37 - Balin (06)

“Aye, but I need to finish this beer first, don’t want to insult the barkeeper” Balin answered and raised his glass. Balin was lost in thought and didn’t comprehend and next thing Thorin said. As the rest of the dwarf group got into single file, to leave the tavern, Balin muttered incoherently, something between a “see you later” and “okay”. If he got a response then it was lost upon him. Most of Balin’s abilities have deteriorated through the last years like his spotting, raw strength, conditioning and tolerance for beer and ale. However, he had become quite adapt at hiding his drunkenness, unlike the younger dwarves. Well at least he hoped so, for if experience has taught him anything is that you should think twice before giving praise to yourself. Thorin was proving more and more to be a stable authority figure. An adventuring party without a proper leader would easily loose its purpose, but thanks to Thorin it was just another thing that could go terrible wrong that Balin did not have to worry about. As he thought about Thorin the bizarre words “Dad of the sugar” kept creeping back in his mind. He took a deep breath, shook his head to clear himself of his spinning thoughts and gulped down the last of his beer. He got up and stumbled a bit before he was able to get a steady footing. He smiled to himself and left the tavern out of the front door. He took another deep breath of the fresh air outside and looked down the road to see Bilbo running towards him. “Aye, it’s time for your last adventure old dwarf… To adventure..” Balin whispered to himself with a somber smile.