little gentleman

Of all the people Mirkwood had seen, Bilbo preferred to talk to Dan, and Dan liked the cheerful hobbit.They talked for a long time in the palace yesterday, and then the topic turned to Thorin for some reason, and something Dann inadvertently mentioned to Bilbo made Bilbo so upset that Bilbo didn't want to talk about it later. .

Bilbo mentioned Aragorn the King of Gondor intentionally or unintentionally, and Dan said naturally: "I'm glad Thorin has at least Aragorn as a friend. Their friendship is really unimaginable considering their characters! Before Thorin Having been in Gondor some time ago, he made Aragorn break an unreasonable engagement."

Bilbo was so angry that he could hardly help saying, "Mr. Thorin's friend must be an uninitiated man, to let Mr. Thorin interfere with his engagement!"

Dan was a little surprised. He looked at Bilbo seriously and said, "Is that what you say about Aragorn?"

Bilbo found himself slipping. "I mean, Aragorn is a wise king, and he wouldn't take an engagement lightly. Mister Thorin is no business minding his friends!"

Dan suddenly pointed out seriously that Bilbo's statement was inappropriate: "I know Thorin, he will not ask for no reason, and he must have considered this matter carefully before asking his friends, not meddling in other people's business!"

Dan was evidently on Thorin's side, so Bilbo asked instead: "Did Mr. Thorin say why he stopped the marriage?"

"It seems that the fiancé's background is not ideal." Dan didn't care much about this question.

"I sympathize with the fiancée," sighed Bilbo. "The fiancée of King Aragorn was the most hurt in the whole affair."

"You seem to be very concerned about Aragorn's marriage?" Dan felt strange.

"Only complaining about the poor man," said Bilbo grumpily.

Dan didn't ask any more questions, but seeing that it was getting late, he sent Bilbo back to the Rosso's.

This conversation had so filled Bilbo with so much resentment that he was listless this morning.Merry didn't disturb him when he went out, but left breakfast and a note on the table.

Bilbo was not even in the mood for breakfast, and went out into the garden without changing his dressing-gown.

The best thing about Rosso's home is the garden, thanks in part to Mei's encouragement to her husband—she always asks Rosso to spend a lot of time gardening.Bilbo was now scrutinizing ferns in full bloom, just as good as those in his own garden.

The Rosso and Merry had gone for a walk in the woods before Bilbo got up, and they had said yesterday they were going to the brook, which, according to Rosso, had the sweetest water in the world.Bilbo was rather disdainful: Don't the residents of Shire drink brook water?And hobbits make the tastiest tea out of Shire water!

Bilbo overslept with fatigue and did not go with Rosso and the others.Yesterday was indeed a tiring day. He had just recovered from his illness the day before. Although he had no fever, he had not yet recovered from the lethargy. In King Thranduil's palace, Bilbo had to work hard to keep up. Positive posture.What Dan had revealed weighed heavily on his mind, too, and he couldn't let it go.So he very much hopes to get enough rest, at least let him spend a quiet morning.

At this time, Bilbo was sitting on the swing chair in the garden of Rosso's house in only his nightgown, surrounded by a sea of ​​purple and red.He didn't swing on the swing, but leaned quietly in the swing chair, with a calm and slightly melancholy expression.

It was a joy to see Frodo soon.But what kind of attitude should he face his nephew who was hit hard?That innocent child should not have been hurt like this. Frodo could have lived carefree under his protection, but the outsiders broke their peaceful life, making it impossible for Frodo to return to the world. To the simply happy past.Bilbo himself was affected too, and he couldn't help thinking of the misfortunes of the Tooks, which no one in Hobbiton wanted to talk about.But the pain caused by misfortune is always no match for the comfort of time, so that people soon forget the pain caused by outsiders to the hobbit, and are full of curiosity about the outside world again.

Thorin stood outside the garden for a long time. He wanted to come in directly, but he was so attracted by the sight of the hobbit on the swing that he stopped in his tracks for fear of disturbing the scene in front of him: Bilbo Condensed in a nightgown that was too big for him, he looked even more petite; his curly hair was unkempt, messy, and half covered his pointed ears, fluffy; his expression changed for some reason Feeling melancholy, seems preoccupied, even a little fragile.In the flowers, the lonely hobbit is no longer lazy and optimistic, but like a wronged child, hiding in a place he thought was safe, worrying about some small troubles.

An imperceptible smile crept onto Thorin's mouth, and he didn't realize that his expression had become tender.He strode into the garden, trying to appear as normal as he could, and walked along the path, pretending to have just seen Bilbo at the turning, and stopped to ask, "Mr. Baggins, why are you sitting here?"

Bilbo was contemplating deeply. He was startled by Thorin's voice, and even the swing began to shake: "Th...Mr. Thorin, when did you come in?" What Dan said yesterday still echoed in his heart, he It was difficult to face Thorin with a normal attitude.

"Just here." Sorin took a step closer, "Is the Rosso couple here?"

"He... they went for a walk, and I'm the only one here today." Bilbo was flushed with shame, and no amount of pretending to be calm would change the fact that he was running out into the garden in his nightgown like a mad boy, and all that It made Bilbo feel ashamed to fall into the eyes of Thorin, who was always critical of others.He jumped off the swing, wondering what excuse he could use to drop Thorin and change clothes as quickly as possible, hoping that Thorin would leave with a sense of humor and leave him enough space.

But Thorin didn't mean to go, he seemed to just stand there and watch Bilbo's embarrassment.

"Come in first, please," Bilbo said resolutely.

Thorin watched Bilbo's lips in fascination, nodded slightly, and followed the hobbit into the house.

After letting Thorin into the living room, Bilbo was going upstairs to change his clothes: "Please excuse me."

Thorin, uncharacteristically, dodged to block Bilbo's way, staring straight into Bilbo's eyes with anxious and conflicted expression.

Bilbo was startled, and he lowered his eyes, trying to get around Thorin quickly.

Thorin took his arm, and drew him back to him, squeezing Bilbo's shoulders hard.

Bilbo was stunned, he didn't understand why Thorin was suddenly rude, his body tensed subconsciously, and he trembled slightly.

Feeling the tension and fear of the hobbit, Thorin didn't want to let him go, he seemed to have just made up his mind, and said with difficulty: "I can no longer pretend that nothing happened, please let me tell you how much I care You, how much I love you!"

The hobbit's shocked face and instantly stiff body let Thorin know that this sudden confession was such a surprise to Bilbo.Thorin let go of Bilbo, resumed his gentlemanly manner, and said in a fretful tone, "I know it looks like a stupid marriage, and the senators will certainly object, and they will question why I married a A humble queen, even my family may disapprove of my actions..."

In the process of Thorin's eloquence, Bilbo has recovered from the shock. He first feels sorry for Thorin, and then this regret is completely dismissed by Thorin's arrogance, and then turns into a rude attitude towards Thorin. anger.

Thorin didn't notice the change in Bilbo's expression, he was still immersed in his struggle: "...and it means that I have to accept your family, people will say that I am not clear-headed, and they will doubt whether I am still qualified Be their king... but anyway, I want you to be my queen, and I want you to accept my marriage proposal." And with that, he watched Bilbo eagerly, waiting for his answer.

Bilbo couldn't bear it anymore, he completely lost the polite refusal he had prepared: "Generally speaking, when you are proposed, you should express your gratitude, but I really can't express my gratitude to you, Your Majesty!" He deliberately bit down on the "Your Majesty" word.

Thorin frowned: "Then your answer is?"

Bilbo blushed with anger: "I just want to tell you that you don't have to worry about your marriage, because I have never had any affection for you! From the first time I saw you, I only saw your arrogance , arrogant, rude!"

Thorin's expression became the same as it had been when they first met, the haughty look that most annoyed Bilbo, and he asked sharply, "May I know why my proposal was so rudely refused?"

"Why do you ask?" cried Bilbo. "You propose to me, and keep saying that it would be dishonoring to marry me! You think I'll dishonor your name!"

"Do you want me to accept your parentage with joy?" said Thorin scornfully. "Should I be honored to associate with your lowly kin?"

Bilbo was furious: "Also, you have cruelly hurt my favorite nephew Frodo! You have torn apart a pair of lovers, one of them was accused of insanity, and the other was ridiculed as wishful thinking! Can you deny your meanness?" Are you walking?"

Thorin said forcefully: "I did prevent that childish marriage, and I think my approach is very wise!"

Bilbo was so angry that he could hardly speak. He couldn't understand how a man could be so shameless!He said even more angrily: "What is even more extreme is what you did to Legolas! You forced him to be a hostage for the benefit of your own country, trapped him in the lonely mountain for many years, and made him suffer all kinds of humiliation!"

Sorin's expression became very disdainful: "You really care about that elf prince!"

"Has he had the misfortune to lose you—the friendship of the great King of the Mountain—and can't he have any other friends?" said Bilbo righteously. "Someone should speak for him! He has to accept what is forced on him." A marriage contract, a political engagement with you—the person who hurt him the most and who doesn't love him—and you ignore his pain and dare to appear in front of him leisurely!"

Thorin didn't intend to listen any more: "Let me sum it up for now: You have fully explained Legolas' innocence and my arrogance, cruelty, and shamelessness. I think I have been insulted enough! I really don't like it." You should be delusional that you can accept my marriage proposal!"

Bilbo said coldly, "Yes, I would never marry you, even if all the dwarves in Middle-earth were dead!"

Thorin opened the door and turned back and said, "I'm sorry for messing up your mood, and I won't propose to you lightly again. Goodbye, Mr. Bilbo Baggins!" He left without looking back up.

Through the window Bilbo saw Thorin strode across the garden, and soon disappeared behind the hedge.He suddenly felt powerless, and had to take two steps back and fell into the chair. His violent heartbeat still hadn't calmed down, and there was a soreness in his eyes for some reason.

When the Rossos and Merry came home, Bilbo was still slumped in the chair, with empty eyes.

"My God! What's the matter with you, Bilbo?" Merry jumped up in fright, shaking Bilbo's shoulder.

Bilbo came to his senses, shook Merry's hand away in a distracted way, and hurried upstairs without a word.