One Ring to troll them all

Kementári's Song in the Hall of Fire

Contrary to my expectations - as I thought it was time to show the map to the Lonely Mountain to Elrond - after dinner the Lord of Rivendell led us all to the Hall of Fire instead, a large room in Elrond's house - yes, he did have a house exclusively for himself and his family; after all, he was the Lord - furnished with numerous comfortable benches adorned with plush cushions, armchairs, tables, and, most notably, a grand hearth situated between intricately carved pillars at the center of the room. This hearth illuminated and warmed the entire space.

Upon our arrival, elves were already playing harps, and I caught a glimpse of Lindir among them, playing a flute. There weren't that many musical instruments, though. I'd say the dwarves had a broader array of instruments than the elves. In fact, Thorin and the others had brought along a harp, fiddles, flutes, a drum, clarinets, and viols. It was as though we had come prepared for a concert rather than a potentially deadly mission!

That made me remember the quena flute I had crafted during our journey here. I wasn't certain if I could muster the courage to perform in front of so many people, though. It had been years since I last played, so I would probably be a little rusty.

Bilbo was utterly captivated by the Hall's ambiance. He kept looking at our surroundings with a joyful glint in his eyes, turning his head all the while in order to observe everything and everyone passing by. It was endearingly charming. The elves seemed to share this sentiment, if the fond and curious looks they sent him were any indication. It was clear they were not used to seeing hobbits around these parts. Hobbits were a secretive folk, after all, and they rarely ventured beyond the Shire's borders, so most of the elves may have never met one before.

While certain dwarves, notably Dwalin and Thorin, stubbornly pretended they weren't affected by the room's splendor, I could see them exchange surprised glances whenever Elrond and Glorfindel weren't looking.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes. They really were too prideful. What harm was there in acknowledging the elves' remarkable creations that dwarves could never hope to replicate so perfectly? That was not to say that the dwarves were inferior by any means, but their architectural style and culture were completely different. Just as the elves could never replicate the dwarves' special craftsmanship, the reverse held true. Each race possessed its own unique style, both equally amazing. If only the dwarves and elves could admit that already!

Elrond smiled warmly at our reactions. "Welcome, my friends, to the Hall of Fire," he announced, "Here, we share music, tales, and merriment. You may all join us in this joyous evening, and all the others that may come!"

A hushed silence fell over the elves as they noticed our entrance, and Thorin straightened to his full height - which, unfortunately for him, wasn't particularly imposing. I managed to stifle a laugh as an image of a peacock trying to impress its mate flitted through my mind. I suspected Thorin wouldn't find the comparison amusing.

While Elrond, Gandalf and Glorfindel chose to settle on a couch, Thorin joined his fellow dwarves around one of the few tables in the Hall, replete with appetizers and various desserts - the gluttony of dwarves was insatiable indeed. Meanwhile, Bilbo gravitated towards a group of elves who were narrating stories and making jokes.

Jokers and storytellers. Bilbo probably felt at home here.

Observing my surroundings, I opted to simply perch atop the railing of a nearby balustrade encircling the Hall and lean my back against the column behind me. It was surprisingly comfortable, and it let me have a perfect view of the outside as well.

I noticed Glorfindel scanning the room, presumably searching for me, so when he looked in my direction I wiggled my fingers in a playful greeting and offered him a cheeky smile. He grinned, amused, and redirected his attention to the conversation between Elrond and Gandalf.