"Thank you so much!"
Frodo sat in his seat in surprise and awkwardness, "Have you seen Bilbo?"
"Yes, he has been in Erebor a few years ago, a guest in the hometown of the dwarves. Didn't he tell you?" Gloin said.
"No." Frodo was very happy when he heard the news about his relatives: "Although I know that he has traveled far away, I don't know the specific itinerary. I only know that he went to see the mountains and the forest. He kept talking about this. But I didn't know that he actually went to the other side of Middle-earth again."
Gloin said with a smile: "The dwarves have always missed their old friends. His arrival has brought glory to the kingdom under the mountain. Thorin even held a month-long celebration for this. It was one of the few happy days for him recently. .”
This made Frodo even more curious, and he wanted to ask again, but then the party started.
They could only stop talking temporarily. The atmosphere at the dinner was cheerful and the food satisfied his hungry appetite. He ate for a long time before he raised his head and looked around again, and even turned to look at his neighbors.
He first looked for where his friends were. Sam had asked if he could serve his young master, but was told that he was also a distinguished guest this time. Frodo saw him sitting at the head of a small table beside the dais with Pippin and Merry.
"I heard that you had some very strange adventures," said Gloin. "I'm very curious as to what brought four hobbits on such a long journey. Ever since Bilbo set out with us. This kind of thing has never happened since we traveled far away. However, since Elrond and Gandalf don’t seem to be planning to discuss this matter, maybe I shouldn’t ask too much?”
"I think it would be inappropriate for us to talk about it, at least not yet," said Frodo politely. He guessed that even in the House of Elrond, the Lord of the Rings was not something to be discussed casually, and he wanted to forget his troubles for a while. "But I'm also curious," he added: "What makes a dwarf of such high status like you come all the way from the Lonely Mountain?"
Gloin looked at him: "This is a long story. I have a hunch that Lord Elrond will summon us all soon, and we will all hear many things by then. You can read it from beginning to end. Listen to it again."
So they talked together for the rest of the meal, but Frodo listened more than he talked; for, apart from the Ring, the news of the Shire seemed trivial, remote, and insignificant, while Gloin had many great things. There is much to be said for the Wild North.
Frodo learned that Old Grim Beorn, the son of Beorn, now commands many powerful humans, and their territory is located between the Misty Mountains and the Black Forest.
"To tell the truth," said Gloin, "if it hadn't been for Beorn's clan, there would have been no way to reach Rivendell from the Lonely Mountain. They are a brave people who always keep the High Pass and the ford of Cal Rock open. Let Those guys in the chariots can't completely control Rovanion. But the toll they charge is too high."
He shook his head and added: "And, like Beorn in the past, they don't like dwarves very much. However, they are quite reliable, which is good in today's world. Nowhere else can humans treat us as well as in Riverdale City." Humans are so friendly. Those people of the Bard clan, they are good people. Brand, son of Bain, son of Bard, the grandson of Bard the Archer, rules over them. He was a powerful king, and his The territory once extended far to the east and south of Esgaroth.”
"Once!" said Frodo sharply. "I can hear regret in your mouth. What happened?"
Gloin was silent for a moment, and then said: "Yes, once. Haven't you heard? The barbarians from the east and the chariot people launched a huge war. They attacked Long Lake Town and River Valley City. Brand Die in battle."
Frodo opened his mouth, startled and sad. "I'm sorry to hear such sad news," he said.
Gloin sighed and said nothing. After a while, he continued: "We supported them, but there were too many enemies, and Thorin could not protect them all. In the end, the human king died gloriously on their city gate without falling. The others all retreated into Erebor. It was at that time that Bilbo came to the Lonely Mountain."
Frodo kept opening and closing his mouth and breathing in, as if he was digesting the exciting news. After a long time, he asked: "How is he now? How is the dwarf?"
"There are good and bad. Whether it's Bilbo or us." Gloin said, "Bilbo, like me, has grown old, but compared to the dwarves, he has changed more. Maybe you will see this later. Arrive. And the dwarves of Gushan are protected by the strong gate of the kingdom below the mountain, so they are doing fine at this stage."
This did make Frodo very nervous at first, until he heard the venerable dwarf say that Bilbo was all right, and it seemed that he was back in Rivendell, Frodo was relieved.
But he was wondering why Bilbo would miss such a grand banquet. But at this stage, he couldn't ask more questions.
Maybe, as Gloin said, you'll find out soon.
Frodo thought absently.
Then, Gloin talked about various deeds of the dwarf kingdom for a long time. He was glad to find such an attentive audience, for although Frodo was quickly confused by the strange names of people and places he had never heard of, he neither showed signs of fatigue nor attempted to change the subject.
First, Thorin was still King under the Mountain, now older (over two hundred and seventy years old), still respected, and astonishingly wealthy.
Among the companions who survived the "Battle of the Five Armies", nine are still with him: Dwalin, Kilifili, Gloin, Dori, Nori, Bifur, Bofur, and Bomber. Bombur was now so fat that he could not move from the lounge chair to the chair in front of the dining table. Six young dwarfs had to lift him.
"And what became of Balin, Orell, and Oin?" asked Frodo.
Gloin looked at him in surprise. "You don't know?" he said: "Last time Master Turka helped the dwarves recover Khazad-dum, they were the ones who took the lead. Now Findin's lineage is exercising the authority of the Lord of Khazad-dum!"
Talking about the Dwarf Holy Land, Gloin's originally somewhat disappointed mood was revived. He kept telling Frodo about their hard work with Khazad-dûm under the Lonely Mountain.
"We're doing pretty well," he said, "but we can't surpass our fathers in metal craftsmanship, and many of our secret skills have been lost. We can make good armor and sharp swords, but they're only good. We can only mine. In terms of architecture and architecture, we are better than ever. Frodo, you should come and see the new halls and high arches of Khazad-dûm, carved like trees; and the terraces carved on the lonely mountain. The tower! You will know after seeing it, we are not idle."
"I would go and see it if I could," said Frodo.
And this is just the tip of the banquet.
On the high platform, Turka also kept saying something to Elrond, raising his head from time to time and scanning everyone's faces. When his sharp eyes fell on Frodo, there would always be a slight pause. However, when he saw the hobbit in the original book chatting happily with the dwarf, he smiled slightly and passed by.
Until he saw the silent Aragorn and the gentle and quiet Arwen, he frowned again.
He whispered something to the Lord of Rivendell, but Elrond just smiled and shook his head. So Turka could only shut up and never mention it again.
The daughter of Elrond, who was as beautiful as a ray of starlight, felt something. She raised her head and glanced at Turka and her father who were sitting there, but said nothing.
Aratu and Nolatu couldn't help but roll their eyes when they saw Princess Duixing, who was like their adoptive mother.
But because they had just gotten into trouble, they didn't dare to say anything in front of their father at this time. Moreover, their hearts are also very complex, so in the end they also choose to turn a blind eye.
Boromir and Faramir were quite surprised by this banquet, but they also had many things on their minds, so they ate in silence.
In addition, there were the elves of Legolas and Karasgarathon. They were also sitting in their seats, looking at everyone with smiles.
During this period, the wonderful music never stopped.
The quiet sound of the harp kept ringing from beginning to end, and smiles of joy and satisfaction filled the hall. Almost everyone who participated in the banquet said so.
This was one of the biggest dinner parties I have ever attended!
Finally, the dinner was over. Turka and Elrond stood up first and walked out of the hall, followed by everyone else. The doors suddenly opened, and they walked through a wide corridor, passed through several other doors, and entered another hall.
There was no table in the hall, but among the carved pillars lining both sides, there was a huge fireplace with a bright fire burning inside. Outside the west window, a tall figure stood in the courtyard, and some strange and dull sound kept coming from above. Bilbo was sitting by the window, talking to him.
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