little gentleman

Bilbo loved his morning walks, and the air was fragrant with the morning dew.The Gloomy Forest is more humid than the Shire, and it is difficult to see the sun. The light leaking from the gaps in the tall treetops is the best gift.Now Bilbo was standing in this little glade with limited sunlight, smelling the fresh scent of flowers.

Unbeknownst to the contented Bilbo, his every move fell into the eye of a beholder.

Thorin has been standing here for a long time. He wanted to pass through the forest path, but he accidentally found the hobbit in the halo. The little guy stood barefoot on the only piece of grass illuminated by the sun, as if on a stage. actor.Thorin hesitated to go forward, but couldn't figure out how to act as if he were passing by by chance, or Bilbo would take him for an odd voyeur.

Just as Thorin finally thought out his opening words and was about to leave his hiding place, another figure broke into the small forest stage.

"Bilbo, are you walking here?" Legolas' voice was as beautiful as his face.

Bilbo's eyes lit up when he saw Legolas, and he said happily, "Legolas? Uh... I didn't notice where you came from." Hobbits have good ears, but so do elves. Lightness.

"I was on the tree just now." Legolas pointed to the tall tree next to it that couldn't see the top. "Climb to the top of the tree and you can see the sky."

Looking at the sky in the dark forest is a luxury. Fortunately, the elves are as light as swallows.

"Isn't it easier to go out into the forest?" said Bilbo, laughing.

"It's a long way to go, but a short time to climb the tree," said Legolas. "I don't want my father to ask me where I am again, like when I went to the Shire!"

Bilbo didn't understand at first, and then suddenly realized: "You went to Shire privately? Didn't you tell King Thranduil?"

Legolas realized that he had slipped his tongue, and hastily covered it up: "I didn't tell him, but it wasn't sneaky, I just didn't mention it to him! After all, I have the right to decide where I want to go..." The elf prince Obviously not good at talking nonsense, his fair cheeks were blushed with embarrassment.

"Stop talking nonsense! You just sneaked away, the same as now!" A joking voice mercilessly inserted into the conversation between the two.

Legolas turned around angrily, and saw Gimli who had arrived at some unknown time.

"It's not good to lie to the hobbit, Your Royal Highness," Gimli said, not wanting to spare the embarrassed elf, "you run to Shire, King Thranduil was so anxious that he almost pulled out his hair, and he wanted to hire a private detective to find him. you!"

"I know my own father! I don't need you to tell me, dwarf!" cried Legolas angrily, tossing his gorgeous blond hair and walking away with haste but grace.

"Be careful not to twist your lovely ankle, Your Highness!" Gimli teased Legolas's back relentlessly.

"Shut up!" Legolas had already walked some distance, and couldn't help shouting back in disgrace, his shoulders were shaking with anger.

"Ha! You're glad your father didn't hire that crazy Smaug who'll cut off your hair and sell it for money!" Gimli yelled back mockingly.

Bilbo stood watching the farce, neither going nor staying, wishing for the first time that he was smaller, so that he could hide behind the blades of grass without being seen.

Gimli seemed just aware of Bilbo's existence. He bowed to Bilbo and said, "Hello, I guess you are Mr. Baggins. I hope you have recovered."

"Thank you, er..." Bilbo didn't know how to address the dwarf in front of him.

"Jinli, at your service!" Jinli laughed.His smile looked a little menacing under the beard, and it reminded Bilbo of Dwalin, and poor little Frodo must have been frightened by Dwalin's beard.

"Bilbo, Baggins," said Bilbo, straightening his coat, "at your service, too!"

"If you don't mind, I have to go now," Gimli glanced at the direction Legolas was leaving. "The worst thing about Mirkwood is that it's full of nasty elves, I have to go get a drink!" he said After that, he walked away quickly.

Bilbo was left alone again, and he looked suspiciously behind a big tree next to him. He always thought there was someone here.He went behind the tree and saw no one.Bilbo shook his head, laughed at his own paranoia, and went away too.He didn't notice that there were a few shallow footprints on the ground behind the tree.

Thorin left when Gimli appeared, and in fact Legolas tried to slip away when he leaped lightly to the ground, but the elf's eyes were sharp and he was easily spotted.But when Gimli distracted Legolas' attention, the Elf Prince could not find Thorin hiding in the shadows, and he took the opportunity to leave.

Gimli's a rough guy, but he's right, Mirkwood is full of nasty elves.Thorin thought to himself.

Back at the Rosso's, Bilbo saw that breakfast was on the table.Merry called to Bilbo, "My God, Bilbo, do your morning walks take so long? You almost missed your first breakfast!"

Rosso, who was sitting on the main seat, said with a serious expression: "Cousin Merry's doubts are very reasonable, Bilbo, we are going to meet King Thranduil this morning, and he will formally introduce his son to you ——Because of your absence yesterday, this important matter had to be postponed until today."

Bilbo retorted in his mind: I am afraid that this matter has nothing to do with Bilbo's presence or absence. It is more likely that Legolas did not appear in his father's palace in order to escape Thorin.

Coming to King Thranduil's palace again, Bilbo found that King Thranduil's clothes had changed again, but the unparalleled luxury and dazzlingness remained unchanged.For a hobbit dressed like this, it would be an upstart flower pot!But Thranduil is Thranduil, no matter how he wears it, he is so beautiful.

It occurred to Bilbo that he had never seen Legolas in fine robes or with all his braids loose. What would that look like?

Thorin, Dan, and Gimli were there too, Thorin always seemed to be looking in Bilbo's direction half-heartedly, and Gimli was a little impatient, obviously he didn't like being here.

As soon as the guests were seated, Legolas also walked into the living room. He appeared from behind Thranduil, still wearing plain clothes.Legolas seemed reluctant to come here, but presumably had to meet the guests by order of his father.

King Thranduil officially introduced his son, Prince Legolas, to the two Shire guests for the first time. He specifically emphasized that Legolas "seldom sees outsiders", so he was inevitably a little reticent.

It was an embarrassing scene, for Bilbo and Merry had known Legolas for a long time.But considering that Legolas had run away from home the last time he went to the Shire, Bilbo didn't mention anything, and Merry didn't dare to say anything when he saw that Bilbo was so quiet.Bilbo guessed that Legolas's actions were known to everyone, at least this fellow Losso would report everything to Thranduil, but the face of the royal family is always so fragile, even if everyone knows it , Also must protect that layer of window paper.

Legolas' expression was unnatural, as if the scales were tilted a little more and he couldn't keep his calm face.He wondered which dwarf made him more uncomfortable, Thorin or Gimli?But whoever displeased Legolas, the only person in the room who really sympathized with Legolas was Bilbo himself, Bilbo thought.

While Bilbo was watching Legolas, someone else was watching him.Thorin had been watching Bilbo for some time, but the hobbit did not look at him at all.Thorin sighed in annoyance, and by the time he regretted that the sound of his sigh was a little pronounced, everyone's eyes had turned to him, including Bilbo.

"Dwarf King, is there any displeasure?" Thranduil asked slowly, his voice was as sweet as the sound of knocking gems, but with a majesty that cannot be ignored.

Thorin had to hide his gaffe: "I don't have any unpleasantness, but the air here is too humid, which occasionally makes the dwarves feel stuffy."

"I seem to feel the same way," Dan said frankly. "Speaking of which, the last time I experienced the air of the forest was 20 years ago."

Thranduil nodded slightly: "I know dwarves are not used to the climate of the forest, but I think elves are more adaptable, so my son can live in the Lonely Mountain, can't he?" His beautiful blue eyes turned faintly Legolas.

Legolas' face was pale, his father poked his sore spot, he could only barely respond: "Elves are always better at adapting."

Thorin was equally uncomfortable, and he and Legolas avoided each other's eyes.Bilbo found that the relationship between the fiancée was unimaginably bad, since the beginning and the present without a word between the two.Resentment against Thorin rose in Bilbo in connection with the various injustices that Legolas had told about him.

If it weren't for his friendship with Legolas, Bilbo would have been happy to watch this dramatic royal feud, but since he was somehow related to both parties, he just felt awkward being caught in the middle.

The rest of the day was calm, and Bilbo found that Thranduil's palace was a wonderful building. Because it was built on the trunk of the tree, standing on the high side of the palace could see the stars through the canopy of the tree.The elves love things that shine, and the elves of the Dark Forest love starlight like gems most.Looking at the stars from the surrounding trees is completely different from the feeling on the plains. The starry sky is no longer vast and magnificent, but seems out of reach.Like hobbits, elves love nature and keep traditions, but the difference is that elves have a kind of reverence for nature, which is difficult for hobbits to understand.Bilbo felt that he should read more about the history of elves and learn more about this magical race. He didn't know whether King Thranduil would allow him to look through the royal family's books. He didn't want to anger the supreme elf king.

In the evening, Bilbo received a letter from Frodo. Frodo and Sam were about to set off for the Shire. They estimated that according to Bilbo's itinerary, they could meet at the last post before arriving in the Shire, and walk together for the last day. road.Bilbo was very happy, and he could not wait to be back with Frodo, for his poor nephew needed his comfort.