📢 U̲r̲g̲e̲n̲t̲ W̲a̲r̲n̲i̲n̲g̲ 💥

𝘛𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴, 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱𝘴 𝘣𝘺 𝘑𝘶𝘭𝘺 2023 [Main logotype Expert Modern Advice](   This was nеvеr meant for the general public. But it’s аll there in black and white… A frightening plan that gives the Fed the power to track and even control your checking account, including АLL your fіnаnсіаl transactions. A pilot test program is already underway. And it’s slated to launch at America’s largest banks as sооn as July of this year! So, time to prepare is very short. Fortunately, there are a few key steps you can take to defend yourself… [🖱️ Сlісk to learn how]( They had not been riding very long when up came Gandalf very splendid on a white horse. He had brought a lot of pocket-handkerchiefs, and Bilbo's pipe and tobacco. So after that the party went along very merrily, and they told stories or sang songs as they rode forward day, except of course when they ped for meals. These didn't come quite as often as Bilbo would have liked them, but still he began to feel that adventures were not so bad after . At first they had passed through hobbit-lands, a wild respectable country inhabited by decent folk, with good roads, an inn or two, and and then a dwarf or a farmer ambling by on business. Then they came to lands w people spoke strangely, and sang songs Bilbo had heard before. they had gone on far into the Lone-lands, w t were no people left, no inns, and the roads grew steadily worse. Not far ahead were dreary hills, rising higher and higher, dark with trees. On some of them were old castles with an evil look, as if they had been built by wicked people. Everything seemed gloomy, for the weather that day had taken a nasty turn. Mostly it had been as good as May can be, even in merry tales, but it was cold and wet. In the Lone-lands they had to camp when they could, but at least it had been dry. To think it will be June, grumbled Bilbo as he splashed along behind the others in a very muddy track. It was after tea-time; it was pouring with rain, and had been day; his hood was dripping into his eyes, his cloak was full of water; the pony was tired and stumbled on stones; the others were too grumpy to talk. And I'm sure the rain has got into the dry clothes and into the food-bags, thought Bilbo. Bother burgling and everything to do with it! I wish I was at in my nice hole by the fire, with the kettle just beginning to sing! It was not the last time that he wished that! Still the dwarves jogged on, turning round or taking any notice of the hobbit. Somew behind the grey clouds the sun must have gone down, for it began to dark. Wind got up, and the willows along the river- bent and sighed. I don't k what river it was, a rushing red one, swollen with the rains of the last few days, that came down from the hills and mountains in front of them. it was nearly dark. The winds broke up the grey clouds, and a waning moon appeared above the hills between the flying rags. Then they ped, and Thorin muttered something about supper, and w sh we a dry patch to sleep on? Not until then did they notice that Gandalf was missing. So far he had come the way with them, saying if he was in the adventure or merely keeping them company for a while. He had eaten most, talked most, and laughed most. But he simply was not t at ! Just when a wizard would have been most useful, too, groaned Dori and Nori (who shared the hobbit's views about regular meals, plenty and often). They decided in the end that they would have to camp w they were. So far they had not camped before on this journey, and though they k that they would have to camp regularly, when they were among the Misty Mountains and far from the lands of respectable people, it seemed a bad wet evening to begin, on. They moved to a clump of trees, and though it was drier under them, the wind shook the rain the s, and the drip, drip, was most annoying. Also the mischief seemed to have got into the fire. Dwarves can make a fire almost anyw out of almost anything, wind or no wind; but they could not do it that night, not even Oin and Gloin, who were speciy good at it. Then one of the ponies took fright at nothing and bolted. He got into the river before they could catch him; and before they could him out again, Fili and Kili were nearly drowned, and the baggage that he carried was washed away him. Of course it was mostly food, and t was mighty little left for supper, and less for break. T they sat glum and wet and muttering, while Oin and Gloin went on trying to light the fire, and quarrelling about it. Bilbo was sadly reflecting that adventures are not pony-rides in May-sunshine, when Balin, who was always their look-out man, said: T's a light over t! T was a hill some way with trees on it, pretty thick in parts. Out of the dark mass of the trees they could see a light shining, a reddish comfortable-looking light, as it might be a fire or torches twinkling. When they had looked at it for some while, they fell to arguing. Some said no and some said yes. Some said they could but go and see, and anything was better than little supper, less break, and wet clothes the night. Others said: These parts are none too well kn, and are too near the mountains. Travellers seldom come this way . The old maps are no use: things have changed for the worse and the road is unguarded. They have seldom even heard of the king round , and the less inquisitive you are as you go along, the less trouble you are likely to find. Some said: After t are fourteen of us. Others said: W has Gandalf got to? This remark was repeated by everybody. Then the rain began to pour down worse than ever, and Oin and Gloin began to fight. That settled it. After we have got a burglar with us, they said; and so they made , leading their ponies (with due and proper caution) in the direction of the light. They came to the hill and were in the wood. Up the hill they went; but t was no proper path to be seen, such as might lead to a house or a farm; and do what they could they made a of rustling and crackling and creaking (and a good of grumbling and drafting), as they went through the trees in the pitch dark. Suddenly the red light shone out very bright through the tree-trunks not far ahead. it is the burglar's turn, they said, meaning Bilbo. You must go on and find out about that light, and what it is for, and if is ly safe and canny, said Thorin to the hobbit. scuttle , and come back quick, if is well. If not, come back if you can! It you can't, hoot twice like a barn-owl and once like a screech-owl, and we will do what we can. Bilbo had to go, before he could explain that he could not hoot even once like any kind of owl any more than fly like a bat. But at any hobbits can move quietly in woods, absolutely quietly. They take a pride in it, and Bilbo had sniffed more than once at what he ced this dwarvish racket, as they went along, though I don't sup-pose you or I would notice anything at on a windy night, not if the whole cavalcade had passed two feet . As for Bilbo walking primly towards the red light, I don't suppose even a weasel would have stirred a whisker at it. So, natury, he got right up to the fire-for fire it was without disturbing anyone. And this is what he saw. Three very large persons sitting round a very large fire of beech-logs. They were toasting mutton on long spits of wood, and licking the gravy their fingers. T was a fine toothsome smell. Also t was a barrel of good drink at hand, and they were drinking out of jugs. But they were trolls. Then t was a gorgeous row. Bilbo had just enough wits left, when Bert dropped him on the ground, to scramble out of the way of their feet, before they were fighting like dogs, and cing one another sorts of ly true and applicable s in very loud voices. they were locked in one another's arms, and rolling nearly into the fire kicking and thumping, while Tom whacked at then both with a branch to bring them to their senses-and that of course made them madder than ever. That would have been the time for Bilbo to have left. But his poor little feet had been very squashed in Bert's big paw, and he had no breath in his body, and his head was going round; so t he lay for a while panting, just outside the circle of firelight. Right in the middle of the fight up came Balin. The dwarves had heard noises from a distance, and after wait-ing for some time for Bilbo to come back, or to hoot like an owl, they started one by one to creep towards the light as quietly as they could. No er did Tom see Balin come into the light than he gave an awful howl. Trolls simply detest the very sight of dwarves (uncooked). Bert and Bill ped fighting , and a sack, Tom, quick! they said, before Balin, who was dering w in this commotion Bilbo was, k what was happening, a sack was over his head, and he was down. T's more to come yet, said Tom, or I'm mighty mistook. Lots and none at , it is, said he. No burra - hobbits, but lots of these dwarves. That's about the shape of it! I reckon you're right, said Bert, and we'd best out of the light. And so they did. With sacks in their hands, that they used for carrying mutton and other plunder, they waited in the shadows. As each dwarf came up and looked at the fire, and the spilled jugs, and the gnawed mutton, in surprise, pop! went a nasty smelly sack over his head, and he was down. Dwalin lay by Balin, and Fili and Kili toher, and Dori and Nori and Ori in a heap, and Oin and Gloin and Bifur and Bofur and Bombur piled uncomfortably near the fire. That'll teach 'em, said Tom; for Bifur and Bombur had given a lot of trouble, and fought like mad, as dwarves will when cornered. Thorin came last-and he was not caught unawares. He came expecting mischief, and didn't need to see his s' legs sticking out of sacks to tell him that things were not well. He stood outside in the shadows some way , and said: What's this trouble? Who has been knocking my people about? It's trolls! said Bilbo from behind a tree. They had forgotten about him. They're hiding in the bushes with sacks, said he. O! are they? said Thorin, and he jumped forward to the fire, before they could leap on him. He caught up a big branch on fire at one end; and Bert got that end in his eye before he could step aside. That put him out of the battle for a bit. Bilbo did his best. He caught hold of Tom's leg-as well as he could, it was thick as a young tree-trunk -but he was sent spinning up into the top of some bushes, when Tom kicked the sparks up in Thorin's face. Tom got the branch in his teeth for that, and lost one of the front ones. It made him howl, I can tell you. But just at that moment William came up behind and popped a sack right over Thorin's head and down to his toes. And so the fight ended. A nice pickle they were in : neatly tied up in sacks, with three angry trolls (and two with burns and bashes to remember) sitting by them, arguing whether they should roast them slowly, or mince them fine and boil them, or just sit on them one by one and squash them into jelly: and Bilbo up in a bush, with his clothes and his skin torn, not daring to move for fear they should hear him. It was just then that Gandalf came back. But no one saw him. The trolls had just decided to roast the dwarves and eat them later-that was Bert's idea, and after a lot of argument they had agreed to it. No good roasting 'em , it'd take night, said a voice. Bert thought it was William's. Dawn take you , and be stone to you! said a voice that sounded like William's. But it wasn't. For just at that moment the light came over the hill, and t was a mighty twitter in the branches. William spoke for he stood turned to stone as he stooped; and Bert and Tom were stuck like rocks as they looked at him. And t they stand to this day, alone, unless the birds perch on them; for trolls, as you probably k, must be underground before dawn, or they go back to the stuff of the mountains they are made of, and move again. That is what had happened to Bert and Tom and William. Excellent! said Gandalf, as he stepped from behind a tree, and helped Bilbo to climb down out of a thorn-bush. Then Bilbo understood. It was the wizard's voice that had kept the trolls bickering and quarrelling, until the light came and made an end of them. Why on earth didn't you mention it before? they cried. Gandalf grabbed it and fitted it into the key-hole. Then the stone door swung back with one big push, and they went inside. T were bones on the floor and a nasty smell was in the air; but t was a good of food jumbled carelessly on shelves and on the ground, among an untidy litter of plunder, of sorts from brass buttons to pots full of coins standing in a corner. T were lots of clothes, too, hanging on the ws-too sm for trolls, I am afraid they belonged to victims-and among them were several swords of various makes, shapes, and sizes. Two caught their eyes particularly, because of their beautiful scabbards and jewelled hilts. Gandalf and Thorin each took one of these; and Bilbo took a knife in a leather sheath. It would have made a tiny pocket-knife for a troll, but it was as good as a short sword for the hobbit. These look like good blades, said the wizard, half drawing them and looking at them curiously. They were not made by any troll, nor by any smith among men in these parts and days; but when we can read the runes on them, we sh k more about them. Let's out of this horrible smell! said Fili So they carried out the pots of coins, and such food as was un-touched and looked fit to eat, also one barrel of ale which was still full. By that time they felt like break, and being very hungry they did not turn their noses up at what they had got from the trolls' larder. Their own provisions were very scanty. they had bread and cheese, and plenty of ale, and bacon to toast in the embers of the fire. After that they slept, for their night had been disturbed; (and they did nothing more till the afternoon. Then they I brought up their ponies, and carried away the pots of , and buried them very secretly not far from the track by the river, putting a many spells over them, just in case they ever had the- to come back and recover them. When that was done, they mounted once more, and jogged along again on the path towards the East. W did you go to, if I may ask? said Thorin to Gandalf as they rode along. Don't interrupt! said Gandalf. You will t in a few days , if we're lucky, and find out about it As I was saying I met two of Elrond's people. They were hurrying along for fear of the trolls. It was they who told me that three of them had come down from the mountains and settled in the woods not far from the road; they had frightened everyone away from the district, and they waylaid strangers. I had a feeling that I was wanted back. Looking behind I saw a fire in the distance and made for it. So you k. be more careful, next time, or we sh anyw! They did not sing or tell stories that day, even though the weather improved; nor the next day, nor the day after. They had begun to feel that danger was not far away on either side. They camped under the stars, and their horses had more to eat than they had; for t was plenty of grass, but t was not much in their bags, even with what they had got from the trolls. One morning they forded a river at a wide show place full of the noise of stones and foam. The far was steep and slippery. When they got to the top of it, leading their ponies, they saw that the mountains had marched down very near to them. Already they I seemed a day's easy journey from the feet of the nearest. Dark and drear it looked, though t were patches of sunlight on its brown sides, and behind its shoulders the tips of s-peaks gleamed. Is that The Mountain? asked Bilbo in a solemn voice, looking at it with round eyes. He had seen a thing that looked so big before. Of course not! said Balin. That is the beginning of the Misty Mountains, and we have to through, or over, or under those somehow, before we can come into Wilderland beyond. And it is a of a way even from the other side of them to the Lonely Mountain in the East W Smaug lies on our treasure. O! said Bilbo, and just at that moment he felt more fared than he ever remembered feeling before. He was thinking once again of his comfortable chair before the fire in his favourite sitting-room in his hobbit-hole, and of the kettle singing. Not for the last time! Gandalf led the way. We must not miss the road, or we sh be done for, he said. We need food, for one thing, and rest in reasonable safety-also it is very necessary to tackle the Misty Mountains by the proper path, or else you will lost in them, and have to come back and start at the beginning again (if you ever back at ). They asked him w he was making for, and he answered: You are come to the very edge of the Wild, as some of you may k. somew ahead of us is the fair vey of Rivendell w Elrond lives in the Last ly House. I sent a message by my s, and we are expected. That sounded nice and comforting, but they had not got t yet, and it was not so easy as it sounds to find the Last ly House west of the Mountains. T seemed to be no trees and no veys and no hills to break the ground in front of them, one vast slope going slowly up and up to meet the feet of the nearest mountain, a wide land the colour of heather and crumbling rock, with patches and slashes of grass-green and moss-green showing w water might be. Morning passed, afternoon came; but in the silent waste t was no sign of any dwelling. They were growing anxious, for they saw that the house might be almost anyw between them and the mountains. They came on unexpected veys, narrow with deep sides, that ed suddenly at their feet, and they looked down surprised to see trees below them and running water at the bottom. T were gullies that they could almost leap over; but very deep with waterfs in them. T were dark ravines that one could neither jump nor climb into. T were bogs, some of them green pleasant places to look at with flowers growing bright and t; but a pony that walked t with a pack on its back would have come out again. It was indeed a much wider land from the ford to the mountains than ever you would have guessed. Bilbo was astonished. The path was marked with white stones some of which were sm, and others were half covered with moss or heather. Altoher it was a very slow business following the track, even guided by Gandalf, who seemed to k his way about pretty well. His head and beard wagged this way and that as he looked for the stones, and they followed his head, but they seemed no nearer to the end of the search when the day began to fail. Tea-time had long gone by, and it seemed supper-time would do the same. T were moths fluttering about, and the light became very dim, for the moon had not risen. Bilbo's pony began to stumble over roots and stones. They came to the edge of a steep f in the ground so suddenly that Gandalf s horse nearly slipped down the slope. it is at last! he ced, and the others gatd round him and looked over the edge. They saw a vey far below. They could hear the voice of hurrying water in rocky bed at the bottom; the scent of trees was in the air; and t was a light on the vey-side across the water. Bilbo forgot the way they slitd and slipped in the dusk down the steep zig-zag path into the secret vey of Rivendell. The air grew warmer as they got lower, and the smell of the pine-trees made him drowsy, so that every and again he nodded and nearly fell , or bumped his nose on the pony's neck. Their spirits rose as they went down and down. The trees changed to beech and oak, and hire was a comfortable feeling in the twilight. The last green had almost faded out of the grass, when they came at length to an glade not far above the s of the stream. So they laughed and sang in the trees; and pretty fair nonsense I daresay you think it. Not that they would care they would laugh the more if you told them so. They were elves of course. Bilbo caught glimpses of them as the darkness deepened. He loved elves, though he seldom met them; but he was a little frightened of them too. Dwarves don't on well with them. Even decent enough dwarves like Thorin and his s think them foolish (which is a very foolish thing to think), or annoyed with them. For some elves tease them and laugh at them, and most of at their beards. Well, well! said a voice. Just look! Bilbo the hobbit on a pony, my dear! Isn't it delicious! [image in footer dar devider] 11780 US Highway 1 Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33408-3080 Would you like to [edit your e-mail notification preferences or unsubscribe]( from Weiss mailing list? Copyright © 2023 Weiss Ratings. All rights reserved. [small logotype footer Expert Modern Advice]( Inception Media, LLC appreciates your comments and inquiries. Please keep in mind, that Inception Media, LLC are not permitted to provide individualized fіnancіal advіse. This email is not financial advice and any іnvestment decіsіon you make is solely your responsibility. Feel frее to contact us toll frее Domestic/International: +17072979173 Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm ET, or email us support@expertmodernadvice.com. 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