Outside Mirkwood

Tiberius POV

Coming inside the medical tent I saw Bilbo in bed while staring at the dwarves, they surrounded his bed laughing while Bombur the fat dwarf gave Bilbo some food that he took from his pockets, I watched smiling as Bombur kept taking out food from his many pockets and giving it to Bilbo.

"Eat plenty, my friend! They are my emergency rations and only a few ever have the honor to receive food from me, you deserved it after saving Thorin haha!"

I smiled seeing Bombur giving bread and a jar of honey that he took from Beorn's home.

The dwarf named Nori took a pouch filled with gold from his belt and gave it to Bilbo: "Here Bilbo, a dwarf giving gold is a gesture of great gratitude for his closest friends and saviors and we rarely do."

The other dwarves also took amulets and other treasures from their pockets and giving it to Bilbo as they surround Bilbo's bed with food and precious treasures.

I see Bilbo looking around at the surrounding dwarves in the room and smiled at them as he understands how worried they were for him and grateful they were for saving their king. He tried to give back their gifts when he saw Thorin walking to the side of his bed and giving his elven dagger named Sting back to him that he got from the troll cave of the trolls that they killed during their journey before entering the misty mountains.

"Thank you, Bilbo, for saving me I owe you a great debt"

Bilbo smiled and replied: "You all would have done the same for me"

Thorin placed his hands in Bilbo's shoulders and nods. 

"How long I have been asleep? And who are they?" asked Bilbo while looking at me and the physicians in the room.

Thorin was about to reply when Gandalf entered the tent: "Let me explain"

Gandalf walked toward us and looked at Bilbo: "You've been comatose for nine days after Azog injured your neck badly if it weren't for my magic healing you, you would have died from lack of sustenance or injury, as for our saviors here they are from Rome a different land they say, their army is led by this young prince named Tiberius who saved us when we were surrounded by orcs and goblins, they promised to assist us in our quest to reclaim lonely mountain."

Bilbo looks at me gratefully and bows his head: "Thank you, your majesty, for saving my friends I'm eternally grateful."

"Well we didn't really have a choice back then, they ran towards us luring those goblins and orcs but at least we made new allies and they promised to compensate us."

"Still thank you for helping us and not punishing them"

"Where were you during our capture by the goblins weren't you with us?" Asked by one of the dwarves.

"Us hobbits have quick feet and low presence, I managed to slip past as they dragged us towards their den when I got lost in the tunnels when I met a."

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Bilbo paused as he remembered something and he quickly searched something from his pockets, he paused while touching one of his pocket and sigh in relief before continuing to explain: "I met a creature who promised to help me escape from the tunnels if I solve his riddles or he will kill me, I won and made it out when I saw the battle and stabbed that big orc before he kills Thorin."

Thorin explained who the orc was and told his past history with Azog and the dwarves were impressed by Bilbo's adventure and after a while, everyone left the tent to let Bilbo rest while going out from the tent I see from the edge of my vision Bilbo taking out a golden ring from the pocket where he touched before, my pupils shrank as I saw the ring and felt a sudden impulse to take it but I shook my head to stop myself, I also saw Gandalf glanced at the ring before we left the tent.

While walking back to my tent I remembered the golden ring and seem not to get it out of my mind, while asleep I dreamed about the ring and heard whispers saying that I should take it, I wake up in the middle of the night covered with sweat, I washed my face before going back to sleep, now without that nightmare from before.

The next day we gathered in a large tent discussing our plans.

"Beorn do we have your permission to gather medical herbs around your territory for our wounded?"

"You may but it will take a long time gathering enough herbs from what I saw in your medical tents, you have many wounded and my small village can't provide food for a large army like yours."

I agree with him we have less than a month worth of rations left I think for a plan when I finally made a decision. "We will leave the wounded with some of our legionnaires to gather the herbs, while the rest of the legions continues with its journey to lake town."

Beorn agreed and we left the tent to prepare for our departure tomorrow.

While in my tent with Darius I see Garen entering with the young teenage boy I saw before talking with Garen during the start of our journey. The young teenager is short with black hair wearing tribal accessories and looks shy, he is still carrying a bow and quiver full of arrows from before. Gandalf and Radagast shortly entered behind them and I observed them as they approached me.

"What is it?" I looked at them with a curious gaze.

"Young prince I had a discussion with my friend here Radagast and we must go somewhere first before joining with your army and Thorin's company in lake town, we will also help you're wounded before leaving."

I nod at them and they left the tent while the teenage boy looked at Radagast with reverence while Radagast smiled at the boy as they left the tent.

"Your majesty this young boy is Cornelius Testesiculus"

Everyone was silent in the tent before laughing at the name of the boy. Darius laughed so loudly and teased him: "I'll call you balls from now on"

Everyone laughed except for Garen who only looked in pity while the boy blushed up to his ears.

"Your majesty" The boy saluted while still blushing.

"Enough Darius, so why are you here?"

"This boy is one of the auxiliaries and is a very good archer, I saw it myself during training, he can hit a target from a very far distance, I also personally trained him during our time in misty mountains and confident with his abilities even with his young age."

"So?" 

"He wants to stay here to help the wounded along with his tribemates, some of the shamans also want to stay to help the wounded but I think they only want to interact with the beornings and Radagast, they are looking at them with reverence since yesterday."

Garen continues to explain: "I promoted him to centurion under probation because of his skill I also propose for him to be in charge of the legionnaires who will stay here."

"Fine but only some of them, leave some Romans behind to watch over them"

Garen nods while the boy smiled happily, excited to have a chance to interact with the beornings and the wizard.

The next day the legions break camp and are ready to continue our journey, I looked at the forming lines when I noticed Radagast having a conversation with Cornelius, they seem to have hit it well and are already close, I see small animals gathering around them and climbing Cornelius shoulders and head, I smiled at the sight and looked back to the legions which are ready to match. 

"LEGIONS MARCH!"

I shouted loudly and heard the trumpets soon and we finally continued our journey, I see the tall trees of Mirkwood from the distance and wonder what dangers await us inside.