Gandalf exhaled another puff of smoke and said to Tarnes: "Do you remember the Trolls we encountered not long ago? Those three Trolls must have come south from the Ettenmoors in the north. When have mountain Trolls dared to travel so far south? It's been many years since this happened. The last time was when dark forces ran rampant."
Tarnes, having removed his White Wolf helmet, made a "how would I know" expression and replied: "I don't know as much about these things as you do, Gandalf. But I believe what you're saying. Something bad must be happening. Just like with Davy, if we hadn't stayed there, in a few days after the Trolls finished eating the sheep in his pen and chickens in his coop, it would have been his turn."
Gandalf took another puff and said: "So we must take these Dwarves to Rivendell. I also have matters to discuss with Lord Elrond. I feel very uneasy, Tarnes. Thorin being bounty-hunted with 'Black Speech,' Trolls coming south, and now discovering an entire army of Orc warg riders here. I have a premonition that what I'm worried about is increasingly falling toward my feared direction, like a Dwarf mine cart going off its rails."
"Dwarf mine carts never go off their rails! If we can reclaim the Lonely Mountain, I'll show you what real Dwarven mining technology looks like." Thorin's voice came from behind Tarnes. Obviously he had heard Gandalf's words.
Seeing Thorin and remembering their daytime argument, Gandalf couldn't help but get a headache. He took another heavy puff and said: "It's just a metaphor, Thorin. If you don't like me using Dwarf mine carts as a comparison, I could switch to Elven falling trees. In any case, I'm just trying to express that very serious things are happening in places we don't know about."
After hearing Gandalf change his metaphor, Thorin's face showed a faint smile: "Oh, Elven falling trees. Now that's a good metaphor, wizard."
Gandalf shook his head: "It would be even better if you could drop your hostility toward Elves, or if your Dwarf companions could have left one of those Orcs alive for questioning when they were chasing them, to find out who brought this Orc army here, coveting your head."
Thorin's expression changed slightly: "Army? These Orcs weren't here to attack the village?"
Gandalf looked at Thorin irritably and pointed his staff at the Orc corpses: "Having experienced the Battle of Moria, can't you recognize what these Orcs are wearing?"
Thorin walked forward a few steps, saw the armor on those Orcs clearly, and his expression darkened.
Balin, another Dwarf who had experienced the Battle of Moria, saw Thorin's grim face and quickly walked over. He was worried Thorin might argue with Gandalf again, since this expedition still needed the wizard's help.
But when Balin saw the Orc corpses, he too fell silent.
He and Thorin seemed to return to that uncelebrated war, where countless companions lay dead in the wilderness, and the fires that burned their collected and cremated bodies blazed for seven days and nights.
"The armor style of these Orcs belongs only to Orcs under Azog's command. It's been many years since we've seen them," Balin said in a sorrowful tone, returning from memory to reality.
Thorin nodded silently.
After hearing Balin's words, Gandalf said: "Yes, Azog, that pale Orc. Thorin, tell me, who else did you tell about this expedition?"
Thorin looked up, his eyes fixed on Gandalf, and replied seriously: "I assure you, I only told Tarnes about this and invited him to join the expedition."
Tarnes then spoke up: "No, there were also the Dwarf representatives from the Seven Kingdoms."
Thorin bristled at Tarnes: "Are you suggesting someone betrayed me? Even you, if you dare question my kinfolk's loyalty, I won't stand for it, Tarnes."
Tarnes raised his hand to calm Thorin and said gently: "I'm not saying someone betrayed you, but we can't guarantee that those Dwarves might not have revealed your plans while drunk and been overheard by interested parties. After all, not everyone living in the Blue Mountains is a Dwarf, right?"
Balin also soothed Thorin, whispering in his ear: "Thorin, settle down. Tarnes would never question the Dwarves' loyalty."
The fire in Thorin's eyes gradually dimmed, as if he realized what he had just done.
His gray-blue eyes trembled slightly, and his face showed a guilty expression as he said to Tarnes in a hoarse voice: "Sorry, Tarnes, I didn't mean that. It's because I thought of Azog... sorry..."
Thorin's voice lowered, then he faced Gandalf: "And Gandalf, I shouldn't have lost my temper with you during the day either. You had no obligation to keep the key and map for my father, but you did it anyway."
Gandalf looked at Thorin and sighed: "So will you obediently come with me to Rivendell?"
Then Thorin shut his mouth, turned around with his back to Gandalf, leaving Gandalf sitting on the warg corpse, fuming.
"Damn Dwarven stubbornness!"
Gandalf muttered.
Tarnes walked over and gently patted Thorin's shoulder, giving him a reassuring smile.
Then Tarnes said to Balin, who showed a worried expression beside him: "Balin, take Thorin back to rest. It's getting late, or it will affect tomorrow's journey."
Balin quickly nodded and led Thorin away by the arm.
Gandalf watched Thorin and Balin's departing figures, took another puff and exhaled, then asked Tarnes: "You saw Thorin's stubbornness too. It's hopeless. Even at this point, he's still sulking with his imagined Elves. How will you convince him, Tarnes?"
Tarnes also showed a pained expression: "Actually, when I saw Thorin leave dinner alone tonight, I followed him, wanting to discuss this matter. I feel like I almost understand why Thorin is hostile toward Elves. I was just short of convincing him. But the sudden appearance of the warg scouts interrupted my conversation with Thorin. It'll be hard to find such a good opportunity again."
Gandalf then stood up, leaning on his staff as he walked back.
Tarnes asked: "Gandalf, where are you going?"
Gandalf replied without looking back: "To sleep, of course! If I don't sleep soon, I'm afraid I'll be too angry at the Dwarves to fall asleep!"
Early the next morning, dim dawn light filtered through thin mist, shining on Tarnes, Thorin, and the others who had already risen.
Because of last night's events, Thorin realized his Lonely Mountain expedition wasn't safe, so they set out early.
For this, he even declined the village chief's enthusiastic invitation to stay for several days.
Bilbo yawned, bleary-eyed.
He hadn't slept well last night, worrying all night about whether the Orcs would return, and even Tarnes' very certain assurance that the Orcs wouldn't come back to the village couldn't ease Bilbo's tense emotions.
The Dwarves had no such psychological burden. Except for Oin and Gloin, the brothers on night watch duty, the other Dwarves slept soundly with snores rising and falling, as if they hadn't been the ones chasing Orcs the night before.
Well, the Dwarves' snoring was also one of the reasons Bilbo couldn't sleep peacefully.
After all, even when outdoors before, Bilbo had slept in his own tent.
"Hey, wake up, we're setting out."
Bofur waved his hand in front of Bilbo's nearly closing eyes, then shook the Hobbit's shoulders to barely get him to open his eyes.
"Haha haha."
The Dwarves laughed at the Hobbit's appearance, except for Thorin.
Thorin's expression was very calm at this moment, as if nothing had happened last night.
He first glanced at Bilbo, then caught sight of Tarnes and Gandalf from the corner of his eye, before saying loudly: "Let's go."
Bilbo yawned and asked: "Shouldn't we say goodbye to Davy?"
Bofur said: "No need, they're still sleeping. Thorin's idea is to leave while the villagers are still asleep."
Bilbo could only nod. While riding his pony, he asked: "Well, but I'm amazed you could get up so early after drinking so much ale last night. I thought you'd sleep until noon."
Bombur burped and said: "That alcohol wasn't even enough for me alone. Don't underestimate Dwarven drinking capacity. Last night's drinks were at most an appetizer."
Bilbo looked at Bombur in disbelief, then Bofur laughed: "Don't listen to Bombur's nonsense. His drinking capacity is rare even among us Dwarves. But last night's alcohol indeed wasn't enough to give us Dwarves hangovers. What's that expression, Bilbo?"
Seeing Bilbo's relieved expression, Bofur asked curiously.
Bilbo patted his chest: "Because I realized that when you were at Bag End, although you ate quite a lot of food, you didn't drink much of my alcohol. In a way, should I thank you?"
Bofur shrugged: "Oh, if you insist on thanking us, we wouldn't refuse. Hopefully next time we visit your home, you'll have enough alcohol prepared to show you what Dwarven drinking capacity really means."
Hearing the mutual teasing between Bilbo and Bofur, Tarnes grinned silently.
But when he saw Gandalf's worried expression, he immediately returned to normal.
Seeing Tarnes' reaction, Gandalf said: "It's fine, you don't need to mind me."
Tarnes pursed his lips: "But your expression is really concerning."
Gandalf sighed: "Because I'm racking my brains trying to figure out how to persuade Thorin. Tarnes, if you were in my position and clearly understood Dwarven stubbornness, your expression would be the same as mine."
Millicent's voice came, gently comforting the seemingly aged wizard: "Mr. Gandalf, please trust Tarnes. He will definitely convince Thorin to go to Rivendell."
Tarnes and Thorin's group continued their journey toward the Lonely Mountain. Over the next few days, they were lucky enough not to encounter the previous rainy weather.
But as time approached year's end, the climate grew increasingly cold. The harsh cold descended like a merciless king.
When leaving Davy's village, they could still see some greenery along the way.
However, now winter's cold wind cut like blades across every inch of land, eroding the remaining green into withered yellow.
The Dwarves had also changed into winter clothing, wrapping themselves in thick cotton coats until they looked puffy.
But Bilbo could only wrap himself tighter in his layered autumn clothes. Though he was already dressed very bulkily, winter's chill still crept in through his collar and sleeves.
"Achoo!"
Bilbo sneezed and rubbed his hands, trying to generate some warmth.
Seeing Bilbo's condition, Tarnes said with concern: "You need winter clothing, Bilbo. No matter how many autumn clothes you layer, they can't keep you warm."
Bilbo showed an embarrassed expression, rubbing his red nose: "I know, but I didn't expect winter outside to be so cold, so I only brought non-fleece clothes. I should have brought my gloves too. That would have been warmer."
After all, the books he'd read hadn't told him that winter temperatures elsewhere were much lower than in Hobbiton, catching this Hobbit off guard.
Then he asked somewhat embarrassedly: "Uh, Tarnes, I mean, that magic you used during the rainy day, could you use it on me again?"
Tarnes nodded, and a sacred seal immediately appeared in his hand: "I can, but the incantation only lasts for a while. You still need winter clothing to solve this problem."
"Wait, Mr. Tarnes, wait! Winter clothing is here!" Bofur's voice came from ahead.
He rode his pony wearing a felt hat, holding a clean dark green fleece coat, and reached Tarnes and Bilbo's side.
Bilbo eagerly reached out to take the winter coat, then with help from Tarnes and Bofur, put it on while mounted, breathing a long sigh of relief: "Much better now. Thank you, Bofur."
But Bofur laughed and shook his head, pointing behind him with his thumb: "This isn't my winter coat. I didn't bring a second one either. If you want to thank someone, thank Thorin. He saw you didn't have winter clothing and gave you one of his spares. His exact words were: 'Can't have our master burglar falling ill from the cold.'"
Bilbo was stunned, then looked down carefully and discovered that this dark green winter coat had the emblem of Durin's royal house on the cuffs.
He looked up to meet Thorin's calm gaze and hesitantly raised his hand in a wave of thanks.
Tarnes smiled: "Looks like our Dwarf leader cares very much about his hired burglar. Wouldn't you say, Gandalf?"
Gandalf said: "I've never doubted Thorin's kindness, but it would be even better if he'd listen to my advice and go to Rivendell."
At this moment, commotion came from the front of the group, and Thorin shouted loudly: "Someone is approaching rapidly!"
Tarnes frowned and looked over, seeing a somewhat hunched old man sitting on a sledge that was actually being pulled by a group of large wild rabbits.
Upon seeing Tarnes, Thorin, and the others, the old man seemed to find his target and directly changed direction, rushing toward them on his sledge-like contraption.
Just as Tarnes instinctively wanted to draw his weapon, Gandalf's voice carried across the entire group.
He said: "Don't be alarmed. That's my old friend, Radagast the Brown."
Thorin and the others at the front finally calmed down.
Gandalf glanced at Tarnes and said: "Come on, meet my old friend with me. Let me introduce you to him. Though I'm not sure why he's not staying in his forest but has come to find us instead."
(TL NOTE: Unfortunately, my LOTR: Playing Minecraft in Middle-earth book was mistakenly flagged as spam on Webnovel and removed. I'll re-upload it under a different title by today at the latest. Thank you for your patience!)