Early morning, Bilbo was already wandering aimlessly along the terraces and balustrades, strolling about and admiring the scenery.
"The place where Elves dwell..."
Just as Gandalf had said, when he was young, he had once run off alone in search of the legendary Elves, going deep into the Old Forest. When he returned around midnight, his feet were covered in leaves and burrs.
It was then that the spark of adventure was first kindled in his heart. Now, having truly encountered Elves, he felt as if a childhood dream had finally been fulfilled.
Walking along and lost in thought, he suddenly noticed a broken sword mounted on the wall, prompting him to stand on tiptoe and peer upward.
Opposite the weapon was a mural depicting a figure clad in fearsome black armor, wearing a terrible helm, and wielding a cruel black mace. Most striking of all was the ring upon the figure's hand, that gleam of gold stood out vividly against the stonework.
"Hmm, rather reminds me of Garrett... but far more menacing,"
He offered his assessment.
Though honestly... Garrett's armor looked far more impressive.
Leaving the mural behind, he quickly dismissed it from his thoughts and continued to enjoy the beautiful view from another balcony.
Tap.
Light footsteps approached from behind, accompanied by Elrond's calm, reassuring voice.
"Not with your companions?"
"Er, no. They wouldn't miss me anyway. Actually, they all believe I shouldn't have come on this quest."
"Is that so?" Elrond regarded the hobbit thoughtfully and said, "I have heard that hobbits are quite adaptable."
"Really?"
"Indeed."
"I have also heard they cherish above all the comfort of their own homes."
Bilbo looked at him pensively and replied, "I've heard it's unwise to seek counsel from Elves, for they say both yes and no."
Hearing this, Elrond fell silent.
It was a verbal trap.
That statement left him only two choices, "yes" or "no." But answering either would prove Bilbo's point precisely.
After considering it seriously for several moments, he finally realized it was jest. But what he said next was no jest.
"You are most welcome to remain here, should you wish it."
As the wisest lord of Rivendell, Elrond, like the Istari, could dimly perceive certain threads of fate.
This hobbit would face many trials he should never have endured, all because of his courage, kindness, and mercy. And those very hardships would prove crucial to the destiny of Middle-earth.
With that, he turned and departed, leaving the peace of morning to Bilbo.
---
"My lord, our kitchens are overwhelmed, and we're nearly depleted of wine, how much longer will they be staying?"
It had been a fortnight since the dwarves had arrived in Rivendell, and the elves tasked with hosting them were thoroughly exhausted. Lindir, having completed his inventory of provisions, came hurriedly to Elrond for guidance.
"Continue hosting them for now. We shall address the supply shortage later."
One had to admire this elven lord's truly generous spirit, even with his realm being overrun like this, he endured it all with grace.
As he strolled through his domain, he happened to walk right into a scene of several Dwarves bathing in their fountain.
Taking a deep breath, he wondered if perhaps he should erect a "Bathing Forbidden" sign by the fountain.
In all his long years, he had truly never witnessed such a sight.
Compared to these dwarves, Garrett at least displayed proper courtesy.
Returning to his chambers, Elrond let out a sigh and took a golden apple from his robes, studying it carefully.
It was a gift from Garrett.
Setting aside the exquisite craftsmanship and precious materials employed in its making, the sheer life-force it contained made it an undeniable treasure, beautiful, and potentially life-preserving.
Truly valuable.
So much so that he hadn't yet figured out what kind of return gift would be appropriate.
This single golden apple had enhanced Rivendell's standing by thirty points among neighboring realms.
But before that...
----
On the first day of arriving in Rivendell, Garrett had gone to visit Erestor.
They hadn't seen each other for over half a year, but this elf remained unchanged, living his unchanging life. Time flowed so slowly for the Firstborn that when he beheld Garrett again, the first words he spoke were, "Oh? You've returned?"
He genuinely believed Garrett had merely stepped out for a brief while.
"Ah, yes. I'm back," Garrett played along.
"I've heard talk about your deeds in the Vales of Anduin, beyond the eastern slopes of the Misty Mountains. Many elves are curious about the Man who managed to strike terror into orc hearts in such short time. But while they discuss mere rumors, I can say, I know him personally."
"Ah, well..."
Garrett felt somewhat embarrassed. This elf certainly possessed a gift for flattery.
"Oh right, I actually came to see you about something."
He took out a golden apple and solemnly handed it to Erestor.
"To thank you for your hospitality last time, I brought a small gift. I hope you'll like it. In critical moments, I believe it might be of help to you."
"This..." Erestor examined the golden apple and shook his head. "It's far too precious. I merely performed my duty as host. This isn't necessary."
"Honestly, your excessive modesty gives me a headache sometimes," Garrett said, as he firmly pressed the apple into Erestor's hands.
"Let this serve as a symbol of our friendship."
"Friendship, indeed..."
Erestor gently cradled the golden apple. Though elves typically favored silver, they didn't spurn finely wrought items of other materials.
It was evident that he truly liked the gift.
"Were I a maiden of our people, I might enact one of those tales of elf and mortal romance with you."
Pffft.
Garrett nearly choked on his own breath.
"No, no, no, no, maybe you should just give me the apple back..."
"Ha! I jest. But this gift is indeed precious. Should you ever face trouble, promise me you won't bear it alone."
"I'll remember this gift."
Garrett wasn't certain if it was merely his imagination, but as Erestor spoke, there seemed to be a faint melancholy in his tone.
Elves and Men.
Indeed.
He couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Elves had endless lifespans, as long as nothing unexpected happened, they could live forever. But the span of mortal men rarely extended beyond a century.
All friendships with the short-lived races would eventually become sorrowful memories.
Emotions were heavy for the Firstborn, which was why some elves could even perish from grief, their lives fading with their hearts.
That said, while human lifespans were typically limited... with Garrett, well, that remained uncertain. But all speculation required time to prove.
"Ah, don't overthink it. Everything's fine right now, isn't it?" Garrett said lightly.
In any case, judging by the response, golden apples did indeed harmonize with elven sensibilities, making them most suitable gifts for the Firstborn.
So all in all, not bad.