"How did you get here?"
In the vast and spacious council hall, ignoring Smaug's furious cursing of "cowards" from the other side of the wall, the expedition group held a small meeting.
"That's what I should be asking you, Levi. How are you here?"
Thorin questioned: "You shouldn't have been so reckless, awakening the dragon early. This isn't what we agreed on!"
"Your actions have nearly caused our expedition to fail. My father's key and map were all wasted!"
Levi shook his head and spoke of his observations: "No, Thorin, that method won't work anymore. Your information is outdated."
"Smaug has long since allied with the Great Enemy. Remember the Necromancer that Gandalf mentioned? He is the great enemy of Middle-earth's free peoples, that Dark Lord: Sauron."
"He has long been in contact with Smaug and reached a cooperation. In fact, this dragon has been awake all along. It lurked underground, pretending to sleep, just waiting for you to deliver yourselves."
Hearing this, the anger on Thorin's face froze, slowly dissipating, replaced by an expression of unwillingness to believe.
Seeing Thorin's expression, Levi continued: "Also, the orcs and wargs from Moria and the Misty Mountains have now formed an alliance and are marching this way, numbering in the tens of thousands."
"They will rally around Smaug to make him the new King Under the Mountain, completely occupying this region."
"No, I am the true master here!" Thorin couldn't help but say with fierce determination.
"That's why we need to find a way."
Silently digesting this intelligence, Thorin took a breath and said: "Since the dragon has awakened, we must face it. I declare the original plan void."
"Before the orc army arrives, we must kill it, or everything will be irreversible!"
"Also, I must immediately seek support from my kinsmen."
Thorin immediately analyzed the situation clearly and decisively issued new objectives.
"Balin, do you still remember how to make blast-fire?"
"Well, although it's been quite a while since I last made such things, I think I'll remember once I'm in the workshop."
"Good. We can go through here to the workshop first to make some blast-fire, use that to attract Smaug's attention, lure it to the furnace, then crush it with its favorite gold and kill it in one blow!"
After stating the rough plan, Thorin explained in detail. Basically, they would lure Smaug to a specific location, then pour massive amounts of molten metal on it. Once solidified, it would be completely trapped inside.
Hearing Thorin's plan, the dwarves all thought it had potential and was worth trying, but at this moment, Levi shook his head.
"That won't work. High temperatures don't affect it much. I tried with lava. To it, that's at most a bit hot. Your method won't work. It will climb out."
"Then what do you suggest? Should we just watch it unite with the army and let it, let a beast become King Under the Mountain?"
"Calm down, Thorin."
Balin suddenly said: "Perhaps there's another way."
"What way?"
"Listen to me. Regarding the fall of Dale, I once heard another rumor. The Lord of Dale actually hit the dragon. Although he couldn't kill it, he successfully knocked off a scale from the dragon's heart."
"If we could use the same Black Arrow to target that spot and hit it again, we could definitely kill it!"
Balin said with certainty, while looking at Levi, wanting to hear his opinion.
"The rumor is true."
Levi's expression was somewhat strange, but he still corroborated: "I saw it with my own eyes. Smaug is indeed missing a scale at its heart."
"But the Lord of Dale died years ago. Where can we find another archer capable of wounding a dragon?"
A dwarf asked.
"There is one."
Balin said with certainty: "Actually, we've met him."
This wise old dwarf recounted his conversation with Bard, causing the dwarves to look at each other in amazement.
"So there's still one of those magical items called Black Arrows, and it's currently in the hands of the descendant of Dale's former lord."
"That person is Bard?!"
Thorin listened silently on the side, then suddenly turned: "Levi, could I ask you to watch this dragon here and wait for us for a few days?"
"We'll be back soon."
"Of course, I can wait for you. During this time, that annoying dragon won't go anywhere."
"By the way, I heard you mention a workshop earlier. Are there lots of explosives there?"
"Yes, do you need materials from there? I can tell you the specific route."
"No need for the route. Just tell me the straight-line direction."
Why take winding paths when you could dig straight through?
After giving Levi a specific direction and distance, and confirming there was nothing else, the dwarves hurriedly left.
Bilbo hesitated for a moment, then chose to follow the dwarves. They needed him more than Levi did.
Day turned to night.
Lake-town, before the prison.
Alfrid looked up, gazing down at Bard through the window, speaking in a mocking tone:
"Look at our champion of the people. How pathetic he is now."
"Once the people loved and supported you, but what did you do? You disappointed their expectations, became one with thieves, helping them steal the town's property. Such behavior is despicable."
"Just wait, Bard. The people will soon abandon you, spit on you. Your conspiracies and schemes can no longer threaten anyone."
"I'm not the one with conspiracies and schemes."
Bard gripped the iron bars tightly, his face dark as he spoke.
When someone wants to condemn you, they can always find a pretext.
This was just a trumped-up charge. They'd had their eyes on his life for a long time.
"Perhaps, but regardless, you'll never get out."
"This is your final fate."
Alfrid played with the keys in his hand, deliberately waving them in front of Bard twice. Seeing his increasingly dark expression, he smiled smugly and turned to leave.
Thud!
Suddenly a dull impact sounded. Alfrid's eyes rolled back as he collapsed unconscious.
Click.
The prison lock was opened. Bard looked down in surprise to see a group of fully armed dwarves.
"Bard, descendant of Girion, former Lord of Dale."
"Now there's an opportunity to prove your family's ancestry. Would you like to seize it?"
Old Balin, who was better at communication and had made a decent impression on Bard, was pushed to the front to negotiate with this master archer.
At this moment, a boy pushed through the dwarves and came before Bard.
"Father!"
"Bain."
Bard hugged his son and asked: "How are you here?"
"They said they came to rescue you but needed someone to guide them."
Noticing Bard's gaze, Balin sincerely praised: "That's right, your son is excellent. He's taken good care of the house and is very decisive. He remembered exactly where you were imprisoned."
Bard looked at the dwarves with a complex expression, then at his son, and sighed softly.
"I understand."
"Actually, I have no choice, do I?"
[Chapter Complete]
***
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