"Oh! My foot, I think I twisted it."
As soon as he landed, Gandalf cried out in pain, grimacing and hopping twice with theatrical distress.
Levi, on the other hand, was almost unharmed. With the blessing of Feather Falling, the damage caused by the pearl teleportation was minimal for him.
"You don't look injured to me."
If this old man hadn't lost any health, Levi would have almost believed him.
"It's still quite draining."
"I can see that."
When confronting Sauron, Levi had watched Gandalf's health steadily decline with growing concern.
At this moment, he was limping forward with his staff, one hand covering his waist as he ran, looking quite disheveled. Levi couldn't bear to watch and gave him a golden apple to eat.
"Thank you, I feel much better. This thing is very magical. I feel my strength has recovered somewhat."
A warm current surged through his body, and a solid golden glow enveloped Gandalf—that was the shield provided by the golden apple.
"That's good. Let's get out of here quickly."
Just as Levi and Gandalf were running into the forest, the dark shadow of Dol Guldur behind them suddenly expanded, sweeping toward them like a sky-covering canopy.
"Get down!"
Thud.
Gandalf raised his staff and created a small, transparent barrier that just covered the two of them. The black mist swept overhead, uprooting several trees, but failed to find its target and could only return in frustration.
Levi looked up to see massive numbers of orcs and wargs pouring out of Dol Guldur like a fountain, sweeping northward. At a rough glance, their numbers had to be counted in the tens of thousands.
Levi also spotted a pale figure among them—Azog, leading the army on his white warg.
"They've mobilized..."
"I saw." Gandalf got up and looked in the direction of the army. "Those are orcs and wargs from Moria, plus quite a few trolls. They're marching toward the Lonely Mountain."
"Smaug has long been allied with Sauron. Now they want to completely occupy that place. Levi, I need to hurry and rendezvous with Lady Galadriel and the others to launch another attack on Dol Guldur!"
"What are you planning to do?"
As they walked, Gandalf asked about Levi's intentions.
"Me? I don't think I need to come along. You saw it yourself. I don't have the power to oppose him."
"I actually think you do, you just haven't noticed it yet," Gandalf said with certainty.
But then he changed the subject: "However, given the current situation, there's somewhere that needs you more."
"Erebor."
Sauron's army was advancing toward the Lonely Mountain ahead of schedule, while at this moment, the dwarves were still entangled in Lake-town.
…
"It's amazing. My wound has healed."
Kili sat in a chair in Bard's house, looking at his now-healed leg with wonder.
"Thank you, Tauriel and Bilbo."
On the way to Lake-town, Kili had been struck by a Morgul arrow. Bilbo had given Kili the golden apple, using its healing power and shield to temporarily suppress the wound's deterioration, while Tauriel arrived later and completely removed the Morgul poison using kingsfoil as a medium.
Hearing Kili's words, Bilbo shook his head repeatedly: "No, don't thank me. This apple was given to me by Levi. Save your thanks for when Levi arrives."
"So I've been saved by Levi once again."
Kili's expression was complex. At this moment, Thorin came over and interrupted his thoughts: "We'll repay him afterward. What's more urgent now is getting to Erebor."
"Dwarf, you still insist on going to the mountain?" Legolas stepped forward, looking down at Thorin condescendingly.
"That's our business. What does it have to do with you, elf?"
Thorin maintained his steady performance of verbal attacks against elves.
"Did you two chase us here to drag us back?"
"Even if you did good deeds, that's one thing, and this is another. Even though we're not armed now, we won't meekly follow you back. We'll resist to the end."
"No, I haven't received orders to bring you back."
Seeing Legolas begin to frown, Tauriel quickly said:
"We tracked the orc squad that ambushed us at the forest border all the way here. We just don't know why they suddenly retreated."
"This pursuit is now concluded."
Thorin glanced at the female elf, then at Kili, swallowing back the words "then you had no need to seek us out."
His nephew's preferences seemed somewhat different from normal dwarves. Was it because there were too few female dwarves in their clan?
Perhaps some psychological counseling would be necessary afterward.
Shaking his head, Thorin issued orders: "Since everyone's fine, we'll prepare tonight and set out for Erebor tomorrow."
"Thorin, it's still early. Should we wait for Gandalf and Levi?" Fili came over and asked.
"We can wait just as well after we get there. I don't want to waste any more time here."
"But we don't have any weapons. What if there's trouble on the road..."
"There will be."
As the dwarves deliberated, Legolas and Tauriel sat to one side, exchanging glances that revealed their mutual confusion.
What were these dwarves planning?
Bard was equally puzzled.
"What are you planning to do? There's nowhere in town that sells weapons."
"Ah, nothing. We're just discussing leaving."
"Yes, we've been imposing for so long. It's time to set out..."
The dwarves were being evasive. Balin joined in and was about to say something when he suddenly noticed the clothes rack behind Bard, so he spoke up to change the subject: "Brother, I must say your clothes rack looks quite peculiar. It seems very sturdy."
"That's not a clothes rack."
"Oh?" Seeing the topic successfully diverted, Balin quickly drew Bard's attention, walking to the side and asking curiously: "What is it then? Could it be a family heirloom?"
"Yes, it actually is."
Now Balin was genuinely curious. A clothes rack as a family heirloom?
Bard gently touched the "clothes rack" and said softly: "This is something my father left behind. When the dragon attacked Dale, my father used this kind of arrow to hit the dragon."
"So you're the descendant of Dale's former lord..."
Obviously, Balin knew his stuff. Getting closer, he immediately recognized that this arrow was indeed made by dwarven hands.
It was said that this kind of black arrow possessed magical power. It was extremely difficult to lose and would always return to its master's hand. This was genuine, which meant the human before him was indeed telling the truth about his identity.
"However, what you're saying doesn't match the rumors I've heard." Though somewhat shocked by Bard's background, Balin still shook his head.
"If the dragon was really hit, how could it still be occupying Erebor now?"
"The dragon was hit!" Bard suddenly said agitatedly.
"My father definitely hit it!"
"Alright, brother, don't get so worked up. I believe you, don't I?"
Balin looked up and patted Bard's arm, his tone calm: "That black arrow is indeed sharp. I believe it has the ability to pierce dragon scales, and perhaps it once wounded Smaug. But regardless, from the results, that dragon is still alive today, isn't it?"
"Whether it's you or your father, I believe you're both brave warriors. You haven't failed anyone."
"This matter is in the past. Honestly, you don't need to prove anything. Just let everything flow with time. Present life is what's most important."
[Chapter Complete]
***
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