Chapter 40: Last Days at Rivendell (End)

[General POV]

In a dense open field, illuminated by the morning sun, five people were gathered. Three of them were preparing to practice, while the other two watched. These people were Aldril, Glorfindel, Bilbo, Aragorn, and Arwen. After a brief conversation, Glorfindel guided them to an area where they could train.

Arwen, curious to learn more about Aldril, followed them to Aragorn's displeasure. He was reluctant because he felt jealous of the attention Arwen was giving to dear Aldril. However, with an idea in his head, he grabbed a wooden sword and walked towards Aldril and Bilbo. Seizing the moment to show off, he stood in front of Aldril and said, "I challenge you; I want to put into practice what I've learned."

With a raised eyebrow, Aldril smiled and shook his head, amused by Aragorn's action. It was very transparent why he did that—he was clearly jealous. Apparently, he hadn't heard when Aldril mentioned that he and Arwen were family.

Arwen was beautiful, he wouldn't deny that. He would fall in love with her if they weren't family. Unlike the Japanese, Aldril had a strong distaste for people who committed incest, and even if a relationship between them somehow developed, his uncle Elrond would not approve of them being together. Additionally, his own blood indirectly told him that committing such an act was a blasphemy.

Clearly, in Middle-earth, incest has had a tragic ending. This can be demonstrated in the story of Túrin Turambar, where his sister Urwen was bewitched by the first dragon, Glaurung. The spell caused her to lose her memory and be found naked in a forest by Túrin. Túrin had been informed that his sister was dead, so when he found her, he didn't believe it was her. Years later, they fell in love, and Urwen became pregnant. After Túrin killed the dragon, its blood splashed on him, rendering him unconscious. Urwen, in her desperation, went looking for him, finding the half-dead dragon and Túrin unconscious. The dragon, in a final act of malice, revealed that Túrin was her brother. This devastated her, and believing her brother was dead, she threw herself off a cliff, committing suicide along with her child.

With an idea in mind, Aldril said, "There is a better person than me." He turned to Bilbo. "Here, my dear Hobbit, is a better opponent for you."

His comment made everyone look at Bilbo, who had a surprised look on his face as he pointed at himself. "Me? But I don't know how to use a sword," he said, distressed by the suggestion. Aragorn pointed his wooden sword at Aldril.

"I don't want to fight a dwarf; I want to fight you."

His comment was met with a huff from Bilbo. "Dwarf? Hey, kid, for your information, I'm a Hobbit. Don't compare me to those dirty and rude dwarves."

Aldril let out a soft laugh and placed a hand on Bilbo's shoulder. "Don't worry, Bilbo. This will be fun. Just follow my instructions. Plus, it will help me find your strengths, and you'll learn much faster by practicing with someone."

"But Aldril..." he said, only to be interrupted by Glorfindel. "I think it's a good idea. Aragorn has just begun his training, so it will help us find his weaknesses and strengths."

With a hand on his chin, Bilbo thought for a few seconds before nodding, though he didn't seem very convinced. Taking off his sword, he handed it to Aldril to put away. Aragorn, a bit annoyed that his master revealed he hadn't been training for long, took his combat stance.

Glorfindel maintained his characteristic serene attitude, while Arwen suppressed a smile, eager to see how the scene would unfold. After all, Aragorn was 10 years old and the same size as Bilbo.

"All right, little Aragorn, don't be too hard on Bilbo. It's his first day," said Aldril, taking a position next to Glorfindel. The latter nodded and said, "First, let's see what you've got. Bilbo, just defend and try to learn the moves Aragorn makes."

Aragorn reluctantly advanced and launched an attack towards Bilbo. The Hobbit clumsily raised his wooden sword, blocking the blow with difficulty. Aldril and Glorfindel exchanged approving glances.

"Good, Bilbo. Now try to return the strike," suggested Aldril.

With more confidence, Bilbo attempted an attack, which Aragorn easily dodged. However, the young Dúnedain flashed a smug smile at the Hobbit.

Frowning at Aragorn's arrogant smile, Bilbo recalled the moves he made when he fought the orcs. With a step forward, he swung his wooden sword. Seeing the movement, Aragorn confidently held his sword with one hand, sure he would block Bilbo's attack. However, he was taken by surprise as it was just a feint, and Bilbo immediately spun, causing the sword to strike Aragorn's side.

"Good move, Bilbo. Aragorn, stop being arrogant. Remember, you've also only been training for a short time. Don't be overconfident," said Glorfindel, a bit impressed by the Hobbit's surprise attack, which reminded him of a certain elf from Gondolin.

With a smile, Aldril made a comment that piqued Glorfindel's interest: "Not long ago, we fought a group of orcs. At first, Bilbo was very cowardly, but after we picked up some elven swords, his attitude changed, and as if by magic, he learned some moves."

"Curious," murmured Glorfindel, clearly having a vague idea why the Hobbit learned some moves.

***

The practice fight between Bilbo and Aragorn lasted a few more minutes. There were no further surprises, but the fight allowed Aldril to discover Bilbo's strengths and weaknesses. Bilbo was clearly very good with footwork; however, his significant flaw was his strength. Bilbo could become an assassin, and if we consider that he would later obtain the One Ring, which made him invisible, he could become the deadliest assassin in Middle-earth.

But this does not align with Bilbo's kind nature; at most, he would only fight as a last resort. After the fight, Aragorn was a bit upset because he didn't get to show off as he wanted.

Seeing Aragorn's bad mood, Arwen approached and, with a soft smile, wiped his sweat with her handkerchief. "Don't be in a bad mood, Aragorn. It was just a practice fight," she said. Her melodious voice lifted the spirits of the young Dúnedain.

Meanwhile, Bilbo excitedly ran to Aldril. "Did you see that? I'm not bad with the sword, right?" Laughing lightly at Bilbo's joy, Aldril patted him on the shoulder.

"That's right, Bilbo. Now that I know your strength, I'll show you some moves that would fit well in your repertoire." As Aldril said this, Glorfindel approached them. "It seems Mr. Baggins isn't as bad as he says."

"Thank you for your words," Bilbo said, scratching the back of his neck, embarrassed by the praise. "By the way, could you both show me the swords you found?" Glorfindel asked with his serene smile. He was curious and wanted to confirm his suspicions.

"Of course, here. Can you tell me if it has a name?" Bilbo, now in high spirits, happily took his sword and handed it to Glorfindel.

Taking the dagger, which was a sword to Bilbo, with great care, Glorfindel unsheathed it and, with a surprised look, said, "Sting." Hearing its name, the sword glowed softly in a blue tone, which surprised Bilbo, who never imagined that his sword would shine like Aldril's.

"This is a dagger from Gondolin, crafted by one of my friends." With a nostalgic smile, he returned the dagger to Bilbo. "It will glow when orcs are near. Take good care of it, Bilbo." Bilbo hesitantly took the dagger, now knowing its name, which showed that Balin was wrong. It seemed his sword was also named in battle.

Turning his attention to Aldril, the latter shrugged and pulled out his two swords. Looking at them for a second, Aldril thought of a problem. 'My Wolf School style doesn't adapt to dual wielding. What should I do? Ask Uncle Elrond for help?' he wondered.

Unaware of Aldril's thoughts, Glorfindel widened his eyes. For the first time, his calm expression was broken. "These swords were supposed to be separated," he exclaimed, making both Arwen and Aragorn look over.

"Anguirel and Anglachel, both forged from a fallen meteorite," Glorfindel said as he approached Aldril. "May I?"

"Of course." Aldril handed the swords to Glorfindel, who was surprised to feel both swords fervently rejecting him. He quickly returned them to Aldril. "These swords will reject anyone but you. Moreover, Anguirel was used by your mother. We thought it was lost, but it seems it found its way back." Recollecting himself, he looked at the other sword. "Anglachel, on the other hand, was believed lost centuries ago. You carry with you the most powerful swords in Middle-earth."

A bit surprised, Aldril realized that this elf was no ordinary one, so he asked, "How do you know?" As far as he knew, Glorfindel was never mentioned in the movies, and he felt curious about this elf.

"Oh, it's natural that I know. After all, I was in most of the wars, even before Elrond was born. I even protected your great-grandfather Eärendil when he was just a child," he said with a nonchalant attitude. This made everyone look at him in surprise, even Arwen, who always thought he was just one of her father's subordinates.

"By your faces, I can imagine you want to know more," he said with a smile. He rarely spoke about his past. Seeing everyone nodding like children waiting for a bedtime story, he continued, "All right, but this isn't the place for a long talk. Let's go somewhere more comfortable, and there I'll tell you how I faced a Balrog."

With that said, he turned around, followed by everyone. Among them, Aldril was lost in his thoughts. 'Did he say a Balrog? Damn, who is this elf?'

- With Gandalf -

"Saruman, it's been a while," Gandalf said cheerfully, with a jovial tone, as if he had reunited with an old friend. However, Saruman maintained a stoic face and, with a deep and severe voice, reprimanded Gandalf without even greeting him.

"This time you've gone too far, Gandalf. If it weren't for the message I received from Elrond a month ago, I would never have imagined you would support Thorin Oakenshield in his foolish decision to reclaim Erebor."

Gandalf's smile disappeared, and he looked Saruman in the eyes without hesitation. "I planned to tell you, but time was pressing. That's why I could only inform Lord Elrond. I believe we should support Thorin's decision. Besides..."

His words were abruptly cut off by Saruman's furious tone. "You, of all people, should know! What if they fail? What if they wake the dragon and can't kill it?"

"And what if we succeed? If Thorin retakes Erebor, our defenses will be strengthened." Gandalf responded confidently, certain that the dwarves would succeed, especially with Aldril's addition.

"It's too risky!" Saruman retorted, losing his calm demeanor, which left both Gandalf and Elrond puzzled by his behavior. Lately, Saruman had been acting strangely. Gandalf was the first to notice that Saruman was slowly deviating from the purpose they were sent for.

This time, Elrond did not remain silent and spoke up. "It would be more dangerous to do nothing. Besides, it would be very helpful if Thorin reclaims Erebor. After all, he is the King of Durin's dwarves, and with just one word, all the dwarves would rise in arms."

After Elrond's words, an uncomfortable silence fell. Calming down a bit, Saruman turned to him and said in a hoarse voice, "It seems you both have forgotten that his family has gone mad. First, it was his grandfather, then his father. Do you really think Thorin Oakenshield will be different? Gandalf, it's a danger to us if Thorin reclaims Erebor. He will most likely turn the dwarves against us."

Hearing Saruman's words, Gandalf became angry. Something was definitely wrong with Saruman.

Sensing something in the distance, Gandalf spoke in a louder tone. "Those dwarves will march to the Lonely Mountain with or without our help. They are determined to reclaim their home."

Nodding, Elrond supported Gandalf. "I agree with that. Thorin already has enough support to defeat Smaug."

Saruman was too upset. Just as he was about to retort, a soft, melodious, and enchanting voice was heard behind Gandalf and Elrond, making everyone turn to the person who spoke.

"I agree with them. The inclusion of Tindómiel's son will help them overcome this difficult task."

"Lady Galadriel," the three said in unison, for in front of them stood one of the most powerful and beautiful elves in Middle-earth. Her hair shone like gold in the sunlight, and her eyes glowed majestically, having seen the light of the Two Trees, Telperion and Laurelin.

"The son of that woman?" Saruman murmured, quickly shaking his head, somewhat distressed and with lingering fear in his eyes. "It doesn't matter if Tindómiel's son accompanies them. The boy wouldn't have a fraction of that woman's strength."

Smiling gently, Galadriel looked into the distance, as if observing someone far away. "He will have the strength. This is the beginning of his journey. Sooner or later, he will surpass his mother. I am sure of it, for I see enormous potential in him, even surpassing that of his great-grandfather Eärendil."

Galadriel's declaration caused the expressions of those present to change drastically. Elrond and Gandalf were surprised but filled with joy, knowing that a powerful ally would be on their side. However, Saruman's face darkened. He knew better than anyone the weight of Galadriel's words. Eärendil was so powerful that Sauron would flee if he encountered him on the battlefield, and someone of his caliber in these times would ruin all his plans.

- Minutes earlier -

In a diagonal pavilion near the meeting place of Gandalf and Elrond, Thorin was listening to Gandalf's conversation with Saruman. Beside him was Balin, who had a frustrated look on his face. The fact that Saruman mentioned the illness of Thorin's family made him very angry, but he knew Saruman was right. He wasn't sure if Thorin would be able to overcome this illness, but despite everything, he remained faithful to his decision to follow Thorin.

Balin watched as Thorin's mood began to change drastically. His eyes now showed pure fury, which grew even more as he listened to Saruman speak of the illness Thorin's family was suffering.

He could not imagine the rage Thorin was suppressing, especially when he heard the unkind words he spoke about his beloved grandfather and his father. However, despite his rage, Thorin merely looked away. Fed up with listening, he issued an order in a voice colder than ice.

"Balin, gather the others. We leave at nightfall. Ask Bilbo and Aldril if they want to join us."

With that, he left the pavilion. Tonight, the dwarves would leave Rivendell.

***

The hours had passed and the sun was setting. Aldril, along with Bilbo, were returning to their rooms, feeling somewhat tired from the training they had undergone after their conversation with Glorfindel. Both were amazed by the elf's knowledge and stories.

Especially Aldril, who discovered that his name comes from the trees Telperion and Laurelin, sacred trees to the elves. He was also surprised to learn that Sauron had a master, Morgoth, who unleashed a war that lasted centuries, and he learned about the Valar's names. As they walked, Aldril glanced at the brooch given to him by his great-grandmother. According to Glorfindel, it was an elven stone that his grandfather Eärendil had worn. It offered regeneration and allowed him to recover his stamina more quickly, making him even deadlier in combat.

Additionally, his sword Anglachel had a very sad past with its last host, Túrin, having slain the first dragon. 'These days have been filled with many events. Fortunately, I've leveled up my mindset,' he thought. 'If I hadn't, I'd have a headache from everything that's happened in Rivendell.'

Unlike Aldril, Bilbo was quite cheerful despite his fatigue, having heard many impressive stories and discovering that his sword was famous among some elves. 'Now, I just need a good bath before I can sleep,' he thought with a smile.

As they passed through the garden where the dwarves had their dinner the previous night, a hurried voice called out to them. "Hey, you two!" gasped Kili, who was out of breath from searching for Aldril and Bilbo for a long time.

"What's happening, Kili?" Aldril asked curiously.

"Bilbo, Aldril, we have to leave. It's Thorin's orders. Pack up your things, quickly," Kili panted, leaning on his knees from exhaustion.

Kili's words startled them, especially Aldril, who hadn't imagined they would leave Rivendell so soon. But, prepared for plot twists, he nodded and hurried to his room, followed by Bilbo.

Upon reaching his room, Aldril was surprised to find a finely crafted bow of light, delicate wood, beautifully curved and carved with intricate elvish patterns. The string, visibly of high-quality material, resembled those commonly used by the elves.

There was a note on the bow that read: "Good luck, Aldril. May the stars guide you as they guided your mother." - Glorfindel.

"So, you knew we were leaving tonight," he murmured, a smile forming on his lips. "I must hurry, but first, meeting Aragorn and Arwen must have helped me level up my world exploration."

Opening the system, he checked the [World Exploration] column and was so surprised that he nearly fell over.

[World Exploration: 5.6%] [You have surpassed the 0.5% mark and been granted a spatial ring.] [You have surpassed the 1.5% mark and gained the ability, Hawk's Sight.] [You have surpassed the 5.5% mark and are given the option to choose between Malenia Blade of Miquella or Rellana Twin Moon Knight sword ability.]

Upon seeing all the notifications, Aldril could only say one thing, "What the hell?!"

***

Uff, I swear, I'm reading parts of Lord of the Rings in my spare time and Tolkien has made a very coarse world, 

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