"Bilbo." Frodo shouted happily, and his already happy mood became even higher. He stepped forward quickly and couldn't help but want to hug him.
"Ah, let's see who this is." Bilbo turned around, a smile on his old face: "Dear Frodo, my wonderful boy, I am very happy to see that you have finally recovered. I I heard that this whole party is just for you. I hope you have a great time."
Frodo could see that Bilbo was really old, just like those old people who were dying of old age. The years had almost drained away all their vitality, as if there was only an empty body left.
"Why didn't you go?" Frodo said with some choking. He took the respectable old man's skinny hand and rubbed it gently: "You know, I miss you very much."
The hobbit who once faced a dragon, escaped from an orc town, fought a giant spider, and was a guest of the Elf King and was warmly entertained by Thranduil said with a smile: "Me too. I miss you so much, but I've had a good look at you while you were sleeping. Sam and I sit by your bedside every day. As for parties, I don't go to those events very much now. Besides, I have other Things to do.”
"whats the matter?"
"Hullum. Hulmu." A thick voice with a strange tone sounded from above the two of them: "Well, you are the legendary hobbit. Just like Bilbo. Hello, Frodo. Hmm, is that the name? Please forgive me, we don’t often use human language, I hope it’s spelled correctly.”
Only then did Frodo realize that above them, outside the window, stood a huge (at least fourteen feet tall, and very strong)... tree. A... tree with an extremely bizarre face.
"Ah, you...I..." Frodo was almost speechless as Treebeard's deep, green-gleaming brown eyes looked at him slowly, seriously, but very penetratingly. . He suddenly remembered the riddle that Gandalf had played before, and Sam's excitement. He took a deep breath and said calmly: "Hello, hello, sir. Frodo Baggins is at your service." .”
The elf and Sam all laughed.
"I said he would be surprised." Pippin said: "The moving trees in the Shire legend are true, Frodo. They are tree people, the shepherds of the trees. But they call themselves Ents."
"He is Treebeard, the King of Fangorn Forest." Bilbo said with a smile: "He has many stories that have existed since ancient times, and I have been chatting with him about these stories."
"Do you remember what I told you?" Gandalf came over and whispered to him: "He initiated this meeting."
"Tonight is a time to get together. Let's leave the heavy things until tomorrow. Now, let's sit down and enjoy the music and stories." Turka came over and nodded to Treebeard. Then he looked around: "Too many of us are burdened with sorrow, which makes it difficult for everyone to see the way forward. Now, in Lord Elrond's house, we can unload those burdens and take a good rest. .”
In Frodo's surprised eyes, Treebeard actually bent his straight trunk and saluted the supreme king, "Humu. The tree people have waited long enough. Wait one more night, and Nothing unforgivable. As you wish, King of the North."
Bilbo also said: "Well said, I have been writing poetry these years, and I can't wait to ask the elf to help me find out what it is like."
Elrond laughed: "Then we will see in a moment."
So, everyone found their own seats and sat down. The elven bard began to play sweet music. Gradually the hall filled, and Frodo looked with pleasure at the gathering of so many beautiful faces, with the golden firelight swaying in their faces and twinkling in their hair.
Frodo sat down next to Bilbo, and Sam soon came and sat near them. They talked softly, ignoring the laughter and music in the hall around them.
Bilbo said that after he left Annuminas, he wandered aimlessly along the road and the countryside on both sides, but somehow always in the direction of Rivendell.
He said, "After resting for a while, I followed the dwarves to Erebor: that was my last journey. I saw Thorin again at the Lonely Mountain. He was also very old. Fili, as the royal family of Turin The heir has begun to prepare to ascend the throne; Kili and the others are doing well; but the war continues, and the dwarves' life begins to become difficult, but they can still persist. Then I came back here and stayed here."
"A few times I thought about going back to Hobbiton, but I'm old and they won't let me go. I mean Gandalf and Elrond. Gandalf said: 'Bilbo, you have given the Ring to Out. If you plan to interfere again, it will not be good for you or others.'. Moreover, Lord Turka also thinks that it is better for me to stay in Rivendell. Time seems to stand still here. Staying here can make me Keep your head clear. That's what he said."
As he spoke, he stopped, hesitated for a long time, and finally couldn't help but look at Frodo intently.
"Are you wearing it now?" he asked quietly. "I mean: that ring! I really want to see it again, just look at it."
"Yes, I have it with me," answered Frodo, feeling unhappy for some reason. "It has always been the same. It has not changed at all."
"Well, I just wanted to see it again," said Bilbo.
At this time, the music changed, becoming more melodious and carefree, as if someone was murmuring sadly.
When Frodo got up to change his clothes, he found that someone had replaced the Lord of the Rings with a new chain that was light and strong, and hung it around his neck while he was sleeping. At this point he slowly pulled it out.
Then, many people, I mean - Turka, Elrond, Gandalf, Lord Goldenflower, Arwen, the Dragonborn twins, and Aragorn almost all looked over.
Treebeard also noticed it because he was close.
Although there was a shadow between them, they all saw the ring. The eyes of Aratu and Nolatu immediately lit up. They looked at the golden ring slightly absent-mindedly, the music and singing surrounding them seemed to fade away, and their eyes only saw the ring with incredible magic power;
Aragorn's expression became even more bitter, and a trace of struggle flashed in his eyes;
Elrond, Lord Goldenflower, and Gandalf all frowned, with a hint of disgust and a hint of fear;
Treebeard made some kind of dull hum.
At this time, Turka suddenly spoke up. He said: "I don't like this song very much. It's too sad. Let's change it to another one." At that time, his voice was like a bell and drum, beating heavily in everyone's hearts. It brought the attention of the twins and Aragorn back.
At this moment, Bilbo stretched out his hand, as if he wanted to grab the ring, but was awakened by the silver king's voice full of magic, and Frodo quickly took back the ring. He was shocked and painful to find that it was no longer Bilbo in front of him - a shadow seemed to be cast between the two, and through the shadow, he found that he was looking at a thin little guy with dense wrinkles, a hungry look on his face, and a curious look on his face. He stretched out a pair of bony hands and groped around. He had an urge to beat the other person up.
Bilbo quickly looked at Frodo's face and raised his hands to cover his eyes. I'm sorry..." he said, "I'm so sorry that you've been burdened with this, Frodo, I'm sorry for all of it. "
Frodo hid the Ring, and the shadow between them disappeared, leaving almost no trace. The light and music of the glen surrounded them again.
The others also twisted their bodies uneasily, as if they wanted to get rid of the ominous shadow. But more elves and dwarves didn't understand what was happening.
At this time, the beautiful Arwen stood up and said: "Then, let me sing a song for everyone. I hope the starlight of Elberis will always shine on you, friends of the elves."
May the stars twinkle in the night sky
Endless starlight guides you on your journey
May the curtain of darkness fall here
Keep evil things away from your holy heart
The journey is lonely, you go alone
Oh - you're so far away from home
Morni?utúli?
Believe in your creed
Morni? alanti?
But you never forget the promise in your heart
May the evil shadow call
Just fell down
May your long journey
Light up the starry sky
When the night is conquered by you
You will rise under the sun
At first, Frodo could not understand the elegant Elvish lyrics, but the Elf Princess's singing was so beautiful that as soon as she opened her mouth, everyone was deeply fascinated by it. Frodo seemed to see wisps of starlight piercing the darkness and falling on the earth. The elf princess standing in the center of the starlight seemed as if Varda had come to the world, beautiful and holy.
Gradually, the gloom in everyone's hearts disappeared in this beautiful melody, and smiles and joy appeared on their faces again.
Finally, Arwen's last word fell, and everyone couldn't help but burst into applause.
Even Turka couldn't help but say: "Among all the songs of the elves in this land, Undómiel's voice is the most fascinating. The name of Evening Star is worthy of its name."
"Do it again." Nolatu clapped his hands desperately, not jumping like an elf. Aratu also smiled and supported his brother's proposal.
Apparently, they loved this beautiful godmother. Because since their nana left Middle Earth and returned to the home of all elves. At that time, it was Princess Dusk Star who had been taking care of them.
Ah, yes. Many years ago, when Turka was suffering from not knowing how to raise the young twins alone, the princess volunteered to come to Annuminas, taking over the role of their mother and taking care of the young twins.
We don't know whether this is just out of the elves' love for their young relatives, or for some other reason. But it is precisely because of this beautiful Princess Evening Star that the two little guys grew up happily and healthily.
Because this princess gave the twins the most tender love except their mother, she cared for them to grow up. Always gently explain to them that their mother is only temporarily separated from them, and one day, they will meet again.
This deeply moved the twins, who had just lost their mother at that time.
It can be said that the twins received a lot of love as they grew up. Apart from their father, the closest people to the twins were Arwen and Bilbo.
Even Cirdan of Gray Harbor ranks behind them.
Perhaps Elrond had foreseen this scene and told the messenger who came to report that his relatives would have a relationship with the new king.
Faced with such a beautiful singing voice, Bilbo also said: "Compared with the elves, my poetry is indeed just mediocre! It seems that there is no room for me to perform next."
The elves and dwarves laughed.
Even Aragorn, who had not spoken for a long time, could not help but chant: A Elbereth Gilthoniel,
silivren penna míriel
o menel aglar elenath!
Na-chaered palan-díriel
o galadhremmin ennorath,
Fanuilos, le linnathon
nef aear, sí nef aearon!
Only later did Frodo learn that this was a poem praising Elberith (or Gilthoniel), Queen of the Stars. It has been recited by the Dúnedain and Elves ever since.
The general idea is: Ah, Elberis! Gilsoniel!
Clear and crystal clear, the stars are shining
The flow is like the brilliance of a diamond!
On the densely forested Middle Continent, we look up from afar!
Behind the ever-white stars, I will sing your praises,
On this side of the ocean, on this side of the sea of isolation.
It was also at this time that Boromir and Faramir began to have doubts about Aragorn's identity. They looked at each other, looking at Aragorn with both curiosity and doubt.
However, Arwen, who was praised by everyone, seemed very humble. She said: "As far as I know, Master Turka's singing voice is not inferior to that of the elves. But it is a sad song, and reciting it here goes against the rules tonight." A joyful atmosphere.”
At that time, Turka just looked at everyone with a smile, neither denying nor saying yes. The firelight illuminated his face like the summer sun on the trees.
The twins who had witnessed what happened that day are now able to accept the sadness. They said: "My father rarely sings, why not..."
Then he received Turka's "ferocious" look.
Everyone laughed again, tonight was indeed a happy day. Laughter and wonderful music always sounded from time to time, and with the bright firelight and the clear and bright moonlight, it became an eternal memory for almost everyone who participated that night.
Gandalf laughed and said: "This is indeed a good suggestion. We have listened to many beautiful elven songs tonight, but Lord Turka's has never been heard. I have to say, this is very regrettable."
Bilbo even imitated the dwarves in clapping and stamping his feet and said: "Master Turka, come on, come on, let me open my eyes too, you know, maybe the days when I can hear your singing are not many."
"Bilbo, that's a foul thing for you to say," Turka sighed.
However, everyone's enthusiasm became even greater.
In the end, even Elrond and Glorfindel smiled and said, "Maybe you shouldn't refuse. As you said, tonight is a day for gathering, let us enjoy the joy of this moment."
"Hum." Treebeard was awakened. He shook his long beard, and a smile appeared in his brown eyes: "Ah, I seem to hear that the silver king wants to show off his singing voice? Well, maybe I should listen."
have no choice. Turka could only say softly under the light of the fire, surrounded by the breeze and starlight: "Then, let me use a lullaby to wish everyone a good dream. We have an extremely important meeting tomorrow. It’s going on.”
When the cold of winter comes
A starless night will obscure the day
in the veil of the sun
We will move forward in the bitter rain
but in dream
I can still hear your name
And in a dream
we will meet again
When the sea and the mountains disintegrate
We will come to the end of time
In the dark I heard a call
call me there
i will go there
Then return.
