Chapter 5

The Deep

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Helm's Deep was a two day ride from Edoras in warm, dry weather. It must have been hell for the people fleeing on foot twenty years ago. The smaller gate was open but he did need to check with the sentries. They waved a Sergeant over who looked at the King's note before saying. "Welcome to Helm's Deep. That is a handsome horse. I'm afraid the caves are no place for him. If you will ride to the right about a hundred paces there is a small stable. Just tell them Sarn't Atlie said to bring him and they will do you right.

"Now, sir, you have walking to do. All the way around the fortress you will come to the rear door that takes you to a meadow along the Deeping Stream. Follow that to the cleft between two cliffs and you'll see a Dwarf door with their symbols outside. Just knock there." In a tone to suggest he didn't say it, "Might be a wait."

The door was mounted in a sheer rock face with a bell pull. He rang it. A few minutes later he rang it again. Perhaps ten minutes later a young Dwarf, whose beard was merely a foot long, opened the door and stared at him until his eyes adjusted to the sun. Nag Kath said, "Good afternoon, Sir Dwarf. I am Nag Kath and I seek an audience with the Lord of the Glittering Caves."

When the sentinel did not even blink Nag Kath added, "I have a letter for him from Elessar of Gondor."

That got his attention. "Please wait here. I will tell my superiors." The heavy door shut with hardly a sound. An hour later, an older Dwarf opened the door and squinted in the sun until he saw Nag Kath. In a booming voice, "Come this way." Nag Kath hoisted his bag and followed in the long, dark corridor.

For the first hundred paces it was just a mine shaft but then the tunnel opened towards a pale light. Clearing the mouth of the tunnel showed a vast chamber of many colored stones bathed in streams of light from holes in the mountain above. Erebor was all solid gray but this had areas of purest white where minerals had dripped from sharp spikes above to make dragon's teeth below. Before long, they turned into a lower cavern after crossing an arched bridge over the Deeping Stream. Nag Kath asked his guide, "Tell me, Master Dwarf, does this stream run far into the mountain?"

"Aye."

So much for conversation. He followed silently for another ten minutes and was led to a series of chambers formed naturally in the porous rock. Nag Kath put his gaol cell out of mind with an effort. The guide poked his head into one of them and then waved the Elf inside. Seated at a large, low table was Gimli, Son of Gloin, Lord of the Glittering Caves. Nag Kath walked to twenty feet away and bowed deeply. The Dwarf put aside his sheaf of papers and looked up at his guest, finally saying, "I am told you have a letter for me."

"I have two, Your Lordship. May I present them?" The Dwarf nodded and Nag Kath laid them on the table. Gimli read the envelopes and opened Ambassador Tulinn's first. It was a single sheet. Gimli chuckled and set it aside. The King's was several pages and written, he supposed, in the common-tongue. That took a few minutes for the Lord to read twice.

Looking up again Gimli growled, "How is it that no one has killed you?"

"It must be my charming personality."

Gimli was expecting an orc, not a wit. The Dwarf Lord slowly but surely went from scowl to smile to a hearty laugh. "Very well, we will proceed on that assumption. Have a seat." Gandalf probably gave Nag Kath a passing grade before sailing.

A chair tall enough for Nag Kath had already been placed at the end of the table. The Dwarf shooed two attendants away and packed leaf into a long-stemmed clay pipe much like Gandalf used. The smoke dissipated quickly. Even small rooms in a cave have a breeze. "So, you were one of the Uruks that tried to kill me."

"I was."

"Didn't work out so well for your lot."

Nag Kath gave the Lord his first taste of the grin, "Bad management."

Gimli puffed, "Hmmmm, I suppose so."

The Elf took the initiative, "Then I became as you see. I have healed, fought, loved, lost and served. A good life, I reckon."

Gimli took another puff, "Aragorn says you are here to ask a favor for his realm. That matters a great deal to me, but why you?"

"It was my idea. The King and Prince bade me bring fresh water from the mountain to Osgiliath because of plagues. Some of the work begs the finest craftsmen in stone for labors we have not seen in many a day. I rode here for your counsel."

The Dwarf Lord said gruffly, "Well, you've got courage."

"In addition to my charming personality. I also have rough sketches of how I see the craft needed to divert the stream. They are based on the Moria Stair and the penstocks of Orthanc. Would you like to see them?"

"I suppose so."

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They went through the drawings in some detail. The Dwarf Lord often reviewed plans for the constant working in his new fief but had never seen this sort of accuracy and detail. They beetled through two dozen sheets for almost two bells. Nag Kath made small changes or highlighted points for the Lord's opinion. When his pencil broke he pulled his quill-knife to sharpen it. Then he handed it to Gimli saying, "This was crafted by my friend Golord of Dale. The blade is Elvish. The case is mithril/steel from Khâzad-dûm."

Gimli held it and marveled at the balance of the tiny knife. He decided then and there that Nag Kath, whatever he had been, was a worthy man today. No one would have insisted on such care without passion. Free peoples need passion. He handed the knife back asking, "What can I do to help my friend Aragorn?"

Nag Kath had prepared his response, "We need an engineer, or team of engineers to come assess the work needed to carve away a pool edge and stair-step a quantity of water to this basin here. From there I expect we will need to build a stone pool with a gate to an aqueduct that will run about ten leagues. Any help on bridges would also be appreciated because we have to span several ravines of middling consequence." Pointing to a different drawing, "I want to know the best way to get the water from here to here, including; men, time and skill. In short, Lord Gimli, I would like your best man to come behold this work and lend sage counsel."

Nag Kath looked at his host rather sheepishly and added, "And I would enjoy seeing your home while I am here. Your realm is extraordinary."

Gimli laughed, "Ha! I knew it! You are no Elf at all! Yes, you will be my guest for a time. And I will grant your request, though I need to see who is best for your needs."

For two days Nag Kath followed a terse, grumpy Dwarf through the nooks and crannies of the Glittering Caves. To the horror of all, the Elf swam in the clear, freezing water to explore how they reflected light back to the surface. For the next two days his guide was Thurgin who had done some of the building of bridges and walkways around these jagged rocks. Nag Kath sketched quite a bit and his new guide was fascinated at how he captured just the area he wanted in perspective. Dwarvish design and art is generally presented at right angles. Radagast's house would have driven them to distraction.

On the fifth day Nag Kath attended Lord Gimli. This time the Dwarf rose to shake his hand. "Thurgin says you have been more help to him than the other way around."

The grin, "We have enjoyed each other's company. I have always gotten along well with Durin's Folk. Elves consider me undignified and Rohan red is my personal favorite."

"MUHAAW! Come, sit down. I will tell you my decision." Once seated, the Lord explained, "Thurgin has agreed to come to Minas Tirith this autumn when the walkway on our Fundir chamber is complete."

The Dwarf Lord reloaded his pipe. Like with Gandalf, all talking ceased until it was correct. With the first acceptable puff he continued, "And I will come with him. If this is to be a joint effort for the Fourth Age, I would see my old friends to the south."

Sliding two letters to Nag Kath he continued, "Take those home and we will meet again soon. Is there anything else?"

"No, Lord Gimli, other than to thank you for seeing me. One of my personal goals is to meet the surviving members of the Fellowship. Gandalf was my mentor and said that would be good for me. I have met Legolas's father thrice, but the son was never in the Woodland realm at the same time. And I understand tall people are forbidden the Shire."

"Hughmmf! You may not be bound by that. Men are not allowed. You are not a man. It is a picky detail but you have sound references. Let us build your waterway first."

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There was one last piece of excitement. Returning to the Helm's Deep stables he found Regaldin anxious. That was not like him. He inquired of the stableman who ruefully admitted the admirable horse had been used at stud with a female some of the officers thought a suitable match. Tonight was to be their second mating.

One does not use someone else's horse for such tasks on the sly. The purity and control of bloodlines, reputation of breeders and the value of the progeny can matter a great deal. Stableman Theonandar was following instructions from above, but that might not avoid a punch in the mouth. Nag Kath laughed heartily and said, "Then someone owes me a room and a meal tonight. Now, let us have a look at the lucky girl."

Regaldin was still jumpy the next morning but they rode out the gate after Nag Kath enjoyed a roaring good time with the Provost Marshal. He was not aware of the horse romance but glad to make amends for a few senior men. As usual, the stew was untouchable but the bread was excellent.

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Nag Kath presented himself at Minas Tirith as soon as he arrived now knowing the right word in the right ear at the palace gate to avoid huddling with the supplicants. He had to wait an hour but the King walked into the main waiting room himself to take him back to his office. Aragorn scanned Gimli's letter and muttered, "Nag Kath, whatever else you are, you are a fine salesman. I suppose this means the cat is out of the bag."

"I hope not too soon, Sire. The long, tedious part will be laying the chute. Mountain work could be done anytime. Architect Finenbrad was going to tell you that in his retirement he has contracted to find and train four men who can do the long sight-work to bring that ditch into the town at slightly more than level.

"Forgive me if this is also premature but do you know the big rock just east of the city?"

"Indeed."

"We need it. Running the water to the top will give enough pressure for both sides of the river. I have inquired discreetly to keep the speculators from buying it or nearby land and driving up the price, but it is important. I also have an ally in the water manager on the east bank. Pieces are falling into place."

Just as he had marveled at creating a genuine artist from the orc changeling so long ago, the King considered what he had become. "Good work, Nag Kath. What comes next?"

"Men."