Chapter 5: Round trip to Bree

The sun was barely rising, but the air was nice. Aghäte was coming out of her room after a short night. She had thought a lot about the presence of the dwarves. If they decided to take Erebor back, she had better hurry and find a way to get rid of the dragon before they awoke him.

Today she won't be spending her day in the library; nor the next few days. The half-human had a scheduled meeting with a man in Bree the day after. He had promised her information from Lake-town. Fortunately, she had an extremely fast horse which had been given to her by her father many years ago. Still residing in Mirkwood, he often sent her money or anything that could help her live. Aghäte loved her father very much, but she didn't like living in Mirkwood. And anyway, her research required her to travel frequently.

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The half-human returned to Rivendell safely. The few days had passed quickly and Aghäte was delighted with this little trip. She would come back with some info on Lake-town, some good human food and good alcohol which she put in a little hiding place in the kitchens.

Exhausted from her trip, Aghäte ended her day in her room. Sitting on a chair on her small balcony while she drank tea, she heard someone knock on the door. It was a guard bringing her a letter. She returned on the balcony to read it. The letter came from her father. He would give her news and ask her to come home to Mirkwood. Almost like each of his letters, actually.

Aghäte wasn't sure if it was because of her encounter with the dwarves but she was starting to feel nostalgia for her hometown. She was born in Dale and it was common to hang out with dwarves as a human. Her mother had many dwarf friends at the time. Since Dale had been destroyed, Aghäte had only returned once or twice there or to Lake-town. Maybe it was time for her to go home. Anyway, she had to go and confirm Bree's man's information.

"I have to train a few days before I leave. My muscles must have rusted from being in this library," Aghäte scoffed at herself.

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For several days, Aghäte had settled in a small training room. Sword, axe, lance, dagger, the half-human got her hands on whatever weapons she had at her disposal. Her favorite weapon was still the bow, but she had to be careful. You never knew what you could encounter by making such a long trip and especially passing through dangerous lands.

During her training, Aghäte saw curious dwarves sticking their heads; some she had never seen. "But how many are there exactly?" She wondered at the end of each day. She often heard guards discussing the stupidities the dwarves were doing in Rivendell. Aghäte had eventually learned they were here after an orc attack, but she couldn't understand why they were staying so long. Perhaps some were seriously injured.

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One morning, the half-human was having breakfast in the kitchens when she saw three dwarves enter. She recognized two of the three; Kíli and Fíli. The other looked older; with a bald head and a face as severe as Thorin. They served themselves to breakfast and then Kíli sat down at the same table as Aghäte.

- "Lady Aghäte! It's been a while since we've seen you. Can we sit with you?"

- "Yes of course. Go ahead", Aghäte authorized, staring at the new dwarf.

- "Dwalin", explained Fíli, pointing at the old dwarf. "He's one of the strongest dwarves in our company! He's training us today."

- "Nice to meet you," said Aghäte. "My name is Aghäte."

Dwalin looked at her and began to eat.

- "Sorry, he doesn't like elves… And humans neither," Fíli said. "Dwalin, she's the girl who wants to fight the dragon!"

He analysed her suspiciously from head to toe. He even moved from his chair to look under the table, then burst out laughing.

- "I saw how you fight. You can't beat a dragon," Dwalin laughed.

- "Are you?" Aghäte said, tit for tat.

- "Yes, if you have to."

- "Can I integrate your training with them?" She asked, pointing to Kíli and Fíli.

- "What?!" Fíli exclaimed.

- "Oh yeah! Accept Dwalin!" Kíli waved.

- "What do I gain from training an elf?"

- "I will give you tips on how to counter elves' techniques."

- "Alright that works !"

Aghäte smiled and got up to change in her bedroom. Kíli and Fíli stared at Dwalin with incomprehension. He blurted out, shrugging his shoulders: "If we can hit an elf for free, as well enjoy!"