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

Chapter 65 The Moving Tree
The noise made by Bernal and others naturally woke up the sleeping dwarves.

But before Thorin and the others woke up, Tanis had already hurried here under the leadership of Bilbo.

"Bernard, is anyone hurt?"

Tanis came riding on Torret, with Bilbo sitting behind him.

Bilbo was nervously holding the brass short blade given to him by Tanis in his hand. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Bifur, Bofur, Oin and Gloin were there.

Bernard plunged his sword into the ground and replied to Tanes in a relaxed tone, "If a few scratches that barely break the skin can be considered an injury."

Tanis dismounted and walked towards where Bofur and the others were, while Bilbo remained on Torret's back.

Even after such a dangerous escape, Bofur and Bifur still held the torches tightly in their hands. It was these flames that allowed Tanes to see the trees that were cut in half by Bernal.

Bernal walked up to Tanes and said, "Those are the ones who attacked the dwarves, monsters disguised as trees."

Tanes frowned, using the firelight to look at the still-moving trees that had been severed, and shook his head. "They're a bit like the incarnations of the little golden tree, but there are some differences. They can move freely, but they don't have human-like arms and legs."

Bernard nodded. "I've noticed that too. Their methods of attack are nothing more than branches or roots, which are relatively simple. However, that simple method doesn't mean they're not dangerous. If I hadn't encountered them this time, I'm afraid these dwarves would have lost two or three."

He said, looking towards Oin and Gloin.

Gloin and Oin were being checked by Bifur and Bofur for injuries. After hearing what Bernal said, the former immediately pulled his hard-of-hearing brother Oin to bow deeply to Bernal.

Although given the dwarves' size, bending down is too difficult for them.

Bernal raised his hand and waved it away, indicating that it was nothing to worry about.

At this time, Thorin also rushed over with the remaining dwarves, shouting in Dwarvish, holding an axe and running to Oin and the others, surrounding them behind him.

However, they soon realized that the crisis was temporarily resolved and they all breathed a sigh of relief.

Thorin came over and asked Tanes, "What happened here? What happened to Oin and Gloin?"

Tanes pointed to the tree trunks that were still struggling and wriggling, and said, "Thorain, do you know these tree-like creatures?"

Thorin looked in the direction Tanes's finger pointed, a look of surprise on his face. He immediately shook his head and said, "I swear I have never seen such a strange creature."

Gandalf's old voice boomed from behind them: "They are Huorn, Taneth, and Thorin."

Tanis turned around and looked at Gandalf who was walking towards him with his staff. "Do you know them?"

Gandalf stood beside Tanis and nodded. "Yes, but I had not expected to see them again. These creatures should have long been confined to Fangorn Forest, watched over by the ancient race of Ents. Without the Ents' watchful eye, the Huorn would become strange and wild, and very dangerous."

Bernard shouldered his knight's sword again and said, "It's clear that these creatures called 'Huorn' are not being watched over by the Ents you mentioned. Oin and Gloin were tied to a tree just because they went to the toilet."

Gandalf frowned and thought, "This is indeed a little strange. In theory, these Huorn should be guarded by an Ent..."

Tanis said at this time: "Perhaps it is because of the hobbits that these Huorn have become so dangerous and violent."

He looked at Bilbo, who was sitting in Torret behind him, and whispered to Gandalf, "After all, Bilbo said before that many years ago, there was a great conflict between the Hobbits of Buckland and the Old Wood. Perhaps the Ents of the Old Wood died at that time."

Gandalf nodded thoughtfully, "I think you are right."

Then Tanes asked, "Can Huorn communicate?"

Gandalf coughed and said, "Well... in theory, it is possible to communicate with them, as long as you understand the Ent language."

Bilbo, who was sitting on the Torret, heard Gandalf's words and asked curiously, "Entish, is that the language of these tree people? Do you know Entish, Gandalf?"

Gandalf did not answer, but changed the subject and said, "Thorin, tell your men not to go near the old forest tonight. We will set out early tomorrow morning."

Thorin nodded and turned around to direct the dwarves back to the warm tent.

Gandalf specifically warned Bofur and Bifur, who were supposed to be on guard duty, "Don't go looking at the trees that Mr. Bernard cut down out of curiosity. Do you hear me? They're still alive, not dead."

Bofur and Bifur nodded repeatedly.

Bilbo, on the other hand, turned into a curious child, pestering Gandalf with questions: "How come you're still alive after all this?"

Gandalf glanced at Bilbo and said, "That's because their roots haven't been cut off by Mr. Bernard, Bilbo. They are still plants at heart. As long as the roots are there, they will eventually sprout again."

Bernard came over and said to Bilbo with a smile, "I think if we use fire, they should be completely destroyed."

Bilbo said subconsciously, "But that would cause a fire, wouldn't it? Besides, they can no longer pose a threat. Let them go, Mr. Bernard."

"The kindness of hobbits always surprises me," said Gandalf. "I am sure our Mr. Bernard will not do anything to Huorn. But, Bilbo, you must first be concerned that nothing strange will happen to you when you pass through the Old Wood tomorrow morning."

Bilbo asked in confusion, "Me? Why would it be me?"

Tanis came over and took Torret's reins while saying, "I think Gandalf wants to remind you to be careful. After all, you told us yourself that the trees in the Old Forest hate hobbits like you the most. I guess Oin and Gloin were attacked by the willow tree tonight because they are somewhat similar in height to hobbits."

Bilbo shuddered subconsciously, and with a forced smile on his face he said, "It shouldn't be such a coincidence. After all, in addition to hobbits, many dwarves and humans have also been tormented by the old forest over the years."

Gandalf sighed, shook his head and said nothing more.

The wizard's appearance made Bilbo worried. He quickly looked at Tanes and asked, "You will protect me, right?"

Tanes nodded as a matter of course: "Of course, as long as you are within my sight."

Bilbo promised loudly, "I will certainly not leave your sight, Tanis."

It was already late when Bilbo was coaxed into the tent by Tanis.

So even with the snoring of the dwarves and the scratching of the branches, Bilbo fell into a deep sleep in exhaustion. The morning light was just beginning to shine, the mist was like a veil, and the road on the plain stretched to the horizon, with green grass and occasional wild flowers on both sides.

A slightly cool breeze blew by, the grass tips swayed gently, and along with the morning frost, it also brought the cold before winter.

The fire was buried in the sand, losing its warmth, and the last bit of white smoke stubbornly rose up.

The expedition team that stayed here last night has now left.

Bilbo wrapped his clothes tightly around himself and sat on his pony, but he still shivered.

Only the day after leaving Bag End, Bilbo missed his warm bed very much.

Bofur, who was ahead, looked back and said, "I think you should put on another piece of warm clothing, Bilbo. Winter mornings are colder than you think."

Bilbo rubbed his cold nose with his hand and replied with a little complaint, "That's because I didn't expect to wake up so early. It's time to go back to sleep. It's okay to leave so early yesterday, but why leave so early today?"

"And it's not breakfast every time. God, can't these dwarves eat a full stomach before setting off?"

Bofur just smiled at Bilbo's trivial complaint.

Tanis helped Bilbo take a fleece coat from the duffel bags hanging on either side of the pony, and the hobbit put it on quickly, finally feeling warm.

Gandalf rode leisurely on his horse, smoking his tobacco.

When Bilbo saw this, he also felt the urge to smoke. He took out his pipe and said to Gandalf, "Give me a light, too, Gandalf."

Gandalf smiled and extended the finger with the Ring of Fire, and with a light snap of his fingers, the tobacco in Bilbo's pipe was lit.

"I would call this the most convenient magic," Bilbo said with great praise.

Gandalf added, "It is the kind of sorcery most convenient for the Smoky Hobbit."

At this time, Thorin shouted from the front: "We are approaching the old forest, everyone be careful."

The sound frightened the Hobbit so much that he became nervous. He still remembered what Tanis and Gandalf said last night, and subconsciously let his foal move closer to Tanis.

He was just about to say something to Tanes, but he found that there were several silver-white gourd-shaped glass bottles in Tanes' hands, and there seemed to be light golden powder floating from the mouths of the bottles.

"What... are you going to do?" Bilbo asked hesitantly.

Tanes replied simply, "To protect you."

Then he unscrewed the glass bottles and scattered them into the sky.

The golden powder seemed to have consciousness, covering the entire expedition team. A light golden translucent bubble appeared on the body of each dwarf touched by the pollen.

The dwarves were surprised, and Tanes' voice came just in time. His voice was loud and gentle: "Don't be nervous. These pollen formations can help you block a fatal attack."

Gandalf looked over curiously and said in surprise, "How many secrets do you have that even I find incredible?"

Obviously, the wizard discovered that Tanes was not lying, and the golden pollen could indeed withstand a fatal attack.

Tanes said, "Perhaps you have seen less than 10% of what we have seen so far?"

Bilbo curiously poked the translucent bubble that wrapped around him, but the bubble did not change at all because of his finger.

The expedition continued along the road outside the old forest. Bilbo didn't know how much time had passed. He only knew that Thorin had said that they could not eat until they were about to leave the old forest at noon. But now it seemed that an eternity had passed and they had not yet left the old forest.

Instead, there are more and more trees on both sides of the road, and it doesn't look like you are walking out at all.

……

and many more.

Bilbo was suddenly filled with a great fear. His listless look disappeared in an instant and he raised his head anxiously.

The sky had been obscured by intertwined branches at some point, and one could only barely see the sun setting through the gaps between the branches, but one could not tell the time or direction.

Bilbo shouted, "Stop! We must stop! We are not going in the right direction. We are not heading out of the old forest. We are already inside the old forest!"

Thorin stopped, took out the map and compared it with the road under his feet, frowned and said, "But we are walking on the road marked on the map."

As he spoke, he pointed to a landmark on the road not far away. It was a signpost placed there to prevent pedestrians from getting lost.

Dwalin laughed loudly. "Is our Lord the Snitch homesick, or perhaps hungry?"

The dwarves laughed, and thought Bilbo was making a big deal out of nothing.

Bilbo looked speechless, but he didn't have enough evidence to convince the dwarves. He could only continue shouting, "But we are surrounded by towering trees everywhere. Look up! The sunlight is almost blocked out."

The dwarves, led by Thorin, all raised their heads, their laughter died down, and they began to talk among themselves.

Thorin still frowned: "But on the map..."

Tanis looked around with a serious expression at this time, and very rarely interrupted Thorin: "Thorin, what Bilbo said is not wrong. We are now in the old forest, and the map is no longer useful."

Thorin, sitting on his horse, looked over in surprise. "How is this possible? I was very careful and followed the map carefully."

Gandalf narrowed his eyes, looking at the countless trees around him, and said in a vague voice, "That's because the trees in the Old Forest are different from those in other forests, Thorin. They move, just like the trees that Oin and Gloin encountered last night."

Tanis said, "When Bilbo spoke, I was already focusing on the trees. Just now, I noticed that they were getting closer to us. Prepare your weapons, Thorin, I'm afraid the big one is coming."

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(End of this chapter)