Chapter 250 The Conflict between Dwarves and Elves
Whoosh!
An arrow suddenly shot out from the trees, but its target wasn't Aaron, but the magic wand in his hand.
Hearing the whoosh, Aaron's body reacted instantly, dodging sideways while grabbing the arrow with his left hand.
"Who?" Aaron looked in the direction the arrow came from, questioning coldly.
The person in the shadows didn't come out, but shot a second arrow.
"Are you taking advantage of my kindness?!"
Aaron was furious, switching the arrow from his left hand to his right, and threw it.
The two arrows collided in mid-air with a clang, and the arrow Aaron threw with force was split in half, falling to his left and right.
Looking at the arrow that landed just a few meters in front of him, Aaron couldn't help but gulp.
An expert, this was definitely an expert.
Now, the enemy was hidden and he was exposed; the situation was very unfavorable for him.
Legolas in the shadows was also secretly surprised; a Wizardcould block an arrow he shot, and in such a way.
"Who are you? What is your purpose in coming here?"
The voice came from all directions, making it impossible to pinpoint the speaker's location.
"I'm just passing by." Aaron chuckled awkwardly, "I swear on behalf of the Gaius Family that I have no other purpose."
"Gaius?" Legolas frowned slightly, "I don't think I've ever heard of that surname."
"An unknown nobody, not worth mentioning."
"Hmph! An unknown nobody couldn't kill more than twenty spiders by himself."
"Luck, pure luck.
To be honest, this magic, I used it for the first time, I didn't even expect it to succeed." Aaron said seriously, his expression conveying two words: honesty.
Legolas didn't believe a word of this explanation. If it were an ordinary spell, it could be explained by luck, but that was a super high-level spell, and by no means could it be explained by luck.
"Well, I have something else to do, so I'll be leaving."
With that, Aaron turned and ran without looking back.
Are you kidding? The questioning tone of the other party clearly indicated that he was a native of Mirkwood. A strong dragon doesn't oppress a local snake, and offending an Elf on their territory was not a wise move.
Furthermore, the other party's confident attitude seemed to suggest he was capable of suppressing a Wizard who had killed over twenty spiders.
In this situation, running was naturally the best strategy; if he waited any longer, he wouldn't even have a chance to escape.
"Legolas." A female Elf asked, "Should we pursue him?"
"No need, Tauriel." Legolas smiled slightly, picked up an arrow, and shot it out.
The arrow's trajectory formed a parabola, landing exactly one meter in front of Aaron.
Legolas quickly shot three more arrows, aligning them in a row with the first, with almost no error in spacing.
Aaron's eye twitched slightly, and he laughed exasperatedly at the roadblock in front of him.
"What does this mean? A display of force?"
"I'm just telling you what will happen if you keep running forward. If you're not afraid, you can continue."
Aaron patted his forehead, "If you've got the guts, come out. What kind of hero hides and sneaks around?"
"As you wish."
Legolas jumped down from the tree, aiming an arrow at Aaron, "Wizard, what brings you here?"
"I really am just passing by." Aaron said wearily. In this day and age, no one believes the truth; most people only believe what they want to believe.
"Is that so? Where are you going?" Legolas sneered, "Lies can't fool an Elf."
"Sorry, I can't tell you that." Aaron said.
"Do you think I wouldn't dare to kill you?"
"You certainly would dare, but you won't.
After all, I'm only thirteen, no, half a year has passed, I'm already fourteen.
Ahem, Elves wouldn't kill a fourteen-year-old child."
"It doesn't seem difficult for a Wizard to change his appearance." Legolas said, drawing his bowstring.
Hearing this, Aaron was completely stunned.
No wonder Flo said to hide his identity as a Wizard before they set off; it turns out it's really inconvenient if it's exposed.
"But I really am just a child, believe me!"
Legolas was unmoved; he couldn't believe that a young man's magic and combat power could be so exaggerated.
"Hmph!"
Aaron took a deep breath, "I don't want to offend the Elves. Let me leave here, and we can all pretend nothing happened, okay?"
"What if I don't agree?"
"Then there's nothing I can do." Aaron slowly raised his magic wand, "Guess, which is faster, my spell or your arrow?"
Legolas smiled slightly and decisively shot an arrow.
"Expelliarmus."
Legolas retreated several steps, his bow knocked from his hand, but the arrow he shot also knocked Aaron's magicwand away.
Both of them came to their senses, their bodies reacting instinctively.
They both abandoned their weapons on the ground and resorted to close-quarters combat.
Legolas was agile, and Aaron was not far behind, but the experience Elves had accumulated over a long time gradually gave Legolas the upper hand.
After a dozen rounds, Legolas pulled an arrow from his back and held it against Aaron's neck.
"Don't move. Now we can talk properly.
Who are you? Where are you from? What is your purpose in coming here?"
"Before asking those questions, please look closely." Aaronsaid with a meaningful smile.
Legolas paused, slowly lowered his head, and a white magicwand was pressed against his abdomen.
"You have a second magic wand?"
"I lack a sense of security, so I like to be prepared." Aaronshrugged, "How about it? Want to try again and see whose arrow is faster, or my spell?"
Legolas's face darkened, then he sneered, "Do you think you've won?"
"Of course not, but sometimes not losing is winning." Aaronsaid, "This stalemate isn't working. How about we both let go on the count of three?"
"Okay."
"One, two, three..."
Legolas released the arrow in his hand, but Aaron did not release his magic wand.
"Hmph!" Legolas snorted disdainfully, as if he had expected this, "Sly human."
Aaron gave a dry laugh and put away his magic wand.
It's better to be a villain first and a gentleman later; it's never too careful when you can't be sure of an enemy's character.
"I'm sorry, I apologize to you." Aaron said politely, "I was judging a gentleman with the heart of a villain, but I hope you understand, after all, I wouldn't put my life and property in the hands of a stranger."
Legolas raised an eyebrow in surprise. Now he was basically sure that this Wizard wasn't a bad person, because a bad person would never have let go of the opportunity just now.
"You, are you really just passing by?"
"It couldn't be more real. I just want to pass through this forest, and I absolutely have no intention of disturbing the Elves."
Legolas nodded thoughtfully, "I'll believe you for now. Do you need me to send someone to escort you out?"
"Absolutely not necessary." Aaron blurted out.
If he were alone, he would naturally be delighted, but the problem was there were also thirteen Dwarves and one Hobbit.
The Hobbit was fine, but the Elves here had no fondness for Dwarves. Once they met, it would be a clash of thunder and fire, and he wouldn't be able to explain it even with more mouths.
"Why?"
"Why indeed?" Aaron's mind raced, and he said with righteous indignation, "This is my own journey; I don't need anyone else's help."
Hearing this, Legolas suddenly felt some admiration for this Wizard, "My name is Legolas, what is your name?"
"Gaius, Aaron Gaius.
Also, I really am only fourteen."
"Don't joke, okay?"
"No choice, the joy of a genius is just so... simple, unadorned, and boring."
Legolas opened his mouth, he was being shown off.
"Alright! I wish you a pleasant journey."
Aaron breathed a sigh of relief. Getting rid of this Elf was truly not easy.
However, just then, a commotion came from not far away, and the other members of the expedition team came rushing over, shouting his name.
Aaron:...Holy crab! Could you have died if you were a minute or two later?
"Dwarves." Legolas's expression changed, and his gaze towards Aaron became more suspicious, "It seems you have some things you haven't told me."
"Uh... I can explain."
Legolas chuckled lightly, then flipped over and picked up his bow and arrows from the ground.
Aaron didn't have time to think much and decisively picked up his first magic wand.
"Elves." Thorin looked coldly at Legolas as he approached, directly drawing orcrist.
The others also cautiously drew their weapons; a battle seemed inevitable.
"Calm down, everyone, calm down, don't fight!" Aaron said anxiously, "Thorin, there's no need to be so tense, put your sword away."
"You tell him to put away his bow and arrows first."
"Impossible." Legolas said, "Don't think I won't kill you, Dwarf, I'd be happy to oblige."
"Heh! How many arrows do you have? Enough to kill us?" Thorin said scornfully.
Legolas waved his hand, and over twenty Elves jumped out from all directions, surrounding them, followed by the sound of bowstrings being drawn continuously.
"That should be enough now." Legolas smiled, "What do you think?"
"I can explain." Aaron said weakly.
"Of course, but we'll have to change locations, what do you think?"
Aaron shook his head speechlessly and silently placed both magic wands on the ground, "Put down your weapons! Circumstances are stronger than men, one must bow one's head."
The Dwarves were naturally unwilling, but seeing the arrows pointed at them from all sides, there was nothing they could do, however unwilling they were.
"Search them."
The Elves confiscated all the expedition team's weapons and supplies. As for other things, they didn't care, which allowed Bilbo to fortunately keep his ring, though his sword was not kept.
"Lord Legolas, this is an ancient Elven blade." An Elf handed orcrist to Legolas.
"This sword comes from Gondolin, forged by the Noldor Elves." Legolas turned to Thorin, "Where did you get it?"
"It was given to me by someone else."
"Not only a thief, but also a liar."
"He's telling the truth." Aaron said sincerely, "I saw King Elrond give him orcrist with my own eyes."
"King Elrond?" Legolas was stunned for a moment, "What proof do you have?"
"My weapon." Aaron pointed to his Elven weapon, "This was given to me by Lindir of Rivendell; he is King Elrond's confidant.
I originally had a set of bow and arrows too, but I used them all up.
If you don't believe me, you can send someone to Rivendellto verify. If they're not there, you can also go find Queen Galadriel; I met her once."
Legolas frowned, "Take them away first."
The expedition team finally found the way, but sadly, they were being escorted. They had been captured several times on this journey.
Unlike Rivendell, the Wood Elves' palace was built within the dense forest, its interior composed of giant crisscrossing trees and rocks, slightly dim but still grand and magnificent.
The fifteen people were separated and locked into cells. Aaron and Bilbo were imprisoned together, while the Dwarves each had their own cell.
"This is unfair, why do they get single rooms?" Aaronexpressed his dissatisfaction with the Elves' discrimination.
"There aren't enough cells, is that reason satisfactory?" Legolas asked.
"Satisfactory, what can I say?"
"You'd best think about what to say later. My father should be seeing you all.
You are not Dwarves. Out of respect for King Elrond and Queen Galadriel, if your explanation can satisfy the King, or if your attitude is better, perhaps you can avoid imprisonment."
"Really?"
"Fake." Thorin immediately poured cold water on it, "These Elves are not to be trusted; they won't keep their promises."
Legolas snorted coldly. He didn't care what the Dwarves thought, but he had great trust in his father.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The cell doors were closed one by one. When it was Kili's turn, he smiled at the female Elf Tauriel, "Aren't you going to search me? I might have something hidden in my pants."
"Or perhaps nothing at all." Tauriel gave him a deep look and closed the cell door.
"Why was that Dwarf staring at you, Tauriel?" Legolas asked.
"Who knows? He's quite tall for a Dwarf, don't you think?"
"Taller than average, but just as ugly." Legolas glared at Kiliand turned to leave.
After all the Elves had left, Aaron looked at Kilimeaningfully and teased, "Buddy, you have good taste! But you're a bit over your head."
"What do you mean?" "Listen to my advice, find another target." Aaron sighed, "Although I admire your spirit for daring to compete with a prince for a woman, your chances are truly not just slim, they're practically non-existent.
In terms of family background, ability, looks, and personality, Legolas absolutely crushes you."
"How old are you? What does a fourteen-year-old child know?" Kili said defiantly, "My mother always said that the miracle of love has nothing to do with those things."
Aaron blinked, then gave him a thumbs-up, "You have a great mother."
"Gentlemen, is this the time to be talking about this?" Bilbosaid anxiously, "We are prisoners now, shouldn't we be thinking about how to escape?"
"That's right." Dwalin slammed the door, and Fili and Oinfollowed suit, but the cell door didn't budge at all.
"It's no use." The eldest, Balin, said, "This isn't an Orc dungeon; this is the Woodland King's palace. No one can leave without the King's permission.
But fortunately, we have this opportunity. There's a treasure in the Lonely Mountain that the Woodland King desires. In a way, we hold a certain amount of leverage."