"Then go ahead!" Bion didn't like being polite.

"We encountered a terrible storm, and the rock giants started throwing stones. We found a cave at the highest point of the pass to hide in. The hobbit, me, and a few friends..."

"How many do you call two people?"

"Well, not really. In fact, we have more than two partners."

"What about them? Killed, eaten, or went home?"

"No, they didn't seem to come together when I whistled just now. I think they were shy. You should also know that we are actually worried that the large number of people will cause too much trouble for you."

"Go on, whistle again! It seems I can hold a banquet this time, it doesn't matter if there are one or two more!" Beorn growled.

Gandalf whistled again, but Norri and Orri were at the door almost before he had finished. For, if you remember, Gandalf told them that two came every five minutes.

Bion said: "Hello! You are moving very fast. Where were you hiding before? You just jumped out!"

"Noli is at your disposal, Ori is at your disposal..." they started to say, but were interrupted by Bion before they could finish their words.

"You're welcome! I will tell you when I need to send you. Sit down and tell the story quickly, otherwise it may be dark before dinner!"

"As soon as we fell asleep," Gandalf returned to the topic and said, "Suddenly a small crack opened in the bottom of the cave, and the orcs rushed out and captured all the hobbits and dwarves, including our group of ponies.

Don’t let it go─”

"Those ponies? What are you all about? Is it a traveling circus? Or do you bring a lot of goods? Do you always call six a group?"

"Oh! No! In fact, we have more than six ponies, because our partners are actually more than six people. Ah, look, here are two more people!" At that moment, Balin and Dwalin appeared.

At the door, they bent down and bowed, even sweeping their beards to the ground. The big man frowned at first, but they tried their best to greet the host politely. They kept nodding, bowing, and taking off their hats to salute (of course, the dwarves were the best)

Do it with correct etiquette), and finally the big man chuckled: They looked so funny!

"Okay, you're right about a group!" he said: "And it's very funny. Come on, funny boys, what's your name? I don't need to send you now, I just want to know your name, and then you will

You can sit down and stop saluting all the time!"

"Balin and Dwalin," they did not dare to say more for fear of offending each other, and finally sat down on the ground with a somewhat surprised expression.

"Go on!" Beorn said to the wizard.

"Where did I just say? Oh, by the way, I wasn't caught. I killed one or two orcs with the flash──"

"Excellent!" Bion shouted, slamming the table: "It seems that being a wizard has its benefits."

"─Then I slipped in before the crack closed. I followed them to the hall, which was crowded with orcs. The orc leader was over there, surrounded by thirty or forty fully armed guards. I

At that time, I thought: 'Even if they are not tied together by iron trainers, how can a dozen warriors fight against so many enemies?'

"A dozen! This is the first time I've heard that eight people can be called a dozen. Is there any mysterious person you are hiding that hasn't shown up yet?"

"Oh, well, yes, it looks like there are two more here - I think it's Fili and Kili," Gandalf said, looking at the two smiling men standing at the door and bowing fiercely.

"That's enough!" Beorn said: "Sit down quietly! Gandalf, please continue!"

Gandalf continued to tell his story, and finally came to the battle in the dark, and the discovery of the lower door; and the panic when they discovered that Mr. Baggins was missing. "We counted and counted, and found that Haha

Everyone is missing - there are only fourteen of us left!"

"Fourteen! This is the first time I heard that ten minus one will become fourteen. You mean nine people, or you just haven't told me their names yet."

"Ah, my God, you must not have seen Ouyin and Groin yet! They are here. I hope you can forgive them for disturbing you."

"Oh, come in! Be quick! Come in, you two, and sit down. But listen, Gandalf, even now it's just you and the hobbits, and ten dwarves.

Adding one to one in this way is only eleven (there is also a missing guy), not fourteen, unless the wizard's arithmetic is different from that of ordinary people. Forget it, you can continue with the story!" Bion did not show excessive emotion.

He looked interested, but in fact, he was already quite fascinated by this story. Did you know? In fact, a long time ago, he was quite familiar with the area described by Gandalf. When the story progressed to the point where they caused a landslide

, and when he charged into the pack of evil wolves, he nodded and growled in approval.

As Gandalf talked about how everyone climbed up the tree and there were all wargs underneath, he stood up excitedly and started pacing back and forth: "I wish I was there! In addition to fireworks, I can also teach you a lesson."

them!"

"Well," Gandalf was very happy, seeing that his story made a good impression on the other party. "I tried my best! The wargs were furious all around us, and the forest began to catch fire. At this time, the Orc army came down from the mountains,

When they discovered our presence, they shouted with joy and began to sing and laugh at us: There are fifteen birds on five trees...

"Oh my God!" Beorn shouted: "Don't say that the orcs can't count. Twelve people are different from fifteen people. No matter how stupid they are, they will know the difference!"

"I know too, because there are Bifur and Bofur. I didn't dare to introduce them rashly before. These two just showed up now." Bifur and Bofur walked in. "And me!" Pombo panted.

, ran in sweating profusely. He was fat and angry at being left at the end, so he rushed in directly with the two people in front of him without waiting for five minutes.

"Okay, now you finally have fifteen people. Since the orcs are not bad at arithmetic, I think these people are hiding in the trees. You can finish the story without being disturbed this time!"

"Mr. Baggins then realized how smart Gandalf was. The interruption only made Beorn more interested in the story, and the story prevented him from driving away the dwarves like beggars.

He never invites outsiders into his house if he can avoid it. He only has a few friends who live far away. Not only that, he rarely invites more than ten people into his house at a time. Now, his

There were fifteen strangers sitting on the balcony!

By the time the wizard finished explaining the rescue operation of the giant eagle and how to get to Carlock, the sun had already set behind the Misty Mountains, and Beorn's garden was also shrouded in shadow.

"What a great story!" he said, "the best story I've heard in a long time. If all beggars could tell stories as good as yours, I might be more generous! Of course, you might all be.

Made it up, but this story will earn you a dinner. Let’s find something to eat!”

"Yes, thank you!" they said in unison: "Thank you very much!"

The hall was now very dark. Bion clapped his hands, and four beautiful white ponies and several slender greyhounds walked in. Bion spoke to them in a language that sounded like animal roars.

After a few words, they walked out and quickly came back with torches in their mouths.

Then, they lit the torches with the fire in the fireplace and inserted them on the stands of the surrounding pillars. When necessary, the dogs could stand on their hind legs and use their front legs to pick up things. All of a sudden, they came from the side

I took out the boards and brackets from the wall and placed them in front of the fireplace.

Then, they heard the sound of baa-baa-baa! A charcoal-black goat led several snow-white sheep in. One was carrying a white cloth with animal patterns embroidered on the edge, and the other sheep were

On the broad backs were carried plates, knives, and wooden spoons; the dogs took these and immediately placed them on the table.

These tables are very low, and even Bilbo can sit next to them comfortably. A pony pushed two short benches to the table, and there were two other low cushioned benches.

It was pushed to the edge of the table so that Gandalf and Thorin could sit on it. A large black chair with a similar design to Beorn was placed at the main seat (during meals, his legs must be placed under the table).

This just used up all the chairs he had stored in the hall. He deliberately made these chairs low, probably to make it easier for the animals who served him. Where were the others going to sit? Of course they were not forgotten, and the other ponies

Rolling round wooden piles came in. These wooden piles were specially polished and painted, and Bilbo could sit on them comfortably. Soon, everyone sat down at Bion's table.

, this hall has not seen such a lively scene for a long time.

Then it was dinner time. They had not had such a formal meal since they left Elrond's last refuge. The light of the torches shone on them, and there were two huge candles made of red beeswax placed on the table.

As they ate, Beorn would use a deep voice to tell stories about the wild areas on this side of the mountains, especially the dark and dangerous forest they were about to face. It stretched for about a day's riding distance to the north and south.

The distance is so wide, and this dark forest is the obstacle blocking their way to the east.

The dwarves listened and shook their beards, because they knew that they would have to enter the forest soon; this would be their greatest challenge before passing through the mountains and arriving at the dragon's base.

After dinner, they began to tell their stories, but Bion seemed to be drowsy and did not pay much attention to their stories. They mainly talked about gold, silver, jewelry, and how to use skillful hands to make things.

Making beautiful things—these are the craft skills that dwarves are most proud of.

As miners and blacksmiths famous for their mining, iron smelting, and casting throughout the world of Order, no one dares to question the superb craftsmanship of the dwarves.

Bion, on the other hand, didn't seem to have much interest in these things. There were no gold or silver ornaments in his hall, and except for knives, there were very few things made of metal.

They kept drinking mead from the wooden bowl in front of them, watching the night outside gradually fall. New firewood was added to the fire in the hall, and the flames of the torches were extinguished.

Everyone was still sitting by the fire, watching the dance of the flames. The surrounding pillars were as tall and dark as the scene in the woods. I don't know if this was the influence of magic, but Bilbo thought he heard the sound of the breeze blowing through the treetops.

and the hoot of an owl. Soon, he also began to doze off, and the sound seemed to be getting farther and farther away; suddenly, he woke up with a start.

The door slammed shut and Beorn left. The dwarves sat cross-legged on the ground and began to sing. Some of the words went like this, but there were many others, and they sang for a long time:

The wind withered the wasteland,

No leaves in the forest are disturbed:

Shadows lurk day and night,

Silent darkness hides in the ground.

The cold wind blows from the mountains,

Like the tide rolling high;

The branches howl, the forest cries,

Leaves were placed on the pile of dust.

Strong winds blow from the west to the east,

Everything stops running in the forest,

The fierce wind still crosses the earth,

The sharp sound was released.

The grass hissed, and the blades of grass bowed,

The weeds keep swaying, the wind continues to travel,

By the icy lake on the ground,

The clouds in the sky were also torn apart,

It crosses the bareness of the solitary mountain,

Scan the dragon's lair:

Dark and dark, falling on the bare rock,

The air is filled with drifting smoke.

It leaves the world and flies to

The vast ocean at night.

The moonlight rides on the sail,

The stars shine brightly.

Bilbo began to nod again. Suddenly Gandalf stood up.

"It's time to go to bed!" he said: "It's time for us to go to bed, but I think Bion may not need it. We can sleep peacefully in his hall, but I must warn you, Bion said before leaving

In a word: before the sun rises, you'd better not go out and run around, otherwise you will be responsible for it."

Bilbo then discovered that beds had been made in the hall, and these were placed on a raised platform between the pillars and the outer wall. He had a small straw mat and woolen blanket, and Bilbo got into it very happily.

No matter it's still hot summer.

The fire gradually extinguished, and he fell into a deep sleep, but he woke up in the middle of the night: there was only a trace of embers left in the fire. Judging from the breathing of Gandalf and the dwarves, they were also asleep. There were sprinkles on the ground.

The light of the moon was shining through the holes in the roof.

There was the sound of some kind of animal howling outside, and there seemed to be the sound of a huge animal fidgeting with the door. Bilbo was curious about what kind of animal it could be, and wondered if it could be Beorn after changing his skin.
Chapter completed!