"Ready weapons!" Upon hearing Tarnes's words, Thorin gave the order without hesitation.
He trusted Tarnes completely.
Thorin drew the Icerind Hatchet that Tarnes had given him from his waist. Fili and Kili instinctively grasped the sacred seals for casting prayers, while Dwalin and Gloin vigilantly watched the surrounding trees.
The remaining Dwarves were obviously half a beat slower in their reactions, as they weren't professional warriors.
But although their reactions were slow, their coordination showed no errors as they quickly rode their horses into formation.
Thorin shouted loudly: "Tarnes, Gandalf, can you two find the correct path?! We can't stay in the forest forever, this is their territory!"
Tarnes frowned as he looked around at the environment. Those trees, seemingly aware that their secret movement and path-changing had been noticed, became increasingly brazen, even beginning to openly lift their roots to move.
This caused the surrounding scenery to change every minute and second. A path that existed between two trees one second would disappear the next, appearing in the opposite direction.
And moreover...
Tarnes glanced at Bilbo, whose face was gradually turning light purple. He realized the trees were even depriving the forest of oxygen at a very slow rate.
While not enough to cause suffocation, the low-oxygen environment would greatly affect consciousness and judgment.
However, pathfinding wasn't Tarnes's strength. In fact, without those maps in the Lands Between, he was the type to get lost.
Therefore, Tarnes looked toward Gandalf, who nodded seriously and shouted: "Leave finding the path to me. Be careful not to get entangled by those Huorns! Charge in the direction I indicate, no matter what lies ahead!"
Thorin shouted without looking back: "Sons of Durin, all prepare to charge!"
Gandalf took up his still-smoking pipe and began chanting a lengthy incantation. But before the spell was finished, the ground beneath the expedition began to tremble slightly.
The nearest old tree was already swinging its branches toward them.
"Ha-ah!"
Thorin's roar cut through the tense atmosphere. Gripping the Icerind Hatchet tightly, he leaped nimbly from horseback and landed heavily on the solid earth.
As his feet touched the ground, a frost power quickly spread outward like white waves gleaming in the sunlight, instantly wrapping several sturdy ancient trees in the path ahead with a layer of crystalline armor.
Then, gripping the reins tightly, he leaped back onto his horse in one fluid motion, as smooth as an exquisite painting.
Fili's fingers nimbly searched his coat pocket, feeling the cool metal texture of his throwing knives. From the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Kili already drawing his bowstring, arrow nocked and ready.
The frost zone created by Thorin brought bone-chilling winds that swept across the brothers' faces.
Fili's hand shot forward, the throwing knife like a silver lightning bolt cutting through the air toward the frost-covered branch.
Kili moved even faster, his arrow leaving the string first like an agile falcon striking its prey. The arrow and throwing knife crossed in midair like two intersecting beams of light, striking the branch with perfect accuracy.
Though insufficient to sever the branch, their combined force in that instant caused the charging branch to change course, as if guided by an invisible hand, deviating from its original trajectory.
The branch traced a curved arc through the air before falling powerlessly to the snowy ground with a dull thud.
The other Dwarves performed similarly to Fili and Kili. Coordination that would seem impossible to ordinary people appeared as casual play in the Dwarves' hands, working together seamlessly to deflect the frost-covered branches.
But this was still the Old Forest, the trees' domain. No matter how well coordinated the Dwarves were, there were always gaps.
Thorin shouted: "Gandalf, hurry up!"
Gandalf had just finished his incantation and, pressed by Thorin's urgency, called back: "I'm already fast enough! Don't rush an old man!"
The white smoke drifting from Gandalf's pipe took the shape of a sparrow, quickly flying toward the sky. The trees failed to notice this, allowing the smoke-bird to pass through the canopy and find the correct direction.
At this point, the Dwarves were under great pressure and could barely hold on.
If not for Tarnes's foresightful application of Uplifting Aromatic on them earlier, some Dwarf would probably have been struck by branches and dragged away by now.
But what puzzled Tarnes was that the branches seemed to have agreed among themselves not to attack him, Bernahl, Millicent, or Igon too much. Even Gandalf wasn't disturbed while chanting his spell.
Instead, the trees frantically swung their thick branches at the Dwarves like mad things. This prevented Tarnes from taking out his staff to support the Dwarves with large-scale magic, as the spell's area of effect would certainly include the Dwarves.
"Tarnes, we need help!" Thorin knocked away another swinging branch with his Icerind Hatchet, shouting breathlessly.
Due to frequent use of combat arts, Thorin's stamina was draining quickly. He was beginning to struggle to grip his weapon.
Since Gandalf hadn't yet indicated which direction to go and wouldn't let Thorin pressure him, he had no choice but to ask Tarnes for help.
Before Tarnes could speak, Igon's rough, hoarse voice suddenly boomed: "All of you plug your ears and your mounts' ears, and open your mouths! There's about to be a deafening noise!"
Bilbo rode his pony close to Tarnes, his curious heart beating ever more rapidly.
His gaze tried to look back at Igon, but just as he straightened up, Tarnes pressed him down, so his eyes could only see dense thickets and the dappled light and shadow faintly visible through the dark gaps.
"Stay down and cover the horse's ears. These trees are obviously targeting hobbits, but they can't tell the difference between Dwarves and hobbits, so they're treating Thorin and the others as hobbits." Tarnes's voice was low and urgent as he understood Igon's plan.
Bilbo's hands involuntarily tightened on the reins. The pony seemed to sense the tense atmosphere, restlessly stamping its hooves.
Though confused, Thorin and the others moved under Tarnes's urgent shouts despite the attacking branches.
Bernahl and Millicent had already ridden to the front of the group, their weapons producing continuous sword winds to help the Dwarves cut down the constantly attacking branches.
Of course, their mounts' ears had long been plugged with hearing-blocking devices.
Thorin's gaze swept through the group one by one. Only after the last Dwarf, Ori, had also plugged his own and his mount's ears did he quickly cover his own ears and shout loudly: "All ready!"
Bilbo lay on his horse's back, his vision blocked by the mane. He could only vaguely see Thorin's silhouette ahead and couldn't hear the specific words clearly.
Suddenly, fear spread like a dark cloud, and he felt a chill run from his feet straight to his head.
Almost instinctively, Bilbo turned his head. His gaze fell on Igon's hand gripping the crimson light, and an incredible sight met his eyes. The ferocious head of a giant dragon appeared before him out of thin air.
Though he had never seen a real dragon, Bilbo was certain that this was indeed a dragon's head.
The head of the flying dragon that had died at Igon's hands and whose heart he had devoured, its muscles bulging, filled with grim fangs and terrifying horns, its bright eyes flashing with cold red light. The dragon's roar was like thunder, shaking every inch of forest ground, echoing through the deep woods, and stirring up waves of wind.
Bilbo only felt his head swell, his heart pounding as if it would burst from his chest. The surrounding trees became distorted in his vision, and the entire world seemed to move in slow motion.
The flying dragon's shadow conjured by the Dragon Communion prayer cast huge shadows among the trees, causing the surrounding Huorns to retreat in fear.
But the Dragon Communion prayer's effect seemed too powerful. Though Thorin and the others had their ears plugged, they and their mounts were still stunned in place by the superior species' draconic pressure.
At this moment, Gandalf's smoke-bird also returned, bringing intelligence about the correct route.
"Thorin, lead your kinsmen charging straight to your left! Don't stop!" Gandalf's figure appeared unusually large in the dark forest path. His voice seemed to rise from an abyss, echoing in every Dwarf's ears.
This was an undeniable command, carrying a heart-palpitating power that entered the Dwarves' plugged ears.
Thorin's movements were crisp and decisive. The cloth plugging his ears fluttered from his hand as he signaled the Dwarves to follow him on horseback.
Bilbo awakened from his shock, his vision seeming to refocus. The expedition had already crossed the impenetrable Old Forest and was now traveling across grassland thick with autumn atmosphere.
Hooves trampled on yellowed grass leaves mixed with stubborn green, producing deep, powerful sounds. The clouds on the horizon seemed dyed with layers of orange-red by the setting sun, and the sky, moved by these graduated colors, became soft and warm.
The evening light stretched shadows along their forward path, each step seeming to race against time. The air was filled with the fresh scent of vegetation and the warm breath exhaled by the horses.
Beast roars seemed to come from the distance, reminding Bilbo that he hadn't returned to Bag End, to that warm little nest.
Tarnes's relieved voice came from beside him: "You've finally come to your senses, Bilbo. You really scared me."
Bilbo was somewhat dazed, then quickly asked in confusion: "Me? Didn't we just pass through the Old Forest?"
Bofur ahead immediately said: "No, you fainted. Right when Mr. Igon transformed into a dragon and roared, you fainted and collapsed on your horse's back."
Bombur chimed in: "Right, I even heard your snoring. You didn't just faint, you slept very soundly afterward."
Gandalf chuckled: "To be able to sleep through a dragon's roar, it seems our Mr. Bilbo Baggins indeed possesses extraordinary courage."
Bilbo shook his head as his mind cleared: "Thank you for your concern, but don't make me feel like I just crawled out of a coffin. That feeling makes me somewhat uncomfortable."
Igon's voice came from behind: "Honestly, your complexion when you first fainted looked like you had died, giving this old man quite a fright."
Tarnes said gently: "Fortunately, after examination, you only fainted due to lack of oxygen combined with being startled."
"Me, lack of oxygen?" Bilbo pointed at himself in disbelief.
Gandalf nodded: "Yes, your face had turned purple at that time. Those Huorns were consciously consuming the air in the forest, which led to this result."
Bilbo pointed at Bofur somewhat unwillingly: "Then why do these Dwarves seem completely fine?"
Bofur blinked: "We Dwarves have been in much worse conditions than that. Air scarcity is nothing. You haven't experienced going deep underground in caves and encountering lava. That scorching air practically steams your lungs. If there's a chance, I can take you to a Dwarf smithy in the Blue Mountains to experience it. The furnace temperature should be about the same."
Bilbo immediately refused: "I'll pass on that. I don't think normal people would choose to visit a place that could roast them."
But Bofur said: "But the Lonely Mountain we're going to, the evil dragon Smaug's flames are much hotter than any smithy furnace."
Bilbo's complexion worsened: "If you're trying to improve my mood, I think you've achieved your goal, Bofur."
Gandalf waved his hand: "Alright, Bofur, stop frightening Bilbo."
Bofur turned around and rode to join his cousin Bifur and Bombur, chatting with them.
Bilbo's ears twitched slightly, catching fragments of conversation from Bofur's direction. They were roughly discussing what kind of magical ability Igon's dragon roar actually was.
Curiosity gnawed at Bilbo's heart like ants as he began recalling that moment before losing consciousness. It had been so shocking that even after regaining clarity, it was difficult to erase from his mind.
Tarnes saw what Bilbo was thinking, as the hobbit had written it all over his face. He smiled and said: "That was a type of incantation. Fili and Kili also know certain incantations. As for what incantations are, I should have told you before."
Bilbo nodded repeatedly: "Yes, I know. I just never imagined they would be so, uh, awe-inspiring?"
After saying this, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, revealing a barely noticeable excitement.
Though the experience in the Old Forest had left him on edge, and he could even say he hadn't done anything, when everything was over and they walked on safe roads, there was a feeling that made Bilbo reluctant to leave.
The Took blood within him told him this was true adventure.
At this moment, the advancing group stopped. Thorin's resonant, deep voice came: "Let's stop here. Going further would be the Barrow-downs, and the Barrow-downs at night are much more dangerous than the Old Forest. We'll camp nearby."
Then Thorin dismounted and, after a moment's hesitation, walked toward Tarnes.
He showed longing eyes and asked: "May I inquire about the power used by Dragon Warrior Igon?"
[Chapter Complete]
***
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