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

The library's door closed loudly. Aghate stopped in a corridor to regain her senses. She wanted to bang her head against the wall. How could she be so stupid? And above all, how could she have spoken to him like that ?!

Aghäte walked outside to a small bench where she could observe the stars. The conversation she had with Thorin repeated endlessly in her head.

"It was ridiculous! I hope I never see him again! But if it's Thorin Oakenshield, I might have to see him again someday if I ever get rid of this dragon…". Aghäte thought about it, but nothing seemed to calm her down. "I should take a bath. It would calm me down," she said to herself.

- "You seem tormented, my dear."

A tall man with a gray beard, a pointy hat, a long gray robe, and a big nose started the conversation.

- "May I sit ?"

- "O-of course!"

Aghäte shifted a bit to give him space on the bench. She was a little surprised that he came to sit next to her when it sure had other benches available in Rivendell. The old man took a pipe from his pocket and began to light it. His movements were slow but he knew what he was doing.

- "Are you Gandalf? The Gray Wizard?" Aghäte asked.

Gandalf laughed. He finished lighting his pipe and smoked a little.

- "You're direct. That's good. Yes, my name is Gandalf the Gray. Here, they call me too ..."

- "Mithrandir… It's amazing! I never thought I would meet you! But what are you doing here? Oh sorry, maybe this is a personal question…"

- "Not at all! I'm accompanying a company of dwarves. I understand that you have already met a few."

He continued to smoke his pipe and Aghäte took a breath before answering him; thinking back to the discussion with the dwarves.

- "Yes… But I said horrible things to them. Even if I apologize, they will never forgive me… Especially Thorin. Especially if it's indeed Thorin, son of Thráin… Raaah!"

Aghäte put his hands on her head. She couldn't think of that conversation anymore. She had to move on! Gandalf seemed amused by the half-human's reaction.

- "It's him…"

- "And why did you come to talk to me?", Aghäte interrupted. "I'm more than happy to chat with you but…"

- "Aghäte, daughter of a Dale woman and a Mirkwood elf. I have met your mother in the past. A charming woman. Rest assured, you are too!"

- "If I may, I think you're going astray…" Aghäte cut off, disturbed he knew her and her parents.

- "Ah yes. You are right, my dear. I came to speak to you because I would like you to join Thorin's company."

At that moment, a noise was heard not far from Aghäte and Gandalf. A person cleared his throat as if he had swallowed askew. Nobody reacted then the magician had to intervene.

- "Master Thorin, since when do dwarves hide behind trees?"

- "When they don't want to intervene in a conversation that doesn't concern them," Thorin growled while he approached the two people sitting on the bench.

- "Oh but you are concerned!"

Gandalf was smiling. Thorin, who was smoking his pipe, joined them and looked at Aghäte then the magician. Aghäte was embarrassed. She wanted to be a little mouse and hide in a corner but she didn't say it out loud for fear the wizard would take her seriously and she would regret it. Gandalf exhaled from smoking it before starting again.

- "Could you consider adding Aghäte to the company?"

- "No elves will join our company. Especially from Mirkwood!" Thorin said, determined.

- "Lady Aghäte is also half-human. She knows more about Smaug than all the dwarves together. Not many people can and want to help you in this quest. It would be silly to miss out on an advantage like this."

- "I'd rather be an idiot than have an elf in my company."

- "Raaah! Your stubbornness will ruin you Thorin Oakenshield!"

Gandalf rose from the bench in anger. He walked away towards a building, mumbling. The dwarf and the half-human watched him go. Before Thorin left, Aghäte tried to talk to him to get answers to what she had just heard.

- "Hum… What is your quest?"

- "In your opinion?", the dwarf answered without looking back.

- "You are very far from the Blue Mountains. And I don't think you came to settle in Rivendell…"

Aghäte suddenly stood up, speaking loudly and startling Thorin, who turned to her.

- "Oh! You really left to get Erebor back!? And me, who just now ..."

Aghäte looked down, apologizing for raising her voice in the library.

- "You were right. We've been fleeing our own mountain for too long. It's time to get back our mountain."

Aghäte felt relieved by his response. The dwarf seemed to have calmed down. Maybe thanks to his pipe weed?

- "But please lower your voice. The people of Rivendell don't need to know that."

- "Ah yes of course! Elves ...", Aghäte replied, smiling.

- "Uncle!"

The young dark hair dwarf, named Kíli earlier in the evening, had approached Thorin to explain Elrond was waiting for him for dinner. He then turned to Aghäte to hand her a notebook.

- "My notebook! Thank you very much… Master, um, Kíli?"

- "Yes!"

- "Let's go now."

Thorin quickly bowed his head for Aghäte then left. Kíli wished her a good evening before joining his uncle.

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Continued in Chapter 5.