Arthur led Rellana and her army into Lake-town, and after Freya arranged accommodations for Rellana's army, she immediately sent someone to Dale to inform General Radahn.
When Radahn arrived at Lake-town, bathed in moonlight and starlight, flying from Dale, he was quite surprised by the person who had come to replace him.
Radahn lowered his head, his usually calm expression finally showing surprise upon seeing a face that bore some resemblance to his mother.
"Long time no see. I thought you had… never mind, let bygones be bygones, scattered to the shadows of the crossroads. You've worked hard all these years, but what should I call you now?" Radahn asked.
His mind worked quickly. Within less than half a minute of seeing Rellana, he deduced that his aunt had likely gone to carry out some unspeakable mission, which was why there was no record of her even within the Caria Royal Family.
Of course, Radahn did not realize that Rellana had actually disappeared with a portion of the Caria army to follow her beloved.
Rellana looked around and said, "Internally, you can still address me as before. As for externally… you can call me the 'Twin Moon Knight'. I've also heard your title from Arthur, and externally, I will address you as 'General Radahn the Starscourge'."
Radahn nodded.
Seeing that the two seemed intent on discussing past Caria matters, and with no other urgent matters requiring his presence, Arthur drafted a document confirming Rellana's stationing in Dale and Lake-town. He then bid farewell to the two and used a portal to return to Stormveil Castle.
As for Dale, by the time the residents of Dale woke up in the morning, they would likely find that the Erdtree banner and the Redmane banner, which had originally been erected on the city walls, would have the latter replaced by Caria's blue banner.
The next day, during daylight, Arthur, with Melina's help, packed his belongings for the journey and met Bilbo, who had been waiting for a long time, outside Stormveil Castle.
Arthur smiled and greeted him, "Sorry to keep you waiting, Bilbo."
Bilbo smiled back and shook his head, "Not long, at least you arrived before I planned to eat my second breakfast. I'll just eat it on the road then."
Melina looked at Bilbo with a puzzled expression: "Second breakfast?"
Bilbo explained, "Oh, please don't misunderstand, young and beautiful Miss Melina. As you can see, I am a hobbit, and hobbits eat many meals a day. When I say second breakfast, I mean breakfast in the literal sense. I prepared some convenient baked bacon rolls last night to eat on the road; would you like some when we rest later?"
"Thank you, hospitable Bilbo, but I've already eaten a lot this morning."
Melina politely and subtly declined Bilbo's kind offer.
Bilbo didn't lose heart, turning to Arthur and, without speaking, winked at him.
Arthur accepted Bilbo's offer, maintaining his smile as he said, "Then save a portion for me to try. Oh, where is Legolas?"
Bilbo mounted the small pony the Elves had prepared for him and replied, "He didn't return last night, but he's been with Sir Bernal these past few days you've been away. As for what Legolas is specifically doing with Sir Bernal, I'm not sure."
Arthur nodded, pulled Melina onto Torrent, and said, "That means he doesn't have anything important to find me for. Let's go, Bilbo, it's time to send you home. Do you miss your Bag End?"
Bilbo's fingers unconsciously rubbed the old coat beneath his mithril shirt. He suddenly remembered the scent of toasted muffins wafting from the kitchen to the bedroom in the early morning, and the honey-colored sunlight falling on the tip of his quill through the round window.
So Bilbo let out a long sigh and, smiling at Arthur, said, "I miss it terribly!"
Half a month later, the Shire, Hobbiton.
When Arthur, after more than a year, stepped into this peaceful and tranquil place again, bathed in the morning sun, he found that the scenery before him was exactly as it had been when he first arrived.
Arthur said to a beaming Bilbo, "Sometimes I wonder if time in your homeland has been frozen, as if it will never change, always remaining so beautiful."
Bilbo heard Arthur's praise for his homeland and squinted his eyes with a smile: "Perhaps what you say is true. All right, you promised me that you and Miss Melina would stay overnight at my house today and only depart for Rivendell tomorrow."
Arthur smiled helplessly, "I can't remember how many times you've reminded me already. Don't worry, I definitely won't be in a hurry to leave today."
Melina chuckled softly behind Arthur, while Bilbo slapped his forehead and said, "Ah, but last time Thorin and his companions ate almost all the food in my house before they left. I'm afraid I'll have to go to the market to buy some later. What would you like to eat? Apple pie or blueberry pie? How about with cheese, roasted pork, and vegetable stew? Tomatoes are ripe this season, so a sweet and sour tomato soup, oh, just talking about it makes my mouth water."
Arthur's eyes lit up: "Then I'll follow your lead. As long as it's delicious food, I'm not picky."
Just as Arthur and Bilbo were discussing what to eat for lunch and dinner, Melina carefully noticed that all the hobbits who saw Arthur and Bilbo on the road subtly changed their expressions, then pretended that nothing had happened and took a detour to leave.
It was as if they didn't want to see Arthur.
No, that's not right; it seemed these hobbits didn't want to see Sir Bilbo Baggins.
Melina instinctively pulled up her hood, then gently tugged on Arthur's cloak.
Arthur turned slightly and asked, "Melina, what's wrong?"
Melina told Arthur what she had just seen, causing him to look up towards the path in Hobbiton.
Indeed, just as Melina said, Arthur noticed that some hobbits, while walking, suddenly saw him, or more accurately, their gaze fell upon Bilbo next to him, their expressions changed, and they immediately took other paths.
Bilbo noticed Arthur and Melina suddenly fall silent and asked, somewhat puzzled, "Why do both of you suddenly look a bit unwell? Did something fall on the road?"
Arthur took a deep breath and said to Bilbo, "Bilbo, you might need to be prepared. I'm not sure why the people of Hobbiton show fear and leave when they see you. I'm afraid we'll only find out what happened while you were away once we reach your doorstep."
Bilbo blinked adorably. He scratched his head, racking his brains but couldn't figure out why his fellow villagers in Hobbiton would be afraid of him.
It wasn't until Arthur and his companions arrived at Bilbo's doorstep that they understood why.
Because Bilbo Baggins's Bag End door was open, but outside the door hung two hobbits, one male and one female.
Their hands and feet were tightly bound with ropes, their mouths stuffed with cloth strips, and they wore expressions of terror and regret.
Bilbo Baggins, with his sharp eyes, immediately recognized the name of the female hobbit and shrieked loudly, "Hey! Why are you at my house, and why is my door open, Lobelia!"