"Thorin!" Roland saw Thorin in the Royal Hall.
"Roland?" Thorin was surprised to see Roland. After all, he really didn't expect Roland to come back so soon.
"Well, I'm in trouble and I need the dwarves' help..." Roland told his predicament.
"Hmm? Trouble? Orcs are coming?" Like Bard, Thorin immediately thought of orcs.
"It's not the orcs' problem." Roland explained with a dark face.
"What? Famine?" This made Thorin laugh. He never thought that Roland, who had a dragon knight under his command, would be overwhelmed by the refugees. I never thought you would have this day! Thorin laughed happily.
"Fuck? What do you mean, Thorin? My people are starting to have to eat coarse food, and you can actually laugh?" Roland's eyes widened.
"No, I just didn't expect that you, King Roland, who beat the orcs to a pulp, would be eaten by your own people one day..." The aloof Thorin Oakenshield was already laughing so hard that he was bent over.
"Outrageous... Is there any necessary connection between them?" Roland said expressionlessly, but inwardly he was already extremely excited. How embarrassing! It was embarrassing for the dwarfs! Bard was starving and freezing because Smaug had forced his family to leave, but he was starving and freezing because he had no preparation to store food...
"Tell me, do you have any extra food, warm clothes, or anything like that? If you do, I'll buy them with these!" Roland said as he opened a small leather bag and poured out all the gems.
"..." Thorin was stunned. He wasn't surprised by Roland's wealth, but rather by his shamelessness... What kind of thing is this? You're taking my money and putting it in my sight? You just plundered me and now you're back to spend the gems. You're just like that! Roland!
Suddenly, Thorin's eyes changed when he looked at Roland.
"Yes, of course. It would be too hurtful to talk about money in our friendship." Thorin remembered that the dwarves from Iron Hills had brought a lot of supplies, which they wouldn't use up anyway, so it would be okay to give some to Roland.
"That's great! It's free!" Roland was shocked by Thorin. It's no wonder, Thorin! The king under the mountain was truly extraordinary. His financial resources were extraordinary, as he could give it away without hesitation. Roland was overjoyed and prepared to collect the gems from the table.
"Swish!" Thorin waved his hand and took the gem into his arms. Seeing Roland's confused look, Thorin chuckled and turned away. "You've already taken so much gold, so I'll accept this reward with reluctance. After all, even the smallest mosquito is still meat."
Roland finally came to his senses. Thorin had gone bad! Where were the simple, honest dwarves? Where were the kind, hospitable dwarves? Forget it, forget it. Just take from the people and give back to the people, Roland consoled himself.
…
"Pa pa!" Thorin patted the newly tied carriage hard and checked the firmness of the rope.
"How is it? Is this enough?" Thorin looked up at Roland and asked.
Twenty carts were piled high with all sorts of goods: five carts of flour, five carts of dried meat, five carts of leather and linen clothing, and five carts of various tools. Roland nodded in satisfaction. With all this, this winter would undoubtedly be much easier. After all, Roland had also organized people to break the ice and fish.
"Looks like I can consider arranging the 100 Lagrang guards when I get back." Roland thought to himself. Although the Orc army retreated to the north, if the small groups of Orcs wandering in the wilderness gathered together in the winter, the still weak and developing Rapid City could basically delete their accounts and start over on the spot.
"Roland! I'll let Balin take someone to send it back to you." Thorin considered that the number of people Roland brought was not enough to protect this batch of supplies, so he planned to let Balin go to send them back and recognize Roland's house by the way.
"Of course, I'd love to." Roland, who was worried about the lack of manpower, couldn't refuse Thorin's kindness and agreed immediately.
…
"You built a town at the lake mouth?" Balin looked curiously at the lord who changed the situation in the north.
"Yeah..." Roland didn't intend to say too much.
"By the way, King Roland, I have a request. I wonder if you can agree to it?" Balin suddenly remembered something and said awkwardly.
"Request?" Roland thought about it and immediately understood what Balin wanted to say.
"Are you planning an expedition to Moria?" Roland stared at Balin.
"Oh! You are so wise!" Balin was impressed by Roland's wisdom. He didn't expect that he could guess what he wanted to say.
"Why do we have to recapture Moria? Isn't the city of Erebor good enough now?" Roland asked puzzled.
Balin shrugged his shoulders, remained silent for a moment, and slowly said, "Kazamdu is the dwarves' most proud city... It is the dwarfs' former capital. I hope to let the light of the descendants of Durin illuminate it again..."
"I remember Thorne led you to attack Khazamuddu, right?" Roland remembered that the final Battle of Azanulbizar had broken out at Khazamuddu's eastern gate. That battle had ended in a tragic victory for the dwarves, but because the Balrog still lingered deep within the city, the remaining dwarves were unable to recapture Moria...
"Yes, but we failed..." Balin said in a low voice.
Roland opened his mouth and was about to persuade Balin when the system's clear and pleasant voice rang out—
"Ding Dong! Side quest now open: Recapture Moria. Valid for 1 year. Reward: 1 Dragon Rider with random attributes."
"No more words! I'll definitely do you this favor! Just based on our lifelong friendship! Forget Moria! I'll even go to Gundaba with you!" Roland promised, patting his chest. There was no other way... Roland still couldn't escape the law of true fragrance. A Level 5 Dragon Rider! Roland persuaded others before he persuaded himself.
"Ah, this..." Roland's clever move successfully confused Balin. This man had just advised him not to put himself in danger, but now he rushed at him even more anxiously than he did. Balin's poor brain capacity was really unable to understand.
"Damn it!" Kaslo, following behind Roland, muttered inwardly, "What bad luck!" The Fire Demon is a super-powered monster... Who else but him could possibly fight it? He really didn't have to fight to stay calm! Kaslo rolled his eyes at Roland helplessly, watching helplessly as his king sold him out. Kaslo was already thinking about something that could increase his fire resistance. He should have prepared some in advance to avoid being cremated by the Fire Demon...
"We're here!" Roland saw the familiar broken stone wall and immediately felt particularly at home. Although it was a bit broken, it was still his first nest in Middle-earth, right?
"That's great! In just a few days, your city has already begun to take shape." Bahrain exclaimed.
"That's right! That's right!" Roland was very pleased.
Roland directed his men to unload the items and store them. He once again expressed his gratitude to the dwarves. Seeing Balin and his men turning the cart pulled by the mountain goats around, Roland suddenly remembered something.
"That's right! Balin! If possible, let's set the time for retaking Moria to next summer. I will lead my army to help then." Roland shouted to Balin after thinking for a while. Setting the time to summer was a decision made by Roland after careful consideration. You know, it is definitely impossible to go on an expedition to Moria this winter. In spring, there will be spring plowing and city construction. Only in summer can Roland's army be free.
"Okay! King Roland, I will set out in the summer to meet you." Balin bowed in salute.
"Have a good time! Be careful on your journey!" Roland waved goodbye to the departing dwarf caravan.