Bag End, Bilbo's home.
Sweet fruits, fragrant cheese slices, and glistening bacon and ham filled the table, their rich aromas mingling with the scent of freshly baked cookies and fine honey waiting to be spread. In the very center of the feast sat a steaming roasted leg of lamb sprinkled with cumin and chili powder and a golden roasted chicken surrounded by vibrant red tomatoes and purple onion rings.
A proud smile involuntarily appeared on the little Hobbit's face as he finally sat down at the table after a long while of bustling around.
Tarnes hadn't been idle either. While Bilbo prepared dinner, he helped with simple steps like washing the vegetables and fruits. When it came to cooking, after all, Hobbits were far more skilled.
Bernahl and the others who had come with Tarnes, seeing that even their lord was helping, were too embarrassed to just wait at the table and also took the initiative to lend a hand in the kitchen.
This, however, made Bilbo both amused and exasperated.
He was exasperated because with four tall humans standing in his kitchen, it was almost too crowded to move. He was amused because Tarnes and his friends had indeed helped him a lot. The middle-aged man in silver armor and the crimson-haired young woman, with knife skills that Bilbo found incredible, quickly chopped the spare vegetables and set them aside. The bacon and ham were also precisely sliced into uniformly thin pieces.
Although Bilbo didn't quite understand why the portions they prepared exceeded what four people could possibly eat, enough to fill the stomachs of even the biggest eaters.
What surprised Bilbo even more was the sturdy old man who looked weathered but spoke with great gusto; he single-handedly took the marinated leg of lamb and turkey outside to roast. His control over the heat was perfect. While inside, Bilbo caught a whiff of the aroma, and his years of experience as a gourmand made his mouth water. He knew the leg of lamb and turkey outside must be incredibly fragrant now; just thinking about it was enough to make one drool.
Therefore, when Bilbo sat back down at the dining table, he very happily raised his small wine glass filled with red wine and said loudly to Tarnes and his friends, "Although I've said what I'm about to say before, I must say it again. Welcome to Bag End! This sumptuous dinner was made by all of us together, and it must be more delicious than any dinner I have ever tasted!"
Tarnes also raised the wooden cup in front of him, but the liquid sloshing inside was not red wine but orange juice freshly squeezed from citrus picked that morning. He didn't particularly like drinking alcohol; compared to the spiciness of wine, he preferred the sweetness of fruit juice. So, Tarnes's juice also had some sugar added, because purely squeezed fruit juice could be slightly bitter, and adding sugar improved the taste. This was Bilbo Baggins' suggestion, and it had to be said that Hobbits certainly knew how to enjoy life.
Millicent, like Tarnes, also chose a non-alcoholic beverage. It wasn't that she disliked drinking, but she truly felt that as Tarnes's Blade, she should always remain clear-headed. Alcohol would numb her mind and limbs, which is why Millicent chose fruit juice.
As for Bernahl and Egon, these two older men had fewer scruples. However, compared to red wine, they chose golden ale, which was better for hearty drinking.
With Bilbo's enthusiastic opening words, one Hobbit and four humans clinked their cups together.
Because Bilbo was already eager to start dinner, he planned to put down his small wine glass and go cut a slice of the leg of lamb that old Mr. Egon had roasted.
But just then, Tarnes put down his cup and said, "Shouldn't we wait for the others?"
The carving knife Bilbo was extending toward the leg of lamb paused, and he looked at Tarnes in confusion. "Others? Did you bring other friends? Are they late?"
Tarnes shook his head. "No, I only brought these three. But Gandalf invited me to this dinner, and he isn't here yet. Besides, as far as I know, there should be more..."
Tarnes's words were interrupted by Bilbo's sudden realization. "Oh, right, Gandalf! How could I forget him! I even invited him for tea today, but he never showed up. I was just thinking that old wizard might have forgotten."
So he put down his carving knife, blinked at Tarnes, and asked, "Shall we wait a little longer then?"
Just as Tarnes was about to ask Bilbo if he knew that a group of dwarves would also be coming, the bell hanging on the front door suddenly rang with a tinkling sound.
Bilbo smiled and said to Tarnes, "See, Gandalf is here now! You all sit here, I'll get the door! Of course, it would be even better if you could help me get another set of cutlery from the kitchen for Gandalf."
Then the hobbit jumped down from his seat, his big, hairy, shoeless feet making a soft padding sound as he hurried to his front door.
As Bilbo ran, he shouted, "Sorry, Gandalf! I almost forgot about you, keeping you waiting!"
The round green door swung inward. Just as Bilbo smiled to welcome Gandalf, he was surprised to find that it wasn't the wizard at all, but a bald Dwarf only a few centimeters taller than himself.
The Dwarf had his beard tucked into his brown collar, and his eyes, under a deep green hood, were very bright.
As soon as Bilbo's door opened, the bald Dwarf barged in as if it were a matter of course, as if Bilbo had been expecting him all along.
The Dwarf hung his hooded cloak on a nearby coat hook and then bowed deeply. "Dwalin, at your service."
"Uh, oh, Bilbo Baggins, at your service!"
Bilbo was stunned for a moment but subconsciously straightened his own clothes and replied politely. He was so surprised that for a moment he didn't know what to ask.
To prevent the following silence from being too awkward, Bilbo said, "I'm having dinner with my friends... I don't know why you came in so familiarly, but I welcome you to join."
Hearing this, Dwalin became even more certain. He nodded, the white light of the room reflecting off his scalp. "I came precisely for this feast. Have they all arrived? Am I late?"
Now it was Bilbo's turn to be confused. "Wait, do we know each other? Who else is coming?"
Dwalin, having entered Bag End, smelled the aroma of food and followed it to where Tarnes was, while Bilbo followed behind, somewhat at a loss.
Seeing it was Dwalin, Tarnes stood up to greet him, giving the Dwarf a big hug. "Oh, Dwalin, it's really been a long time. I heard about you from Thorin. Nepheli Loux asked me to inquire if you've had any trouble with the footwork she taught you."
Dwalin clearly hadn't expected Tarnes to have already arrived. His previously somewhat cool attitude toward Bilbo immediately became respectful. He stood his ground and said obediently, "Lord Tarnes, I didn't expect you were already here. I've become very proficient with the footwork Lady Nepheli Loux taught me. I'm very grateful for her guidance."
Tarnes patted Dwalin's shoulder, gesturing for him to find a seat.
Dwalin looked at the delicious food and drinks on the table and smiled happily, his beard trembling.
Bilbo then shuffled over, gestured slightly toward Dwalin, and asked, "Is he also your friend?"
Tarnes thought for a moment and said, "Yes, but he didn't come with me."
Bilbo scratched the back of his head and asked, "I don't quite understand, but since he's your friend, I'm very happy for him to join the dinner. With six people, this table is still barely manageable."
Tarnes blinked. "Didn't Gandalf tell you?"
Bilbo was taken aback. "Tell me what?"
At that moment, the bell at the door rang again, but unlike when Dwalin arrived, this time the bell was rung as if by a very polite person.
Tarnes pointed to the door. "Tonight, besides me and my friends, a large group of Dwarves will be coming to attend your feast. That's why we prepared extra food when we were making dinner. Didn't Gandalf tell you?"
Bilbo walked toward the door, shouting loudly, "Me? Of course not! He just inexplicably invited me on an adventure, which I refused! And I was kind enough to invite him for tea! But he lets a bunch of Dwarves come to my house uninvited? Oh, heavens!"
He opened the door at that very moment, and a kind, gentle voice came from outside. "What 'heavens'? Did you run into some difficulty?"
Bilbo immediately replied, "Difficulty? Of course not!"
Then he saw who had arrived. Unsurprisingly, it was a Dwarf.
This Dwarf looked very old, with a snow-white beard and wearing a wide, crimson garment. He opened his arms with a chuckle and said, "Balin, at your service."
Bilbo's mouth opened, moved, and finally, his Adam's apple bobbed as he said, "Good evening, uh, thank you."
Balin lowered his arms with some surprise. He instinctively looked up at the night sky, where the bright moon shed its light, and nodded. "Yes, yes, the weather tonight is indeed nice."
Then he walked in familiarly, without waiting for Bilbo to invite him into the house.
Balin then saw Dwalin's cloak on the coat hook by the door and said with a smile, "It seems someone has already arrived."
Bilbo sighed. The naturally hospitable nature of a Hobbit prevented him from refusing entry to this kind old Dwarf, and after closing the door, he even took the initiative to lead Balin to the kitchen.
"If you mean these people, they have indeed arrived," Bilbo said.
Honestly, at this point, Bilbo was beginning to feel a sense of foreboding. He was happy to have guests, but he preferred to know in advance that guests were coming, and preferably guests he had personally invited or knew well.
Oh, maybe I won't have enough cake for tonight.
Bilbo thought.
"You must be the Lord Tarnes that Thorin mentioned? A pleasure to meet you. I am Balin, happy to be of service."
Then he watched as Balin first bowed respectfully to Tarnes, then greeted Dwalin with a smile and squeezed in next to him, only to find there were no extra chairs.
So Balin asked, "Are there any more chairs?"
Bilbo came to his senses and replied, "Chairs? Oh, of course, just a moment."
But before he could finish his sentence, the bell at the door rang again, this time urgently.
Bilbo looked sharply at Tarnes, who also showed a very innocent expression. "I can help you move some more chairs from the storeroom. You can get the door."
Dwalin also stood up. "Perhaps I can get some more beer."
The bell rang again. It was clear the person at the door was in a hurry, so Bilbo had no choice but to nod and walk quickly to the door.
It must be Gandalf this time, right? Bilbo thought as he opened the door.
This time, two Dwarves stood outside the door. One had a yellow beard and was laden with weapons, while the other had a short black beard and a bow on his back.
"Fili and Kili, at your service!"
They shouted in unison.
Then, just like Dwalin and Balin, they walked in with great familiarity.
It seemed that all Dwarves were very much at home with themselves.
Kili looked around the entrance area, praising, "This is a really nice place."
Fili nodded, simultaneously unbuckling his sword and handing it to Bilbo, who took it subconsciously.
Tarnes, who happened to be passing by with a chair, heard the voices and peeked over. "Hey, Fili, Kili, you're here?"
Fili and Kili, who had been rather boisterous, immediately became well-behaved upon seeing Tarnes. Kili even quietly retracted the foot he had been about to use to scrape the mud off his shoe on a wooden box by the door.
"Good evening, Teacher Tarnes," the Dwarf brothers greeted respectfully.
Tarnes said, "Come in and help. The original seats probably aren't enough. Your Teacher Bernahl is also inside; you can go say hello to him first."
After the Dwarf brothers went in, Bilbo complained to Tarnes, "Just how many Dwarves did Gandalf find? I can't believe more than half the guests in my house are now Dwarves!"
Tarnes patted his shoulder. "I'm not sure about that either, but what Gandalf did was indeed not very proper. He should have told you the numbers in advance. When he arrives, I'll definitely have a word with him for you."
Bilbo immediately said, "Oh no, it's not that I want to refuse these Dwarves as guests, I just think we should get to know each other first before they come over, don't you think?"
Tarnes nodded. "Of course."
And at that moment, the damned bell rang again, "ding-dong, ding-dong."
Tarnes could actually see an expression of complete despair on Bilbo's face. The Hobbit then muttered, "more Dwarves," as he went to open the door.
"Woah—"
The exclamations of many Dwarves came after Bilbo opened the door, as they tumbled into the house one after another, leaving him dumbfounded.
He looked at Tarnes and exclaimed, "Is Gandalf planning to bring the entire Dwarf race into my house!"
"Ho ho ho, of course not, Bilbo Baggins. These are the last of the Dwarf guests," Gandalf said with a chuckle, stooping to squeeze into Bag End past the Dwarves who had crowded and fallen through the doorway.
And behind him followed a handsome Dwarf, Thorin Oakenshield.
Thorin also squeezed in, looked at the wide-eyed Bilbo, and nodded to him in greeting.
[Chapter Complete]
***
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