When Bilbo awoke from his slumber, his nose caught the scent of elegant incense. Then he suddenly opened his eyes to see a ceiling full of classical artistic atmosphere, rather than the low, gray peaked top of his tent.
"Where is this?"
Only then did Bilbo realize he was lying on a soft, comfortable large bed, covered with a warm white down comforter, wearing the pajamas he'd brought but never had a chance to wear.
"Hmm? Ah, Bilbo, you're finally awake."
Bofur's delighted voice came from beside the bed, his felt-capped head popping up from beside the bed.
Though Bofur tried hard to stand on his tiptoes, he could barely manage to show anything above his chest.
Only then did Bilbo realize he wasn't lying on some large bed, but a normal-sized bed meant for very tall people.
Bilbo couldn't help but ask curiously: "Where am I? How are Tarnes, Gandalf, and Thorin?"
Bofur finally gave up tiptoeing, supported himself with his hands on the bed to sit up, and replied: "This is Rivendell. You fainted from fever and have been sleeping for a day and a night. If Tarnes hadn't been using magic to stabilize your condition, you probably wouldn't have made it to Rivendell. Thorin was also worried about you and had me watch over you. As for Tarnes and Gandalf, don't worry about those two wizards. They seem to be with that El-something Elf. Oh right, I heard Mr. Bernahl say that today Tarnes and the others are also meeting with Elves or wizards from other places."
Wizards? He means incantations, right?
Bilbo blinked, sorting through Bofur's long string of words: "So we're now in Elf territory? Thorin actually agreed to come here?"
Bofur yawned: "Like I said, wasn't it because you got sick, Master Bilbo? Since you're awake, I'll go tell Thorin and the others so they won't worry."
Bilbo instinctively raised his hand to stop him, shaking his head: "No no no, you don't need to go personally. I'll get out of bed and tell them myself."
He tried to get up from the bed but found himself lightheaded and weak-limbed, so he sat back down.
Seeing this, Bofur scooted over to help Bilbo lie back down and carefully tucked in the blanket corners.
"Easy there, you're still recovering from that fever. You need to rest like a proper patient. Let me fetch the others. You haven't eaten anything all day, so we need to get some food into you," Bofur said as he climbed down from the bed.
Bilbo comfortably nestled in the covers and nodded obediently: "Alright, if possible, please bring me a pork pie and some blueberry cheese..."
Bofur shrugged: "I'll pass along the message, though I don't know if you can eat those things while sick."
The door closed, leaving only Bilbo alone in the room.
The small figure lay quietly on the soft bed, then rolled over somewhat boredly to look at the sky outside the window.
A clear starry river instantly filled his eyes. Bilbo gazed at that boundless starry sky, stars twinkling like diamonds with enchanting light.
As if he had merged into that brilliant galaxy, his breathing became slow and deep, his body gradually relaxing.
Because of the beautiful scenery in the night sky, the corners of Bilbo's mouth unconsciously turned up, forgetting the fatigue from their previous journey.
Soon, the door was pushed open heavily by Dwarves, their boisterous voices instantly breaking the room's tranquility, making Bilbo roll back over.
"I told you our master burglar wouldn't fall down so easily from a cold," Kili said with dancing eyebrows, seeing this scene.
Balin showed a kindly smile and nodded.
Gloin picked up where Kili left off: "You're right, Kili, but our master burglar needs some physical training."
Dwalin said in a deep voice: "Then leave that to me. I'll be responsible for Bilbo's physical training and guarantee to make him a qualified warrior."
Bilbo's eyes widened as he looked at the rather fierce-looking Dwalin, pointed at himself, and quickly shook his head: "Oh, I'm very grateful that you all care about me so much, but physical training isn't necessary. I've barely lifted a sword a few times in my life."
Fili said: "It's fine. Last time when you fought the Troll with me, you threw stones very accurately. Since you don't like wielding swords, I'll teach you to throw knives instead."
Bilbo opened his mouth, looking at Fili. This lion-like Dwarf was smiling at him, his golden braids swaying with his movements.
"No no no, really not necessary, thank you."
Bilbo felt the phrase he'd said most today was "No need, thank you, I don't need it."
"Make way, our Master Bilbo's dinner is here."
Bofur brought his brothers Bifur and Bombur, carrying a low wooden table and exquisite white plates, pushing through the chattering Dwarves to reach the bedside.
Bifur said something caring to Bilbo in Dwarvish, but Bilbo was completely confused and couldn't understand.
Bofur squeezed over, placed the low table on Bilbo's blanket, then worked with Bombur to set the plates on it.
"Don't mind him. Bifur is concerned about your health. Uh, though there's no fruit, cheese, or pork pie, there's roasted meat and fish, plus some vegetable salad, but only this cup of clear water to drink." Bofur said with a smile.
Then his expression changed as he slapped away Bombur's dishonest hand, scolding: "Hey, Bombur, you can't eat anymore! This is Bilbo's dinner. You've already eaten enough. Didn't you see those Elves looking at you eating with incredulous eyes?"
Kili laughed loudly: "Haha, I support Bombur on this! We should eat those Elves out of house and home! Acting like they've never seen anything. Our Bombur hasn't even unleashed his stomach yet."
Fili also nodded in agreement: "Right, and they won't give us good wine to drink, just some unpalatable dew."
"Alright, I know you all care about Bilbo very much, but give our patient some quiet space." Gandalf's aged voice came from outside the door, then his tall figure walked in.
Behind him followed Tarnes, also showing a concerned expression, and then came the silent Thorin.
Thorin looked at Bilbo indifferently, and after confirming Bilbo was in good spirits, withdrew his gaze.
Does he seem to be in a bad mood?
Bilbo noticed Thorin's expression.
After seeing Thorin enter, the Dwarves all quieted down, restoring the room's previous tranquility.
Thorin looked up at the Dwarves: "Didn't you hear what Gandalf said? Give the burglar some quiet space and go do your own things."
Thorin's words were quite effective with the Dwarves. They filed out of the room, leaving only Tarnes and the others.
This also made Bilbo secretly breathe a sigh of relief. It wasn't that he disliked the Dwarves.
Rather, their caring so much about him moved his heart, but it was indeed too noisy for his ears.
If it were at a banquet, Bilbo certainly wouldn't mind, but he now needed quiet rest.
Tarnes asked: "Bilbo, is there anywhere else on your body that feels uncomfortable?"
Bilbo nodded, then rubbed his hands, looking at the delicious food on the plate: "My head is still a bit dizzy, but it's fine now; I'm just a bit hungry. You know, for Hobbits, the greatest punishment is making them eat only one meal a day."
Tarnes smiled: "Well, if you have the leisure to joke, it shows you're indeed alright. Do you know? When you fainted, you scared all of us. Why aren't you wearing the pendant I gave you around your neck?"
Bilbo picked up a piece of still-warm roasted meat (Bofur had heated it for him) while answering somewhat embarrassedly: "I left the pendant at home and didn't bring it. I didn't expect that not resting well plus the severe cold would make me faint."
Then he stuffed the roasted meat into his mouth, chewed a few times, and swallowed it.
The satisfaction from food made Bilbo feel very comfortable, relieving his growling stomach.
Then he continued somewhat reflectively: "When I read books, I always felt that the scary things about adventures were dangerous animals and harsh environments, and I thought I'd prepared for everything when setting out. But I never considered accidents beyond those two things, like winter temperatures different from the Shire, and those Orcs that couldn't harm me but never let me sleep peacefully."
Gandalf smiled and picked up where Bilbo left off: "Taking a real journey will give you far more experience and knowledge than books."
Bilbo made an "mm" sound: "That's true. But please spare me for now. How did your talks with the Elves go?"
Then Bilbo stole a glance at Thorin: "It seems like it didn't go too smoothly?"
Noticing Bilbo's small gesture, Tarnes gently shook his head: "It's not as bad as you think, Bilbo. Or rather, Thorin hasn't started talking with the Elves yet."
Bilbo asked with some surprise: "Why?"
Gandalf said: "Because Lord Elrond hasn't returned to Rivendell yet. Recently there have been quite a few Orcs near Rivendell, so he led a team of elite Elf cavalry out to clear them and hasn't come back yet. Though Lindir, the current caretaker of Rivendell, said Lord Elrond would return tonight, it's getting late now, and the possibility is small. We might have to wait until tomorrow, so you can rest easy."
So Thorin's bad mood is simply because he's with Elves?
Bilbo put another piece of roasted meat in his mouth, thinking to himself.
Just then, in the quiet room, the door trembled lightly with three short, polite knocks.
With the door panel's slight shaking, a clear and gentle male voice drifted into the room through the door crack: "Lord Tarnes, Lord Gandalf, and Lord Thorin who has come from afar, Lord Elrond has returned to Rivendell. Lord Lindir specifically sent me to inform you all."
The atmosphere in the room seemed to pause for a moment. A flash of surprise crossed Tarnes' eyes.
Gandalf gently stroked his long beard with a somewhat embarrassed expression, having just told Bilbo that Elrond probably wouldn't return tonight.
Thorin lowered his head slightly. Though expressionless, a barely perceptible displeasure could be glimpsed beneath his thick eyebrows.
Bilbo spoke up to break the room's silence: "Then I'll continue eating my dinner while you go meet with that lord?"
Gandalf nodded, then looked at Tarnes and Thorin.
Thorin stepped forward first to follow Gandalf, then Tarnes gave Bilbo a few more instructions before following as well.
After leaving the room, Thorin saw Balin sitting and resting outside the room and said to him: "Balin, come with me. Let's meet Rivendell's lord together and see what he has to say."
Starlight and moonlight filtered through the valley's gaps, falling on the Elven open-air pavilion like draping this exquisite building in a layer of silver radiance.
The pavilion was built from the lightest woods, with delicate bark carved with fine patterns, surrounded by transparent gauze-like crystal that fluttered gently in the wind.
A fully armed Elven warrior was alone removing his exquisite armor. Hearing movement, he turned around, showing a warm smile. It was Lord Elrond of Rivendell.
He placed his golden sword from his waist onto the stone table in the pavilion, then raised his right hand to touch his left chest before gently waving forward: "Ah, Mithrandir, Tarnes, I'm very happy to see you."
Then Elrond paused and showed a welcoming smile to Thorin as well: "I'm also very happy to meet the king of Durin's line again here. Welcome, grandson of Thrór, son of Thrain, Thorin Oakenshield. And welcome to you as well, son of Fundin, Balin."
Tarnes already knew Elrond, and needless to say, so did Gandalf.
They knew that Elrond's gesture represented an embrace in Elven etiquette, so they immediately made the same gesture in response to Elrond's courtesy.
Of course, neither Thorin nor Balin made the same reciprocal gestures as Tarnes and the others.
The former remained expressionless, while the latter nodded slightly with his kindly face.
"Mellonnen (Hello), Lord Elrond." Gandalf greeted in Elvish.
Elrond smiled and nodded, then looked at Tarnes with some happiness, patting the golden sword on the stone table: "Tarnes, the sword you gave me has been truly useful. I thought it could only serve as decoration, but I never expected its hardness and sharpness to far exceed my imagination. It helped me greatly, easily cutting through those Orcs' inferior weapons and severing their heads."
Tarnes replied equally happily: "If you're satisfied, then that's good."
Elrond nodded, then looked at Thorin and Balin again, his smile slightly restrained.
He said meaningfully: "The reason I returned so late is because I led cavalry to eliminate a group of Orcs that came from the south. For Orcs to be so close to Rivendell is very strange. Something, or someone, must have attracted them."
Gandalf replied: "That would probably be us."
Thorin looked silently at Elrond, frowning, still unwilling to say anything.
Gandalf could only say helplessly: "Thorin, show Lord Elrond the map I gave you. He can read the information contained in that map."
Thorin finally spoke, but his words made Gandalf's vision go dark: "Our affairs have nothing to do with the Elves."
Gandalf rubbed his forehead with a headache: "My goodness, Thorin, I'm begging you to just let him look at the map."