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

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 in the corridors until her composure returned. Leaving like an idiot, she had forgotten her notebook in the library. She walked into the room and quietly opened another door; not the one she had fled from. She walked over to her table and found that there was nothing left on it.

- "Where have the books gone ?!"

Aghäte heard footsteps at the back of the room and saw a head stick out of a library column. The young blond dwarf smiled and asked her to join her. Aghäte hesitated then she finally joined him.

- "I wanted to put your books away but it looks like it's harder than I imagined."

- "You don't have to, I'll do it," Aghäte cut off, seeing the dwarf completely overwhelmed by so many books.

- "No no! Let me help you. It's our fault you ran away."

- "It's kind of my own ..."

Aghäte took the books from Fíli's hands, not daring to look him in the eye.

- "We dwarves are more used to spending our time in training rooms than in libraries… But I can still help you put away books", Fíli said to restart the conversation by scratching his head.

- "And I should surely spend less time in the library and more in a training room. Right, take those who are on the floor and follow me."

Aghäte finally smiled. Fíli followed her to the correct column of books. They put the books away in silence until she decided to break it.

- Do you never read books ? Hmm… Master, um, Fi…"

- "Fíli! And you, what's your name?"

- "Aghäte", she said quickly for Fíli to answer her question.

- "Yes of course! My mother and my uncle recommended several books to us when we were young with my brother. Hmm… This one for example!"

Fíli stood on tiptoe to grab a book high up. Unfortunately, the book slipped from his hands and fell on Aghäte's face, who was just looking at the book.

- "Ouch!", she blurted, lowering her head after the blow.

- "Excuse me! Did I hurt you?!", Fíli panicked.

Aghäte lifted her face to Fíli, telling him it was nothing. The dwarf saw a small scratch on the half-human's cheek. Instinctively, he put his thumb over it and jumped.

- "Wow! Your skin is super soft! Dwarf skin is very rocky. I had never touched a human, even less an elf!"

He touched her cheek again and stroked it as if he had just discovered a new animal with a silky coat. Aghäte was seriously starting to blush at the situation while Fíli continued to touch her.

- "Hmm… Master Fíli?"

- "Oh yes sorry!" Fíli apologized, quickly removing his hand from Aghäte's face.

- "D-Didn't you see a notebook on the table?" she asked to change the subject.

- "Yes. Kíli left with it to return it to you. But I don't know where it is now. Come with me, we will try to find it."

Aghäte followed Fíli. He looked like he knew where to go. The outside air allowed Aghäte to regain her natural complexion. They came to a group of two dwarves and a tall old man dressed in gray.

- "Fíli! I was looking for you! Oh you too! Here it is for you", the young dark hair dwarf said, holding out a notebook.

- "Thank you very much," Aghäte thanked, still embarrassed by Thorin's presence.

- "Oh my dear, you are in good time! I wanted to talk to you and Thorin's presence is essential."

Aghäte listened to the old man attentively but she didn't understand what he was talking about.

- "Excuse me, but do you know me? And who are you?"

- "Lady 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!"

Everyone was silent. Thorin winced upon hearing Mirkwood's name. The others waited for the wizard to continue.

- "Please forgive me, I digress. My name is Gandalf."

- "The Gray Wizard?! It's an honor to meet you!" Aghäte cried out, making everyone else jump.

- "Exactly", he laughed at the half-human's excitement. "I wanted to meet you because I would like you to join Thorin's company."

They all looked at Gandalf with absolute incomprehension. Fíli and Kíli didn't prefer to intervene. Thorin spoke before they thought of anything more.

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

- "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!

Thorin turned and walked away. Kíli and Fíli didn't know what to do, especially after Gandalf's request. He ends up grumbling.

- "What stubbornness! Well, we are expected by Lord Elrond for dinner. You will excuse us."

Gandalf smiled at Aghäte and bowed his head. The two young dwarves did the same and followed the magician.

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Continued in Chapter 5.