It has been several days since Thorin, along with his new companions, Lugdush and Scatha, has been on his way to Whiterun. The three have decided to take a shortcut through the wild, and then arrive in Riverwood, where they would get back on the road to the great city. They traveled on foot with brief rest stops, and three encounters with wolves. It took them two and a half days to reach the small village by the White River. Thorin was born here, so the company had no reason to worry about acceptance by the locals.

As the company descended from a hill, and onto the road, Thorin could see it: the great wooden arch standing high above the village of Riverwood, where he used to play hide and seek with his friends, chase little girls with infatuation and learn how to become a master warrior. A wide smile appeared on the Nord's face, full of memory, as he said to himself: "Riverwood..."
"Thorin?" Scatha asked, noticing a slight change on his companion's face.
"My birthplace, Scatha." Thorin replied: "There is a house where me may get some food and rest. My friend is a blacksmith there."
As they entered the village, they could see that the arches were secured, and that guards were patrolling about, which was rather uncommon. Thinking back, Thorin remembered that the Jarl of Whiterun, Balgruuf the Greater, dispatched them here, because the village was defenseless against the uprising dragons.
Thorin, Lugdush and Scatha found Alvor outside of his house, doing his usual work: he was using a grindstone to sharpen a newly forged iron sword. Not wanting to distract him, Thorin waited for him to be done with his work before greeting him, because using a grindstone requires the most attention, or one could end up damaging a weapon.
"Alvor!" Thorin hollered, when Alvor got up.
The older man was quite surprised by the call, and smiled pleasantly upon seeing someone he had known since he was a small child: "Thorin? Thorin, ma' boy!" he walked over and offered his elbow for a handshake, because his hands were dirty from all the iron. He then asked: "What brings you to Riverwood? And who are they?"
Thorin replied: "They are friends. We're going to Whiterun to take care of some business."
"Well, please stay a while!" Alvor suggested: "Just wait for me to wash my hands and I'll get you all inside. Hadvar is here as well."