From Imrazôr, Belrubên's heir and Zainabeth's son, Sea-Lord of Târ Nîlon, to the lady Vâr, daughter of Vâr, son of Vâr, son of Vâr, of the Blacklock dwarves, greetings!
Here would I normally occupy many lines with flowery formality, with praise of what little we know of the deeds of your people, and with vague and general promises of friendship, but among the Men of the West, it is reputed that the Dwarves are a folk who value forthrightness and plain speech, and from the report of the lady Inzilbeth, I have been given no reason to suspect the Blacklocks to be otherwise. With that understanding, then, I will describe my position to you plainly, and trust to your wisdom and pragmatism to take my words in the spirit of good-will in which they are offered:
As a newcomer to Eriador, I wish friendship between my people and all of our neighbors (save the servants of the Enemy of all free folk), and the strife between the Blacklocks and the Longbeards of Khazad-dûm seems, to my understanding, a dispute in which none but the sons and daughters of Durin have, or indeed should have, any part or influence. I would not presume to deny or undervalue your claim, or the legitimacy of your cause, but nor do I wish to invite strife between my city and the King of Khazad-dûm by offering open and direct aid to an army that assails him. For my part, I would wish that the matter could be resolved peacefully, and to the satisfaction of both Dwarven kindreds, and that together we could flourish in peace and friendship, to the betterment of all our people.
While I must thus, for now, regretfully deny your request of aid and supply, another matter that the lady Inzilbeth spoke of gives me hope that, in the future, we may yet find common cause: I am given to understand that you hold a keen interest in the mountain and Dwarven realm known to me as Gundabad. Rumor has come even to us, newly come as we are to these lands, of the orcs and fouler things that occupy that ancient hold of your people; in those fell creatures, I deem, your people and mine share a common enemy. Should the day come, as I hope it soon may, that your current cause is settled to your satisfaction, and the Blacklock and Longbeard dwarves find themselves at peace, you may rest assured that you will find me far less constrained in my ability to provide aid. Indeed, in the cause of restoring rightful Dwarven rule to Gundabad - and thereby securing a friend for a neighbor in place of a foe, I would be as enthusiastic an ally as could be asked for.
Whatever the future may hold for either of us, I wish you well. May your people thrive and prosper!
