Dragonborn from Lord of the Rings

Chapter 167 News from afar

"thank you very much!"

Frodo sat in his seat, surprised and embarrassed, "Have you seen Bilbo?"

"Yes, he has been a guest in Erebor, the hometown of the dwarves, did he not tell you?" Groin said.

"No." Hearing the news of his relatives, Frodo was very happy: "Although I know he has traveled far, I don't know the specific itinerary. All I know is that he went to see the mountains and the forest. He kept saying this. But I didn't know he actually went to the far side of Middle-earth again."

Groin said with a smile: "The dwarf has always missed his old friend. His arrival made the kingdom below the mountain flourish. Thorin even held a month's celebration for it. Those were the few happy days for him recently. .”

This made Frodo more curious, and he wanted to ask more, but now the feast began.

They could only temporarily stop talking.The atmosphere was cheerful, and the food suited his rumbling stomach.He ate for a long time before raising his head to look around again, and even turning his head to look at his neighbor.

He starts by looking for where his friends are.Sam asked if he could wait on his master, but was told that this time he was also a guest of honor.Frodo saw him sitting now with Pippin and Merry at the head of a little table beside the dais.

"You've had some very strange adventures, I hear," said Groin. "I've wondered what it was that took four hobbits on such a long journey. Ever since Bilbo went out with us Nothing of the kind has happened since the Far Gate. But since Elrond and Gandalf do not seem to intend to discuss it, perhaps I should not ask too much?"

"I don't think we should talk of it, at least not yet," said Frodo politely.He guessed that the Lord of the Rings was not something to talk about, even at Elrond House, and he wanted to forget his troubles for a while. "But I'm also curious," he added. "What made you, a noble dwarf, come all the way from the Lonely Mountain?"

Groin looked at him: "This is a very long story. I have a hunch that Lord Elrond will call us all soon, and we will all hear a lot. Then you can read it from beginning to end. Listen to it again."

So all the rest of the meal they talked together, but Frodo listened more than he talked; for the Shire's news, save of the Ring, seemed remote and insignificant, while Groin had many great things. There's a lot going on in the wild north.

Frodo learned that old Grimbeorn, son of Beorn, now ruled many mighty Men, and their dominions lay between the Misty Mountains and the Mirkwood.

"Truly," said Groin, "were it not for the Beorns, we would never have come to Rivend from the Lonely Mountain. They are a valiant lot, and they have kept the High Pass and Karl Rock Pass open. Let Those in chariots can't quite hold Rovanian. But the toll they demand is too high."

He shook his head, seemed to be complaining, and seemed to be explaining: "Besides, like Beorn in the past, they don't like dwarves very much. However, they are quite reliable, which is not bad in today's world. There is no place where humans, As kind to us as the men of Riverdale. Those Bards, they are good men. The grandson of Bard the Archer, Brand, the son of Bard's son Bain, ruled over them. He was A mighty king, whose dominion stretched far east and south of Aesgaloth."

"Ever!" said Frodo sharply, "I can hear regret in your mouth. What has happened?"

Groin was silent for a while, and then said: "Yes, once. Haven't you heard? The barbarians from the east and the chariot people launched a huge war. They attacked Long Lake Town and River Valley City. Brand Fight to the death."

Frodo opened his mouth wide, startled and sad. "I'm sorry to hear such sad news," he said.

Groin sighed and said nothing.After a long while, he continued: "We supported them, but there were too many enemies, and Sorin couldn't protect all of them. In the end, the human king died gloriously on their city gate, without falling. All the others retreated to Erebor. Bilbo came to the Lonely Mountain at that time and at that time."

Frodo kept opening and closing his mouth, breathing in and out, as if he was digesting the explosive news. After a long time he asked, "How is he now? How is the dwarf?"

"Good and bad. Both Bilbo and us," said Groin. "Bilbo, like me, has grown old, but he has changed more than a dwarf, as you may see in a moment." To. And the dwarves of the Lonely Mountain, protected by the strong gates of the kingdom below the mountain, are getting by at this stage."

It did make Frodo very nervous at first, but he was not relieved until he heard the venerable Dwarf say that Bilbo was all right, and that he, too, seemed to be back in Rivendell.

It was just that he wondered why Bilbo would miss such a grand banquet.But at this stage, he didn't want to ask more questions.

Maybe, as Groin said, we'll find out in a while.

Frodo thought absently.

Then, Groin talked about the various deeds of the dwarf kingdom, and he talked for a long time.He was glad to have such an attentive audience, and although Frodo was in fact quickly bewildered by strange names and places he had never heard of, he neither showed fatigue nor attempted to change the subject.

First of all, Thorin is still King of the Mountain, and despite his age (over 270), he is still respected and surprisingly rich.

And nine of those companions who survived the "Battle of the Five Armies" are still with him: Duvalin, Kili Fili, Groin, Dory, Norrie, Beaver, Bofur, and bomber.Bumbur was so fat now that he couldn't move from the couch to the chair at the dining table, and it took six young dwarves to carry him.

"And what of Balin, Ori, and Oin?" asked Frodo.

Groin looked at him in surprise. "You don't know?" He said, "The last time Lord Turka helped the dwarves recover Kazadum, they were the ones who took the lead. Now Fintin's lineage is exercising the authority of the lord of Kazadum!"

Talking about the Holy Land of the Dwarves, Groin regained his lost mood, and he talked to Frodo about their hard work under the Lonely Mountain and Khazad-dum.

"We're doing pretty well," he said, "but in metalwork we're no better than our fathers were, and many of the secrets are lost. We can make decent armor and sharp swords, but only good. Only in mining And in architecture, we have surpassed what was before. See, Frodo, the new halls and lofty arches of Khazad-dum, carved like trees; The tower! You will know when you see it, we are not idle."

"I would look at it if I had the chance," said Frodo.

And this is just the corner of the banquet.

On the high platform, Turka also kept talking to Elrond, raising his head from time to time and sweeping across everyone's faces.There was always a slight pause when his piercing eyes fell on Frodo.But when he saw the hobbit in the original book chatting with the dwarf with great interest, he smiled again and skipped over.

Until he saw the silent Aragorn and the gentle and quiet Arwen, he frowned again.

He whispered something to the Lord of the Valley, but Elrond just smiled and shook his head.So Turka could only keep his mouth shut and never mention it again.

The daughter of Elrond, who was as beautiful as a ray of starlight, felt it. She raised her head, glanced at Turka and her father, and said nothing.

When Aratu and Noratu saw their adoptive mother, Princess Evening Star, they couldn't help rolling their eyes.

But because they just got into trouble, they didn't dare to be shy in front of their father at this time.Moreover, their hearts are also very complicated, so in the end they also choose to turn a blind eye.

On the contrary, Boromir and Faramir were quite surprised by this banquet, but they also had serious concerns in their hearts, so they also ate in silence.

In addition, there are also the elves of Legolas and Calas Galathon, who are also sitting in their seats, looking at everyone with a smile.

During this period, the wonderful music never stopped.

The harp and bagpipes sounded from the beginning to the end, the hall was filled with joy and satisfied smiles, almost everyone who participated in the banquet said so.

This is one of the biggest dinner parties I have ever attended!
Finally, the dinner party is over.Turka and Elrond got up first and walked out of the hall, followed by everyone.The doors swung open, and they passed through a wide corridor, through other doors, and into another hall.

There were no tables in the hall, but a huge fire was burning brightly in a huge fireplace between the carved pillars lined up on both sides.

And outside the west window, a tall figure stood in the courtyard, and some kind of weird and dull voice kept coming from above.Bilbo was sitting by the window, talking to him.

　Ask for support.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)