The Tarnished in LOTR with Elden Ring

When Tarnes and Gandalf emerged from the corner, they saw Fili and Kili just leaving the guest room.

After learning that his uncle Thorin's father had been rescued, the familiar foolish grin returned to the young Dwarf Kili's face.

"Where are you planning to go?" Tarnes asked.

Kili replied without hesitation: "Oh, Thorin told Fili and me to go to Lake-town's market together."

Balin then emerged from the room, saying: "Of course, and me too. Thorin wouldn't feel comfortable letting just you two young ones go out alone."

Then Balin bowed respectfully to Tarnes, and when he looked up, he asked with a smile: "It looks like you and Gandalf have settled whatever you needed to discuss?"

Tarnes nodded but noticed that neither Balin nor Fili and Kili asked about the results, instead continuing downstairs.

Balin seemed to see what Tarnes was thinking and added with a smile: "Thorin instructed us not to ask you about the outcome. He said that ultimately, this is the Dwarves' matter. You've already provided more than enough help, and whatever choice you make, he'll always consider you an eternal ally."

After saying this, he called to Fili and Kili to head downstairs.

The Dwarf brothers respectfully bowed to Tarnes before also leaving.

After the three had gone downstairs, Gandalf said with some surprise: "It seems you've gotten along very well with the Dwarves during my absence. This is the first time I've seen Dwarves actively refuse an ally's help."

After all, Dwarves had withheld Thranduil's jewels and considered the Elves traitors when they didn't send military aid.

Thinking of his months of interaction with the Dwarves, Tarnes showed a weary expression and replied: "I've earned it."

Gandalf immediately understood Tarnes' experience with the Dwarves over these months, showing an "I understand" expression.

After greeting Millicent and Bernahl outside the door again, Tarnes re-entered the crowded guest room with Gandalf.

Thorin looked over and asked: "Do you still have time to complete Bard's commission?"

Tarnes smiled and nodded: "Of course, this matter must be seen through to the end."

Gandalf reminded: "However, Tarnes has at most two days, after that..."

Though he didn't finish, Thorin understood Gandalf's meaning.

So he nodded: "Balin has already taken Fili and Kili to the market. They have enough manpower for now. Then please trouble you and Bilbo to walk around Lake-town together and gather some intelligence."

Tarnes nodded, then looked at Gandalf: "Are you coming too?"

Gandalf quickly shook his head, saying slyly: "Spare these old bones. I haven't rested at all these days looking for you. Besides, I used some tricks when entering Lake-town so no one noticed me. If I appear with you, it would certainly attract troublesome attention."

Tarnes curled his lip. He could tell from Gandalf's expression that the old man didn't want to go out.

Therefore, when Tarnes and Bilbo walked out the inn door, breathing Lake-town's cold air, only Millicent followed behind them.

Bilbo opened his mouth, then closed it.

Noticing Bilbo's manner, Tarnes asked curiously: "What do you want to say, Bilbo?"

Bilbo folded his hands across his chest, looked left and right, then approached Tarnes and stood on tiptoe to whisper: "Um, I heard your conversation with Thorin and Gandalf. Is there going to be a war here?"

Tarnes bent down and also whispered: "I'm not certain, but from what Gandalf said, most likely yes. But Bilbo, you don't need to worry. I'll send you somewhere safe before the war starts."

But Bilbo said in surprise: "Me? Oh no, I'm not worried about that."

He whispered again: "I mean, if you need to steal something from the enemy, perhaps I could help. I really like you all and those Dwarves. Though the Dwarves are a bit stubborn and sometimes quite rude. But I don't want you to lose, so I want to help too."

After hearing Bilbo's words, Tarnes was stunned for a moment until Bilbo cleared his throat softly, bringing him back to his senses.

Looking at this Hobbit whose eyes no longer showed timidity, he sighed with emotion: "You've really grown a lot, Bilbo. The Hobbit, who once only wanted to stay in Bag End reading, eating, smoking, and passing time, has become a man who wants to actively help his friends, even though such a choice might very well mean sacrificing himself."

Then Tarnes patted Bilbo's shoulder firmly, and the other's body only swayed slightly.

If it were before, Bilbo would probably have cried out in pain, right?

With this thought, Tarnes straightened up and walked forward, signaling Bilbo to follow: "Don't worry, if there's really a need, I'll ask for your help."

Bilbo showed a pleased expression, then remembered something and quickly caught up, saying: "I think your words just now were ambiguous. I never planned to sacrifice myself to do anything for you; I just wanted to do what I could."

It seemed in this instant, he was still the same old Hobbit.

Tarnes shrugged with a smile: "Of course, staying alive is certainly a good thing."

Bilbo muttered: "I feel like you didn't quite get my meaning..."

Millicent, following behind the two, heard Tarnes' comforting voice and Bilbo's quiet complaints, and the corners of her mouth curved into a faint arc.

Just as the three were planning to try their luck at Lake-town's southern fish market, they were stopped by a sneaky middle-aged woman.

She wore a somewhat worn and faded orange-yellow headscarf, wrapped in an equally worn thick gray cotton coat, with some fish scales stuck to her hem, giving off a slight fishy smell.

When this middle-aged woman discovered Tarnes and his two companions were strangers, she first hid beside a wooden house on the street, cautiously peeking around to ensure no guards were nearby before carefully beckoning: "Hey, you three. Yes, you. Come here for a word."

Bilbo looked suspiciously across, then blinked at Tarnes.

When he couldn't figure out the situation, it was better to give up thinking and let Tarnes make the decisions.

Tarnes narrowed his eyes slightly to study the middle-aged woman, while Millicent quietly said beside him: "The signs of manual labor on her hands are obvious, and her movements don't look trained. Her build is also quite sturdy. She probably often helps with heavy work."

Tarnes nodded lightly: "Mm, but let's stay alert. She might be one of the mayor's lackeys."

After saying this, he put on an amiable expression for the middle-aged woman and walked in front of Bilbo.

Meanwhile, Millicent also moved behind Bilbo, protecting the Hobbit between the two of them.

Only after they reached the corner where the middle-aged woman was, with no other people appearing, did Tarnes relax.

Seeing Tarnes and the others approach, the middle-aged woman immediately asked eagerly: "You three came from outside Lake-town, right?"

Tarnes nodded. There was nothing to hide about this point.

Having lived here for years, she could surely spot strangers at a glance.

The middle-aged woman showed a delighted expression, then said worriedly: "This is wonderful! What's the situation outside? Ever since that dragon attacked Lake-town, the mayor won't let anyone leave. Even when going out to fish, you have to go with his guards."

Tarnes frowned. Instead of answering directly, he asked in return: "Why won't the mayor let you go out?"

The middle-aged woman looked confused and shook her head: "I don't know about that, especially after Bard and some of his followers were expelled. The mayor became even worse."

Tarnes pointed to Millicent: "The situation outside hasn't changed much, but news of Lake-town's dragon attack has spread. She and I are mercenaries hired by a Dwarf merchant caravan boss. They originally planned to go directly to the Iron Hills, but precisely because they heard this place was attacked by a dragon, they thought there might be many things you need that could sell for good prices. However, most other caravans changed routes and went elsewhere after hearing the dragon in the Lonely Mountain had awakened."

This wasn't something Tarnes made up. He'd heard Elves complaining about how merchant caravans had stopped coming recently when they were in the Woodland Realm.

After all, the Woodland Realm wasn't too far from the Lonely Mountain either.

After listening, the middle-aged woman's expression became more troubled: "Sigh, where would we have money to buy your boss's goods? Your boss will definitely lose money, and might even have the mayor find fault and confiscate your merchandise for various reasons. If only Bard were here. Before the dragon came, he was always helping us resist the mayor, finding ways to make our lives better."

Tarnes skipped over her description of Bard and asked puzzledly: "Why would the mayor confiscate my boss's goods?"

The middle-aged woman still shook her head to indicate she didn't know, chattering on: "Who knows? Maybe the mayor needs to gather enough gold to build a statue for that dragon. Ever since that dragon came to town, everything's been chaotic, not to mention the mayor directly knelt before the dragon and swore by his own name not to betray it. It was after that that the mayor intensified his money-grabbing, making us townspeople miserable with hardly any coins in hand. That's why I said the Dwarf who hired you will lose everything. No one can afford your goods."

Tarnes nodded lightly to show he understood, then politely bid farewell to the middle-aged woman.

The middle-aged woman said somewhat gratefully: "You're the first outsiders willing to tell this nagging old woman about the outside situation. Sigh, if not for that dragon business, I would have invited you to be guests at home and let you taste Lake-town's local specialty fish. Unfortunately, my house is destroyed now, and I can only stay with relatives..."

Bilbo had already prepared to leave but noticed Tarnes remained in place without moving.

"What's wrong?" Bilbo asked curiously.

Tarnes replied thoughtfully: "In what she said, there's something I'm quite concerned about."

Then he turned to ask the middle-aged woman: "We're not the first batch of outsiders you've seen entering Lake-town?"

The middle-aged woman nodded: "Of course not. Just the day before yesterday, another group came from outside. But they were all wrapped up tightly. You couldn't see what they looked like. They ignored me when I tried to talk to them, and they seemed like they hadn't bathed in a long time, always having a foul stench. Later I heard from others that these people seemed to be mercenaries the mayor hired with money to fill the positions left vacant after Bard and his followers were expelled."

Then she waved her hand: "Anyway, that's what everyone says. I don't really know the specific situation."

Tarnes nodded and reached into his waist pouch. After hesitating, he replaced the gold coin he'd originally touched with three silver coins and handed them to her.

"Do you know where they usually rest?"

The middle-aged woman's eyes immediately went straight. She rubbed her coat hem vigorously, then extended her hand to accept the three silver coins.

She'd originally wanted to handle them more, but remembering something, her expression immediately changed. She looked left and right, and only after confirming no one else was looking this way did she relax and quickly put the silver coins in her pocket.

The middle-aged woman first thanked him, then lowered her voice: "Don't blame me for not telling you, but never easily do this kind of thing with other people. They might be the mayor's lackeys who'd report to the mayor that you're wealthy. The mayor's eyes light up at money now. Even being outsiders won't help, and he'll definitely cause trouble for your employer. As for those outsiders you asked about, they live in houses near the mayor's place."

Tarnes quickly indicated he understood.

After leaving, Bilbo asked: "At first she was the one asking us questions, but why did you end up paying her?"

Tarnes smiled: "Because the question I asked was indeed very important. Come on, let's go check out the place she mentioned."

Bilbo looked confused, jogging to keep up with Tarnes: "Wait, I still don't quite understand why your question was so important."

Millicent smiled and explained for Tarnes: "Mr. Bilbo, since that lady said those people might be hired by the mayor to fill the gap left by losing Bard and his group, and also mentioned that Bard had always been helping them resist the mayor, if you were the mayor who detained and imprisoned Bard's daughters, would you rather have those outsiders guard Bard's daughters, or have Lake-town people fill those positions?"

Bilbo replied without hesitation: "Definitely outsiders. They don't know Bard and haven't received favors from him. According to that lady, Bard has high prestige in Lake-town. If you chose Lake-town people, Bard might have helped them before, and what if they let Bard's daughters escape?"

Then Bilbo looked at Tarnes and blinked: "Is that what you were thinking, Tarnes?"

Tarnes shrugged and smiled: "More or less."

The three continued walking through Lake-town's streets. The mayor's house was very recognizable, so they soon reached alleys near the mayor's residence.

"Oh, so those are the outsiders the mayor hired?"

Bilbo crouched behind a corner, looking at those people walking in the streets with their entire bodies covered in black light leather armor.

Tarnes nodded thoughtfully: "Yes, but I feel like their walking posture and way of communicating seem familiar... like I've seen them somewhere before."

Then he looked down at Bilbo: "Do you have any impression?"

Bilbo peeked out again, then ducked back: "No, I definitely don't recognize these people who won't even show their faces... But why do you keep staring at me?"

He'd noticed that since he started peeking around, Tarnes had been continuously staring at him, so he couldn't help asking.

Tarnes pointed at Bilbo's waist, saying hesitantly: "Did you bring some glowing blue sapphire from Thorin's group? There's been blue light glowing at your waist."

Millicent also agreed: "Yes, it's been glowing since just now."

Bilbo raised an eyebrow, looking at his waist in surprise, twisting his body to reveal a short blade.

He said nonchalantly: "Ah, it's not some sapphire. Just this Elven sword you had me choose from the Troll cave that's glowing. I remember Gandalf said it glows whenever Orcs are nearby..."

As Bilbo reached the end of his sentence, his eyes widened as he looked at those mercenaries who had wrapped up their bodies.

This left Tarnes silent too, though he said: "Don't rush, let's first move away from here and see..."

Before he could finish, Bilbo was already leaving with his Elven short blade, running to a street they'd come from.

Both Tarnes and Millicent noticed that the Elven short blade in Bilbo's hand dimmed again.

Then as Bilbo approached Tarnes and Millicent, the Elven blade lit up again.

Tarnes narrowed his eyes at those outsiders hired by the mayor and said: "The situation has become somewhat complex... What exactly is Lake-town's mayor up to?"