Arthur stepped out and saw over twenty humans of varying ages and genders gathered together, their expressions filled with fear.
Those holding weapons protected the unarmed behind them, and in the middle lay a severely wounded, unconscious human.
They were afraid of the Misbegotten surrounding them.
Perhaps they feared the weapons dripping with orc blood in the Misbegotten's hands, or perhaps they feared the Misbegotten's filthy appearance, similar to that of orcs.
Therefore, when Arthur appeared before these humans, clad in Blaidd, the Half-Wolf armor, a commotion arose within the crowd.
They never imagined that the leader of these terrifying-looking humanoids surrounding them would actually resemble a normal human.
"Noble sir, please lend us a helping hand and save us."
A man with messy golden hair stepped forward, his voice humble as he pleaded.
Arthur looked at these people, who were barely clothed, emaciated, and covered in wounds, and first spoke to the lion hybrid who had emerged a step behind him: "Distribute some food to them, and also scour Thorndale to see if there are any clothes for these people to wear, even orc clothes will do.
It's warm enough during the day with the sun, but they won't last through the night like this."
The lion hybrid hesitated, "But the food we eat is a bit… I'm afraid these humans won't be used to it."
His words were subtle, but Arthur knew he meant that the food the Misbegotten carried, to hasten their journey, was not just unappetizing in taste and texture, but barely palatable.
Arthur said, "Look at how emaciated they are; you can tell they haven't had good food for a long time.
Giving them good food all at once would hurt their bodies; the dry rations we brought are just right for them."
The lion hybrid nodded and led a few Scale-skinned Hybrids away from the area.
Only then did Arthur remove his Blaidd, the Half-Wolf helmet, revealing his true appearance.
Upon seeing Arthur's face, the people's anxious hearts finally settled, realizing that it wasn't some human-like monster hiding in the armor.
As Arthur approached, he immediately frowned, realizing that the severely wounded, unconscious young male was pale, his chest barely rising and falling.
He quickly walked over, and the Misbegotten in front of him automatically made way.
Arthur came before the humans holding weapons; they hesitated for less than a second, then also made way.
They compared the tattered weapons in their hands to the armor Arthur wore and the ill-tempered Misbegotten surrounding them, and decisively chose to follow their instincts.
At least the human before them wasn't as brutal as an orc, and he had saved them from the warg chase; being a little cowardly wouldn't hurt anything.
Arthur knelt beside Albert, taking out the red dew holy grail bottle, which he hadn't yet put into his spatial backpack.
"You, help me prop up his upper body and pry open his mouth.
If he's not treated soon, this person will die." Arthur casually pointed to a person, a small boy.
The little boy seemed a bit scared, his eyes darting away as he looked at Arthur, not immediately coming over.
"I'll do it."
The golden-haired man who had spoken earlier shielded him and came forward to help.
The blessed liquid from the red dew holy grail bottle flowed into Albert's mouth, and his body's injuries began to heal instantly, completely disappearing within a few seconds, leaving no scars.
"Wow…"
The people around them gasped in astonishment at the sight.
"Cough cough…"
Albert immediately began to cough, then suddenly opened his eyes, instinctively attacking the two people beside him.
Arthur reacted quickly, easily catching the punch thrown at him.
However, the man behind him, who was helping to support him, was not so lucky and was solidly punched by Albert.
The man who was punched not only wasn't angry but, while covering his bruised face, said happily, "Albert, you're awake!"
"Mills…? What happened to me?" Albert seemed a bit dazed.
Arthur released Albert's fist and said calmly, "You fainted on the battlefield and I saved you, it's that simple."
Albert looked at the unfamiliar man before him, then at his surroundings.
Although he wasn't clear on what exactly had happened, he understood that he was at least safe now.
After composing himself, Albert spoke, "Thank you, unknown Knight."
Arthur shook his head: "No need to thank me, you just have a strong life force."
He then pulled Albert up from the ground and spoke aloud to the still somewhat uneasy people around them: "I am a wizard, and also the Lord of the Golden Tree Territory.
The Misbegotten around you are my loyal soldiers, not those evil orcs.
You are safe; you don't need to worry about your lives being threatened."
In fact, after Arthur declared himself a "wizard," the people, led by Albert, completely dropped their guard, and many even embraced each other and cried in the joy of surviving this ordeal.
Moreover, they also lost their previous vigilance towards the Misbegotten; it seemed that a "wizard" in their eyes was simply a profession accompanied by strange creatures.
"I know you have many questions for me, and I also have a few questions for you; let's go inside and talk.
Your people will be fine; the Misbegotten will take good care of them." Arthur invited Albert.
After the lion hybrid returned with dry rations and some clothes discarded by the orcs, Albert said a few words to the crowd before following Arthur into the house where the orc captain had been.
"Lord Arthur, where are we now?
I fainted after being captured by the orcs, and when I woke up, I was already brought here in a cage." Albert asked somewhat eagerly.
Arthur glanced at him and replied, "This is Limgrave Greatbridge, west of the Enaid region.
Now it's my turn to ask: do you know when these orcs started repairing this port?"
"Thorndale… I've actually come to the west…" Albert murmured, then immediately replied after hearing Arthur's question: "I'm sorry, wizard, I'm not very clear either.
When I was brought here, there were already humans captured by orcs working in this port.
I was captured over a month ago, and among those who survived, the earliest ones have been here for four months already.
That's the man I accidentally hit just now, Mills."
Four months ago?
It's June now, so four months ago would be February.
I remember when I fell into Bilbo's house, Bilbo told me the date was March.
So, when I was heading towards Minhiriath, I encountered the orcs that attacked me because they had already appeared in this land.
At least I know that the orcs started repairing Thorndale long before I arrived, and it wasn't because I planted the Erdtree that I attracted their attention.
That's good news.
Arthur was silent, clearly deep in thought, and Albert did not dare to disturb him.
"Could you please call Mills in as well?
I also have questions for him." Arthur quickly finished his thoughts and asked.
Albert nodded, turned, and left, returning with the golden-haired man following him.
Mills bowed slightly to Arthur: "wizard, sir."
"Just call me Arthur, and you too, don't keep calling me 'wizard'." Arthur waved his hand, signaling Mills not to be nervous, then asked: "Mills, I heard Albert say that you were brought here by orcs four months ago?"
Mills was silent for a moment, then said: "Hmm... I think so. I come from a small village in Rohan with only seven or eight families. It was a cold winter then, and orcs attacked our village at night, taking all the living people here. After that, the weather changed from cold to warm, and green weeds grew from the ground here. I think it was spring, and it was at this time that Albert was sent over. When he asked me, I could only guess how long I had been here based on the weather changes."
Arthur asked: "Are there any people who were sent here with you still alive?"
A flash of sadness crossed Mills's face, then he decisively shook his head: "No, I'm the only one left from our village."
Although Arthur had expected this outcome, he still sighed inwardly when he heard it firsthand: "Please accept my condolences."
Albert gently patted Mills's shoulder, showing comfort.
Mills cheered up and said: "It's alright, as long as I'm alive, my villagers will always be in my heart. And now, Lord Arthur, you have eliminated those damned orcs, which can be considered revenge for my relatives and friends."
Arthur then looked at Albert and asked: "Albert, what about you? Where are you from?"
Albert immediately replied proudly: "I am from Gondor, Lord Arthur."
He then pleaded: "Lord Arthur, although I know it is very impolite and presumptuous for me to make this request of you given my status, I still want to ask if you can send me back to Gondor? The orcs have appeared in the west, they must have some conspiracy, and I must bring this intelligence back to my country."
Arthur shook his head: "I'm afraid not, Albert. I have many things to deal with in my own territory, and I don't have time to send you back to Gondor. However, I can send a team of Misbegotten to escort you back; that's all I can do."
It would probably take a long time to go to Gondor. By the time Arthur returned from such a round trip, the Erdtree would have probably burst Morne Castle.
Moreover, he still had things he wanted to tell Gandalf, and he couldn't find Gandalf now, so he certainly couldn't go to Gondor.
Albert's face showed some disappointment, but he breathed a sigh of relief when he heard Arthur say he would send Misbegotten to escort him back.
Arthur thought for a moment and added: "The Misbegotten's appearance is similar to that of orcs. To avoid unnecessary misunderstandings, they cannot directly escort you into Gondor. They will escort you near Gondor, and when they see a gathering of normal humans, they will return."
Albert thought about the appearance of the Misbegotten and the attitude of normal people towards orcs, and could only nod in agreement.
"What about you, Mills? Do you want to return to Rohan?" Arthur asked the other human.
However, Mills shook his head. He respectfully said: "Lord Arthur, my homeland has been reduced to ashes by the orcs, and my relatives and friends have all passed away. Returning there would only increase my sorrow, and there is nothing worth lingering for. You said before that you are still a lord; please allow me to follow you and live under your protection."
Mills then added: "Among the surviving compatriots outside, there are many like me who are rootless. I want to bring them with me to start a new life. Please, Lord Arthur, allow us to follow you."
Arthur smiled: "I welcome you, but my territory is very busy right now, and everyone has something to do."
Mills, hearing Arthur agree, quickly said: "To rebuild our new home with our own hands, we couldn't ask for more."
"Then go ask how many people are willing to go with you. As for those who are not willing... Albert, you are responsible for taking these people back to Gondor, no problem?" Arthur asked.
Albert nodded decisively: "Of course, no problem, Lord Arthur. I will make proper arrangements for them after returning to Gondor."
Among the remaining 23 surviving humans, 19 were willing to follow Mills to Arthur's territory, and only 4 were willing to return to Gondor with Albert.
Most of those who followed Mills were elderly people, women, and children, while the 4 who followed Albert were all young men.
Another day passed, and after giving these surviving humans ample rest, Arthur decided to return.
In addition to having many things to do in the Golden Tree Territory, Arthur's "soul collector" had also finished absorbing all the souls that died in Thorndale this time.
So many souls were enough for him to summon Stormveil Castle.
Arthur roughly estimated that at least nearly a thousand orcs had died in the Misbegotten's attack, but more than thirty Misbegotten themselves had also perished.
The most casualties were among the Winged Hybrids; many of them died when they rushed into houses to obstruct orc archers, covering the Scale-skinned Hybrids.
But to be able to win with a smaller number, with just over two hundred, the strength of the Misbegotten is beyond doubt.
As for the fallen Misbegotten, their bodies were frozen by Arthur using snow magic, and then carried by their comrades onto the carts left by the orcs.
These Misbegotten had shown their bravery to Arthur, and Arthur could not simply bury their bodies in Thorndale.
"Thorndale is entrusted to you. After I return, I will immediately summon some of your compatriots and send them with truly delicious food as support," Arthur said to the lion hybrid who came to see him off.
The lion hybrid looked at the Misbegotten pushing carts laden with the bodies of their comrades while responding: "Lord Arthur, we are truly grateful that you allowed us to embrace the glory of battle once more, and we are also very grateful that you allow my compatriots to return to the Erdtree after death."
"What's past is past, so don't dwell too much on it," Arthur said with a smile, bidding farewell to the lion hybrid.
On the other side, Albert, who was preparing to return to Gondor, also bid farewell to Mills and the others.
They both walked over together, their faces much better than yesterday, and their numb expressions were gone, replaced by anticipation for the future.
"Thank you again, Lord Arthur. After I return, I will report your achievements to Gondor and tell your story to the people."
After Albert sincerely finished speaking, he waved goodbye to Arthur and, under the escort of four Winged Hybrids, departed with his four compatriots in the opposite direction.
"Let's go too, it's time to go home," Arthur said.