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Tumunzahar makes Menegroth look like a contract project. Which, the Dwarves assure her, it was. The stonework is astonishingly careful and beautiful, silky to the touch up close while from a distance it gives the impression of stretching on forever above, a sky of stone with crystals for stars. Vast natural cave systems are connected by dozens of perfectly smooth, gently sloped broad stone pathways from which the fall, if she fell, would be several miles down. There are handrails. "We use those to move materials carts," someone explains to her, "we're not going to be reckless."
There's an amphitheater, a place where a hundred of the stone walkways twine around to create space for a hundred thousand people to sit in close proximity, and someone is giving a lecture or a demonstration at the base of it, the seats closest to him filled with eager, tiny, bearded Dwarf-children.
And they spiral down, and down, and down, past waterfalls and egg-sized gemstones left half in the rock and halls of crystal. Everything grows gradually more ornate and more perfectly maintained and the clang of hammers fades behind them. "People say," her guide says, "that we only have a council instead of a single King because there were nine winners of the competition to design the throne so we couldn't just select one person to sit it." And they push open the doors to reveal, indeed, nine thrones so elaborate it would be hard to choose between them, and nine squat bearded people sitting them.
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"I am very curious what he'd do, so go ahead."
purposeful_glory
"Will do." She makes a note. She is still getting used to not physically turning the pages of her illusion notebook; her hand goes through it before she remembers.
"And if there's a way to feel out what Fëanáro wants and how he'd react to another orchestrated provocation, and how we can make that less of a problem, I'd appreciate that."
"Thank you, Loki."
purposeful_glory
"You're welcome. If there's nothing else pressing - I'm going to get lunch."
She goes and scrounges up some lunch. Balrog-stabbing is hungry work.
She goes and scrounges up some lunch. Balrog-stabbing is hungry work.
After lunch the trial resumes, and Nolofinwë explains to everyone what happened and how they concluded as much. He then suspends the trial for a discussion of security precautions to prevent it from happening again.
purposeful_glory
Loki figures she'll collect that in summary later. She flies south to check on the orcs.
It's evening by the time she reaches them; they're making good time. The Quendi are mostly not within sight of them, anxiously circling the surrounding area in threes.
purposeful_glory
Loki lands by the orcs and says, loudly enough that she thinks their escorts will hear, "Hi. How are you guys doing? I killed a Balrog!"
They look awed.
"Did Melkor help you?" Vár says. "How are you not dead from the -" she gestures - "when they're hurt?"
"Did Melkor help you?" Vár says. "How are you not dead from the -" she gestures - "when they're hurt?"
purposeful_glory
"I had a long-reach weapon. And healing spells. And I didn't let it see or hear. And I am very good at fighting. I'm pretty sure that's all it took."
Several of the orcs are kind of cowering. Vár cheerfully explains, though, that the trip is going fine, that they've found food along the way, that it's very nice to not be around Quendi all the time even if they're not Elves.
purposeful_glory
"I'm glad you're doing well. Um, please don't be scared of me," Loki says to the cowering orcs, "I'm not going to hurt you."
They all straighten up as if that's an order, but seem just as scared.
purposeful_glory
Oh dear.
"...Uh, just wanted to check in. I didn't mean to alarm anybody with the Balrog story. I'll be on my way."
"...Uh, just wanted to check in. I didn't mean to alarm anybody with the Balrog story. I'll be on my way."
"It was very good to see you and we are very proud you killed a Balrog," Vár assures her. "It's just that usually after great victories someone wants a reward and no one knows what you'd claim for it and not having anything you want is also a scary position to be in."
purposeful_glory
"Oh, I didn't realize. I will be more considerate before bragging in the future."
"Do you want a reward?"
purposeful_glory
"My reward is that the Balrog didn't hurt anybody. That's plenty."
"Okay. You're a very brave warrior, Loki."
purposeful_glory
"Thank you. I may or may not have another chance to catch up to you before you get where you're going; safe travels."
"May Melkor guide your path!"
purposeful_glory
"...I appreciate the sentiment."
And she heads up and away.
And she heads up and away.
They keep walking.