Transmigrate to the world of The Lord of the Rings?

[General POV]

"I see a good ruler in him," said Thranduil to those present in the tent. "But he still needs to mature a little," he concluded, turning around and fixing his piercing blue, crystal-like eyes on Aldril, whose attention remained focused on the prominent exit of the tent.

"He is young; he will grow and learn," Aldril responded in his usual calm and serene tone, as if the events leading up to his departure had not affected him. He stood firm, like a wall of bronze.

"Your words are like those of an old man who has lived through countless winters, dragon slayer," Thranduil added with a casual laugh, now directing his attention to a bottle of elven wine crafted in the depths of his vast kingdom. "It's as if the battle with the dragon has granted you the wisdom of an elder," he continued while pouring the smooth, reddish liquid, reminiscent of the fruit it was made from, into two gleaming, pure silver goblets, the wine flowing like a calming river.

It was a gesture of goodwill from the King of the Woodland Realm, a ruler with a past filled with victories and shadows. His wise eyes, rich with life's experiences, watched contemplatively as the wine was poured. Once finished, he took one of the fine silver goblets and offered it to Aldril, who maintained a polite smile in response to the wise elf king's comments.

"If you don't mind, I would like to know, what was it like to fight such a creature?" Thranduil asked as he handed the goblet to Aldril. The latter gently swirled the wine in small circles, admiring how it moved like a song within the cup.

"I must say, it was an extremely challenging experience," Aldril finally answered after a brief silence. "I came close to death, King Thranduil... That fall broke my bones, and my consciousness drifted into the heavens," he recounted with a contemplative gaze, lost in memory.

"Soft meadows, with petals that delicately caressed my being, obstructed my vision; the stars in the firmament illuminated the place," he paused, leaving Thranduil curious before taking a sip of the fine wine to moisten his dry throat.

"It was then that, in my vision, the most ethereal woman I have ever seen appeared before me. Her mere presence radiated warmth and tranquility, her silky hair seemingly woven from the stars themselves, with the occasional gleam of comets in her beautiful eyes. There, before me, stood Vala Varda, one of the most beautiful and powerful of the Valar!" he concluded with grandeur in his voice.

How could one not gain wisdom after being graced by the presence of one of the most significant figures in the world? Adding that the blood of Smaug had given him a little more wisdom than usual, he was still young and prone to mistakes. Though not as wise as Gandalf or the elves of countless winters, he possessed a maturity akin to a man who had seen sixty winters.

"Elentári," murmured King Thranduil in disbelief. His words grew short. What could he say? Even with his wisdom, he could not find the right words to express his thoughts. "You must hold great importance if the creator of the stars was present in your moment of agony," he said, his throat suddenly feeling dry for some reason.

"Yes, it seems Middle-earth still has need of my presence."

----

Night had claimed the sunlight, the bright stars illuminating the dark sky, untouched by the vile, watchful eyes of dark forces. Echoes of fatigue and joy resonated through the city of Dale; for a moment, it felt as if the past had come alive, allowing cheerful voices to fill the gatherings in what was once a prosperous city.

"I was there, trembling with fear before the dragon's majesty," one of the surviving guards recounted to the crowd gathered around a crackling bonfire that lit up the central square of the town hall. Among the men were some elves, mingling, laughing, and paying attention to the guard's tale.

From a distance, Bard observed, his face filled with mixed emotions. He would not deny that he was glad for the high number of survivors, but a hidden fury burned within him. All of this could have been avoided if not for the dwarves' greed. But there was no turning back now. At dawn, he would personally go to claim what Thorin Oakenshield had promised. He would not consider him the King under the Mountain until he proved himself as such.

On the other side of the valley, in a fork where ruins were gathered, a group of three dwarves sneaked around. Their small stature allowed them to go unnoticed by the guards. Little was said about their skill in hiding, one they had honed throughout their journey.

"Where could Aldril be?" Kili whispered, fearing that external ears might hear him and discover their presence.

"I don't know, but I hate hiding from these elves," Dwalin added, walking between the two brothers. His face, perpetually twisted into a frown of anger, reflected his disdain for elves, and even more so the fact that he now had to hide from them to avoid being caught.

"Stop complaining, Dwalin. This isn't the time for it; stay more alert," Fili said from behind him. Unlike the grumpy dwarf—his usual nickname for Dwalin—Fili didn't harbor as much animosity toward elves. His youth meant he bore no deep grudges against them, though he did feel some bitterness for having been imprisoned without cause.

Silence fell over them as their hurried steps revealed the urgency with which they searched for their friend. How could they know he was still alive? "He surely died against the dragon," other dwarves might say if they didn't know Aldril. But not these three. Their faith in his strength and instincts told them Aldril was alive.

And as if their thoughts were manifesting, they spotted him in the distance. Aldril was walking toward one of the ruined houses, inside of which a small fire burned, providing warmth against the biting cold.

"There he is," Kili whispered joyfully. Were it not for the inappropriate timing, he would have danced and sung in Dwarvish.

Grinning from ear to ear, Fili clapped both Kili and Dwalin on the shoulders. "Let's go, let's go," he urged with excitement. They advanced quickly toward the house where Aldril rested, only to hear booming laughter filled with joy.

Cautiously, the dwarves moved along the rocky, blackened path that still bore the scars of ancient tragedies. Peeking carefully, they spotted a figure easily recognizable by his gray robe.

"It seems our friends are spying on us. Why don't they join us?" said a vibrant, joking voice, brimming with life despite the white hair and beard of its owner. Aldril, like the old man, turned his gaze toward where the dwarves hid. His instincts, now sharpened by the blood of Smaug, had immediately detected the group approaching his resting place.

"Of course, join us," Aldril said with a radiant, cheerful smile, his good mood evident.

"Aldril! / Gandalf!"

Kili and Fili exclaimed with overflowing joy, rushing inside without hesitation and laughing as they entered. Yes, the old man was Gandalf, who had returned just a few hours earlier with his faithful companion, Shadow Star. The horse now rested outside, unseen by the dwarves as its form blended seamlessly into the night.

"It's good to see you again," Aldril said, standing to let the dwarves embrace him. The atmosphere shifted in an instant, becoming one of pure joy. Though their separation had been brief, it felt like years to them. Finally breaking free of Aldril's embrace, the dwarves turned their attention to Gandalf.

"Our great wizard friend has returned!" Kili exclaimed, leaping and dancing. Now, nothing stopped him from expressing his happiness. Fili joined his brother in dance, celebrating their reunion with abandon.

Only Dwalin remained still, his mind focused on their mission. Yes, he was glad for the reunion, but duty called. Aldril noticed this, his eyes narrowing in observation. Sensing Aldril's gaze, Dwalin stepped forward.

"Aldril... we need to talk."

***

Filthy orcs!

I've been sick with the flu and coughing, it sucks to write like this, but I can't leave them without their food, who knows what stupid things they'll do when they get hungry.

15 Advance chapters in "[email protected]/Mrnevercry"