Bilbo instinctively stepped behind Tarnes. "Expedition? What expedition?" he asked nervously.
Gandalf didn't answer directly. Instead, he cleared his throat and said, "Bilbo, fetch us a lamp. We'll need a bit more light."
Bilbo pouted, but the hobbit still moved to fetch a lamp as Gandalf suggested.
However, Tarnes stopped him. Holding a staff in his hand, he smiled. "Bilbo, there's no need for the trouble."
Then, before Bilbo's astonished eyes, he gently waved the staff and cast a glintstone spell. A soft, pale blue radiance instantly filled the entire room, making it much brighter.
"Oh! Although I've heard Mr. Rogier mention you can perform magic, I'm still amazed seeing it for the first time," Bilbo said, looking at the ball of light floating above Tarnes's head.
"It's just a minor trick," Tarnes replied. "A very simple spell."
He then looked at Gandalf teasingly. "And our Gandalf here knows this level of illumination magic as well. He just wanted someone to temporarily forget a certain question."
Gandalf coughed loudly and took a map from his gray robes, spreading it on the table in front of Thorin.
Since Thorin had already seen Gandalf with this map back in Stormveil Castle, he wasn't too surprised. Even so, his eyes could hardly conceal his excitement as he carefully examined the map.
Curious, Bilbo came out from behind Tarnes and leaned closer, his eyes on the map's annotations, slowly reading, "The... Lonely... Mountain...?"
Gandalf nodded. "Yes. Far to the east, across mountains and rivers, beyond woodlands and wastelands, lies a solitary peak. This is our destination, my good lad."
Bilbo said nothing, just stared at the map in a daze.
After Gandalf took out the map, Gloin looked at Ori, the most learned among them. "Ori has read the signs," he said, "and the signs say the time has come."
His brother, Oin, added, "Aye. I heard from those tall folk from the East that the ravens have returned to the Mountain. This is exactly as the signs Ori read."
Ori nodded. "If the birds of yore return to the Lonely Mountain, then the reign of the beast will end. That is what the prophecy says."
Prophecy?
Tarnes looked at Gandalf. He had a feeling this prophecy was inextricably linked to the old wizard.
Sure enough, Gandalf gave Tarnes a knowing smile.
At that moment, however, Bilbo's expression changed. He tore his attention from the map and looked at everyone seated, even politely raising his hand. "Uh, beast? What beast?" he asked.
Bofur put down his flute. "It refers to the terrible Smaug, of course. The greatest calamity in the world today."
"Smaug? Who is he? Or rather, what kind of creature is he?" Bilbo asked again.
Bofur continued to explain patiently, "He is a dragon. He flies through the sky and breathes fire. His teeth are like razors, his claws like meat hooks, and he loves precious metals most of all."
Bilbo scratched his head. "Yes, I know what dragons are. But... that doesn't sound particularly terrifying."
The dwarves all looked at the hobbit in astonishment, clearly surprised by what he had just said.
Bilbo quickly added, "I'm serious. I really don't think Smaug is anything to be frightened of."
Thorin laughed aloud. "It seems our Mr. Baggins has some nerve."
Bofur said curiously, "Even if he could turn you to ash in the blink of an eye? Like a furnace with wings. A flash of fire, a searing pain, a poof, and you're turned to cinders!"
Only then did Bilbo's face pale. He took a few steps back. "Oh, well, that's certainly not very pleasant. But compared to the dragons I've heard about, he still seems rather ordinary."
Gandalf shot Bofur a glare, and Bofur said no more.
However, Balin, who had been exchanging stories with Igon, spoke up. "Which dragon have you heard of that is more terrifying than Smaug?"
Gandalf also looked over with interest. He instinctively thought Bilbo had heard the tale of Ancalagon the Black.
But Bilbo's answer was unexpected. He pointed at Tarnes. "The dragon Mr. Tarnes told me about: Dragonlord Placidusax. That's the name, I'm sure of it, because I was just writing about that part of Mr. Tarnes's adventure recently."
Thorin frowned, and the dwarves looked at each other, murmuring amongst themselves.
They had never heard of this dragon's name. They looked at Tarnes as if wanting to ask but afraid their question would disturb him.
Gandalf glanced at Tarnes. He knew this dragon likely came from his friend's homeland.
Balin asked kindly, "Can you describe him for us, Mr. Baggins?"
Bilbo nodded. "Of course. Mr. Tarnes told me that Placidusax was an ancient dragon covered in hard, rock-like scales, but he turned black from absorbing too much of death's power. The lightning he unleashes is still crimson dragon lightning, but he can also release a black-gold death-blight mist that can instantly kill."
Black-gold?
Gandalf and Thorin looked at each other at the same time, each realizing from the other's eyes that they had thought of the same thing. It was the double-helix Golden Tree in Tarnes's territory, one half of which was precisely black-gold.
It's related to death, just as I thought, Gandalf mused silently.
Thorin, however, didn't have as many thoughts. On the contrary, he figured that since Tarnes could tell Bilbo this adventure story, it meant he had survived the claws of that dead dragon.
Bofur looked at Tarnes with an admiring expression. "Mr. Tarnes, what happened to that dragon in the end?" he asked.
Tarnes said succinctly, "It died."
Fili and Kili nodded emphatically. This outcome clearly matched their image of their teacher's strength.
Thorin cleared his throat, bringing the dwarves' attention back. "Alright, now that we have the map, I'm sure our wizard has more to say."
Balin nodded in agreement. "Certainly. We all know the main gate of the Lonely Mountain is sealed. We'll surely need another way to get in. Mr. Gandalf must be here to tell us that way."
Gandalf smiled at Balin. "You're right, Balin. I do have a way for you to enter the Lonely Mountain."
Then, the seemingly aged wizard cleared his throat. "Your presence here means you all understand that Thorin's plan did not receive the support of the seven dwarf kingdoms, because they only pledge allegiance to a true King under the Mountain. I know, of course, the esteem in which you hold Thorin, but only by obtaining the Arkenstone can his kingship be acknowledged. And the Arkenstone lies under that evil dragon, beneath countless mountains of gold. So, we need a burglar to sneak into the Lonely Mountain and steal the jewel."
He then looked at Bilbo with a smile. "And I happen to know of a secret side door on the Mountain, which will allow our burglar to get in. Smaug is very familiar with the smell of dwarves, but he has certainly never smelled a hobbit."
Bilbo pointed at himself in surprise, his eyes wide with uncertainty. "A burglar? Me?"
Oin, who had just put his ear trumpet in, asked loudly, "Do you think you are a nimble burglar?"
Bilbo naturally shook his head. "Me, a burglar? Don't be ridiculous."
But Oin took out his ear trumpet and laughed. "He says he is!"
The dwarves began to clamor and jeer again, leaving Bilbo standing there at a loss, opening and closing his mouth without a word.
Thorin couldn't stand the noise any longer and shouted, "Enough! Be quiet!"
The dwarves' commotion ceased as if cut by a knife. Only then did Thorin turn his eyes to Bilbo, sizing him up in silence for a few seconds before asking, "Tell me, Mr. Baggins, have you ever been in a fight?"
Bilbo didn't quite hear him. "I beg your pardon?"
Thorin didn't mind. "An axe or a sword—which weapon are you skilled with?"
Bilbo mimicked Thorin's tone. "If you must ask, I'm more skilled at cutting bacon into pieces. But obviously, that's not what a burglar should be good at."
He then sighed. "I am not a burglar. You have the wrong person. If you're looking for a host to provide a feast, that is undoubtedly me. But a burglar? I'm sorry, I've never stolen anything in my life."
Thorin nodded. "I thought as much."
Balin also said, "I agree with Mr. Baggins. He's hardly burglar material."
Dwalin glanced at Bilbo's far-from-warrior-like appearance and added, "Besides, the Wild is no place for a gentleman. He can neither fight nor fend for himself."
Bilbo nodded vigorously.
Gandalf looked at Bilbo, somewhat disappointed.
The dwarves began a new round of arguments on whether Bilbo Baggins could serve as a burglar.
Just as Gandalf was about to shout for the dwarves to quiet down, Tarnes's voice suddenly cut in.
"Excuse me for interrupting, everyone. May I ask Bilbo a few questions?" Tarnes asked gently.
Thorin immediately slammed his hand on the table, silencing the dwarves and making Bilbo wince for his dining table for a second.
Bilbo looked at Tarnes, meeting his smiling gaze.
For some reason, Bilbo felt that Tarnes had seen through his inner thoughts, which made his heart thump loudly.
He actually hoped Tarnes would give him a push.
"What do you want to ask me?" Bilbo asked, not even noticing the hopeful tone in his own voice.
Gandalf, being a shrewd judge of character, immediately noticed the emotion in Bilbo's tone. He had been wondering how to persuade Bilbo, but now it seemed he might not have to.
Tarnes asked, "Bilbo, what did you think of the adventure stories I told you?"
Bilbo praised without a second thought, "They were wonderful! I never imagined one person's adventures could be so rich and colorful."
Tarnes nodded, then looked at the bewildered dwarves around them. "Bilbo, you can refuse these dwarves, have them clean up your house, and then leave immediately, without thinking about any burglar business. I can assure you, they will not dare to complain."
The dwarves, led by Balin and Dwalin, looked at Tarnes with confusion, not understanding why he would give Bilbo an opportunity to refuse.
Gandalf, however, leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes to rest, as if he didn't care about Bilbo's final choice.
As the person in question, Bilbo himself was naturally very surprised.
He looked at Tarnes, who said to him again, "I'm serious, Bilbo. As your friend, I don't like seeing you being forced or coerced into doing something, because you may not be ready for an adventure. Therefore, as long as you refuse, I will help you sort everything out."
Then Tarnes glanced toward the kitchen and said with a smile, "Of course, that includes replenishing all the food the dwarves ate tonight."
Bilbo subconsciously muttered, "That's not what this is about..."
"Heh."
Thorin, being close to Bilbo, heard the hobbit's words. He chuckled and, like Gandalf, closed his eyes to rest.
Tarnes smiled and pressed on, "So what is your answer, Bilbo?"
"I..."
Of course I want to refuse.
Bilbo felt he should be able to say the words immediately, but when they reached his lips, they wouldn't come out.
So Bilbo closed his mouth again and paced back and forth.
Something of the Took stirred within him, long awakened when he heard Tarnes's stories, and the dwarves' arrival had only amplified it.
He wanted to see the great mountains, hear the pine trees and the waterfalls, explore the caves, and carry a sword instead of a walking stick.
The dwarves looked at each other, seeming to realize that what this hobbit was thinking was not what they had assumed, and they couldn't help but be amused.
Bilbo also noticed the atmosphere in the room had become somewhat comical. He sighed deeply. "Alright, alright, I admit it. I'm actually very timid, and I'm certainly not a burglar, but I do want to join this adventure. But I'm afraid I'll lose my life. Tarnes, your adventure stories are thrilling, and they nearly cost you your life each time. But they are so captivating to me..."
He lowered his head, a helpless smile on his face, not wanting others to see his expression. He said with some self-abandonment, "Perhaps the reason I'm giving will make you laugh at me. Well, go on and laugh. I'm a hobbit who fears death yet yearns for adventure."
But no one's voice rose to criticize him, which made Bilbo look up in astonishment.
Then he heard Tarnes say to Gandalf with a resigned tone, "You saw what Bilbo truly desired from the very beginning, didn't you? That's why you chose him."
Gandalf cleared the ash from his pipe and said with a smile, "That's only part of it. I also knew the Took blood in him wouldn't let him stay in Bag End his whole life. Of course, the more important point is that hobbits are remarkably light on their feet. In fact, they can pass unnoticed by anyone if they choose. I believe Bilbo's abilities far exceed your estimations."
He finally looked at Thorin and said, "On this matter, you will have to trust me."
Thorin turned back to look at Bilbo again seriously, then turned to Gandalf. "Very well, we'll do as you say."
He then said to Balin, "Bring out the contract for Bilbo, and also the contracts for Mr. Tarnes and his three friends."
[Chapter Complete]
***
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