Last night, after witnessing a great show between the little witch and the black knight of the Nazgul, they learned that the enemy chasing them had been declared extinct for the time being, and that there was also a free hotel in the hotel opposite their own floor. After the super thug had successfully attracted the hatred of the enemy, Frodo and the other four hobbits could finally sleep peacefully and have a rare good sleep!
So, in the early morning of the next day, Frodo, Sam, Pippin, Merry and the mysterious "Strider", who had finished their rest, were in full condition and had a sumptuous breakfast, once again brought their respective tributes. , leading the ranger's big brown horse with a white forehead, walked out of their temporary rented house opposite the Prancing Horse Hotel, and started their journey again.
When they left the small courtyard of the residence and walked onto the street, they happened to see the owner of the Prancing Horse Hotel talking to a group of good-hearted townspeople and some soldiers loudly and emotionally.
"You must not know, right? Let me tell you, last night, I witnessed it with my own eyes: four evil black knights broke into our Bray Town and sneaked into my Prancing Pony Hotel. , seems to be trying to catch someone or looking for something?”
"Next, they unscrupulously provoked a distinguished young wizard who lives in my hotel, and then, look at it! They became like this: Look, the corpses of those black horses , and look at those deformed armors after they died!"
After seeing more and more people surrounding him, the innkeeper blushed and pointed at the horse corpses in front of his inn and the armor left behind by the evil knights after their death.
"You may not know that at that time, when I saw something was going wrong, I hid behind the bar without even daring to take a breath! At that time, I almost thought I was dead!"
"But who would have thought that when those four terrible black knights went upstairs and messed around for a while, chopping and rummaging through boxes and cabinets, then, not long after, one of them was killed by the wizard? The window flew directly and hit the outside? It's the window on the top floor, did you see it?!"
"Next, when I dared to lie down at the window next to the door and peek, all I saw was: the powerful wizard lady, she was floating in the air out of thin air, and with a stretch of her hand, a powerful black The knight screamed like that and was caught into a ball of iron by her?"
"Then, she just waved her hand, and she didn't know what magical trick she used. In an instant, the iron ball turned into a giant ax warrior covered in flames. With just a few strokes, she just wiped out the remaining three. All the black knights were hacked to death!"
"Did you see the giant ax over there that plowed a deep hole in the street? And over there, the one-armed, empty-shell armored man standing motionless! Last night, it was the one who plowed a deep hole in the street. A warrior covered in flames! However, after it destroyed the enemy, the flames on his body gradually extinguished, and he could no longer move..."
On the muddy grass outside the Prancing Horse Hotel, the owner of the hotel happily pointed to the armor fragments of the evil horses and evil spirits on the ground after they were killed, as well as the one-armed armor still standing further away.
Then, when he saw the ranger leading four hobbits passing by him, he was stunned for a moment.
If he remembered correctly, it seemed that the four evil black knights went to the room they had originally assigned to hack and plunder? But, for some reason, these five people suddenly packed up their things and moved to a private house across the street when he was about to close the business last night?
If you think about it this way, they must have known in advance that those black knights and those terrifying evil creatures were looking for them, right? In this way, his hotel and the noble wizard are actually filling the tank for them?
So, should he reach out to these people and ask for some compensation?
"Huh~! Head! I just went to see it. Old Allen, the gatekeeper of Bray Town, was indeed trampled to death, and the gate of the town was also damaged! Moreover, judging from the horseshoe marks on the wooden door, It must be these four black knights who did it!”
At this time, when Frodo and the five people approached curiously, they happened to see a militiaman running in a hurry and reported to a big man in chainmail who was listening to the owner of the Prancing Pony Inn introducing the situation last night.
"Well...I have never seen weapons of this style and pattern..."
After nodding, the big man in chainmail walked directly to a grassy area, then squatted down and looked at the black long sword on the ground that had been dropped by the black knights.
This long sword should be an elite two-handed knight's sword. The handle is slightly longer, which is very suitable for holding it with both hands and slashing with full strength during land combat. Of course, it should also be able to be used as a one-handed sword during mounted combat. Come to order?
"Be careful... this is a Demon Cave Sword... Believe me, if I were you, I would not touch its blade rashly!"
Aragorn, the Strider, was leading four hobbits passing by. When he saw that the militia captain from Bree Town seemed to want to reach out and touch the black sword that fell on the grass, he lowered his head in good faith and whispered. Such a reminder.
"Demon, Demon Cave Sword?!"
Hearing this, the man in mail was about to touch the sword's hand to test its sharpness, and he immediately retracted like lightning.
Then, when he turned to look at the man who had just passed by and kindly reminded him, all he saw was the hooded figure and the four short hobbits following him?
That person...is that ranger? !
After frowning and thinking for a while, the militia captain said that he had seen the ranger who walked over, that middle-aged man with strange movements and extraordinary skills, many times in Bray Town, but there was no interaction between the two parties.
"Captain, what exactly is the Demon Cave Sword?"
Seeing that his captain suddenly stopped his hand when he was about to touch the sword, and then seeing that the weirdo who reminded his captain was already walking further and further away, a man wearing an iron helmet and armor was holding his hand. The Bray Town militiaman holding a wooden spear came over curiously and asked.
"The Devil's Cave Sword..."
"In rumors, it is an evil weapon from Minas Morgul! It is said that anyone who is injured or stabbed by the blade will gradually fall into eternal darkness if they do not receive effective treatment. middle……"
"Then...it will become an immortal existence..."
Looking at the black sword on the ground, the militia captain's face began to look a little solemn.
Then, he turned around and looked at the black knights around him who had been killed by the witch, but there were no human corpses, only three pairs of broken and collapsed armors. He seemed to believe the words of the ranger.
"Is it that mysterious? It must be fake, right?"
"Head! Look, this thing looks very well made. It should only be used by noble men, right? I think it must be very valuable!"
"That's right! Captain, don't worry about what it is. Let's just put it away and sell it for money?"
Compared to the burly captain in chainmail, the other militiamen carrying spears didn't have so much to worry about.
The broken, collapsed and twisted knight armors around them have basically been scrapped, and they can only be sold as scrap metal to make a small amount of money. However, these three long swords that fell here are different. Looking at their exquisite workmanship, they are definitely worth a lot of gold coins!
At that time, if they all share a share, what they can get to each of them will definitely be able to pay for several months of military pay for these people. There is no reason to let go of such a windfall from the sky!
"Hmph! Whether they are the swords of the Demon Cave or not, we will find out soon!"
After pondering for a while, the captain, who was also a little unsure about the rumored matter, did not continue to pay attention to the commotion of his men. So, when he stood up and looked up into the distance, when he saw a ray of morning sunlight slanting from above the eaves, he arbitrarily pushed away the two men standing in front of him who were blocking the sunlight.
"Okay, get out of my way!"
Then, something happened that surprised everyone present: the blade of the black long sword, when it was illuminated by the sun, quickly disintegrated and turned into a black mist and disappeared completely? In the blink of an eye, all that was left was a rather gorgeously made sword hilt?
"Tsk! It is indeed the legendary Devil's Cave Sword! Now we are in big trouble..."
When the militia captain possessed him again and picked up the Devil's Nest sword with only the hilt left on the ground, and then looked at the 'bodies' of the dead black knights around him, he knew that things seemed to be getting a little troublesome... …
Four black knights from the Demon Cave died in their Bray Town. Will this lead to revenge from the other party? !
"Where is that distinguished wizard guest? Is he still in your hotel now?"
After thinking about it, the militia captain walked up to the owner of the Prancing Horse Hotel and asked in a low voice.
"That... I'm sorry!"
"She bought a carriage and left early in the morning... It seemed like she was heading east? As for whether it was to the direction of Amon Sur or to the town of Stad, I'm not sure..."
The hotel owner thought about it seriously and could only shake his head regretfully at the militia captain.
Earlier today, it was he who went to buy the light and comfortable carriage for the little wizard at dawn! However, the little wizard rejected her suggestion to hire a groom for her at that time. She just sat on the carriage and did not control it, letting the old horse carry her carriage out of the town from the east gate. went.
————
"Hey! Where are you taking us?"
After leaving the east gate of Bray Town, Pippin and Merry were surprised to find that this strange 'Strider' did not lead them to the main road, but went straight into the dense forest, intending to turn over. Heading directly to the east over the mountains and ridges?
"We have to cross Bray Swamp, go to the wilderness, and then go directly to the sentry on the top of Wind and Cloud Hill! There is one of the rendezvous points I agreed with Gandalf before!"
Aragorn, the 'Strider' who was walking in front to explore the path, did not take into account the opinions of the hobbits behind him, so he specifically selected some rugged and difficult dense forest mountains to walk.
"Then why don't we take the main road? Instead we go through this dense forest? And you actually want to go directly through the Bray Swamp?!"
After hearing this 'Strider' tell him the next route, Merry, who was following behind, complained loudly and dissatisfiedly.
This is a swamp and a wilderness. Just from listening to it, I know it must be difficult to walk. Isn’t the road outside pretty good? Why do you have to go over mountains and ridges...
"Very good, boy! If you think you can escape the pursuit of those sleepless Nazgul black knights on the road, then you can go on the road and I will never stop you!"
After exhaling, Aragorn grabbed a small branch to steady himself, then turned around and warned the little hobbit behind him in an unkind tone, who always complained all day long.
"But, those black knights, aren't they all dead? Just last night, we all saw that little girl wizard, she had killed them all!"
"Yes! In that case, why don't we take the more comfortable road?"
After Pippin and Merry looked at each other, they seemed to have discovered something interesting, and they began to refute the words of the 'Strider' loudly.
"If you really want to take the main road, go south. With the speed of you hobbits, I believe you can see the main road in just two or three hours. If you really want to, then you can go ahead. Bar!"
"Also, don't blame me for not reminding you: there should be nine black knights like the Nazgul last night! And last night, the powerful witch only killed four of them!"
After adding an emphasis on 'four', Aragorn shook his head, not wanting to get entangled in such trivial matters, and continued to turn around and lead the way.
But actually, he still had some words he didn't say, just because he was afraid of accidentally scaring these timid hobbits!
That's because: the Nazgul will not be killed easily! Even last night, that little girl seemed to have successfully eliminated four of them? However, Aragorn believed that before long, the four dead black knights would still be resurrected in Minas's cave!
He has no doubt about this!
Only certain special methods, or some special weapons that can break the immortal curse of the Nazgul, can completely kill the opponent!
For example, the Western Dengdan royal family has special powers, weapons that are said to be blessed by the gods? Or, his Nasir Holy Sword?
It's a pity that the holy sword he inherited has long been broken and broken...
"Well, maybe you're right!"
"Well! Just pretend that we didn't say anything!"
After Pippin and Merry were stunned for a moment, they suddenly remembered: when they were being chased by the Nazgul Black Knights, they had encountered many enemies while taking a boat to escape from the pursuing Black Knights at the Barkbury Ferry in the Shire. Those terrifying black knights, at that time, the number of the opponent seemed to be far more than four?
"Frodo, how do you know this 'Strider', who is Gandalf's friend?"
Sam, who was leading the other man's brown horse behind, approached Frodo and asked in a low voice. He was still a little suspicious of the tall human in front of him. He always felt that he was not a good person?
"Sam, I think the appearance of our enemy's minions should not be like this. They... can make people feel an evil aura..."
Frodo remembered that on the border of the Shire, when the four of them were hiding from the Nazgul Black Knight under the roots of the tree, the aura exuding from the other party was very evil!
Even at that time, when the other party lay down to search for them, that kind of smell made those small animals, spiders, centipedes and other insects unconsciously emerge from the cracks in the rocks or soil and escape?
"I think he is evil enough now!"
Indeed, Sam also felt that the auras of the Nazgul Black Knights were rather evil! However, the 'Strider' in front of me seems to be no better, right?
"Sam, now we have no choice but to believe him!"
With their trusted Gandalf still missing and they and others still being desperately hunted by the Black Knights of the Ringwraiths, in addition to trusting the 'Strider' who had helped them once last night, they also There is no good choice.
Besides, since the other party can name Gandalf right off the bat, he can always give him a little trust.
"Where is he taking us? We are getting further and further away from Bray Town now."
In fact, what Sam wants to say more is: Now, they are getting further and further away from their hometown of Shire...
If he hadn't been worried that going back privately would lure the Black Knights to Hobbiton and possibly bring misfortune to his relatives and friends, he would have really wanted to turn around and run back right now. Gandalf wasn't here anyway. , and no one can punish him, or turn him into a stone frog or the like.
"Let's go to the outpost at Storm Peak first. If Gandalf is indeed not there, we will go directly east to Rivendell, the residence of the Elf King Elrond! Master Zhanji, are you satisfied with this answer?"
Aragorn, who clearly heard the murmurings between Samwise Gamgee and Frodo behind him, replied loudly without any concern.
King Elrond, also known as Elrond, is the high elf lord of Rivendell Grove and the holder of Vilya, the Wind Ring of the Three Elven Rings! In Aragorn's impression, King Elrond was not only brave and good at fighting, superb in medicine, intelligent, and prophetic, he was also the adoptive father who raised Aragorn and was also one of the high elves he respected the most!
In fact, he felt a little helpless at the lack of cooperation from these hobbits.
If Gandalf hadn't entrusted him with this mission in person, do you think Aragorn would have worked so hard to protect these few people without getting any benefits? These hobbit halflings who just whisper and question themselves all the way behind them? !
"Hey! Guys, did you hear that? He said Rivendell? We are actually going to Rivendell to see the elves?"
After hearing what the leading 'Strider' said, Pippin and Melize, who had always been complaining, finally began to cheer excitedly.
They have long wanted to see the elves, a tall and legendary race that exists only in legends, but they have never had the chance! But this time, if they can really see the elves in Rivendell, then they will be able to brag about it for a long time when they return to the Shire, right?
"..."
Compared to the excitement of these two people, Sam and Frodo seemed much calmer.
Because, on the first night when they set off from the Shire, they were lucky enough to see a group of wood elves migrating westward. Frodo also heard the songs they sang along the way. It was said that they were going to the port outside the White Tower? They seem to be going to sea and other places in Middle-earth?
"Gentlemen, hurry up and pick up the pace! We must not stop before night falls!"
After walking for a while, after just crossing two peaks, Aragorn realized that something was not right behind him. When he had to turn around to remind him, he saw those hobbits planning to camp and eat. ?
What the hell!
This phenomenon almost made Aragorn laugh!
Sure enough, it is not entirely unreasonable for the human world to nickname Hobbits as Hobbits. These delicious and lazy short guys have just been away for less than an hour, and they are actually going to rest and eat here?
What kind of joke is this? They are currently being hunted by a group of Nazgul Black Knights...
"Still leaving? What about our breakfast?"
Sam, who was about to pass a biscuit to his companion, was puzzled.
Then, he specifically raised his head to look at the sun that was gradually rising in the sky. It was obvious that breakfast time had come, so what else was there to do? Shouldn't we take a break, have a good breakfast, and then walk a little further to help digestion when we're almost done?
"You were in Bray Town just now, didn't you already eat?!"
When they were in that house, they had obviously already had breakfast when they got up in the morning. Regarding this, Aragorn was very sure that they had really eaten it!
"Just one meal? That's right! I had eaten it at that time, but what about the second breakfast?!"
Pippin, who was about to take the food next to him, immediately asked back. Hobbits like them usually have two breakfasts a day!
"..."
Opening his mouth, Aragorn turned his face sideways. He didn't say anything, turned around and left.
These damn hobbits, do they really think they are here for an outing? Is there really no other danger outside of the wilderness, apart from the black knights of the Ringwraiths who are chasing them?
A second breakfast? Damn second breakfast! Where is the second meal? Not to mention breakfast, there is no lunch! Before it gets dark, if they want to eat, they can only eat while walking, stop and take a good rest, chat and eat at the same time, that is something they should not even think about!
"Guys, I take it that they humans probably don't have the concept of a second breakfast?"
Just as Melly sighed, he suddenly saw something flying over from the sky.
When he hurriedly reached out to catch it, he realized that it was an apple that the 'Strider' walking in front had just picked from a low wild apple tree in front and threw it over?
"Okay... what about pre-noon tea? What about lunch? And afternoon tea... dinner... midnight snack? He should know this, right?"
Hobbit Pippin was a little dissatisfied when he heard that the treatment in the coming days might become extremely bad. In his opinion, it's a good idea to go back to work, but the basic treatment cannot be lowered casually...
"I can't say for sure!"
After Merry handed the other party an apple, he shook his head and walked forward.
————
A few days later, heading east from Bray Town, a small carriage pulled by a giant troll was pacing leisurely in the roadless jungle.
Little Annie was half-lying in her carriage with the rain roof open, letting the two-legged 'big horse' in front of her pull her to the east through the jungle where there was no road for a long time. Take it with you.
She was just like this, throwing some snacks into her mouth, resting her head on her little bear Tibbers and looking at the blue sky and white clouds in the sky. Next to her, there was her 20mm electromagnetic rod. The sniper rifle, you read that right, it was the one she would equip when she was a ghost agent in the interstellar world!
During the days when Anne was traveling alone, she encountered many messy and annoying things that wanted to mess with her!
After all, this world of the Lord of the Rings is not simple, it is a magical magical world! Whether they are desperate mercenaries or traitors, or goblins, orcs, trolls, or even huge stone giants hundreds of meters high, they are all there!
Therefore, along the way, when she was disturbed by those blind beings who were too lazy to use magic, she usually just shot them directly. Beating them into a piece of rotten flesh was the simplest and most trouble-free option.
As long as those monsters dare to block the way and want to eat her, she will just shoot them with a "bang", and then the whole world will be clean! As for whether the headless trolls or other corpses left on the road would frighten the travelers passing by, that was none of her business!
Now, she has walked for several days and nights in a row. Even she doesn't know how far she has walked! Anyway, the slow and clumsy old horse that originally pulled the cart had been let go by her, and now, the cart was replaced by this new horse with two legs and great strength!
Anyway, Anne only knew that since she left the town of Bray, she had been walking eastward. When she got here, there was almost no road. She was considering whether to abandon this broken carriage that was about to fall apart and let go. This poor old 'horse', can you think of other solutions by yourself?
Snapped! !
Anne waved her finger, and the whip formed by magic left a red mark on the back of the troll pulling her carriage. The troll shivered and had to speed up again.
"Don't be lazy! I've given you a BUFF to resist the sun."
"If you dare to cheat again, you have to think about how cooked your other ass is! I know you can understand what I say!"
As she spoke, little Annie began to laugh softly.
Because, the last time the troll who was pulling her carriage wanted to have sex, the skin of one of its buttocks was roasted red by her with a flame! Let the other party know the pain, but at the same time, it will not hurt the other party and affect the work of pulling the cart for you.
Although this troll also smells bad, it doesn't look any better than the original old horse? However, there is a little benefit to it! That is: since Annie changed this 'horse', ordinary gadgets and beasts no longer dare to come out to bother her casually.
"Huh?!"
Someone is rushing towards you at high speed? From the sound, it sounds like someone is riding a horse?
Just when Annie was a little distressed because there was a small river blocking the road ahead and the troll coolie couldn't move forward, she heard bursts of rapid horse hooves behind her? Moreover, there are still several cavalry rushing towards him?
It seems a little familiar? Could they be here specifically to cause trouble for me? !
"..."
Listening to the sound of horse hooves in the distance, which became more and more rapid from far to near, Anne stopped the troll who was stupidly planning to forcibly cross the river. She planned to check the situation first.
"Run, Asifalus, run, faster!"
While holding Frodo tightly in her arms, who felt almost dead, Yawen urged the mount under her crotch. She even ignored the wound on her face that was scratched by a branch, and just kept moving. He urged his beloved horse to run faster.
Behind her, just a few steps away, there were five Nazgul black knights in black armor and black robes, holding long swords, chasing after her.
During the chase, she was almost successfully surrounded several times! If her partner hadn't been brave enough to break out of the opponent's encirclement with deft steps, she and Frodo might have been captured alive by the Nazgul. ?
"That's... a troll?!"
Yawen, who had just come out of the woods, quickly discovered that there was a troll almost as tall as two people on the beach in front of her? When did they dare to come out during the day? Moreover, the other party seems to be still pulling its trophy: a little girl? !
In normal times, Yawen might have rescued the human girl from the evil troll. However, now that she was helpless, she could only bite the bullet and let her beloved horse pass by the troll and the small car. The carriage rushed through the river. She believed that as long as she reached the other side of the river, she could use the power of nature to summon Ulmo's flood to disperse the black knights of the Nazgul who were chasing her!
tap! tap! tap!
The sound of intensive horse hoofbeats sounded. When Arwen hugged Frodo, who was almost unconscious, and narrowly missed the trolls, rushed into the river, ran to the other side, reined in his horse and turned his horse's head, the five Nazgul knights could not stand it. Kan rushed to the river.
