The Lord of the Rings: Lords of Middle-earth.

Chapter 1104 Roland Returns
"That's settled then! Tomorrow's an auspicious day, the wedding's at noon! We'll send out the invitations in the morning! It's all set!" Thorin slammed the door shut before Bilbo and Anne could say anything, locking them inside the room...

“Don’t be afraid, Mr. Bilbo! Leave the guard to us tonight! You can rest easy!” Bard’s voice came from outside the door.

"Wait! This isn't right..." Bilbo rushed up and grabbed the door.

"Click!" The door clicked shut.

“…” Bilbo turned around awkwardly and gave Anne Boleyn a smile that looked more like a grimace.

"Hey! The door...the door's locked!" Bilbo said awkwardly.

“Bilbo…” Anne Boleyn looked up, her fingers tugging at the corner of her clothes, her gaze fiery and intense, as if a lion were hidden in her eyes…

“That’s not what I meant…” Bilbo Baggins said, at a loss for words.

“You are my hero!” Anne Boleyn said firmly, having endured an incredibly dark moment! The orcs that had stormed into the night, the excruciating pain, and the sight of Bilbo Baggins’ concerned gaze when she opened her eyes—all of this melted Anne Boleyn’s heart. And in Anne Boleyn’s eyes, Bilbo Baggins, with his few strands of white hair, suddenly appeared tall, imposing, and handsome!

If Roland were here, he would smile and tell them that this is the amazing psychological suspension bridge effect. The hero-saves-the-damsel tactic may be old-fashioned, but it will never go out of style and is simple and effective!
“I…I just did what I was supposed to do! I’m nothing like a hero…” Bilbo Baggins waved his hand, a hint of panic in his eyes. After all, it had been so many years since he had been in a room with a stranger of the opposite sex at such close range.

“I… it’s getting late, yes! It’s late, you should rest! Click!” Bilbo Baggins waved to Anne Boleyn while pushing hard against the door.

"..." Seeing the door that remained motionless and even retreated a few inches, Bilbo Baggins instantly realized that someone was blocking the door from behind.

“Bilbo! Forget it! I’ll sleep on the floor!” Anne Boleyn said, noticing the man’s embarrassment and awkwardness.

"Yes, yes, yes! I can sleep on the floor!" Seeing no hope of getting out, Bilbo frantically rummaged through the cupboard and pulled out a quilt, which he then haphazardly spread on the floor.

"Uh, goodnight!" Bilbo Baggins said before Anne Boleyn could even speak, and he crawled inside.

"If it's too bright, you can adjust the oil lamp! If you're afraid of the dark, you can also brighten it!" A few minutes later, a head suddenly popped out from the makeshift bed and spoke, then retreated back inside.

"Pfft!" Anne Boleyn laughed heartily.

"Understood, Mr. Baggins!" The girl nodded in agreement, and finally slowly walked to the bedside and lay down on the bed fully clothed.

……

"Roland! Are you alright!" Thranduil rushed out and grabbed Roland, asking anxiously.

"Your Majesty! My Majesty!" Marquis Al-Tegran Franz trembled as his hands searched Roland's body. He had only just learned that Roland had been shot!
"Heh! I've given you Feng Fei!" Roland said with a cold laugh to Thranduil.

"Are you crazy? You actually shot an arrow? You almost killed him! His lung was pierced! We weren't wearing armor!" Aragorn growled from the side. If that arrow had been aimed at him instead of Roland, the future King of Arno would probably be dead by now!
"Did it really hit?" Bard leaned closer.

“Of course! Thranduil’s finest son! Is it just talk that he never misses a shot? His Uncle Roland just risked his life to prove it!” Roland said with a dark face.

"Is everything alright now?" Thorin asked anxiously.

“It’s all cleaned up! He almost died! I don’t like men, my friend! And you! My lord Marquis!” Roland said helplessly, swatting away the hands of White Wing and Marquis Al-Tegran Franz who were groping his chest.

"Get lost! I was just checking if you were alright! I couldn't find any wounds, so it seems King Roland has some resources! The medicine is very good!" Bai Yi breathed a sigh of relief and said to the group of people in a few days.

"Where is Legolas? Is he in the house?" Roland turned his head and looked around.

“He went to clear out the orcs around!” Thranduil said apologetically. “I challenge you to a duel!” Marquis Al-Tegran Franz, now regaining his senses, drew his sword and pointed it at Thranduil, his eyes filled with rage.

“Never mind, Franz, I appreciate your loyalty, but this time it’s not his fault!” Roland shook his head and patted Marquis Al-Tegran Franz.

“But…” Al-Tegran Franz interrupted.

"No buts, a few scoldings are enough. In the end, it was everyone's oversight!" Roland comforted her.

"What's the deal with those orcs? And what about the two of you?" Bai Yi frowned.

"The orcs were just captured by Caslo from any tribe he randomly picked in the wasteland. They huddled together during the spring and winter... those who know, know. As for the two of us, we disguised ourselves as orcs using some secret techniques!" Roland said that it was too easy to capture orcs when they gathered together.

“No! The smell is wrong! That’s not the smell of a human!” Thorin shook his head.

"Then how did you know that it was me and King Roland?" Aragorn asked, puzzled. If you couldn't tell them apart, how did you recognize the two of them? After all, Aragorn had seen several people openly impersonating Bilbo.

“It’s simple! Franz told us you were to disguise yourselves as orcs tonight, and then you two just swaggered over. What orc would wink at a human?” Thorin told Aragorn about how Marquis Al-Tegran Franz had stopped them.

"How do you disguise your scent?" Thorin was completely baffled.

“Simple! He skinned the orcs and made us carry them with us!” Aragorn shrugged.

"..." Everyone looked at Roland. What a ruthless guy! He can still do that. No wonder it looked so natural! So he really did have a half-orc hanging on him!

"Alright, we'll talk about our business later! How's Bilbo doing?" Roland asked anxiously. He couldn't let himself have taken an arrow for nothing! It would be in everyone's best interest to resolve Bilbo's life's most important matter and then elect him as the lord of the Shire.

"How so?" Aragorn asked curiously.

“We locked him in the bedroom with that girl!” Thorin raised his eyebrows cleverly.

"..." Roland and Aragorn exchanged a glance and fell silent.

"Just like that? Without any warning?" Aragorn gestured.

“Oh! We said we’d hold their wedding today! In the presence of the kings of the North!” Bard nodded.

"Isn't this... a bit too fast?" Roland scratched his head.

"Those two are in love, and dragging it out could lead to unforeseen complications!" Bai Yi shook his head.

“Yes, I think this is good. The girl doesn’t dislike Bilbo, so there should be hope!” Bard said, looking towards the bedroom.

"Tsk!" Roland scratched his head in frustration. If the two of them messed things up, wouldn't everyone become the sinners?

"Your Majesty, rest assured, the fact that there's no fighting or arguing inside means there's something going on! You saw how the two of them were exchanging glances in the tavern today, it wouldn't be bad if they finally confessed!" Marquis Al-Tegran-Franz whispered.

"Alright! Everyone, let's rest. Let's go buy wedding supplies tomorrow morning!" Roland said wearily, rubbing his aching chest.

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　　(End of this chapter)