An End and a Beginning

Flinging herself to the ground from her exhausted mount, she was instantly running through the broken entrance of the great dwarf city. She raced through the hallways, searching for a single face. “Balin!”

Everywhere she looked, dwarves tossed rolls, slammed pints, danced on tables and cheered uproariously. “Balin!” For what seemed like hours, she scoured the great halls of Erebor, now bursting with dwarves and men, flowing with wine and ales, the air filled with sounds of celebration, for the grey bearded dwarf of the original Company.

“Balin!” she sighed exasperatedly when she finally found him at Dain’s table.

Pleased, but mildly surprised to see the elf maiden rush through his home, Balin got to his feet to usher her to the table to share in the feast. “Come! Sit with me! We will drink over our victory!”

Tauriel’s head shook as she caught her breath. She could not sit. She could not stand. She must move. “Balin, I discovered a wall, a carving, on the face of the mountain just across the horizon. It’s ancient. It must be as old as Erebor-“

“Yes, yes, the Wall of Mahal… Aule. It was forgotten… it holds a shrine to our Maker and Shaper, Aule and Iluvatar.”

“The Wall. It shows a dwarf. He died-“

“Durin the Deathless. Aye. He was said to have risen six times. He lived seven lives. He fathered the Longbeards – his, my – people.”

“Balin. How? How was he risen?”

“It was said he was reincarnated… not exactly risen.” Balin was beginning to wonder where the she-elf was taking all this. She looked desperate.

“No, the Wall – the Wall – it shows someone fetching something – fetching him. He was brought back, Balin. Where was he brought from?”

The grey bearded dwarf let out a curse and threw up his arms. “You think you can… This is madness. It’s a legend! It was centuries ago! No one walks right up to the front door of the Valar and asks, ‘Oh, by the way, can I have my friend back?’!”

Unshed tears filled Tauriel’s eyes. The pain in her chest twisted near violently. “Balin. I must try. Please… you must help me. I cannot live a lifetime in pain. I cannot live without knowing. I cannot live without…”