Dragonborn from Lord of the Rings

Chapter 98 Loyalty and Betrayal

The hobbit's bravery and loyalty didn't get a good response at first.

Because in the dark, magnificent hall of the dwarf king, Thorin ordered everyone to find the Arkensilver, and asked them to search every corner.

"That is the supreme treasure handed down from my father. It is worth more than a whole river of gold." He said, "If anyone finds the gem and accepts it himself, I will definitely have a disagreement with him."

Bilbo began to be afraid when he heard these words, for the gem was in his pocket.

He longed to take the gem out and return it to Thorin.

But he remembered that Smaug had said before that all the treasures here were cursed by it, and whoever dared to steal and possess them would be tortured until he fell into madness.

So at that time, the hobbit was completely out of concern for his friends and fear of the unknown—he wasn't sure if Smaug's words were true, and he didn't want Thorin to be hurt because of it. When the king or wizard came back, they confirmed that there was no so-called curse on it, and it would not be too late to hand it over to Thorin.

But he forgot that this gem is too important to the dwarves, so important that he was a little unbalanced by the treasure in the mountain. Sorin, who is sensitive and manic, almost doesn't know the reason, regardless of the danger, and would rather stay and fight with the orcs. Also find this Arkon Gem.

He hesitated and struggled for a moment, but in the end he didn't tell the fact that the Arken gem was with him.

However, Bilbo instinctively felt that he had picked up a hot potato, and he kept praying in his heart, hoping that the Silver King could quickly defeat the dragon Smaug and come back before things became more and more uncontrollable.

"I shouldn't have picked it up." Sitting in a dark tunnel, Bilbo thought sadly. "Do I really have the talent for snitches?"

He stroked the magic ring with one hand, and stroked the bright gemstone that seemed to be wrapped in moonlight and contained countless starlight with the other.

The others were examining the caverns and caverns carefully, and found that only the main door remained open; all the others had been either broken or barred by Smaug long ago, and not a trace remained.

Except for the secret door, of course.

Efforts were therefore begun to strengthen the fortifications of the main entrance and to rebuild a road leading from the underground palace to the outside.Although Thorin verbally said that he didn't believe in the elf prince, he still sent the youngest and best-eyed Kili to the watchtower on Raven Ridge to observe the situation, while ordering people to repair various fortifications.

At the same time, I still have to look for Aken gems, and I am too busy.

And Bilbo was sent to look for the Arken gem because he had no experience in fortifications, but he didn't know that it was similar to letting the monkey guard the peach garden.

Bilbo rummaged through the mountains of gold and jewels for a while, then sat down absent-mindedly, thinking.

He thought now of his home in Bag End, now of talking to the dragon, now of their hide-and-seek with Smaug in the hills, now of the silver king's shooting star.

"I hope all this is just a dream. After waking up, I will still be in my warm and pleasant home in Shire." Before he knew it, the exhausted hobbit leaned against the cold stone steps and fell asleep in a daze.

Suddenly, I don't know how long it has passed.

Bilbo was awakened by the sound of footsteps. He subconsciously stuffed the gem in his hand into the rag bag he used to cushion his head, and stuffed the magic ring into his pocket.

Then he saw our dwarf king coming round the corner of the passage.He was wearing a gold-encrusted armor, a ruby-studded ax on his waist, and a golden crown on his head. He really looked like a king.

"You are here!"

Since entering this pitch-black mountain, Sorin, whose expression has become more gloomy and manic, showed a long-lost smile. "Mr. Baggins!" he cried, "come, take off your old clothes and put on this!"

So saying, he put on Bilbo a little chain mail, made of silver steel, which the Elves call mithril, and with it a belt of pearls and crystals.

The little mail armor was half too big and almost fit, which made Thorin look very happy.

He said.

"Though the ears of the dwarves are not as sharp as those of the elves, I have not forgotten what you said at the gate, my friend. You did not tell us in the Trollwood; Come to us; You fought valiantly in Mirkwood; You helped us escape in Thranduil's palace; You were the first to find the secret door when we were all about to give up; Facing the dragon's fire, You haven't backed down either! Bilbo Baggins, the dwarves are rude and stubborn, but not completely unreasonable, and I appreciate all you do and appreciate your loyalty! I take back what I said at Bag End, you ain't A grocer, you are a man of admiration! Maybe not a fighter, but yes, you are a worthy friend! So please accept this gift from me! May our friendship last forever!"

That was nearly the longest that Thorin had ever heard Bilbo say.

Moreover, the dwarf king's evaluation of him has changed from his disdain when he was in Shire to his respect and admiration now. It has to be said that Bilbo is very moved and embarrassed.

"I think it's wonderful!" he said, "but I think it might be a little funny. You know, I've never worn armor, and it makes me look weird. I hope the hobbits of the Shire don't suffer from it." laugh at me."

Thorin looked at him with a smile, but didn't tell him that this shiny little chain mail alone would be enough to buy the entire Shire.

"Wearing it will make you invulnerable." Thorin said, "I hope this armor will protect you in the next battle."

This made the shadow that had been diluted by joy and shyness surge up again.

Bilbo opened his mouth to persuade our dwarf king, but was interrupted by Thorin's next sentence. "Besides, I now know that a true friend is hard to change!"

"What do you mean?" Bilbo's heart skipped a beat.

"I have been betrayed." Thorin Oakenshield, who was sunny one second, became gloomy and fierce the next second: "Someone among the dwarves must have hidden the gem of Arkon! I am sure of that! They are all me According to the law, they also have the right to inherit the throne! If any of them find gems on purpose and don’t turn them in, I can fully understand and curse them! Like the Ring of Thorol, the Heart of the Mountain is a symbol of royal power, Owning it, you have the right to inherit the endless treasures and the kingdom below the mountain! The dwarves will not ignore this! This is our nature! No one can disobey it!"

Bilbo was startled by his look, and listened to what he was saying.

He would rather curse his kin than believe that they would find the Arkon Stone and turn it in.This is a huge contrast to the boastful admiration of the hobbit's loyalty one second, and the suspicion of the compatriots who accompanied him all the way down the next second.

"Sorin..."

"But I believe that you are definitely not such a person." Thorin said to himself, and suddenly laughed again, "Bilbo Baggins, although you are a snitch, I know that you are actually an honest man. Good man, if you find the gem, you will definitely give it to me! Do you think so?"

Bilbo opened his mouth and said, "Yes, I will."

　Thanks to blackjack for the 500 starting coins!
　　Thanks to the coolie, your integrity, blackjack, the monthly pass of the wind and the water.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)