No, I will instead think of our newest companion, the Dwarf L�m. All day long yesterday, I kept my eye on him, not only to please Lanthir, but to form my own opinion of him. I have come to feel that, although he seems gruff and single-minded, there is more to him than he shows. I am convinced that inside beats a kind heart and an interest in things far more important than wealth. I can not help but think that Dwarves cannot be as selfish as Lanthir makes out. Why would two Dwarves save the life of an infant Hobbit if all they thought about were themselves? I feel I am in debt to L�m, if only because his kind are in part responsible for my existence. And I know there is more to them than precious possessions. I am sure there is.
I was even more persuaded in this opinion when we stopped for lunch. I had eaten so little and I was aware that Lanthir had his brilliant blue gaze on me. I avoided looking at him. From Lanthir I expected courage and sternness, but the compassion that filled his eyes since we learned of the dead Hobbit was almost unbearable. Every time I saw his expression, I was reminded of the Lady Sirithiel, whose gentleness knew no bounds. And I didn�t want Lanthir�s face to remind me of the pity due me. I didn�t need to keep feeling the guilt for abandoning my family; for being too late.
As I chewed the same piece of bread over and over, looking away from Lanthir into the dead forest surrounding us, I heard a sudden deep sigh to my left and turned to see that the Dwarf, L�m, had sat down next to me. His grey eyes were on me, but in them was no sympathy for my plight, only curiosity.
�Hobbits. Never thought I�d meet them. Strange folk, they said. Unnatural. Too small to see and too secretive.�
I didn�t know how to answer this. I hadn�t expected our conversation to begin in such a way. What could I say about us? Yes, we kept to ourselves and yes, we were small. There didn�t seem to be much to add. I was a bit uncomfortable with my latest companion speaking to me so openly. Having been told to watch him all day, I still felt like I was on sentry duty and conversing with the �prisoner.� I knew Lanthir wouldn�t like that at all. Daring to glance up, I saw Lanthir looking our way. He didn�t seem too happy about it, but he wasn�t sending me signals that I was doing something wrong.
Looking back to L�m, I only nodded. �I suppose we�re the smallest creatures in Middle Earth. Besides, rabbits and squirrels, I mean. But I�ve never thought of us as unnatural.�
L�m shrugged. �Ah, well. It�s just the grumbling of elder Dwarves. Old tales that shouldn�t have much stock taken in them.�
�But, aren�t you an elder Dwarf?�
L�m began to laugh. �So you did listen to your Elfling companion. I�m not quite there, but close.�
I had taken my pipe out as we talked and was just lighting it when L�m gripped my Leaf satchel.
�I�ve never seen this weed before. What is it?�
�Longbottom Leaf. Best leaf that my Uncle grows on his farm.� I must admit that I sat up rather tall when saying this. I was proud of the Shire�s Leaf.
�May I try some?�
�You smoke?� I hadn�t lit my pipe in what felt like ages. I hadn�t seen Lanthir ever touch a pipe and I knew that if Priscilla saw me, she�d lecture me on the awful smell and say it tickled her nose. All Hobbit lasses say that.
�Um� was all L�m answered. He had pulled out his own pipe and was eagerly lighting it. It was long and rough and curved up and down like a snake. In its sides were scratched symbols that I didn�t recognize, but that looked austere and cubed. When he had taken a very long draw and then puffed it out slowly, L�m smiled and his eyes grew bright.
�I don�t think I�ve tasted a better weed.�
I sat up even straighter. We sat for a good while doing nothing but enjoying the peace of a good smoke. After a time, I noticed that L�m was staring deliberately and silently at Lanthir. It was like he was trying to judge the Elf from a distance. I took my pipe out of my mouth.
�He�s really quite good, you know. He�s very loyal and humble� And a good friend.� For some reason, I felt compelled to defend Lanthir to L�m. He was good and I didn�t want L�m to believe otherwise because of Lanthir�s actions.
I was surprised when L�m nodded. �Oh, yes. I don�t doubt that. He healed me and I would be much amazed if he hadn�t vowed to protect you.�
I stared at L�m in astonishment and nodded back.
L�m chuckled. �Yes. An Elf he is indeed, with an Elvish heart and manner.� In just a single moment, L�m�s gruff exterior had dropped and I saw that he was relaxed and content.
�How do you know so much about Elves?� From what I had gathered earlier, Elves and Dwarves hated each other. I didn�t understand how L�m could have known about Elvish hearts and manners.
L�m kept looking at Lanthir. �I�ve met a fair share in my time. They interest me. Living above ground, searching for honor, in love with the sea. All that we Dwarves are not.�
�You don�t search for honor?�
L�m let out a very deep guffaw. �Honor? Ha! Glory, my young Hobbit. Glory!�
I didn�t quite see the difference, but L�m went on. �Elves. I like the folk, if truth be told.� He suddenly glanced all around us and then leant in close to my ear. �Don�t let that young one know, but I even speak some of their language.� He looked into my face and I saw that his eyes glittered mischievously. I felt a bit uncomfortable being asked to keep a secret from Lanthir. But L�m seemed so open and honest and good, I supposed I could hold this one fact in silence.
L�m sat back, brought his pipe up to his mouth and turned his gaze back on Lanthir. �Yep. Elves are very good. Wholesome� And this one� Hum� aside from his rough manner, I�d stake my life on his being the best of his lot.�
It struck me all of a sudden that L�m was a very good judge of character. Lanthir had misread him. Or maybe it was that Lanthir had not even tried to read him. We spent the rest of the time in silence, puffing occasionally on our pipes. Lanthir soon called us all to restart our traveling and so we fell back into our quiet procession: Lanthir in front, then Priscilla, then L�m and I in the rear. My mind keep trying to fall back to the dead Hobbit, but I pushed it away. I made myself think of L�m and Lanthir and my hopes that somehow they would be able to make amends for whatever had occurred in the past. When we finally came to a rest at night, Priscilla and I gathered wood for the fire. Priscilla said nothing, only smiled quietly at me as we set up the fire and she fixed the meal. We had just finished eating and Lanthir was commanding us to sleep when L�m interrupted.