Whilst she waited for the preparations for her journey Druda went in search of Bilbo Baggins, who had been living at Rivendell since his departure from the Shire. Druda had been privileged enough to meet him on several occasions in the past and he always seemed pleased to see another Hobbit and was keen for any news from The Shire. Druda found Bilbo in his usual seat overlooking the gardens. It seemed as though he had heard of her journey because he had with him a small package which her gave to Druda. Inside the package there was a richly decorated bag of burglar’s tools. Druda was very grateful and promised that she would return from Lothlorien with many stories and songs for Bilbo.
At dawn the next day Druda mounted her pony with its saddle bags full of everything she would need. Druda was expecting a solitary journey south but Lord Elrond had given instructions to one of his warbands to escort Druda as far as the entrance to Khazad-dum.
There was far more activity around the entrance to the great mines of the Dwarves than Druda had seen on her first visit. The Dwarves pledge to reclaim the ancient city had gained significant ground and the once abandoned gateway was now busy with the loading and unloading of carts full of provisions. Once inside the efforts that the Dwarves had made were even more apparent. Instead of the pitch black hall that had required Druda to scramble about over fallen masonry with a torch in hand the hall was now flooded with light from numerous shafts in the roof. The fallen masonry was gone and the hall now resembled a large warehouse with Dwarves busy packing goods onto caravans of large goats. Along the twisting route through the mountain Druda saw many dwarves hard at work undoing the damage caused by both the occupying Orcs and the passage of time. Large carts of fresh stone were being transported from quarries deep below the earth. Occasionally her route would take them through old goblin camps that now lay deserted, their occupants driven off by the large Dwarf army that was steadily reclaiming the tunnels and halls.
It took Druda a little over two days to reach the 21st Hall which was one of the largest in Khazad-dum. The journey had been greatly shortened since her last visit due to the now well-lit passages and the presence of the Dwarves ensuring she did not become lost. The exit to the lands on the eastern side of the mountains laid one more days travel from the 21st Hall.
Druda wandered around the many camps that were scattered around the hall as she waited for one of the many caravans of goods that would act as her guide for the final stage of her journey. Many of the camps were huddled around large forges and consisted of many Dwarven craftsmen repairing various suits of armour and weapons. Some of the suits were severely buckled and Druda wondered just what these hardy warriors were facing further down in the deeper tunnels that were still unsafe to travel.
After a few hours the caravan of Dwarves with their goods packed onto the backs of a long line of the specially bred goats announced their leaving with the blowing of a horn and Druda was off again, she was very glad, after her long journey, to finally see the large gates that lead down out of the mountain. Although Hobbits love their burrows underground the tunnels of Khazad-dum felt oppressive and Druda longed to feel grass beneath her feet and the warm sun on her face once more.
