"My dear friend, this is truly heartbreaking." Elladan spoke in exaggerated tones, yet his face bore not the slightest trace of sorrow. "And to think we didn't return to Rivendell, coming specially to help you."
"This is really, truly an unexpected surprise!" Aedric's grin nearly reached his ears. "How'd you know I was here?"
"On our way here we encountered Halladrak, who told us you were investigating the orc situation in this area." Elrohir's face was full of smiles, saying with considerable satisfaction: "After we parted, it seems you've done some very good things indeed."
It appeared they'd truly befriended a person of noble character! What one said mattered little—what one did was most important!
"Not at all, not at all." Aedric scratched his head embarrassedly, gesturing: "Please, sit quickly."
Then a hint of puzzlement crossed his smiling face as he asked: "I remember your mission was tracking orcs to find who was behind kidnapping Isa and Carl? Did you find them?!"
They'd returned too quickly. Even if elves could sleep while running and possessed extraordinary stamina, two months seemed too short. Basically just enough for a round trip?
This question brought a shadow across the three elves' faces.
"No." Luna shook her head lightly, replying dejectedly: "We followed the orcs' trail all the way to Minhiriath, encountering multiple ambushes. After fighting them off, we continued pursuit to the Lone-lands."
"In the end, those orcs escaped into Misty Mountains tunnels. Elladan and I risked pursuing them inside, but the situation was complex—we lost their trail after several turns."
"More accurately, there were tracks everywhere—we followed the wrong ones." Elrohir supplemented from the side: "I've dealt with orcs countless times. These orcs from the Lone-lands appear more cunning than northern ones, or perhaps they have an extremely crafty leader."
"They repeatedly set up intercepts along the way, preventing us from tracking to their lair."
"That's quite possible." Aedric replied while recalling: "When I was captured by orcs, I heard them say their commanding leader was a sorcerer. He also knew something about human experimentation—clearly not an easy opponent."
"Hey, you fellows, don't think so much about it." Elladan shrugged. "We left a team investigating nearby—they'll show their hand eventually." He looked at Aedric: "Got anything to eat? We came too hastily and forgot to request supplies from Halladrak."
"Certainly." Aedric produced his enhanced honey cakes, passing them to the three elves.
Luna tried a small bite, then smiled, her chewing speed imperceptibly quickening.
Aedric asked from the side: "Delicious?"
"Very delicious." Luna nodded gently.
"If you like it, you can take more when you leave."
"Leave?" Elladan repeated softly, a strange smile appearing on his face.
Before Aedric could wonder, Elrohir finished his cake in two or three bites, then stood and pulled Aedric aside to see what level his Celorn had reached.
Like a mentor long unseen, eager to assess his student's progress. Aedric naturally agreed wholeheartedly.
Taking up Mithreleth, he demonstrated once by the campfire. Compared to two months ago, his movements were more skilled, the sword's cold radiance continuous like rushing river water cascading from canyon heights.
During the performance, sounds resembling waterfall thunder could faintly be heard.
"Excellent." Elrohir spoke with both relief and surprise: "I never expected your progress to be so rapid! By normal logic, having established a connection with Arda, you should've gained some special abilities."
"I have." Aedric stopped his movements, breathing slightly before replying: "Two months ago, I was wounded by a Barrow-wight. If not for a cool force within me resisting it, I'd have died long ago. Moreover, my strength and stamina far exceed what they were before."
"Your progress is truly too rapid." A hint of envy actually appeared on Elrohir's face: "Perhaps this is you humans' strength—though life is brief, you can blaze brilliantly like meteors across the sky in an extremely short time."
Hearing this, Aedric felt both amused and helpless, replying: "Don't say such things."
Except for a few exceptionally remarkable people, who wouldn't want to live longer? He glanced at Luna, who happened to be looking this way, her eyes shining with some special light.
I'm no exception either. Next time I'll exchange for the Thin Númenórean Bloodline too. If possible, it's best to get the most complete bloodline. Live five hundred years first.
The longer one lives, the more time to understand this world!
"Continue practicing. If you can reach my father's level, you might even command familiar rivers to wash away enemies daring to invade Rivendell!" Elrohir patted Aedric's shoulder, departing with a smile.
He'd witnessed it! The scene of Nine Nazgûl being swept away by river water immediately flashed through Aedric's mind.
Yet Luna's voice reached his ears: "I envy you."
"Envy me? What's there to envy about a human?" Aedric turned around, his face full of confusion.
"You can learn Celorn—I can't. Every time, I can only see the person and the sword, nothing else."
"Perhaps I'm just lucky." Aedric's mouth curved up, feeling somewhat proud, then asked: "Is there only one practice method? Nothing else?"
"There is." Luna looked up at the stars, her pale face glowing faintly: "There's also Gilthilia, brought from Aman to Middle-earth by my people, supposedly originating from great Varda, Queen of the Stars."
"Then why don't you practice, Gilthilia?" The moment he spoke, Aedric realized he'd misspoken. If it existed to practice, why wouldn't one practice it?
Indeed, Luna smiled sweetly, looking at Aedric: "I'd like to practice it too, but unfortunately it's been lost. According to Lord Elrond, the last Noldorin elf who could teach Gilthilia died in the Sack of Eregion. Aedric, do you know Eregion?"
"Of course." Aedric said unhesitatingly: "The city of craftsmen. It's said there were many master elven smiths there, even forming a Jewellers' Guild."
"Aedric." Luna laughed, her eyes curved like a gleaming gray boat: "Sometimes I feel you're not like a human at all, but rather like those wizards. The knowledge you possess nearly exceeds this genuine elf's."
"Spending more time in libraries does have some benefits." Aedric finally realized he'd been showing off beyond bounds.
Eregion was a city existing in the Second Age, also destroyed in the Second Age. An ordinary human, even a noble, shouldn't know such things.
Immediately Aedric changed the subject: "Anyway, I'll be staying in Eriador recently, quite possibly making a trip to Hollin. Perhaps I'll discover something—when I visit the Grey Havens sometime, I'll bring it to you. Then you must thank me properly."
"No need." Luna shook her head: "I can go with you."
"Together?" Aedric was puzzled: "Aren't you returning to the Grey Havens?"
"No." Luna blinked, looking somewhat mischievous: "Two months ago, Lord Círdan told me that before leaving the Grey Havens, I should experience more in the human world. When I return to Aman later, I'll have enough beautiful memories to cherish of where I was born."
"Speaking of which, you seem to be my only human friend. So I plan to stay and be with you."
"Ah?" Aedric was stunned—he truly hadn't expected things to develop this way.
Moreover, if elves wanted to travel, shouldn't they directly choose Rangers?
Luna tilted her head, asking puzzledly: "What, don't you welcome me joining your team?"
"Of course not." Aedric shook his head, extending his right hand with a smile: "Then in the adventures ahead, I'll be counting on you."
He hadn't figured out why Luna was doing this. But this was certainly a good thing!
[Note]
[Or perhaps, for you, this should be your first true teammate?]
"Mm." Luna also extended her right hand, looking at Aedric's smiling face while recalling Lord Círdan's complete words. More precisely, his counsel.
"I understand that in those extremely critical circumstances, Aedric's willingness to risk his life to protect you all shows his precious character. Combined with his demeanor and fluent Sindarin, he easily inspires good feelings."
"But Luna, relationships between elves and humans have no future. Lúthien and Beren, Tuor and Idril—even their best outcome was sailing west with unknown results. Love is thus; friendship likewise."
"Your parents entrusted you to my care before departing. I can't..."
"Lord Círdan, I know human lifespans are brief. I only wish to accompany Aedric through his life's journey."
"You will be hurt. For us, spiritual wounds are far more painful than physical ones."
"I understand." Then, Luna's tone was resolute. Now, looking at Aedric's smiling face, her gaze grew even more determined.
"Alright, you two!" Elladan's voice interrupted the memory: "Do we still deal with these Woody End orcs or not?"
"Coming." Aedric called back loudly, releasing hands before saying to Luna: "Let's go."
"Mm." Both came to the camp center, where Morgan repeated what he'd witnessed once more.
"The numbers are somewhat large, but not impossible to handle." Elrohir pondered briefly before speaking: "According to Morgan, they can't yet stably obtain food, relying on hunting, gathering, stealing, and raiding to fill their bellies. We can completely use this point to maneuver with them in Woody End forest."
"Moreover," Elladan's expression filled with disgust and hatred as he spoke, as if the creatures he was about to mention deserved no respect whatsoever.
"Northern orcs are mostly not very intelligent. They act on instinct—bloodthirsty and greedy when facing the weak, yet cowardly when facing powerful enemies. Once the situation becomes critical, they'll descend into chaos themselves. Then we need only deliver a thunderous blow, and they'll scatter like birds and beasts!"
"But we only have six people." Seeing the twins' confident appearance, Aedric had to speak up as a reminder.
He believed in the twins' strength and their understanding of orcs, but the dozens-to-one numerical disadvantage was just being ignored so nakedly? Surely not everyone present was Legolas?!
Aedric wasn't cowardly or afraid of death—he simply didn't want to fight such a reckless battle.
"It's fine, Aedric. Halladrak's gathering kinsmen—soon more will join us." Luna reminded quietly from the side.
"How many?"
"About ten."
"Let's do it!" "Good, then let's discuss our next plan!" Elrohir said with grave expression.
At dawn, though the sun remained on the world's other side, it had begun displaying its matchless might inherited from golden Laurelin. Warm, brilliant radiance formed countless rays, dispelling night.
In the forest, a very ordinary Snaga lay prone on the ground. His name was Flat-nose.
Originally, he had no name at all. Until one day, his captain lost a fight with another captain and returned seeking someone to vent on, kicking him in the face. From then on, Flat-nose had a name.
That day, he felt both happy and sad, and sad, and sad. It really hurt too much!
Since opening his eyes, hunger had always troubled Flat-nose. He'd followed his chieftain from the Misty Mountains to the Lone-lands, then from the Lone-lands wandering to the Vales of Anduin.
During this time, they fought other orc tribes. Snatched food from wargs' mouths. Raided human villages, stealing livestock, abducting children, enslaving captives. Finally settling in a forest cave.
Naturally, hunger still troubled Flat-nose. The chieftain had somehow captured several monsters, both fierce and massive. Just feeding them required dispatching many Snaga to seek food. Numbers even exceeded his counting limit.
Never mind, there was also a pile of pets to feed! The current situation was whoever couldn't find food became food. Recently, Flat-nose was among them.
He looked up at the great fireball nearly reaching the treetops, feeling somewhat anxious. All night he'd had no harvest. Now was his only chance.
He gently pushed aside bushes blocking his view, staring intently at a fat rabbit eating grass. His black eyes filled with greed. They'd found a bunch of rabbit warrens!
"This is my food. Besides tribute, I can keep two legs." Flat-nose thought this, then suddenly pounced.
Innate survival instincts made the instantly alert rabbit bolt, limbs flying as it kicked up dust. Flat-nose missed, but didn't give up.
He exerted his legs, kicking a large dent in the grass before leaping out again like a toad.
Swish! A light sound, leaves swaying slightly as a dark green arrow passed through light beams filtering between branches, striking Flat-nose's shoulder squarely.
"Ahh!" Intense pain made him emit a shrill howl.
The fat rabbit vanished without a trace while footsteps and other orcs' curses quickly arose nearby.
"Flat-nose, what're you yelling about?"
"I'd finally targeted that rabbit, and you scared it away!"
"Pay for my bird!"
"Having a name makes you special?"
Voices drew closer as seven or eight orcs appeared throughout the forest, most carrying weapons and rabbits, walking this way. They heard sounds but saw no figures.
Then Flat-nose in the grass recovered from severe pain, stopping his screams to wail: "Someone shot me with an arrow!"
"Who?" "Where?"
The words barely left his mouth when other Snaga hastily dropped their prey, raising curved blades, short spears, and bows.