That night, the dwarves slept soundly, all except Bilbo.
He did fall asleep while resting, but he was soon jolted awake from a nightmare and sat up inside his tent.
Afterward, Bilbo began to pack his belongings, putting everything away, including dirty clothes, leftover food, and even the rug he had been sleeping on.
Of course, except for the tent.
With his backpack on, he peeked out of the tent. Only after confirming that all the dwarves, especially Bofur, who often paid attention to him, and Gandalf were sound asleep, did he finally step out with his backpack.
Arthur and the others were by the campfire, not noticing this side. It was the perfect time for him to quietly leave.
A campfire burned in the camp, its light driving away animals or other things that hunted at night in the wilderness.
"Hmm?"
Bernal, on watch, was the first to notice the movement from Bilbo's side, but Bilbo's tent was blocked by the dwarves' tents, so he didn't know exactly what was happening.
He nudged Arthur with his elbow, only to find that Arthur had already been looking towards Bilbo's tent.
"What's wrong with our hobbit?" Bernal asked in a low voice.
Arthur frowned: "I don't know, he seems to have packed his things, ready to leave the camp? Why is that?"
Bernal chuckled softly: "Maybe he's had enough of this journey? Of course, I don't mean he can't endure the difficult conditions of the journey, but rather that he can't endure not being expected to play any role in the team, perhaps?"
Arthur mused: "Hmm, possibly. Regardless, I need to go see him. Gandalf said this is already the other side of the Misty Mountains. Even if Bilbo wants to go back, he can't return to the other side safely alone."
Bernal shrugged: "Anyway, go talk to him. Even if he quits this expedition, there's no way he can just turn back from here. The cave exit has already been collapsed by you, so if Bilbo wants to go back, he'll have to find a new path through the Misty Mountains."
"Then I'll leave the watch duty to you for now." Arthur pressed Bernal's silver shoulder guard, then stood up and walked in the direction Bilbo had gone.
Bilbo hadn't gone far, because it was night, and the wilderness outside the camp was pitch black. He couldn't see his hand in front of his face.
It was completely dark all around him, and every step he took was accompanied by the rustling sounds of the forest, like snakes slithering through the grass, or nocturnal insects moving among the branches.
In the distance, the howls of wolves rose and fell, breaking the night's silence and making Bilbo's heart pound, his nerves stretched taut.
He stopped, listening intently, trying to discern the source and distance of these sounds, but only felt an inexplicable fear spreading through him.
Bilbo became timid and didn't dare to continue walking.
He instinctively reached into his pocket, fumbling for the golden Ring, as if the Ring could give him courage.
Bilbo truly seemed to feel that after touching the Ring, his timidness disappeared, and the surrounding darkness no longer seemed so terrifying.
He even felt as though he could see things in the dark.
Just as Bilbo was about to take another step, Arthur's voice came from behind him: "If you're really afraid to be alone, I can certainly accompany you for a late-night stroll."
"Oh, Arthur…" Bilbo didn't know why he felt relieved, and the "courage" he had gained from the Ring instantly vanished.
He withdrew his hand from his pocket, his expression somewhat awkward and uncomfortable.
Of course, anyone caught sneaking out in the middle of the night would feel uncomfortable.
Bilbo awkwardly said: "How did you get here?"
Arthur approached, not using Glintstone Magic, but instead lighting a lantern and hanging it on his waist. The warm, orange-red light instantly enveloped both of them.
Arthur said: "Of course I saw you packing your things and leaving the camp alone. What's wrong, Bilbo? Why do you suddenly want to leave the expedition team alone?"
After saying this, he looked at their surroundings, cleared a broken stone, and sat down, simultaneously patting the spot next to him, signaling Bilbo to sit down.
Bilbo obediently sat down, hugging his knees, unsure of where to begin.
Arthur comforted him: "It's alright, you can take your time to think, even if you don't want to say it in the end. Do you remember what I told you? I said if you felt tired or unwell and didn't want to participate in the expedition, I would respect your wishes. The same applies even now, but we'll have to wait until we reach a safe place, then I'll have Bernal escort you back."
Bilbo hesitated for a moment, then said: "Actually, I don't feel tired or unwell."
He smiled: "To be honest, you've all been very good to me, especially the dwarves. The stories I initially read in books all said that dwarves are very stubborn, ill-tempered, and difficult to get along with, but in reality, all this time, Thorin and the others aren't like what the books say. On the contrary, they've been very caring towards me and considerate of my feelings. I heard Bofur say that Thorin was originally unwilling to go to Rivendell, no matter how much you and Gandalf tried to persuade him, he wouldn't agree. But we all know what happened…"
Bilbo shrugged, and Arthur also knew what he was trying to convey.
Then Bilbo sighed: "I really like this expedition team, whether it's you, or Gandalf, or those dwarves. I genuinely like all of you, but it's precisely because I like you all that I feel I should leave."
Arthur listened silently, then appropriately asked: "Why do you feel that way?"
Bilbo gave a wry smile: "Because I feel useless in this team, Arthur. Before entering Rivendell, I fell ill with a cold and fainted during the orc attack, causing the team to be delayed in Rivendell for some time. And then there's what happened today in that Goblin underground kingdom; Thorin was able to react and push me to safety, but it took me forever to react. And I didn't even stand firm on the rope bridge, falling down and causing you and Ms. Millison to come down to help me."
"I truly feel very useless, making no contribution to the team, and unable to help you solve any difficulties." He sighed heavily: "So I'm thinking, perhaps I should leave, return to my Bag End, give up these adventures, and be an ordinary hobbit. Enjoy seven meals a day, then comfortably lie in my own bed, reading stories from books or thinking about where to spend my time tomorrow. I think perhaps that's my life, not joining an expedition adventure that could be recorded in history books."
"I'm just a small person, not one of those heroes and brave ones from epic legends. If Middle-earth is a book, then I should be a passerby whose name wouldn't even appear in the book."
Bilbo said a lot, and he felt much better after speaking these things out.
Then he looked at Arthur with some trepidation, worried that the other party might think he was too dramatic, wanting to give up over such a small matter.
But the result was beyond Bilbo's expectation. Arthur gently said: "I understand how you feel, Bilbo, but I don't think everything you said is entirely correct."
Bilbo looked surprised; he didn't know where he had gone wrong.
Arthur continued, "You are not as useless as you imagine yourself to be. In the Old Forest, you were the first to spot the Huorn disguised as normal trees approaching us. And during that battle with the Trolls, without your help, Fili and Kili wouldn't have defeated the Trolls so easily. Moreover, if it weren't for you throughout the entire journey, the dwarves would probably only be gnawing on cold rations, instead of enjoying warm, delicious meals every day. The reason they had the energy to sing and tell stories was because of the food you cooked."
Bilbo replied incredulously, "But that's just food any hobbit can make. I can't even call it gourmet; it's simply food boiled over a fire with some seasoning."
Arthur nodded, then smiled and said, "You're right, Bilbo. Any hobbit can do that, but... where are those hobbits you're talking about?"
"They're in Hobbiton, of course... Oh, I think I understand what you're trying to say. It's just comforting words, like I have things only I can do in the party." Bilbo wasn't foolish; he had read many books and naturally understood the meaning behind Arthur' words.
Bilbo opened his mouth, gestured, "I just, well, actually I don't know. I know what you're saying is right, but I always feel like I'm dragging you down by staying. I don't think any hobbit has experienced such ups and downs as I have recently. Whether it's Elves or orcs, or the powerful Glintstone Magic you and Gandalf cast, no hobbit would ever see such things in their lives."
However, Arthur curiously asked, "Why no dwarves?"
Bilbo had expected Arthur to say some profound reason, never thinking he would ask such a question.
His original self-pitying mood was turned into exasperation by Arthur, and he replied, "That's because dwarf merchants occasionally come to Hobbiton. They sell weapons, food, or farm tools and kitchenware brought from the Blue Mountains. Of course, usually everything except weapons gets bought up."
Arthur asked curiously, "Why everything except weapons?"
Bilbo explained, "Because Hobbiton is very safe; it's not as dangerous as it is out here."
"So, do you feel happy having experienced all this out here?" Arthur pressed.
Bilbo replied without thinking, "Of course, I'm happy."
Then, after he finished speaking, he himself froze, and then showed a helpless expression: "Arthur, this can't even be called guidance, can it?"
Arthur nodded, "You're right, I'm actually not very good at talking. Sometimes I envy articulate people like you. If I had half your ability, many friends wouldn't have left me."
He paused, then continued, "Bilbo, you want to leave the party simply because of your sense of responsibility. You want to contribute to the team, but then you find that the team doesn't need you, so you start to feel pressure, thinking you haven't done well in the team..."
Bilbo quickly raised his hand, stopping Arthur, "Wait, wait, putting aside how these two segments of your speech suddenly connect, just saying my departure is due to my sense of responsibility isn't quite right. According to you, if I really had a sense of responsibility, then I shouldn't have left in the middle of the night without a word."
Arthur shrugged, "I told you I'm not very good at talking."
Bilbo nodded in agreement, "Indeed, I can see that. Sir Bernal told me that you're usually very direct when talking to people."
He stood up, patting the dust off his backside.
Then Bilbo took a deep breath, exhaled, and said with a relaxed mood, "But talking with you for so long has indeed made me feel much better... at least the urge to leave isn't as strong. Let's go back before Gandalf and the dwarves wake up, otherwise, it would be a bit embarrassing if they knew I suddenly ran out in the middle of the night."
Arthur stood up, ready to go back with Bilbo.
Bilbo reached into his pocket and casually said, "Oh, by the way, Arthur. I actually picked up something when I was following you and Ms. Millison in that cave. Can you help me take a look?"
Don't show it to him!
As Bilbo touched the ring, this sound suddenly emerged from the depths of his heart, and his expression became momentarily dazed.
Arthur was walking in front of Bilbo at this moment and did not notice Bilbo's appearance: "Of course, Bilbo, what is it?"
Absolutely do not show it to him!
Bilbo immediately withdrew his hand from the ring, regaining his composure: "Oh, it's... it's my courage. At least when facing those Goblins chasing us, I'm no longer as scared and paralyzed as I used to be when encountering orcs."
Arthur turned back and smiled gently, "Of course, my brave Bilbo."
Seeing Arthur's smile, Bilbo also ignored his recent daze and followed him.
"Oh, by the way, Bilbo." Arthur suddenly stopped, making Bilbo inexplicably nervous.
He resisted the urge to reach back into his pocket and asked with a smile, "What's wrong?"
Arthur said, "You just said to go back before Gandalf and the dwarves wake up, but that probably won't happen. The dwarves are indeed all asleep, but Gandalf isn't. In fact, he noticed you leaving a while ago and wanted to follow, but he didn't once he saw me coming after you."
Then Arthur stepped aside, revealing Gandalf standing silently a short distance ahead, on the outskirts of the camp.
"Gandalf..." Bilbo lowered his head, feeling a bit embarrassed.
He felt that it was truly inappropriate for him to run out alone in the middle of the night, lost in thought, and cause Arthur and Gandalf to worry.
Gandalf also gently shook his head and said softly, "It's good that you're back. I was really worried you might encounter some danger going out alone."
These words of concern made Bilbo feel even more guilty.
Arthur patted Bilbo's shoulder, "Go back, don't overthink it, Bilbo. If you don't rest, your spirits won't be good tomorrow."
Approximately two weeks later, Thorin and his company finally arrived at a medium-sized human settlement.