Chapter 38: Last days at Rivendell Pt: 4 (Advice)

[Aldril POV]

"Glorfindel..." I repeated slowly, trying to recall if I had heard that name before. After a few seconds, I gave up, realizing I had never heard it before.

"It's a pleasure, and it seems you already know my name and met my mother," I said as I slowly stood up. I had a slight ache in my body from the uncomfortable position I had slept in, so I started stretching to loosen my tense muscles.

"That's right, I knew your mother, a splendid warrior, I must say," the elf replied warmly, mentioning my mother. "I've come to talk with you. Why don't we chat as we head to the dining hall for breakfast?" His friendly attitude was contagious, and he exuded a calm and peaceful presence. However, I could sense that beneath this tranquil demeanor lay an experienced warrior.

"Sure, lead the way," I said, curious about what the elf wanted to discuss with me. 'Could it be something related to my mother?' I thought while following Glorfindel, ignoring his rude behavior of inviting only me to breakfast and not the still-sleeping dwarves.

Our conversation started quickly, as Glorfindel got straight to the point after we left the garden, which I appreciated since deciphering what people wanted to say, especially Gandalf with his occasional mysterious and vague answers, was tedious.

Soon Glorfindel opened the conversation. "I've heard from Lord Elrond that you plan to face Smaug," he said with a calm expression. This surprised me a bit. 'Could he be here on behalf of my uncle to give me advice?' I thought as I adopted a serious demeanor. Something told me I should listen to everything the elf said, and I was right, as what he said next surprised me.

"Dragons are not common enemies; they are dangerous and very lethal. However, they have weaknesses," Glorfindel continued.

"Weaknesses?" I asked, curious to know more as I moved to walk beside him, initially trailing behind him.

Nodding, Glorfindel continued, "Firstly, dragons have a tough armor of scales that protects them from almost any weapon," he explained, as if giving a lesson, which wasn't far from the truth. "However, there is a spot on their belly where the scales are less dense. A strong blow can wound them. Secondly, they tend to be arrogant and boastful of their power in combat. Use this to your advantage. Provoking them will make them angry. An angry dragon is less careful and more prone to making mistakes. But be very careful; in your current state, it will be difficult to face the dragon alone. I recommend having someone else assist you. Don't let your arrogance cloud your judgment."

"I understand," I said, nodding slowly. My arrogance had plummeted after nearly dying to a Warg, and Glorfindel was right: I would need help. Would Bard and his black arrow be enough? I didn't know; perhaps the help of Legolas and Tauriel would also be necessary.

"Thank you, Glorfindel. I'll make sure to remember your words." His advice was very helpful, as I still had the idea of facing Smaug alone. Probably a remnant of my arrogance was still alive, but Glorfindel had come to kill that remnant.

"Don't thank me. I have faced many dragons in the past, and I must say that I was always accompanied by my comrades. Otherwise, I wouldn't know if I'd still be alive," he replied with a kind smile, but I was sure that even without help, he could kill the dragons.

I thought our conversation was over as we reached the elegant dining hall, and Glorfindel didn't speak further. Just as we were about to enter, Glorfindel stopped and his expression changed as if he had remembered something he had forgotten.

"Oh, I forgot, there's a third thing: the swords you carry can pierce the dragon's tough skin. One of them even killed the first dragon ever created. Distract the dragon with the help of the others and strike by surprise at its head, just behind the middle horn. It will be a lethal blow." With that said, Glorfindel entered the dining hall without waiting for my response.

The natural way Glorfindel spoke about facing dragons left me speechless. Shaking my head, I entered the dining hall, ready for a good breakfast while grateful for my clear mindset. If I were the me from the previous night, I would have a headache from everything happening so quickly.

***

As I entered the dining hall, I greeted my uncle with a cheerful smile. He was sitting at the high table, gesturing for me to join him. Sunlight streamed through the large windows, bathing the room in a warm morning glow.

The aromas of freshly baked bread, fresh fruits, and honey filled the air, making my stomach growl in anticipation. To his left was Glorfindel, still smiling.

"Good morning, Uncle!" I exclaimed as I approached the table.

"Good morning, Aldril," my uncle responded, his voice cheerful and welcoming.

A few minutes later, Gandalf and Bilbo joined us, both looking well-rested with cheerful smiles.

"Good morning, you two. How did you sleep?" I asked, smiling.

Bilbo's cheerful response came quickly. "I slept wonderfully. The elves' bed is very soft. Last night was the best sleep I've had since I left Hobbiton. Thank you for lending me your room, Aldril." His enthusiasm and the sparkle in his eyes made me laugh a little; he seemed like a small child who had just received their favorite toy.

"I slept well," added Gandalf, with his usual calm smile. "Even a wizard like me needs rest, and being away from the stubborn dwarves is a blessing. It's a pity we still have a long journey with them." Mentioning the dwarves, his brow furrowed slightly, showing a hint of exasperation.

'Speaking of the dwarves, where's Thorin?' I thought, a bit puzzled not to see him here. It would be natural for Elrond to invite him to breakfast despite their differences.

Those were my thoughts until Thorin entered the hall with Balin. Both seemed to have not slept well last night. With a nod, they greeted us and proceeded to sit next to Gandalf.

Balin, on the other hand, smiled cheerfully at us as he sat at the lower table, looking around as if wondering where the others were. Frowning, Thorin looked at us and asked, "Where are the others?"

'Oh, right, I forgot to wake them,' I thought, smiling wryly at my oversight. "They're probably still resting," I said, trying to maintain a serene expression. "I tried to wake them this morning, but it was impossible because they drank a lot of wine last night." A little lie wouldn't hurt anyone, right?

-Meanwhile, with the dwarves-

Snoring was the only melody heard in the beautiful garden, marred by the dwarves and the large wine bottles scattered around. The gentle sound of the fountain was overshadowed by occasional farts.

One of these was so stinky that the faces of the others wrinkled, and the aroma was so strong that they began to wake up.

Bofur was the first to open his eyes. He sat up slowly, one hand on his head and the other on the ground. "Where are we?" he muttered, blinking against the sunlight.

Kili, who was lying next to him, stretched and yawned. "I think we're still in Rivendell. At least, I hope so."

Fili, who had used his cloak as a pillow, sat up and scratched his beard. "Does anyone else feel like a troll ran over them?" he asked, massaging his temples.

Meanwhile, Bombur, who had slept soundly in the middle of the group, continued to snore loudly. And he farted at intervals. "Damn it, this stinky smell woke me up! Bombur, wake up, if you keep this up, you'll kill us with poison!" exclaimed Dori, giving him a gentle nudge with his foot.

Bombur opened one eye, then the other, and got up with difficulty, rubbing his stomach. "What time is it?" he asked, yawning. "Damn, it stinks!" he exclaimed, covering his nose.

This provoked silence from everyone else, only to be broken by Fili's laughter, who clutched his stomach from the laughing fit, joined by the rest of the group.

-Returning with Aldril-

Breakfast had begun, and Thorin, upon hearing what had been said, asked no further questions. He knew his team members well and recalled seeing them drink the previous night. Without further comment, he began to eat in silence. The gentle melody played by the elves filled the room with tranquility, easing the usual bustle of the dwarves. Breakfast proceeded normally, a rare moment of peace in their tumultuous journey.

After finishing my breakfast, I noticed Gandalf had also finished. Seizing the opportunity, I leaned towards him and whispered, "Hey Gandalf, how long will we be here?" I wanted to know if I would have time to read or ask about some things my great-grandmother mentioned, and to learn more about my mother.

Gandalf, with his usual sharpness, quickly understood my reasons. With a smile, he whispered back, "We'll be here for a while, so don't worry. You'll have plenty of time to speak with Lord Elrond."

I nodded gratefully. 'After breakfast, I should go train with the bow and then visit the library or talk to Uncle Elrond if he's not busy,' I thought. My mind was already planning the day, eager to make the most of our time in Rivendell.

Seeing my joy, Gandalf smiled. Yesterday, after Lord Elrond returned from his discussion with me, he mentioned to Gandalf that the council would be here due to the increasing orc attacks, so Elrond told Gandalf to wait a few days.

****

I will open a subscription of 1.50 dollars, there will be 5 advanced chapters, what do you think? I have seen that this format works in the long run.

Question of the day What is your favorite Souls game boss? Mine is Lady maria, Malenia and Rellana. 

"P@treon/Mrnevercry"