Roland stepped into the royal hall of Elub, his boots echoing in the vast stone chamber. The great Thorin Oakenshield, King under the Mountain, stood at the other end, surrounded by dwarven advisors and courtiers. When Thorin saw Roland, his eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"Roland?" Thorin's voice boomed across the hall. "What brings you here so soon? I wasn’t expecting a visit until spring."

Roland walked briskly towards him. "I’m in need of the dwarves’ aid, Thorin. My people are in dire straits."

Thorin’s face hardened, expecting the worst. "Orcs? Are they on the move again?"

Roland shook his head, his expression grim. "No, it’s not orcs. It’s something even more relentless—famine."

Thorin’s serious demeanor dissolved into a hearty laugh, catching Roland off guard. "Famine? You? The mighty King Roland, brought low by hunger? The man who bested orc armies is now overwhelmed by mere refugees!" Thorin’s laughter echoed through the hall, and several dwarves joined in.

Roland’s face flushed with embarrassment, but he kept his composure. "This isn’t a joke, Thorin. My people are starving, forced to eat chaff. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t desperate."

Thorin wiped a tear from his eye, still chuckling. "You’ve humbled me, Roland. To think, a dragon knight comes to beg for food! What a tale this will make."

Roland’s patience was wearing thin. "Laugh all you want, but I need your help. If you have any food or warm clothing to spare, I’m willing to pay for it." He pulled a small leather pouch from his belt, spilling a handful of glittering gems onto the table before Thorin.

Thorin’s laughter faded as he eyed the gems, not with greed, but with amusement. "So you come to Iruber, to the very dwarves you’ve already plundered for gold, offering gems to buy what you need. Bold, even for you, Roland."

Roland felt a pang of regret as he saw Thorin’s expression change. He had indeed taken a large sum of gold from the dwarves during the previous trade, and now he was back for more. "I’m not here to insult you, Thorin. I’m here because I have no other choice."

Thorin stared at Roland for a long moment, then smiled slyly. "Of course, Roland. We dwarves know how to treat our friends. Let’s not talk of money; we’re not mere merchants after all."

Roland let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. "So, you’ll help?"

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

Thorin nodded, but as Roland moved to collect the gems from the table, Thorin’s hand shot out, scooping them up with a grin. "Consider this a friendly gesture—these gems will do nicely as a token of your goodwill."

Roland was momentarily stunned by Thorin’s audacity. But he quickly masked his surprise, reminding himself that he had little room to negotiate. "I see," he said, his tone neutral. "Thank you, Thorin. Your generosity will not be forgotten."

Thorin waved his hand dismissively. "Come, let’s see what we have in the storerooms."

Thorin led Roland to the loading docks, where 20 sturdy carts were being prepared. Five were filled with sacks of flour, another five with dried meats, five more with warm leather and linen clothing, and the final five with various tools.

"How’s that for a start?" Thorin asked, smirking.

Roland surveyed the goods and nodded, relieved. "This will get us through the worst of winter. With these supplies, I might even be able to equip those hundred Lagrandian guards I’ve been holding back."

Thorin’s grin widened. "You’ll need them if the orcs regroup. Winter is their season, after all."

Roland agreed, knowing well the dangers that still lurked beyond the borders of his fragile city. "We’ll have to stay vigilant. Thank you, Thorin. Truly."

"Don’t thank me yet," Thorin replied. "Balin will accompany you back to Rapid City. He’ll make sure everything arrives safely."

Roland appreciated the offer. "Of course, that would be a great help."

As they departed from the mountain stronghold, Roland rode alongside Balin. The veteran dwarf cast curious glances at Roland, particularly when they passed the ruins of Changhu Town.

"You’ve built a new town at the mouth of the lake?" Balin asked.

"Yes, we’ve started over. There’s not much left of the old town," Roland replied, his voice carrying a trace of sorrow.

Balin nodded thoughtfully, then hesitated. "Roland, there’s something I’d like to ask you."

Roland glanced at him. "What is it, Balin?"

Balin took a deep breath. "We’ve been thinking of an expedition. To Moria."

Roland’s heart skipped a beat. "Moria? You’re serious about retaking it?"

Balin nodded. "Khazad-dûm is our greatest legacy, the heart of our people. We want to bring its light back."

Roland was quiet for a moment, thinking of the dangers Moria still held. The balrog, the ancient darkness that had driven the dwarves from their home, still lingered in the depths of the city. "Thorin tried and failed, didn’t he? You know what’s still there, Balin. It’s too dangerous."

Before Balin could respond, Roland’s system chimed in his mind: *Ding Dong! Side Quest Unlocked: Reclaim Moria. Quest duration: 1 year. Reward: Random Attribute—Dragon Knight*1.*

Roland’s heart raced. A new dragon knight was too tempting to pass up. "Balin," he said suddenly, "I’ll help you. For the sake of our friendship, I’ll lead the expedition myself."

Balin stared at Roland in shock, his earlier doubts evaporating. "You... You will? After what you just said?"

Roland patted Balin on the back. "Absolutely. We’ll retake Moria, and after that, Gundabad if need be!"

Balin was still processing Roland’s abrupt change of heart when Carlos, Roland’s loyal companion, muttered under his breath. "The balrog is a monster... Only a madman would challenge it head-on."

Roland, ignoring Carlos, led the group back to Rapid City. As they approached the familiar broken stone walls, Roland couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride. Despite everything, his people had made progress. The city was beginning to take shape again, and with the supplies from the dwarves, they could survive the winter.

Balin admired the burgeoning town as they entered. "You’ve done well, Roland. I can see why the people follow you."

"Thanks, Balin," Roland replied, smiling. "But we’ve still got a long way to go."

As they unloaded the supplies, Roland turned to Balin. "Let’s set the expedition to Moria for next summer. I’ll need time to prepare, and spring will be busy with planting and rebuilding."

Balin nodded. "Summer it is, then. We’ll be ready."

With that, Roland bid Balin farewell, watching as the dwarf and his companions turned their carts back toward Iruber. As they disappeared into the distance, Roland felt a mix of excitement and apprehension. The future held both promise and peril, but with friends like Balin and Thorin, he knew he wouldn’t face it alone.