Part 1: Rivendell

Chapter 1: A dwarf in the library?

In the vast library of Rivendell, it was cold. Despite the late hour, a lighted candle could still be found on one of the tables. The sound of pages turning and the nocturnal creatures of distant forests created an atmosphere of tranquility.

The large library door opened with no respect for the person reading in the room. An elf, a guard if we rely on his outfit, approached the reader. Advancing with a firm step, he wished her good evening to warn of its presence.

- "Lady Aghäte, it's time to leave the library and go back to your room."

- "Hmm …", she replied.

The young woman continued to read without looking up from her book. " Young woman ". Aghäte looked like a young woman in her twenties or thirties, but she was actually older. Much more. 190 years to be exact. She had inherited the longevity of his father, an elf of Mirkwood. In appearance, she got it all from her mother. That is to say, petite, non-pointed ears, wavy brown hair and brown eyes. Like any human. But the interbreeding of races is an unusual thing, no one yet knew if she would be immortal like her father or if she would have a very long life.

- "We have to close the library for the night. Please leave the premises. And leaving the books here ..."

The guard insisted that Aghäte leave. With an exaggerated exhale, she stood up. She said she would continue the next morning and there was therefore no need to store books.

She left the library and went to her room. Her little room that had been lent to him by Lord Elrond since his arrival. She fell asleep remembering important information she had found in the day.

.

The next morning, she got up, washed and dressed as simply as usual. It was frowned upon not to wear a dress in Rivendell, and Aghäte did not want to disturb the mores of her hosts. Lord Elrond was kind enough to let her access his library so she wanted to avoid problems as much as possible.

Aghäte quickly ate breakfast alone and moved to the library where she had left her books the day before.

- "Why do we have to close the library at night ...? It is precisely calmer at this time!"

Aghäte grumbled as she settled down at her table. As usual since her arrival in Rivendell, she spent the day on her research. It just took a break for lunch. Usually no one bothered her. Only the evening guard came to take her out of the room when it was really late. Sometimes young elves offered to go out to eat together or join them for celebrations, but she always refused. "I've wasted way too much time having fun already. Now I have to find a way to get rid of that damn dragon!" She kept telling herself in her head to motivate herself to continue.

.

The moon was already high in the sky. The warm, pleasant air of June kept Aghäte focused longer than usual. She had finally found a passage detailing the fight between Fram and the ancient dragon Scatha. While she was taking notes, she heard someone speak behind her in a deep and firm voice.

- "Fram is not a dragon slayer. He is just a thief."

Aghate jumped so much that she put her hand on her heart to catch her breath. She thought a guard was coming to chase her away again.

- "And what do you know about it ?!"

Annoyed that she was caught in this way, Aghäte turned to face a dwarf; big black beard, black hair and a little graying, short and especially severe eyes. Her irritation turned into surprise.

- "A dwarf? What does a dwarf do in Rivendell?"

Aghäte was totally caught off guard. The dwarf sat in front of her looking books on the table without answering. She pulled herself together suddenly.

- "E-Excuse me! I'm just surprised to see a dwarf is here…"

- "If I had the choice, believe me I would not be here."

The dwarf spoke dryly. However, Aghäte felt he was more tired of being here than angry. She couldn't contain a small laugh. The dwarf said nothing and kept looking at the books.

- "What are you doing with these books?"

- "Researches."

- "Around Dale?"

- "Yes."

The little discussion turned to silence. The dwarf was examining the books on the fly and Aghäte resumed his notes on the fight of the dragon Scatha.

- "What will you use your research for?"

- "Why should I answer you?"

Aghäte answered him without lifting her nose from her notes. Her question wasn't aggressive. She just wanted him to mind his own business.

- "First of all, this book, this one and that one are just fictions. Second, this book on Erebor dates from Thrór's time so all the information you will read is over."

While he was talking, Aghäte watched him point out the books. At the end of his sentence, he stared at her, waiting for a reaction from her.

- "I know that. But I have no other way to get information."

- "You will not find information on dwarves among the elves."

Aghäte thought she saw a smile on the dwarf's face.

- "Dwarves aren't as welcoming as elves. Especially when you're researching Erebor."

Still holding the dwarf's gaze, she felt a tension appear in the dwarf's eyes at the end of her sentence. Knowing that this was a tense topic for most dwarves, Aghäte kindly decided to share her research with him.

- "Right, I'll tell you what my research is. But in return, you will tell me what you know about Erebor. You must know a thing or two about Erebor or even Dale. Deal?"

- "This is out of the question."

Aghäte jumped in surprise. She hadn't expected such a cold, straightforward answer at all. The dwarf stood to leave.

- "Forget Erebor. Dale too. The elves are not allowed to take an interest in it!"

The dwarf left. Furious at being spoken to in this way, Aghäte yelled at him:

- "Anything else? Just because you're a dwarf doesn't mean you can forbid me!"

The dwarf slammed the library door. Aghäte found herself grumbling alone.

- "Who does this one think he is ?! What a cheek! Raaaah I'm so upset now!"

After putting the books away, Aghäte still couldn't calm down. She decided to go have a few drinks and a nice meal in the kitchen. The end of the evening seemed more pleasant to her.