Orc Night Raid, the Dwarves’ Guardroom

Long Lake Town.

Bolg led a band of Orcs slowly across the rooftops, carefully searching for their target.

Without boats, the vast lake had held them back for a long time. They had only just managed to catch up.

"Those damned little Dwarves are nearby. I can smell them."

Following the Dwarves’ scent, Bolg sifted through the countless houses and narrowed the search area to the vicinity of Bard’s home.

Inside the house, Bifur stared boredly at the steaming pot. "Kili, hold on for a few more minutes. It’ll be ready soon."

"Thank you." Kili nodded weakly.

"I’ll go check on my father." Sigrid picked up a coat. "I’m worried about him keeping watch alone in the bell tower."

However, just as she reached the door, Aaron’s Thoughtform grabbed her right hand as she reached to open it.

"You…"

Sigrid’s face reddened slightly. Before she could say anything, the Thoughtform pulled her back.

"Something isn’t right." The Thoughtform swept a grave gaze across everyone in the room. "Bain, you and your two sisters get under the table. Protect them.

"Bifur, Bofur, take your weapons and guard Kili."

"Has the dragon come?" Bofur asked.

"Not Smaug, but not much better." The Thoughtform spoke sternly. "I heard dense footsteps. The nearest ones are right above us."

Everyone froze for a moment. Bain and his sisters did not understand what was happening, but the three Dwarves had already realized who their enemies were.

Once the three siblings had hidden themselves, the Thoughtform picked up a Longsword and slowly approached the door.

Sure enough, the instant he opened it, an Orc came roaring at him.

The Thoughtform drove his sword through the Orc’s chest, then kicked him into the lake and swiftly shut the door.

"Bad news. We’re surrounded."

As soon as he finished speaking, the back door was smashed open, and a half-orc rushed in with a dagger.

At the same time, three half-orcs leaped down from the roof in quick succession.

Seeing those fierce, ugly half-orcs appear in their home like this, Sigrid and Tilda panicked and screamed.

Bofur stood guard by Kili’s bed with an axe, while Bifur picked up a Hammer and stood in front of the table.

"Protect them."

The Thoughtform rushed forward with his sword, taking on all four without falling behind.

When he trained at home, he always started with ten opponents. Mere four half-orcs were all dealt with in less than half a minute.

The three siblings stared wide-eyed at Aaron in disbelief.

They could barely kill fish right now, while he could already kill half-orcs—five of them, no less.

"Don’t lose focus. We’re still in great danger."

A moment later, another wave of half-orcs charged in. Not only had their numbers doubled, but more were continuously joining them.

Even the Thoughtform could not cover everything, and a melee was about to erupt.

Fortunately, unexpected reinforcements appeared. Tauriel and Legolas, the two Elves, joined the battle, immediately easing everyone’s pressure.

Half-orcs fell one after another. One of them jumped out the back door onto a wooden boat in the lake and reported the situation inside to Bolg. "Oakenshield isn’t here."

Bolg let out an angry growl. Though unwilling to accept it, his main target was not there, and he did not want to waste his forces for nothing.

"Retreat. Gather at the bridge."

Bolg chose to retreat without hesitation, but the half-orc who had relayed the message was in for a miserable end.

A companion’s corpse was thrown by Legolas onto the stern of the boat, tipping up the bow where he stood. Legolas seized the chance and used his twin blades like shears to sever his head.

"How brutal." The Thoughtform curled his lip. "But no amount of brutality is too much when dealing with Orcs."

"Are they all dead?" Bain asked.

"Of course not. There are at least dozens more outside." The Thoughtform sighed helplessly. "We got lucky. Bolg’s target is Thorin, otherwise we would not have avoided a hard fight."

"We can’t just let them leave." Legolas looked at the retreating half-orcs. "Tauriel, we pursue."

"Wait." The Thoughtform stopped him and held out his right hand. "My Wand. You should return it to me. You have to return it to me.

"Smaug will attack Long Lake Town tonight. I need my weapon."

"The dragon?" Legolas was doubtful. "Are you sure?"

"That’s what the prophecy says. The descendants of the former mayor of Long Lake Town and I have already prepared countermeasures.

"Of course, it doesn’t matter if you don’t return it. I’m also proficient in Wandless Casting, but it feels strange not to have anything in my hand."

Legolas hesitated for a moment, then took two Wands, one black and one white, from behind his waist. "Whether what you say is true or not, my father’s…"

"I’ll heal him."

"Good. Tauriel, let’s go."

Tauriel froze, her gaze falling on the injured Kili. After struggling with herself for a moment, she prepared to leave.

Seeing the affection and reluctance in Kili’s eyes, the Thoughtform was silently speechless, but he still said, "Prince, could you lend Tauriel to me for one night?"

"What did you say?" Legolas glared fiercely at him, his left hand already resting on the quiver behind his back. If Aaron did not give him a reasonable explanation, he would not hesitate to turn hostile.

"Don’t misunderstand. I just want her to protect these three siblings.

"Their father and I will fight Smaug in the bell tower. We may not be able to look after them then, so… I mean, we cannot let a Champion be disheartened."

"Tauriel, what do you think?"

Tauriel let out a long sigh, then nodded.

Legolas was not surprised by her decision. He immediately prepared to leave and pursue those Orcs alone.

"Wait."

Legolas stumbled slightly and looked at Aaron in annoyance. "Can you say everything at once?"

The Thoughtform smiled awkwardly yet politely. "We don’t need her yet. Just come back promptly after you finish hunting the Orcs."

Legolas paused, and his mood improved considerably. "Let’s go."

After the two Elves left, the Thoughtform walked up to Kili with a look of disdain. "I helped you keep an Elf behind. Is there anything you want to say to me?"

"Thank you." Kili gratefully clasped Aaron’s hands. "Brother, from now on, you’re my real brother."

The Thoughtform’s eye twitched. How had I never noticed you were this shameless before?

Lonely Mountain, Erebor.

Aaron and Bilbo ran to the bend in the stairs and dropped their invisibility at the same time.

"As expected of the last dragon in Middle-earth. That destructive power is terrifying!" Aaron cautiously poked his head out and saw Smaug scorching the ground with Dragon Fire. He could not help clicking his tongue inwardly.

"Forget that. Saving our lives is more important." Bilbo said anxiously, grabbing Aaron and climbing the steps.

But when they reached the second platform, they ran into a panting Thorin.

"You’re alive?"

"Not for much longer. The dragon is about to catch us." Bilbo said.

"Did you find the Arkenstone?"

"Luck was on our side." Aaron nodded and headed toward the passage behind Thorin.

A sword stopped before the passage. Thorin blocked their way, his voice cold. "The Arkenstone."

Aaron frowned. He had thought Smaug was merely trying to sow discord, but now it seemed the Arkenstone truly could affect a person’s mind.

"Let’s get out of here first." Bilbo said.

Thorin pointed his sword directly at Bilbo, forcing him to retreat.

"Give it to me."

"I… that stone… actually…"

Just as Bilbo was about to explain, deep breathing came from nearby.

The three of them instinctively turned and met a pair of cold, slit-pupiled eyes.

Smaug had found them. A crimson glow shone clearly from his abdomen in the dim palace, steadily spreading up his long neck.

At that moment, the other Dwarves ran out from the passage as well, lining up directly before the dragon.

"I’m going to burn you all to death." Smaug took several steps toward them.

"Run!"

Everyone immediately jumped down the steps, narrowly avoiding the fierce crimson Dragon Fire.

There happened to be a passage entrance beneath the steps. Without a moment’s hesitation, everyone rushed inside.

Smaug aimed his mouth at the ceiling and breathed Dragon Fire. The flames spread over a wide area, and Thorin, the last to pass through the corridor, was caught by the blaze. His clothes caught fire.

Aguamenti.

Aaron flicked out a stream of water onto Thorin’s body, helping him put out the flames.

Afterward, everyone carefully advanced through the passage, turning several corners before arriving at a long corridor.

"We shook it off." Dori said in a low voice.

"No." Dwalin shook his head. "It’s cunning."

"Where do we go now?" Bilbo asked.

"To the western guardroom." Thorin said. "There may be a way out there."

"It’s too high. There’s no way to escape from there." Balin objected.

"That’s our only chance. We can only risk everything." Thorin led them stealthily down the corridor.

But when they reached the guardroom, they found skeletal remains everywhere, covered in cobwebs.

The exit was blocked by a massive boulder. Dozens, perhaps hundreds, of Dwarves had starved to death here. There were even several infants among them.

"The remains of our kin." Balin’s voice was heavy. "They must have come here holding onto tremendous hope."

"What a horrifying sight. This is the price of hope turning into despair." Aaron pursed his lips. "There should be no other way out. Or rather, there is only one path left for us—to go back and kill Smaug."

"Even together, we are no match for it." Dwalin said. "We can hold out for a few days by hiding here, but if we go out, we’ll likely die in the flames."

"That’s still better than waiting here for death." Aaron spread his hands. "If we fight with everything we have, there’s still a chance to live. But if we stay here, death is certain.

"You’ll become dried corpses alongside your fellow Dwarves, forever trapped in this despairing place. But I definitely won’t die.

"You may not believe me, but this place is not a dead end to me."

Bilbo believed Aaron. He had seen Aaron’s magic with his own eyes. If anyone could escape from Smaug, it would surely be him.