Where she is right - The story of Dís, daughter of kings.

29

Yavanniё came and passed and Alwa recovered. Her family returned home and took Ama with them. The old dwarrowdam had problems breathing and became more and more fragile. On the evening before their departure, Alwa talked to her for a long time in private. They would not meet again in this world and both knew that. But Ama looked upon the upcoming quite calm. She had fulfilled her duty. Nevertheless the parting was hard for both of them.

Alwa began to receive dwarves, men and women again in the small hall, but only in the mornings and on four days a week. However the time was never enough to cope with the daily flow of visitors. Each day there were long queues, jostling and quarrels about the order and duration of the conversations. The persistent hue and cry disturbed Alwa greatly in her attention and mindfulness, but her secretary and her body guards were not able to master the situation once and for all.

Balin complained among the companions about the conditions in the hall many a time and it was finally Dori who came up with the rescuing idea.

He figured out a system of numbered little tablets, which were distributed in the mornings under his strict supervision. And only the visitors with the next ten or twelve numbers were allowed to move quietly into the small hall, after the guards had searched them for weapons. Alwa struck a gentle gong, when she was ready for the next visitor and the secretary checked and collected the tablets. All others seeking counsel could spend their waiting time in the mountain, run errands, eat something or spend money shopping, without loosing their place in line. Dori took pride in refining his system more and more. If, for example, someone had gotten a green Monday tablet with a high number and could not been heard any more, could see the seeress on Trewsday, before the newly distributed red Trewsday tablets. One afternoon a month only appointments for guests from afar were made and the first and the third Monday the queen would not receive anyone, because Alwa sat with Thorin at court.

So under Dori's direction things began to run smoothly and Alwa slowly extended her visiting hours again. When in the beginning a flourishing black market with counterfeit tablets came up, Dori scotched the matter quickly with forgery-proof ones with gold seal. He was actually so devoted to this self-imposed task that Thorin expressed his thanks and offered him the newly created post as Alwa's master of ceremonies. Dori, who no longer depended on any work to make a living, like the other companions, accepted gladly. Since Ori had moved out he had much more time on his hands than he cared for. Thorin ordered three more dwarves to his support and from then on Dori successfully maintained peace and order among Alwa's visitors and he wore his splendid uniform with pride.

Dwalin stood beside the training ground and watched the efforts of his warriors with the new recruits. He ran his hand angrily over his head and yelled a few harsh instructions. Suddenly he noticed a movement next to him out of the corner of his eye and turned. Alwa was standing by his side. She looked up at him.

It was Monday about noon and this morning she had sat at the court room with Thorin, who was the highest judicial authority in the kingdom. Since she did so, the disputes had become considerably less. Because in all cases were there was a question of truth or falsehood Thorin would turn to his wife and she, seeing the truth, could expose the liar. When word spread about this all that remained for Thorin to decide were matters of interpreting the law. She could not help with those and the king decided after consulting his legal scholars. But he still enjoyed to have her by his side. She sat royally adorned next to him and followed the discussion silently. And now and again the king looked at her with a proud smile. So it had been this morning, too. The only two cases brought forward were decided quickly, she had the rest of the day to herself and stood now, barefoot as always, in front of Dwalin, who bowed in astonishment.