"Boss, aren't we being a little too damn cocky here..." Renard nervously crept closer after setting everything up.
"Can't help it, gotta know where Rivendell is. Who'd do this for fun?" Roland shrugged, clearly not thrilled.
"Sigh, just hope we don't piss off the elves too much..." Renard glanced at the tied-up elves still struggling.
"I'm gonna catch some Z's, wake me if the elves show up," Roland waved and flopped under some shade.
…
Meanwhile in Rivendell…
"King Elrond! Lind's scout squad has gone missing!" an elf ran up.
"When did they head out?" Elrond narrowed his eyes.
"At dawn. Lind said they were patrolling to stop orcs from coming south. But half a day passed, no news."
"Take some men, let's go find Lind," Elrond said seriously.
"Gods, please keep them safe..." he whispered a prayer.
…
"Boss, something's not right..." Castor shook Roland awake.
"What..." Roland looked up, froze.
"WTF, why are we surrounded by an entire elven army?" Roland blinked at Renard.
"Uh, maybe a big misunderstanding?" Renard nodded toward the tied-up Lind and crew.
"Nope, not what I planned at all!" Roland was dumbstruck. Even if the scouts went MIA, elves would send a few hundred riders to look, not a damn army.
What Roland didn't know: orcs learned about the dwarves' expedition and sent multiple wolf-rider squads south to block them. Yesterday's group was just one. Elrond thought orcs were coming south, so he rushed his army out to hunt them. They saw a small bunch resting under trees, saw Lind tied up, and thought humans were gearing for war.
Behind them: 3,000 elven archers lined up, 1,000 moon-deer-riding elven cavalry upfront. Magic pulses from maybe a dozen mages in back.
Roland's 100 swift infantry slammed their shields on the ground — not iron, leather-bound. Their 5-meter pikes pointed up like giant "stay back" signs. Bardania archers ditched horses and hid behind infantry to protect their squishy backs. Knights jumped on horses, ready to pop battle auras and combo attacks.
"Let's go!" Roland knew trouble wasn't avoidable. He led Renard and Castor forward.
Elrond rode his moon deer up to meet them.
"Why the hell are you trespassing in elven lands and capturing our people?" Elrond wasn't exactly happy.
"Elrond?" Roland recognized him right away. Not gonna lie, he kinda looked like the movie version.
"You know me? I don't know you. Where are you from? Where you headed?" Elrond's eyes glowed, casting some detection spell.
"Damn, this half-elf is a Warden..." Roland thought. Elves are famous for archers, mages, and rangers — warriors, not so much.
"We're from the remains of the Eastern Lagran Empire. Our home got wrecked by the Dongyi tribes..." Roland skipped the sad details — kinda true anyway. Lagran Empire was basically shredded.
"We're here looking for you, King Elrond!" Roland gave a respectful salute.
"Looking for me?" Elrond looked confused.
"Specifically, the dwarves, humans, and Gandalf who entered Rivendell," Roland explained.
"Huh?" Elrond got alert.
"Well, we're knights hired by Thorin Oakenshield. Got 10 brothers with them. We don't know Rivendell's way, so we took this risky route," Roland shrugged.
"Didn't you ask Lind and the others?" Elrond pointed at the bruised elves.
"Uh… maybe we scared them. They were ready to attack the moment they saw us, so we had to tie them up first," Roland lied smooth.
"..." Elrond had no words.
"So, you gonna let them go now?" Elrond asked, face dark.
"Of course! Castor, go untie them!" Roland pretended to be mad.
"Yes, sir!" Castor hurried.
"Traitors! I'll kill you!" Lind screamed.
…
"What? Thorin left first and left my men behind?" Elrond told Roland on the way to Rivendell.
"Yeah, your soldiers are loyal and wanted to wait for you. Thorin didn't wanna waste time and took off ahead."
"Ridiculous!" Roland was flabbergasted. That stubborn dwarf ruined the whole plan. Wait, hold up — idiot alert: that's me.
"Elrond, I need your help! I gotta catch them!" Roland urged.
"What happened?"
"We got exposed! Orcs know the dwarves are heading to the Lonely Mountain. Misty Mountains orcs will ambush them. Without help, they're all dead meat. Durin's bloodline might end!" Roland said seriously.
"We ran into attacks from Gandabar's Wargs and Gondabad's orcs! They're on our tail!" Roland added fast.
Elrond stared hard, then sped up. "Follow me!"
…
"Boss! Glad you're safe!" a Bardania archer stepped out.
"Thank Lagran! Our lord's unharmed!"
"All right, stand down," Roland waved.
"Elrond, where did the dwarves go?" Roland asked anxiously.
"There," Elrond pointed to a narrow mountain path.
"Are you joking? Horses can't go there!" Roland stared in disbelief.
"They ditched their horses. Left in the night," Elrond shrugged.
"Damn it! They're asking to die! Orcs will tear them apart! What about Gandalf?" Roland snarled.
"They left Gandalf behind too..." Elrond threw up his hands.
Roland forced calm. Damn Thorin, stubborn idiot. Messed everything up. Orcs are many. Without Gandalf's magic, these half-baked dwarves don't stand a chance.
"It's late, you all should get some rest," Elrond glanced at Roland and walked off.
Roland watched silently. Chaos everywhere… Gandalf probably went to Dol Guldur like before. Dwarves might fall into the goblin town. Bilbo will still end up with the Lord of the Rings...
"Looks like history's tide is impossible to change..." Roland sighed.
Moonlight crept over treetops. Roland couldn't sleep, so he got up and found Castor and Renard.
"Gather up! We're moving out!" Roland said firm. Lonely Mountain's treasure is mine! Maybe even the valley city.
"Yes, sir!" They shared a look and left.
"System! Sign in! Give me something good!" Roland sighed.
"Sign-in successful! Reward: 100 Lagran Empire Swift Infantry!"
"Again with 100 swift infantry?" Roland blinked.
…
"Elrond, they took the path you pointed out," Lind came up behind the elven king.
"Yeah, they left… shadows from north and south… sigh. Middle-earth's peace won't last," Elrond sighed.
---
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