Only one day after Arthur and Thorin's company left Bree, two unwelcome guests quietly arrived outside Bree's East Gate.
Or rather, they could never have entered Bree, because they were two orcs.
It was another cold night, and the two orcs, riding wargs, snarled as they looked towards Bree.
"That spy, the human who submitted to the master, didn't contact us today," one orc said.
The other orc revealed a hideous grin: "That means there are two possibilities. One is that the spy betrayed the master and escaped. The other possibility is that he found the master's target, was exposed, and got eliminated."
"Roar—"
The warg beneath that orc let out a low growl.
The orc soothed the warg and said to his companion, "You stay here and wait for that squint-eyed human. I'll search along this road. If he doesn't come back, you report directly to the master."
Meanwhile, Arthur and his companions were enduring a terrible journey because the weather had turned for the worse.
The gloomy sky was like a massive lead block, pressing down and making it hard to breathe.
Rain escaped from the gaps in the clouds, relentlessly pricking the earth like fine needles.
The chill of November intertwined with the rain, bringing a bone-chilling cold that made one shiver involuntarily.
The world in the rain curtain became blurry, every landscape looked as if it had been smeared with oil paint, becoming distorted and illusory.
Bilbo had once thought that the weather for this expedition would be like May or September, either warm or slightly cool, without rain or wind.
Just as beautiful as told in joyful stories.
But now it was cold and wet. Although Bilbo had to camp in the wilderness before, at least the ground was dry then.
Even in the Old Forest, it was only the branches that were a bit uncomfortable!
"This is truly terrible. I actually forgot to bring an umbrella and can only wear a straw cape," Bilbo grumbled.
Then he looked up at Arthur, who was sitting on Torrent's back beside him, also without an umbrella, and asked, "Don't you feel uncomfortable, Arthur?"
"A little, but it's alright, not unbearable," Arthur replied, feeling the rain quietly permeate his straw cape and seep into his White Wolf Armor.
Bilbo mindlessly said, "Well, but you and Gandalf are powerful Wizards. Can't you cast Glintstone Magic to change the weather? It doesn't need to be pleasant, just stop the rain. I feel like a fish soaking in a fishbowl."
He rode his pony, following the main group on a muddy path, with heavy rain pouring down all day long.
Water was dripping into Bilbo's eyes from the brim of his hat, and his cloak and straw cape were already soaked through.
Even the pony he rode was tired, stumbling along the muddy road.
Even dwarves like Dori and Ori, who loved to sing and tell stories, became grumpy and unwilling to speak because of the rain.
Even Bofur, who was always cheerful and optimistic, held his pipe and sighed at the tobacco too wet to light.
Dori, wearing a hood in front, his cheeks red from the cold wind, tightened his cloak and, upon hearing Bilbo's complaint, shouted back, "Sir Gandalf, and Sir Arthur, can you stop this flood from the sky?"
Gandalf, also annoyed by the rain, retorted loudly and impatiently upon hearing Dori's voice, "Isn't it raining, my dear dwarf… This rain will continue until it stops. If you want to change the weather of the world, go find other Wizards!"
What a load of nonsense.
Arthur couldn't help but let out a slight smile upon hearing Gandalf's words, but the smile quickly froze.
Because he noticed that the dwarves in front of him, along with Bilbo, were all looking at him with hopeful gazes.
Even Thorin looked at Arthur with the same expression.
He, too, was getting fed up with this damned weather, but they hadn't found a suitable place to stay yet, so they could only continue forward in the cold, dark rain.
If they still couldn't find one, Thorin would have to continue leading the company through the night in the dark.
"If you want to change the weather of the world, go find other Wizards…" Didn't Gandalf's words imply me?
After all, there were only two Wizards in this expedition, and excluding Gandalf himself, only Arthur remained.
Arthur looked at Gandalf in surprise, noticing the cunning expression on his face as he looked back.
You old man, I almost forgot my identity as a wizard to the outside world.
Even Bernal, behind Arthur, teased with a smile, "Yes, Arthur, you know so many magical Glintstone Magic, surely you can handle mere rain."
Arthur turned and gave him a glare, then said to Bilbo and the dwarves, "I'm afraid I can't dispel this rain either…"
Bilbo and the dwarves showed disappointed expressions, but their attention was quickly recaptured by Arthur's words.
"But, if it's just to make your body warmer and your mind clearer, I do have some methods," Arthur said with a smile, as golden light appeared in his hand—a catalyst for casting Prayers.
Erdtree Grace: Through this Prayer, the brilliant Grace gently flowed into the bodies of the Lonely Mountain Expedition members, continuously bringing them new vitality and warmth.
Bilbo felt a tingling warmth in his fingers, which had been frozen by the rain. Although the rain in the sky continued, he felt much better than before.
Fili and Kili's eyes lit up. They suddenly realized that the Beast Prayers they had learned also had similar effects.
Fili looked at Kili and smiled slightly: "It seems Teacher Arthur has taught us another way to use Prayers in a non-combat state."
Kili said with a hint of excitement, "What are we waiting for? Let's try it now."
The dwarf brothers took out the Clawmark Seal Arthur had given them, using the Beast Prayers [Wild Beast Vitality].
The off-white Beast Prayers instantly replaced the Erdtree Prayers cast by Arthur. Fili and Kili's excited expressions didn't last a second before their faces fell.
Although the [Wild Beast Vitality] they cast did have an effect, it didn't warm their bodies as much as the Prayers cast by Arthur.
Or rather, the effect of the Beast Prayers they cast was not obvious.
Kili tightened his thick, damp clothes and asked Fili, "Why isn't it working, and Teacher Arthur's Prayers also disappeared?"
Fili felt the cold gradually creeping over his body and shook his head in confusion.
At this moment, Bernal slightly sped up his horse, arriving beside the two dwarves brothers.
After casting the same Grace Prayers as Arthur, he spoke, "Actually, I haven't told you this yet, but I was planning to wait until you had fully mastered Beast Prayers before I did.
Fili, Kili, remember this: most of the time, different types of Prayers that have the same effect will not stack; the later one cast will simply replace the previous one."
Fili and Kili immediately nodded.
Since Bernal was talking about Prayers, Thorin also listened intently, pricking up his ears.
He keenly caught the subtext in Bernal's words: "Sir Bernal, do you mean that a person can learn more than one type of Prayers?"
Bernal glanced at Fili and Kili's uncle and said, "Only in theory, but biting off more than you can chew is not good. Many people spend their entire lives mastering one type of Prayers and are already considered outstanding geniuses.
So far, I've only seen two people who can skillfully switch between different Prayers and Glintstone Magic in combat."
Thorin subconsciously asked, "Which two?"
Bernal replied with a smile, "One is a mage whose strength is no less than mine, and the other you have already met."
Then he smiled without speaking, looking at Arthur, which made Thorin's gaze follow, revealing a look of understanding.
He murmured, "It's Arthur, I should have thought of him earlier."
While Bernal and Thorin were conversing, Arthur was chatting with Gandalf.
Gandalf chuckled, "It was indeed correct to push Bilbo and the dwarves' complaints onto you."
Arthur pursed his lips, "But that's only temporary.
We still need to find a shelter from the wind and rain tonight.
If this rain continues, my Prayers alone won't be enough for Bilbo and Thorin to get sufficient rest."
Gandalf nodded, "Don't worry, even though it's a bit dark, I remember the roads around here.
A little further ahead, there's a farmhouse.
I know the owner of the farmhouse, and their family will let us stay overnight."
Arthur breathed a sigh of relief, "That's good."
Then he looked at Thorin and shouted loudly, "Thorin, did you hear Gandalf?
There's a place to rest just a short distance ahead!"
Thorin replied, "I heard you!
Dwalin, Gloin, come with me and lead the way."
Soon, Arthur and his group, along with Thorin's party, entered a deep valley, and by then, the rain had lessened significantly.
At the bottom of the valley, there was a river whose waters had risen considerably due to the rain.
The willows on the riverbank were bent over, as if sighing.
The wind scattered the dark clouds, and the wandering moonlight appeared between the fleeting remnants of clouds over the mountains.
The Lonely Mountain Expedition didn't take long to exit the valley and soon saw the farmhouse Gandalf had mentioned.
Next to the farmhouse, the chicken coop's hanging lamp, though still lit, was dim and cozy, aided by the reappearing moonlight.
A few domestic fowl rested quietly in their cages, occasionally letting out a soft clucking sound.
In the sheepfold, several docile sheep huddled together, seemingly seeking warmth from each other, their breath steaming into white clouds in the air.
In the distant stable, a horse stood alone, its mane trembling slightly in the rain, as if listening to the whispers around it.
Its hooves occasionally struck the muddy ground, emitting dull thuds.
However, strangely, there was no light inside the farmhouse, making it unclear if anyone was home.
Gandalf, seeing this, mumbled strangely, "Could it be that the farmer went to bed very early today because of the rain?"
Arthur asked, "Wouldn't it be clear if we went to check?
Thorin's generosity is enough to appease a farmer woken from his sweet dreams."
Thorin's party, riding their ponies, arrived at the farmhouse located deep in the Old Forest.
Their arrival seemed not to have disturbed the occupants inside, so Thorin politely dismounted and slowly walked to the wooden door.
His hand gently shook the ancient bell on the door, and its crisp chime echoed in the quiet air.
As the bell's sound faded, while waiting for the farmhouse owner to emerge, Thorin's gaze meticulously traced the outline of the farmhouse: its simple structure, rough stone walls, and weathered wooden door.
Evidently, the farmer Gandalf knew had lived there for a long time.
But still, no one responded to the bell, and no lights were lit in the farmhouse.
The dwarves were not very patient.
Thorin frowned and rang the bell again, but the result was the same.
Gandalf frowned and walked over, stroking his long gray beard, muttering in confusion, "This shouldn't be; the owner of this farmhouse never goes out in winter."
Thorin glanced at Gandalf, "But there's certainly no one answering us right now."
Gandalf was silent for a moment, then decided to speak directly.
He shouted, "David, son of Dain! Are you there!
It's Gandalf!
I'm passing through tonight and would like to stay for a night!"
The wizard's voice echoed through the farmhouse.
Just as Thorin was about to suggest going directly inside to knock, a surprised middle-aged male voice came from within the farmhouse: "Gandalf?
Is that really you!
Gandalf!"
Gandalf recognized the owner's relieved tone and gently replied, "It's me, David.
Although I don't know what happened to you, I'm here, and I've brought many friends.
However, the number of people is a bit large; I hope you don't mind."
The farmhouse door was quietly opened a crack, and a somewhat bald head peered out.
Upon seeing Gandalf and the others standing at the door, he immediately opened the door wide and ran out excitedly, even with a slight sob in his voice, shouting, "Many people?
I don't mind at all!
This is great, finally someone has come."
Arthur, Bernal, and Millison exchanged glances.
They weren't foolish; it was clear that this farmer seemed to have encountered some terrifying monster.
Gandalf gently asked outside the fence, "What's wrong, David?
What terrible thing has made the steady farmer I know show such an expression?"
David looked at Arthur and Thorin, who both had weapons hanging at their waists, and once again breathed a sigh of relief.
It seemed he very much hoped that the people Gandalf brought were a group of fully armed mercenaries.
But the next moment, David's expression became tense.
He looked left and right, quickly opened the fence gate, and let Thorin and the others in.
Sweat of fear beaded on his forehead as he said to Gandalf, "Recently, some large monster has been lurking in the deep valley at night, just like a brown bear, able to stand upright, but much larger than a brown bear.