[Thenamir]

=========== Blue Mountains =========

Theron Axehand was not an overly greedy dwarf, as dwarves went, but an idea kept growing in his mind the longer they bouced along the road. A thought that stuck to the inside of his brain and would not be shaken loose, no matter how roughly the jostling of the cart rattled him.

After the War of the Ring, the few of the dwarves who actually participated returned with news, and stories. The news of Balin's death had hit them all very hard -- the Belegost dwarves would have packed up and taken the battle right to the Balrog in vengeance, though they might have died in the attempt. But another piece of news piqued his interest. It was said that Olorin had destroyed Durin's Bane.

Moria of old, the Dwarrowdelf, greatest of the cities of the Khuzd! The only place in Middle Earth where mithril, the truesilver, could be found. Without the balrog to lead and inspire the orcs of Moria, they would be leaderless, scattered, unorganized...the time was ripe for retaking Moria for good.

And the Dwarves of the Blue Mountains had as much of a claim as anyone to Moria - Balin Longbeard, the last Lord of Moria, still had relatives in Belegost. Surely the dwarves who wanted more "openness" with the surrounding lands might want to re-colonize Moria.

Theron was aroused form his half-planning-half-daydreaming by a particularly nasty jolt as the cart crossed a rut. He spoke none of his thoughts aloud just yet...this was something he must ponder awhile, an idea that must simmer before coming to complete readiness...