Though this be madness...

[Saeros]

"Guess you would win, so I don't wager with you." Saeros laughed. "We better refresh ourselfs or Lord Garland will think we are uncivilised puckl men from the south." He chuckled. "But I guess to stick close to our swords will be no bad advice within the walls of Khazad Dum."

[Envin]

Aragorn and Saeros readied themselves and followed the messenger through many halls. They had dressed in fine robes of authority, but kept their swords on hand, ostensibly for effect, but they were loose in the sheath.

[Garland]

The messenger led them to the doors of the dinning hall, bowed and opened them for the pair. "M'lord awaits you."

Garland sat at the head of the long table and had two places prepared for his guests; one to his left and one to the right. On the table sat a wide variety of foods from all about middle earth and in the center there was a large roasted boar, complete with apple in his snout. Garland rose, "Welcome, friends, please sit and be served." He waited untill the pair seated themselves then sat himself. Two servant women came along and began filling the plates with food and the glasses with wine. Garland glanced back between Aragorn and Searos, "I hope you enjoyed your tour of the mines. My captain informed me that you were both quite taken with some of the tapestries in my throne room."

[Saeros]

"Precious artwork indeed, my Lord. I really admire well done fabrics and tapestrys." Saeros said grinning.

[Garland]

"Is that so? I think I'll have a man send you one for your throne room in Rivendale. As a token of our friendship." He lifted his glass to Saeros before taking a sip.

[Envin]

"Thy friendship is of great value to us, my Lord," Aragorn said in earnest. "All thanks for thy warm hospitality, it is welcome after the long ride from the south. And thy wine is a superb vintage, it surely took a fortune from thy coffers."

[Garland]

Garland smiled, "My friend, if there is one things the dwarves of old enjoyed more than treasure, that would be fine wine and ale. Why, it seems that a new cellar is found in the mazes daily."

[Saeros]

Saeros nodded and raised his glass as well. "To friendship," he said and took a sip. "Yes indeed, a wonderfull bouquet. And thank you for the offer. It would be a great honour for me to receive a tapestry of such quality."

[Envin]

"Ah, certainly! How much simpler it must be to find hidden stores of all needs, rather than to perforce aquire them in all manner of trade, which can be wearisome."

[Garland]

"Indeed. We've uncovered some stores that must date back to the days of Durin. Though, to be honest, I've been hesitant to sample it." He took a sip of his drink then looked at the glass, "This I have much of, you should take a keg of it back to Gondor."

[Envin]

"Aye, I may indeed do just that. 'Twill be much simpler than wearying myself with trade across the lands. I heartily wish that I had roving bands of...wine-finders, searching for good things. In mine own city, of course."

[Saeros]

Saeros took some of the wild bore to his plate and tasted it. "We probably should ask for one of your huntsmen and kitchen staff aswell. You are a lucky man Lord Garland. You found everything in your realm. Its like a hidden paradise and who knows what else you might find under this very place."

[Envin]

After much other fine small talking and the supper was consumed, the pipes smoked and the after-dinner wines toasted, Aragorn and Saeros retired to their chambers, the former firmly voicing his exhaustion and the latter heartily agreeing. They wound their ways back to their rooms, after every turn glancing surreptitiously behind them to discern if their steps were dogged.

When they attained their rooms, Aragorn first listened intently, motioning to Saeros for silence, and upon hearing naught to cause him alarm he whispered thusly to his comrade:

"Well, good my friend, do let us take now a few hours repose and rest ourselves from this most interesting of days. Then, if thou'rt willing, we shall awake halfway through this night and take to our tiptoes about this place and see what we may see. If we are seen, our excuse shall be that I have of late developed a poor case of sleepwalking, and thou wert in pursuit to return me to my bed. Sounds this meet to thee?"

[Saeros]

Saeros laughed quietly. "Sure it does. I am always up to sneak around on dark places. And our friendly Lord Garland tries to hide so much things in the dark, it should be a feast to dig out a little bit of his secrets." He stretched his arms. "I am stiff from sitting at that table, but not tired. If you nee rest, I can stay up and wake you in a few hours."

[Envin]

"Well in sooth I am not overly fatigued, but it will be well to await the coming of deep night ere we sally forth, and it seemeth a shame to me to waste hours of sleep. We shall share turns with an hour and a half on watch and asleep. An it please thee to take the first watch, since thou offered, I shall lie down."