little gentleman

The carriage drove into Hobbiton, and Bilbo found that his hometown was a little different from a few days ago: people were still working in their own yards and fields, but they all gathered together in twos and threes to talk a lot. They all rolled their eyes when they saw Bilbo, and then went on talking in a low voice, like a pack of sneaking mice.

"I'll teach these talkatives a lesson when I get Frodo!" Bilbo was on the verge of pumping his fists, and after a few days' travel his sorrow at the bad news had turned to rage. Seeing the neighbors gossiping, he wanted to vent his anger on some unlucky guys.He had no time for anything else now, though, and made his way to Bag End.

Sam had been waiting at the door, and Merry and Pippin were there.Bilbo jumped out of the car, gave them each a hasty hug, and let them all into the house.

As soon as he was seated, Bilbo said to Sam, "Tell me all that was left out of your letter."

Sam drew out a letter: "The keeper of the tavern in the town sent this just yesterday, saying it was left by Mr. Frodo."

Bilbo snatched the letter paper, and glanced over the entire content, except for a few words:

Sam:

I'm sorry I'm leaving without saying goodbye, but I can't let Legolas go alone, he's giving himself up and needs someone to help him.I've never done a great thing in my life, and I think this is my chance, and I hope you don't think I'm too selfish.

Don't come looking for me, I'll get back to Hobbiton safe and sound.

Frodo Baggins

"The little fool!" cried Bilbo, "does he think he is being a hero? Rescuing elves that have gone astray?"

"Mr. Frodo's only fault is that he is too fond of legends," sighed Sam.

Bilbo was speechless, for it was he who had filled Frodo's head with tales of heroic adventure.

Gandalf, the coolest man in Bag End, asked in good time, "Sam, why did Legolas come to the Shire?"

"Oh! it's absurd! He landed in the Shire just two days before it happened. We didn't know any of us at first, but he was spotted by some hobbit who likes to go to the town. An elf is not very good." It's easy to hide." Sam said, "At first everyone thought he was coming to Shire for vacation again, but it soon became clear that he escaped, and it seemed that he had something to do with his father, King Thranduil. Disagreement."

"I think I know what 'disagreement' is." Reminiscent of the marriage contract Legolas hated, Bilbo could already imagine how the elf father and son opposed each other.

"Then why did Legolas take Frodo? He doesn't look like an elf who would elope with a hobbit," said Gandalf, shaking his white beard.

Sam frowned and thought about it, and then answered awkwardly: "There are different opinions on this question, but those who saw them at that time said that Legolas didn't want to take Frodo away, and after Frodo begged several times, he suddenly agreed. "

"It's a good way to get revenge!" Bilbo stood up with a "hoo!" "Aragorn once made Legolas sad, and now he's taking the one Aragorn loves, it's just retaliation ?"

"What are you talking about?" Sam was puzzled.

Merry and Pippin looked at each other, staring wide-eyed, neither understanding.

Gandalf winked at Bilbo quietly. "Better not to speculate. It won't help."

Bilbo also realized his slip of the tongue, for he had only told Frodo of Legolas, Aragorn, and Thorin.

"We can't waste any more time, I'm going after them now!" Bilbo was about to go out.

"No! It cannot be done!" cried Gandalf and Sam together.

"Master Baggins, you have just come back from a long journey, and you will be worn out if you don't rest well," said Sam.

"Sam is right, Bilbo, with your current physical strength, you can't even walk out of the Shire, let alone travel a long distance? You will only waste more time because you are exhausted, and then you will never I want to find Frodo," said Gandalf.

Merry and Pippin also joined in.

Bilbo had to give up the idea of ​​starting at once, when he felt really tired and sank back into his chair.

Supper was good as usual, but none but Pippin had appetite.Bilbo ate as much as he could, for he had a long journey to-morrow and must conserve his strength.

The two young hobbits fell into chatter, and the young men were always restless.

"I never thought it would be Frodo who got away!" said Pippin, eating.

"No! This kind of thing is usually only done by you!" Meili's tone indicated that he was just stating the facts.

Pippin retorted unhappily: "How is it possible? If I were to go to Legolas, I would not be so irrational. I would..."

"You go to Legolas?" Bilbo scolded, bluffing. "I dare not even let you see any hobbits outside the Shire! You listen to me, any elf in the future Don't even try to set foot in Bag End's door! Not even near Hobbiton! Don't you mess around with those elves! And don't go to town! Or I'll make your aunt spank you!"

Pippin was on the verge of crying, and his hands were so trembling that he could not grasp the bread.

Bilbo got up, walked around the table to Pippin, patted him on the shoulder and said, "Well, if you promise to be a good boy for the next twenty years, when the twenty years are up, I'll take you to town Watch a circus show!"

After dinner, Bilbo decided to go to the town himself to find out the news, and he went first to the tavern that Sam had mentioned.As usual, there were a few other races in the tavern besides the hobbits, sitting in twos and threes around the table, drinking cheap ale rudely.

Bilbo went to the bar and chatted with the tavernkeeper. He asked for details of the whole matter, and where Frodo and Legolas might be going, but the keeper's answer was disappointing. No more than Sam had told Bilbo.

While Bilbo was talking with the boss, a joking voice suddenly interjected: "Ask a blind man for directions is undoubtedly the most stupid thing to do. Unfortunately, most people in the world are both blind and useless." You idiot, that's why you ask pointlessly!"

"Hey! What are you talking about?" the boss asked angrily.

At a table in the corner, a drinker in a red cloak let out a low laugh: "I'm just watching the performance of two idiots in a friendly way. I watch the same content every day, anytime, anywhere!" Shiny eyes poked from the edge of the hood.

"Damn drunk!" The boss made a gesture to rush over and throw the drunk outside.

"Wait!" Bilbo hurriedly stopped the boss, "let me go and talk to him."

Bilbo went and sat down opposite the man in the red cloak. "We meet again, Smaug."

"No, I won't tell you anything you want to know," Smaug said without waiting for Bilbo to ask.

"You don't know what I'm going to ask," said Bilbo.

"As for the hobbit who eloped with the elves, he was probably your nephew or nephew," said Smaug. "Don't be surprised, it's written all over your face, but I won't say anything."

Bilbo was about to speak, but Smaug snatched it away again: "The hobbits who come here are all gossip about it, and they all have the attitude of watching a good show for fun. Only you are worried, but you obviously don't worry about one Elf, even though he might be the one you liked - I remember your cufflinks - so you're worried about the hobbit, you don't look like his brother in age, but you're clearly a bachelor , so it should be his uncle or uncle." Smaug took a swig of wine to moisten his throat after he finished speaking, and let his overbreathed lungs start working again.

Bilbo grasped the point from this string of cannonballs: "You said you were old? So you've seen him!"

"That's right, I've seen it, and I've also seen that elf, that pretentious Sindar elf is a nobleman, if a person with that temperament is not King Thranduil, he must be his spoiled prince, but Serenduil must be his spoiled prince. Randyll wouldn't come to a place where 'lower people' live, so he's Legolas." Once Smaug opened his mouth, it was hard to stop.

"I already know that, and I want to know something I don't know!" Bilbo called back to his boss, "man, this gentleman's drink is on my account for tonight!" Then he turned back: "There , I hope you can help a little!"

Smaug's eyes sparkled with excitement.

"Hey! Listen up: you can drink as much as you want, but you must finish what I want to hear. I know you can't drink very much!" Bilbo was afraid that after Smaug finished drinking, he would be as drunk as last time and delay business. , He snatched the wine glass from Smaug's hand and put it on the table, folded his arms and waited for Smaug's answer.

"Okay, but I'll just say it once, please use your brain that you have never used before, and memorize everything I say." Smaug was extremely arrogant.

"All ears." Bilbo pricked up his sensitive ears, ready to mentally register every word. "Tell me first, where are they going?"

Smaug spoke so fast that it was breathless: "First of all, it will not be the territory of any elves. Legolas once used Rivendell as a refuge but was finally taken home by his father, so this time he I will not take any more risks. Nor will it be Rohan, Rohan and Gondor are allies, Aragorn will easily find him and send him back to Thranduil..."

"Wait! How do you know this? You know Legolas?" Bilbo thought Smaug looked like a spy.

"No one has any secrets from me, and I have the most reliable sources, and there is no one wiser in Middle-earth. And don't interrupt me if you still want to know the whereabouts of your hobbit !” said Smaug impatiently.

"Okay," Bilbo answered automatically.

"You said another superfluous word!" Smaug was very dissatisfied. "They are looking for a place beyond the reach of both human and elf forces. There is only one place, and that is Mordor."

"My God! It's courting death!" Bilbo jumped up.

"Of course, this is only where they might go, but it's more likely that they turned back halfway due to hunger, fatigue or other reasons, or were sold by swindlers." Smaug shrugged, "A noble elf and an unseen It's not easy for the hobbits in the world to survive in the big world. Also, you have to pay more for the wine, and I plan to drink a few more."

"I'll buy you a drink!" said Bilbo angrily.

"Liar!" cried Smaug, disappointed.

Bilbo left Smaug, paid a meager price for the drink, and went out of the shop without looking back.