Chapter 3: Four dwarves in the library?

The morning breeze blew through Aghäte's long hair, freshly installed in the library. "Today I'm starting early!" she said to herself as she reopened the book on the Scatha dragon. The day passed quickly. Aghäte had a light lunch to quickly finish reading the book.

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Without realizing it, Aghäte had fallen asleep on the table. When she opened her eyes, the sun had barely set. A guard had surely made a round in the library because the candles on his table were lit. After waking up well, she realized another person was in the library and he was looking for a book on a shelf, candle in hand.

Aghäte recognized him; even from behind. The grumpy dwarf. She cleared her throat to show her presence and she spoke to him loud enough for him to hear her.

- "Books about dwarves are two columns on your right."

The dwarf didn't say anything but he moved to the location indicated. He picked up a book and came to sit at the only lighted table; Aghäte's table. She said nothing and went back to her notes once her arm muscles were stretched. After a few minutes of silence, Aghäte laughed. The dwarf looked at her with incomprehension.

- "I guess you aren't going to let go of me until I tell you what my research is about."

The dwarf looked her in the eye while keeping the open book in his hand to make her understand to continue.

- "It's simple. It's just a revenge story."

- "Do you want revenge on the dwarves of Erebor?", the dwarf asked, looking at her with superiority.

- "No. The dragon resides there. I have nothing against the dwarves of Erebor. Well, it was because of them Smaug came and destroyed everything, but ..."

- "But?"

Aghäte smiled inside to have intrigued the dwarf. She waited a bit before answering him.

- "But what's done is done. You are a dwarf too. Instead of Thrór, I suppose you would be tempted to do the same. Well, I hope not because my mother died because of his greed! "

- "Himself died of it," he interrupted.

Aghäte tried to not overdo it. It would be useless. The silence continued until the dwarf spoke again.

- "So you are looking for revenge on Smaug. Do you know what a dragon is, at least? What could a half-elf do?"

- "Yes I know what a dragon is!" Aghäte said angry. "I've been researching for over 100 years to find a way to kill this dragon, you know! At least, I'm trying to do something!"

Aghäte got more and more angry. She got up from her chair and continued her tirade.

- "Unlike the dwarves who created this problem and aren't doing anything right now. Where are the dwarves of Erebor? My mother died because of this dragon! Where are the descendants of Thrór while the dragon sleeps quietly in their gold!? Quietly settled in their palace in the Blue Mountains? "

Aghäte felt a hand on her shoulder. She stopped talking and saw the young blond dwarf from the night before. Sorrow was on his face. The other dark hair dwarf was also by his side, eyes full of sadness looking at his uncle. Aghäte breathed and realized she had tears in her eyes. The dwarf, still seated at the table, was finally able to speak.

- "So according to you, what should Thrór's descendants do?" the dwarf asked in a deep voice, staring at her.

The two young dwarves were surprised at their uncle's question. They turned their gaze to Aghäte with special attention.

- "They should take their mountain back!"

Under the incomprehension of the three people standing, the seated dwarf laughed. Slightly, but he laughed.

- "You are the only one who wants it."

The dwarf's laughter and his answer troubled Aghäte. The young dark hair dwarf spoke.

- "It's true that no one would be foolish enough to want to wake up a dragon just to settle in a mountain."

- "Kíli…", his uncle whispered.

The young blond dwarf was about to add something, but one of the library doors behind Aghäte opened slowly. An old dwarf with a long white beard entered.

- "Ah Kíli! Fíli! I was looking for you. Do you know where Thorin is? Lord Elrond is looking for him."

The new dwarf approached and nodded kindly to Aghäte. He noticed the tears in Aghäte's eyes and tried to understand the situation.

- "Since when do dwarves make young women cry? Thorin, what happened?"

The black-bearded dwarf stood up.

- "T-Thorin?", Aghäte trembled.

With all the research she had done on Erebor, Aghäte instantly understood who was in front of her. Red rose to her cheeks. Many feelings came to her mind very quickly. She felt very silly that she hadn't understood from the start who the dwarf was in front of her, but most of all she had just realized what she had said in front of the heir of Erebor.

The four dwarves looked at her intently. Balin still didn't understand what was going on. Thorin stared at her, waiting for a reaction from her; maybe an apology for her excess voice. Fíli still had her hand on his shoulder; certainly to reassure her so that she doesn't panic at these revelations. As for Kíli, he put his hand on her other shoulder for her to react.

Aghäte jumped. She apologized in a stammering voice and ran away from the library.

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Choose where Aghäte decides to run away:

Chapter 4 : Choice n°1 : Go to her bedroom.

Chapter 4 : Choice n°2 : Go outside for some fresh air.

Chapter 4 : Choice n°3 : Go back to the library.