Chapter 789: Principles
Translator: Translation Nation Editor: Translation Nation
"Legolas...…" Sheyan ignored Reef and muttered. "Isn't he going to be a member of the Fellowship?"
"Yes, he is." Reef nodded. "Legolas is a lofty and dashing character with supreme strength. Even the Uruk-hai Lurtz was suppressed by his archery, and is indomitable in close combat as well. Hmm, his natural disposition towards nature magic as an elf can render Lurtz as mere shit. Born of royal nobility, elegant and cultured...why can't I find any reason for Melody to reject him?"
"Oh shut up." Sheyan rolled his eyes and answered rankly. "All his fleeting superiority will inevitably crumble in the face of my only strong point – lasting an hour and 38 minutes! Mister Segimli, we are ready. My comrade says his strength is sufficient to carry the load of two individuals!"
"Boss...so petty! This is obviously taking revenge!"
Following that, Sheyan and Reef disguised themselves, not as princes visiting a princess, but as lowly caravan workers. They didn't wish to arouse the attention of the elves. Besides, would a porter, carriage chauffeur, cleaner, or servant wear suits to undertake menial tasks? Thus, they quickly changed into the typical attire of caravan workers.
Segimli's old customer, Mister Wilhelm, wasn't as privileged as Mister Wright. Upon leading twenty workers carrying loads of goods towards Rivendell's gates, they actually needed to queue up to be inspected by the elf guards which was an extremely long process.
The elves feared neither danger nor threats but hated filthy objects to the core. One could see this from how Rivendell elves employed nature magic to erase all uncleanliness. After a rather loose inspection, an elf led the entire caravan group, with Sheyan and Reef each carrying a sack of goods, into the majestic and pristine Rivendell.
Clear streams of water flowed through two drains, specially constructed with white pebbles, along both sides of the main street of Rivendell. Gorgeous and grand buildings were evenly segregated in the midst of lucious vegetation. It resembled a massively perfect garden city and one could find swings and flowerbeds everywhere.
The plethora of plants bloomed with flowers or fruits, emitting a fragrance that gladdened the heart and refreshed the mind. Many elves occasionally stopped to pluck a fruit and rinsed it in the flowing spring waters beside, before directly having a bite.
Still, this scene failed to leave Sheyan and Reef awestruck. After all, Reef mentioned that his own castle scenery wasn't inferior to Rivendell. Nevertheless, the ordinary caravan workers were undoubtedly amazed. Some of them ignored the heavy load they carried to touch around the place, releasing occasional gasps of admiration.
After travelling roughly 500-600 meters through the main street, a small squad of patrol elves obstructed the way ahead.
The elves begun gathering the statements of the foremost caravan workers and slowly made their way down the group. All of a sudden, an elf pointed towards a caravan porter. That porter's complexion immediately paled as he started to tremble.
Following that, an elf marched forward and searched him; finding a fresh fruit inside his pocket. Clear water droplets still remained on the fruit surface and it was evident the porter had secretly plucked it to consume later.
The patrol elves discussed amongst each other as disdainful tones could be heard. Then, an elf adorned in a blue long robe, who appeared to be the leader, executed a vine art which constricted round the sobbing porter. The elf leader then issued with an earnest yet arrogant tone.
"Human, your filthiness and foolishness have sullied the sacred prestige of Rivendell. We have determined the rite of Nature's Assimilation for you. Your body shall return to nourish nature and your soul purified by the winds and rain. Henceforth, you will be freed from your wrongdoing."
The caravan lord, Mister Wilhelm, was perspiring profusely as he pleaded with the elf leader incessantly. Instead, that elf leader continued to shake his head callously.
Reef's expression soured as he inquired of the indifferent looking Segimli.
"What is this rite of Nature's Assimilation?"
The young dwarf seemed rather dissatisfied with the elves as well and frowned while replying.
"To hang a man on the tree. These pointy-eared weirdos!"
Meanwhile, Sheyan was observing the pale-faced porter who had slumped to the ground. His body was shivering uncontrollably as murky tears rolled down his cheeks. After weighing the merits of drawbacks, Sheyan stood forward and glared at the elf punisher while calmly issuing.
"I've heard the elves are creatures of benevolence and beauty. Yet my eyes have seen that the elves are mere spiteful dictators!"
Although Sheyan understood that stepping up may result in all his earlier efforts falling through, he still chose to do it.
This was because he believed that each individual possesses their own resolute principles. Under the correct conditions, losses or failure was absolutely not the only factor to determining one's action.
Rather less with righteousness than abundance with evil!
He wasn't related to that porter but felt equally insulted by the elf's discrimination. Being condemned to the death penalty by supposedly righteous elves over a puny matter. This was well beyond Sheyan's bottomline, worthy of him stepping up against despite the lack of benefits to gain.
Hearing his words, that elf leader swung around and glared at Sheyan with displeasure.
"Human, you dishonor all elves with those words, for that, you shall pay the price."
Sheyan scoffed.
"Am I wrong? We traversed thousands of leagues to deliver supplies for Rivendell's celebratory banquet. The journey long and arduous, treading between life and death; yet this is how you treat us? Like sinners and bandits having to tread cautiously even before entering your city. Where is the hospitality eh? Do tell me?"
That elf leader was momentarily stumped. Furthermore, Sheyan swept his incisive gaze through the other elves, to which the elves slanted their heads away in silence. Though they despised the humans, the humans did traverse through leagues of treacheries to arrive at Rivendell. They couldn't find any reasons to refute that.
Sheyan trudged forward and ripped the clothes of the shivering porter, thereby revealing his swollen red shoulders and accumulated scars. He then fumed out.
"Look at his scars! Wounds accumulated while sacrificing himself for Rivendell. Is it wrong he wanted to steal a bite from a common Rivendell fruit? You wish to condemn him to death?"
The elf in long blue robe coldly argued.
"Eating is fine but thievery is a tremendous sin! Regardless of humans or elves, punishment must be meted out to thieves."
The elf's reasoning was acute and captured the essence of this issue. Nevertheless, Sheyan chuckled and held the fruit up.
"Thievery? Let me ask, to whom does this fruit belong to?"
The blue-robed elf answered without hesitation.
"To the elves of Rivendell."
Sheyan sighed and replied.
"Your selfishness has blinded your eyes, elf. Even a puny human like me has heard the guiding 'Song of Dawn' you elves love to sing – Sweet source of water, abundance of food; blessed by the mighty Eru Ilúvatar. The prayer of elves every morning, O children of Ilúvatar to be humble. Beauty is not mere appearance but of the spirit. Where is your humility? Where is this beauty?"
When Sheyan said those words, a third of the elves exhibited approval in their eyes and begun whispering amongst themselves. Evidently, they were moved by his final question.
The way elves deemed humans was rather complicated. Most of the time they despised humans, yet they would acknowledge outstanding heroes of the human race. One could see this from the marriage between the elf lord Elrond's daughter, Arwen, and a human.
Of course, that human was tremendously powerful and accoladed by all as a great warrior.
Aragorn II, son of Arathorn II and Gilraen, the chieftain of Dúnedain of the North, wielder of the Andúril (an invincible sword), and heir of Isildur and crowned King Elessar Telcontar, the 26th King of Arnor, the 35th King of Gondor and the first High King of Gondor and Arnor.
Of course, Sheyan definitely couldn't convince all these elves with mere words. Otherwise, the book would've been placed in the history shelf of libraries. It was impossible even if his charm was higher than his physique.
Still, a '+1' legend level managed to garner some approval from a third of the elves. This itself satisfied his objectives.
Although the elf leader remained expressionless, his slender finger was trembling faintly in rage. One could imagine the tumultuous state his heart was in.