-Dwarin-
The dwarf sighed as he pulled his pony to a halt by the riverbank. He hopped down, grunting with the effort. The Anduin bubbled along happily next to him, not quite the raging river it would become farther south. He rummaged around in the pony's bags, digging out a half loaf of bread and some dried meat. He sat on a rock and watched the river as he ate, contemplating his journey. After leaving the Shire, he had passed through Bree, and then on towards old Rivendell. The elves had been careful to take all their treasures, so all he had gotten there had been some inscriptions and old wooden trinkets, none of which he had taken. The few Elves remaining had left him alone. The journey over the mountains had been rough, but with the destruction of the goblin village in the pass behind Rivendell by the king's men, it had become much safer. He had descended the mountain, only to find that he could ford the river as it stood in front of him. He had marched up and back down for four days, and he was now nearing what looked like a shallow spot.
Dwarin rose and repacked his pony, Tater (a name the Hobbit at Bree had given it). He remounted and moved on down the river, reaching the suspected spot. He nudged the pony forward, and it cautiously waded in. He laughed "Ho! There you go lad! Onward!" The pony crossed nervously, but it did cross. He looked out over the forest, just seeing the peak of Erebor in front of the midday sun. He sighed, and then turned North. If his map, consistently updated with each place he visited, was right, the village of the Beornings shouldn't be too far Northeast. He would finally meet the men of north Rhovanion, and their strange bear-heritage. Dwarin whistled as he rode. He was closing in.