From Hogwarts to Strixhaven.

Chapter 265 Arrangements for Prisoners (1000010000)

"You have to be able to get us all out of here somehow, right, wizard?"

In the dungeon of the Woodland Kingdom, Qili, who was closest to the door, was the first to see Ivy, so he immediately shouted in surprise. The other dwarves in the cell heard it and leaned over the railings to watch.

"I want to see Thorin first." Ivy smiled, "But don't worry, the elves won't hurt you."

"But they want our gold!" said Noli stubbornly. "Don't forget that there is also your share in it, wizard!"

"Of course I remember. In fact, I've always been thinking about the Mithril Staff." Ivy made a joke, which reassured the dwarves.

Arriving in front of Thorin's solitary cell, Ivy saw the dwarf prince standing gloomily beside the bluestone wall. The shadow of the iron bars divided his face into several pieces of alternating light and dark.

"You are here, wizard." Thorin was not surprised to see Ivy. "Are you here to lobby for Thranduil?"

"Why do you think so, Thorin?" Ivy said. "Do you think I'm the kind of person who would abandon a friend?"

"Of course not, wizard." Thorin's face looked a little better. "I'm just afraid that you will be bewitched by those elves. They are all despicable guys. Don't trust them."

"Really?" Ivy pretended to be surprised. "In fact, I really didn't see it. Can you please tell me about their despicable deeds? The dwarves of Lonely Mountain and the elves of Mirkwood have been neighbors for so many years. It's impossible that they don't know anything about each other, right?"

"Okay, I'll tell you." Thorin's face was full of anger, as if his emotions had been aroused before he even said anything. "Take the most recent incident for example. When Smaug invaded the Lonely Mountain, I knelt on the ground and begged the elves for help, but they led their troops away without even looking at me, leaving my people to struggle and die under the flames spewed out of the dragon's mouth..."

"And then?" Ivy asked.

"Isn't that enough? Two-thirds of the dwarves of Erebor died because of the elves' indifference. They could have helped us defeat the dragon!" Thorin asked excitedly, grabbing the railing.

"I have to tell you, Thorin, that in Middle-earth, there is probably no force other than fate that can defeat the evil dragon Smaug. Even if the Silvan elves know some magic, having them fight against Smaug is just a drop in the bucket. At best, it will increase the number of casualties." Ivy said, "I can't stand on the side of the dwarves to help you blame Thranduil's decision. The elves have no obligation to the dwarves. Besides, even if the elves really help you fight the dragon, it will only lead to one more kingdom being destroyed."

"In fact, we should all be thankful that the Woodland Kingdom still exists. You have witnessed the dark power in the Mirkwood. If it weren't for the elves, this place would probably become the world of orcs. Do you have the confidence to lead twelve dwarf companions who are exhausted from climbing, through a forest full of orcs, and defeat the dragon entrenched in the Lonely Mountain?" Ivy did her best to exaggerate the importance of the Woodland Kingdom.

"Even if it is really as you said, I will do it without hesitation! Because I am the descendant of Durin, the direct bloodline of Lord Longbeard!" Thorin is really a standard dwarf, even the stubbornness in his bones is standard, perhaps it should be called hard-mouthed at this time.

"Determination is a good thing, but what we need is the revival of Erebor and the reconstruction of the Kingdom under the Mountain, not to die without hesitation." Ivy shook her head. "Of course, I have foreseen your reaction. I am not here to persuade you to accept Thranduil's request. I just hope that you can maintain peace with the Woodland Kingdom after we recapture the Lonely Mountain. Dwarves and elves are races that stand on the side of justice. Our common enemy is the darkness from the north and the Misty Mountains. If the dwarves really go to war with the elves, the only ones who will benefit are those dirty orcs."

"I would rather be neighbors with elves than orcs." Thorin's anger subsided, "But the premise is that you can get us out of here and help us retake the Lonely Mountain."

"In fact, I don't intend to destroy the friendship between us and the elves, which means that I can't take action to get you out of here." Seeing Thorin's eyes gradually widening, Ivy quickly continued, "But don't forget that there is a master thief in the expedition team."

"Bilbo? Impossible! He can't do it!" Thorin didn't quite believe it.

"Gandalf and I would not have made a mistake in choosing a person. Bilbo will definitely be able to complete this task. And didn't he save you from the giant spider's mouth before?" Ivy smiled. Although he didn't know where Bilbo was now, he was sure that he must have followed the large army to the Woodland Kingdom.

"So what are you going to do, wizard? Enjoy the elves' hospitality in their palace?" It was hard to see any expression on Thorin's face other than disapproval and disbelief, which had become more common since he was defeated by Azog.

"I'm going to Dol Guldur to see how Gandalf is doing. If all goes well, we will meet in Long Lake Town." Ivy said briskly, "Then the expedition team will have two more wizards!"

Thorin's expression became better. "I hope the thief can complete his mission... How long do we have to wait in Long Lake Town?"

"Until you see me and Gandalf, or whenever you think you must set out," Ivy replied. "I cannot completely deny the existence of accidents, but I will definitely not miss Smaug. Durin's Day is the transition between autumn and winter. We still have more than a month, more than enough."

"Hmm..." Thorin made a nasal sound, which probably meant agreement in Dwarven language, because at least he didn't ask any more questions or raise any more objections.

"By the way." Ivy said before leaving, "I hope you can look for the Black Arrow in Long Lake Town. I heard that it is a weapon that can effectively fight Smaug. We'd better not hope that the dragon will leave on its own. Right?"

After returning to the room prepared by Thranduil for herself, Ivy met the master thief Bilbo Baggins without surprise.

"Wizard!" said Bilbo anxiously, "How can I rescue my dwarf friends?"

"It seems that you have heard the entire conversation between Thorin and me?" Ivy asked with a smile.

"Of course, I've been following you!" Bilbo was concentrating on his task. "It's too hard! Elves know magic too! I might be discovered by the elves before I even get my finger on the key to the cell!"

"I have confidence in you, Mr. Baggins." Ivy smiled and comforted him. "It's actually not as difficult as you think to accomplish a big thing. It only requires a little strength, a little courage, and a little luck. You can be invisible, which is strength. When you defeated the big spider in the Black Forest, I guess you gained enough courage. As for the most important luck, I think the Hobbits have the most of it. Think about how much your dwarf friends have suffered since they left you?" Bilbo's expression was much softer. As a trustworthy wizard, Ivy's words were more effective than anyone else's.

"I'm beginning to think I can do it!" Bilbo walked around Ivy's room. "I must first survey the terrain here! I must find a possible entrance and exit! Otherwise, even if I really get the key, it will only allow the dwarves to be caught again!"

"You're already showing signs, right?" Ivy encouraged.

"Yes," said Bilbo, beaming. "I'm very much in the mood for the job now. I guess I'm a natural thief."

"Wizard? Are you in there?" An elf's voice came from outside the door, and Ivy recognized it was Legolas.

After seeing that Bilbo had hidden himself, Ivy stood up and opened the door. Legolas had taken off his leather armor and bow and arrows and changed into a robe worthy of a prince, with a green base and leaves with gold threads shimmering on it.

"Hello, Your Highness." Ivy greeted politely.

"Oh, don't call me Your Highness. I am no different from other elves in the Woodland Kingdom. Just call me Legolas." Legolas smiled and looked towards Ivy's room with a little curiosity. "Do you have any guests? Wizards? I think I heard voices talking?"

"It's just a harmless bird. Wizards can communicate with animals. I believe that Radagast, the brown-robed wizard who also lives in the Black Forest, often does this." Ivy smiled flawlessly and invited Legolas in. "Don't stand outside the door, Legolas, let's go in and sit down and talk."

"Okay." Legolas' eyes turned vigilantly, not missing any place in the house where the dwarf could hide, but what he didn't know was that the person hiding in Ivy's house was not a dwarf, but a thinner and smaller hobbit.

"The king asked me to complete the sacrifice with you tomorrow. I heard that it was for the weapon of the King of Gondolin?" Legolas looked around and didn't find anything suspicious, so he turned the subject to business.

"Yes, it's this elven curved sword." Ivy took off the beast bite sword from his body and handed it to the elven prince together with the scabbard.

"How beautiful!" Legolas could not wait to pull it out, and the cold light on the blade immediately filled the room. "Its handle is made of dragon teeth! Look! There is an inscription in Sindarin, 'Snake's Tooth'. In Sindarin, snake and dragon mean the same thing!"

After playing with it for a while, Legolas sheathed the Beast Bite Sword and returned it to Ivy: "It must be stained with the blood of many orcs. You are a respectable warrior."

"Fighting against darkness is something that every intelligent race in Middle-earth should do their best. I saw your archery skills in the forest. It was really impressive."

After a round of business exaggeration, Legolas stood up and said goodbye. Ivy believed that his next goal would be to go to the cell and count whether there were enough dwarves. The Elf Prince's caution was indeed commendable.

After seeing that Legolas had indeed left, Ivy said to the air in the room: "Well, Bilbo, he's gone."

"It's so scary, his eyes remind me of the giant eagle that day!" The master thief appeared from behind the clothes rack. No one could hide there without being discovered by the Elf Prince, except the Hobbit with the One Ring.

"You can rest here, Bilbo. I guess you're tired of sleeping outdoors in the forest. The elf's bed might make you dream of Rivendell." Ivy gave the bed to Bilbo. As for himself, he had to take the time to walk around the elf city, appreciate the different scenery, or see if there was any new knowledge that could be used. There would be no battle tonight, and Ivy could use all the spell slots to cast the Touch of Wisdom.

----

The next morning, Ivy woke up in the soft light of fireflies. The elf's decoration style always makes people feel like spring breeze, and exquisite and complicated patterns are used everywhere.

The Silvan elves had no habit of raising horses, and of course no stables, but they also provided special treatment to Goldenhorn like their fellow elves living in Rivendell.

During these days, Ivy used magic spells to help Golden Horn clean up. Today, Golden Horn finally had a chance to make some noise in the water, and he would definitely not let it go. So when it made the hall of the Woodland Kingdom full of water, King Thranduil smiled happily.

"Look at this pure and noble creature. I have never heard of its legend in any corner of Middle-earth. How did you find it, wizard?" Before the sacrificial team set off, Thranduil personally walked to Ivy to help him hold the golden horn, and asked questions about unicorns.

"Actually, their tribe lives quite close to me. I can often see them in the forest. In fact, Golden Horn is a little different from its compatriots. They are almost all silver-white like moonlight, but Golden Horn is the bright golden color similar to the sun." Of course, the clever Golden Horn knew that the people around him were praising it, so it raised its head proudly, letting its golden mane flutter gently in the breeze in the woodland kingdom.

Unlike the elves of Rivendell, the elves of the Woodland Kingdom appreciated the unrestrained natural beauty more, so they just let the hair on Golden Horn hang naturally without adding any additional modifications.

Only when they reached the gate of the Woodland Kingdom did Thranduil loosen his hand holding the reins of the Golden Horn. "I will take you here, wizard. Legolas will go with you to the altar in the forest on my behalf. I hope your journey goes well. I also hope that King Turgon in the Hall of Mandos can receive your message."

"Thank you for your help, His Majesty Thranduil." Ivy nodded again and took the reins of the Golden Horn from Thranduil.

Mandos is the residence of the god who controls the soul among the Valar. It is also the place where all elves return after death. They will wait for judgment there and also wait for the beginning of a new era.

　Get it!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)