The Worst-Case Scenario, Gandalf’s Request

Aaron was a little stunned. What was going on? The Woodland King was extending an olive branch to him?

The friendship of the elves lay before him, but after hesitating for a moment, Aaron still shook his head. "Thank you for thinking so highly of me, but Thorin and the others are my friends."

"Legolas can be your friend too." Thranduil smiled. "His personality is ten thousand times better than those stubborn dwarves. You two will definitely get along."

Aaron:…

You really have the nerve to say that? Who was it that personally threw us into the dungeons?

An ill-timed laugh rang out in the tent, and Bilbo blinked awkwardly.

"Uh… a lot of people admire him. Dwarves, Smaug, humans, and now elves too."

"Wait." Gandalf asked in surprise, "You said Smaug?"

"When Smaug was in Erebor, he proposed working with Aaron. They could build an unprecedentedly vast kingdom together, but Aaron turned him down."

As soon as those words fell, the human representatives, the elven king, and the Grey Wizard all stared at Aaron in astonishment, unable to understand what sort of magic this child possessed to win a dragon’s favor.

"Haha, don’t look at me like that. It’s embarrassing." Aaron scratched his head awkwardly. "I’m just an ordinary wizard. I only happen to know a little Dragon Language."

"Who exactly are you?" Bard asked curiously. "Your abilities don’t match your age at all."

"Do you really want to know?"

Bard nodded blankly, and the others were equally intrigued.

"Fine. Since you’re asking so sincerely, I’ll reluctantly tell you." Aaron cleared his throat, puffed out his chest, and declared, "I am the sole heir of the Gaius Family, and the most outstanding one in a century. Both my father and grandfather believe that I will restore the family’s glory. In fact, that’s exactly what I’m doing now."

Everyone:…

He seemed to have said something, yet somehow he had said nothing at all.

"Back to business!" Gandalf broke the inexplicable atmosphere in the tent. "King Thranduil, three days will prove everything."

"But if I do not receive what I want, then we can only settle this with war," Thranduil said. "The fury of the elves is no less than that of the dwarves. I hope you—especially one particular person—will not disappoint me."

"We certainly won’t." Gandalf promised, "We need to make a trip to Erebor and have Thorin notify Dain. His temper is even more explosive. It would be terrible if he fails to restrain the Ironfoot Army."

"Wait." Aaron stopped him, his expression turning grave. "I overlooked one problem. At the latest, the orcs will need two days to reach the Lonely Mountain. What about the earliest?"

"Then we have even less time. If they march at full speed, the enemy could arrive tomorrow."

"What time tomorrow?" Aaron pressed. "Morning, noon, or evening?"

Gandalf furrowed his brows and thought for a moment. "If nothing goes wrong, probably noon."

"And if something does go wrong?" Aaron looked nervously at the slowly setting sun outside. "This is war. Errors in intelligence can be fatal. We need to prepare for the worst."

Gandalf froze. After pondering for a long time, he said with slight panic, "Dawn. At the fastest, the orc army could be at the City Gate by dawn tomorrow."

"So soon?" Bilbo found it hard to accept. They did not even have time to prepare before the enemy army came charging at them.

"It is that soon." Gandalf said anxiously, "King Thranduil, please have your troops organized and ready for battle at any moment."

Thranduil frowned slightly and said after some thought, "The elves will form ranks before River Valley City tomorrow morning. You must explain everything clearly to Oakenshield. If he misunderstands, I will not hold back either."

"I will do my best to persuade him."

"Bard," Aaron said, "have the people of Long Lake Town prepare for battle as well. Better to believe it than not.

"Also, the gold you asked for may have to be delayed for a few days. We’ll have to wait until this battle is over."

Bard nodded, then walked out of the tent.

Gandalf followed Aaron and Bilbo toward Erebor.

When they reached the foot of the city wall, Gandalf looked at the rope hanging from above and inexplicably sensed a hint of malice.

Couldn’t they have made a basket? Was it really appropriate for someone his age to climb a city wall by rope?

"Gandalf." Kili urged from above, "What are you standing around for? Grab the rope, and we’ll pull you up."

Gandalf shook his head helplessly, tied the rope around himself, and was hauled up by several dwarves.

"Why does his expression look so awkward?" Bilbo asked with a frown.

"It’s about to get even more awkward." Aaron tied a knot around Bilbo with the rope. "Thorin won’t be easy to persuade."

"That’s true. Just thinking about it is a headache."

Once they reached the city wall, a group of dwarves immediately gathered around them.

"How did the negotiations go?" Balin asked. "What did Bard say?"

"As long as the money is in place, he won’t start a war."

"Then that’s good." Balin breathed a sigh of relief. "We can fight the elves, but there’s really no need to fight humans."

"Gandalf, where did you go?" Bofur looked at him in confusion. "Why are you only getting here now?"

"Something serious has happened, Bofur.

"Where is Thorin? He has to know about this."

"Thorin…" Balin paused slightly. "He’s sitting on the throne in the hall."

"Oh, heavens!" Gandalf rolled his eyes. "He’s following in his grandfather’s footsteps, and at a time like this too."

"It can’t be that bad, can it?" Bilbo said. "He agreed to give part of the gold to the people of Long Lake Town!"

"That only proves he could still keep a clear head before. But now, it’s hard to say." Gandalf said wearily. "Never underestimate the power of gold, especially gold that a dragon has occupied for so long. Anyone who walks into this mountain will have their heart tainted by the dragon’s evil presence."

"Not everyone." Aaron looked at Bilbo, then at the dozen or so dwarves beside them. "Definitely not. I have faith in Thorin. He won’t become his grandfather."

"Let’s hope so." Gandalf sighed and hurried down the stairs.

When they arrived at the hall, the three stood amid a sea of gold coins and looked up at Thorin, who wore a crown.

At that moment, Thorin felt unfamiliar to all of them. His eyes were vacant, almost entirely devoid of color.

Aaron and Bilbo exchanged a glance. They had only been gone for half a day, yet Thorin’s change was far too great.

"Thorin."

"Gandalf, you’re back. Have you come to congratulate me?"

"No. I came to inform you.

"The orc army is on the march. They are preparing to attack Erebor."

"Dain’s Ironfoot Army will slaughter them all. Anyone who wants to steal my gold deserves to die."

Aaron frowned slightly. "What about the portion promised to the people of Long Lake Town?"

"That… I… that’s different." Thorin struggled for a moment before stammering, "I’ll give it to them, but isn’t one-fifteenth a little too much?"

Aaron chuckled and shook his head. Hopefully, Thorin could pull himself out of this. Otherwise, Aaron would have no choice but to use some unconventional measures.

"One-fifteenth really is a little too much. Let’s just cut it in half!

"One-thirtieth, then."

"Aaron." Thorin smiled with relief. "That’s more like it! There’s no need for you to wrong yourself over a group of unrelated people.

"What did you come to see me for?"

"The orc army," Gandalf emphasized anxiously. "At the earliest, they will attack Erebor tomorrow; at the latest, the day after tomorrow.

"We hope you can explain things to Dain and tell him not to start a war with the elves yet. Facing the strong enemy together is the most urgent matter right now."

"I understand." Thorin said indifferently. "Dain is my cousin. He will listen to me, but like me, he does not like elves."

"There’s no problem on Thranduil’s side." Bilbo said. "The elven army will be stationed in Dale. They will not attack Erebor anytime soon."

"They don’t have the ability to, anyway." A trace of disdain flashed through Thorin’s eyes. "Get some rest. Tomorrow, put on armor, take up weapons, and protect our gold."

The three looked at one another, but since they had achieved their goal, there was no need to waste time.

After leaving the hall, Bilbo went to the City Gate to tell the other dwarves about their negotiations in River Valley City. He focused on the possibility that the orcs might return to attack Erebor and told everyone to prepare for battle.

Gandalf, however, found Aaron. "I should apologize to you. If I’m not mistaken, the hardest tasks in the group have all fallen on you, haven’t they?"

"Just say what you want to say." Aaron rolled his eyes. "I may be young, but don’t treat me like a child you can fool. You can’t fool me."

Gandalf froze for a moment. "I mean it sincerely."

"So do I." Aaron spread his hands. "So can you be more honest?"

"Fine!" Gandalf hesitated for a while. "I can see that you really do not want to take part in this war, but I still hope you can give your all and contribute more to the allied army."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk!" Aaron clicked his tongue and looked at Gandalf with a half-smile. "When you left the group halfway through, Thorin and the others were nearly eaten by the giant spiders of Mirkwood. You weren’t there. I risked my life to lure away more than twenty spiders and saved everyone.

"When we were locked in the dungeons by the Woodland Elves, you weren’t there. I pried open the cell door and let Bilbo out to find the waterway so we could barely escape.

"When Bolg chased us all the way and Kili was struck by a Morgul arrow, nearly dying from the poison, you weren’t there. I was the one who prepared medicine to keep him alive.

"When Durin’s Day finally came and Thorin and the others still could not find the Secret Door, you weren’t there. I took out… a magic compass and found the keyhole.

"And most, most, most outrageously of all, when we were fighting Smaug for our lives, you weren’t there. I spent a great deal of magic power and a Magic Crystal to set a trap in Long Lake Town, and that was how we killed it."

Those repeated words—you weren’t there—hammered heavily against Gandalf’s heart, making him so embarrassed that he could barely lift his head. The words "I’m sorry" slipped out as well. He had left so freely back then, but most of the pressure had fallen on Aaron, a mere boy. It was rather unfair.

"Although your apology doesn’t have much sincerity, I’ll reluctantly accept it.

"But what I’m saying is, the fact that I managed not to hit you is already me respecting the elderly and caring for the young. Where do you get the nerve to ask me to contribute even more?"

Gandalf:…