686Chapter 18: Beside The Fire
Beside The Fire
Hiccup sat in a chair while reading a book. The runes were incomprehensible, but he could at least appreciate the maps of Middle-earth and the fine drawings of Elvish architecture. Toothless dozed on the floor next to him, his head hidden under his tailfin. Everything was peaceful and quiet, save for the constant, distant roar of the waterfalls.
"Mister Haddock, are you in there?" a frail voice called out.
Hiccup hopped up from the chair in surprise at the familiar voice.
"Is that you, Mister Baggins?"
Toothless's ears flew up as he got to his paws.
"Yes, I am him, and that name is me!"
Bilbo slowly entered the guesthouse, his crutch clicking with each step. Hiccup saw him and restrained the gasp of alarm and surprise. It had only been a couple months since he had arrived in the Shire and since Bilbo had departed, but those couple months had left a noticeable impact on the Hobbit.
Bilbo's hair was now more grey and curly. His face and arms were incredibly wrinkled, and he had a notable hunch as he shuffled along with a pile of papers in his arms. The Hobbit was dressed as fine as he had before with his waistcoat buttoned up, but he also wore a new blanket around his shoulders.
And his eyes, so tired with age now, were fixed on Toothless as Toothless stared back at him. Bilbo's eyes quickly grew wide with awe.
"So it is true... the good dragon is real," he breathlessly said.
"Yes, I am real," Toothless snorted.
Hiccup eagerly went over and greeted Bilbo with a handshake.
"So good to see you again, Mister Baggins. Your nephew was very good to put me up in Bag-end after you left."
Bilbo recovered himself, chuckled, and set aside the papers on a table.
"Of course he would! All Bagginses are very accommodating of guests. Even if it does do inexcusable damage to the pantry or the plumbing!" Bilbo grumbled with a smile.
"Excuse me?" Hiccup asked in wonder.
Bilbo waved a hand at him.
"Oh, don't worry about it. Just an old Hobbit lost in memories, remembering the passing of years and adventures long ago, and thinking about voices at the door. And now it is time for me to meet a good wyrm!" he clapped his hands and faced Toothless.
"Wyrm? What is that?" Toothless asked.
Bilbo then strode over to stand before Toothless. The Hobbit looked him up and down while grumbling indistinctly to himself.
"Actually, you are right; a wyrm is flightless. You have wings, so you are a drake. A fire drake, I presume?"
Toothless smirked and held his head and shoulders very proudly.
"Yes, I have fire! Very hot fire!"
"I can attest to that!" Hiccup chuckled.
Toothless rolled his eyes and then hummed at Bilbo.
"Bilbo, you are kin to Frodo, true?"
"I am. I took him in after his parents died. He has been like a son to me. You see, I never married. Never found the time for it..."
"He is a good Hobbit. He helped me and Hiccup live in the Shire."
"Did he? Well, he is a special Hobbit, indeed. Takes after me in his love of adventure and worlds far away..."
Bilbo frowned and leaned on his crutch.
"I do not know how to greet a friendly dragon. I'd offer to shake your hand, but you don't have one."
Toothless snorted and leaned forward toward Bilbo. The Hobbit understood what to do and gently took his muzzle in his hands, giving him a gentle scratch.
"Well, this is something I've never done before..."
Toothless purred softly to him.
The Hobbit stepped back with a very wide grin and then a grumble.
"Pardon me, but I would sit down."
Bilbo waddled over to the nearest chair and dropped into it, rubbing his knees as he sat there.
"Eleventy one years and age has finally... caught up with me..."
Hiccup took the chair next to him. Bilbo now truly felt like an Elder, and that meant that he was even more deserving of respect.
"Mister Baggins, we have both heard a lot about you. We know that you met Smaug."
"I did."
Toothless stepped closer and lay down on the floor before them.
"What was he like? I want to know about dragons in this world," Toothless then asked.
Bilbo sighed and leaned back in his chair after closing his eyes.
"He was very... different from you. Imagine a dragon whose head is as large as this house. He killed where he wished, when he wished. And as he liked to be described, he was the chiefest and greatest of calamities. Sitting on his mountain of gold as he was, I believed it. The last thing he said before he flew off to burn an entire city was that he would show us revenge."
"I do not understand why he would do that," Toothless grumbled and looked down at his paws.
Bilbo shrugged. Hiccup thought that he looked very tired or somber.
"Malice. Pride. Greed. Power. Cunning. All of them together. They are what made him so great and terrible at the same time. I brought some sketches of him that I made years ago. Want to see them?"
"Please," Hiccup answered for both of them.
Bilbo struggled to his feet, and Hiccup and Toothless eagerly followed him over to the table. They both wanted to see what Smaug looked like in more detail than a vague outline or related story.
Bilbo took out the drawings and smoothed the paper.
Somewhat like a Monstrous Nightmare but no horns. No forearms. Different shape to the head. Claws on the tips of the wings. And much bigger. Yeah, that is nothing like any of our dragons.
Hiccup nudged Toothless's shoulder.
"What do you think, bud? Recognize that?"
"No, I have not seen a dragon like that one," Toothless answered, glaring at the drawing.
Bilbo then sighed as he made his way back to his chair. The Hobbit looked especially weary for some reason.
"I still have dreams of his voice. That rumbling echo and growl that felt like it came from the earth was so menacing. His cleverness in seeing through my riddles, I was outmatched by him. If I had been more clever or more careful, he would not have... barrel-rider... I messed that up so much. That was the hint, you see... there is little worse of a feeling... than to sit there and watch a disaster happen from afar when you can do nothing about it."
"Excuse me, I don't understand," Hiccup grumbled.
Bilbo waved a wrinkled hand at him.
"Oh, it's nothing. Just the regrets of an old Hobbit who wishes things had been different. Remembering the past and celebrating what was... is just... not enough. I find that writing helps, hence my story."
"Yes, you said that you would be working on your book. How is it coming?" Hiccup asked, wanting to change the subject to something happier.
"My book! There And Back Again! Quite well. I've been very productive! No more confounding relatives to take up all my time and never leave me a moment of peace. The quiet here in Rivendell helps a lot, as I'm sure you can imagine."
"It does feel very peaceful, but this is also different from the Shire," Hiccup agreed.
Bilbo wearily sighed and shuffled in the chair.
"It is that. The Shire is more filled with doing and action, but Rivendell is more filled with thought and reflection. In these twilight years of my life, I have started taking up poetry. You wouldn't mind if I share some with you?"
"Please, I'd like that," Hiccup answered.
"I want to hear this also," Toothless purred.
Bilbo leaned back in his chair, crossed his hands, closed his eyes, and smiled.
"I sit beside the fire and think... of all that I have seen... of meadow-flowers and butterflies... in summers that have been."
"Of yellow leaves and gossamer... in autumns that there were... with morning mist and silver sun... and wind upon my hair."
"I sit beside the fire and think... of how the world will be... when winter comes without a spring... that I shall ever see."
"For still there are so many things... that I have never seen... in every wood in every spring... there is a different green."
"I sit beside the fire and think... of people long ago... and people who will see a world... that I shall never know."
"But all the while I sit and think... of times there were before... I listen for returning feet... and voices at the door."
Bilbo fell silent and said no more with his eyes still closed and his breaths slow. He was clearly very deep in poetic reflection.
"That was beautiful," Hiccup whispered.
Bilbo slightly nodded.
"Frodo learned a lot of poetry also, and he..."
Bilbo started snoring.
Hiccup and Toothless shared a silent glance and then left the guest-house to leave the elder Hobbit to his rest.
"Bilbo must have lived an interesting life," Toothless hummed once they left the building.
"I know. Definitely more than what most Hobbits would want."
They wandered together through the city and then settled down on a walkway that overlooked a waterfall and a cliff. From there they could see all the way down the valley to the distant river. They could also clearly see the main road that led into the valley and up to the main gate. That winding road had a small group of shapes that were even now preparing to cross the bridge up to the main gates of Rivendell.
"Toothless, is that them?"
"Yes! The Hobbits and Strider!"
"Let's go!"
They were off, dashing and running down flights of stairs and past confused Elves.
Finally, they arrived at the main gate at the same time that their companions entered.
"There they are!" "We made it!" "How is Mister Frodo?" the three Hobbits clamored.
"He is fine. Frodo is safe now," Hiccup told them.
The Hobbits and Strider were all visibly relieved to hear that.
"Hey, nice robes!" "Do we get any?" "Where is Mister Frodo?"
"Uh, thanks. Maybe. Up in the healer's house. Top floor on the right."
An Elf, Lindr, approached the Hobbits, spoke to them, and took them away while another attendant took Strider's horse to the stables.
Meanwhile, Strider glanced between the Hobbits and him and Toothless; the ranger had a very amused look.
"Hobbits will be Hobbits?" Hiccup chuckled.
"Indeed. Is Gandalf here?"
"Yes, he is. Bilbo is also. You didn't run into any real trouble out there, did you?"
"There were no Nazgul pursuing us. We have you to thank for that, Toothless."
The Fury flashed his teeth and purred.
"They should they fear my fire now!"
"As they should. I never imagined that dragon fire could be used for good."
Then Strider froze, staring at something behind them. Hiccup followed his gaze.
The Elf-maid, Arwen, who had brought Frodo ahead was approaching them. She had forgone her traveling attire and weapon and now bore loose, flowing robes. She also had a circlet on her forehead, much like her father Elrond, and her hair was parted down to her shoulders.
She stopped before Strider and crossed her arms.
"So, a Ranger enters Rivendell after long in the wild. And he certainly looks the part."
Strider's clothing was ripped at the sleeves, his hair was in desperate need of washing, his beard was ragged, he certainly smelled of sweat and grime, and he was clearly exhausted.
But there was a solemn yearning in the look in his eyes.
"Lady Arwen," he inclined his head.
Oddly, she stepped closer to him at his words, and she looked at him with... sympathy, compassion, and fondness. Then she took his rough hands in her own.
"Estel..." she whispered.
"Undomiel..." he whispered back.
Holding hands, they walked away toward a garden while speaking softly in the Elf language.
Hiccup and Toothless watched them go.
"They are not mates yet," Toothless observed.
Hiccup rolled his eyes at how blunt Toothless could be.
"No."
"Why not? I do not understand the ceremonies."
"Maybe her father does not approve. Maybe they just are not ready. Maybe... oh gods... think about it. He is a human, and she is an Elf. She would not grow old, but he would."
Toothless gave a sad purr.
"Maybe that is why they are not married," Hiccup sighed.
He briefly thought about their situation as they departed. It seemed very tragic that they would fall in love, if that is what had happened to them.
"Bud, what do you say we go see the other Hobbits?"
"Yes, we should," Toothless answered.
Hiccup let his thoughts drift as they made their way back toward the guesthouses, for that is where the Hobbits would likely be put up. He kept thinking about Strider, the simple man and Ranger, and Lady Arwen, immortal daughter of an Elf-lord. It also reminded him of a story that he had been told on the journey so far.
I wonder how they met?
He also remembered Bilbo's words, seemingly regretting that he never had a family of his own. Bilbo either didn't have enough desire for one or just never got around to it because of other obligations, which were basically the same reason anyway.
Which of course brought his own thoughts back to Berk and to Astrid.
She is very brave and dedicated to the tribe. No one can argue against that.
Maybe I have to move on from liking her too. If only that was so easy. Kinda knew that would follow from leaving, and apparently we cannot go back even if we wanted to.
He groaned.
So, if I am to find someone in Middle-earth I could be with instead... let me see... she would need to be fine with Toothless, be able to put up with my craziness, love adventuring, want some kids eventually, I guess, and... yep, I'm doomed... that's never going to happen...
"Maybe I'll just be a crazy, feral, vigilante, dragon-man or something..."
Toothless grunted in confusion.
"Ignore that, bud. Wasn't talking to you."
"Did you say something, Hiccup?"
"Nothing important."
"You never do..."
He shoved Toothless's shoulder, and it was not effective.
Toothless shoved him back, and it was very effective.
Toothless woke up late at night without disturbing Hiccup's sleep. He silently walked over to the balcony outside their shared-den. Then he stood with his front paws on the railing and his wings stretched out to flow in the faint wind.
He stared up at the sky and the bright moon while listening to the songs of bugs, the crackle of the fireplace in their den, and the crashing of the distant waterfalls.
That was a bad dream...
Two different fires had been burning in his soul-fire, almost tangling and biting at each other to burn hotter and brighter. One flame burned with dark light and was filled with a void, an emptiness that wanted to be filled by... greatness, will, shining and precious gold, and power. The other fire burned with a softer light that was far brighter and stretched toward the open sky, the sun, and the wind.
He could not see which fire was stronger or would win.
I have a bad soul-fire in me now. It... twisted my wants.
He glanced back over his tail at Hiccup, still deep asleep.
But it also might have given me human words, helped me remember how to talk, or something like that. All dragons have words, but I... forgot, or lost that... somehow.
Then he huffed at himself and walked back inside to lay down beside the fire and Hiccup's bed.
There must be a way to get that bad soul-fire out of me.
Almost at the same instant he thought that, he realized a possible problem. A very big problem that was very thought-twisting.
But what if I lose my words then? What if that twisted-me is truly me?
A weary sigh followed the realization that he did not know himself anymore.
Am I more than my wants? Am I free?
He settled for listening to the crackle of the fire and the crashing of the waterfalls until he finally fell asleep.
"Mister Haddock, do you mind taking a stroll with an old man?" Gandalf asked while idly stuffing his smoking-pipe.
"Sure, do you know any?"
"Begging your pardon?"
"You said old, not ancient."
Gandalf huffed, lit his pipe, and blew a smoke ring at him.
"You, young man, should count yourself fortunate that I do not change you into something... most unnatural."
"I'd really rather not, wait, you can do that?" Hiccup stuttered.
Gandalf puffed on his pipe and grumbled without looking at him.
He said that most of his power is hidden. Maybe he is not joking...
"Gandalf, are you serious about that? Can you... change someone into something... unnatural?"
Gandalf blew another smoke ring his direction and then chuckled.
"My dear lad, I was amusing myself at your expense. No, I cannot change someone into something unnatural. There is only one power now to truly transfigure, and that is a power that no being in Middle-earth can share with another."
That was very reassuring. Not that he was afraid that Gandalf would do anything bad.
"What did you want to show me?" Hiccup then asked.
"Oh yes, there are many old relics here in Imladris. I thought that you would especially like to see some of the most significant of them."
"Sounds good."
Hiccup eagerly followed after Gandalf after letting Toothless know that he would be away for a while. Toothless said that he planned to spend the rest of the day fishing down in the river.
Gandalf led him to one of the many buildings on the highest level of the city. The building had an open, sheltered walkway and an interior courtyard open to the sky.
The construction of the place continued to amaze him. The pure stones, manicured trees and plants, multitude of gardens, waterfalls and pools, and graceful railing on the walkway were very beautiful and elegant.
This is not Berk. They would not have seen a need for all this back home.
Gandalf stopped him in front of a mural on the wall.
"This is what I most wanted to show you."
The mural was of a man on the ground, holding out a broken sword toward a terrifying shape that loomed large over the man. The dark shape was clad in black armor, wielded a large mace, had glowing eyes, and had a ring on a finger.
"Is that..."
"Yes, this depicts the moment of Sauron's defeat after he slew two Kings of Men and Elves, Elendil and Gil-Galad. Isildur, son of King Elendil, cut the Ring from Sauron's hand, banishing him from the world and destroying his bodily form. He did it with this blade here."
Gandalf gestured to a pedestal behind him. On that pedestal was a sword shattered into several pieces.
"Wow. Berk went more for hammers and axes than swords. Couldn't it be reforged?"
Gandalf looked very thoughtful.
"Perhaps. These are all the shards of Narsil. The Elven smiths could possibly reforge it if they saw a reason to do so. If there is one who would wield it again. It is humbling to know how much of the past is around us all the time."
"I know. Toothless and I saw an entire ruined city by a lake a couple days after we got here."
"Annuminas, that is what the city was named. It was once the capitol of an entire kingdom that is gone now. Destroyed by one of Sauron's deadliest servants."
Hiccup stared back at the mural, lost to his thoughts of what was once long ago.
I wonder if someone can ever rebuild that place. It was amazing even abandoned.
"What was that servant?"
"The Lord of Angmar, a powerful sorcerer and the greatest of the Nazgul. He is responsible for Frodo's wound, the wight in the Barrow-downs, and the decline of... the Dunedain."
Hiccup stared at the shards of Narsil while trying to draw his thoughts from the terror of the Barrow-downs. He felt a faint chill even now, so far from that terrible tomb.
"I'll never forget that cursed place. The whispering, that haunting song, being so tired, falling asleep. Same thing for the first black rider Nazgul we met. I'd be dead if not for Toothless. Several times..." he sighed.
Gandalf kindly put a hand on his shoulder.
"Think no less of yourself for that, dear lad. There are foes that very few men, not even the bravest soldiers, can bear to stand against. Those Nazgul can make even the strongest soldiers get down, hide, and pray that they won't be found."
Hiccup reluctantly grinned at Gandalf's choice of words. It was also reassuring that his own weakness to the Nazgul and the wight were not because of himself being especially weak.
"Good thing that the wight was also weak to fire and light," he pointed out.
Gandalf smiled at that.
"Indeed. They banish many beings of shadow. The ancient smiths who crafted blades for use in the war against Angmar also enchanted their weapons to be most effective against the forces of Angmar and its fell Lord. The men who fought Angmar long ago were buried with stores of such blades. You may have seen such in the Downs."
Hiccup sighed, suddenly feeling very out of place in this world.
"I had no idea that curses and enchantments were real..."
"There are far less of those now than there were in ancient times, but there are a few relics that linger throughout the lands," Gandalf explained.
"Is that what the Nazgul are? Is a curse why they still exist?"
Gandalf frowned.
"The Nazgul are echoes of nine Kings of Men; they are all that are left of those men. I believe that Sauron holds their Rings in his dark tower, Barad-dur. It is a curse, in a way. But it cannot be broken because nothing is truly left of those people now."
Hiccup reluctantly nodded and then stared at the mural. He envisioned a lone soldier standing defiantly against a foe that looked almost like a jotun or one of the lesser gods, for it appeared that was what Isildur had essentially done against Sauron.
That defeat of the enemy was the result of bravery, loyalty, stubbornness, and refusal to give up even when all hope had faded.
Toothless stared back at his opponent while sitting on his haunches. His tail tapped on the ground in agitation. Then he wrinkled his nose and stared up into the sky while growling at himself.
"Have I beaten you?" Bilbo chuckled.
"No! I will pin this word-twisted riddle!" he barked and stamped a paw on the ground.
'The more there is the less you see'...
That does not have any lift. Something that is bigger is easier to see. Maybe I am not flying this thought-flight well. There is some word-twisting here.
"I will give you a hint. Night Fury..." Bilbo grinned.
That is also twisted. How would the name of my type of dragon be a hint? What is so special about my kind that could... be hard to see in the dark...
He eagerly glanced up at Bilbo.
"Darkness!"
Bilbo clapped his paw-hands together in approval.
"This is very fun! Another!" Toothless eagerly asked as his tail swayed.
"You sure love riddle games!"
"Yes! It is fun to test my thinking. Another!"
Bilbo paced, eventually looking back up at him with a grin.
"I bet you can get this one. 'If I drink, I die. If I eat, I live. What am I?'"
Toothless looked up at the nearest waterfalls.
What does water kill? But the same thing can eat and must eat. Not something with soul-fire...
"Fire!" he barked.
"Right again!"
He hopped to his paws and pranced happily around the Hobbit in elation while not hitting him with his tail.
Riddling games are very fun!
Bilbo pointed a finger at him.
"Now, Toothless, it is your turn. Give me one."
He sat down and hummed deeply, trying to think of a good word-twisting that Bilbo would not be able to think about. He had several good ideas as the wind gusted through the valley, and he decided to start with an easy one to pin.
"They fly at night, they hide in the day, and they cannot be caught or touched. What are they?"
Bilbo pulled his furs around himself, apparently for warmth. That concerned him since the air was not very cold.
"Are you cold, Bilbo?"
"Only a little, don't mind me..."
He huffed at how stubborn and rock-headed Bilbo was being, even if the Hobbit was very old. It reminded him much of Hiccup when his friend was being thought-twisted. So he stepped closer to Bilbo's side and rested a wing over him to help share warmth.
Bilbo reached out with one of his weak arms and gently stroked the wing. The Hobbit looked and felt very sad or thoughtful; it was hard for him to tell which.
"Well, I will have to add a chapter to my book to include you. That is for sure. Stars is the answer."
He purred. That was indeed the answer.
"I fly without wings and cry without eyes," Bilbo continued.
He stared up at the sky, watching as the distant clouds floated on and...
"Clouds! What is always flying closer but you can never touch or be in?"
"Tomorrow or the horizon. What belongs to you but others use more than you do?" Bilbo asked.
"My name. What is so weak that speaking can break it?"
"Silence," Bilbo answered.
The Hobbit then went silent for many wingbeats before finally giving a faint grin.
"Toothless, I have one more for you. 'It is more precious than gold, but it cannot be bought. It can never be sold, but it is only earned if it is sought. It can be broken and fixed. It does not live at birth and dies not with death'."
That was a tricky, tail-twitching one that had him grumbling in thought. Human and Hobbit ideas of buying and selling were strange ones. He growled in frustration until he admitted defeat.
"That riddle has me pinned. What is it?"
"Friendship," Bilbo whispered.
That one touched his soul-fire and left him with a soft purr. It was definitely true that friendship was more than any amount of gold. He would never forget that riddle and answer.
"I like that one very much."
"Toothless, did you know that I once riddled with someone else on my last adventure there and back again?"
"No, I did not."
Bilbo solemnly nodded.
"I did. He was good at riddling games, but all of his riddles were of dark things, doom and gloom. Probably because he lived underground and never saw the open sky and the sun. Your riddles and the ones you got were all very different from that."
He shrugged at Bilbo's comment.
"I am a dragon. I like being in the sky; I am not meant to be under the ground."
"Yes, indeed. You are no Dwarf," Bilbo chuckled.
"Dwarf? Are those like small humans?"
"They are, but they are also different. They do very well living underground as great miners and craftsmen of the mountains. Erebor is their home now."
Bilbo sighed and closed his eyes.
"Take it from me, an old Hobbit, nothing is more important than the friends you make along the journey of life."
He bent down and calmly looked Bilbo in his eyes.
"Why are you sad, Bilbo?" he softly hummed.
"I... am remembering old friends... who are not here anymore. No matter how much I think back on those fond memories, no matter how much I celebrate them, they are not the same. Memory is not what the heart desires. I keep wanting to hear returning feet and voices at the door. You... you keep your friend Hiccup close always. Frodo too, if you can."
He gave a purr and a nod.
"I will. Hiccup is as a brother to me, and Frodo is close kin also."
Hiccup leaned against the balcony's railing at sunset, his robes flowing gently in the wind. Toothless, his wings fully outstretched, was basking in the last of the evening light up on a higher balcony.
Everything was peaceful and had been for the last couple weeks since their arrival in Rivendell. In that time he had thrown himself into learning about the past of this world and into learning more of his runes. Bilbo had been eager, in-between his long spurts of writing his own book, to help him learn more runes and geography.
The other Hobbits, Frodo included, came over and similarly leaned against the railing.
"This never gets old. I still can't believe how beautiful this is," Hiccup sighed.
"Yes, it is beautiful, but I miss my garden," Sam said.
"I miss Farmer Maggot's garden." "Yeah, just about time for the harvest." "Too bad we can't help him out." "I know, right." "It's been a while since we had proper meals." "Exactly, Pip, too long since we had bacon and sausage." "Running low on Old Toby too." "Not sure what we'll do without it." "Be miserable, that is what."
Merry and Pippin were very eager to get home also.
Hiccup rolled his eyes at the Hobbits and their homesickness. He then shared a glance with Frodo, who also looked pleasantly amused by his friends' reactions. Frodo had made a very fast recovery, something about Elrond's treatment and Rivendell itself promoted that, and his stab wound was already scarring over and healing. Frodo still looked noticeably thinner and weaker, but that was to be expected for someone with such a recovering wound and who had been bedridden for over a week.
Sam, apparently mildly frustrated, strode over to Frodo.
"Mister Frodo, I know I wanted to see the Elves and all, and we did everything that Gandalf wanted us to do. But we're just Hobbits; we aren't meant for great adventures like this. Fighting against dark lords and black riders and the like."
Frodo clasped Sam's shoulder and smiled at him after a moment.
"I know, Sam. You are right. We did what Gandalf wanted. The Ring," Frodo held a hand to his chest where the Ring was hidden on a chain under his clothing, "will be safe here in Rivendell until they decide what to do with it."
"Then it will be their problem," Merry observed.
"Yep, and we can hit the road and go home!" Pippin added.
"How long is it until that Council, Mister Haddock?" Sam asked.
"A few more weeks for everyone to travel here. Gandalf and Elrond want to introduce me and Toothless, mostly Toothless, to everyone there."
Frodo came over and stood at his side on the balcony to watch the sunset and the dragon proudly sunning himself.
"That will be quite a meeting. Just think about all those proud Men, Elves, and Dwarves meeting a good dragon," Frodo sighed.
Hiccup grimaced at the thought of what was going to happen. Lots of proud, likely-stubborn leaders of humans, Elves, and Dwarves were going to suddenly and unexpectedly meet a dragon.
"Yeah, what could go wrong? I'll be happy as long as no one tries to kill anyone."
"That's a good place to start!" Pippin cheerfully agreed.
"Yep, set the bar very low, and it is easy to exceed expectations!" Merry explained.
"What are we going to do in the meantime? That's still a few weeks away," Sam asked.
"I'll be spending a lot more time with Bilbo; he wants to teach me some of Middle-earth's languages," Hiccup answered.
"I can help with that also," Frodo offered.
Hiccup smiled and nodded in thanks.
Merry came over and leaned against the railing also.
"Yeah, we definitely should take it easy here..."
"Do we ever not?" Pippin wondered.
"True," Merry shrugged.
Sam stood at Frodo's shoulder.
"Well, if we're going to be staying here, then I want to see more of the Elves' gardens and enjoy how beautiful this city is," Sam sighed.
"Indeed, Sam. There's plenty to see here in Rivendell," Frodo answered.
Hiccup stared up to Toothless, still perched on his high ledge and clearly enjoying himself.
"I like that plan," he wholeheartedly agreed.
The mission was already over, as far as it concerned him and the Hobbits. The Ring would be someone else's problem after the Council, and then...
He wasn't sure what would happen after that.
"Alright, you all coming to supper and dinner?" Pippin cheerfully asked.
"Supper? Where?" Merry wondered.
"Over there!" Pippin pointed at a clearing before one of the larger buildings.
Sure enough, there were a number of Elves working at something in that clearing.
"What's the occasion?" Frodo asked.
"Don't know. It's more than the usual small dinner they have," Pippin answered.
"How can you know that?" Sam protested.
"I just know," Pippin grinned.
"Anything about food or fine dining, Pippin would know," Merry explained.
Hiccup rolled his eyes.
Hobbits...
Frodo turned to him.
"Hiccup, want to bring Toothless with? I don't know if they have any food for him, but he will like the company."
"Good idea. I'll go get him! See you there."
Hiccup and Toothless arrived at the dinner table and saw that Lord Elrond, Gandalf, Frodo, and Bilbo were already there at the head of the table. Sam, Merry, Pippin, Strider, and Arwen were seated beside them. It looked like they were the last to arrive at the dinner or the party, whatever this was.
"There they are! Get over here!" Merry waved them over.
They strode over to the table, and Lord Elrond stood to greet them.
"Masters Haddock and Toothless, you are most welcome to join us."
"Thank you, Lord Elrond. What is the occasion?" Hiccup asked.
The table was covered in food, mostly green food but also breads and cheeses on plates, and bottles of wine along with wineglasses.
"The occasion is celebrate Frodo's recovery. I took the liberty of having some fish prepared for a certain guest."
Toothless purred and bent his head.
"You have my thanks," he said.
Hiccup and Toothless strode down to the spots saved for them. Hiccup took the open seat beside Strider while Toothless sat on his haunches at the open end of the table. An attendant brought out a basket of fish that were seasoned with strange herbs that neither of them had smelled before. Then the fish went onto a very large plate before Toothless.
Even though the fish had been burned, Toothless knew that he was not going to turn his nose from the fish.
"Strider, how have you been? We haven't seen much of you," Hiccup kindly asked.
The Ranger looked very different now. Strider had cleaned up very well and was now clad in Elven attire, much like himself. He also looked much better rested.
"It has been a very long time since I was last here in Imladris. I have been reading, walking, and speaking with those who are most dear."
Hiccup saw Lady Arwen smile from across the table. He wanted to ask about their situation, but he knew that it was not his business.
Elrond gestured with a wave of his hand, thus beginning the dinner. Unsurprisingly, the Hobbits made the most ruckus, calling out to each other to pass the plates or bottles.
"No, no, the big one!" Merry pointed.
Pippin took his knife and fork and gently tapped on the table in his impatience.
"Stop that! You'll blunt them..." Bilbo scowled.
Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin froze and glanced at each other.
"Frodo, Sam, do you know what to do?" Merry grinned.
"We do indeed! Did you hear that, everyone? Bilbo said we'll blunt the knives!" Frodo laughed while smiling at Bilbo.
Bilbo sighed and crossed his arms on his coat. Hiccup stared in amazement as the other four Hobbits started singing.
"Blunt the knives and bend the forks! Smash the bottles and burn the corks! Chip the glasses and crack the plates! That's what Bilbo Baggins hates!"
What?
Gandalf joined in.
"Cut the cloth and tread on the fat! Leave the bones on the bedroom mat! Pour the milk on the pantry floor! Splash the wine on every door!"
Toothless's tail began tapping on the ground in time to the song. Hiccup stared in growing amusement at the revelry.
Is this Berk?
"Dump the crocks in a boiling bowl! Pound them up with a thumping pole! And when you've finished, if any are whole! Send them down the hall to roll!"
"That's what Bilbo Baggins hates!" they all shouted as one.
The roaring singers stopped and stared at Bilbo until the elderly Hobbit pointed a finger at them.
"So carefully, carefully with the plates!" Bilbo chastised them with a smile.
Uproarious laughter followed. Hiccup almost fell out of his chair, the Hobbits clutched their sides in their mirth, Strider was chuckling into his sleeve, Arwen was laughing openly with her pure voice, Toothless's tail was thrashing, Gandalf had to lean against the table, and even the stoic Lord Elrond could not hide his grin.
Everything finally settled down after nearly a full minute of joyful abandon.
"Why do I suspect that there's a story that needs telling?" Hiccup asked, completely at ease with everyone at the table.
Bilbo shrugged.
"That song is not one of my creation. Rather, we have the Dwarves of Erebor to thank for that one. I can assure you that this unexpected party is far more civil than another that happened long ago. Thank you for that, Gandalf!" Bilbo said.
"You are most welcome. I would also agree that this dinner party is much more agreeable to our host than another dinner which some of us might recall," Gandalf cryptically added.
Lord Elrond raised a glass of wine and took a long drink.
"Who would have ever thought that a dragon would have better table manners than a company of Dwarves?" the Elf sighed.
Everyone looked to Toothless and then to Bilbo.
"Honestly, having met both... I'm not surprised," Bilbo muttered.
More laughter followed that remark until everyone started turning more attention to the food and to each other. Conversation became freer as all shared stories. Strider spoke of his time wandering in the wild, Bilbo shared fond memories of adventures long ago, and Hiccup and Toothless spoke about how they came to know each other in the cove.
After the meal itself was finished, the five Hobbits, Hiccup, and Toothless gathered around the firepit in the center of the clearing to tell more stories long into the night as the stars flickered to life in the sky. Hiccup rested against Toothless's purring side with his eyes closed while Bilbo told a story about an encounter with three trolls.
I could get used to this.