Leaving Without Saying Goodbye [Seeking Monthly Votes, Recommendation Votes]

Hazy moonlight shrouded Rivendell.

Inside the attic at the mountain's peak.

Gandalf sat at the central round table, facing an interrogation by the Elf Queen Galadriel, the White Wizard Saruman, and the Elven Lord Elrond of Rivendell.

A fierce debate was underway, calm in tone but turbulent in its implications.

"Tell me, Gandalf, did you think your plans and schemes would go unnoticed?"

"Of course not, I am merely doing what I believe to be right."

"Gandalf, we have lived in peace for four hundred years, and we have carefully maintained this hard-won tranquility."

"If the dwarves go to the Lonely Mountain, they will surely awaken that dragon."

"Is it truly peace? Is it really peace?"

"Do you know that Greenwood is already called Mirkwood by the surrounding inhabitants?"

"Radagast says he has discovered traces of a Necromancer in Dol Guldur."

"Do not speak to me of Radagast the Brown; he is a fool who has eaten too many poisonous mushrooms, lost his wits, and stained his teeth yellow. I have said as much before."

"You have yet to convince me, Gandalf."

"I find I cannot tolerate this expedition of the dwarves."

"If the dwarves came to me, I would give them no hope whatsoever."

During the interrogation, Saruman the White was the most dissatisfied with the matter of the Company.

Seeing that his words could not satisfy the three before him.

Gandalf finally reached into his robes and carefully produced an object wrapped in layers of white cloth, placing it upon the round table in the center of the hall.

This was what he had received early that morning, days ago, when the Company encountered those three giant Stone Troll.

It was given to him by Radagast the Brown while Gandalf was out clearing his head after an argument with Thorin Oakenshield, who had also informed him of the grave changes within the great green woods.

"What is that?"

Seeing what Gandalf had carefully produced, Lord Elrond immediately asked, reaching out as if to touch it.

Just as Lord Elrond was about to make contact, the voice of the Elf Queen Galadriel suddenly rang out from the side: "That is a relic of Mordor."

As the words fell, Lord Elrond's hand recoiled as if stung.

With that statement from Galadriel, the atmosphere within the attic fell into a sudden silence.

Gandalf then reached out and unwrapped the white cloth, revealing a short sword with a black hilt and a silver blade.

Though it appeared ordinary, the blade clearly exuded the scent of age and evil; it was anything but common.

"This is a Morgul-blade," Lord Elrond said in shock.

The other two were no mortals; they, too, recognized the anomaly of the short sword at first glance.

The atmosphere in the attic grew heavy instantly.

At the same time.

Morgan was rising to his feet, following quickly behind the dwarf Kili toward the small garden where the Company was temporarily staying.

"Did Thorin say anything else?"

Morgan looked at his "student" beside him and asked casually.

"No, other than ordering us to leave at once, he said nothing else."

"Though we all wish to know the reason."

Hearing Morgan's words, Kili shook his head.

Kili's expression was indifferent; he truly wanted to know, as the Elves had treated them quite well these past few days.

If they were to leave, they should at least bid farewell to Lord Elrond.

Moreover, Kili would not lie to Morgan, a human who was, in essence, his teacher.

"I think I might know something."

Morgan spoke softly, but beyond that, he said no more.

Kili had the urge to press further, but since his "teacher" Morgan was unwilling to elaborate, he naturally found it difficult to ask.

By the time the two returned to the small garden, the dwarves had finished packing and were nearly ready.

Morgan did not dawdle; he went straight to his quarters and quickly packed his belongings.

Morgan did not have many things, and after finishing, he even had time to give himself a quick trim.

His black hair, which had grown to his shoulders, was cut to the length of his chin, making it comfortable to wear loose and simple to tie into a ponytail.

He shaved his beard and the rugged stubble on his cheeks.

After a long and dangerous journey of over a month, Morgan, who had once possessed a somewhat delicate appearance, had been tempered into a man of greater ruggedness.

Morgan looked incredibly mature and sexy now that he was groomed.

"I never imagined I could look this handsome one day."

Standing before the exquisite glass mirror, Morgan muttered to himself.

Just then, a knock sounded at the door.

Immediately after, the voices of the dwarves drifted in from outside.

Morgan grabbed his pack and strode toward the door.

Stepping outside, he discovered that the dwarves were all prepared, carrying bags and bundles of every size.

This was because they had been planning their departure from the very beginning.

While the elves were preparing daily supplies for the Company, the dwarves had specifically requested extra rations like dried meat, hardtack, and ale.

Now, those supplies were finally coming in handy.

The large packs on the dwarves' backs were filled almost entirely with food and dry rations.

Morgan spotted Bilbo among the crowd.

The sudden departure of the dwarves, combined with Gandalf's absence, left Bilbo's face full of confusion.

Earlier, while wandering through Rivendell, he had encountered the elven lord Elrond.

Lord Elrond had told him frankly that Rivendell would welcome Bilbo to stay, should he wish to.

The sudden turn of events caused the words of Lord Elrond to flash immediately through Bilbo's bewildered mind.

However, because he had given his word to Gandalf and signed an agreement with the dwarves, coupled with the habits formed over a month of adventuring together, Bilbo simply couldn't bring himself to leave the group and stay in Rivendell.

Just as a bewildered Bilbo was being hurried along by the dwarves, he caught sight of Morgan, who was fully equipped.

Within the Company, aside from the wizard Gandalf, Morgan was the human with whom Bilbo had the best relationship.

Seeing Morgan now, Bilbo, who had been unable to commit to leaving, felt as if he had found a savior, his only true companion.

Morgan is powerful, Morgan wouldn't mock or look down on me, and Morgan and I are on good terms.

As the various moments from their adventure flashed through his mind, Bilbo's wavering resolve suddenly found its backbone and quickly solidified.

Watching the somewhat dejected Bilbo, Morgan naturally had some inkling of what was going on.

He quickly walked to Bilbo's side, patted him on the shoulder, and smiled, "Are you alright, Bilbo? Relax a little."

At Morgan's touch and words, Bilbo's expression became noticeably calmer.

"Morgan, are we really just leaving so suddenly?"

"And what about Gandalf? Isn't Gandalf coming with us?"

Having calmed down, Bilbo immediately leaned in close to Morgan and whispered his questions.

"It's Thorin who wants to leave."

"As for Gandalf, he will certainly return; he just has business that requires him to be away for a while."

"Relax, Bilbo."

Morgan walked at the back of the line, quickly whispering his explanation to Bilbo.

"Keep up, everyone."

At that moment, the voice of Thorin Oakenshield rang out from the front.

Morgan patted Bilbo again, then strode toward the front of the line.

After a moment of thought, Bilbo quickened his pace to follow closely behind Morgan.

The moonlight was hazy, and the Company moved quickly through the night, heading out of Rivendell.