Durin's folk in Westeros: Prologue

For this tale to be told, one must go back all the way to before the dwarves came ashore the north of westeros and changed the lands forever. This story starts far across the western seas, at least that is what the maesters will tell you, but the lands, til this very day have never been found by any ship venturing to find it. Middle Earth is where these halflings say that they came from. They all spoke in reverence of great mountains in which they dwelt and ruled from.

King Thror, son of Dain l was said to be a wise and capable ruler by all who spoke of him. But with the large treasure the dwarves had amassed over the years, and the times of peace and prosperity, Thror had become complacent and his rule was beginning to slip from him as he spent his time watching over his treasure, and paranoid at any guests who were not dwarves. In T.A. 2770, a guest arrived at the gates of Erebor unannounced. The king was ready to turn him away when his son and grandson, Thrain and Thorin, they came to the each side of the king and told him he must speak with this stranger at once.

Thrain ll

A tall man. Taller than any he had ever seen before or would ever see again. He had long flowing hair, white and gold woven together, he had grey robes with a black staff that looked to have a crystal formed into it, and his eyes seemed to shine..but that must have been the light from the candles, surely. But as the more he looked at this man, he knew there was a deep wisdom in those eyes to make them shine so.

The room was quiet until the man spoke, his voice beautiful and hard all at once, "You must gather all of your people and leave the mountains before it is too late." His father gave a deep laugh at that as he slapped his belly a few times. When did he gain all that weight, Thrain thought to himself. The man did not look amused though. "There is a dragon coming that has gotten word of the treasure you keep, and Smaug comes to claim it."

That got the attention of all in the room, even his father. "Smaug you say?" Thrain started but was interrupted by the King, "Lies, filthy lies told by some stranger that you ALL would sup on as if it were some TRUTH! I shall not have it. OUT! OUT NOW!" His father belted almost hysterically. Thrain stared at his father then, truly stared at him, and saw that he was a lost man. When he looked around the room, he saw the same from everyone else, his sons included.

"I shall see this man out myself sire" said Thrain. King Thror simply waived his hand and called an end to court.

Answers were needed, and Thrain was going to get them one way or another. His sons and his loyal guards were with him as they walked this man out of the castle and continued on til they were out of sight. "What did you say was your name again?" he heard his son, Frerin, ask the man. Always the curious one that boy was. "Balwe, but my name should not be the concern, it should be the survival of your people. The dragon is coming, i do not lie about that." They all simply looked at the man as they continued walking. "And i was not done delivering my message to your king." "Oh there was more?" Thrain said. "Of course there was more. Its not just evacuating this mountain, all the dwarves are to leave Middle Earth, the mountains are no longer a safe haven for your people. And that goes from the longbeards all the way down to the stiffbeards and blacklocks.

"But most of the dwarves are scattered all throughout the lands. That would take years getting to them" Those were Thorin's first words since this visitor arrived.

The stranger gave a sad smile as he said, "Indeed they are, and indeed it would. You are son's of Durin, are you not? It is your duty to rally the clans of the dwarves, and save them from destruction." They all stared wearily at this man, who comes from nowhere and expects much from their people. As if he were reading his thoughts, "I know I give you and your people a great burden to carry, but carry it you must. For Mahal asked this of me personally." Whatever weariness the dwarves had of this man was now gone, and replaced with fury. He spoke a name that was coveted by the dwarves alone, and no other race, especially not men. "How do you know that name?! What traitorous dwarf spoke that name to you?" "Out with it coward!" His men had unsheathed their weapons and were slowly encircling the man.

This stranger was not deterred though as he took a step towards Thrain, "You know him as Mahal, but i know him as Aule, and also as friend." That gave them pause. How could this man possible know Mahal. "I am no man Thrain, son of Thror, though i might look it. I come from far beyond the west and was sent here on a mission that i shall see through." "Why can you not just fight the dragon, then?" asked a dwarf. They all looked at this Balwe expectantly. "I was told not to engage with the dragons, and I dare not disobey my commands. The plan is to get you and your people to new lands across the sea."

Thrain could not hold his tongue any longer, "Across the sea? You would have the dwarves leave their home to travel to lands unknown?" "I would." The man said simply. Thrain only ground his teeth as he thought about this. It could be done, but this man could also be lying. The second they leave Erebor, he could try to claim it for his own people or they could be waiting to kill them when they leave the safety of the mountains. "I have no desire for your castle or your life, Prince Thrain, only your people's prosperity." How does he keep doing that?

Even if he were convinced by all of this, his father would still be a problem. Thrain walked away from their small retinue and stared out at Dale and the beauty of it when the sunset, "Durin give me strength", he whispered. When he turned, it felt as if he was turning his back on these lands, and he was changing the path of his people forever, but something deep down inside of him told him that it must be this way. "So are these new lands located in the west where you are from?"

Balwe smiled for the first time since meeting him, "No Prince Thrain, even I have not seen these lands for which we are headed, but with hope, and faith we shall carve out a new home for you and your people to thrive."