The so-called expedition naturally referred to the quest for the Lonely Mountain—a journey that would reshape the fate of Middle-earth.
Soon, Gandalf explained his encounter with Thorin in Bree and his strategic concerns about the northern Lonely Mountain with the gravity of someone who had witnessed the rise and fall of kingdoms, regardless of whether Levi could understand it all.
Clearly, he was treating Levi as one of his own, which was why he revealed everything without reservation.
"Thráin's son, heir to the title of King under the Mountain of Durin's Folk, Thorin Oakenshield has already assembled a dwarven expedition in the Blue Mountains and is heading this way. We agreed to meet at the burglar's place and go together to the Lonely Mountain to reclaim the Arkenstone."
"With the Arkenstone, Thorin can rally the dwarven armies and launch a full assault on the dragon to retake Erebor."
"That plan sounds pretty good," Levi said simply.
Yes, that was the original plan for the quest to the Lonely Mountain, though judging by the final results... there were still some flaws.
Gandalf nodded and continued with the fervor of someone painting a picture of unimaginable wealth: "I don't know if you've heard, but in the halls of Erebor, the treasure hoarded by the dragon is piled as high as mountains, countless beyond measure."
"If you're willing to join the expedition and help the dwarves reclaim their homeland, one-fifteenth of that treasure will be your reward."
Based on Gandalf's observations, although this being named Levi sometimes acted similarly to himself—able to fight unconditionally for the Free Peoples against evil—he wasn't without needs. He had his own territory and might have many subjects in the future.
Therefore, compensation was still necessary.
As for Gandalf himself—he never counted himself in. Being able to thwart the great enemy was the best reward for him.
"I agree to join."
Only upon hearing these words did Gandalf finally breathe a sigh of relief, as if a great weight had fallen from his heart.
With Levi's powerful combat strength joining the expedition, this quest would be much more secure.
"Then it's settled."
Gandalf immediately finalized the subsequent itinerary with the urgency of someone sealing a crucial pact, fearing Levi might change his mind.
"On the evening of April 25th, we'll gather at Bag End in Hobbiton in the Shire. Don't worry about getting lost—I'll leave a mark on the door."
"There will be a banquet then."
"Alright, I'll remember that."
Seeing Gandalf's expression of "I've already arranged everything with the people there," Levi couldn't help but feel somewhat sympathetic toward Bilbo.
But along with the sympathy, he also felt like laughing. His honest, decent hobbit friend was going to be in for it in a couple of days.
Although Levi's somewhat subtle expression really puzzled Gandalf, he immediately cast aside this minor anomaly and set off directly for the Shire with purpose in his stride.
Hobbits... there were many in the Shire, but that little hobbit from the Took family with his adventurous spirit had left quite an impression on Gandalf. Though calculating the time, he could no longer call him a little fellow.
It would be him.
Taking advantage of Gandalf's departure, Levi organized his backpack with military precision, storing scattered building materials in storage to free up space, and packed a bunch of supplies and medicines.
Golden apples, various emergency potions, lembas, several stacks of food and wheat that would last a long time, armor, weapons, tools, arrows... plus some regular supplies and emergency items.
Before long, his backpack was packed with few slots remaining.
After preparing travel supplies and doing final maintenance on his territory, Levi waited another two days before setting out on horseback.
Mainly because he was afraid his horse ran too fast and would arrive before Gandalf, which would be somewhat awkward.
Several days passed in the blink of an eye.
One bright morning.
The Shire, Hobbiton.
"Good morning."
Bilbo held his pipe, greeting the strange old man standing before him with the polite wariness of a hobbit who valued his peaceful routine.
"What do you mean?" The strange old man looked at the hobbit and said with philosophical intensity: "Do you mean to wish me a good morning, or do you mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not, or that you feel good this morning—or that it is a morning to be good on?"
"Or perhaps you simply mean that this is a morning, and you wish it to be a good one?"
"All of them at once, I suppose."
Bilbo felt this old man was getting stranger and stranger.
Suddenly appearing at his doorstep to disturb his peaceful morning, then using word games to pick fights.
He hoped the man had no business here, Bilbo thought.
"I am looking for someone to share in an adventure..."
Adventure?
Bilbo blinked twice.
The things Levi had talked about? Oh, those were quite interesting—this old man was also fond of adventures.
But it definitely had nothing to do with him.
"I don't think anyone west of Bree would be interested in adventures. You've come to the wrong place."
"Though I do have a friend who's an excellent cook and really enjoys adventures, but definitely not me. I can ask him for you next time I see him. Well, that's that."
"Good morning." Bilbo greeted again and was about to hurry back inside to avoid this strange old man.
Until Gandalf began claiming kinship with the authority of someone who had known him since childhood.
"You know me, though you only remember my name as belonging to someone who does not resemble me."
"I am Gandalf, Bilbo Baggins, and you have changed, changed a great deal. You were not like this as a child..."
"Hmm... then it's settled."
Gandalf nodded with finality, regardless of whether Bilbo agreed or not—he had agreed on Bilbo's behalf.
Bang.
After some pulling and tugging, Gandalf was successfully shut outside, with Bilbo locking the door from inside to prevent the strange old man from continuing to pester him.
Sizzle—
Bilbo heard some unusual sounds that made his hair stand on end.
At this moment, Gandalf's staff became a laser pointer, carving a symbol resembling the letter F on the door.
Bilbo's tranquility lasted only one day.
That evening, just as Bilbo had finished frying a fish and was about to enjoy it with the satisfaction of a well-earned meal, sudden knocking came at the door.
"Dwalin, at your service."
"Ah... um, Bilbo Baggins, at your service."
Bilbo hurriedly tidied his appearance and returned the bow with flustered politeness.
Soon Dwalin was helping himself to the dinner Bilbo had prepared for himself with the casual entitlement of an invited guest.
"Well, mainly, I didn't expect anyone to come today..."
Ding-a-ling—
"That'll be the door, I suppose."
"Balin, at your service."
A moment later.
"Fili, Kili, at your service."
"You must be Mr. Baggins."
"No, you've got the wrong house!" Bilbo was beginning to realize something was amiss with growing alarm.
"That's my mother's dowry chest, please don't do that!"
The chest still couldn't avoid the fate of being used to wipe shoe soles.
"Mr. Baggins, I must say you have excellent taste. This sword was made by our kinsmen—very fine workmanship, quite valuable."
Swoosh—
The sword was drawn and swung twice with practiced ease, frightening Bilbo into backing away repeatedly.
"Hey—don't touch that! Levi gave me that—please put it back!"
"Levi? That sounds familiar."
Ding-a-ling—
The doorbell interrupted this conversation, and Bilbo opened the door somewhat irritably.
Then he was stunned speechless by the large mass of dwarves that poured in like a flood.
Looking up again, he saw an old man bending down and peering into the house with twinkling eyes.
"Gandalf."
A lively banquet was thus held at Bag End. Watching the pantry's food being eaten bit by bit, Bilbo was dizzy with anger and helplessness.
What made it worse was that this group of dwarves composed a song on the spot to annoy him and sang it with gusto, making him even more suffocated.
"There's still one person who hasn't come—our leader..." a dwarf suddenly remembered something.
"No, two people. He hasn't arrived either," Gandalf interjected, constantly looking out the window with anticipation.
He would come, wouldn't he?
This cheerful banquet continued until the doorbell rang again with ominous finality.
Thorin.
"Gandalf... you said this place was easy to find."
Dwarves, hobbits, and the wizard soon sat around the table, beginning to discuss expedition matters with the gravity of a war council. Even though he wanted to wait for Levi, the atmosphere had reached this point, and Gandalf had to participate in the discussion.
Fortunately, before long, the doorbell was triggered again.
Ding-a-ling—
Everyone looked toward the door, then at Bilbo, indicating he should answer it.
Gandalf quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
"Oh, well, I hope this time it's not some strange fellow."
Creak.
A figure clad in black armor that seemed to absorb light itself, wearing a tattered linen cloak soaked with the fresh blood of some creature, carrying a slight bloody scent that spoke of recent violence, slowly stepped through the door with predatory grace.
The moment he entered, the light inside seemed to dim, as if absorbed by that netherite armor that gleamed with otherworldly menace.
This person was very dangerous!
Clatter—
The dwarves grabbed stools, reached for weapons with lightning reflexes, those with nothing to grab pulled dinner forks from nearby drawers, and others stepped forward trying to pull Bilbo back from what they perceived as mortal danger.
In an instant, everyone entered combat readiness like seasoned warriors facing an unknown threat.
However, unlike the dwarves, Bilbo showed a delighted expression that lit up his entire face.
"Levi!"
He spread his arms, showing the first genuine smile on his face that evening.
"Oh—this is truly the most joyful thing that's happened to me today! Welcome, welcome! Haha, I really didn't expect you to visit today. As you can see..."
Bilbo turned back to introduce the dwarves and Gandalf but was startled by the situation behind him.
"What are you doing?"
[Chapter Complete]
***
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