Hey Guys,

I was thinking of finishing the 3rd part of The Forgotten Ruins but got inspired after some skirmishing with Thradin and Stilgard. Erunaneth kindly agreed to take a major role and I've included a few others from the Kin in this one so I hope they don't mind.

Gone Fish'in

Maexe looked up from her paperwork to see the Dwarf and Hobbit enter the Kinhouse. "Grutto, Winagrim, well met. Were you able to gather the Kindred?"
"Nearly all" replied Winagrim "We're having trouble locating Thradin, Glotka and Stilgard". Maexe pondered this for a moment and asked the others assembled if they knew the trio's whereabouts. Eruananeth spoke up "I think they said they were going fishing....I can go and get them if you'd like?" Grutto spoke up "Um..Erun..do you know where those 3 go fishi.." He was cut off but an elbow to the ribs from Winagrim "Shh, or we'll have to go get them". Grutto grinned and stayed silent. "Thank you Erun, that would be most appreciated" said Maexe "Once you've made contact with them in Dol Guldur bring them back here".

Erunaneth rode through the Fourth Ward of Dol Guldur. Although technically in the hands of the Golden Host there were still the signs of savage combat. The sounds of battle could be heard floating on the breeze from the inner wards. Erun rode up to a distinguished looking Elf in General's regalia. "Hail, have you seen a Guardian, Champion and Archer nearby?" The General raised his eybrow "We have a few of those". Erun smiled, slightly embarrassed "I think they were going fishing". The General took on a look of long suffering "Yes, turn right once you enter the Third Ward and don't go underneath the fishing lines....please tell me you're taking them somewhere else..."

Following the General's instructions Erun saw three fishing lines dangling from the top of one of the inner walls. Her ear twitched, something wasn't right. She ducked as an arrow flew over her left shoulder and skittered off the cobbles behind her. Quick as a flash she released an arrow towards the hidden archer. It hit an unseen object with a solid thud. A strong Dwarven voice called out "Hold fire, we're friendlys". Erun just made out the same voice berating someone else atop the wall "Stupid man, lucky you didn't wait for Stilgard, he can shoot straight". A moment later Thradin and Glotka's heads appeared over the parapet. Erun could see an arrow sticking from Thradin's shield. Glotka threw a rope ladder down and called "Sorry about that, didn't expect anybody friendly walking along here...oh, don't step under the fishing lines".

Once atop the wall Erun had to smile. Set up behind the parapet were 3 chairs, each with a fishing rod in front of it. Scattered around was the detrius of a well stocked picnic. Stilgard joined them from further along the wall carrying four bottles of beer. He handed one to each of them. "Um, what are you guys doing?" Asked Erun. Stilgard replied straightfaced "Fishing". Thradin and Glotka nodded as if fishing in a contested warzone was a normal activity. "Okaaay...can I join you?" Asked Erun. "Sure thing, we've got a spare rod here somewhere". As they set up Erun took a look at what the three were using for bait. Stilgard had a bag of food dangling form his line, while Glotka was using an old shield with a crudely painted smiley face on one side. Thradin's bait consisted of an old boot. Erun settled on an old beer bottle and cast out her line. "So then, what are we fishing for?" The three anglers smiled.

Several bottle of beer later Erun remembered why she had travelled to Dol Guldur and relayed Maexe's summons. "Sure thing, we'll head to the Kinhouse soon as we've caught us some fish" replied Glotka. Erun was now more curious than ever. "You do realise there are no fish here don't you?". Thradin nodded "But there are plenty of Orcs. I just hope Glotka's net works this time". Glotka coughed slightly "It worked fine, wasn't my fault that hobbit went for the food. Although he did survive, which is why I added some improvements to it". Thradin shook his thoughts away from that limping hobbit and asked, slightly worried "What improvements?" Before Glotka could answer however a dozen Orcs rounded the corner. All four ducked behind the parapet and waited.

The Orcs wandered over to the dangling lines, not sure what to make of it. One of the grunts started tugging on the old boot. Up on the wall Thradin whispered to Glotka "Ha, thats 5 silver". Glotka chuckled and handed the silver over. Erun asked "What happens next?". Stilgard pointed to a nearby rope that fed into a pully at the edge and said "Pull that and enjoy the show". Erun pulled the cord and all four stuck their heads over the edge. For a long moment nothing happened as the Orcs and Fishers stared at each other. Stilgard and Thradin glanced at a puzzled looking Glotka. He strode over to the pully and gave it a good kick. In an instant all hell broke loose. Driven by the pully a thick rope with dozens of weapons tied to it lashed across the courtyard. In an instant all the Orcs just seemed to turn into clouds of red mist. Thradin laughed "Which one do we question first?" Glotka smiled "Maybe a bit strong that time. Need to find a balance between one footed hobbit and exploding orcs". Erun laughed "Perhaps if you wanted to question them you could just us a real net". Glotka nodded "I'll need something to practice with, but that might just work...."

Erun agreed to join them on their next fishing trip and the group headed back to Bree to report to Maexe. Once they returned they decided to go fishing for real.

Back at the Kinhouse Grutto and Winagrim were swimming by the waterfall. It had been a glorious day. Winagrim felt something bump against him in the water. "Grutto, why is this boot on a line?"

Hehe, i knew those old boots oddly i keep finding in the rivers of the Shire would come in use one day

Hehe, fun read Glotka! Love all the little humorous touches.

Ah, a great read. You made me laugh loud enough to wake my girlfriend. Not sure why you think I'm lazy though. That Grutto is I can understand, but me?

And don't think I didn't see through that boot! You gave the food to Grutto!