I reforged the glory of the magic ring in Middle-earth

Chapter 57: The Adventurer's Heart

In November of the year 2939 of the Third Age, in this ordinary winter, an expedition that no one expected began, starting from Hobbiton.

The Shire, Hobbiton.

That morning, Bilbo Baggins sat happily at the door of his house, with a cigarette holder in his mouth and his eyes closed, enjoying the peace and quiet.

He was not at all wary, and then he saw an old man with a cane and a pointed blue hat.

Bilbo Baggins greeted happily, "Good morning, Gandalf."

He was greeting sincerely.

The sun is shining and the grass is exceptionally green.

Gandalf stared at Bilbo through his long eyebrows and was about to say something, but Bilbo said immediately: "I wish you a good morning, and I also want to say that this is a good morning whether you like it or not. I also feel that this morning is very comfortable and worth enjoying."

Gandalf's expression froze and his mouth closed.

Bilbo had a smug expression on his face, and even raised his eyebrows provocatively.

Gandalf cleared his throat and said, "It seems our hobbits are very good at learning to speak, but you can't say anything I said to you last time to me."

Bilbo shrugged. "But if I hadn't said it, you'd obviously have wanted to repeat what you said last time."

Gandalf pretended to be innocent: "Maybe, maybe not."

Bilbo winked endearingly. "Perhaps I should rephrase it then? 'Good morning' you might also mean, 'This is a very good morning to stand outside the gate and smoke a pipe.'"

Then he glanced at Gandalf's waist, saw his pipe, and laughed, "Aha! Since you have a pipe with you, why not sit down and fill it with my tobacco? There is no hurry; we have all day to kill."

When Bilbo had finished speaking, he put the cigarette holder back into his mouth, took a deep drag, and crossed his legs.

He blew out a beautiful smoke ring, which floated into the sky but did not disperse, and continued to float over the hill.

Gandalf tapped the ground lightly with his staff, and the smoke ring that had been drifting over the hill suddenly turned into a smoke butterfly, which fluttered its wings and flew into Bilbo's nostrils.

"Oh!" Bilbo coughed a few times and looked at Gandalf dissatisfiedly.

Gandalf stood still and said, "You blow beautiful smoke rings, Bilbo. But I have not the time to sit here with you this morning."

Bilbo sighed. "So what brings you to me this time, Gandalf? Last time you asked me about Tanis, and then you left in a hurry, not even wanting to stay for dinner."

Gandalf narrowed his eyes, put on a genial gesture, and said with a smile, "Bilbo Baggins, I'm planning an adventure and need to find someone to join me, but finding people is really difficult. However, it just so happens that I met a hobbit last time, and he told me that he wanted to go out and explore."

"Oh." Bilbo frowned, put down his pipe, stood up and pinched the corner of his clothes with both hands.

He cleared his throat, shifted his bare feet inconspicuously, and said, "That's right, a risk! What kind of restless fellow would want to take such a risk? This is so frustrating and uncomfortable. I really can't figure it out."

Bilbo put his thumbs in his suspenders and took out the envelopes that were overflowing from the mailbox. His eyes quickly scanned each letter after another, pretending not to pay attention to Gandalf.

Gandalf's face showed an expression of expectedness. He stood motionless on his crutches, staring at Bilbo, until Bilbo was very close to the door of his own home.

Only then did Gandalf slowly speak: "It is not a virtue to pretend to forget what you have said, Bilbo Baggins."

Bilbo tucked the pile of envelopes under his arm and pointed at Gandalf with his other hand, which held his pipe. "Yes, but it is not a virtue to force me to take an adventure I do not want to take, Gandalf. Now I will go back to my Bag End and have a couple of cakes to calm my nerves. Well, to calm my nerves about the adventure you invited me to take."

"Even if I told you that there were people we both know well on this adventure, would you not be willing?" Gandalf said.

Bilbo stopped instinctively as he stepped into Bag End and asked, "Who?"

Gandalf smiled and said, "Tannis, of course. Oh, and probably a few of his friends."

Bilbo immediately shook his head. "When you mentioned him, it reminded me that I still have several adventure stories about Tanis that I haven't finished writing. Well, I decided to stay at home and write all day!"

Then Bilbo looked at Gandalf and opened his eyes as if to say something, but finally said, "Well, good morning."

Gandalf gave him a strange look. "Your 'good morning' is so useful, and now you want me to get out of here. If I don't leave, will your morning be bad?"

"Oh... dear. Sorry, I don't want to go on any adventures, thank you. At least not today. I'm not free today." Bilbo closed his eyes, feeling a headache at the difficulty of Gandalf's words.

He went into his Bag End, and then put his lovely head out of the doorway and said, "But you are welcome to tea—any time you like! Why not to-morrow? To-morrow! Gandalf! Good-bye!"

With these words Bilbo drew his head back into Bag End, and slammed the round green door behind him.

Bilbo stood with his back against the round door, which he had locked, and said to himself, "Why in the hell did I invite him to tea?"

However, the aroma coming from the pantry immediately attracted the hobbit's attention, making him smile and walk towards the room where the fragrance came from.

As Bilbo had just told Gandalf, he was going to have a couple of cakes to calm his nerves, and then something to drink.

Meanwhile, Gandalf still stood outside, laughing silently for a long time.

Then he stepped forward and marked Bilbo's pretty round green door with the tip of his staff, drawing a queer rune as a mark, and then he went to the round window beside it and looked in.

Bilbo had finished his second piece of cake by this time, and went to the door to see if Gandalf had left, and to get some good tea from the kitchen to make a pot of black tea.

As a result, he happened to see Gandalf's big face looking in, and the hobbit was so frightened that he took a step back and leaned against the wall, even breathing much lighter.

Gandalf noticed the movement in the house, smiled, and strode out of Bilbo's house.

Bilbo breathed a sigh of relief, and then went to the kitchen to make a pot of tea as he had thought before. The sweet tea soon made him relax, and he began to think that he had successfully avoided Gandalf's invitation to adventure.

Bilbo had to admit that when Gandalf said the name "Tannis", the hobbit's heart was indeed stirring.

Because after Roger came to his house and added more details to the adventure stories told by Tanis, Bilbo had become completely obsessed with Tanis's experiences.

If it was an adventure he was willing to take part in, it would probably be another thrilling epic journey, right?
Bilbo thought, holding the warm teacup in his hands, and then shook his head in self-mockery. But what does that have to do with you, Bilbo Baggins? You're just an ordinary hobbit, with no sword skills and no strength. Even if you go, you'll only cause trouble for Tanis, right?
But our Hobbit quickly put this feeling of loss behind him and began to enjoy his new day happily.

By the next day Bilbo had almost forgotten all about Gandalf and the invitation to tea.

After all, Bilbo's memory was not very good unless he wrote down all his appointments in his diary.

For example: Friday, Gandalf, tea.

But he was so confused yesterday that he didn't remember this matter at all.

Just like yesterday morning, Bilbo finished his breakfast and sat at the door, smoking his pipe for a long time, letting his thoughts wander aimlessly.

It was almost noon when he stood up from the bench at the door, dusted off his clothes, and decided to go to the market in Hobbiton to buy some fresh fish.

His pantry was full of cured fish, but today Bilbo had a sudden impulse to have a fresh fish fried in butter and bacon.

Hobbiton's market place is located on the other side of the lake, surrounded by narrow cobblestone paths.

The sunlight nearing midday shone through the sparse clouds, dappling the canvas of the vendors' stalls. Just like that, the hustle and bustle and vitality of the market came into Bilbo's sight along with the sunlight.

Fresh vegetables just picked from the fields are placed on wooden stalls. The bright carrots, green spinach and plump potatoes all speak of the gifts of the season.

The Hobbit vendors shouted about the quality of their agricultural products, their voices rising and falling, trying to attract the attention of passers-by.

Occasionally, a well-dressed peasant woman would grab a tomato from the basket and put it in her own.

Meat stalls are separated by fences to maintain a certain order.

The butchers selling mutton were busy cutting up pieces of fresh meat. The dull sound of their boning knives hitting the chopping boards echoed with the ovens behind them, and the smoked mutton gave off an enticing aroma.

The pork merchants were busy removing bones and preparing for lunch.

In another corner of the market, the baker's stall wafts the aroma of butter and fresh bread.

The golden bread has just been taken out of the stone kiln, and the heat and aroma make people's mouths water.

The spice merchants nearby were displaying the rare goods they had purchased from outside Hobbiton. The red, yellow, and green powders and fruits exuded an enticing aroma in the sunlight.

From time to time, the sound of horses neighing could be heard, as the carts carrying goods were unloading. The hobbit children shuttled among the crowd, adding their laughter to the noise of the market.

After entering the market, Bilbo looked around and confirmed that the stall where he often bought live fish was open as usual, then he walked over with a smile.

Wooden stalls are covered with straw mats, on which are placed fresh fish, including silvery cod, plump salmon and even octopus with bared claws.

They are placed in wooden barrels according to their categories, jumping around inside and stirring up strings of water droplets.

The stall owner was a burly hobbit fisherman.

His hands were rough and powerful, and he was skillfully killing, descaling and disemboweling fish one by one. Blood formed a thin stream at his feet.

"Hey, Fredgar, give me a fresh cod!" Bilbo said enthusiastically.

The fisherman smiled, put down his kitchen knife, and picked out the fattest cod from the barrel while greeting Bilbo: "Well, Bilbo, how have you been lately?"

Bilbo's eyebrows moved flexibly. "Me? Of course I'm fine, except that a grey wizard with a pointed hat came to my house yesterday and said some strange things. But he's not here today, so I'm still fine."

The fisherman placed the selected fish on the chopping board and hit the fish's head hard with the blade of a kitchen knife. The poor fish stopped struggling and was then wrapped in oil paper and handed to Bilbo.

Bilbo handed the money he had prepared to the fisherman, exchanged a few more words with him, and then left the market with a satisfied smile and returned to his home.

Noon passed quickly, and Bilbo was not disturbed by anyone. He enjoyed the cod he bought with a smile on his face.

Until night came, Bilbo stared at the moon hanging in the sky.

He was thinking about what to eat in the evening, but he had been thinking for a long time and still hadn't decided.

What's the matter with you, Bilbo Baggins? Are you still thinking about Gandalf's invitation yesterday?
Please, you should recognize your place. Bag End is the place for you. That kind of epic adventure should have nothing to do with you in this life.

You should get up now, go back inside, pick out a piece of your favorite sausage or cured lamb leg, pair it with a pot of sweet, fruity red wine, and then it's time to go to bed!

But for some reason, Bilbo just stared at the moon in a daze.

Just as Bilbo was staring at the moon in a daze, the sound of armor colliding and the sound of firm footsteps on the ground attracted his attention.

Before Bilbo could notice what it was, a familiar voice with a smile flew into his ears.

"Bilbo, good evening. It's been a long time since we last met, and you're still so leisurely. Can you treat me and my friends to a sumptuous dinner?" Tanes said with a smile.

He was standing outside Bilbo's fence, with Millicent, Bernard, and Egon standing behind him.

Bilbo's face lit up with surprise, and he cried out, "Oh, Tanes! How come you're here?"

The hobbit, who had been in a daze just now, burst into amazing enthusiasm, trotted down the stairs, opened the door, opened his arms and hugged Tanes warmly.

Tanis followed Bilbo's movements, leaning down to hug him, then letting go and saying, "Someone told me there was a lively dinner party here, but I found the host in charge of the dinner distracted at the door. Are you in trouble?"

Bilbo was stunned. Although he didn't know what the dinner party Tanis was talking about was, he just thought that the other party wanted to have dinner with him.

And for a hospitable hobbit, Bilbo certainly wouldn't refuse the invitation.

So he said with a smile, nodding and greeting the three people behind Tanes in turn: "Trouble? Of course not! Welcome! And your friends! There will be plenty of food and wine today!"

　Today is my birthday~ I'm a little late~ Thank you all for your support~
　　I hope to capture the flavor of the movie, but I also referred to some of the original novel's plot.

　　Don't worry about the starting time of the Lonely Mountain Expedition being different from the original novel. I've definitely arranged it.
　　Finally, I ask for monthly tickets and recommendation tickets~
　　
　
(End of this chapter)