Chapter 233 The Dwarf Visitors Arrive One After Another
Aaron changed into clean clothes and stood in front of a mirror, briefly tidying his hair.
It was his first time meeting someone as hospitable as Bilbo Baggins. Although the guest room was relatively small, it was fully equipped, almost as good as the master bedroom.
The most important thing was that Bilbo didn't intend to charge him. The reason was simple: charging a child with memory loss would make his conscience uneasy.
Aaron placed all his current possessions on the table: ten gold coins.
In this world, gold coins were hard currency. He planned to leave two when he departed, as a thank you for Bilbo's care.
Then he closed the door, gently bolted it, and drew the curtains, leaving no gaps.
After ensuring sufficient privacy, he began to draw a summoning magic circle on the floor.
The white magic circle emitted a faint light, but it quickly subsided.
"So I can't summon Abey?" Aaron frowned slightly. "Specific magical creatures from another world won't work, but ordinary animals from this world should be possible, though whether they'll obey is another matter."
"Gaius." A knock sounded, followed by Bilbo's voice, "Come out for dinner."
"Coming."
Aaron emerged from the guest room and saw two pan-fried grass carp on the dining table, still steaming hot.
"The seasonings are here. You can add salt and pepper to your taste." Bilbo pushed the seasoning bowls towards Aaron, then hesitated for a moment before saying, "If you don't like fish, there's cheese, fruit, vegetables, bread, and various meats in the pantry."
"This is already very good, I'm not that picky.
However, I would be very happy if there was wine."
"Wine?" Bilbo paused, then shook his head, "You can't drink wine, you're too young."
"I told you not to treat me like a child. My alcohol tolerance might not be worse than yours."
"Still no."
"The guest follows the host's lead." Aaron spread his hands helplessly. He just wanted a drink to celebrate his peaceful first day in another world, why was it so difficult!
Ding-a-ling!
Bilbo had just put on his napkin and sprinkled some salt on the fried fish when the doorbell rang.
"I'll get the door."
Aaron stood up and walked towards the door. When he opened it, he saw a shiny light bulb... or rather, a bald head illuminated by candlelight.
This middle-aged man was a bit taller than Bilbo, without pointed ears or thick-soled feet. His initial assessment was that he was a Dwarf.
The Dwarf saw Aaron, was surprised for a moment, then respectfully bowed, "Dwalin, at your service."
Aaron:...What's going on?
Is this Dwarf etiquette? But 'at your service' is a bit exaggerated, isn't it?
"Uh... wait a moment." Aaron turned around, "Mr. Baggins, do you know a Dwarf named Dwalin?"
Bilbo walked to the door and scrutinized the dusty Dwalin, his expression becoming a bit strange.
"Do we know each other?"
"No." Dwalin said directly, then walked into Bag End on his own.
"Bilbo, I personally think letting strangers into your home is a hasty decision."
"I thought so too, but you opened the door."
Aaron's mouth twitched slightly. So reasonable, I'm speechless.
"Which way, little brother, this way?" Dwalin asked, untying his cloak.
"What's which way?" Bilbo asked, puzzled.
"Dinner." Dwalin tossed his cloak to Bilbo, "He said there would be food, and lots of it."
"He said?" Bilbo looked bewildered, "Who said?"
"No need to guess, it's Gandalf." Aaron pointed to the door, where a blue glowing symbol had appeared. "This is probably the mark."
Hearing this, Bilbo blinked, "Why did he do that?"
"Is this dinner!" Dwalin's rough voice came from inside, "I'm too hungry, so I'll help myself."
"I don't know his reason for doing this, but I know robbers don't greet you before robbing your house."
By the time the two walked to the dining table, half of Bilbo's fish had already been gnawed by Dwalin, and not even the side dishes were spared.
As soon as he placed his gaze on the opposite plate, Aarondecisively sat back in his seat, stabbing his own dinner with a fork.
Dwalin also felt too embarrassed to snatch food from a child, so he picked up the remaining half of the fish and bit off its head in one go.
"This is delicious, is there more?"
"What?" Bilbo was stunned for a moment before realizing the other person wasn't full, "Yes."
He took a plate full of bread from another table, but as he handed it over, he inexplicably kept one for himself.
"Please help yourself."
Dwalin was also not at all polite, grabbing bread and stuffing it into his mouth, crumbs falling everywhere.
"It's just that I didn't expect visitors," Bilbo said.
"Then you probably need to be mentally prepared." Aaronreminded him with some reluctance, "Remember what Gandalf said?
'I'm looking for companions for an adventure,' 'I'll notify the others.'
If I'm not mistaken, many people will be coming tonight, and your house will be very lively.
And Mr. Dwalin said after coming in: He said there would be a lot of food here.
It's not hard to tell, these people are probably coming on empty stomachs."
As soon as his words fell, the doorbell rang again.
Bilbo was a bit confused. Opening the door seemed inappropriate, but not opening it... Dwalin glanced at Bilbosideways, "The doorbell is ringing."
Gulp!
Not opening the door seemed even more inappropriate.
Bilbo swallowed, giving Aaron a pleading look.
He didn't know why he was asking a teenager for help, but he was truly at a loss now.
"Don't look at me like that, it's your turn to open the door this time." Aaron made a gesture of invitation, "It would have been better if you had listened to my advice and hidden for a couple of days, but now you can only open the door."
Bilbo nodded with a heavy heart, and walked towards the door again.
"Kid." Dwalin looked at Aaron, "I need to confirm your name."
"Gaius, Aaron Gaius." Aaron calmly ate his dinner, "Remember this name, it will leave a legend in this world."
"Ha!" Dwalin's lips curled into a smile of appreciation, "I'll be waiting."
"Balin, at your service."
A white-haired, white-bearded Dwarf stood at the door, not young, but still robust and looking very spirited.
"Good evening," Bilbo said.
"Yes, it's very good." Balin looked up at the night sky, "Though I think it might rain."
"Am I late?"
"Uh... you're the second one to arrive."
"Then I'm not late." Balin walked into Bag End and saw Dwalin eating, letting out a hearty laugh, "Good evening, brother."
Dwalin also laughed when he saw an old acquaintance, "Heavens, you're fatter and shorter than when I last saw you."
"Only fatter, not shorter." Balin laughed, "And my brain is still sharper than yours."
The two engaged in a friendly exchange of glances, and after getting closer, they bumped their heads against each other's foreheads, then laughed in unison. This might be a special way friends communicate.
"Excuse me, I apologize, I didn't mean to interrupt.
But have you perhaps come to the wrong place?"
"Sigh!" Aaron sighed, "Bilbo, unless you tear down your door right now, they really haven't come to the wrong place."
Bilbo pursed his lips, not knowing what to say.
Dwalin and Balin, two old friends, chatted intimately, but their conversation soon led them to the kitchen.
"Have you eaten?"
"Not yet."
"What's this?"
"I don't know, cheese maybe, but it's turned blue and is full of mold."
...Bilbo saw them opening his wine barrel, and couldn't help but feel anxious. "It's not that I'm not hospitable, Hobbits are very hospitable, but I wish to know my guests first.
In fact, I don't know any of you. I don't want to be rude, but I must say... I'm sorry."
The two Dwarves, who had been chatting away, completely ignoring Bilbo, simultaneously fell silent and stared at him.
"I accept your apology." Balin smiled and nodded, then looked at Dwalin, "Fill my cup, don't be stingy."
Just then, the doorbell rang again.
Aaron put down his knife and fork, "I'll get the door for you this time!"
"Oh! Thank you." Bilbo indeed needed a moment to calm down and didn't want any more surprises.
The door opened, and two younger Dwarves stood outside, but compared to the previous two, they carried a considerable amount of gear.
"Fili."
"Kili."
"At your service."
"Welcome, please come in."
"You must be Mr. Gaius." Kili said with some curiosity, "Gandalf didn't tell us your age, it's quite a surprise."
Aaron's mouth twitched slightly. He had thought that Bilbowas the only one being dragged into the adventure, but he didn't expect Gandalf to not leave him out either.
Damn it, this is too much. I have amnesia and you still won't let me off the hook.
"Yes, that's me, Aaron Gaius." Aaron forced a smile, "May I presumptuously ask, what is that old immortal, no, what is his venerable old man's plan?"
"He'll tell you when he gets here." Fili said, "Is Mr. Bagginsin?"
"He's currently entertaining Dwalin and Balin."
"Thank heavens, it seems we're not late." Kili walked into the house with slight excitement, casually hanging the weapons he carried on Aaron's shoulder.
Fili, meanwhile, took off the sword from his back and placed it in Aaron's hand, "Be careful, I just had it sharpened."
Aaron raised an eyebrow and drew the sword a few inches, "Wow, the quality is decent, but the person you hired isn't that professional. There's still a tiny, tiny chip on the blade of this sword."
"You know about this?" Fili was a bit surprised.
"My ancestors were blacksmiths." Aaron smiled as he sheathed the sword, "I suggest you get a better one. Although this chip looks harmless, it's a fatal flaw when facing sharper weapons."
Hearing this, Fili nodded in silence.
It wasn't that he didn't want to change it, it was that he had no money.
"Don't step there, that's my mother's cedar chest." Bilbowalked over, stopping Kili from wiping mud off his shoes on his mother's chest.
"Fili, Kili, come help!"
Dwalin grabbed Kili's arm and pulled him towards the dining room. Fili followed.
The four Dwarves didn't rush to reminisce, but rather started tidying up the room.
"Put this in the hallway so everyone can get in." Balin, the elder, directed.
"How many people are coming anyway?" Bilbo asked, feeling a bit weary.
"Prepare for the worst." Aaron patted his shoulder, "For example, this room being packed.
But one thing I can be pretty sure of is that everyone coming is a Dwarf, except for Gandalf."
As his words fell, the doorbell rang again.
"Am I opening the door again this time?" Aaron placed Filiand Kili's weapons in the corner and was about to walk to the door when Bilbo cut in front of him.
He was furious, cursing as he walked.
"Nobody's home, go bother someone else, there are already too many Dwarves here.
Which idiot came up with this joke anyway, haha, it's simply tasteless."
Bilbo yanked the door open, ready to let the Dwarves outside witness the wrath of an honest man.
However, as soon as the door opened, a pile of Dwarves uncontrollably tumbled in from the doorway.
"Ow!"
"Get up, you fatso."
Silently comparing the numbers, Bilbo very wisely swallowed the words he was about to say.
At this moment, a pair of blue eyes appeared before the two of them. Gandalf was bending down, peering into Bag End.
"Gandalf." Bilbo looked at him angrily.
Aaron, meanwhile, showed a standard fake smile, "Grey-robed wizard, I think we need an explanation."
"There will be an explanation, but before that, could the owner of this Hobbit-hole please entertain the guests who have come a long way?" Gandalf said with an embarrassed smile, "After all, it wasn't easy for me to organize this adventure."
"We don't object to you organizing an adventure, but why meet at Mr. Bilbo Baggins' house?
Even if we meet at Mr. Baggins' house, why didn't you say anything in advance? We had no psychological preparation at all.
Of course, these aren't major issues. For hospitable Hobbits, a few days of annoyance will pass, as long as you haven't added us to the adventure list."
"This..." Gandalf hesitated for a moment, "I will respect your own wishes. Whether to go or not is up to you."
Aaron breathed a sigh of relief, then looked at Bilbo beside him, "Mr. Baggins, I can only help you gain some initiative, but what needs to be done still needs to be done."
"I understand." Bilbo looked at the Dwarves who were gradually gathering in the room where Dwalin was, and said with some weariness, "Hobbits will entertain these visitors well."
"No, you don't understand. You need to be prepared for a huge expense. They'll probably have a feast at your house.
If possible, I hope you'll help me bottle some wine, because if nothing unexpected happens, the barrel will be emptied very quickly."
"Children can't drink alcohol." Bilbo said bluntly, and then realized, "It's not that serious, is it!"
"It's always good to be more prepared." Aaron said with some sympathy, "I suggest you write down your losses with pen and paper, and then claim reimbursement from Gandalf. To some extent, he is the culprit."
Gandalf:...