Bear School Astartes

People were busily packing their things, as no one dared to stay in this town any longer.

They were all frightened last night.

Even if they weren’t scared, the large area of burned houses in Long Lake Town has rendered it uninhabitable.

Though Bard was overwhelmed, he successfully formed the town folks into a team with Lann’s help, ready to use the remaining small boats as transportation to take the townspeople to the lakeside near Lonely Mountain.

Then continue on foot to the River Valley City that was destroyed by Smaug.

The sky cast dim sunlight, and the cloudy weather did not make for a clear day.

Only the distant Lonely Mountain, with its towering snow-white peak due to altitude, was bathed in sunlight, turning the tip of the mountain golden.

Carrying a sense of distant sanctity.

There were more ice floes in the waterway because yesterday’s incident had caused the town to lose many of the dams used to block the ice floes.

”Be careful.”

Bard waved his hand at the dock, letting the boats pass one by one.

Behind, there were many families with children or livestock waiting in line to board the boats.

But when Bard called for the next townsman to board, the person suddenly pointed towards the direction of the broken bridge at Long Lake Town’s main gate, mouth agape.

Since there was no fear in the townsman’s expression, Bard wasn’t too tense, just incomprehensibly turned to look back as well.

And what met his eyes was a silent, orderly army clad in golden armor!

In front of this army was a majestic stag, with its rider dressed in exquisite silver armor and draped with a cloak woven with silver thread patterns.

That handsome figure was undoubtedly an Elf.

”You all continue to board, don’t cut the line, our boats are enough.”

Bard first called out to the queue, then turned around to find someone.

When he reached the broken bridge at Long Lake Town’s main gate, he saw Lann and two Elves already standing there, looking at the military formation on the opposite side.

”Is that your father? The Elf King of Woodland Kingdom?”

Lann asked Legolas, arms crossed and tongue clicking.

”Is there a reason for this imposing arrival?”

”I don’t know,” the Elf Prince shook his head, ”Perhaps father is finally coming out to combat the increasingly rampant Beastmen?”

”We better head over and ask His Majesty directly.”

Tauriel decisively jumped lightly to the other side of the broken bridge. Legolas followed suit.

The gap made by the Qilin last night wasn’t wide, only about three meters. After all, the Qilin’s size is not large compared to the monsters of the New Continent.

And last night the Beastmen were armored, making the three-meter width difficult for them to jump across without panic, not to mention they were wearing armor.

Lann pushed Bard from behind, then leapt across himself.

The wooden bridge creaked under Lann and Bard’s feet, leading them quickly to the front of the military formation.

The two Elves were already four or five steps ahead, now bowing in front of the tall stag, appearing to be reprimanded.

”Developed quite some skills.”

Thranduil’s voice, elegant yet subtly sharp, flowed out.

”You left the team on your own, then pursued outside the borders without permission, and engaged the Beastmen on your own.”

”I ordered the border seals yesterday, yet you slipped directly to Long Lake Town.”

Faced with Thranduil’s slightly dangerous tone, Legolas remained indifferent, but Tauriel couldn’t act carelessly like the Prince.

”Your Majesty,” the female Elf spoke gravely. ”The giant spiders in the Dark Forest keep breeding, disturbing the borders. Now even the Beastmen have appeared in establishment.”

Confronted by Tauriel’s report, Thranduil’s expression remained unchanged.

”So what? You’re the Guard Captain, driving them away is your responsibility.”

”But I did chase them! Over and over! Together with my colleagues we fought hard, yet to no avail!”

Tauriel spoke loudly.

”As long as the foul creatures’ nests aren’t cleared, they will keep coming! It’s not even two months since we last cleared the giant spiders’ nests, but the borders are now covered with thick webs again!”

”Their nests are outside our borders, that’s not my concern.”

Thranduil replied coldly, and even Legolas, who kept his head down, raised it to look at his father.

”Not our concern?” Legolas repeated incredulously.

Thranduil nodded at his son’s gaze.

”This world rises and falls, evil declines, evil rises again...what’s so strange about that? We just mind our own business.”

”Aren’t we part of Ardan? Should we yield to evil?”

Facing his son’s questioning, Thranduil, whether annoyed or speechless, eventually flicked his cloak and the stag began to turn around with small steps.

”I don’t want to say more to you, Legolas.”

”I’ve received some grave news from that beastman’s tongue, and I’m preparing to seal the kingdom’s gates. Now, you all come back with me, this matter ends here.”

”What about these people, Your Majesty?”

Among the two who had been standing silently in the back, Lann suddenly raised his hand and shouted.

”The poor from Long Lake Town who have suffered; they have nothing to eat or drink and can’t even gather enough warm clothes.”

The unfamiliar voice caused the Elf King to rein in his steed, turning around and tilting his head slightly to look at Lann.

”I said, human. That’s not my problem.”

The stag’s steps gradually approached, Bard’s throat visibly moved up and down, clearly becoming nervous. However, Lann appeared calm.

Thranduil slightly bowed his head from the stag’s back, just enough to meet Lann’s gaze.

”Not your problem...” The Demon Hunter smiled and repeated, nodding towards the Elf King’s army behind him.

This Elf army, during their long lives and military careers, had molded a level of camaraderie that regular troops could hardly foster, making the entire unit move as one.

From the side, if standing exactly right, you might only see the silhouette of a single Elf.

This kind of Elf unit, Lann had actually gathered some information on them back in Rivendell.

Gathering information about wars and armies, and spreading this in his mind, was almost instinctual for an Interstellar Warrior.

”The people you brought aren’t many, only five hundred and twenty, but you brought a lot of provisions. Given Elven consumption, these supplies should be enough for two thousand Elves for five days, enough for your current army to use for twenty days...”

”A round trip taking just under four days, yet you prepared provisions for more than half a month?”

”Your military style is quite ’stable’, Your Majesty?”

Thranduil didn’t respond to Lann’s query; instead, he simply leaned closer to scrutinize his face.

Then he suddenly withdrew his forward-leaning body.

”It seems you don’t just look like an Elf, but beneath that handsome face, you possess considerable wisdom, Yadanisil.”

Lann raised an eyebrow, prompting a cold chuckle from Thranduil.

”What? You thought my Woodland Kingdom, just because it’s a bit xenophobic, receives no information? Even with someone like you appearing in Rivendell and having close ties with Radagast who also lives in the Dark Forest?”

After laughing, Thranduil lifted his hand and gestured forward without looking back.

His army then uniformly divided the provisions, giving out the majority.

”These are for the refugees of Long Lake Town. I can’t provide them with winter houses, but a few days’ worth of meals isn’t a problem.”

”Don’t misunderstand, starving people are truly unsightly. I don’t want such unsightly things appearing in my territory later.”

Thranduil looked down at Bard with an air of superiority as he spoke.

”Take it. Feed your people. Don’t let them wander into the Dark Forest in hunger-stricken delirium. That place is far from safe now, you know. It could be fatal.”

The Elf King’s graceful tone and mannerisms were rooted deeply in him, making Legolas seem quite immature by comparison.

”Thank you for your support, Your Majesty! I’m infinitely grateful!”

Bard exclaimed excitedly.

”But... uh, they’re not my people.”

”Don’t say foolish things now, Bard, descendant of Jirian. Your ancestor was decisive and I admired him. It’s a pity he died young under the dragon’s fire.”

Bard had nothing more to say, only looking at the food the Elves brought with enthusiasm.

”Speaking of dragon fire,” Lann interjected. ”Sorlin Oak Shield and his group went to the Lonely Mountain yesterday, to find the Aken Gemstone and later gather forces to slay the wicked dragon.”

”Then may the dragon find satisfaction in feasting on a bunch of Dwarves,” Thranduil continued with his signature cold laugh.

”The prophecy has been crystal clear, once the Dwarves return to Lonely Mountain, the dragon fire will burn anew. Sorlin Oak Shield cannot overcome the dragon sickness.”

”So, should we let the dragon rampage unchecked, killing and plundering at will?”

Lann crossed his arms and spoke calmly.

But those words seemed to ignite a hidden sore spot in the Elf King’s heart, as he abruptly lowered his head once more, bringing his face close to Lann’s.

”Don’t speak to me of dragons! Nor should you think to evoke my sympathy, Yadanisil!”

The Elf King’s beautiful, meticulously groomed face suddenly revealed a gruesome truth as the fine skin vanished.

The left half of his face exposed tendrils of muscle suspended beneath, this erosive scar marring his skin stretched up to the left side of his forehead, turning his left eye into a necrotic white.

”I’ve battled dragons in the Last Alliance. I know all too well the power and evil of these beasts. Therefore...”

”Don’t think to drag my kingdom, my people into this mire!”

Standing next to Lann, Bard, until last night, had never seen any magic in his life.

Thranduil’s left profile was in full view to him, and now this Long Lake Town-appointed leader during crisis was somewhat dumbfounded.

But Lann remained unfazed.

”But given the dragon’s influence in this region, and the beastmen and spiders becoming increasingly active under its evil shadow... can this threat be truly evaded, Your Majesty?”