Home was now behind them, and the world lay ahead like an endless tapestry of adventure.
Young Bilbo stepped out of the Shire for the first time, his heart pounding with equal measures of terror and exhilaration.
That night, Bilbo couldn't sleep. He only lay down for a short while before getting up again, his mind racing with thoughts of the journey ahead.
Also sleepless were Gandalf and Levi.
One leaned against a weathered rock smoking his pipe with contemplative puffs, while the other stood on high ground looking around with the vigilance of a seasoned warrior.
Roar...
Strange calls and commotion echoed through the mountain forests and valleys, making everyone uneasy with their primal menace.
"What is that sound?"
Bilbo was somewhat puzzled, his voice trembling slightly. He had never seen orcs before, so naturally he had never heard what orcs sounded like.
This commotion directly woke several dwarves, including Thorin, who sat up with weapons already in hand.
"Those are orcs, a vicious species. From the sound of it, there are no fewer than dozens of them."
Fili explained to Bilbo with grim authority: "They're everywhere in the Lone-lands. They love to attack when people are fast asleep... silently, they take lives without warning."
Bilbo was startled by this description and felt somewhat panicked, his comfortable hobbit life offering no preparation for such horrors.
Everywhere?
Gandalf, who was smoking nearby, glanced at Levi observing from the heights and silently shook his head.
In the past, this wilderness was indeed crawling with them.
Now it was hard to say.
Sensing orcs approaching, more and more people woke up with the instincts of those who had lived through countless dangers.
Under Bilbo's puzzled gaze, Balin began telling of the battles they had experienced, including how Thorin Oakenshield earned his title through blood and valor.
Meanwhile.
In a dark forest where nothing could be seen clearly, a squad of orc scouts fixed their malevolent gaze on the place where the campfire burned like a beacon in the darkness.
"Tell the master... we've found the dwarf scum."
The squad leader gave orders with savage glee, sending some orcs to continue tracking while rushing back to report.
Rumble!
Heavy rain came without warning, turning the world into a curtain of water.
The next day, the group rode their horses forward through the downpour, water streaming from their cloaks and beards.
"I say, Mister Gandalf, can't you make this rain stop?"
"It will stop when it stops raining," Gandalf offered the dwarves some literary nonsense with twinkling eyes, then continued: "If you want to change the weather, you'd better find other wizards."
"Are there others?"
Bilbo asked curiously: "Are there other wizards?"
"Yes."
Gandalf glanced at Levi, hesitated for a moment, then said: "There are five of us in total. Besides myself, there's Saruman the White, Radagast the Brown, and two Blue Wizards."
After speaking, Gandalf looked at Levi again with meaningful intensity.
Levi also glanced at him.
Bilbo noticed that Gandalf seemed to keep looking toward Levi and also turned his gaze that way.
"Well, Gandalf is right. I have nothing to add."
"...Alright."
Seeing that Levi said nothing, Gandalf could only continue the previous topic, talking about the Brown Wizard.
Radagast the Brown was the one Gandalf had mentioned who also brewed potions after seeing Levi's brewing stand.
However, his potions were usually used to help small animals.
This Brown wizard lived in forests year-round, close to nature. In his eyes, all life was equally worthy of respect and care. Even for just a small animal, he would spare no effort to save it.
Of course, evil creatures born from darkness like wargs and the great spiders of Mirkwood were exceptions.
The heavy rain gradually stopped, and the group rested briefly before continuing their journey.
They traveled like this, crossing Bree, leaving the last human settlement, passing the ancient watchtower of Weathertop, and heading east into the wild lands.
On the road, Gandalf suddenly pointed in a direction and said: "Oh, we've arrived here. Over there is Levi's territory... Roadside Fort."
"Territory? Levi is also a lord?" a dwarf asked with surprise.
This was quite something... wouldn't that make him like Thorin, a lord personally leading an expedition?
"Hmm... you could say that, and not just any ordinary lord."
Gandalf spoke in riddles without explaining, his eyes twinkling with hidden knowledge.
"So we're near your home now, Levi?"
Bilbo asked with genuine excitement. He was very interested in Levi's home. Usually it was Levi who visited him... he had never actively visited Levi.
"Yes, my territory is not far from the main road."
"Can we go see it!"
"I'd be very welcome to that," Levi nodded with warm hospitality.
Bilbo looked at the people around him, asking with his eyes for their agreement.
"Since Levi said so, I have no objections," came this comment from Gandalf at the front.
The dwarves also became excited. They had long been curious about this fellow.
However, there was still one person who hadn't expressed an opinion. The dwarves were curious, but whether they would actually go still depended on their leader's word.
"Since the lord of this land has expressed welcome, I have no objections either."
"If you ever come to dwarven lands, we will welcome you too," Thorin said to Levi with the dignity of one king addressing another.
"That couldn't be better."
The dwarves were happy... they could rest and resupply. Bilbo was also happy... he could visit Levi's home.
As for Gandalf.
Gandalf was already leading the way.
"Good heavens..."
A moment later, a group of dwarves stood before the castle gate, looking up at the towering walls that seemed to have no end left or right, their mouths agape in wonder.
"You're saying this is Levi's territory?"
"I've never heard of such a large city here. When was it built? Why hasn't a single piece of news about it gotten out?"
"It's simply miraculous..."
"More magnificent than any human city I've ever seen."
This was before they'd seen the White City.
"But how do we get in?"
"Hey! Your lord has returned. Open the gates!" a dwarf shouted at the non-existent guards on the walls.
Gandalf reminded them: "No need to shout. There's no one inside."
Then he skillfully walked to the iron gate, waiting for Levi to come over.
This iron gate was strange... it clearly had no lock visible from above, but just wouldn't budge. It must have some kind of magic cast on it.
Click.
Levi pulled down a lever and opened the iron gate with mechanical precision.
"Welcome to my territory. I think we can rest here for a few days... all kinds of supplies are available."
Everyone's luggage and horses were quickly settled with efficient hospitality.
The dwarves marveled at the craftsmanship of this city, looking around everywhere with the appreciation of master builders.
"I bet the architect here has some quirk... everything is square."
"But I like it."
Square and orderly... honestly, it really hit the dwarves' aesthetic sweet spot. Many of their buildings and facilities were angular, looking very solid.
"What is that?"
Someone pointed at a patrolling iron golem and asked with wonder.
Gandalf stopped a dwarf who was trying to touch it and explained:
"Those are city-defending golems created by Levi, responsible for the security of this territory. I advise you not to casually test their hardness. From what I can see, one of these things could handle ten orcs without problem."
"Hmm, perhaps ten dwarves wouldn't be a problem either..."
"Really?"
A dwarf was unconvinced, puffing out his chest.
However, when an iron golem actually clanked over with heavy metallic footsteps, these dwarves got weak in the knees and immediately huddled together.
"Oh no no no no no, we're guests invited by your master!"
The iron golem scratched its head with mechanical confusion.
It pulled out a small red flower from somewhere and handed it to Balin, who was standing at the front.
This was completely unexpected for everyone.
"Oh, thank you."
This white-bearded old warrior politely thanked the iron golem with genuine warmth.
"They're quite friendly, aren't they?"
Balin said calmly, as if he hadn't been the one shouting just moments before.
Just while they were talking, another iron golem wandered over and handed another dwarf a small red flower.
"I agree."
That dwarf put away the flower and nodded with newfound respect.
This was the most appropriate time the iron golems had given flowers... at least the height was right.
"I say, everyone... don't stand outside. I've prepared a hearty lunch. How about coming in for a meal first?"
While the dwarves were still pondering the flowers given by the iron golems, Levi had already prepared a large table of food and was waiting for the group to come in.
Bilbo, who had been staring in amazement, immediately snapped back to attention when he heard there was food.
"Wait for me!" he shouted with desperate enthusiasm.
That was food personally cooked by Levi!
[Chapter Complete]
***
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