Chapter 311 Interruption

Chapter 311 Interruption

"The people of the Brandybuck family are always weird."

During a casual chat, Bilbo mentioned Frodo's mother's family to Levi.

"It's inevitable."

Bilbo's neighbor, Old Two-Foot, who lived at No. 2 Bagheed Road, heard Bilbo's words when he passed by and also interjected: "After all, their family lives in the strangest part of Brandywine River, the area closest to the old forest. There is something wrong with that forest, it is dark and terrible, and there are strange noises from time to time. Who knows if their family has been affected by something."

"Mr. Drogo Baggins is a respectable and honorable hobbit, but I cannot understand why any of the Bagginses of Hobbiton would go so far to get a wife."

"But their boy Frodo is very polite. He is the best boy I have ever seen."

"Well... that's not surprising. After all, his father is a Baggins."

Two-legged Daddy walked away mumbling.

"It seems that your family has a good reputation." Levi teased Bilbo.

Bilbo just shrugged.

"You know, all hobbits like a stable life."

"And our Baggins family is almost synonymous with 'following the rules', which is appreciated by many people and makes my ancestors highly respected."

"Yeah--"

A gentle voice interrupted at an inopportune moment.

The old man in a grey robe stood in front of the two men with a cane, blocking the sunlight impolitely, and said to Bilbo: "But from what I have seen, there is a Hobbit from the Baggins family who is full of adventurous spirit."

"There are always exceptions, and you are late, Gandalf!"

Bilbo stood up immediately, and although his tone was full of complaints, his actions were honest and he hugged Gandalf.

"Forgive me, Bilbo, I was delayed for two days by some little business, or I would never have missed your birthday."

He looked at Levi and said, "Well...I really regret this. I guess there must be a lot of delicious food at the banquet."

Gandalf grinned and said with a smile: "Long time no see, Levi."

"Long time no see, Gandalf."

Levi responded to the old friend's greeting.

The two patted each other on the shoulders, a greeting that was considered quite intimate among elves.

"You've changed a lot."

Almost at first sight, Gandalf noticed something a little different, mainly in temperament.

He sighed softly, then suddenly smiled and said, "Look at it more positively, Levi. Some things have to be experienced."

“I’ve always been very open-minded.”

"It would be better this way."

Without dwelling on this remark, Gandalf turned to look at Bilbo and continued with the previous topic: "I don't think you are an exception, Bilbo."

"I told you before that your grandfather, Galencius Took, Old Took, was a man full of adventure. When the White Wolf invaded the Shire, the Brandybuck family sounded the call for mobilization, and he was the first to take the lead in responding. Together with other Hobbits who came to support, they drove out those beasts and maintained peace in the Shire."

When Gandalf mentioned this, he couldn't help but sigh:

"My old friend... Old Took, we have lived in harmony for more than a hundred years since we met. Every time he organized a midsummer party, I would attend it - bringing the fireworks I carefully prepared."

"Once, I gave him a pair of magic diamond buttons as a gift. I can still remember how happy he was at that time. He said it was the most important day in his life."

"But now the buttons are buried with him."

At this point Gandalf smiled again. There was neither sadness nor heaviness in his words, only a remembrance of his old friend - a calm remembrance of the beautiful friendship that had lasted for a hundred years.

"Oh, of course I know. My grandfather, Galencius Took, is the longest-lived Hobbit in recorded history, 130 years old. I dare not even think about it."

"That's not necessarily true..." Gandalf looked at Bilbo and said meaningfully.

"What?"

"I mean, you forgot one thing. Old Tuk has the record of having the most offspring."

"I know that, too." Bilbo nodded.

Listening to the two people chatting, Levi's mouth curled up slightly, and he felt that the sun was particularly warm today.

Bilbo is a wonderful Hobbit, perhaps it is indeed related to his ancestors. He has both the comfortable optimism of the Baggins family and the courage and adventurous spirit of the Took family.

That was why old Gandalf was able to successfully lure him out of the Shire.

This old man is so bad.

After chatting for a while, the three of them went into the house together. As the host here, Bilbo was very enthusiastic to boil water for tea and find some snacks.

Taking advantage of this gap, Gandalf told Levi about what he had seen and heard during this period.

"I saw the sign you left in Moria, and the campfire."

"Oh, so you went inside to explore?"

"Indeed, it was very quiet there. I walked for a long time without encountering anything, not even a bat."

After a brief pause, Gandalf continued, "The dwarves have some ideas about that place. Last year, Balin asked me about the situation in Moria. I told him about my experiences and observations, and then he asked me if now was a good time to reclaim his homeland."

"So what did you say?"

Gandalf shook his head slightly and said, "My advice is - don't go for now, wait a little longer."

"Why?" Levi asked curiously.

“There’s an indescribable feeling.”

Recalling the situation inside Moria, Gandalf's brows unconsciously frowned slightly.

"I feel there is a deeply hidden evil force there. Perhaps the dwarves can indeed successfully retake their homeland, but it will definitely not last long. I'm afraid it will be another tragedy by then."

"Your feeling is correct."

Levi answered confidently: "Perhaps most of the orcs and other creatures lurking in there have been eliminated, but there is still a fire demon missing. I have been looking for it for several times but have not seen any trace of it."

"I guess it may have gone back deep underground and fallen asleep."

"But no matter what, it definitely hasn't left there. Many years ago, Lady Galadriel and I worked together to stop it from leaving the mountains. As long as Nengya, one of the three elves' rings, has not lost its power, it will not be able to step out of the mountains."

"I have heard of this." Gandalf nodded.

Nengya has the power to understand, create and protect. The Golden Forest can always remain alive and vibrant because of this ring.

If the protection of Nengya is lost, the forest will wither in no time, and the elves of the Golden Forest will lose their home.

For this reason, Lady Galadriel would never stray too far from the Golden Forest unless necessary.

"Fortunately, Balin was relatively rational. He just complained a few words at the time, but still chose to follow my advice."

Gandalf was obviously quite optimistic about Balin, the wise man among the dwarves.

No wonder they have a good relationship. Such a calm and thoughtful dwarf will indeed get along well with the wizard.

(End of this chapter)

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