Thranduil's army met Bard and the people of Lake Town on the upper reaches of the River Run on September 10th.
When the green Elf King's flag and rows of neatly-armored elves appeared on the other side of the plains, the people of Changhu Town were in chaos.
"Why do elves appear here?"
People were talking a lot, and their hearts were full of curiosity and uneasiness.
"Aren't they also here to rob the treasures in the mountains?" Alfred jumped up and down and said extremely sinisterly: "The king is also very concerned about property, and he made a lot of money from the transaction with the mayor. "
But Bard believes that if the elves are also involved, then the humans in Lake Town had better not come forward and let Thranduil of the Woodland Kingdom negotiate everything.
Whether it is to demand compensation or to share the treasure in the mountain, there is no need for humans to be at odds with the dwarves. Maybe the king under the mountain will take the initiative to surrender when he sees such a powerful army.
Perhaps frightened by the elves' calm military appearance with a hint of murderous intent, these humans in Chang Lake Town finally calmed down and felt that what Bard said was reasonable.
Under the leadership of Bard, they gathered together and waited for the large army of elves.
Soon, a proud elf riding a white horse ran over first, holding the king's flag of the Woodland Kingdom. "Humans, who among you is the leader?" He shouted: "The Elf King Thranduil will invite the human leaders of Lake Town to talk."
Because the mayor did not want to take the risk of angering the dwarves, he thought it was too dangerous and unwise to do so. He would rather stay in the inn at Changhu Lake and endure the poor food and hard beds there than run away in the cold weather. Go out into the wild and ask for trouble.
So the leader of the group turned out to be Alfred.
However, the flatterer Alfred did not dare to play his tricks in front of the Elf King, so in the end, only Bard went to the elves' central army to meet Thranduil, the king of the Woodland Kingdom.
"Are you the leader of this group of fishermen? Did you also go to the Lonely Mountain to settle accounts with the dwarves?" The Elf King rode an elk, with huge antlers growing windingly and imposingly. In addition, Thranduil wore a silver forehead crown and a set of exquisite silver and black armor. The cloak hung behind him and he had a cold sword on his waist, which made him look murderous.
The Elf King looked the black-haired human up and down, and said with a hint of arrogance and a bit of disdain: "Perhaps you will find that funding those greedy and stubborn dwarves is not a long-term, fortunate business."
Facing the Elf King's questioning, Bard first stroked his chest and saluted, and then said in a neither humble nor condescending manner: "We can't compare with the rich Elf King. When we supported those wet and lonely dwarves, we didn't think so much about it. , just out of compassion for the poor. Now that justice has been served and the dwarves have returned to their homeland, we only hope that the king in the mountain can fulfill his promise."
Thranduil was slightly surprised by his neither humble nor arrogant attitude. He took a deep look at this gloomy but powerful human being, nodded, and his expression softened a lot.
He said: "In that case, let's come together. It just so happens that I also want to talk to that self-righteous dwarf king about something!"
Bud raised his head and asked very sharply: "In a violent way?"
Thranduil's handsome face showed a hair-raising sneer: "If the dwarves are unwilling to be reasonable, then yes!"
When Bard returned to the crowd, many people asked him: "What did the king of the forest elves say?"
But Bud remained sullen and said nothing.
It wasn't until he was asked urgently that he sighed and said: "Gold, gold, how many kings and heroes have you made to grovel because of this? How many originally wise people have you made ignorant? Even the noble firstborn children are not immune! I I say this because I also participated in this pitiful farce! It was I who brought the dwarves to Lake Town, and it was I who started the innocent people's journey to death! I hope we can still watch it in the final ending Sunrise to Esgaroth!”
After hearing his nagging tragic prophecies, many people thought that he was sick again.
"The crow's mouth has never said a kind word to us!" Alfred, the flatterer, showed off his lips wantonly in the crowd: "If the elves are willing to lead the dwarves in the other mountain, we can just beg for leftovers from behind! Anyway, there are mountains of gold in the mountains, and it’s impossible for the elves to take advantage of them all!”
Many people were bewitched by him again at this time, and the desire for gold and silver was once again ignited in their hearts, thinking of the ancient prophecy.
Gold flows in the river!
Silver gushes out like a fountain!
Everyone is rich and dignified, and no longer has to endure poverty and suffering.
So, this group of people no longer hesitated, followed the elves, and continued towards the lonely mountain.
It was only later that Legolas discovered that the Woodland Kingdom was also involved in the siege of the dwarves. He was very surprised and stopped the Elf King's team.
He looked at the elves around him and his father with a solemn expression.
Question: "I asked Tauriel to go back and warn you, father, didn't you receive it?"
Thranduil was very happy to see his son here. However, he did not show it, but said reservedly: "You must have a clearer understanding of the stupidity of dwarves this time! Now, come back to me and see how I teach these arrogant and stubborn dwarves."
"But father, the orcs are about to attack!" Legolas couldn't help but raise his voice a little, "I saw the orcs of Gundaba in the north heading south in large numbers, and the leader was Bolg, the son of Azog. We don’t have time to find out who is right and who is wrong!”
Thranduil's expression changed.
He stared at Legolas seriously, and then called one of his men in: "Send out sentry riders to carefully search the north and the direction of the Great Green Forest to make sure there are no enemies!"
The Silvan elf immediately retreated.
Thranduil then carefully asked the Elf Prince some things about the enemy, and estimated the distance of both parties. When he was sure that he was faster than the opponent for about three days, Thranduil showed a trace of hesitation on his handsome face.
"I will give the dwarf a last chance. If Thorin is willing to hand over the treasures of our country and pay a corresponding reward, I will save his life!" The Elf King said: "If he is still so stubborn and arrogant, then let He is guarding the treasure in the mountain waiting to be eaten alive by the orcs."
Legolas couldn't help but said: "If we want to save us, we should send as many soldiers as possible; if we don't save, then we should retreat as soon as possible. Hesitation will only make us suffer more losses. "
But Thranduil obviously had his own ideas. He rejected Legolas's suggestion and insisted on letting the army continue to the Lonely Mountain.
However, before that, the Elf King kindly informed the humans of Changhu Town about the news, hoping that these people would decide their own destiny.
Looking at the elf going away.
The human reaction in Changhu Town was extremely violent.
Alfred was scared, but at the same time greed gripped his heart like a poisonous snake. He hissed and shouted, saying that this was just a conspiracy of the elves. They wanted to monopolize the treasure in the mountains, so they used orcs to terrorize Changhu Town. people.
"Think about it, if there are orcs, why do the elves dare to march towards the Lonely Mountain! The Elf King doesn't want anyone to share the gold in the mountain with him, so he uses this lame reason to coax us! Let us move on, gold and silver are close It’s so close! Are you willing to just leave empty-handed?”
But Bud really didn't want to leave this time.
He called on people to follow him back.
He said: "The treasure is certainly exciting, but aren't your lives a hundred times more valuable than these cold and inedible things? Let the elves and dwarves fight. Maybe the orcs will kill them all, leaving them alone. Cruelly dumping the corpse in this cold mountain, letting the carrion birds and wild wolves eat all the corpses! Is this what you want?"
Hearing his horrific description, many people in the crowd were indeed frightened.
The shadow of the orcs looms over everyone.
Some people decided to listen to Bud's call and turn around and go back.
But at the same time, there are also some people who are unwilling to give up and still want to move forward.
Looking at this group of people, Bud said sadly: "If this is your decision, then so be it! I still have three children to raise in my family, and they can't lose their father now! I will pray for you, and hope that... I can see you at the Lake Market!"
Alfred was scared and anxious, and he did not allow Bud to lead people back to Lake Town. And I pretended that I was the mayor's assistant and my orders were the mayor's orders.
But Bard pushed him away unceremoniously and said: "If you are really so powerful, then you can face the orcs, elves and dwarves yourself. I hope you can be so brave by then."
As he spoke, he led those people who were willing to go back with him and embarked on the journey home.
Seeing this group of people leaving, more people became afraid.
So another group of people decided to return.
In the end, only about a hundred people were left standing shivering in the cold wind. Blinded by gold and greed, they rushed to death.
Led by the toady Alfred, they followed the elves hesitantly and greedily, looking forward to the extravagant hope they never had.
That night, Thranduil's troops set up camp in the ruins of Riverdale.
Thorin and the others immediately saw the light of the fire, and laughter and singing echoed from the rock wall. This was something they had not done for a long time.
There were also elves' harps and sweet music mixed in. When these beautiful music floated to them, it seemed that the cold air was warming up, and they could vaguely smell the fragrance of the flowers blooming in the forest in the spring.
So, the dwarves also took out harps and musical instruments found in the treasure mountain, and used music to soothe Thorin's mood. But the song they sang was not an elven song, but more like the song they sang long ago in Bilbo's hobbit hole.
The king finally returned home, under the dark and high lonely mountain.
His enemy is dead, the terrible dragon,
Whoever is against him will also fall.
The sword is sharp, the spear is long, the arrows are swift, the gates are strong;
Seek gold with courage; the dwarves will no longer be bullied.
The dwarves of the past chanted powerful spells,
Accompanied by the jingle music played by the hammer,
Dark creatures sleep in the depths,
The cavity under the rock is unknown how deep it is.
On a silver necklace they strung a string of stars,
Blooming as beautifully as flowers,
On their crowns they adorned with dragon's flames,
The harp plays a clear sound among the twisted lines.
The throne of the mountain is freed from its cruel king!
Oh, compatriots in the diaspora, the trumpet of summons has sounded!
Come on! Come on! Beyond the wilderness! A king needs friends and people to help him.
We call, over the icy mountains,
Come back to the ancient cave! The king was waiting at the gate, his hands full of jewels and money.
The king finally returned home, under the dark and high lonely mountain.
The terrible dragon has been slain, and whoever continues to be our enemy will also fall!
This song seemed to be of great benefit to Thorin. A smile appeared on his face again and he felt better. He began to calculate the distance to the Iron Hills. If Dain set off as soon as he received the news, he didn't know how long it would take to reach the Lonely Mountain.
But Bilbo's mood became more and more depressed. The songs people sang and the words they said made him feel that a war was imminent.
Early the next morning, a group of soldiers with spears crossed the river and walked up the valley. Holding the green flag of the Elf King and the blue flag of Long Lake, they walked all the way to the high wall and stood still.
Not to be outdone, Thorin shot an arrow directly at the feet of these people, as if to say, if they take one step forward, their heads will be separated. He said loudly: "Who is here? Why are you fully armed and coming to the door of Thrain's son Thorin, the king under the mountain, with the intention of starting a war?"
Naturally, the Elf King walked out of the queue proudly, and the flatterer Alfred looked frightened and followed him timidly.
Thranduil shouted to him: "Thorin Oakenshield! We all know why you and I are here! I give you one last chance. The Orcs are about to attack. Hand over the treasures of our country, and then rebuild the alliance." Treaty, the elves will help you guard your mountain! Otherwise, you and your people will be wiped out and nothing will be left! Let’s see if your gold and silver treasures can still fill you with joy! Greed! Stingy!”
This made Thorin furious.
He cursed loudly, "Bandit! Thief! Damn Elf King, what is the difference between you and those despicable and shameless path-cutting thieves? They are all taking advantage of the situation! Every treasure in the mountain belongs to us dwarves, I will never I won’t let even a single gold coin fall into the hands of robbers like you!”
"Yours?" Thranduil was also very angry, with murderous intent on his handsome face: "Didn't we ask you to forge the necklace that belonged to the elves, and then you ignored it? Isn't it from Changhu Town? Humans have helped you when you were hungry and cold, and in return, you promised to share the treasures of the mountains with them! Sons of Thrain, you dwarves have no faith except for being disgustingly greedy and arrogant! So far, You have only brought destruction to them and sorrow to the earth, what other good things have you done?”
Even though the words are a bit arrogant and harsh, judging from these words alone, they are somewhat reasonable.
And Bilbo felt that if they could spend a little money, they could let the elves help them defend the city. This would of course be a great deal. After all, there were so many treasures in the mountains, and it wouldn't matter if they had less.
But Bilbo ignored the seductive power of the gold that had been entrenched by the evil dragon for a long time, and did not take into account the hearts of the dwarves.
In the past few days, Thorin had been exposed to the treasure for a long time, so the treasure aroused a strong desire in his heart. Although he was primarily looking for the Arkenstone, he was aware of the many other goodies lying there, all of which brought back painful memories of the sacrifices his people had made.
Sure enough, when faced with the Elf King's questioning, Thorin became even more angry. His face was livid, his stubby fingers clenched the small bow in his hand, and his eyes flashed with astonishing anger: "No one is qualified to share the treasures of my people. We will give you generous rewards at the appropriate time for the materials and assistance that the people of Changhu Town have given us. However, under the threat of force, we will not give anything, not even the money for a piece of bread! Because this is shameless Robbery! Enemies! And thieves!”
"And you! The hypocritical and arrogant king of the Woodland Kingdom! I said, even if the world is destroyed, I will never believe a word of yours again! Want our treasure? Yes, step over our corpses!"
"very good!"
The Elf King also said with a dark face: "If this is your final answer, I hope you won't regret it!"
As he spoke, he waved his hand, and rows of elves drew their bows and arrows in unison, and all the cold arrows were aimed at the dwarves on the high wall.
The members of the adventuring party, including Bilbo, shrank behind the city wall in fear.
But the next moment, the Elf King asked his elves to withdraw their crossbows, turn around and leave.
"Thorin Oakenshield, this is what I say. Since you have rejected my kindness again and again, then just wait until you are all dead and I will come and collect the corpses! A hundred years is not enough for the elves. At the snap of a finger, I can wait!”
