Chapter 276: The Sea

When a Hobbit was added to the team, the time spent on the road inevitably increased. Even though Bilbo knew the time for this journey was tight and tried very hard, his speed just couldn't pick up.

Finally, Allen rode the same horse as his friend, while the Hobbit's mount carried its master's belongings, galloping behind the team all the way, barely managing not to fall behind.

However, the distance from the Shire to Mithlond was very short, probably less than a third of the way to Rivendell, but at most it only required a few days of effort.

Soon, the team passed the White Post, where the Shire's de facto capital, Michel Delving, was located, and Bilbo's mithril mail shirt was stored in a mathom-house on the hillside, which was equivalent to a museum among Hobbits.

A museum could be worth more than the entire Shire.

Allen and the others didn't stay long here either, galloping along the Great East Road across the Shire border. A day or two later, they saw three white towers standing on a hill; those were the outpost towers of the Lindon Elves.

It was said that the highest white tower on the hill was called Elostirion, housing the Palantir known as the Star of Elendil, which could see the scenery of Valinor. If there was a chance, Allen really wanted to go and take a look.

But this would definitely require the consent of many big shots, because even just eating the recipe for biscuits from Valinor would make people think about going to that blessed land.

Just a glance? Who knew what would happen.

When the group arrived here, it was already evening. The shimmering stars slowly appeared in the sky, and to the west of the hill was the boundless sea.

"Let's rest here for the night. If there are no accidents, we can reach the Grey Havens tomorrow."

After saying this, Allen looked at Bilbo and said: "Do you want to go for a walk on the hill? Although we can see the sea after reaching the Grey Havens, the view is completely different when looking down from a high place."

Bilbo readily agreed to this invitation. Perhaps the distance between the Shire and the sea wasn't far, but he had never been here, or rather, the vast majority of Hobbits had never walked so far to the west. The Green Hill they passed in the morning was already the border of the Shire.

Perhaps because it was near the sea, the wind on the Tower Hills had a faint salty taste. The group climbed up along the small path on the hill, and Holimion and the Twilight Knights also followed.

Yes, the Noldor Elves of Pendor had also once been children of the sea. Their past home was an island, and they naturally had a yearning for the sea.

The small path leading to the top of the hill was extremely narrow, barely enough for one or two people to pass. On both sides of the road was small grass that had begun to turn yellow. After walking for more than ten minutes, the view suddenly opened up.

The Gulf of Lune at night was very quiet, just like a mirror reflecting the stars in the sky. White clouds drifted in the wind, and under the clouds were the twinkling lights of the Grey Havens. That was Allen's target at this moment.

Looking at such a tranquil landscape, a desire suddenly surged in Allen's heart. He wanted to go and roam the sea, and even more, he wanted to explore the other side of the sea, the legendary Valinor, which was forever beautiful and full of joy.

This thought surged in his heart like waves, long unable to subside.

"Stars shine, white clouds drift."

"The sea surface is as peaceful as a bright mirror."

"Who is gazing, whose heart is like waves."

"Sailing far away, riding the wind and breaking the waves."

"Legends start at the feet, setting off is right now."

"......."

This was Bilbo, moved by his feelings, singing loudly.

However, as if in response, a song sung by many voices came from the road below the hill.

"Middle-earth, dense forests like weaving."

"Ah, Elbereth, Gilthoniel."

"Eyes clear, breath brilliant."

"......"

That was a group of Elves emitting a faint light in the night, singing the ballad praising Varda, the Queen of Stars.

Bilbo stopped singing and asked with hesitation: "Allen, this singing is very beautiful, why do I feel only sadness?"

Allen looked at the Elven team on the road, hesitated slightly, and finally said: "These are Elves from Rivendell. At this moment, they are about to leave the home they have lived in for thousands of years and prepare to go to Valinor. This continent is becoming less and less suitable for them to live in."

"What do you mean it's becoming less and less suitable for them to live here?" Bilbo's words were full of questions.

"Bilbo, I don't want to talk about these things right now. I just want to eat something and have a good sleep. When we are drifting on the sea, there will be plenty of time to talk about those very distant stories that not many people remember."

The group didn't disturb the Elves preparing to leave home, instead watching them walk toward the Grey Havens. After the Elves' figures disappeared from sight, everyone walked down the hill and prepared to camp.

Not long after, the fire lit up, and the aroma of dinner drifted everywhere. For this, they had to thank the Hobbit in the team. Perhaps, having such an excellent chef on the sea was also a very great thing.

The next morning, just as the sun crossed the Misty Mountains, the team set off again. The group rode their horses down the hill along the road and soon arrived at the Grey Havens located at the Gulf of Lune.

When they arrived at the gate, someone had already come to welcome them. It was actually Cirdan the Shipwright. He looked at the guests from afar, as if he already knew everything, and said with a smile: "I know your intention, and I have prepared everything."

In Allen's extremely surprised eyes, Cirdan also looked at Bilbo and said: "For this guest, I have a sincere suggestion: why not stay here for a while and wait for your friend to return? Mithlond will entertain you well."

Now it was the Hobbit's turn to be surprised. He looked at the tall Cirdan, then at Allen standing beside him, and struggled for a long time before Bilbo shook his head, refusing the Grey Havens Lord's kindness.

"It's not that I'm unwilling to stay in this beautiful place, it's just that compared to being a guest in your home, I would rather embark on a journey with my friend. I hope you can understand."

Although refused, Cirdan's face was still full of smiles, as if he had long guessed this result.

"I understand."

Subsequently, he led everyone to the port, where a pure white two-masted schooner was docked. About ten Lindon Elves were busy on it, led by Galdor, whom Allen had met once before.

"Allen, I know you have many questions, but now is not the time for answers. This ship will help you reach your destination. Time is of the essence, so let's set off as soon as possible. In a while, winter will enter, and it's best not to run around on the sea during that season."

Facing Allen's puzzled eyes, Cirdan didn't offer any explanation, instead sending the group onto the ship.

Soon the sails were raised, and under the blowing of the sea breeze, they left the port and sailed toward the mouth of the Gulf of Lune.

Allen, who had come to his senses, looked at Cirdan watching him off at the port and didn't know what had happened at all. His prepared speech and his plan to learn how to sail a ship at the Grey Havens were all scrapped at this moment.

Facing such strange behavior, Allen's heart was full of doubts like mist.

He didn't think there was anything about the welcome at the gate today.

Because the Elves traveling last night clearly discovered their group, and the Elves' eyes were so sharp, perhaps someone in the team recognized his identity and passed it on to Cirdan.

Moreover, there were Elves stationed on the Tower Hills; perhaps they returned overnight and told this Lord of Lindon.

However, Allen's plan to go to sea hadn't been told to Cirdan in advance. In fact, the only person who knew was Bilbo Baggins, who was standing beside him holding a piece of bread and playing with seagulls.

Even Holimion had only received the order to wait in the Shire.

If it were said that the Hobbit told Cirdan all this, Allen would never believe it, because Bilbo couldn't do it. Even if that ring had such a function, Bilbo couldn't; he didn't have the power to drive the One Ring.

Allen thought for a long time on the ship, and only a possibility vaguely appeared in his mind.

Perhaps, when he was chatting and drinking with Bilbo, someone happened to be observing everything happening in Bag End, and happened to hear the plan to go to sea, and subsequently passed it all on to Cirdan stationed at the Grey Havens.

Letting this very old Elf help him prepare everything.

Thinking of this, Allen instantly broke into a cold sweat. As far as he knew, among the many Valar, Varda, the Queen of Stars, could hear the voices in every corner of the world.

And Ulmo, the Lord of Waters, could also know everything happening in Middle-earth through streams and rivers, as long as he wanted to.

Just, did he really have such a big face to be worthy of the Valar's help?

Allen fell into confusion again, and was being watched by these great existences really a good thing?

Perhaps, these big shots were originally just planning to take a look at Bilbo? After all, his Hobbit friend was likely the protagonist of Middle-earth in this period?

For this reason, Allen fell into deep thought, and in the following days, he also lost the mood to chat with friends.

Even though Bilbo really wanted to know those things that happened long ago, Allen couldn't raise any interest.

He was pondering, pondering why that great existence would do this. Finally, a thought arose in Allen's heart.

Perhaps? Could it be that his actions all along had been affirmed? That's why he had such treatment.

Allen felt there was such a possibility!! This pair of eyes of his that could see through the Unseen World was bestowed by Varda.

Looking at it this way, it seemed he didn't need to worry too much about anything.

Allen, who had figured everything out, felt his mood instantly improve and began to put most of his energy into navigation.

Unfortunately, there wasn't much for him to do, just adding a little force to the sails when the wind direction was wrong to ensure the speed of the voyage.

The Falathrim were passionate about the sea, and all their knowledge about the ocean came from the subordinate of the Lord of Waters, the Maia "Osse" who controlled the sea winds.

The sea was the place they loved, and also the place they were familiar with.

Clouds rose and fell, the sun turned and the stars shifted. Amidst the cries of seagulls and the singing of Elves, the cold sea breeze filled the white sails, and the Elves manipulated the pure white ship, sailing rapidly on the rippling sea surface. Yesterday, this sailing ship had already passed Himling.

That was once a flat, treeless hill. With the sinking of Beleriand, the remaining mountain top area became an island, on which there was a fortress abandoned for thousands of years. It was the defense line where the Noldor Elves once besieged Morgoth, and was part of the encirclement of Angband.

If he weren't in a hurry, Allen would even want to take Bilbo up to visit and see the history that had been forgotten by people in this world.

Because once the time spent sailing on the sea was long, especially after the initial freshness passed, the surrounding environment was only the boundless sea surface and the unchanging sky.

Although those Elves seemed to be tireless about this and could feel joy from the sea breeze and waves, Allen and Bilbo didn't have talent in this regard, and they had already begun to get a bit tired of it.

Especially Bilbo, who began to show seasickness reactions on the second day of boarding the ship.

"Finally, the powerful and evil Melkor, Morgoth Bauglir, was dragged out from the underground by many great powers and driven out of this world. At this time, he might be imprisoned in the Void, and the root of all these disasters, those three extremely beautiful and extremely precious Silmarils, also each had their own destination. One is in the high sky of the firmament, one is at the bottom of the deep ocean, and one is in the fire at the core of the world."

Finally, Allen couldn't resist Bilbo's constant pleading and briefly recounted the story that happened long ago.

But even though he spoke very briefly, it took several days, because there were simply too many things that happened in that period, and the characters worth mentioning were as numerous as crucian carp crossing the river.

Even the Elves who were concentrating on sailing would sometimes prick up their ears to listen to Allen's recounting. One or two of them had experienced that turbulent period, but the things they knew were far from as clear as what Allen was telling.

For example, the demise of Glaurung, for example, the fall of Gondolin, for example, the grievances between the Dwarves and the Sindar, and the purpose of this trip, Morgoth's base camp, the Iron Hell Angband that was once full of terror and torture.

Time passed gradually in the recounting of the story, and the environment on the sea also began to deteriorate. The further north they went, the closer they got to the place that was once the darkest. The climate here was extremely harsh, and although the sea surface hadn't frozen, it was bone-chillingly cold.

"My Lord, we seem to have arrived!"

Amidst the violent gale, the Elf's voice intermittently reached Allen's ears. He looked up and vaguely saw three islands in the heavy rain, and the side facing him was all cliffs.

That should be Thangorodrim, which Morgoth piled up during the First Age. It should have been the three highest mountain peaks in Middle-earth, but at the end of the War of Wrath, the fierce battle between Earendil and Ancalagon caused these three peaks to collapse.

Now only a short section remained, and below the mountain peaks was Allen's destination, Angband.

Setting off from the Grey Havens, it took more than a week, and they finally arrived here. However, the sky at this moment was brewing a storm, and it might not be a good time to sneak into the sea.

"~Woo~ Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle, gurgle."

Suddenly, an exceptionally abrupt sound suddenly drilled into Allen's ears, just like boiling water. The sound came from under the water surface, and immediately afterward, Galdor's shout also came over.

"Everyone, fix yourselves with ropes! Crossbowmen, prepare! Archers, prepare! It's a sea serpent, a sea serpent!!"

Following the shout, a hideous head rose from the sea surface, covered with fine, slippery black scales, looking as if it were half the size of a sailing ship.

"Rhea~ ah~"

After a terrifying roar, the sea serpent opened its mouth full of sharp teeth, and a scarlet tongue several meters long poked out, shaking crazily, its two huge, pale white eyes staring fixedly at the ship.

Fear instantly dominated all the creatures on the ship, and even Allen couldn't be spared.

"Holy crap, I've never heard of this thing in Middle-earth!!"

Just as Allen was complaining, a thick bolt of lightning streaked across the sky and instantly hit the constantly trembling snake tongue. That must be striking first to gain the advantage; water monsters should be weak to electricity, right?!

And the bows and heavy crossbows on the ship also shot toward this terrifying monster at this moment with "whoosh," "whoosh," "whoosh" sounds.

The water monster, having been electrocuted, seemed to have suffered huge pain. Its hideous and terrifying head shook crazily, flicking away all the arrows shot at it. Only two crossbow bolts over a meter long broke through the slippery scales, causing damage to the monster.

Perhaps it was because the damage received was too heavy, or perhaps it had never enjoyed electrotherapy in the sea. After receiving this series of attacks, the sea serpent quickly sank to the seabed, as if it had never appeared.

However, the Elves on the ship could be certain from the lingering fear in each other's eyes and their relieved faces that everything that had just happened could not possibly be a hallucination. ===== CHAPTER 277 =====