"This wine is really excellent."
Inside the castle, Erestor tasted a glass of wine that Garrett had personally poured for him. His hand trembled slightly as he held the cup.
Halbarad stood at the window with his hands behind his back, staring at the sky, his brows tightly furrowed, motionless.
"Stop daydreaming, co have sothing to eat," Garrett called out.
"All right, I will. I'll eat in a mont."
Garrett sighed helplessly.
Co on, you're both grown adults, do you still need soone to call you to dinner?
"If you don't co now, you'll only have jerky left."
As if he had caught a certain keyword, Halbarad imdiately responded, "It really does love jerky. When I was feeding it, it even let pet it twice."
"It also eats vegetables, cabbage, potatoes, carrots, corn... even wild grass."
Erestor chid in, "And it seed quite interested in the lembas I brought. That at least proves it's not evil."
Just like other elven creations, lembas had a repelling effect on evil beings. Even if they were starving, they wouldn't take a single bite.
"That's normal. Dragons are omnivores by nature. I was even wondering if I should start feeding it minerals once it grows larger."
Garrett brought over a plate of vegetables and casually replied.
Erestor gently set down his wine glass and took the plate of light fare.
"That's not what I ant. I just think... this goes against everything we know about dragons."
It was unbelievable.
A dragon, neither evil nor bloodthirsty, and not even greedy for gold.
Too strange.
"May I bring this information back with ?" he asked Garrett.
"Sure. It's not so big secret anyway."
With permission granted, Erestor raised his glass slightly in a toast to Garrett.
At the window, Halbarad silently lit up a bit of his treasured Old Toby, lost in thought.
"You're still smoking? Just co eat already."
Garrett's hand holding the serving spoon tightened slightly.
With that grip, it was as if he were squeezing Halbarad's conscience, he quickly put away his pipe and ca to the table to eat properly.
Two old friends visiting was a rare occasion, and Garrett didn't hold back with the al, showing off a wide range of cooking techniques.
Although his recipe knowledge hadn't offered much in terms of advanced techniques, from the content, whether it was food combinations or tools like frying pans, cutting boards, or knives... it all bore the influence of various culinary traditions he'd encountered.
Eat. Everyone, eat!
Although the al was hearty and delicious, and the wine quite strong, both Halbarad and Erestor showed remarkable restraint. Neither overdrank nor overate, just tasting a little of everything.
Garrett quietly sipped his fruit juice, reflecting.
Dwarves still made the most lively dining companions.
As long as there was a dwarf at the table, the al would never be dull or quiet. Unless that dwarf was Thorin. Or unless all the other seats were taken by Elves.
Ti passed, several days went by.
Halbarad couldn't sit still. These days, he went straight to the school to lead outdoor classes for the children, and sotis gave lectures on history, poetry, or lore.
Erestor, on the other hand, experienced various types of work, living like a regular resident like fishing, walking, farming.
Life continued like this until Garrett finished handling all the affairs of his territory, including instructing Wade and Taber about the matter with the Rangers, upcoming resource production, and notes on both allied factions and those harboring ill intentions.
Not just Wayfort, he even made ti to visit Dale and brought the updated education policy with him.
Bard would take care of everything.
Everything grew increasingly prosperous, like a land blessed by the Valar.
On this day, Garrett walked out from the Nether portal, and the three of them gathered once again.
"It's ti to set out."
"What?"
Erestor wasn't entirely sure what was happening.
"We're about to embark on a very long journey..."
"How far?"
"Far beyond the eastern reaches of Mordor."
"That's a pity. I won't be able to accompany you."
The Elf slowly shook his head.
East of Mordor was, for many reasons, not a place suitable for Elves. Appearance alone was already a problem, if the Easterlings saw an Elf approaching, their first reaction would likely be to greet them with arrows and spears.
Although he couldn't join them on their journey to Rhûn, accompanying them as far as Rivendell was still possible.
After packing their supplies, the three of them set out for Rivendell.
Three people, two horses.
The benefit of this arrangent was that Garrett didn't need to make another trip to return an extra horse.
The downside was, it was sowhat cramped.
If they were Dwarves or Hobbits, it would have been perfect.
---
"Welco, Garrett. Lord Elrond is already waiting in the hall."
At the entrance to Rivendell, as always, Lindir ca out to greet Garrett.
Garrett's arrival ant that Erestor's mission had gone quite smoothly.
"You're always welco to visit my stronghold," Garrett nodded to Lindir, left those parting words, and turned to follow him inside.
"Then I'll..."
Considering this was a eting between lords, which might involve confidential matters, Halbarad intended to excuse himself.
"No need,"
Garrett cut him off. "It's nothing serious, I just left sothing here. Once I retrieve it, we'll continue on our way."
"Very well then."
But despite what he said, things turned out sowhat different from what he expected.
Because in the reception hall, waiting for him was not only Elrond, but also a teenage boy and a woman standing behind him, presumably his mother.
The mont Halbarad saw the two, he perford a formal and respectful bow.
This was a greeting to Aragorn II, the sixteenth Chieftain of the Dúnedain, and his mother.
Gilraen, Aragorn's mother, smiled and nodded in return to Halbarad. Aragorn also offered a polite gesture of greeting.
Then he turned his gaze, lifted his head, and stared directly at Garrett, his wide eyes fixed unblinking.
So much so that it made Garrett slightly uncomfortable.
"It's been a while, my friend. I've been hearing many tales about you lately. It seems you've had quite the eventful ti."
Elrond rose and greeted him.
"It's been alright, mostly just traveling around or getting into fights with sothing." After replying, Garrett greeted him properly, "For , it truly has been a long ti."
He turned and asked, "And this child is?"
"This is Estel, the current Chieftain of the Dúnedain."
"Greetings to you, legendary wanderer, dragon-slayer, bane of evil... Lord Garrett."
The boy tried to recite all of Garrett's titles in one breath.
But after just three, he realized his mory wasn't as impressive as he thought, and his breath wasn't quite long enough either.
Well... better to just be polite.
"Hello there."
Garrett smiled, reached out, and patted Aragorn on the head, then almost tried to pick him up.
"Wait, sir, I'm no longer a small child. Please don't do that."
"Ah, my apologies."
Garrett awkwardly pulled his hand back.
What a sha, now he wouldn't be able to say to Aragorn in the future, "I carried you when you were little."
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150 = 1 bonus chapter
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100 Advance chapters!
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