Just as the Wargs and Orcs were surrounding the expedition from all directions.
First, the brown-robed Wizard Radagast burst out of the forest on his rabbit-drawn sled, provoked the Orcs and Wargs, and then quickly fled into the distance.
Immediately after, a carriage rushed out of the forest. Luke cast a spell, knocking down two Wargs blocking the way, and then grandly drove the carriage in another direction.
Surprisingly, the pony pulling the carriage seemed to feel no weight at all, pulling the light carriage and galloping wildly, its speed not slow in the slightest.
Watching the people run in two directions, hundreds of Orcs and Wargs split into two groups, pursuing each of them.
Radagast, relying on the incredible speed of the Rosgabel rabbits and his superb driving skills, moved through the mountains and forests as if on flat ground, narrowly playing with the Wargs.
Luke, on the other hand, presented a different scene. Although the pony pulling the carriage was fast, it still couldn't match the Wargs' speed.
So, whenever the Wargs caught up, he would cast a spell to repel a group of Wargs, creating some distance between them. But soon, the Wargs would catch up again, he would knock down another group, and they would catch up again... In this way, the number of Wargs and Orcs chasing Luke steadily decreased.
Wargs are very cunning and intelligent creatures. Although they serve as mounts for Orcs, their relationship is one of cooperation, not subordination.
Seeing that they weren't gaining any advantage with Luke, they immediately disregarded the curses of the Orcs on their backs, gave up the chase, and chose to pursue the others.
Luke's original goal was to lure the enemies away. Now, seeing that the enemies were no longer chasing him, he naturally wouldn't allow it. He immediately changed direction, chasing after the Wargs and Orcs instead.
"Petrificus Totalus!" Luke caught up to a Warg, and a spell flew out.
The Warg's body froze, and the Orc on its back was flung off by the immense inertia.
Before Luke could cast a spell on the Orc, a flying arrow instantly pierced the Orc's head, sending him directly to hell.
"Who stole my kill?" Luke looked in the direction from which the arrow came.
A long, clear horn blast echoed from afar.
The ground vibrated, and horses' hooves thundered.
A tall, silver-clad army, dressed in magnificent and elegant armor, rode on large, swift, and agile horses, swiftly pursuing Orcs and Wargs across the wilderness.
Their skill was superb, their movements crisp and elegant. Every arrow they shot hit its mark, and every swing of their swords severed an Orc's head.
It was like a perfect display of the art of combat.
They were warriors of the Elf race.
Facing the invincible Elf cavalry, the Orcs and Wargs could not form an effective defense. They were routed with a single blow, and after losing more than half of their fighting strength, they began to flee in disarray.
The Elves, disciplined and orderly, stopped their pursuit after a certain distance and began to finish off the Orcs and Wargs that were not yet dead.
One team of Elves walked towards Luke.
The leading Elf rode a tall, white steed, dressed in magnificent armor and a midnight blue war robe. His face showed no signs of age, neither old nor young. His dark hair fell smoothly down his back, bound by an exquisite silver circlet.
His gray eyes shone with wisdom and the profoundness of one who had seen much of the world, like a weathered monarch, exuding an aura of nobility and majesty that inspired awe.
"Greetings, distant traveler. May I know your name?"
"Luke, a Wizard, from the West."
"Luke, the Black-robed Wizard? Friend of the Halflings, Hournbane, Bane of the Barrow-wights—your name is known even among the Elves," the Elf said with curiosity mixed with scrutiny. "But now, I suppose we must also add the honorable title of Foe of Orcs."
"Moreover, I sense a fear from other races about you. Have you been to the Troll Forest?" The Elf's gray eyes were piercing, as if they could see through all things in the world, discerning all secrets and truths.
"Trolls attacked several nearby villages. Gandalf and I went to the Troll Forest to rescue the villagers and killed a few Trolls," Luke explained.
"A noble act." The Elf nodded, his face showing approval. "So Gandalf also came with you?"
"We traveled together, but just now I was responsible for luring away the Orcs and Wargs, so we got separated."
Upon hearing this, the Elf's attitude became friendly.
"Since you are a friend of Gandalf, please come with us."
Traveling together,
The Elves were all very quiet, which made Luke, who was used to the noisy Dwarves, feel a bit uncomfortable.
These Dwarves and Elves were truly two extremes: one talked too much, annoying people; the other talked too little, like a bunch of silent oil bottles.
Rivendell was hidden in a heath-covered wilderness, surrounded by formidable valleys, forests, swamps, and streams, its location secret and difficult to find.
Without the guidance of the Elves, it would be impossible to find the path into Rivendell.
Luke drove his carriage behind the Elf procession, following the steep, winding path into the canyon.
The moment he stepped into Rivendell, Luke's eyes widened in wonder, as if he had fallen into a dreamlike realm forgotten by time.
Wildflowers bloomed in the canyon, and winding paths paved with white gravel meandered through it. Pristine and elegant buildings spread along the valley and riverbanks, built into the terrain, well-arranged, with palaces, towers, bridges, gardens, and terraces in close succession.
What impressed Luke even more was that he discovered the entire Rivendell was enveloped by an incredibly powerful energy, making it rich in magic, perpetually spring-like, full of vitality, and imbued with a sacred and peaceful aura.
Such power, aside from Elrond who possessed the Ring of Air, Vilya, had no other explanation.
On the other side, after Luke and Radagast had lured away the Orcs and Wargs, Gandalf led Bilbo and the Dwarves into a secret passage and arrived in Rivendell.
The members of the expedition had just crossed a narrow stone bridge without railings and arrived at the entrance of Rivendell.
An Elf descended the steps.
"Mithrandir."
"Ah, Lindir, long time no see!" Gandalf greeted him familiarly.
"Where is Lord Elrond? I wish to speak with him."
"Lord Elrond is not here."
"Not here?"
"Where is he?"
Gandalf asked, puzzled.
Just then, a horn blast suddenly sounded outside the entrance to Rivendell, and a troop of Elf cavalry entered in an orderly fashion along the stone bridge.
Seeing the Elf cavalry in full battle gear, the Dwarves instinctively became alert.
"Alert!"
"Weapons ready!"
"Tighten formation!"
With a shout from Thorin, the Dwarves all drew their weapons, pulled Bilbo into the center, and formed a circle back-to-back, assuming a defensive posture.
The Elf cavalry, however, were not polite. They circled the Dwarves continuously, as if provoking and teasing them.
"Luke! I see Luke!" Bilbo's eyes lit up. He saw the carriage following the Elf cavalry and tried to squeeze out from among the Dwarves.
"Gandalf." The black-haired Elf leading the group greeted Gandalf.
"Lord Elrond." Gandalf bowed. "My friend, where have you been?"
"Hunting a group of Orcs who crossed the Bruinen River and trespassed into the Elf lands."
Elrond dismounted and handed his sword to his secretary, Lindir.
"It's strange that these Orcs would be so close to here. Something, or someone, must have attracted them."
Elrond gave a meaningful look at the wary Dwarves.
Then, he changed the subject.
"Oh, by the way, while we were hunting Orcs, we met one of your companions and invited him."
He said, pointing to Luke, who had come with the Elves.