-General-
Many might think that Aldril would have become arrogant with the fame and power now coursing through his body. Oh, how wrong they were! It was quite the opposite. Aldril had not let himself be blinded by power or the influence he wielded; on the contrary, he had become even kinder and more helpful to those in need. That was why songs and tales about him were heard everywhere. His figure, in particular, was seen as a beacon of hope for children afflicted by the ongoing wars against the orcs.
"Dragon slayer! It's been a long time!" shouted an elderly man who recognized the figure disembarking from the transport boat.
"Good morning, Lars. It has indeed been a while, but you still look the same," Aldril replied kindly.
"Not at all! My back starts to kill me whenever I carry anything heavy. I'm getting old!" Lars retorted as he secured the boat. "You're the one who hasn't changed a bit; I still see you as a lively young man."
For the curious, the City of the Valley had a river—a prosperous one—through which goods were transported by water from Mirkwood to Esgaroth, and from Esgaroth to the city itself. That river, once dry during Smaug's reign, had come back to life. Now, its waters flowed with the purity and sparkle they once boasted in the past.
"You think so?" Aldril asked as he helped Lars unload the wine barrels. Though it wasn't necessary, since several young men—until then struck silent upon seeing Aldril—snapped out of their awe and began handling the unloading.
Lars, after stretching with a slight groan from his back, looked up. He was a man barely five foot three, a height inherited from his grandmother… a dwarf. Yes, strange as it seemed, his grandfather had managed to woo a dwarf woman. Now, compared to Aldril's towering six-foot-five inches, Lars looked more like a small child staring up at his father. He had to crane his neck nearly all the way back to find the gentle face of the dragon slayer.
"Yes, you look the same… but a bit taller," Lars said, pausing as he looked Aldril up and down. "Well, definitely taller," he added with a nod, confirming his own judgment. "By the way, where's the elf you always travel with?"
"She's in Thranduil's realm. She stayed to celebrate the forest's recovery," Aldril explained as the two began walking toward the City of the Valley.
"Blessed be the Valar!" exclaimed Lars with cheerful joy. "That is news worth celebrating. Had I known, I'd have sent the best fish in the valley for her feast!"
Such news seemed to take a few years off his appearance—or at least that's what his straighter posture implied, lacking the usual curve of his back.
"Ah, you certainly have a knack for picking the best fish," Aldril said, remembering how the man had become well-liked among the elves. The fish he traded with them were of exceptional quality: delicious, fresh, and packed with protein. Without a doubt, it had earned him the right to oversee the cargo and the port.
"I've got some good ones, fresh from this morning," Lars said proudly. "Stop by my house if you'd like. I'm sure my children would love to meet you."
"Another time," Aldril replied with a smile. "Today I'm just here to greet Bard, and then I'll head to Erebor."
Lars nodded.
"Erebor?" he whispered, bringing a hand to his chin. "Well… it's been a few months since I visited my grandmother. Mind if I tag along? I want my little ones to spend some time with her."
"Of course, go get ready. I'll leave after greeting Bard," said Aldril. The two had already passed under the archway that led into the city when Aldril turned to Lars. "I'll see you at the main gate in two hours."
Nodding, Lars said goodbye to Aldril and made his way home.
And the work at the port? Bah! He could take some time off. He left his son-in-law in charge, trusting everything would be fine during his absence.
As he watched Lars leave, Aldril set off toward the city center, where, even from that distance, the town hall could be seen: a finely built structure of stone, wood, and quartz. That's where Bard lived with his family, and where the descendants of Bain and Tilda would one day live as well.
Upon entering the city, Aldril came across a thriving market, overflowing with vegetables, fruits, and fresh meats. How did he know they were fresh? His sharp and sensitive sense of smell could clearly detect the freshness of the produce.
The City of the Valley, once in ruins and plagued by charred structures, had been completely transformed over the past ten years. That reconstruction had been made possible thanks to the tireless efforts of the survivors of Lake Town and the generous aid of the dwarves from Erebor.
The path to the town hall was straight. As Aldril walked, he could hear the laughter of the locals, children playing, and—surprisingly—saw dwarves and men sitting together, joking and drinking in small taverns that had opened along the slopes of the marketplace.
The ground, once cracked and treacherous, had been replaced with fine tiles carved and shaped into checkered patterns. These not only made it easier for carts to pass but also offered comfort underfoot. They were special stones that seemed to soften the weight of each step, providing a surprisingly soft surface for rock.
In the midst of his admiration, a small child, holding a loaf of bread, stumbled against Aldril's leg. Before the boy could bounce off and fall, Aldril gently caught him.
However, the child's bread slipped to the ground just as a cart passed, crushing it beyond saving.
"Careful, little one," said Aldril kindly. But his words didn't reach the boy, who could only stare sadly at the ruined bread at his feet.
With an ironic smile, Aldril shook his head and, saying nothing more, reached toward his storage ring. From it, he drew ten gleaming gold coins. Then, he gently took the boy's right hand and placed the coins into it.
"Here. Buy yourself all the bread you want."
With that, he left the boy, who stared in stunned silence at the coins in his hand. When he finally thought to thank him, the man had already vanished, lost in the crowd of the bustling market.
You may wonder: why didn't anyone recognize Aldril? Well, those who might have were mostly older adults, too busy tending to their customers. And the market's noisy bustle made it hard for people to pay attention to those around them.
Still, that didn't stop a few curious children from approaching him, intrigued by his unusual height. The ten years that had passed had helped him learn to control his imposing presence. Added to that was the calm and kindness that radiated from his smile—enough to put even protective mothers at ease when their children approached a stranger. In fact, some mothers came up to him wearing their best smiles, asking if he was lost or needed guidance. Their maternal instinct had marked the dragon slayer as a very kind man.
(It wasn't because Aldril was extremely attractive, of course not...)
"Don't worry, I know the way," Aldril would repeat to every young lady who approached, politely turning down the women's proactive advances.
He had let his guard down. Having grown used to living among elves—the most beautiful beings in all Middle-earth—he had forgotten the effect his own beauty had on human women, both young and mature.
(It's not that such behaviors hadn't happened during his adventures… it's just that Tauriel always discreetly took care of steering away the women who approached with ulterior motives.)
But now, without Tauriel at his side, Aldril found himself in very different situations. Women "accidentally" falling into his arms, others intentionally dropping their belongings right in front of him, bending over in the most unsubtle ways, exposing the curves of their backsides beneath their skirts.
All of it was met only with an ironic smile from Aldril. His beauty and gentleness—underneath which lay a fierce nature—triggered something in many women's instincts, as if a voice inside urged them to seek something more… physical.
Such behaviors were not unfamiliar to those who lived among elves: their mere presence, their aura, inspired admiration and desire. However, to elves, these human behaviors seemed crude and lacking the grace they held dear. For that reason, they rarely allowed themselves to be tempted.
"What a man!" exclaimed a woman with curly hair and a red dress, while her mother calmly packed apples into a basket.
With a dramatic turn, the young woman looked at her mother.
"I think I've found the one who can replace Fairus in my heart," she declared solemnly, almost as if pronouncing a truth.
Her gaze fell intensely on Aldril, who continued to walk calmly, gracefully evading the advances of the women crossing his path.
The young woman's mother lifted her gaze and squinted, carefully observing the figure walking away with an elegant stride. She took note of the two crossed swords on his back, the black hair that fell like a shadow, and the almost otherworldly serenity of his movements. That was all the confirmation she needed.
"Leave him be," she said firmly, stopping her enthusiastic daughter, who frowned in visible frustration.
"Why?" the girl replied sharply, crossing her arms.
"He's out of your league, dear," the older woman answered calmly as she picked up the items her daughter had dropped in her excitement.
"Mother!" the girl exclaimed, indignant. "Why would you say such a thing? I'm beautiful! And my purity remains untouched. Why would a man so… so perfect be beyond my reach?"
The older woman let out a long sigh.
"Do you remember the day you ran off with that fool and narrowly escaped the destruction of Lake Town by pure luck? Well, dear… that perfect man"—she said, motioning subtly with her head—"he's the one who killed the dragon that day."
A wistful smile touched her lips as she began to walk away, leaving her daughter standing in the middle of the market, eyes wide as saucers.
"And besides," she added over her shoulder, not pausing, "his partner is an elf. And not just any elf—she's the princess of the Mirkwood Kingdom… so, for the sake of your delicate little heart, don't get your hopes up."
The young woman completely ignored her mother's last words. She turned toward the direction Aldril had taken and cried out, filled with surprise and delight:
"Dragon slayer!!!!"
Her shout didn't get lost in the noise of the market; on the contrary, it cut through the air like a bell ringing in silence. For a moment, everything stopped. Those who knew the legend—and what Aldril looked like—lifted their eyes, scanning the area anxiously… until they saw him. There he was, walking calmly toward the town hall.
And like a spark setting dry forest alight, a human wave erupted.
Children, youths, and adults began to run toward him with enthusiasm. Some called out his name, others simply laughed, while the smallest ones stretched out their arms, trying to reach him.
Aldril, upon hearing the young woman's cry, tilted his head and let out an exasperated smile as he saw the incoming stampede.
"Good thing I added an extra hour to my visit," he muttered to himself, opening his arms in an attempt to calm the enthusiastic citizens crowding around him.
...
15 advanced chapters in: "[email protected]/Mrnevercry"