save the bachelors

Chapter 5042 [Skin-changer Beorn]

"Azog the Blasphemer?! Did you really kill it?" When Beorn saw the familiar face of Azog, his eyes widened with shock, hatred, anger and ecstasy.

"I declare that you are now my most respected guests. Please come to my home and let me entertain you well." Beorn immediately extended the invitation.

Everyone looked at Thorin.

Thorin nodded.

He was not afraid of Beorn's tricks, and even if he really had evil intentions, he believed they could handle it.

Then the dwarves came to Beorn's house.

Beorn's home was very cozy. On the lawn in front of the door, dozens of beautiful ponies were playing and eating grass. Fat pigs were grunting in the trough, and strong cattle were chewing grass in the pen. In addition, there were chickens, ducks, and flying bees.

It can be said that this is a very nice home, warm and comfortable.

The dwarves were then invited to the dining room, where there was a huge dining table large enough to seat everyone.

Beorn prepared delicious milk, oatmeal, honey and jam for everyone.

"My people were the first to live in the mountains until the orcs came from the north. The Defiler killed most of my family, and some became his slaves, not to work for him, but for his entertainment." Beorn explained why he was arrogant at first but then respectful. "It was a pleasure for him to lock up the skinchangers and torture them."

"So you, like us, have a deep hatred for it." Thorin nodded.

"You are Thorin Oakenshield. I have heard of your great name and I am willing to help you." Beorn looked at Thorin with admiration again. He admired him for defeating the blasphemer Azog and cutting off his head.

"Thank you." Thorin nodded.

……

After a hearty breakfast, Thorin and his companions prepared to set off again.

"You are going through Mirkwood? That is not a good idea," Beorn told the others. "Darkness hangs over that forest, and rot is rampant in it. I will not venture through it unless I have to."

"We will take the Elven Road, which is a safer way," Gandalf explained.

The Elven Avenue is a road built by the Elven Kingdom before, running through the Mirkwood, and is also known as the "Old Mirkwood Road". Later, as the territory of the Elven Kingdom shrank, the road fell into disrepair.

But all in all, it was better to follow that path than to wander about in the dark forest.

"Safe?!" Beorn shook his head. "The elves in Mirkwood are different from their other kind. They are not as wise and more dangerous. Of course, this is not important, because there are even greater dangers hidden in the forest."

"What do you mean?" Gandalf asked curiously.

"That area is full of orcs. Orcs from Moria have formed an alliance with the necromancers entrenched in Dol Guldur. Many orcs are gathering there, and their numbers are increasing day by day," Beorn explained.

"Are you sure?!" Gandalf was shocked. "Do you know who the necromancer is?"

He had been worried about the necromancer in Dol Guldur before, and it turned out to be not as simple as it sounded. There was indeed something else going on.

"That necromancer is not as simple as we imagined." Beorn said solemnly, "Filthy and evil things will be attracted to him, and Azog the Blasphemer is loyal to him.

And not long ago, I heard rumors that the undead were seen wandering the mountains of Lugol."

"Undead?!" Gandalf was even more surprised and thought of the sword of the Morgul.

"Are there tombs in those mountains?" Beorn asked curiously. "The Witch King of Angmar, the leader of the Ringwraiths and Sauron's second-in-command." Gandalf nodded, "The Men of the North sealed his body and belongings in the mountains of Rhudaur. They buried him deep under the stone, and the tomb is dark and will never see the light of day."

"I remember that there was an evil force that ruled this land, and his power could bring the dead back to life." Beorn said worriedly, "If that enemy returns to Middle-earth, I hope you will tell me."

"The white wizard Saruman says this is impossible. The great enemy has been destroyed and it is impossible for him to come back." Gandalf waved his hands, still refusing to acknowledge this fact.

"What about the Grey Wizard?" Beorn looked at Gandalf and asked.

Gandalf looked solemn and speechless.

……

"Gandalf, it's time for us to get on the road." Thorin urged at this time.

They had to reach Mirkwood before dark.

"Well, mount my horses and go. When we reach the edge of the wood, let go of the reins and they will come back on their own," Beorn explained.

"Thank you." The dwarves then mounted their horses and headed for Mirkwood.

With the help of horses, they arrived at Mirkwood at noon and came to the elven gate at the entrance.

Looking inside through the elf gate, I saw that the trees inside looked very weird.

The tree trunks were twisted and deformed, the bark was black and dry, and the leaves blocked the sunlight, making the dark and dense forest pitch black, as if it was shrouded in thick fog.

"I don't like this forest. It seems sick." Bilbo shuddered and felt that the forest was strange and weird. "Do we have to go through this forest?"

"Yes." Gandalf nodded. "Otherwise, we would have to go the other way from the south or north, which would add at least two hundred miles to our journey."

"Well, we are on our way," said Thorin. "Loosen the reins."

"Can't we keep these horses? They are very helpful to us." Bofur said reluctantly.

They could move faster through Mirkwood if they rode on horseback.

"No, we have already promised them. If we go back on our word, it will ruin the reputation of us dwarves." Xiang Nan advised.

When everyone heard this, they nodded and then loosened the reins of their horses.

Sure enough, the ponies all ran back to their homes happily.

At this moment, a figure flashed by in the distance. It was Beorn.

It turned out that he was worried that the dwarves would go back on their word and refuse to return his pony, so he had been following behind.

Xiang Nan waved at him, then took the lead and entered the dark forest. "Everyone follow me. I have learned a new spell that can point the way and show us the direction to go."

Others followed.

"Gandalf, aren't you coming?" At this time, Bilbo, who was left at the end, saw that Gandalf did not catch up, and asked in confusion.

"Believe me, I would not abandon you if it were not for special reasons." Gandalf nodded. He was going to the Mountains of Lugal to see whether the tomb of the Witch-king of Angmar was intact.

To confirm what kind of existence the Necromancer of Dol Guldur is. These two things are more important than going to Lonely Mountain with the dwarves, so he had to leave this team.