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Elostirion
24 Quelle in the Reckoning of Lindon
30 Narquelie in the King's Reckoning
Lord Nar of the Broadbeams
High King Ereinion Gil-galad

"I can over up seven thousand golden coins, and ten thousand silver coins; in exchange for one quarter of a pound of pure mithril.

"Wha? What, do you think me to be mad, Rodnor?" Nar removed from his bag a small bit of mithril; an amount no larger than a pebble. "This here is pure true-silver, and it's worth more than these towers here!"

Gil-galad, irritated, rubbed his chin. "Then I shall give you my prior offer, as well as these three towers."

"My lord!" screamed Lord Telumehtar, who had shown up an hour past, "You have given the three towers to Elendil as gift! You cannot simply take them back, and then use them to buy mithril!"

Gil-galad smiled coyly at his Counselor. "Oh, Telumehtar... do you honestly believe that the Dunedain armies could withstand my elite High Elven soldiers?" Telumehtar and Nar could but stare at the Elven High King, their mouths hanging open so wide that a poor little bird, had it been in the right spot, could have flown in to hide. The High King, meanwhile, stared at Nar with a childlike smile. "There is a beautiful stone in that tower... one that can speak with the Elven realms of the West. That is a kingly gift, is it not?"

Nar stared at Gil-galad with much disbelief. "Wow..." said he, for he was at a loss for words. He said nothing for quite some time; in fact, it was the horses heard in the distance that finally achieved a break in the silence.

"Ah, I see that the Lord Menegil approaches!" exclaimed the King.

"Praise be to Manwe!", "Praise be to Mahal!" exclaimed Telumehtar and Nar at the same instant. "Menegil, get your Elvish rear over here and knock some sense into your mithril-crazed psychopath excuse of a High King!" screamed the Dwarf.

Elostirion
24 Quelle in the Reckoning of Lindon
30 Narquelie in the King's Reckoning
Lord Nar of the Broadbeams
High King Ereinion Gil-galad

"Firstly, it saddens me that none of you can realize that even High Elven kings can make a small joke," said Gil-galad, as he studied the tower's location and wondered where a small host of soldiers would best stand to most easily besiege the tower, "and secondly, Menegil, mithril is so rare that a simple vest made of mithril links would be worth more than half of all Arnor."

Lord Nar, meanwhile, was muttering something about insane Elves and why there was a reason that there were feuds between with the Dwarves and they were all because of crazy stuff the Eldar did.

Elostirion
24 Quelle in the Reckoning of Lindon
30 Narquelie in the King's Reckoning
Lord Nar of the Broadbeams
High King Ereinion Gil-galad

"You are far too serious Menegil," said Gil-galad, as he realized that if a sturdy blockade were built at exactly that point, Elendill would be entirely unable to send reinforcements. "I must say it cannot possibly be good for your health. Lighten up!"

"Naturally, only Dwarf-smiths can process raw mithril. That is why raw mithril is as expensive as the processed material, Menegil. The processing charge is actually bundled into the initial costs." Lord Nar glanced at Gil-galad; and seeing that the Elven-king was still glancing at Elostirion, swiftly spoke again. "But that is not to say I want the Elf-towers!" said he, almost in a panicked frenzy. "I desire lordship over nothing save my halls!"

Gil-galad frowned. Certainly, there must be something of value equal to Nar's raw mithril! "I see, I see," mumbled he as he glanced at his two Counselors, finally laying his eyes on Menegil. "Well, Lord Nar... how about an Elf-servant? I imagine everyone wants an Elf-servant..."

Telumehtar, by now, was unable to say anything, and instead could only let his head droop into his hands as he began crying.

"...you know what?" gruffly muttered the Dwarf, "I think I'm going to go peddle with Manwendil for awhile."

Elostirion
24 Quelle in the Reckoning of Lindon
30 Narquelie in the King's Reckoning
Lord Nar of the Broadbeams
High King Ereinion Gil-galad

"I'll consider it" muttered the Dwarf-lord. Immediately, Lord Manwendil's mood was lightened, and he began to cavort about the tower in ecstacy. "Oh, Mahal... take pity on this 'ere Dwarf. The Elda wants to deal in slavery, and the Dunadan is prancing about like a madman! Although he is wasted..."

"Come, Menegil... do you know want to be a Dwarf-friend, like Curufin of old?" said Gil-galad - and it was not possible to know whether or not he was serious. "Telumehtar, would Menegil not do well in the service of the Naugrim?"

"My lord... please, just leave all matters of mithril to your Counselors? Please?"

Gil-galad said naught, but he glared in contempt.

Elostirion
24 Quelle in the Reckoning of Lindon
30 Narquelie in the King's Reckoning
Lord Nar of the Broadbeams
High King Ereinion Gil-galad

Nar chortled at Menegil's claim; no, there had been no true Dwarf-friends since the shutting of the West-gate. And before Celebrimbor there were very few; Curufin, and perhaps Pengoldh, but the latter was only interested in Khuzdul. Thingol before his great treachery, maybe, but he was no longer fondly remembered.

He did not care enough to correct the Elf-lord, however; more urgently was the matter of the drunkard gripping his leg. "Is that all you have?" said Nar incredulously. He so desperately wanted to have dealings with Manwendil, but if the Dunadan had not enough buying power, what could be done?

Nar was stumped. "Argh...." moaned he. "I shall speak to Elendil tomorrow, Manwendil, and see if he would be willing to purchase some for your use. I can do no more."

"Meanwhile, we shall continue our bartering!"

Nar glared at Ereinion. "Actually, King Gil-galad, I am rather fatigued," lied the Dwarf, stretching his arms in an attempt to further the lie. "I think I shall retire for the night!" And with a faked yawn, he retreated to his carriage.

Gil-galad stared blankly as the Dwarf, rather abruptly, retired for the night. "Menegil, Telumehtar..." muttered he, "my lack of mithril is somehow all your fault."

"Pardon my rudeness, my lord, but please, for the love of the All-father, shut up."

Elostirion
24 Quelle in the Reckoning of Lindon
30 Narquelie in the King's Reckoning
Lord Nar of the Broadbeams
High King Ereinion Gil-galad

((Even if it as after midnight, the Elves measure the new day as starting at sunrise.))

"Aye," said the Dwarf with a wave, "after all, your city is en route to my halls, isn't it?" He winked at Menegil before slamming his carriage's door shut, locking all seven of the locks, making it so that his axe was easily reached, and hiding the bag of mithril in the secret compartment below the seat. All necessary precautions taken, he immediately fell to sleep.

Gil-galad, meanwhile, was fuming next to the dwindling flame.

Elostirion
24 Quelle in the Reckoning of Lindon
30 Narquelie in the King's Reckoning
Lord Nar of the Broadbeams
High King Ereinion Gil-galad

Gil-galad stared contemptously at his Chief Counselor, but nonetheless consented to his will. "Were this any other night, I would not stray within thirty feet of Lord Nar," sighed the Elven-king, "but I have sworn to Voronda that I would attend the wedding feast of his squire, and Iluvatar would look illy upon me if my love for true-silver were held to be of greater importance than my vows."

He rose, and mounted Elrond's horse. "Come, Menegil, Telumehtar. We must rest tonight within my tower!" And thus he urged his ride on, not bothering to wait for the others, so sour was his mood.