—Third Person Point of View—
Near the cave, while Gandalf was talking with Taurion, Alp and Uraz were standing guard. Uraz kept glancing at Taurion. She had appeared out of nowhere—Uraz almost shot her on instinct. Now he was studying her carefully, taking in every detail from head to toe. With her long golden hair, pale skin, emerald-green eyes, pointed ears, and antler-like horns, she was undeniably beautiful. But Uraz pushed that aside; what bothered him was how she had appeared so suddenly. Finally, unable to hold it in any longer, he muttered under his breath:
"What the hell is this woman? A genie? A nightmare? Some kind of demon, maybe!?"
Alp just shrugged.
"This world's weirder than we thought, man..."
Before coming here, everyone had been briefed about this world—but that knowledge had its limits. The more you know about your own world, the more you gain the right to learn about Middle-earth. In these lands, spirits weren't well-known among ordinary folk. While elves got along with them, spirits didn't show themselves to just anyone. Thanks to various myths and legends, people had only a vague idea about what they were—and most of those ideas were completely wrong.
Alp and Uraz knew what spirits were in theory, but this was the first time they were actually seeing one. To them, spirits were supposed to be invisible forces, so Taurion's appearance felt bizarre and incomprehensible.
Alp sighed and looked at Uraz.
"Forget it, brother. Let's just focus on our job. Altay and the others are already down there—nothing will go wrong."
Uraz nodded.
"Got it."
The two men kept watch from the ridge above the cave. The other members of the group stood ready while the women tended to the wounded—but even they were armed and prepared for battle. The Khuzaits had lived as nomads across the steppes, easy targets for bandits, which had taught them from a young age to always be ready to fight back.
Alp and Uraz scanned the forest around them with sharp eyes, watching every movement in the rocks, shrubs, and open clearings. When they had first joined the company, they learned that the Oakshield Group had an absurd bounty on their heads—nearly half a million gold coins. That alone made them stay on constant alert, watching the treeline like hawks. Still, they didn't complain. They had chosen this path and agreed to follow Igris; they knew the risks.
From their perch, they watched the forest carefully. A little while later, Taurion vanished as suddenly as she had appeared. Uraz flinched but forced himself to stay focused—better not think too hard about the magical nonsense going on around him.
Then, movement in a bush a bit higher up the slope caught Alp's eye.
"Psst, Uraz. Look over there."
Uraz followed his gaze—just in time to see a creature step out from the thicket: a warg with brown fur, the size of a horse, glowing yellow eyes, and rows of razor-sharp teeth.
BARK! BARK!
Without hesitation, Uraz drew the arrow he had ready and loosed it.
Fwoosh!
THUD!
The arrow struck true, burying itself in the warg's skull. Being mounted archers by training, both men had exceptional marksmanship, far above the norm. The warg's corpse rolled down the slope and landed in front of the group below.
Bilbo immediately panicked and shouted,
"GANDALF!"
The company snapped to attention. Thorin barked out a sharp order.
"We're leaving! Mount up!"
The group scrambled for their horses. The Khuzaits and the Vaegirs held the reins steady, preventing the mounts from panicking and bolting. Gandalf also moved quickly, striding toward his horse as he spoke to Radagast.
"We need to reach Rivendell—but with our wounded, we can't move fast."
Radagast understood immediately.
"Let me distract the orcs! You use the gap to reach Rivendell. You're only two or three hours away. Once the elven watchtowers spot you, everything will be fine. I'm sure Lord Elrond's riders will come to your aid!"
Gandalf stopped and gave his friend a serious look.
"These are Gundabad wargs—they'll catch up to you."
Radagast smiled proudly.
"And these are the Rhosgobel Rabbits. Let's see them try!"
With firm resolve, he marched toward his sled.
"Lancelot! Get ready! We're going on a special operation! Code name: Live Bait!"
Lancelot, who had raised a paw in salute, froze mid-motion. His tiny jaw dropped open in shock. He had been preparing to run away, not lure in death itself. Wargs were at the very top of his "Creatures I Never Want to Meet in the Woods" list—they were living killing machines!
Stomping his foot in protest, Lancelot pointed angrily at Radagast, squeaking furiously:
"Ppiip! Pipipiippiii! Piiiip! Pippiipipipiiiipp!"
(ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND, OLD MAN!? THOSE ARE WARGS! THEY'LL TURN US INTO STEW!)
The other rabbits looked uneasy too, but left the arguing to their leader. Radagast kept his calm, speaking firmly.
"They can't keep up with your speed! I believe in you, my little ones!"
Lancelot, however, started hopping in angry circles before replying sharply:
"Piiiip! İpppipipppiii! Pipipipiiipipi!"
(HOW DO YOU EXPECT US TO RUN WHILE CARRYING YOU!? YOU'RE CONFUSING US WITH HORSES, OLD MAN! WE'RE RABBITS! FLUFFY. CUTE. ROUND. TINY RABBITS!)
Radagast stared at the furious little rabbit. He knew exactly what Lancelot wanted.
"Ten kilos of carrots per rabbit!"
Lancelot immediately stopped hopping and folded his little paws over his chest, his expression serious but still unbearably cute.
"Pppippppiii piiipipiiiipii!"
(Thirty kilos per rabbit!)
Radagast's jaw dropped.
"Absolutely not! The last time you ate fourteen kilos, you all got diarrhea!"
Lancelot glared at him defiantly.
"Pipppiipii pppiipii!"
(That's our problem, old man!)
Radagast was running out of time, but the rabbits refused to budge without better payment.
"No more than ten kilos!"
Lancelot turned his head away, sulking.
"Pipiipi pppipi."
(I can't risk my crew for that. You're on your own.)
Radagast slammed his staff on the ground in frustration.
"THIS IS MUTINY! TREASON! WHEN WE GET BACK, I'M TELLING YOUR MOTHER!"
Lancelot gave him a withering look.
"Pipipppipii! Pppipi! Pippipiiippiii iiiipppi!"
(IF MY MOTHER HEARS YOU USED US AS BAIT FOR WARGS, SHE'LL SLAP YOU TO DEATH WITH HER PAWS!)
Meanwhile, Gandalf and the rest of the group were already mounted and ready to move. The women glanced from afar at the adorable but chaotic scene. Uraz and Alp quickly joined the company, Alp shouting as he mounted his horse:
"They're about twenty minutes out—we need to hurry!"
Thorin, ever calm, replied coldly,
"How many?"
Uraz, already nocking an arrow on his bow, answered,
"I counted around thirty."
After listening to them, Gandalf turned and shouted,
"RADAGAST! MOVE, NOW!"
Radagast snapped his head toward him, his patience clearly wearing thin.
"I KNOW! JUST GIVE ME A SECOND!"
Then, muttering under his breath as he faced the stubborn rabbit again:
"I have to win over these forest gangsters somehow…"
He took a deep breath. His expression was as serious as it had been when he entered Dol Guldur.
"Lancelot, we don't have time for this! It's an emergency! Thirteen kilos, not a gram more!"
Lancelot lifted a paw.
"Pippipippi pipiipiiiiiippp!"
(Understood! As a gesture of goodwill, I'll offer a discount—twenty kilos!)
Radagast was speechless, gripping his staff in anger.
"You little furball!"
He knew exactly what the creature was doing—milking the situation for all it was worth. But he couldn't give in completely; too many carrots would be bad for them. Time for a new tactic.
"Twelve kilos of carrots per rabbit... and one kilo of strawberries!"
The moment the offer left his lips, the rabbits all perked up with visible excitement—but Lancelot, the hard negotiator he was, still wasn't satisfied.
Piiipii pppi
(Ten kilos of strawberries per rabbit!)
Radagast began hopping madly, on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND, CAMEL?! THAT'S ROBBERY! I WON'T GIVE MORE THAN ONE KILO — TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT! OUT OF PURE SPITE, I'LL STAY HERE AND FIGHT FOR MY LIFE!"
Radagast had completely lost it. The orcs were nearly upon them, yet he'd wasted two precious minutes arguing with Lancelot — especially after confidently telling Gandalf
"I'll handle it!"
The Brown Wizard might have been patient, kind, and gentle, but even he had his limits. With a burst of fury, his shout made the rabbits — Lancelot included — flinch.
Lancelot realized he had pushed his luck too far. If he kept arguing, that stubborn old wizard would truly do as he said — stay behind and fight the Wargs to the death.
Radagast would surely die, and if he did, neither Lancelot nor his siblings could ever return to the forest! Every creature and spirit in those woods adored and respected Radagast — if he perished because of them, they'd be outcasts forever.
Still, Lancelot wanted just a little more from this bargain. After all, they were about to risk their lives drawing the Wargs' attention!
Pipipipp pipppi piippippi!
(Fine! But I want a watermelon for each rabbit too!)
Radagast's eyebrow twitched. For a moment, he was too stunned to speak at Lancelot's audacity.
"Alright — but only one watermelon for the entire group!"
Lancelot's ears drooped, his expression darkened.
Pipp! Pipipppi!
(WHAT!? That's not nearly enough!)
Gandalf shouted from afar, his voice echoing through the trees.
"Radagast! We need to move! Is something wrong?"
Radagast barked back, impatient and furious.
"I'M DEALING WITH A KIND OF REBELLIOUS STRIKE! GIVE ME ONE MORE SECOND AND WE'LL MOVE!"
Thorin's eyebrow twitched as the others' faces fell. Gilan turned to Gandalf, muttering under his breath.
"Can we really trust this crazy old man?"
Everyone's eyes turned to Gandalf. With a deep breath, he answered firmly,
"Absolutely."
Just then, Radagast's furious scream echoed from the forest.
"DON'T DRIVE ME MAD, YOU LITTLE GANGSTER RABBITS! ACCEPT THE DEAL!"
The group stared blankly in his direction, then turned their gazes to Gandalf — who looked utterly mortified.He cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Ahem… probably…"
Gilan sighed and muttered under his breath,
"Wonderful. The world searches for madmen, and I'm just trying to find a sane one…"
Meanwhile, Shadowmane — the great steed carrying the unconscious Igris — was quietly observing Lancelot.That tiny rabbit had earned his respect; never before had he seen an animal negotiate so fiercely.
Radagast's patience finally snapped. His gaze turned icy as he glared at the rabbits. Lancelot and his team shivered under that stare.
"Either accept my offer and move,"
Radagast said coldly,
"or I'll tell your mother what happened to the red grapes she was saving for winter."
Lancelot froze in horror. The other rabbits trembled.
Pipipp ipipipiiiip!
(You wouldn't dare!)
Radagast narrowed his eyes.
"Try me."
Lancelot gulped. If his mother discovered that he and his brothers had eaten those grapes — the ones they'd stolen from the White Tiger's territory — she'd skin them alive and make coats out of their fur! Especially since Big brother led that operation himself.Instantly, If Big Brother heard about this, Lancelot might just as well dig his own grave and start making funeral arrangements. Lancelot's expression turned serious.
Pippippi ipipippi! Pipipipppiiiiiiiipipii!
(Alright, boys! Time to move! Let's show those flea-bitten fur sacks how fast we really are!)
He raised a paw high.
Pipiiiiiiipiii!
(HURRAH!)
The other rabbits echoed in perfect unison.
Pipiiiiiipiiii! ×8
(HURRAH!) ×8
Radagast grinned.
"That's the spirit!"
He hopped onto his sleigh and called out to Gandalf.
"WE'RE MOVING OUT, GANDALF!"
The Oakshield Company collectively exhaled, relieved — though none of them knew how much longer this madness would continue.
---Fifteen minutes later---
At the edge of the forest, where endless plains stretched as far as the eye could see, birds chirped, flowers danced, and the shrubs swayed gently in the breeze.Then, all at once, the birds took flight — sensing danger. Barking and howling echoed from deep within the woods, along with the faint, hoarse voice of an old man.
Moments later, a sleigh shot out of the forest at full speed — pulled by a team of frantic rabbits. Behind them, Wargs and orcs riding atop them burst from the trees in hot pursuit. The Wargs' claws tore through the soil as the sleigh carved tracks like ribbons through the grass.
Radagast, exhilarated, couldn't help but laugh wildly.
"HAHAHAHA! CATCH ME IF YOU CAN!"
As he howled with laughter, the rabbits were anything but amused.
PİPİPPPPİİ PİPİİİ!
(We're the ones running, but he's the one taunting them!)
PİPPPİİİİİİP!
(Agreed! Let him run for once, and we'll sit in the sleigh!)
PİİPİPİİİİ! PİİPPİİİİPİPİ PİPPİİ İİPPPPİ!
(I want a raise! We have no life insurance! We were only supposed to help him travel — how did it come to this?!)
Ignoring his siblings' complaints, Lancelot shouted orders.
PİİİPİPPİİ PİPİİPİ!
(Get ready! We're making a sharp turn!)
PİİİİİİİİİPİİİPPİ! ×8
(Roger that!) ×8
The sleigh swerved suddenly, veering into a rocky area. Several Wargs stumbled and fell, unable to react fast enough, but quickly recovered and resumed the chase.
The tiny, fluffy rabbits looked ridiculously adorable as they bounded across the ground — their tails bouncing like little pom-poms — yet the monstrous Wargs thundering behind them were anything but cute.
Muscular and relentless, the Wargs sprinted with terrifying speed. Orcs riding some of them screamed insults and curses at Radagast.
Meanwhile, the Brown Wizard, steering the sleigh under Lancelot's lead, zigzagged wildly between rocks — while parallel to them, the Oakshield group galloped in formation, racing across the plains at full speed.
The Oak Shield Company couldn't move fast enough. The horses the dwarves were riding were meant for travel, not for speed — and certainly not for battle. Riding them into a fight would've been suicide. That was exactly why the company tried to avoid any mounted engagements whenever possible. Even with proper warhorses — even with Rohan's finest steeds — fighting wargs was a nightmare.
Their goal was to reach the borders of Rivendell; once inside, the elves could help them escape their pursuers. So they pushed forward as fast as they could. Yet the wounded among them, along with the slow mounts, dragged their pace down.
As the Oak Shield group advanced, unease began to spread among them… Bamsı and Ordo had grown tired of running. They wanted to fight.
With a voice heavy with frustration, Bamsı spoke up.
"Lord Thorin, Lord Halt — running won't solve anything! They're just a few mutts! Let's kill them all and be done with it!"
Ordo echoed his sentiment in the same tone.
"I agree!"
Altay and Fin exchanged weary glances, both wearing dark expressions. The two men were their subordinates, but they could never get them to listen. Doğan, on the other hand, felt a headache blooming behind his temples.
'One of them was already more than enough, and now there are two! Oh, what am I supposed to do with these idiots!?'
Thorin's brow twitched; Halt sighed deeply while Gilan stepped forward to explain the situation.
"Bamsı, Ordo! We're in a hurry! We can't afford to waste time or lose more men! Wargs are far more dangerous than you think! Fighting them from horseback is practically suicide! Haven't you been taught anything!?"
Balin nodded, his calm voice cutting through the rising tension.
"Gilan is right. We must avoid clashing with the wargs. Don't worry — the road to the mountain is long. Once we reach Rivendell, we'll rest and recover. I'm sure you'll have plenty of chances to fight after that."
Thorin, his patience worn thin, barked an order.
"Move faster!"
As the group pushed forward, they did their best to steer clear of the wargs. Radagast, meanwhile, was more than capable of handling himself. Wizards seldom used magic unless absolutely necessary — the world's mana was fading, and replenishing it was difficult. For a wizard to recover mana quickly, they needed certain potions or herbs. So if something went wrong, Radagast could fend for himself and escape — but facing over thirty wargs alone was out of the question. There could be more enemies lurking nearby. Especially after his encounter with Sauron in Dol Guldur, Radagast was still weakened by the internal injuries he had sustained.
"LANCELOT! GO LEFT!"
Choosing an area filled with more rocks, Radagast shouted to his trusted companions. Lancelot understood immediately and veered left. They planned to use the rocks to slow down the wargs. But in his flustered excitement, the scatterbrained wizard got turned around — and instead of drawing the wargs away, he accidentally led them toward the Oak Shield Company.
The sled zigzagged wildly between the rocks, drifting side to side. Wargs lost their footing one after another, tumbling across the ground. Many of them went into a frenzy, maddened by frustration. They were desperate to catch those rabbits — to tear them apart and devour them.
Radagast, gripping the sled, had completely handed control over to Lancelot. A thin line of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth; he hadn't had time to treat his inner wounds. Lancelot led his brothers in a tight formation, zigzagging continuously. As he ran, he suddenly sensed something. He glanced left — a warg was sprinting beside them. Then he looked right — another one was there too.
Piiiiiiiipii pipiipiiiiiiiiipiippp!
("THESE BASTARDS HAVE US IN A PINCER FORMATION! PREPARE FOR EVASIVE ACTION! MANEUVER CODE CARROT B34!")
Piiiiiiiipipii! ×8
("ROGER THAT!") ×8
The rabbits began to slow down, pretending to be exhausted. The wargs on both sides noticed and slowed as well, eager to close in. From behind, the orcs and other wargs cheered as they saw the sled cornered. The two wargs flanking them turned inward and charged, preparing to leap. Lancelot focused all his attention on their movements, waiting for the exact moment.
The wargs tensed their muscles—then leapt. That was the signal. The sled suddenly accelerated, shooting forward like an arrow. The two airborne wargs blinked, stunned, watching the sled shoot ahead beneath them — and before they could react, they smashed headfirst into each other. Both hit the ground hard, motionless, blood seeping from their skulls.
Lancelot and the rabbits burst into laughter, mocking the fallen wargs. The beasts, whose hearing was sharp, caught the sound of the laughter and went mad with fury, snarling like rabid dogs as they gave chase.
Meanwhile, one of the warg riders suddenly halted — he had caught a familiar scent. The other orcs hadn't noticed yet. The rider sniffed the air again, turned, and galloped toward a direction… until his eyes locked on the Oak Shield Company. Reaching for the horn at his side, he raised it to his lips and blew. The deep, thunderous sound rolled across the hills, echoing through the valley.
DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!
The Oak Shield group turned toward the sound — and when they saw the warg rider standing atop the ridge, they cursed under their breath. Thorin immediately gave his orders.
"Faster! We're almost there! Halt, lead the mounted archers and buy us some time!"
Halt nodded. He and the mounted archers slowed their pace, moving to the rear of the formation. Then, fanning out to the left side, they formed a parallel line with the group — bows drawn, arrows ready, eyes fixed on the approaching enemy.
...
Dear readers,I was actually planning to return to the main character in this chapter, but while writing, some new ideas came to mind — so I couldn't make him wake up this time. As an apology, I'll be posting another chapter within the next two days!
Chapter 33 is already done, but I have to wait for my editor (well… my friend XD) to read it and point out any typos. Also, I can guarantee that we'll finally return to Igris in Chapter 34 — I've already started writing it! If nothing goes wrong, I should be able to finish it by Sunday.
So, as a little "I'm sorry" gift, I'll be posting three chapters in total this week, including this one. I think that'll make us even, right? 😄