Title: Alkun ma Shalkûn (Unlikely/Improbable Waterfolk)
Fandom: The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings
Rating: G
Length: 200
Content notes: N/A
Author notes: Thanks go to Zana & Morgynleri for encouragement & sanity-checking. Originally sparked by the Dog challenge, finished for Amnesty 31 with Diamonds and Pearls, and Double. Pic is from this Tumblr post.
Summary: Dwarves are not sea-dogs. A double-drabble.



Dwarves are not built for boats. They do not float, nor are they generally comfortable with liquid water as a surface. They can swim, though with considerable effort, given their lack of buoyancy, and are capable of holding their breath for a very long time, much longer than Men. But sailing, especially deep-water sailing, is not a craft of which they are either fond or familiar. A Dwarf on a ship or in a boat is an unusual sight. (Ferries are another matter, and such transports as are needed for quarrying stone, but those are generally short-distance, and shallow draft.)

Ice and snow are a different matter, though they are naturally wary of ice that is over running or deep water. Skiing, skating, sledding, the making of elaborate snow-forts and conducting snow-battle-campaigns are all within their compass. Interestingly, there are Dwarves who are fond of fishing, from bank or bridge or standing in a stream. There are even tales of Dwarves who walk under water, using stones as ballast, holding their breath, to collect shellfish, pearls, sea-wrack or other treasures. Some say that the Dalemen paid well for the recovery of Smaug's 'diamond waistcoat' and the sunken riches of Esgaroth.

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