When Tarnes and his group returned to Davy's farmhouse, Thorin and the others had long since packed their belongings and were ready to depart.
On the grass illuminated by the first rays of morning light beside the farmhouse, the Dwarves wandered about aimlessly, their shadows stretching long in the dawn's faint glow. An air of boredom permeated the atmosphere, mingling with the fresh scent of grass.
The Dwarves either scratched at the lazy sheep in the pen or poked at the white-feathered chickens stretching their necks in search of food in the coop. They yawned or burped, accompanied by brief conversations among themselves, as Thorin gazed toward the direction where Gandalf and his group had departed the night before.
Of course, the only one actually burping was Bombur, that rotund Dwarf. His burps were like light smoke suddenly rising from a small hill, unique and carrying a hint of satisfaction.
This was because Thorin had asked Davy to prepare breakfast for Tarnes and his group that morning, but even after the breakfast had gone cold, Tarnes and the others still hadn't appeared. Bombur, adhering to the principle of not wasting a single grain of food, decided to sacrifice his own stomach and, under the shocked gazes of the other Dwarves, consumed all six portions of breakfast meant for Tarnes and his group.
"Sometimes I worry your belly might suddenly explode, Bombur," Bofur said, looking at his cousin's round stomach.
Having eaten too much, Bombur sat on the ground rubbing his bulging belly. Upon hearing Bofur's words, he showed an honest smile.
Thorin heard the conversation between the two Dwarves and smiled silently. Then he looked up at the sun hanging high in the sky, his expression returning to that stern Dwarf leader demeanor as he said loudly: "We'll wait another half hour. If Tarnes and the others still haven't appeared, we'll set out first and wait for them at the village ahead."
Just then, sharp-eyed Dwalin spotted the shadowy figures of Tarnes and his group approaching and called to Thorin: "I see someone coming, Thorin. I don't know if it's Tarnes and Fili and the others."
Balin squinted and smiled: "My eyes tell me it's Fili, Kili, and your friends coming, Thorin."
Thorin nodded, and sure enough, shortly after, Tarnes and his group appeared in everyone's sight, leading the horses that had been captured by the Trolls.
Tarnes and the others walked over, with Fili and Kili excitedly rushing up to meet them. The Dwarf brothers both carried jars of gold coins retrieved from the Troll cave on their arms, taking turns reporting their battle achievements to Thorin.
Thorin's anxious heart only settled when he saw that Fili and Kili hadn't suffered any injuries. He quietly listened to Fili and Kili's account of their tense and exciting battle with the Trolls and only spoke after they finished: "But these coin jars can't be carried with you all the time."
Kili hefted his arms and said: "That's simple. Fili and I plan to dig a pit nearby and bury these jars in it. When we return from the Lonely Mountain and pass through here again, we'll dig them up."
Fili also nodded. Both of them had already considered the problem of carrying the coin jars on the road.
Thorin said: "It's good that you've thought this through, but remember that these coin jars were found by six of you. When you come back to dig them up, you can only take your own share."
Kili nodded vigorously: "Of course we understand. Fili and I will only take what we deserve."
Thorin patted both their shoulders: "Go inside and see if you've left anything behind. We're about to set out."
While Thorin was talking with Fili and Kili, Gandalf looked with surprise at farmer Davy, who was also ready to depart.
Oin, Gloin, Nori, Dori, and Ori—these five Dwarves at the chicken coop were nimbly helping Davy catch the white-feathered chickens and place them on the cart.
Davy himself drove the docile sheep out of the pen, and upon hearing Gandalf's words, he said: "I plan to leave with you, Gandalf."
He glanced toward the direction from which Gandalf and his group had come, or rather, the direction where the Trolls had disappeared, and said: "I've lived here for so many years, every winter in this place. But this year is different. The appearance of those Trolls makes me feel very unsafe. I'm afraid that after you leave, what if new monsters come again? I plan to go to the village where my wife and children are and stay there for a while."
After hearing Davy's words, Gandalf smiled and nodded: "Well, there's nothing wrong with doing that. We happen to have plenty of people, so we can help you watch over these livestock on the road."
Davy looked at the Dwarves around him and said gratefully: "Although these Dwarves are somewhat careless and informal, they've indeed been very helpful in driving this livestock. If it were just me alone, I'd probably only dare hide in the house and pray that those Trolls wouldn't come in."
Amid the Dwarves' songs and stories, the Lonely Mountain expedition set out once again.
Less than a day after Tarnes and Thorin's group left Davy's farmhouse, two sturdy wargs burst out from the deep valley. On the wargs' backs were the two Orcs from outside Bree. One of them directly controlled his warg to leap over the farmhouse fence, seeing the Troll corpses that had turned to stone inside the farmhouse and the chaotic traces on the ground.
The warg beneath him twitched its nose and raised its head, letting out a chilling howl.
"Awooo!"
Actually, it was communicating with the Orc on its back in the warg language.
The Orc leaped down from the warg's back, walked quickly a few steps, and came to the farmhouse door. Chains hung on the door, but it drew an extremely sharp cleaver from its waist and swung it at the wooden door.
Under the Orc's violent hacking, the wooden door quickly shattered. The Orc then kicked the door open and went inside. When it came out, it held several red beard hairs and a piece of mud-stained cloth, showing a sinister smile.
It then threw the items left behind by the Dwarves back into the house, looked at its companion, and spoke in the language of dark creatures: "Tell the master the Dwarf scum has been found!"
The village Davy mentioned was three days' journey from his farmhouse. There were no other incidents along the way, and Tarnes and his group smoothly arrived at the village where Davy's wife and children lived.
The villagers, seeing such an imposing procession, cast wary and curious glances. However, they obviously all knew Davy, and after seeing him among the group, the wariness in the villagers' eyes quickly disappeared.
Some busybody villagers ran directly to the mud-brick house where Davy's wife and children lived, knocking on the door to tell those inside the news that Davy had brought a large group of Dwarves, two armored knight gentlemen, and a wizard to the village.
Obviously, the fine armor worn by Tarnes and Bernahl made the villagers mistake them for some kind of nobility.
Upon hearing this news, Davy's wife was initially at a loss but quickly reacted. She called her two sons to clean up the house, then washed her face and hands before running out to nervously greet her husband.
"Davy, why did you suddenly come back? Did something happen?" She saw that Davy had even brought back the sheep and chickens he raised and also noticed that the number of sheep was wrong. She asked with both surprise and concern.
Davy slightly slowed the cart and helped his wife up from the ground. Glancing at the villagers watching the excitement from both sides of the road, he said quietly: "There are monsters in the deep valley. I'll tell you the details when we get home."
His wife nodded, then asked: "Then, what about those Dwarves and knight gentlemen?"
She didn't ask about Gandalf because, as Davy's wife, she had met Gandalf a few times before.
Davy explained briefly: "They're friends Gandalf brought. If not for them, I might not have made up my mind to come back."
The village wasn't large, just a few dozen households, so Tarnes and Thorin's group quickly reached Davy's home in the village.
Davy's two teenage sons looked very much like him. They were very happy to see their father, calling out "Dad!"
Davy strode over, and the two children ran to him, diving into his embrace. He hugged them tightly, stroking their hair with his calloused hands.
"Come, children, lend a hand. Drive the flock into the yard, we have guests," Davy said gently to his two sons after releasing the embrace.
Davy's two sons were very obedient. They helped their father lead the docile sheep to the backyard of the house.
Meanwhile, the Dwarves gestured to Davy's wife not to help while they carried the cages containing the white-feathered chickens to the backyard as well.
The wife said quietly to Davy: "I've never seen so many Dwarves in my life, and they seem very friendly to us."
Davy said: "Probably because I sheltered them for a night. Go prepare some good food. I'll go to the market later to buy a few barrels of ale. Don't be stingy, don't worry, the Dwarves will pay."
The wife had initially been somewhat resistant but only became cheerful and went to the kitchen to prepare the fire for cooking after hearing Davy's last sentence.
Only then did Davy have time to find Tarnes, Gandalf, and Thorin. There was also a kind-faced, white-bearded Dwarf sitting at the table, the four of them were discussing future arrangements.
"This contains your reward for helping me eliminate the Trolls, and I'll also provide you with food and water when you leave, as stated in the contract," Davy said, placing a black money pouch on the low table where the three sat.
Thorin made no move toward the money pouch but looked at Tarnes, since this was his and Bernahl's reward.
"Thank you for keeping your word, Davy. I'll help deliver Bernahl's share to him."
Tarnes didn't bother with politeness either. He nodded to Davy and reached out to collect the money pouch into his spatial pack.
Davy's eyes widened slightly. The money pouch suddenly disappearing from Tarnes' hand made him realize that Tarnes' identity was not simple.
Could he be another wizard?
Davy recalled how familiar Gandalf and Tarnes seemed with each other and could only assume that Tarnes was also a wizard.
With this thought, Davy left the house and headed to the village market to buy a few barrels of ale. After all, since last night, he had been hearing the Dwarves constantly talking about wanting to drink.
After seeing Davy leave, Thorin looked back at Gandalf and asked: "Where are you planning to take us, Gandalf? We're getting closer and closer to Elf territory."
Gandalf said with a chuckle: "You're right, Thorin. I'm taking you to Rivendell to seek help from its lord, Elrond."
He then looked at Tarnes and smiled: "Moreover, Lord Elrond is Tarnes' friend. I'm sure he won't refuse our request for help."
Thorin's expression darkened. He said in a low voice: "Elves? No, I would rather die than go to Elf territory, Gandalf. Let alone ask for help from those damned Elves, I won't go near that place!"
Gandalf showed a surprised expression. He hadn't expected Thorin to refuse him so firmly.
Even Balin couldn't maintain his usually kindly expression.
Tarnes was reminded of the commotion Fili and Kili had caused when Elrond first visited his territory.
Gandalf asked in confusion: "Why not go there? The Elves can provide us with food, shelter, and advice."
Thorin rejected him without hesitation: "I don't need their advice. What right do Elves have to advise me?"
Gandalf could hardly believe Thorin's answer and continued persuading: "We have a map, the one I gave you that your father Thrain entrusted to my safekeeping. It has some kind of spell on it that conceals certain text, which we haven't deciphered yet. Lord Elrond can help us break the spell and read the text on the map."
"Help?" Thorin seemed to be touched on a nerve by this word, and his voice began to contain anger.
"What help did the Elves give us when the dragon attacked Erebor?"
"When Orcs sacked Moria and defiled our sacred halls, the Elves just sat by and watched these things happen without taking any action."
Thorin clenched his fists, looking at Gandalf while restraining his anger: "Now you want me to seek out those Elves who betrayed my grandfather and also betrayed my father?"
Gandalf showed a pained expression, then became serious as well: "But you're not your grandfather or father, Thorin. I gave you the map and key not so you could cling to the past..."
Before Gandalf could finish, Thorin immediately retorted with a confrontational tone: "I didn't even know you had the map and key."
Gandalf's face rarely showed annoyance and incomprehension. Tarnes intervened: "Thorin, Gandalf, you two need to calm down. There's no need to argue over this."
Thorin's chest rose and fell several times before he finally nodded to Tarnes: "You're right, Tarnes, but I won't go to Rivendell. I'll never go to ask the Elves for help."
Author's note: In the movie version, because Thorin and his group's tracks were discovered early, the orcs quickly caught up. Gandalf took advantage of being chased by orcs to guide Thorin and his group to the secret path leading to Rivendell, forcing Thorin to swallow his pride and enter. LOL.
In the original book, when Gandalf suggested going to Rivendell, Thorin and his group were actually more enthusiastic and welcoming, not as resistant as in the movie version.
[Chapter Complete]
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