-General-
Oblivious to Aldril's thoughts, the expedition party continued their journey. They had just left Hobbiton, and it was only noon. The entire group was cheerful, buoyed by the first day of their grand adventure.
However, the originally clear sky began to cloud over, and soon a heavy rain started to fall, as if welcoming them to their inaugural day of travel. Just after emerging from the forest, every member of the team looked like a drowned rat.
The sudden downpour caused Bilbo's enthusiasm for the adventure to wane. "If we keep walking in this rain, we might get sick. Why don't we find some shelter?" he suggested, blinking raindrops from his eyes.
Thorin responded with an indifferent tone. "Mr. Baggins, this is just a summer rain. It won't last long, and besides, there's no suitable place to take shelter. Just wait for it to pass."
Echoing Thorin's sentiments, Kili turned to Bilbo with a mocking look. "A little rain won't affect us, Bilbo. On the contrary, a bit of exposure will make you stronger."
Skeptical, Bilbo looked at Aldril for confirmation. "Is it true that rain will make you stronger?"
Shaking his head, Aldril decided to have a little fun and offered Bilbo a white lie: "Maybe. After all, I've been on trips with plenty of rain, and look how strong I am now."
Nodding, Bilbo tilted his face to the sky, letting the raindrops hit him directly, as if accepting the challenge of the weather. Many of the dwarves began to laugh at Bilbo's behavior, causing him to look at them strangely.
"You're too innocent, Bilbo. Of course, we were joking," Aldril said, chuckling and shaking his head.
Hearing Aldril's words, Bilbo frowned slightly, annoyed by the prank.
"Don't overthink it, Bilbo. This is part of the adventure; even more extreme climates await us," Gandalf reminded him.
"Well, it looks like the adventure is a little different than I imagined," Bilbo muttered.
...
The rain intensified even further, making the expedition members uneasy. They had expected the rain to stop within a few hours, but instead, it only grew heavier.
"Hey, Mr. Gandalf, can't you make the rain stop?" Dori asked aloud, no longer able to endure the downpour.
"These heavy rains won't stop until they pass naturally. If you wish to change the weather, you should seek out other wizards," Gandalf replied, running a hand over his face to wipe away the droplets obscuring his vision.
"Others?" Bilbo, riding beside Gandalf, piped up. "Other what?"
"Are there other wizards besides you?"
Gandalf turned his head to look at Bilbo. "Of course, there are others. There are five of us in all. The most powerful among us is Saruman, the White Wizard. There are the two blue-robed wizards, though I have forgotten their names. The other is Radagast, the Brown Wizard."
It was true; Gandalf genuinely couldn't recall the names of the blue-robed wizards. He only remembered that they had traveled east with Saruman, beyond the Sea of Rhûn, and he had no idea what had become of them.
"So, what do the others do? Are they still travelers like you?" Bilbo, ever the curious hobbit, continued to pepper Gandalf with questions about wizards. Good-natured as he was, Gandalf patiently answered Bilbo's various inquiries with a smile.
Aldril, a keen seeker of knowledge, didn't miss a beat of the conversation between Bilbo and Gandalf. He even joined in, asking a question that had lingered since he remembered a white bird from his childhood. "By the way, Gandalf, I have a question. Do you know anything about a white bird that shines like a star even in broad daylight?"
At Aldril's question, Gandalf looked at him thoughtfully, stroking his wet beard. "Hmm, let me think. Only the Lady Elwing the Beautiful comes to mind—a woman blessed by the great Vala Ulmo. She was gifted with the ability to become a white bird that radiates beauty and a light comparable to the stars."
"She is the wife of Eärendil, of whom I have already told you, and therefore the mother of Lord Elrond of Rivendell—why do you ask?" After his explanation, Gandalf looked at Aldril with a questioning gaze.
"No reason. As a child, I thought I saw a bird just like it, but I think it was just my imagination." Responding a bit effusively, Aldril said no more on the subject, but he pondered Gandalf's words. Piecing all the clues together, Aldril felt he was close to discovering his true identity. He needed to search for answers and would use the short time the expedition was in Rivendell to find them.
Gandalf knew Aldril was holding something back, but he didn't press him. He, too, was beginning to suspect that Aldril's origins might not be so simple.
...
Half an hour later, just as Thorin had predicted, the heavy rain that had discomforted the group finally ceased. The dark clouds began to disperse, and the sun's rays broke through, shining brightly upon the land.
With the rain gone, the atmosphere became more lively. The dwarves started joking with each other about how drenched they looked. They also kept a watchful eye out for any wild beasts that might provide an extra portion of food, should they dare to attack.
Observing the more cheerful mood, Aldril slowed his pace, eager to learn more about adventurers. He approached the dwarf Balin. "Mr. Balin, I hope you can tell me about the adventurer Tindómiel."
In a cheerful mood, Balin recalled that this young man had been very interested in the adventurer the night before. He gladly began, "Certainly! I'll start by saying that Tindómiel is the daughter of Elros, first king of Númenor. There are many documented adventures of hers. The most famous was when she faced a great basilisk from the east, a huge creature capable of murder with its gaze."
"Over the years, she performed more feats, such as the time she confronted a fearsome dragon from the south, where she earned the name 'the Dragon Slayer.'"
"Beyond her exploits, her beauty was said to be comparable to that of the beautiful elf Galadriel, and her hair was described as black as night, shining like starlight."
And so, Balin continued to describe various feats of Tindómiel, while Aldril listened happily, feeling an inexplicable sense of familiarity every time the adventurer's name was spoken. He was a little disappointed to learn that she had disappeared a few years ago, and no one knew what had become of her—whether she married or had children. Due to her great deeds, the title of "Adventurer" became famous, yet very few people have ever held it.
....
-One mounth-
One month later, deep within a thick forest, Aldril held his bow, carefully hidden behind a tree. Not far away, the dwarf Kili, also wielding a bow and arrow, crouched cautiously behind the undergrowth. A little ahead of them, seven or eight sturdy deer grazed. Their ingrained instinct made the deer look up and around them very cautiously.
Aldril raised his hand to signal Kili. Kili nodded in response, positioned himself in a suitable hiding spot, and waited. After a few seconds of silence, Aldril seized the moment when the deer lowered their heads to continue eating and released his arrows.
"Shis," "Shis."
The two arrows shot forth in a straight line, striking the heads of two deer. Kili was not far behind; his arrow hit another deer in the stomach, wounding it. The other deer, startled by the attack, bolted and ran away.
When the two returned to the temporary rest camp carrying three deer, the others greeted them with great joy.
"It's been a month since we left the Shire, and something tells me that sooner or later, we'll meet the orcs," Aldril thought to himself as he left the deer for the other dwarves to prepare supper.
"Soon, the chase will begin, and Gandalf will lead us to Rivendell, where I will find answers to my questions," he murmured, looking at the horizon where the sun was beginning to set.
***
A surprise chapter! In this chapter I have given many clues about Aldril, so comment your deductions! I also take this opportunity to thank immensely my patreon subscribers, your support makes me take this novel more seriously and be constant.
Remember that you can support me on patreon where there are 6 chapters ahead and where I will upload my Resident Evil fic.
"patreon.com/Mrnevercry" Help me to reach 100 subs even if they are free!
Enjoy the chapter