Of Fire and Stars
by Gecco

Rating: R (for extreme violence and disturbing imagery)

Warning: Major, major Gimli angst. If you got a weak stomach, then read with caution.

Archive: You want it, you got it.

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

Summary: We find out what happened to Gimli during the year while 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 AU for the ‘cannon’ sticklers since I haven’t read “The Unfinished Tales” yet. This is also Book-version, not Movie-version.

It was several long moments before any of the five bodies began to stir.

Gimli lay sprawled on his back, just trying to get his wind back after having it knocked out of him on impact. Slowly he became aware of a painful compression around his neck and the feeling of sharp stones digging into the tender skin of his back.

As his breath returned he carefully blinked open his eyes, the light at first making them water and squint but slowly they adjusted and he found himself eventually staring into a beautiful blue sky. For a few moments he let himself drift in that cloudless afternoon sky, blues, light-blues, deep-blues, a veritable feast of color for one who had been living in a world of darkness.

With a groan Gimli finally forced himself to look away from that sky and roll over onto his stomach before levering himself slowly up onto his knees. The thick collar cut painfully into the side of his neck as well as the underside of his jaw. He could now see that the chain connecting the four was taut, still hooked on the jagged rock sticking out of the incline.

But just as he was going to crawl over and unhook it, Svior to his right, crawled over and did it, causing instant relief as the chain went slack. With Gimli’s neck now free to move he looked to the others, seeing that they too were all alive and in relatively one piece, slowly getting up.

“Feels like Dori tried to pull off my head,” grumbled Ulfr, as he crawled slowly up to kneel next to Gimli. “You okay?” He asked, rubbing the skin under his collar.

“No,” Gimli grumbled tiredly, rubbing his own neck. “You?” He asked back, looking at the soot-covered figure now sitting beside him, Ulfr just gave a shrug.

“The others! What about the others!?” cried Nidi, snapping their attention back to mine entrance they had escaped from.

Their dire situation came crashing back down on them like a heavy rockslide, the four could only watch in silent shock as the flames continued to spew angrily from the mine’s blackened entrance. The faces of friends and enemies, alike, flashed in rapid successions in their minds. Their stomachs twisted in dread at the thought of those faces. Knowing they were still down there, in the mine…burning.

“By Mahal! They were all down there, Anar, Buri, Veig- everyone,” said Ulfr in a hoarse whisper. Kneeling frozen beside him, Gimli couldn’t even bring himself to speak as he watched the dancing fire, instead he felt numb.

None of the four heard or noticed as Hanar climb slowly up the incline behind them.

“Do you think any…“ Ulfr let his question trail quietly off, realizing the futility of it.

“They’re dead,” Hanar said simply from behind them. The four slowly tore their gazes from the roaring flames to look at the grizzled old Dwarf standing behind them.

“No! My father! The others! May- maybe some escaped, like us! Right…right?” Nidi pleaded to Hanar, before looking desperately at the others for some hope. Ulfr looked down unable to bear the desperate pleading in Nidi’s glassy honey-brown eyes, Gimli sadly shook his head, and Svior just looked sad.

“Nidi, they were all in the pony alcove, they couldn’t have gotten out,” Svior said softly.

“No! There’s a chance, the north entrance!

“They’re dead! Poor bastards, never knew what hit them. Incinerated they were.” Hanar said gravely, glaring at the mine entrance with his dark eyes. He looked down at the four young Dwarves sitting in front of him, watching him with wide eyes. “Take comfort in the that! It was probably instantaneous,” Hanar said, snapping his thick fingers for emphasis.

“What are we to do now?” Ulfr asked, voicing the question on all their minds.

“We can be of no assistance to the dead, but we may still be of some use to the living!“ Hanar barked, sharply to the four. Before turning his main focus on Nidi, who had his face now buried in Svior’s neck, the black-eyed Dwarf rubbed his back trying to comfort him. Nidi was the only one out of the five that still had family. Hanar had no children and his mate had been dead for eight winters now, Svior still had some family, but they all lived in Ered Luin. Ulfr had been an orphan since he was thirty-two, and Gimli’s only remaining family were on the quest to take back Erebor.

“Nidi, nothing can be done for your father, but think of your mother and brother, there may still be a chance to save them.” Hanar continued, sympathy shining in his dark eyes. Aside from that, he made no move to comfort the shaking Dwarf in Svior’s arms.

The old Dwarf then looked to the other three, Ulfr, Gimli, and Svior were watching him, being the oldest they were looking to him for guidance and leadership. Taking a deep breath, Hanar gave them one piece of advice that had seen him through hardships in the past.

“Remember you must be alive to grieve. Grieve later, for now we must fight and survive!” and with that he turned and climbed down the incline again, stopping to wait for them on the gray road.

Gimli, followed by Ulfr, quickly got to their feet. Svior slowly tugged a now quiet Nidi up before they both climbed down the incline with the others to join Hanar on the road, their chains clinking merrily as they moved.

“Hanar’s right, we have to help Lady Hildr, Shala, and the others!” Gimli urged, a new determination coming into his eyes.

“What about the rest of the orcs?” Svior said, eager to make their escape.

“With luck, most of the beasts where down in in the mine when it blew. But that still leaves the ones guarding the town and the others,” Gimli said as he tried (unsuccessfully) to rub off some of the black soot on his muscular arms. Ulfr, next to him, was doing the same but also without success, The five dwarves had been down in the mine so long, the coal soot had worked it’s self in to their skin. Only a long soak and a rough scrubbing could get rid of it, so until then the five would have to remain pitch black.

“Not to mention, those two guards must already be at the Hollow by now, sounding the alarm,” Ulfr pointed out, resting his elbow casually on Gimli’s shoulder.

“Which means, we should be long-gone before they come and check it out for themselves.” Svior said. Nidi stood quietly beside him chewing on his thumb nail, not paying attention.

“We just have to get out of this whole area. With all the coal veins running threw here and the fire going, this whole area is unstable,” Ulfr said, as he scanned the gray rocky landscape around them.

“Okay, so we free the hostages, kill all the goblins we can find. Then grab some supplies, and make for Shiprock,” Gimli said confidently, looking at the other four, eager to get going. Ulfr nodded his agreement with Gimli‘s plan, Hanar was busy thinking, not really paying attention to what was being said, Nidi was still chewing on his nail, and Svior looked at Gimli as if he had suddenly sprouted a new head.

“Did something jar loose in your head?!” Svior said in disbelief, Gimli raised an irritated eyebrow.

“There are only five of us!” Svior continued.

Gimli was now glaring at Svior. “So?”

“So!? We are still chained together!” Svior snapped back, picking up a length of their connecting chain and shaking it in Gimli’s face. Gimli knocked his hand away with a warning growl before Svior dropped it in disgust.

“We’ll find something to break the chai-” But Svior cut Gimli off, the black-eyed Dwarf looked on the verge of attacking him.

“We don’t even have weapons! Not even our tools! What in Mordor are we suppose to use?!” Svior yelled in frustration.

“I don’t know, a rock or something!” Ulfr snapped back at Svior, the yelling finally getting to him. All their already frayed nerves, were dangerously close to snapping. Svior gave a growl of frustration. Neither Hanar or Nidi seemed to notice the dangerously rising tempers as the three squared off.

“We have to get out of here! There’s nothing we can do! We’ll go to Shiprock, get help-”

“The others will be dead by then!” Gimli snapped, shaking off Ulfr’s hand.

“If we go into that town it will be suicide!” Svior growled back, going into a fighting stance.

“We can’t abandon them! And only a coward would run off without trying to save them!” Gimli growled right back, fists clenched, he too was in a fighting stance now.

“It is only stupidity from a empty headed fool, that kills themselves for a useless cause!!

“Svior? Do you think Nidi’s going to walk away with you, when there’s still a chance to save his mother and brother?” Ulfr asked in Svior in a surprisingly calm voice. Ulfr glared back at the black-eyed Dwarf from beside Gimli, he motioned to the silent figure at Svior’s side with a jerk of his chin.

Svior slowly looked at the quiet, light brown-eyed Dwarf next to him for several long moments. Then with a tired sigh, he dropped his stance and rubbed at his eyes with the one broad hand. Svior knew the answer. For long moments none said anything, the silence stretched then was broken as Hanar finally looked up and spoke.

“Gimli, where are your axes?” Hanar asked, Gimli looked up from watching Nidi chew on his now bleeding nail.

“I hid them along with my earnings on the old barn’s roof, where no one can see them,” he answered before reaching out and knocking Nidi’s hand away. “Stop it.” he ordered, Nidi only giving him a blank look.

“Leave him alone,” Svior hissed at Gimli. Stepping protectively closer to Nidi who had started to chew on his nail again, before Svior gently took hold of it and pulled it away, this time he kept Nidi’s hand firmly clasped in his own.

“What about you Ulfr, Svior? Where are your swords?” Hanar asked, stroking his beard in thought as he tried to devise a plan of rescue and escape.

“My sword is with Gimli’s axes,” answered Ulfr, as he tried (unsuccessfully) to finger-comb his tangled and filthy hair. Unable to do anything with his own he started to mess with Gimli’s hair, before Gimli smacked his hands away in annoyance.

“Mine’s under the floorboards in the store house, behind the tavern, along with my travel pack.” Svior said.

“Nidi, what about your knife? Nidi? Nidi!” Not getting a response Hanar reached over and gave the young Dwarf’s shoulder a hard shake. This seemed to work, for Nidi blinked a few time and seem to ‘wake-up’ and become aware of his surroundings again.

“Wha-what?” He asked, first looking at Svior who still held his hand, blinking in confusion before realizing it was Hanar who spoke.

“Your knife, where’s your knife?” Demanded Hanar, short tempered.

“Th- the orcs took it before they put me and Father in chains,” he answered, unconsciously reaching up to touch the collar still around his neck. Nidi was surprisingly good with a knife even with his lack of ‘warrior-spirit’. Nidi’s father was a ‘tanner’ by trade, specializing in leather goods from belts and wrist-guards to saddles and tack, Nidi was learning the trade, so he and his family where one of the few Dwarves that didn’t work in the mine, instead they worked in town.

“Damn, you’ll just have to use one of mine,” the old Dwarf grumbled to himself, as he glared at the chain still connecting the four soot-covered Dwarves. Still stroking his beard in deep thought, he looked over the entire length of chain before stopping and looking at a particular link in the chain between Svior and Gimli. The four fidgeted silently as they waited for Hanar to tell them his plans, the fire still roaring behind them. Finally Ulfr just couldn’t take the silence any longer.

“Come! What is your plan Ancient One? We are just a bit pressed for time!” He urged flippantly.

Hanar looked up and speared the amber-eyed Dwarf with a withering glare, to which Ulfr only rolled his eyes and muttered something under his breath that caused Gimli to give a snort of amusement (being the only one to hear it).

“Shut up, whelp! Both of you,” Hanar snapped, now glaring at both Ulfr and Gimli. “First thing, we have to do is get rid of this, before we can do anything else,” he said, picking up the length of chain between Gimli and Svior. He then bent down and took a small metal file out of his boot, the four watched in surprise, each wondering how the old Dwarf had managed to hide it. For the goblins had been incredibly thorough, to the point of embarrassingly so, when they checked the prisoners for weapons and such. Hanar said nothing (one did not live as long as he had with out learning some slight of hand) and quickly filed at one particular link in the chain, when he finished he looked up and motioned to the others.

“Gimli, Svior, twist the chain until you can’t anymore. Twist it hard!” he ordered, Gimli and Svior quickly did as they where told twisting the chain, each in a different direction until it would it wouldn’t twist any farther. “Nidi, Ulfr, grab hold. Now, pull!” He ordered, stepping back as they pulled with all their might.

“Put your backs into it!”

For several long moments it looked like a strange game of tug-of-war as the four strained and grunted as their feet scrapped the gravel under their booted feet as they tried to gain traction. Gimli and Ulfr at one side, Svior and Nidi at the other, groaning with effort as the rough metal chain dug into their bare hands.

“Pull! That’s it lads, pull!”

Then with a squeal of metal and a resonating ‘clink’, the thick chain broke, causing the four to stumble back before regaining their balance. Now they understood why Hanar had been glaring so intently at the chain before, he was looking for weak spots. The four were now free, they still unfortunately wore the heavy iron collars but at least they could now move independently of one another.

“Finally free of that damned chain!” Svior said in relief. Giving the now broken chain a kick for good measure, Nidi next to him giving a nod of agreement as he rubbed his sore hands.

“Agreed, now I can finally get away from your stink!” Gimli joked, as he gave Ulfr a playful push away from him.

Ulfr only laughed and chucked a few pieces of gravel at Gimli, who only threw some back at him. Before they both finally wandered over to and gave the broken chain a hard look.

“Maybe we should keep it- (seeing the other’s incredulous looks) so we can shove it up Rowell’s arse when we see him.” Said Ulfr with a wicked grin.

“Maybe shove a couple of orcs up there as well,” suggested Gimli with a smirk of his own, as he scratched under his thick collar.

“I-I say we gut him like the traitorous swine he is!”

“That’s the spirit Nidi!” Ulfr crowed, giving Nidi a friendly whack on the back (who looked a bit shocked at his own outburst), the others nodded and voiced their whole-hearted agreement with Nidi’s idea.
Hanar just shook his head at what was being said, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth on the good side of his face. He said nothing, slipping the small file back in his boot as he watched pitch-black figures in front of him. The whites around their eyes and their flashing teeth was startling, making them look a touch demonic.

“Alright lads!” Hanar said getting their attention again, motioning for them to come closer, they formed a small circle as they listened intently to Hanar’s plan.

“Here’s the plan, lads. We sneak into town, when we get to the coal sheds we split up. Gimli, Ulfr, get your weapons and any traveling supplies you got. Meet us behind the tavern as soon as you can, avoid any skirmishes with the goblins. We need to keep the element of surprise as long as we can.” He ordered, watching as Gimli and Ulfr each gave a sharp nod that they understood, before he turned his attention to the other two. “Svior, you and Nidi will come with me. Now come, we must hurry! Rowell could be killing the hostages as we speak!”

With that last dreadful sentence they broke the circle and hurried back towards Black Hollow, Hanar leading with the other four right at his heels.

~~~

Staying off the main road and ducking behind any cover they found along the way, the five cautiously made their way back to town.

As they got closer to the Hollow they began to see more evidence of the town’s orc infestation, broken dishes and bottles, torn clothes, destroyed carts, even two dead goblins (killed by their fellow goblins in a petty squabble). But worst of all was the occasional carcass, mangled usually to the point of being unidentifiable, most crawling in maggots. Like the carcasses littering the floor of the upper tunnels in the mine, Gimli noticed (and wished he hadn’t) that most of the rotting carcasses looked as if they had been fed on.

When they finally reached the Hollow the sun had started to make it’s descent, Gimli guessed they only had about two ours of light left. Strangely enough they hadn‘t run into any orcs on the road (except for the dead ones), and even now as they hid in the shadow of one of the coal sheds they still hadn’t seen any orcs or any of Rowell’s Men yet. If they didn’t know better they would have thought the town was abandoned.

But as Gimli’s mother used to say ‘Just because you can’t see a goblin, doesn’t mean it’s not there‘.

Gimli also figured that most of the goblins were probably holed up in some dark hole, waiting for the sun to go down. It was common knowledge that goblins don’t like the day light, preferring the cover of darkness.

Hanar motioned that it was time to split up. Gimli gave a nod, then getting the ‘all clear’ sign from Ulfr (who was looking around the corner of the shed) both he and Gimli darted off in the direction of the old barn, Hanar and the others went the opposite way towards the tavern.

As Gimli and Ulfr made their way cautiously to the barn, they could see the damage the Goblins had done to the town. All the gray stone buildings were damaged in some way, most with gaping holes, doors hanging of their hinges (many times completely gone), window smashed. Some showed signs of having been burned, and they even passed a building that was completely collapsed, nothing but a pile of rubble. The two also had to be careful where they stepped, refuse and other debris littered the ground, from broken bottles to bodily wastes (needless to say orcs and goblins aren’t cleanest of creatures). But still they saw no orcs, even though the creature’s foul reek hung heavy in the still air and the evidence of their destructive occupation was everywhere.

“I don’t understand, this place should be swarming with orcs,” Ulfr signed next to Gimli as the two squatted behind a half knocked-down wall. They had switched back to Iglishmek deciding not to take any chances.

“I agree, something’s wrong,“ Gimli signed, scanning the empty street with narrowed eyes, looking for any movement. Seeing none the two quickly darted to another hiding spot, all the while suspiciously looking about.

They finally reached the barn that they once called home, without incident. Silently they slunk (or as silently as two Dwarves can ‘slink‘) to the side of the barn where the empty rain-barrels where usually stacked. Having used the barrels in the past to climb up to the roof. But as they got to where the barrels were kept, they saw that they had all been broken into and smashed. Lucky for them, they had other means of getting onto the roof.

Jabbing his thumb upwards, Gimli signed for Ulfr to give him a boost up. Ulfr gave a nod, putting his back to the barn wall then he held his broad laced hands out for Gimli to step into. With a hop and a push, Gimli pulled himself onto the roof. He then held out an arm to the amber-eyed Dwarf below, with a jump Ulfr grabbed hold and pulled himself up with Gimli’s help.

And none to soon, for just as Ulfr pulled himself over, a goblin walked around the corner below them. The two on the roof froze, watching the goblin sniff around suspiciously, where just moments before they had been. Another goblin soon appeared and walked up to the other one.

“What?” It snapped in a scratchy voice to the first one.

“Heard somethin *sniff, sniff* but can’t smell nothin’- ‘cept coal *sniff*,” the first goblin hissed, looking around in suspicion while the second one started to sniff around as well.

Only moving their eyes, the two Dwarves on the roof looked at one another, both coming to the same realization. Not only did the coal-dust cover them from head to toe, staining them completely black, it was apparently masking their scent as well.

The two goblins continued to sniff around, when suddenly a large gray skinned orc stomped around the corner. Snarling something under it’s breath as it yanked a dirty ringed shirt of chain mail over its scalely head, a large rusty (and probably very dull) scimitar hung on a belt at it’s side. The two goblins below froze and began to cower at the sight of the orc.

Catching sight of the new comer, Gimli’s jaw dropped as the large orc yank the chain mail over its large bare chest and pair of breasts.

‘It‘s a female?! By Gandalf‘s beard! A female orc!! He thought in absolute shock, still not quite grasping the concept of what was right in front of his eyes. He had always believed the stories that said all orcs where male and that orcs and goblins where ‘formed’ from disgusting and rotting things brought to life by dark magic weelded by some evil hand.

She was hideous just like all the other orcs and goblins he had ever seen, just as ugly and twisted like the rest. Unlike the obvious differences between male and female Dwarves or male and female Humans, Gimli could see no difference between the sexes of the three creatures below him, now that the chain mail hid the female’s chest.

Gimli felt queasy, the thought of male and female orcs and more importantly, orc children, very disturbing. Orc and goblin families. He didn’t like those thoughts. The thought of orcs and goblins as a people rather then a bunch of faceless monsters. Gimli didn’t want to think of them as a people, not after all he had suffered at their clawed hands, his vengeance wouldn’t allow it. The image of his family’s old caravan, the wagons burning as orcs leapt about in glee, destroying everything they could, killing any they caught trying to escape.

Daira’s bloodied and mangled body, his limbs scattered about the forest floor. The hollow feeling in his gut as he and his mother searched and picked up those heavy limbs and bits of flesh, so the crows and other scavengers wouldn’t get them.

No, they weren’t people! Just monsters…monsters that should be exterminated!! His turbulent thoughts were interrupted as the new arrival below, spoke in a loud grating voice.

“What ya’ doin’ ere!? I toll alls youz ta’ get over to the mine!” The female orc bellowed, spittle flying as she stomped over and punched the first cowering goblin right in the face. With a shriek and a crunch, the goblin went flying back, landing heavily several feet away, unmoving. She then turned her attention to the second one, who was now cowering submissively at her feet.

“Weze eard’ somethin! Weze just cheackin, then weze go to the mine like youz say!” The second Goblin whined, groveling at her clawed feet.

Seeing this her thin rubbery lips pulled back form her rotting black and yellowed teeth, into a nasty smile of pleaser. Deciding that she liked the way the goblin looked cowering at her feet, she decided not to rip off his face, just yet. Grabbing the second goblin by it’s greasy hair she started to drag him away, the goblin squealing the entire way as it scrambled on its hands and knees to keep up.

“Tolled youz, puss face! I’mz in charge while Illzogs gone!” She screeched, giving the goblin a couple of hard shakes for emphasis as she stormed away in the direction of the mine. Gimli and Ulfr could now see other orcs and goblins appear out of various shadowed hiding spaces to trail groggily behind the large female as she continued to rant (all of them keeping well out of grabbing distance, in case she decided to grab one of them) .

“I stuck with all youz shit-for-brainz, toads! Can’t waits for Illzog back, back with lots of loot and meat! Then we eats white-cloak and take all his gold! Wherez he at anyway? Not seenz im or other meat. Wherez he at?!” She demanded, giving the goblin she was still dragging a vicious shaking, who only squealed louder.

What ever else she said, the two on the roof weren’t able to hear or understand as she and the goblin she dragged, disappeared out of sight and their hearing range. The other goblins and orcs trailing quietly behind her before they too disappeared.

The two on the roof waited a few more moments before they both relaxed with a sigh. Looking out in the direction the orcs went, Gimli could see a large column of black smoke in the distance where he knew the mine was. From their vantage point Gimli could also see that a large sink hole had opened up on the north side of the destroyed town, and he knew it was only a matter of time before more sink holes appeared (he hoped they’d all be long gone by then). The two eroded mountains, like two huge piles of rocks stood guard to the north and south on ether side of the town. The Blue mountain range watching in the distance as a red sun was slowly sinking in the east, painting everything orange and red.

“Damn, now that was one ugly bitch! Hold up now… Gimli! I think I found you a new women! Once you get past the smell and the rotting teeth I’m sure she’s a lovely girl!” Ulfr snickered, laughing at the completely disgusted look on the brown-eyed Dwarf’s face, next to him.

“Shut your face, Ulfr!” Gimli hissed, punching the laughing amber-eyed Dwarf in the shoulder. “I’d rather burn off my beard and stab out my own eyes!” He said, with a grimace of disgust. The very thought of it made him want to vomit. Ulfr only laughed harder as he rubbed his sore shoulder.

Giving the still laughing Ulfr a ‘glare of death’ Gimli got up an walked carefully over to a locked wooden chest. It was sitting towards the center of the roof, well out of sight from anyone on the ground.

Both he and Ulfr had decide that the roof was a perfect place to hide their valuables, after all no one would ever think to look up for a Dwarf’s stash, everyone knowing how ‘ground’ oriented Dwarves are.

Ulfr joined him by the chest (his laughing now under control), Gimli no longer had the key for the lock (having lost it in the mine when a particularly ill tempered orc had decided that he needed a ‘lesson‘ about not insulting his captors), so with a strong kick with his booted foot, he knocked a hole in the side of the chest. Once a the hole was made both he and Ulfr stuck their thick hands in and began to break and pry the thick wooden chest apart with their hands. In a matter of seconds the chest was completely destroyed, revealing a large leather wrapped bundle inside.

Quickly unwrapping the bundle Gimli revealed Ulfr’s sword with it creeping vine patter etched on the blade, both his and Ulfr’s money pouches and his three beloved axes. Each axe with it’s own unique pattern, their clean crescent blades shinning red in the light.

Gimli paused as he reached for his axes, maybe it was a trick of the light but for a second he could have sworn they looked covered in blood, red blood. He had a sudden strong sense of deja vu as he looked at them. Giving a quick shake of his head he pushed the image out of his mind.

Picking the three blades up he gave each a reverent kiss as an almost giddy feeling fluttered in his stomach. Now he felt whole again! Look out orcs, Gimli son of Gloin is coming for you! He thought, as he put the double-bladed axe down before standing up and doing some swings and blocks with his twin axes, one in each hand, going threw a couple of Forms.

The axes felt like extensions of himself, each perfectly balanced, their heavy weight giving him a sense of comfort, always reminding him of those who wielded them before him. His Mother, his Grandfather, his Great-Grandmother, and all the warriors before them, and now they were his to weild. Ulfr too took a couple of practice swings with his sword, fighting some invisible opponent, and for few moments one might have thought the two soot-covered figures were dancing in the red light of the sinking sun.

“I think I hear some orc throats begging to be cut!” Ulfr said, as they both finally came to a stop in a defensive position.

“Then let’s not keep them waiting!” Gimli replied, in a rather artful looking defense pose, called the ‘dragon’s shield‘.

Ulfr reached into the leather bundle and handed Gimli his thick weapons belt before picking up his own, buckling it around his waist and slipping his sword into its sheath at his side. Gimli did the same buckling his belt tight about his hips before attaching Blood Screamer, his double-bladed battle axe, to the back of his belt, then his two single-bladed axes, Fire Reaper and Star Smasher to his side holsters at his hips. Both Dwarves quickly picked up and put their money purses into a pouch on their belts (the pouch had a small buckle on it that they could buckle close), as Gimli finished putting his money purse away, Ulfr noticed something in the distance.

“Gimli, look!” He said as he pointed to the west where they could see a cloud of black smoke rising in the distance, in the valley beyond.

“That’s coming from Shiprock,” Gimli said in a low voice, as they both watched knowing what that black cloud of smoke meant. The town in the valley was burning. Both their hearts dropped a little further at the sight.

“I’ll bet my right ball that’s where that Illzog and the rest of the orcs are,” Ulfr said with a growl. “And I’ll bet this Illzog, is that Goblin chief, Rowell’s been bending over for. Remember what the orc bitch said, ‘white-cloak’ that could only be Rowell.”

“It sounds like Rowell’s pulled one of his disappearing acts again, too,” Gimli said taking out his two axes.

“Probably took the gold and ran, the two faced snake” Ulfr spat, taking out his own sword.

”With most of the orcs on a raiding party at Shiprock and probably most of the other ones dead in the mine. Tis the perfect time for us to rescue Shala and the others. Come, let us make haste!” Gimli urged, taking notice of the fading light.

Trotting back to the roof’s edge they both looked down, making sure the coast was clear, they only saw the first goblin still lying on the ground, unmoving. Seeing this, a big grin split Gimli’s face, with both axes in hand he walked a little further along the roof’s edge before stopping right above where the goblin lay. Then he jumped off.

Gimli heard a satisfying snap of bones, as his full weight crushed the goblin’s ribcage under his feet on impact. He quickly hopped off the body, then Ulfr landed with a slight crunch and more of a squishing sound.

“You broke him, before I could have a proper bounce! Hrumpf!” Ulfr joked, with mock disappointment.

“Will just have to find you a new one,” Gimli suggested, a wicked gleam in his eye.

Gimli then looked to the goblin’s face and felt a pang of disappointment, the goblin had been dead before they had used it to land on. It’s beak like nose had been smashed into it’s face, the bones piercing its brain (needless to say, the orc wench had a killer punch). Ulfr gave a grudging whistle, impressed, as he looked over Gimli‘s shoulder.

“Come on!” Ulfr said, giving Gimli’s shoulder a shake before he started off carefully in the direction of the tavern, Gimli right behind, axes at the ready as he jogging after him. The two disappeared between a few gray buildings, leaving the old barn they used to call home and the dead (and now much more worse-for-wear) goblin behind.

~~~~

The two could now see the front of the tavern (one of the only two-story buildings in Black Hollow), but just as they were going to dart across the gray gravel road- they threw themselves back against the wall of the building they were hiding behind.

Peeking around the corner they could see a thin goblin with a bow creeping quietly around the building, making it’s way around the side of the tavern. It’s head cocked at an angle, obviously listening to something as it made its way slowly to the back of the tavern, its sharply pointed ears twitching. Gimli realized that it was probably hearing Hanar, Svior and Nidi, who where probably already there waiting for Ulfr and him.

Gimli motioned for Ulfr to be quiet before darting as quietly as he could across the road to the front of the tavern, Ulfr following a few moments later. Then as quietly as he could, Gimli snuck after the goblin who still hadn’t noticed him, or so he thought.

For in truth the goblin had heard the two them, but luck was with the two young Dwarves this time. The goblin was paying more attention to the sound of hushed talking and movement coming from behind the tavern. Just assuming, since it was obvious whoever it was coming up behind him was armed and trying to keep quiet, it was two orcs or fellow goblins come to check out the same sound he had heard. It was a mistake that would cost him.

Gimli was feeling quite proud of himself, both he and Ulfr had managed to sneak up on the bow carrying goblin with out it even knowing it. He was about three feet from the goblin’s back when the goblin carefully looked around the corner of the building at what was in the back before stepping back. Gimli and Ulfr where struck dumb when the goblin held up a hand, signaling for them to hold back, it then held up three clawed finger signaling that it saw three targets around the corner.

The goblin felt a tap on its shoulder, it turned to snarl an insult at the orc behind him.

“Wha-” except it wasn’t an orc or a fellow goblin. It was two, short, pitch-black creatures, with glittering eyes, and gleaming white teeth. Then the world suddenly tilted, the ground came rushing up to meet him and then

he was looking at the two creature’s feet before something heavy fell on him, blocking his view. It’s last thoughts were the realization that his body had fallen on his own severed head.

Gimli looked down at the decapitated body at his feet with a raised eyebrow before glancing at Ulfr, who just gave a shrug. Gimli calmly bent down and wiped the blood on his left axe off on the goblin’s stained tunic. Both he and Ulfr making sure to step on the body as they walked over it to the edge of the building before turning the corner.

And walked right into a nightmare…

~~~

The smell hit them full force, making them almost stumble back with its strength, making them gag, their empty stomachs twisting, the stench of rotting flesh making them almost light-headed. A small part of Gimli wondered how they could not have noticed it before.

Hanar quickly turned their way, startled, a big double-sided battle axe clutched in both hands, before realizing it was them. They could see Svior sitting on the ground trying desperately to hold on and keep quiet a now completely hysterical Nidi, who was alternating between screaming and pulling at his hair.

Scattered all about the ground, where the women and children…or what was left of them.

Bodies were everywhere, scattered about like garbage. The dying light of the setting sun painted everything blood red, Gimli thought it strangely appropriate.

The depths of Rowell’s treachery and greed now lay before them, in all its horrible glory. Their rage and sorrow knew no bounds. They were disgusted with what lay before them and at themselves, bitter at their own naivety, angry that they had clung to so false a hope. It had all been for naught, they had slaved and suffered in the depths of the mine for a false promise, given by a serpent tongued traitor. Should they have expected anything less? Now everyone was gone, everyone was dead, Black Hollow was dead.

All the bodies showed signs of being fed on, many with visible bite marks on them, some completely stripped of flesh, mutilated, bits and pieces of half eaten arms or legs where everywhere. Some of the bodies where festering having been dead for weeks, crawling in maggots, like the carcasses on the road, but others looked fairly fresh only maybe a day or two old, at the most.

It was then that Gimli noticed that there was something under his foot, with dread in his heart he forced himself to look down and moved his left foot. It revealed a small child’s hand bitten off at the wrist, a small Dwarf child’s hand.

Seeing the hand was too much for Ulfr, his sword dropped with a clatter as he fell to his knees and started to retch, retching so hard he was almost choking on the force of it. Gimli saw Svior turn to look over his shoulder at them, with an accusatory look, Nidi taking no notice, still thrashing about. Hanar just looked at them with unreadable eyes, to Gimli the old Dwarf looked suddenly very old, brittle, even with the large axe clutched in his hand. Just a weak old Dwarf at the end of his years.

As for Gimli, his emotions where all fighting for dominance, rage, despair, and hopelessness all burned inside of him. He walked slowly over to where Svior was, as he got to where Svior sat with Nidi he could now see the remains of Nidi’s mother. From the horrible condition of her body, Gimli could tell that she went down fighting hard.

“Nothing grows around here… the coal- there’s so much of it. It’s like a poison, killing anything that grows, leaving everything gray, desolate. Not much game. The supplies and food the coal wagons brought back weren’t enough…not for so many. They couldn’t eat too many of the workers, needed them to mine the coal. So they ate the hostages,” Hanar said in a strange monotone, speaking more to himself then to the other four. Gimli just listened as he gazed at the nightmare scene in front of him, his axes still clutched tightly in both his hands, now feeling completely useless.

Looking closer he could now identify some of the other bodies, an arm with a coiled snake tattoo, Farin’s wife. A decapitated head with a long thick braid of brown and silver streaked hair, tied off with a strip of red leather, Lady Hildr. The upper head and torso of a raven haired young women, her hair parted into two pleats. Shala, Myia’s older sister, mother of three and a dear friend.

Gimli remembered how she would always cook extra when she made cinnamon tarts, knowing that he loved them, always asking how his Da was doing. Constantly clucking and worrying that he and Ulfr weren’t eating enough, gently scolding Myia for not acting like a ‘proper‘ lady, or mothering even the crankiest old Dwarf if given the chance. She was a kind soul and everyone adored her.

She didn’t deserve this.

Many a night one could find Shala, her little ones, Leon (Shala‘s husband), Myia, Gimli, Ulfr and their friends having dinner or just laughing and joking at the small table in their home. Talking about their dreams to get out of Black Hollow and start better lives somewhere else. Shala wanted to start up a bakery, or maybe an inn of her own in a town somewhere.

I guess some thing’s were never meant to be, Gimli thought sadly.

Slowly Gimli carefully stepped over a few bodies before coming to kneel at Shala’s side, her gray eyes staring dully at nothing.

“I’m sorry Shala, I was too late…forgive me.” he whispered softly, he put one of his axes down before reaching down to gently close her eyes. Picking his axe up he then got up and looked around for her three children, the least he could do was put them beside her he thought numbly. But after searching around the other bodies and still not finding them, before he remembered that goblins prized the tender flesh of children, so their was probably nothing left of the three little ones.

Defeated he walked back to where Ulfr was still kneeling, his retching over with, his face in his broad hands. The smell of bile stung Gimli’s nose as he stood silently next to the amber-eyed Dwarf, letting him know he was with him, it was the only comfort he could provide. Ulfr kept muttering to himself over and over again “It was for nothing, nothing.”

Nidi had finally stopped screaming and flailing in Svior’s arms, only now he was limp, staring into space as Svior was whispering nonsense words of compfurt in Khuzdul to him. Gimli thought there was a good chance that Nidi’s mind had broken, as he watched the limp Dwarf stare glassy-eyed into nothing.

‘Just like Shala’s eyes, dead,’ a small voice whispered at the back of his mind. Hanar slowly walked over to stand by Ulfr’s other side, the old Dwarf kept rubbing at the scarred side of his face with one of his calloused hands, as if it ached, looking defeated. For long moments no one could bring themselves to say anything.

The light was almost gone now, the stars where already out, and hanging low in the sky was a red sickle moon.

“We have to get out of here…get to Shiprock.” Gimli almost jumped at the sound of Hanar’s voice, at first not recognizing the quite unsteady voice.

“Can’t- they’re already there,” Ulfr said in a shaky voice, as he slowly got up. “Me and Gimli saw the smoke, overheard some orcs talking about it. Rowell’s gone too.”

“The rest of the orcs are checking out the mine,” Gimli put in, his voice sounded strangely calm (even to his own ears).

“We have to get out of here!” Svior hissed urgently, the three jumped at the Dwarf’s seeming sudden appearance. Neither of the three noticing when he’d gotten up (managing to get Nidi up as well) and walked over to them. Nidi just looked small and broken beside him, allowing himself to be lead around by the taller Dwarf as he stared blankly into space. “I told you, it was a mistake to come back here!”

“Don’t. I warn you, Svior,” Gimli warned quietly, hold a broad hand up to stop any further words, a dangerous gleam in his eye. Svior just shot him a murderous glare and continued.

“This place is unstable, and ‘they’ll’ be coming back! We must leave, now!” Svior demanded, his black-eyes looked more like deep holes, making him look disturbingly ‘hollow’.

“And where will we go?!” Ulfr snapped, a strange look between anger and fear on his face.

“What is the care where we go!? As long as it is not here!” Gimli shouted, startling the others with his outburst. Gimli could feel a cold rage growing in his heart, all the fear, despair, frustration, loss only fed the flames, he clutched the axes in his hands so tightly they ached. “We have come this far, let us not give up now! We must tell others of what has happened here. Then we find that traitor and avenge the dead!” Gimli demanded looking at the others, fire burning in his eyes.

“Yes...yes, we must leave,” Hanar said thinking furiously of where they could go, a trembling hand stroking his tangled beard. They couldn’t go to Turquoise Hill, knowing that their fellow Dwarves of the mining camp, would go to the aid of the town of Shiprock and in turn share it’s fate. The town of Pine Falls had been abandoned for the last twenty years, Harlond was too far and they’d have to take the main road, and Dwarves were greatly unwelcome in Lindon. Damned Elves! Damned the orcs! Damned everything! Where could they go!?, he thought furiously.

“What about Green Ridge?” Suggested Svior, looking around nervously.

“The plague is there, remember?” Ulfr reminded him, not even looking up as he stared tiredly at something on the ground at his feet, his shoulders slumped.

“Too far anyway, and we’d pass to close to Shiprock,” Gimli said, shaking his head. He then clasped Ulfr’s shoulder, giving the amber-eyed Dwarf a searching look. Ulfr looked up at Gimli and gave a nod that he was okay, Gimli gave his shoulder a comforting squeeze of reassurance that was as much for himself as it was for Ulfr.

“We’ll go north-east to Telgor,” Hanar said, finally coming to an answer. He looked up at the four with commanding in his eyes, standing up straighter. Once again he was the Hanar they knew, the leader, the strong, and wise. “We’ll have to have to go through the old limestone quarry to save time and to avoid the road. It’s a good distance, but I see no other course. Ulfr, did you or Gimli bring any traveling supplies?”

“No, just what’s on are belts,” Ulfr said, shaking his head.

“I have my traveling pack, but not much in the way of food ,” Svior said.

“We’ll make do with what we have. Come, let us go before they return! For I have no intentions of staying a moment longer in this accursed place, to look for supplies!” He said before turning to look at Svior. “What about Nidi? Can he keep up?” Hanar asked Svior, a hard look in his eyes and an underlying meaning in his words.

Svior visibly bristled at this, his teeth bared in a snarl, knowing exactly that underling meaning meant. But right as he was going to snarl back a retort. A soft voice spoke, causing them all to look surprised at the smaller Dwarf at Svior’s side.

“Yes, I can keep up,” Nidi said quietly looking up at the other four, with strange unreadable eyes. The look in those honey-brown eyes made a shiver run up Gimli’s spine. Corpse eyes, he thought silently to himself, a quick glance to the left showed that Svior too was watching Nidi with obvious worry.

Hanar seemed a bit taken aback before he quickly recovered. “Good…good,” Hanar then reached for his belt and took out a large hunting knife before handing it to Nidi. Who gave a small nod of thanks, but with an otherwise blank expression. “Now let us make haste!” the old Dwarf said, giving them all a once over before taking off at a run towards the north-east, the others right behind.

None looked back as they tried to get as far away from that gray desolate place as they could. Yet all five of them knew that no matter how far or fast they ran, they’d never outrun the ghosts of Black Hollow, that would no doubt haunt their nightmares forever.

~~~

The thin sickle moon hung high in the dark sky full stars. In the gray rocky land below, five dark figures ran as fast as they could with only the light of that those stars to guide their way.

They had been running non-stop at a good clip, since fleeing Black Hollow. Trying to put as much distance between them and the horrors of the dead town behind them. None spoke, the only noise being the tread of their running feet and their heavy breathing, as their heartbeats pumped in their ears as they struggled to maintain their pace. They all knew they had to get to the quarry and the cover of the sparse forest that grew around it as soon as possible for the rocky desolate land around the Hollow had little to no cover, leaving them vulnerably exposed. For once they were glad for the coal-dust that covered them, for in the dark they could hardly be seen, little more then shadows themselves (albeit noisy shadows).

Gimli ran beside Ulfr, both of them bringing up the rear, Svior and Nidi ran in front of them. Surprisingly, Nidi was actually a little ahead of Svior, Gimli noticed that unlike the rest of them who had put their weapons away to make running easier, Nidi still clutched Hanar’s knife in his right hand.

Leading the four was Hanar, the old Dwarf’s breathing was becoming ragged and he was starting to stumble, Gimli could tell that Hanar would not be able to maintain their speed for much longer.

They had gotten a good distance away from the Hollow, only the small brush and the occasional windswept tree dotted the landscape around them. The vegetation though sparse was becoming more common as they neared the quarry and the land beyond. But they still had a ways to go and they all knew it was only a matter of time before the orcs noticed their tracks.

Hanar knew he couldn’t go much further but he was determined to go as far as he could, pushing himself to keep on. He cursed to himself as he stumbled over another rock, exhaustion, hunger, and as much as he hated to admit it, old age was catching up with him. The others too, were having to fight to maintain their punishing pace, sore muscles combined with mental and physical exhaustion was dragging at all of them.

After seeing Hanar stumble again Gimli knew they would have to decrease their speed soon, he was just about to call to Hanar- when a warning bell went off in his head.

With the skill of one who’s handled axes since he could crawl, both his axes were out and at the ready in the seeming blink of an eye as he came to a skidding halt, scanning the darkness for danger. Hanar too must have felt it, for he suddenly stopped, his breath coming in loud pants as he took out his large axe and scanned the dark landscape around them for danger. Ulfr and the others came to a stop as well, pulling out their own weapons, listening. There they waited, listening with baited breath as they scanned the darkness (Dwarves have excellent night vision, but they still couldn’t see nearly as well as a goblins could in the dark). They could all now hear movement in the distance, as several ‘something’s’ were running full tilt in the dark after them.

“Goblins?” Svior asked in a hushed whisper, his sword in both hands. Nidi next to him with his knife at the ready, that same blank look on his face.

“No, wargs!” Ulfr warned pointing to their left, the others whipped around to see to where the amber-eyed Dwarf was pointing.

In the darkness they could see two pairs of glowing red eyes in the distance rushing over the desolate rocky landscape towards them. As if sensing they had been spotted a blood curdling howl pierced the night air, making their hair rise on the back of their necks.

“Shit! They’ll bring the goblins right to us!!” Gimli cursed, stepping forward to confront the two large shadows racing towards them. Gimli hated wargs almost as much as orcs. Wargs looked like large twisted wolves, and like wolves they traveled in packs, but like noble and shy wolves they were not. As Gimli watched the two come closer, a small nagging thought kept tugging at the back of his mind. Wargs travel in packs…packs. I only see two…

Ulfr stepped up next to Gimli (yet far enough away to not have to worry about any of Gimli’s swings hitting him by accident), his sword in hand as he got into a fighting stance. The other three stood near bye, weapons at the ready, watching the two wargs get closer, their mottled gray fur and snapping jaws now visible from the starlight above.

“There’s only two! We can take them, easy!” Ulfr said, confidence in his voice.

But when the warges got within six yards they suddenly veered to the side running back into the darkness.

“Ha! We scared them off!” Ulfr crowed, watching the two run away. Gimli heard a sigh of relief from one of the three behind him, but something wasn’t right he could feel it. His eyes widened as an old memory of something his father had once told him when he was younger, struck him like a bolt of lighting.

“It’s the warg you don’t see, that will be the one that rips out your throat.” Gloin said seriously to the copper hair five year old, who watched with big eyes as Gloin made a clawed slashing motion across his neck to demonstrate.

The two wargs where a distraction! Came the sudden realization.

Gimli whipped around as fast as he could, to warn the others.

“Behind us!” He yelled, just as three large wargs from seeming nowhere, attacked them from behind. These were large wargs, the smallest being the size of pony.

Everything turned to chaos then, as growls, bellows and the swinging of weapons filled the night air as the five Dwarves fought for their lives. The two original wargs come back to join the fray.

One of the wargs let out a gargling yelping sound as Svior manage to thrust his sword between its ribs, piecing it’s lung. Nidi darted in close, slashing it’s throat before jabbing his knife into its eye, killing it.

A warg’s head went flying, its jaws still snapping, spraying hot blood everywhere as Hanar’s axe chopped it from its still bucking body.

A dark grey warg, the size of a small horse, that could only be the alpha of the pack lunged for Ulfr. The amber-eyed Dwarf was just barely quick enough to throw himself out of the way of its snapping jaws. Seeing its pray had escaped for the moment, it turned it’s sights to a different target. But unfortunately for Ulfr, to avoid one warg he had thrown himself into the path of another.

With a murderous growl the new warg sprang at him, Ulfr brought his short sward to bare, slashing it in the neck. It gave a yelp, but quickly recovered to lunge for him again. This time he slashed it under the jaw, followed up with a hard thrust, deep into it’s shoulder, causing the warg’s leg to buckle under it. Unfortunately the warg was too close before Ulf could get out of the way. Using it’s one good front limb the warg lunged low catching the Dwarf’s leg, knocking him off his feet.

Ulfr let out a yell of pain as the warg’s steel trap like jaws clamped onto his leg. He stabbed slashed desperately at the warg trying to get it to let go, but the warg seemed to refuse to die. Just biting harder into the flesh of his leg, causing him to cry out in pain. The others where to busy dispatching the other wargs to help, but Hanar was able to quickly came to his aid. With two powerful swings of the old Dwarf’s axe the warg was decapitated. Hissing in pain Ulfr (with Hanar’s help) then proceeded to try and pry the mouth open to free his badly bleeding leg. Hanar finally had to chop the base of the warg’s lower jaw off, to free Ulfr’s leg.

Gimli had just dispatched one of the other snarling beasts, lopping it’s front legs out from under it, followed by a blow to its back- severing it’s spinal cord. Hearing Ulfr cry out, he was going to turn and go to the aid of his friend, when he caught movement in the corner of his eye. Alerting him just in time to side step the alpha warg’s attack.

With a speed that would have impressed even an Elf, Gimli used his momentum, to pivot and bring both axes to slash deep rows into the warg’s side, as it passed. It gave a howl of rage and pain, then came around for another attack, its teeth gnashing, ears back, piercing red eyes blazing with murderous intent.

As it lunged at him, Gimli swung his right axe into a hard swinging block, knocking the large warg’s head aside with the weight of the blow. He then fallowed through with the left axe, bringing it down for a killing blow to the neck.

But the warg’s head swung around unexpectedly, recovering faster then Gimli had calculated. Instead of the axe splitting the wargs neck open, it landed with a sickening *thunk* in the right side of the warg’s face, from cheek to eye.

The warg gave a blood curdling howl (worse then the one before) as blood spurted every where. Maybe it was strange fate, but the thick bones of its face didn’t brake under the force the Dwarf’s powerful swing. Instead for a horrible few moments the axe was stuck, lodged in the thrashing creature’s face.

Gimli held on furiously to his axe, unwilling to let go, his teeth bared in determination. He could smell the copper tang of blood in the air as a hot shower of blood fell on him, as he strained to not let go. Using his still free right axe, he swung it back, sinking it into the warg’s thick chest as hard as he could before ripping it back out for another swing.

With could only be described as a scream, the warg raised up onto it’s back legs, thrashing madly back and forth (nearly lifting Gimli right of his feet). With a wet scrapping sound the axe dislodged, the warge bolted, leaping away to disappear back into the darkness, yowling in agony.

Gimli watched it go, it’s pained cries ringing in his ears, a part of him took great pleasure in the sound. Looking at his left axe, inspecting it for damage, he noticed a bloody mass of ball-like flesh stuck to the blade of his axe. On closer inspection he saw that it was the remains of the warg’s right eyes, other then that and being covered in blood, the axe was in perfect shape.

With a disdainful curl of his lip Gimli flicked it off the blade, hearing it land with a wet squish a few feet away, before he turned and quickly made his way to Ulfr’s side where the others were gathered.