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

Chapter 157 Return to Hobbiton

Tanes led Lalana and her army into Lake Town, while Freya, after arranging a camp for Lalana's army, immediately sent someone to River Valley to inform General Rataen.

When Rataen flew from Riverdale to Laketown bathed in moonlight and starlight, he was very surprised to find that someone had taken his place.

Ratan lowered his head, his usually calm expression finally showing surprise when he saw the face that resembled his mother's.

“Long time no see. I thought you had already… well, let bygones be bygones. You’ve had a tough time these past years, but how should I address you now?” Rataen asked.

He was quick-witted. Within half a minute of meeting Lelana, he deduced that his aunt was probably on some unspeakable mission, which was why there were no records of her even in the Kalia royal family.

Of course, Ratahn did not expect that Lelana had actually disappeared with a portion of the Kalia army to follow her lover.

Lelana glanced around and said, "Internally, you can still address me as before. As for external matters... just call me by the title 'Twin Moon Knight.' I've also heard of your name from Tanes, so I'll also call you 'General Shattered Star' in public."

Ratahn nodded.

Seeing that the two seemed to be discussing past events in Kalia and that there was nothing else that required his presence to make a decision, Tanes drafted a document proving that Lelana was stationed in River Valley and Long Lake. He then bid farewell to the two and used the portal to return to Stoneville.

As for what happened in River Valley, when the residents of River Valley wake up in the morning, they will probably find that the Golden Tree flag and the Red Lion flag that were originally erected on the city wall have been replaced by the blue flag of Kalia.

The next day, with Melina's help, Tanes packed his things for the long journey and went to the outskirts of Stoneville to meet Bilbo, who had been waiting for him.

Tanes greeted him with a smile: "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, Bilbo."

Bilbo also shook his head with a smile: "Not long, you arrived before I was planning to have my second breakfast, so let me eat it on the way."

Melina looked at Bilbo with a puzzled expression: "A second breakfast?"

Bilbo explained, “Oh, please don’t misunderstand, young and beautiful Miss Melina. As you can see, I am a hobbit, and hobbits eat many meals a day. The second breakfast I’m referring to is breakfast in the literal sense. I prepared some bacon rolls last night for the journey; would you like some when we rest later?”

"Thank you, hospitable Bilbo, but I've already eaten a lot this morning."

Melina politely and tactfully declined Bilbo's offer.

Bilbo was not discouraged. He turned to look at Tanes, but instead of speaking, he winked at him.

Tanes accepted Bilbo's offer, maintaining his smile, and said, "Then save some for me to try. By the way, where is Legolas?"

Bilbo mounted the pony the elves had prepared for him and replied, "He didn't come back last night, but he's been with Mr. Bernal these past few days while you were away. As for what Legolas is doing with Mr. Bernal, I don't know."

Tanes nodded, pulled Melina onto Torret, and said, "That means he doesn't have anything important to tell me. Come on, Bilbo, it's time to take you home. Missing your Bag End?"

Bilbo's fingers unconsciously rubbed the old coat under his mithril shirt. He suddenly remembered the aroma of toasted muffins wafting from the kitchen to the bedroom in the morning, and the honey-scented sunlight shining through the round window onto the tip of his quill pen.

Bilbo breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at Tanes, saying, "I've got it figured out!" Half a month later, in the Shire, at Hobbiton.

When Tanes returned to this peaceful place more than a year later, bathed in the morning sunlight, he found that the scenery before him was exactly the same as when he first came.

Tanes said to the beaming Bilbo, "Sometimes I wonder if time has been frozen in your homeland, as if it will never change and will always remain this beautiful."

Bilbo smiled and narrowed his eyes when he heard Tanes's praise of his homeland: "Perhaps you are telling the truth. Well, you promised me that you and Miss Melina would stay at my house tonight and set off for the Valley tomorrow."

Tanes smiled helplessly, "I've lost count of how many times you've reminded me. Don't worry, I definitely won't be in a hurry to leave today."

Melina chuckled softly behind Tanes, while Bilbo slapped his forehead and said, "Ah, but when we left last time, Thorin and the others ate almost all the food in my house. I'm afraid I'll have to go to the market to buy some later. What would you like to eat? Apple pie or blueberry pie? How about some cheese, roast pork, and vegetable soup? Tomatoes are in season right now, and a sweet and sour tomato soup... oh, just thinking about it makes my mouth water."

Tanes' eyes lit up: "Then I'll listen to you. As long as it's delicious food, I'll accept it."

Just as Thanes and Bilbo were discussing what to eat for lunch and dinner, Melina noticed that all the hobbits who saw Thanes and Bilbo on the road had a slight change in expression, and then pretended nothing had happened and took a detour.

It was as if they didn't want to see Tanes.

No, that's not right. It seems that these hobbits don't want to see Mr. Bilbo Baggins.

Melina instinctively pulled up her hood and then gently tugged at Tanes's cloak.

Tanes turned slightly to the side and asked, "Melina, what's wrong?"

Melina told Tanes what she had just seen, and the latter looked up toward the path in Hobbiton.

Just as Melina had said, Tanes noticed that some hobbits, while walking along, would suddenly see him, or more accurately, their expressions would change and they would immediately move to other paths when their eyes fell on Bilbo beside them.

Bilbo noticed that Tanes and Melina had suddenly fallen silent and asked, somewhat puzzled, "Why do you two suddenly look a little unwell? Did you leave something on the road?"

Tanes took a deep breath and said to Bilbo, “Bilbo, you may need to be prepared. I don’t know why the people of Hobbiton left after seeing you with fear on their faces. We may not know what happened while you were away until we get to your doorstep.”

Bilbo blinked cutely, scratched his head, and racked his brains but couldn't figure out why his fellow Hobbitonians would be afraid of him.

It wasn't until Tanes and his companions arrived at Bilbo's house that they understood why.

Because the door to Bilbo Bag End was open, but hanging outside were two hobbits, a man and a woman.

Their hands and feet were tightly bound with ropes, and their mouths were stuffed with strips of cloth. They looked terrified and regretful.

Bilbo Baggins, with his sharp eyes, immediately recognized the female hobbit's name and shrieked, "Hey! What are you doing at my door? Why have you opened my door? Robillia Sackville-Bagins!"

(End of this chapter)