Stout but stalwart was he, for he had walked upon the plains of this mannish land for many nights. He moved tirelessly with a sense of duty that had been carved into him from night after night hewing rock and stone for the precious minerals of Erebor. His War Mattock now across his shoulder as he made his way into the settlement, he had used it as a makeshift walking stick for most of his journey. Up ahead he glimpsed what seemed a fair and lithe lass from the race of men, who seemed to be making her way up to the very climax of the hill. That was where he was to go to as well, for where else would a King be but at the top? Of course, Dwarves saw it differently. Most Dwarven Kings would be deep within a mountain. Branack had spent enough time trading with the men from Laketown to know their general customs by now, however. As he waded up the steep hill, he sang a tune under his breath. 

[center][i]There hammer on the anvil smote,
There chisel clove, and graver wrote;
There forged was blade, and bound was hilt;
The delver mined, the mason built.
There beryl, pearl, and opal pale,
And metal wrought like fishes' mail,
Buckler and corslet, axe and sword,
And shining spears were laid in hoard.

Unwearied then were Durin's folk;
Beneath the mountains music woke:
The harpers harped, the minstrels sang...[/i][/center] 

His words trailed off when he saw that the lass just before him was having spears leveled her way, and being spoken to in quite a harsh tone. The parchment in her hands looked much akin to the one he had received, by Aule! "Is the courtesy of this hall so lax?" he asked the guards. He produced the parchment he had received far away back in Erebor, and waved it in front of the men's faces. "Your King is an honorable one from what I have heard. Would he truly be content with his men barring the way of those he had sent for?" His voice was gruff and gave a small hint of warning. The Dwarf's meaty fist held the War Mattock's handle tightly as he glared at the men. "Out of our way, and bear no suspicion! We have been summoned. If whatever deed is to be done could have been done by you, they would not have sent for us."
[@Jbcool][@Sigurd]