choice in the matter. Gimli closed his eyes with a tired moan before flopping his head face-first onto his pillow, the movement finally caused Ginger to finally wake up with a big face cracking yawn. Uncurling and giving a long leisurely stretch, she strolled up the Dwarf's muscular back and onto his head before stepping off to the pillow that Mordor was curled upon. She then proceeded to give herself a morning bath, with Mordor leaning over and helping her get behind one of her notched ears.

"Oh, it ain't that bad," Ursla admonished him, but he only gave a muffled and disagreeing grunt as she slithered into her green dress with its black vine embroidered trim.

"Now get up and help me with this damned clasp!" she said as she walked over to the bed. Grabbing hold of the quilt, she whipped it off him, causing both Mordor and Ginger to quickly leap off the bed before both cats strolled from the room.

"Come on now, up with ya!" she said, noting appreciatively the he had slept in nothing but the black hose she had loaned him, but he made no move from his still face-down sprawl. He gave a grunt followed by a muffled growl when she poked at him, but still he didn't move, so she decided to try a different method.

Gimli gave a loud yelp, rocketing up as Ursla delivered a particularly harsh pinch to his firm rear end, and he turned to glare at her as he rubbed said pained posterior. Trying this with a grumpy Dwarf to get him out of bed was most assuredly a death sentence for most-- but Ursla was unimpressed.

"And I'll be givin' ya another one on the other cheek, ta match the one ya already got if ya don't get your lazy bum out o' bed!" she told him as she glared down at him. Turning around and sitting on the bed, she held her long hair out of the way, waiting for him to do up the clasp she couldn't reach. With a final tired sigh and a few grumbles, Gimli finally got up and knelt on the bed behind her before he reached over and did the clasp for her.

"Can ya not get one of the others or maybe Sam to go? I just played 'beast of burden' with the shoppin' yesterday with Mavis and Klareoy," he said in a near whine, watching her walk over to her dresser as he ran his fingers through his thick hair.

"That was for our weekly grocery list. I'm going ta do some real shoppin'! Gotta get some new dresses and I be needin' ta get Raden and Gwen some new clothes--not ta mention shoes! Raden's been without for over a year now…and Gwen needs a new dress--oh! And travelin' cloaks! Near forgot, winter will be around the corner before we'll be knowin' it…" she said, more to herself than to him, as she ran a comb through her hair while she made a mental list of the things she would need.

Gimli just scratched at an itch on his side before getting up and heading for the chair where his shirt and trousers lay neatly folded. Something told him it was going to be a long day as he shrugged on his shirt.

~~~

Two hours later, after a quick breakfast of Mavi's famous griddle-cakes, he found himself walking down the busy streets with Ursla and Merry. Merry had decided to invite herself along when she found out about Ursla's plans to stop in at the local tailor's shop for a new dress, as well as some new clothes for young Raden and Gwen.

The day was sunny and warm, the rain clouds having finally expelled all their moisture and disappearing during the night, leaving only the muddy streets and occasional puddle as evidence of their passing. As if in celebration of the bright weather, everyone seemed to be out enjoying it- the streets were once again teeming with people, as vendors shouted their wares and children ran dodging the adults as they played. The sun also seemed to have brought with it many Elves, for a few Elven merchants had set up shop to sell rich flowing fabrics of all colors imaginable, intricate and beautiful wooden carvings as well as exotic foods, wine and other crafts.

Needless to say this was one aspect of the day that Gimli could have done well without. He would keep his distance, waiting patiently nearby whenever his two companions stopped to look and ogle over the wares of the various Elvish merchants, Ursla giving him a disappointed sigh when he staunchly refused to get closer, simply because the merchant was an Elf. He would also glare openly, his hand straying constantly to one of his axes whenever an Elf came too close for his liking.

Most of the Elves that did take notice of him would either make a point of ignoring him or glaring right back at him. The young Dwarf even let out a particularly menacing snarl, that startled both Ursla and Merry, when a particularly willowy male Elf, wearing a simple gray tunic and darker gray leggings, walked past them carrying two baskets full of moon lilies. The lithe and light-haired Elf seemed to be lost in daydreams as he sang some sad twittering song to himself, his eyes glazed. Not paying attention, he made the mistake of running into the copper-haired Dwarf (who had also not been paying attention, as he argued with Merry about 'proper' haggling).

Quickly coming back to himself, then seeing that he had run into a Dwarf, the Elf gave Gimli a disgusted look before sniffing haughtily and turning to continue on his way. But the poor Elf gave a yelp of surprise, springing away like a startled deer when that same Dwarf suddenly lunged at him with a truly frightening snarl.

The two baskets dropped, spilling the long stemmed white and silver flowers on the muddy ground. The wide-eyed Elf now stood some eight feet away, somehow managing to have avoided knocking into any of the other people walking or watching the confrontation taking place when he had sprung away. He stared in shocked outrage, his smoke-gray eyes flashing in fury at the sight of his dropped baskets, their delicate contents scattered on the ground, and the short-bearded Dwarf that glared at him with dark smoldering and dangerous almond-shaped eyes. It had only taken a step in his direction when it had lunged at him, and its broad hands hadn't even been on either of the two wickedly sharp weapons on its belt; instead they rested at its side in tightly balled fists. Something told the Elf that those large hands were just as dangerous on their own as the two axes at the creature's belt.

The Dwarf seemed to be silently daring him to come closer, to say anything, and it fanned the hot flames of the searing anger in the Elf's gut that for some strange reason… he had not the courage to dare that step forward.

This was hardly the first time the Elf had run into the stunted creatures over his thousand years in his time walking Arda and he, like his father and brothers, had always treated them the way they should be treated: as inferior and with scorn. So why was this naug different? Maybe it was because the pale-haired Elf had always lived a fairly sheltered and peaceful life with his family in the relative safety of the Elven lands along the coast of Lindon, only occasionally making trips to the nearby settlements of Men with his family to sell flowers and pottery. But this was the first naug that he had encountered that had not simply continued on its way with only a glare or a few mumbled curses; this was the first one to challenge him.

Something deep inside him seemed to tell him that there was something very dangerous about this particular naug, a whispered warning that this creature was not to be trifled with lightly.

The Elf and the Dwarf continued to glare at one another before two Women that the Elf had not noticed before, one with long black hair and large gold hoop earrings and an exotic long-limbed Woman with rich brown skin, hurriedly began to physically drag the menacing copper-haired Dwarf away. The strange trio disappeared into the sea of shoppers, leaving the Elf to glare daggers after them before finally turning to the sad task of picking up the now dirty and bruised flowers and figuring out how he was to explain the ruined flowers to his elder brother, who was no doubt waiting expectantly for him.

"Gimli! What's the matter with ya!" Ursla admonished him after they had gone a ways away, smacking him on the back of the head, shocked at his uncharacteristic show of bad behavior. Gimli threw her an irritated look as he rubbed the back of his head.

"I have been scorned and insulted one too many times! Never again will I do nothing as I am looked upon as some foul mongrel, only because I am a Dwarf! Never again!" he promised her, his dark eyes flashing as they remembered all the insults and slights he had suffered in the past.

"That ain't no excuse! Like me Ma used ta say: hate don't suit no one! And it ain't becoming on a face as handsome as yours," she told him seriously. Gimli said nothing but looked away, now a bit embarrassed about his previous actions-- snobby Elf or not, it had been a hollow victory. They continued to walk for a few moments in somber silence, when the raven-haired Woman looked sidelong at the Dwarf at her side as a smirk pulled at the corner of her burgundy-painted lips.

"But it was awful funny seein' that stuck-up Elf near jump out o' his skin! That'll be teaching him ta think twice about pullin' faces at strangers!" she chuckled, and Merry and even Gimli soon joined un with her infectious laughter as they continued on their way down the street.

The sunny weather seemed to improve most people's moods and their willingness to part with their money; the pickpockets and thieves were also taking full advantage of this, nicking many an unwary shopper's money purse. But only the very brave or very foolish attempted to pick the pocket of an Elf, for their heightened senses would usually quickly alert them to any bent on mischief before they had even got within a few feet of them. So most of the elegant folk were left well alone to shop or sell their wares untroubled.

Aside from the presence of the many Elves, even Gimli was enjoying the sunny weather as he walked with his two companions. His long thick hair was braided into a heavy copper rope down his broad back, and he was clad once again in his newly mended and cleaned britches and sleeveless crimson shirt. His two single bladed axes clinked occasionally from their accustomed places in their holsters at his hips.

Thanks to the sack of gold that was now safely hidden in her room, Ursla was taking the opportunity to do some long overdue shopping for clothes and shoes for her self, and she was also shopping for young Gwen and Raden. Merry, having gotten some spending money from her lover Lady D, was dragging Ursla and Gimli to look at almost every other vendor that was selling jewelry or anything else that caught her interest.

Most of the vendors would smile welcomingly, inviting them to look at their wares, but some would smile at Merry and Ursla until catching sight of the Dwarf with them; then their smiles would drop. The merchant immediately knew that they would not be able to pawn off any substandard or flawed jewelry with inflated prices under a Dwarf's sharp eyes.

Gimli, being the son and nephew of two skilled Dwarven jewelry makers, could tell good quality stones and craftsmanship from a mile away and easily spot flawed or substandard work. Both Merry and Ursla took full advantage of this by constantly asking his opinion on various pieces. Some vendors upon spotting him would wave them away with a glare and a hiss, but most were friendly and cheerful.

"Oooh! Look over there!" Urlsa said suddenly as the three stepped away from looking over another booth, this one selling exotic spices and perfumes all the way from the mysterious lands to the far-east, beyond the lands of Harad.

Gimli was just about to follow the two Women over to another booth, this one selling an assortment of mother-of-pearl inlaid ivory and bone brushes and silver polished mirrors, when he heard someone call out, causing him to pause.

"Master Dwarf!" Being the only Dwarf around, he turned to see who had called as Ursla and Merry continued to browse nearby. Looking behind him, he saw it to be the strange and diminutive librarian and Ocendade's record keeper that had helped him his first day in town, waddling over to him with his Cane. He was dressed much the same as when Gimli had first met him, only this time he wore a green waistcoat instead of blue, and again the young Dwarf could not help but study the strangely shaped human.

"Master Rhaenye," he said giving the diminutive Man, who only came up to Gimli's chest, a proper Dwarven bow.

"You are looking hale! I thought you far to pale and thin when I saw you last. I must say I almost didn't recognize you, my lad!" Rhaenye laughed, reaching up and clapping the young Dwarf on the arm.

"Are you on your daily walk, Master Librarian? If so, I would not want to interrupt--" But the small Man just waved Gimli's words away before leaning heavily on his cane with a tired sigh, as he shook his head ruefully.

"If only, lad! No, I fear I'm out shoppin' with the Wife. Two of my daughters need some new slippers and we need some supplies for her comin' sister," he told him, tiredly and the way he frowned at the mention of his sister-in-law's impending visit spoke clearly of a great dislike for the Woman. But then the small Man gave his head a shake before looking brightly back at the copper-haired Dwarf in front of him.

"But enough about me! I want to know how you've been enjoying your stay in Ocendade-- did ya ever find that Woman you where looking for? What was it…something about her sister, or something?" Rhaenye asked, watching the young Dwarf nod his head at his words.

"Aye, that I did--" Unfortunately for Rhaenye, his wife just happened to come over in the middle of their conversation as she returned to collect him, finally done haggling over some blue-glazed bowls with a tall female vendor. She spotted him talking to someone and, making her way over to them, she was greatly surprised to see her husband speaking with a young and particularly handsome Dwarf. Dwarves were not a common sight in this town and to be truthful she could count on one hand the times she had seen one previously. But as she got closer she finally heard what her husband was saying and she immediately stopped in her tracks nearby, the two still unaware of her.

"--and I must be thanking you again for your help, Master Rhaenye. I'm grateful to you, I never would have found 'the House of the Red Blossoms' if not for you," the Dwarf said, giving her husband a small bow.

"Think nothing of it! I hear tell that the Mistress D has managed to put you to work?" her husband asked, leaning on his cane in interest.

"Aye, that she has," the young Dwarf answered, with a nod of his head as he shifted on his feet.

The small Woman's brown eyes immediately snapped wide at hearing this, her imagination immediately conjuring just what kind of 'work' the handsome young Dwarf could have gotten at the infamous whorehouse. And the poor thing was grateful and thanking her husband for helping him find work there!?

"I've been hearing interesting things about you, my friend. You've been making quite the impression on a lot of 'the Red Blossom's" customers recently!" Rhaenye laughed, giving the young Dwarf a conspiring wink and a nudge in the ribs.

"Aye, seems it's one after the other. I'll be done taking care of one, when another wants a go at it. And sometimes I'm dealing with two or three of them at a time!" the Dwarf said, shaking his head ruefully.

"Well, I'm sure it's nothing you can't handle! Dwarven endurance and all that. I must admit that I'm tempted to come for a visit, just so I could watch you at work, I hear it's quite the spectacle!" her husbanded laughed.

On hearing this, her jaw dropped as her mind pictured all kinds of graphic images. Two or three at a time and her husband wanted to watch!? It was just at that moment that her husband finally noticed her and happily beckoned her over.

"Ah! Jesra, come! Meet my young Dwarf-friend here," he said, and numbly she came to stand next to her husband's side in front of the Dwarf.

"Master Gimli, meet my lovely wife, Jesra! Jesra, meet Gimli, Gloin's son," he cheerfully introduced them to one another. Gimli gave her a bow and she curtseyed in turn, purely out of reflex.

She was blond with deep-seated brown eyes, and she wore a simple but nice grey and blue dress with an empty basket hanging from her short arm. Gimli could see that like her husband she was also small with strangely out of proportion legs and arms; she was also slightly taller then her husband.

"My Lady Jesra, a pleasure," he said, before gently taking hold of her pale stubby hand and bestowing a chaste kiss to her small knuckles. That seem to snap her out of her stunned silence and she took hold of his large hand in both of hers, giving it a comforting pat as she looked at him with utter pity.

"Oh! You poor thing! And still so polite and kind with what you've been forced to do," she cried before releasing his hand.

Gimli looked blankly back at her, his head cocking a bit in complete confusion at the Woman's words and sudden sympathy. He glanced at Rhaenye to see if he knew what she was talking about, but it was clear that he was as mystified at his wife's behavior as he. Just then someone called his name from behind him.

"Gimli!" He looked to see Ursla waving at him; both she and Merry were done browsing. He turned back to the odd couple in front of him.

"Forgive me, but I must bid you farewell and join my companions. It was a pleasure to meet you, Lady Jesra, Master Rhaenye!" he said, giving them both another bow before trotting off after his friends, leaving the smiling couple behind. They watched him go until he disappeared into the crowd with the two Women, then the pleasant smile dropped from Jesra's face to be replaced by a scowl as she turned accusing eyes to her husband.

"And just how would you know where that whorehouse is!?" she suddenly demanded, hands on her hips as she glared at her now confused husband. It took him a moment to realize what she was talking about before giving an internal wince, knowing he was not going to get out of this mess easily. If his beloved wife was known for anything, it was her fiery temper.

"But Buttercup--" he tried, but his wife was not having any of it.

"Don't ya 'Buttercup' me, ya lout!" she yelled, hitting him with her empty basket. "Leading young impressionable Dwarves into a life of prostitution! The poor thing! What's next!? Selling Elves into slavery!? Apprenticing our children to assassins? My mother was right about you!"

"Wha-- prostitution? Buttercup, it's not what you think--" But unfortunately for poor Rhaenye, his wife was beyond listening as she whipped herself up into a righteous frenzy over his long list of despicable deeds she had had to put up with over the years. Seeing the rather amused looking crowd that was gathering to watch, he made an attempt to calm her down.

"Ummm….dear? Can we please discus this at home, you're making a scene," he begged her in a soft tone, trying not to be heard by the gathering crowd. Unfortunately his idea backfire horribly.

"Making a scene?! I'll show you making a SCENE!!!" she screeched.

Rhaenye could only groan, praying the earth would decide to swallow him right then as his wife continued to rail at him. This was definitely not his day.

~~~

At the same time further down the street, Urlsa, Merry and Gimli walked in the direction of Ursla's next stop, the local tailor's shop. They were just about to turn and go down a street, when Merry spotted a large gathering in the town's main square.

"Look! They're 'avin a play in the square-- that troupe of actors must be back! Come, let's go see!" urged Merry, pulling both Gimli and her raven-haired friend along.

His curiosity sparked, Gimli also looked interested to see what production was being done; after all the last play he had seen had been two years ago, when a traveling troupe had wandered into Black Hollow for two days. Ursla groaned as she let herself be pulled. "If it's another one of them dirty puppet shows (2.), I'll pass!" she snorted as the three made their way into the square, joining the throng.

Little did they know that unwittingly, Merry had saved them from walking into a rather sticky situation just then. For if they had gone down that street, they would have run right into two members of the local constabulary, who were on the look out for a Dwarf.

As they joined the crowd in the large square they quickly found out that it was not another one of the popular lewd puppet shows or another of the local troupe's sketches, poking fun at the town's bureaucracy. Apparently it was a large touring company that had stopped and rented the space for their production of "The Mighty Adventures of the Heroic Prince Mortensen and the Quest for the White Princess Livelda".

The person narrating the production and clearly the head of the large troupe, was a rather short and plump Man with dark curly and disheveled hair, who, curiously without shoes, perched on a stool to one side of the stage. To Gimli he looked almost like a large and strange looking Hobbit with his bare feet.

They had apparently missed the first act and had come in late in the second, for the hero and his companion on stage had already left his kingdom to start his quest, and having slain the evil dragon of 'The Fire Swamps', had apparently come into some Hobbit lands. The hero was to meet two Halfling farmers who could direct him to the path that lad to the 'Great Green Forest'.

They watched as two little boys were shoved out onto the stage, both dressed in clothes like that of the little-folk, someone even having pasted bits of hair to the tops of their small feet (which would have been much bigger and leathery if they had actually been Hobbits). The lead actor began his lines as the two Hobbits looked around. One held a small spade that had been thrust at him before he and his brother had been shoved on stage, as the short narrator did their introduction.

Unfortunately, maybe due to the rowdy crowd or maybe the fact that the other Hobbit was a bit cranky and had pushed him then snatched his little spade, the little red-haired Hobbit began to cry, loudly.

Gimli was laughing along with Ursla and the rest of the crowd gathered there when the other Hobbit began to cry as well, as the flustered actors tried to continue on with the scene and be heard over the wailing and the now raucous laughter of the crowd.

When it became clear that the actors were at a loss for what to do and that the two Hobbits weren't going to stop wailing anytime soon, the plump narrator hurriedly hissed to someone behind the stage, telling them to get the now screaming Hobbits off the stage, before speedily narrating through Mortesen's meeting with the two helpful Halfing farmers.

As the narrator did this, the red-haired and white-gowned Princess; who wasn't supposed to make her entrance until act six, appeared and beckoned the two Hobbits to her. Upon seeing her, red-eyed Hobbits immediately stopped crying and ran to her (no doubt she was their mother) before the three quickly disappeared off stage.

The crowd broke out in laughter and thunderous applause, and a few cries of "Awww!" and "Weren't they just darling?!" could be heard.

With Mortensen's encounter with the Halflings over, he valiantly continued his quest with his ever faithful servant Bean at his side. After saving a village, nearly dying and then defeating a group of dark shifty-eyed Rangers (3.), Prince Mortensen and his servant came to a dark, flat and badly painted forest (in Gimli's opinion). The narrator then enthusiastically introduced the next character Mortensen was supposed to meet on his quest: the Green Prince Orlando.

Then from the left side of the stage hastily appeared a slender and attractive young Man, apparently caught off guard by an earlier than planned cue, holding a bow and wearing a quiver of arrows on his back. He was clad in a tunic and leggings of green and brown and a long blond wig was on his head, which was made only the more obvious by the young Man's dark eyebrows.

At his appearance there were whistles and squeals of delight from many of the females (and even a few males) in the audience as he began his lines, which were surprisingly few when compared to Prince Mortensen's.

"Who's he?" Gimli asked Ursla, who was standing beside him as they watched the action on stage.

"Who?" she asked, not taking her admiring eyes from the dashing and dark-haired Prince Mortensen.

"The one in green-- wearing the wig," he said, watching as The Green Prince pledged his bow and decided to join Prince Mortensen's heroic quest to find the fair White Princess Livelda.

"He's suppose to be the Elf Prince of the Great Green Forest," she answered him, giving the younger actor in green an appraising look before turning her attention back to the older actor, who was picking his ear uninterestedly as the Elf warned him of some dark grave threat of evil nearby. The young actor was cute, but just not Ursla's type.

Gimli gave the Elf Prince on stage an incredulous look as he cocked his head; he just looked like a human to him.

"If you say so," he said finally with a shrug of his broad shoulders, but he could see it was not a bad effort on the part of the young actor.

The play continued as the portly narrator told of the adventures of the Valiant Prince Mortensen, his faithful companion Bean and his new friend Orlando the Elf. The two Hobbits also made another appearance, this time as regular peasant children who had been stolen by some badly costumed Goblins, at whom the crowed booed and threw things.

As he watched, Gimli noticed that the narrator had clearly changed many things from the original telling of the story, for the young Dwarf remembered hearing the story of 'Prince Mortensen and the Quest for the White Princess' told a few times by some of the Men at the local tavern in Black Hollow with Ulfr, after a long shift down in the mines. For some reason some of the characters seemed to be acting completely differently than the way he had originally heard the tale, and he also noticed that a large number of the characters seemed to have been omitted completely. But even with these blatant changes, Gimli had to admit that it was a very entertaining production, and he cheered and laughed with Merry, Ursla and the rest of the crowd as the evil Goblins were heroically defeated and the children saved from certain doom.

After all the Goblin's had been properly defeated, the three heroes then came to some grey half-painted mountains on their quest, the narrator telling the audience how for the heroes to be able to cross the mountains they would need a guide to lead them through the treacherous passes. With that, the plump narrator introduced the next character Prince Mortensen was to meet was introduced: the Dwarf, Rhys.

Gimli smile immediately fell when Rhys, the supposed Dwarf, made his clumsy appearance from the right side of the stage before shuffling out and beginning his lines.

The actor was a large older Man who stood on his knees so that he looked shorter than the other actors. Someone had stuffed mounds of padding into his tunic and chain mail to make it seem that he was rather fat. His obviously fake beard was bushy and coarse, dyed a near red color, and forked and braided in a poor attempt at Dwarvish looking braids. They had clearly spent a long time making the actor look like he had a huge nose as well as some warts on his dirty and homely looking face. Instead of a Dwaven hood he wore a heavy and intricate looking helmet. Yet any true warrior could see it was very impractical to wear constantly, which was what the actor did, as it limited the wearer's vision. But that was not the worst part.

He was loud, he was ugly, he panted tiredly as if he were greatly out of shape, he was a buffoon and everyone was laughing at him, including his supposed companions that he was guiding over the mountains. Almost every other thing he did would make the crowd laugh at him-- even Merry and Ursla were unable to stifle a chuckle at the Elf's comment on the Dwarf needing a box to stand on as another group of Goblins threatened the companions on stage.

Ursla turned to say something to him, but her amusement immediately evaporated when she noticed he wasn't laughing as he watched the Dwarf's antics on stage. She could see Gimli's expression and the hurt that flashed momentarily in his dark eyes as the crowd around them continued to laugh and cheer at the various characters. She turned silently back to the stage and saw what had seemed so funny before was now insulting and hurtful.

After Rhys the Dwarf had clumsily fallen again, rolling helplessly on his back like an overturned turtle and having to have someone help him up, followed by another insulting gag done about his lack of height, Gimli decided he had seen enough.

Without a word he turned and stormed away, a few people giving angry squawks as he roughly shoved past anyone in his way.

If he had not been so distracted by his anger and hurt, he would have noticed that the few Elves in the crowd also watched the play with unamused eyes, some flat-out scowling. Though their ire was not directed at the Rhys the Dwarf, but at the supposed Elf fawning over the supposed Prince Mortensen, when he was not traipsing around the stage sometimes doing an unnecessarily flashy stunt that would make the humans murmur and stare in awe.

"Gimli! Gimli, wait!" Ursla called after him, as both she and Merry fought their way through the crowds in pursuit of the Dwarf.

"Come now, 'twas not that bad!" Merry said as the two Women managed to catch up with him down a street lined with various vendors' stalls. Gimli suddenly came to a screeching halt at hearing that, and Ursla nearly run into him as he whipped around to give the exotic Woman an incredulous look.

"Alright, it was that bad," Merry admitted, throwing her hands up. "But it's a dark play, they need a little silliness to break it up!" Both she and Ursla had to hurry after him as he stormed off again.

"Then why not have a few laughs at the other characters for once!?" he growled, as he continued his ground eating walk.

"Well…it…it's just…," Merry struggled for an answer.

"It's just easier to laugh at a Dwarf, than a Man or an Elf!" Gimli paused only long enough to snap at her.

"Gimli!" Ursla admonished.

"But come, surely you must admit, 'twas funny!" Merry said, looking between the Dwarf and her raven-haired friend, who immediately winced at her words.

"Aye! It was bloody fucking hilarious!" Gimli snarled angrily, not looking back as he strode off again, the many people on the street making sure to stay out of the angry Dwarf's way.

"But that's not what I meant-- Gimli! Wait up now--!" Merry tried to call after him, only to be drawn up short by the Woman at her side.

"Hush, Merry! Ya said enough," Said Ursla, putting a restraining hand on her friend's shoulder. "Don't worry none about him, he just needs ta cool down a bit," she said, motioning with a jerk of her head in his direction.

"Why don't ya go watch the rest of the play and meet us at Pherh's shop in an hour or so?" she suggested, watching as the exotic dark-skinned Woman turned and gave Gimli's retreating back an apologetic look before nodding her head in agreement.

Ursla gave her friend a smile and a reassuring squeeze before hurriedly trotting after the young Dwarf.

Merry chewed on her plump bottom lip as she watched them go until they had disappeared around some vendors' stalls before finally turning back to the square and the still in progress play.

But as she watched the play with the rest of the crowd, for some reason the gags just didn't seem as funny anymore.

~~~

After two beers, and much arguing and talking at the 'White Goat Tavern', Ursla had finally managed to get Gimli back into good humor and the two now walked in companionable silence down the crowded main street, heading for the east side of town.

The crowds seemed to have thinned a bit, now that they had left the hoard of shoppers on the main street-- those that walked about this area of town were mainly on errands or going about their jobs. As the two passed the Blacksmith's shop, where Gimli had tried to get a job weeks before, they could hear someone pounding furiously on an anvil. No doubt the bigoted and senile old fool, Bliddyn, was hard at work within.

He also saw, with a flare of anger, that the weathered sign was still nailed to the large door; the words "DURIN'S FOLK NOT WELCOME" were written with bold letters in the Common Tongue for all to see.

He glared at the yellowed and frayed parchment as they walked closer, then on a sudden impulse Gimli reached out as they passed the door and ripped the sign down, taking a deep pleasure in crumpling it into a very small ball in his large hands before tossing it over his shoulder and onto the muddy street.

Ursla gave him a sidelong look, which he returned with one copper eyebrow raised as if asking if she disapproved of his actions. She said nothing but gave him an approving smirk before looking ahead again as they walked.

She too knew what it was like to be discriminated against. Being a Woman in a male dominant society was hard enough and the title of her profession closed even more doors for her, labeling her as one of the lowest beings in society. It was because of this fact that she planned to leave Ocendade altogether, with Raden and Gwen, and start a new life in some town far away. Because no matter what they did or how much gold they had, in Ocendade they would always be branded as whores.

A short time later, the two met up again with Merry at the tailor's shop, and what followed was hours of pure bored torture for Gimli. The two humans hemmed and hawed over their new dresses that they were picking up, then they discussed and argued at length with the little pinched-faced tailor over the perfect color and cut of the cloth for Gwen and Raden's new clothes as Gimli sprawled on a chair nearby, nodding off every now and then. Finally, they left with the tailor's promise that Raden's and Gwen's clothes would be ready to pick up in six days' time.

"Well I don't be knowin' about you two, but all that shoppin' just wore me out!" Merry said, stretching her long elegant arms over her head before flopping them bonelessly back to her sides.

"Ya can be sayin' that again. I'm near dead on me feet!" Ursla agreed. She turned to the young Dwarf walking beside her, who was carrying several parcels filled with the various things the two had bought.

"Gimli! Carry me!" the raven-haired Woman whined as she suddenly leaned playfully on him as they walked.

"Carry yourself. Even better--you carry me!" he snorted, looking at her sideways.

"Oh! Ya be so mean ta me!" she pouted, standing up again as she strolled barefoot, her shoes swinging from her hand. She gave a laugh when the young Dwarf promptly stuck his tongue out at her as the three made their way back to the brothel.

~~~

"Well? What ya think?" Pearl asked, coming to stand on the last step of the stairs and striking a seductive pose, her slippers held in one hand. The three Women in the kitchen looked up to see the tall Woman dressed in a blood red skirt and a near skin tight black bodice with silver trim and no under blouse, leaving her ample bosom pushed up and on blatant display. Her long dark hair was brushed and left loose around her face.

"Pearl! You can't wear that! It's too tight, ya near burstin' outta that bodice," Mavis said, looking at the younger Woman in shock.

"No worries…I'm not going to be wearin' it long," Pearl said dismissively with a smirk, stepping down and into the kitchen.

"Sometimes I wonder why you get dressed at all, child!" Mavis said, shaking her head in wonder. Pearl just laughed as she hiked up her heavy skirts over her shapely long legs and straightened her stockings before letting the heavy material drop back in place and stepping into her backless slippers.

"Well, I must be going," she said, and with that she strolled out of the kitchen, hips swaying, looking more like a cat on the prowl than a Woman going on a date.

A few moments later a loud yelp was heard from one of the outer rooms, followed by a deep voice yelling, "Pearl! Keep ya damned hands to yourself!" and the sound of feminine voice laughter. A few moments later a grumbling Gimli came into the kitchen, looking a bit flustered.

"Poor Gimli! Is that evil Woman terrorizing you again?" cooed a Woman who called herself Trixy; no one knew the young red-haired Woman's real name and she had yet to give it.

"Aye… I think I'm going to be havin' permanent pinch marks on me bum from her!" he groused with a pained wince as he rubbed his smarting posterior.

"What ya doin' back 'ere? Thought you, Ursla and Merry gone out shoppin'," Mavis asked the Dwarf as she went back to seasoning and stirring some soup.

"Aye, just got back. Ursla and Merry be upstairs tryin' on clothes," he told her. He then looked back the way the dark-haired Pearl had left before turning his attention to the remaining occupants of the kitchen

"Where she off to so late?" he asked with a jerk of his head.

"Oh, Pearl's got 'erself a sweet'eart. Remember that young blond fella ya tossed out yesterday?"

"The one wearin' the saddle and bridle?" Gimli asked, remembering the incident with a frown on his face. Humans did some of the strangest things when it came to bed-play-- unfortunately he had seen just how strange during his time here. Though he had to admit the reins had made it a lot easier to drag the yelping Man out.

"Aye, that's the one," Mavis said with a chuckle, not looking up as she continued to knead some dough, before apparently remembering something. "Oh, do me a favor, luv? Take these two buckets here and fetch me some water from the well down the street," she asked, motioning to the two buckets by the hearth. The large stone well down the street provided the only good drinking water in this section of town; most of the water that they used to bathe or wash with came from the large rain barrels in the back courtyard.

"I think it's sweet!" chirped Trixy from where she sat at the table shelling peas in a large bowl, her wavy hair held away from her face with a blue ribbon. The dark-haired and freckle-faced Andréa was sitting next to her, also shelling peas.

"Aye, wouldn't be surprised none if we find her gone one day, the both of 'em ran away together during the night! It's so romantic," she said with a sigh, and Trixy nodded her agreement.

"Ahh, ta be young again!" Mavis added, with a smile on her round face as she gave a wistful shake of her head.

"I shudder at the thought of those two perverts breeding."

"Gimli! That's not a nice thing ta say!" admonished Trixy, giving him a shocked glare before flicking a pea at him.

"Wha'? It's the truth," he said, ignoring the green projectile as it bounced off his chest.

"Don't get me wrong. I like Pearl well enough, but the Woman is a perverted deviant! She's tried to ambush me over six times since I've been here. Last time she wasn't wearing a stitch and wielding a wooden….um…thing. I barely managed to escape!" Gimli gave an internal shudder at the memory as a hot blush crept over his cheeks.

"Well that be explainin' the scream and all that commotion in the hallway the other night," Mavis laughed as she knocked some of the excess flour from her hands before picking up a heavy rolling pin and beginning to roll out the large lump of dough.

"I did not scream! I was just… surprised," he grumped (which sounded suspiciously like a pout) as he snatched up the two buckets by the cooking hearth. He stomped out the back door without a further word, ignoring the snickering from the two Women sitting at the table.

~~~

It was a half-hour later, and Ema and Mavis were arguing in the large main room. The rest of the brothel was fairly quiet at the moment, making it the perfect time for a quick sweep of the large common room before the next crowd rolled in.

"I'm supposed ta be meetin' Elra and Droamer at the tavern! Can't ya get someone else ta sweep? I did it last time!" Ema whined broom in hand. She was dressed in her favorite dark blue dress which showed off her thick voluptuous form, ready for a night on the town when Mavis had handed the young Woman the broom.

"Oh! Stop your bellyachin' and just be doin' it!" admonished Mavis as she got some items from the deep closet under the stairs, hidden behind a particularly lewd tapestry depicting two badly proportioned Women and a very ugly looking Man. Gimli, a week before, had loudly declared with a laugh after seeing it that either the person that had made the tapestry was drunk, half blind and half mad or that this image perfectly illustrated why some humans just should not breed.

"You'll be done in two flicks of a badger's tail before ya know it!"

Ema only groaned and rolled her dark eyes at the older Woman's words, watching as Mavis finally got what she wanted and moved out from behind the tapestry, items in hand. She was about to say something when Gimli appeared, his long straight hair in its loose ponytail looking a bit mussed, as if he had been running and ducking something recently.

"Fear not, fair Lady!" Gimli said, strutting up from the direction of the kitchen and gallantly taking the broom from her. "`Tis I! Gimli, Prince of the Sweepers, at your service," he said dramatically, giving her a deep bow before puffing up his chest and striking a heroic pose, the broom held before him like a lance.

"Are ya sure?" Ema asked as the two Women watched him with amusement, Mavis shaking her head at his antics.

"Aye! 'Sides, as payment for my heroic deed, you can snatch me one of them cinnamon tarts that Grizalin just took out of the oven before you leave," he said, giving the dark-haired beauty a sly wink.

"She's chased me out of the kitchen again with the other broom. Apparently she's under the impression that not only do I carry fleas and mange, but I also give warts. What can I say, the Woman clearly loves me!" he said with a sigh and a helpless shrug, amusement twinkling in his dark almond-shaped eyes. This of course made the young Woman laugh.

"Alright! I'll get ya a tart for your troubles!" she promised, before thanking him again and quickly hurrying up the stars to finish her make-up.

"Really now, Master Dwarf! Employing others to steal for you? Tisk, tisk!" teased Mavis, shaking her finger at the smirking Dwarf as she walked past and into the kitchen, a bucket containing a small bag of flour held in her right arm.

Just then the large front door was thrown open and two well-dressed Men came strutting in, both giving a disdainful sniff at the red-draped surroundings, their expensive clothes and superior attitudes easily marking them as some local Lord's sons or nephews. Gimli stopped sweeping for a moment to give them the once over before resuming his work, dismissing both Men as the typical spoiled and limp-wristed brats that would come in every now and then.

"Good day, my Lords," Lady D greeted them, gliding out of one of the entrances behind a sheer red drape. Apparently she had heard them enter and the jingle of their heavy money purses from all the way in her study.

"Celest! Your regulars are here!" she called, graciously giving them a proper bow when each Man handed her a heavy pouch of money. "She'll be right with you, Masters," she told them charmingly, a false mask of pleasantness now on her usually emotionless face.

The two Men simply nodded and began to talk in hushed tones with one another as they removed their gloves and cloaks, the shorter Man also taking off his long-feathered hat. It was a long moment later, as Lady D was measuring the weight of the two small sacks of gold coins in her hand, when one of the Men raised his voice.

"And just what is 'that' doing here?" said the taller Man, apparently taking notice for the first time of the Dwarf that was sweeping nearby.

"That's my Dwarf, Gimli. He's one of my bouncers," D explained dismissively, just as a willowy Woman with hair the color of gold wheat appeared at the top of the stairs. Gimli shot the tall flame-haired Woman a glare, he was no one's Dwarf! but otherwise held his tongue and went back to sweeping.

"How quaint-- here," the Man said blandly after a silent moment, and with that both Men tossed their cloaks and the feathered hat at him. Gimli caught them out of reflex, his broom falling to the floor with a loud clank.

"And mind you don't wrinkle the fabric," said the smaller Man as they walked to the stairs.

Gimli visibly bristled and was just about to tell them both, before showing them physically, where they could put their coats, when he caught the expression in Lady D's storm-gray eyes. They speared him with a look that said keep your mouth shut or I'll skin you alive. For as much as she would like to watch the Dwarf teach the two spoiled brats a lesson in manners, they were high paying clients. Seeing this, Gimli painfully managed to stay silent and swallow his anger. Then he decided to take a new approach.

"Very good, Masters," Gimli said cheerfully, plastering a big fake smile on his face and giving them both an overly deep bow. One of Lady D's elegant eyebrows raised at this but otherwise her face remained in its ever present cool mask. The two Men only gave him a superior sniff before both began to ascend the large staircase, towards the willowy Celest waiting for them at the top of the stairs.

Gimli watched them go, then he calmly walked to the door, opened it and tossed the cloaks and hat out onto the street, before slamming the door. Then dusting off his hands and looking particularly pleased, Gimli returned to pick up the fallen broom and went back to industriously sweeping the rest of the floor.

Lady D watched all of this silently with a cocked eyebrow, one corner of her lip threatening to curl up into a small smile. Then giving her head a small shake, she turned and glided back the way she had come, before disappearing again into her study.

Meanwhile, outside…

As soon as the large red door of the brothel, with its creeping vines and red blossoms had shut, a group of children with their dog came up to see what had been thrown out. They gave gasps of delight at what they saw and quickly ran off with their newfound toys.

~~~

It was an hour later in the back courtyard of 'The House of the Red Blossoms'-- several of the residents were doing chores and others were simply enjoying the sunlight. The large tree growing there provided shade to those that wished for it.

Sam was industriously digging a large hole, the start of a new cesspit, in a part of the courtyard that was not covered in flagstones.

Gimli sat on the step near the back door enjoying the sunshine. His broad feet were bare and he had rolled up his pant legs to his knees, showing off his muscular and well defined calves as he waited to relieve Sam when the large bald Man got tired. His hair was held away from his face in a thick ponytail on the back of his head and every now and then he would feel a gentle tug as the person behind him braided the ends of it.

Gwen, after shyly asking to braid Gimli's hair, now knelt behind the Dwarf in her ever present worn blue skirt and bodice, asking him questions as some of the others in the courtyard sang around them. Raden was in the alleyway nearby, crouched with a group of other boys from the neighborhood, playing a rowdy game of dice.

Even Mavis had abandoned the kitchen for a while to take advantage of the weather, and she sat on the step partially under the shade of the large tree as she did some needlepoint. Even the cankerous Grizalin seemed to be in a good mood as she hung freshly washed bed linens on some clotheslines strung up on the far side of the courtyard, across from where the dark-haired Klareoy beat a thick round rug. All three of the middle-aged Women sang a cheerful and mellow song of summer flowers and old loves, their harmonious voices filling the warm air of the small courtyard.

"It's going to get longer?" Gwen asked, still braiding the Dwarf's heavy hair which was as thick and strong as horse-hair, but softer.

"With luck!" he laughed, unconsciously raising a hand to stroke his short beard.

"Is it really true that your kind will die if their beards are cut?" she asked, looking concerned, but Gimli only snorted in amusement.

"No…well no one that I have ever known!" he laughed in answer. "While it's an awful shame, 'specially when one is of the Longbeards clan, accidents do happen. Me own Da's beard is a good four inches shorter than me uncle Oin's, even though me Da is the elder. It's on account of a fight me Da got into in the Halls of Ered Luin, before my parents had me or any of my siblings."

"Oh… well, that's good to know-- I feel a bit silly now for thinkin' that was true. Can…can I touch your beard, Gimli?" she asked, curious as to how it felt especially considering how many old tales and legends were wrapped about Dwarven beards. Hesitantly she reached towards his beard, stopping just short of touching the copper-colored hair before looking at him, silently asking for permission. Gimli just gave her a smile then tilted his chin for her in invitation.

"It feels nice! But different than Old Treize or Master Zeick's beards… it's thick and pretty like the rest of your hair!" Gwen said in delighted surprise, as she petted his short beard along the jaw before going back to braiding the rest of his long hair.

"That's because we Dwarves grow real beards, unlike Men-- like Sam over there, who has that wiry crotch hair growing on his chin," Gimli snorted, jabbing a thumb towards where the large Man was digging nearby.

"Hey! I'll have you know, Dwarf, that this a perfectly good beard!" yelled Sam, pausing in his digging to give the chuckling Dwarf a glare as he unconsciously put a hand defensively to his scratchy goatee.

"Just keep tellin' yourself that, Sam," Gimli snorted.

Just then there was a flurry of activity as several fearful looking Men came bursting out of the back door, most partially undressed. Some just barely missed running right into Mavis, who was still sitting on the step as they hurriedly struggled into their clothes. One particularly portly Man even clumsily climbed out backwards from one of the ground floor windows before flopping to the cracked flagstone of the courtyard, clothes clutched in a grubby hand.

"Ahhh! Mahal, take my eyes!" Gimli cried, quickly averting his gave after having unfortunately turned his head to look when he heard the strange noise from the window. "By Elbereth, put on some clothes, Man! What in Mordor is wrong with you?!" He smacked a broad hand over his eyes with a grimace, trying to block out the horrible image that now seemed seared in his mind.

"Crickey, Geffius! At least be puttin' on your damned pants, no one wants to be seein' that!" Sam yelled angrily, also having unfortunately gotten an eyeful. He made a point of throwing some dirt at the fat Man as he ran huffing past where Sam was digging. He quickly disappeared down one of the alleys and a moment later a burst laughter and mocking insults could be heard, as poor Geffius ran past the group of teenagers still playing dice in that particular alley.

"Sometimes I think we be running a Madhouse rather than a brothel!" snorted Mavis, looking tiredly resigned as she watched the Men scatter every which way out of the courtyard.

"I wonder what's going on inside?" said Gwen, looking at the still open door from where she knelt behind Gimli, having just finished the final braid.

"Me, too. I haven't seen a place clear out like that since Bombur ate an entire pot of sausage and cabbage stew, couple of winters back," Gimli said, apparently recovering from the traumatic image of moments before. Seeing that Gwen was done he reached up and felt the many braids that now made up his ponytail.

"Well…how do I look?" he asked the others, turning his head for them.

"You look right 'andsome and them little braids make ya look like somethin' near exotic!" said Mavis appreciatively, looking up from her embroidering to see Gimli's new hairstyle.

"Aye, 'specially with them pretty eyes and that tanned skin of yours," agreed Klareoy.

Grizalin only gave a snort. "He still be lookin' like a mangy Dwarf ta me!" said the sour middle-aged Woman, before going back to what she was doing.

"You look so pretty!" chirped Gwen happily, clearly pleased with her work.

"Aye, it's pretty indeed! It's a good look for ya, Gimli! I near didn't recognize you-- thought you were a Woman!" Sam laughed, before making kissy-faces at him. "You're so pretty, my Lady Gimli! Come over here and give us a smooch!"

Gimli only raised an annoyed eyebrow at the Man in the hole, before turning to the petite teen and giving her a deep bow.

"My thanks, Lady Gwen," he said, flashing her a wink and a charming smile that made her blush shyly. Just then the unmistakable voice of Ruby came through the door.

"Gimli! Gimli!" The copper-haired Dwarf gave a tired sigh as he rolled his eyes before climbing to his feet and dusting off the back of his pants.

"I suppose I'll go be seein' what she wants-- 'sides, I'm a might curious about what caused our mass exodus a moment ago," Gimli said with a snort. Gwen, who was also curious, got up too.

"Hang on, I'm comin' too! Gotta get that rug from upstairs, anyway," said Klareoy, dropping the rug-beater on the ground and joining the other two before all three disappeared into the house.

~~~

Meanwhile, earlier in the main room of the brothel…

There was a loud clatter of noise from outside before the door to the 'House of the Red Blossoms' swung open and the Captain of the local constabulary came in. Trooping in behind the older Man were four of his Men that he had ordered to come with him, just in case extracting the Dwarf proved to be difficult. Aside from Gara, Ron, Merin and young Ferdirand, several others of his Men had also shown up, uninvited; some were curious after hearing gossip about the Captain's plans, others had simply never seen a Dwarf before. Altogether there were nine of them that had come. While he had not thought so many Men necessary, the Captain went along with his original plan, deciding that the extra Men would be a good show of force in this more dangerous and run-down part of Ocendade. It would demonstrate to these people that even here, they could not escape the law or his watchful eyes.

Besides, from what he had heard of the mysterious new owner of the brothel, this Mistress D who was no doubt sheltering the rogue Dwarf, it sounded to him like she needed to be taken down a few pegs.

It just wasn't proper for a Woman to be so independent.

They had meant to take the Dwarf into custody earlier the day before, but a large bar fight had broken out at the local tavern, followed by a large scale riot in the town's main square the next day where a play had been taking place (apparently it had started when an irritated Elf in the audience threw a potato at one of the actors, knocking the young Man out). Both incidents had kept the officers busy and set them back.

Upon seeing the local constable and his Men, many of the brothel's customers that had been lounging in the red draped main room scrambled up before quickly scuttling out the door, many hurriedly struggling into their clothes and cloaks, some re-buttoning their trousers. A few of the working Ladies stared at the officers for a moment in surprise as their clients beat a hasty retreat, then quickly disappeared up the stairs or through the various entrances to warn the other residents of the brothel; a large group of the local constabulary showing up was not a good sign in this neighborhood.

A petite blond Woman, having heard the door open but apparently not hearing the hurried exit of her fellows or their client, came strolling out from one of the red-curtained entrances to welcome them. But she immediately froze upon seeing the amount of officers wearing blue tunics now standing in the brothel's main entrance. May was just about to turn and duck back the way she had come, when the graying Captain spotted her.

"You there--Woman! Come here!" he barked, motioning sharply for her to come closer with one of his gloved hands. May winced, internally cursing herself for not having turned back sooner before taking a deep breath, steeling her nerves and putting on her best work-face. She then casually walked over to the group, a seductive smile now on her painted lips as she twirled the end of one of her two long braids.

"Greetings! What can I do for all you… strapping officers?" she purred, batting her eyelashes coyly as she came to stand before the Captain. He and some of the Men seemed completely unimpressed, but a few of the others looked decidedly interested, taking in her partially dressed form, and young Ferdirand blushed a bright red as he suddenly found an old stain on his tunic fascinating.

"Tell me. We are looking for the Dwarf that works here. Where is he?" the Captain ordered her in a flat tone, his grey eyes seeming to look right through her.

"D-dwarf? We don't hav-- I don't know what you're talking about! We don't got no Dwarves here!" she denied in a rush, her 'work' facade momentarily faltering. There was an unspoken code of loyalty between those that lived and worked at the 'Red Blossom' and since the strange copper-haired Dwarf had come to stay under their brothel's roof, he had become one of the family as it were and so was protected under that code.

"Don't lie to me, Woman! Where is he? And where is your Headmistress-- where is D?" he demanded, his craggy face showing his growing irritation as he glared at her. May gave a nervous gulp, her heartbeat speeding up in her chest. She tried to keep calm as she continued to deny any knowledge of Gimli, who she knew was in the back courtyard with little Gwen, Mavis, Sam and a few others, enjoying the sunny weather.

"Really, Master Constable! I...I don't know what you're--eep!" May gave a scared squeak when the Captain, finally fed up with her denials, reached out and grabbed her right arm in a painful grip of iron, dragging her close.

"Listen, whore. I have little patience. Now where is the--" But whatever he was going to say was forgotten as a smooth voice laced with the sharp ring of steel rang out.

"Release her this instant, Dagor! I don't take kindly to people threatening my girls, no matter how important that person thinks they are."

The Captain (who was immediately annoyed that someone had addressed him by his given name rather than his title, a clear insult), May and the rest of the officers turned to see the regal and imposing form of Lady D herself glide menacingly into the large room from a entrance hidden behind a red curtain, her ever present black fan in hand.

The Captain released May, who made a small relieved noise as her arm was suddenly freed from the painful grip of his callused hand before quickly escaping to a safe distance, as he watched the tall elegant Woman's approach. So this was the infamous Lady D, he thought to himself.

She glided up to him, coming to stand but a foot away, and looked him directly in the eye. She was nearly as tall as he, and her storm-grey eyes were as cold as ice. She was a little caught off guard at the officer's sudden entry, but it was not wholly unexpected either; she had known it was only a matter of time before the constable would show up, even without the added issues of the young Dwarf she harbored under her roof.

With a sharp echoing snap, that caused the Captain to give a small jump, the black fan she held was suddenly open and she began to softy fan herself, a sure sign that she was greatly irritated and it was best to tread carefully. The sudden image of crashing ocean waves during a dark storm came unbidden to the Captain's mind, and he shivered involuntarily before gathering his anger about himself as a shield .

"You will address me properly, Woman!" he snarled quietly at her, his eyes flashing in warning as they faced off. How dare she address him by his given name, who did she think she was!? He was usually a very cool and aloof personality but there was just something about the Headmistress of the 'House of the Red Blossoms' that utterly vexed him-- if there was one thing he hated it was uppity Women, who didn't know their place! But what would have had most people cowering, including his wife, children and even his own Men, seemed to have no effect on the elegant Woman in front of him. She looked him directly in the eye with a glare of her own, completely and utterly unimpressed.

"I will address you anyway I see fit when you are in my establishment, Dagor," she answered, her smooth voice holding the undertone of ice. The others around the room, including the Captain's Men, could only stare silently as the two faced off, the air crackling with tension. It was a long moment later that the constable finally broke the harsh silence.

"We're here for the Dwarf-- hand him over! We know you're harboring it!" he ordered her.

"I will do no such thing," she answered him simply, and the Captain visibly stiffened.

"You don't seem to understand, that Dwarf is a menace! It's already murdered two people in my town, and it's clearly only a matter of time before he does it again!"

"Of course I know of what he's done; I was the one to order him to do it!" she snorted dismissively, watching as he balked noticeably at hearing this.

"Wha- Do you have any idea of what you are saying!? You'll share the Dwarf's fate--!"

"You'll do nothing to me and we both know it," she told him tiredly, interrupting him again.

That was apparently it for the Captain. He stepped forward and grabbed her left arm, causing a loud gasp from the various Women of the brothel that had been gathering to watch, with the intent of yanking her close so he could yell angrily in her face. Just then the temperature seemed to suddenly drop several degrees as warning bells went off in his head.

"If you do not remove your hand… you will lose it," the flame-haired Woman warned ominously, in a suddenly menacing voice that sent a chill down his spine. The black fan had stilled in her hand and all pretense of pleasantness vanished from her as she sent him a look that would have frozen boiling water. He had greatly over-stepped his bounds and the Captain suddenly found himself immediately releasing her as if his fingers had been burned.

"You forget yourself, Master Constable," she said, gently fanning herself once again. "We know the Lord will never allow me to be jailed or hanged; he gets far too much gold from this brothel in taxes each year." She cocked one flame-colored eyebrow, then moved closer to him and dropped her voice so that only he could hear her next words.

"Besides, Master Constable….I hold not only your job, but your very life in my hands. Imagine if it got around just exactly who you were before coming to this town? Or what your lovely wife and our Lord--your father-in-law-- would think if they found out your… particular tastes in bed partners?" With much satisfaction, she watched as the older Man froze, the color draining from his face at her quiet words.

"Tell me, Dagor. You have two boys now, don't you? Ten and thirteen summers, if I'm correct…strange how that young lad you bought a night with, in that small brothel down in Bree a few weeks ago, was ten summers too. And he wasn't the only one…was he? Goodness, Master Constable! You do like them young, don't you? Or maybe… it's because they looked so much like your own two lovely boys?" she continued, her eyes narrowed as she took in his now wide-eyed and ashen face.

"You wouldn't dare!" he hissed angrily, keeping his voice quiet so only she would hear, sounding clearly shaken. A small smirk curled at the corners of her lips.

"Try me," she said simply, before stepping back and turning away from him.

"We will discuss this matter and the matter of the Dwarf in a more private setting. Come into my study, Master Dagor," she said in a smooth voice, though it was clearly not a request as she motioned for him to follow her. She glided back the way she had come, without looking back even once to see if he would follow.

The Captain watched her disappear behind the red curtain, annoyance and anger flashing in his dark eyes, clearly not used to having to deal with a Woman such as she, who was certainly his equal, if not better. He glared after her for a long moment, fire burning in his gut, before looking to his waiting Men.

"Do nothing until I return! If you see the Dwarf, just make sure he doesn't escape!" he barked to the group before turning back and following the flame-haired Woman, leaving the Men to mill about in the entryway as they talked amongst themselves.

It was then that a figure walked out from a shadow behind a large tapestry where she had been listening with interest, unnoticed by all. Hearing the swish of heavy skirts and the soft tread of feet, Gara, Ron and a few of the other Men looked up to see an attractive Woman, with a thick main of auburn ring and wearing a red bodice and a dark brown skirt, glide up to them, a mysterious smile on her heart-shaped face.

"So… I hear you're looking for a Dwarf?" she purred, coming over to stand in front of Gara and making a point of reaching out and smoothing some wrinkles from his blue tunic. This of course caught the attention of the Men, and most especially Gara.

Some notes:

(1.) Make-up is ancient, people have been using it even before the ancient Egyptians. So it's not long stretch that people in certain areas of Middle-earth would use it too.

(2.) Puppet shows where originally for adults, its only in the last century that it's been used for the entertainment of children.

(3.) Rangers are greatly misunderstood and not well thought of in curtain areas like Bree (as seen when Frodo and the others go their and encounter Strider), many people scorning and fearing them. Apparently having no idea just what the Rangers do for them.