The Tarnished in LOTR with Elden Ring

Tarnes' eyes lit up. He hadn't expected this man to be a member of Lake-town's guard.

He would certainly know more about the evil dragon than others.

So he asked: "Bard, could you tell me in detail about the dragon that attacked your Lake-town?"

Bard nodded, glancing at the Lake-town residents around them who had been attacked by the dragon, his expression somewhat somber: "It was three nights ago, when every household was preparing for sleep. I had just finished a day's work and returned home to prepare things needed for the next day's work. Suddenly the ground began to tremble, and dust that had accumulated on the rafters over time all fell down. I thought it was just an occasional earthquake, so I woke my three children and quickly ran out of the house to an open area."

Then Bard's voice began to tremble, not from fear but from anger: "Others did the same as me, seeking shelter from the earthquake in relatively open areas of Lake-town. But we soon discovered we were wrong. It wasn't an earthquake at all, but the pile of giant stones blocking the Lonely Mountain's main gate being smashed apart by that evil dragon Smaug, which hadn't appeared for decades, and the vibrations from the stones hitting the ground. It breathed fire from its mouth, looking down at Lake-town from the pitch-black sky above, bringing death there. My son Bain was burned at that time."

"This evil dragon didn't seem intent on destroying Lake-town. After casually using dragon flame to demolish several streets, it demanded Lake-town's mayor come out to pay homage. That cowardly mayor was terrified out of his wits. Whatever Smaug said, he did, even when ordered to carefully select several innocent maidens to be clutched in Smaug's claws and taken back to the Lonely Mountain. He showed no intention of resisting and even disbanded Lake-town's guard! Moreover, he began casting a golden statue of Smaug in Lake-town's center."

Tarnes, Millicent, and the others could all hear that Bard's hatred for this Lake-town mayor wasn't much less than his hatred for Smaug.

Perhaps in his heart, there was no essential difference between the mayor and the evil dragon.

Tarnes consoled: "Relax, Bard. What happened after that? To escape Smaug, did you bring these Lake-town people to flee to the Woodland Realm?"

"Yes, but not entirely."

Bard both nodded and shook his head, making Tarnes look confused.

Bard sighed and explained: "After Smaug took away those maidens the mayor had selected, it didn't appear again. But the mayor became very strange. He'd always been scum who liked exploiting us, but after meeting Smaug that time, he became even more ruthless in his exploitation. But strangely, all the wealth he seized was piled in Lake-town's center, where he was preparing to cast Smaug's statue."

"I suggested to him that while we couldn't defeat that awakened dragon, we could still lead everyone in Lake-town to flee together while it hadn't returned. But the mayor wouldn't listen. Instead, he banished me and some residents with similar ideas from Lake-town, forcibly separating me from my two daughters and keeping them behind. That scum of a mayor told me they would be that evil dragon's next delicious meal."

By the end, Bard clenched his fists tightly, speaking with hatred for the mayor and his lackeys: "So I came to the Woodland Realm, not only to heal these kinsmen willing to come with me, but also to request the Woodland Realm to rescue my daughters."

Oh?

Tarnes shifted his gaze from Bard to Legolas, inquiring with his eyes whether this was true.

Legolas noticed Tarnes' gaze and nodded slightly, confirming Bard's words: "He did indeed request our help, but King Thranduil politely refused his request. First, because the dragon's awakening is a grave matter that shouldn't be handled rashly. Second, our manpower is truly stretched thin. We have no personnel to spare."

Bard could only show a pained expression and nod helplessly.

Tarnes nodded thoughtfully. From both their words, he discovered something very interesting.

That proud Elven king had personally received this human named "Bard," rather than having Legolas or other trusted Elves handle the matter.

In the Elves' eyes, Bard's true identity probably isn't simple either.

Bernahl spoke up at this point: "Your Elves are short-staffed because of those giant spiders?"

Legolas looked over with some surprise, while Bernahl shrugged: "On our way here, that Brown wizard told us those giant spiders have recently become arrogant enough to invade your territory."

"Radagast the Brown? If that eccentric wizard told you so, then he's certainly not wrong. Those remnant spawn of Ungoliant are indeed expanding their activity range, and my kinsmen have all been delayed by this matter." Legolas recalled the little old man who loved small animals and beneficial insects.

Hearing this, Bard sighed heavily: "My kinsmen and I also encountered attacks from those terrifying man-eating spiders on our way here. It was only because Lord Legolas helped break the siege that we could safely reach the Woodland Realm. Therefore, I can indeed understand King Thranduil's reasons for refusing me."

Not understanding wouldn't help anyway, since Thranduil held the initiative.

Tarnes asked again: "Bard, do you have any clue about why the dragon suddenly awakened from its slumber?"

Hearing this, Bard fell into recollection, thinking hard.

But soon, his face showed regret as he shook his head: "Sorry, Mr. Tarnes, I don't know why the dragon suddenly awakened. It flew out from the Lonely Mountain without warning, came to Lake-town to wreak havoc, then left."

It couldn't have been awakened by hunger from sleeping too long in the mountain without eating, could it?

If that were true, it would be too much of a dark joke.

Tarnes couldn't help but have this thought, then quickly dismissed the impolite idea.

He thought for a moment and asked: "Do you know of any unusual occurrences in Lake-town recently?"

This time Bard's answer interested Tarnes. He replied: "I'm familiar with all Lake-town's residents. Nothing unusual happened there. But outside Lake-town, something quite rare occurred."

Tarnes pressed: "What was it?"

Bard answered quite directly: "A group of Orcs was sneaking along Lake-town's perimeter at night. I happened to be rowing home on the lake when I spotted them and immediately used bow and arrow to kill these Orcs. At first they tried swimming to the lake's center to board my boat, but somehow they all quickly fled, not even taking their companions' corpses."

As he spoke, he pulled out an animal hide from his pocket: "After they fled, I originally just wanted to take weapons from their companions' bodies but discovered their shabby hide clothing all bore the same symbol. Out of curiosity, I kept one piece. I originally wanted to research this pattern's meaning in Lake-town, but then you all know what happened."

Tarnes frowned slightly. Looking at the animal hide spread in Bard's hand, he indeed found the symbol somewhat familiar, as if he'd seen it somewhere before.

He looked toward Bernahl and Millicent. Igon was still busy helping treat Lake-town refugees and hadn't seen the symbol on this hide.

Bernahl and Millicent also found the mark somewhat familiar but couldn't remember where they'd seen it.

Tarnes looked at Legolas, the Elven prince, asking: "Have you seen this kind of symbol?"

Legolas shook his head slightly but replied haughtily: "I've killed too many Orcs. They bear various symbols on their bodies. I have no mind to memorize these scribbled marks in my memory."

"Uh, I think perhaps I should remember?" Bilbo's voice suddenly rang out behind Bard, startling the human so much his body shook several times.

Tarnes blinked. He seemed to have become immune to Bilbo's sudden appearances and no longer felt surprised.

"Bilbo, how did you get here?" he asked.

The Hobbit showed an embarrassed expression, walking barefoot with his large, coarse-haired feet to Bard's side.

He first glanced at Legolas, then said to Tarnes: "Thorin and the others are discussing what to do next. They're about to start arguing. I felt my head buzzing from their noise, so I wanted to come out and walk around for some fresh air. I happened to see you and Miss Millicent walking away along the path from the entrance, so I followed behind, not daring to disturb you."

Then Bilbo said somewhat awkwardly: "Actually, I arrived long ago, but it seemed like none of you noticed me."

Legolas said flatly: "Except me. I saw this Hobbit long ago and thought you knew he was following behind."

Bard looked at Bilbo with some curiosity: "I've heard of Hobbits from books, saying they're naturally gifted at cooking, throwing, and stealth, but I never thought I'd see a living Hobbit here."

Bilbo coughed and snapped his fingers at Bard: "Ahem, which book wrote that? That's completely wrong. You only need to remember that we're very good at cooking. As for throwing and stealth, ha, that's all nonsense."

Bard thought to himself: You just went undetected the whole time. Isn't that excellent stealth talent?

Tarnes chuckled: "Bilbo, look at the animal hide he stripped from Orc corpses in his hand. Can you make out that mark?"

Bilbo pursed his lips and stood on tiptoe to take the hide fragment from Bard: "Actually, you don't need to add 'corpses.' Oh, let me see... Isn't this what we've all seen before? Last winter, at the Prancing Pony inn in Bree, those three bad guys you, Mr. Bernahl, and Miss Millicent captured. This is the exact symbol from those wanted posters we found on them. I guarantee it's identical."

Tarnes' pupils contracted as he blurted out: "Azog? Those Orcs were under Azog's command?"

Hearing this name, Legolas' expression became serious: "The Defiler Azog the Pale Orc. How do you come to mention his name?"

Tarnes told Legolas about Azog's bounty on Thorin, which somewhat eased his expression: "I see. Azog indeed has blood feuds with Thorin's line, so offering a heavy bounty for Thorin's life is quite normal. But what's abnormal is why Azog's people would appear at Lake-town. Among all Orc commanders I know, Azog's leadership ability is undoubtedly the best, bar none. If Bard truly saw Orcs under Azog's command, then Smaug's awakening might well be related to them."

Even so, Smaug wasn't easily awakened.

No matter how talented Azog was at military command, in that dragon's eyes he was just an Orc that could be easily crushed.

So the Orcs Azog sent must have carried orders from someone important enough that even Smaug had to take seriously, which is why it could be awakened.

And someone who could make Azog submit and obey, while also demanding Smaug's serious attention...

Thinking this far, Legolas felt an ominous premonition from his heart.

He said rapidly to Bard: "Could you give me that hide in your hand? I have some things I need to verify."

Legolas didn't want his kinsmen to face Orcs and dragons simultaneously while dealing with the giant spider problem.

"Of course. I shot quite a few Orcs that night. I still have several more pieces of hide with that symbol."

Bard produced another fragment of hide clothing from his body and gave it to Legolas, who left hastily after brief thanks.

Bilbo watched Legolas depart hurriedly and asked Tarnes uneasily: "Is something wrong?"

Tarnes squatted down to comfort Bilbo: "Rather, your good memory allows that Elf to prevent certain bad things in advance."

Then Tarnes looked up at Bard: "By the way, why didn't you mention encountering these Orcs when you first met the Elves?"

Bard showed a helpless expression: "Because Orcs that raid humans are often encountered outside Lake-town, especially at night, so I never thought the Orcs I shot that night were particularly problematic."

Moreover, he had originally planned to investigate what those symbols on the hide clothing meant, but Smaug's sudden awakening left him no time or energy to care about this matter.

Tarnes nodded, then thought of Bard's daughters detained in Lake-town, and an idea emerged from his heart.

So he carefully chose his words and suggested to Bard: "The Elves said before that they have no Elves to send to rescue your two daughters... If I said I happen to know a group of very capable fighters who also happen to be free, would you be willing to hire them for help?"

Bard's face showed delighted surprise as he immediately said urgently: "Of course! I'm willing to hire them!"

"Excellent. I'll recommend to you the great Dwarf leader, master of the Blue Mountains, heir to Durin's royal house, Thorin Oakenshield and his Dwarf companions."