I reforged the glory of the magic ring in Middle-earth

Chapter 101 The situation is turbulent

Bud shrugged. "So, what are you looking for them for?"

Gandalf kept his amiable expression. "It depends on you to tell me what they are about to do."

Bud raised an eyebrow. Why does this old man like to talk in circles? It feels so difficult to talk to him.

He looked Gandalf up and down again and said, "I think the words the dwarves used to describe you are not entirely wrong... My daughter was detained by the mayor, and Tanis and Thorin came to rescue my daughter. If you want to know why the mayor detained my daughter, to make a long story short, we have different attitudes on how to deal with the awakened dragon, so he doesn't like me."

Then Bud added in a low voice: "Although he and I disliked each other before."

Gandalf's face changed slightly, but he seemed to be mentally prepared for the news that the evil dragon had awakened.

Then Gandalf said goodbye to Bard: "The dwarves will still help you rescue your daughter, but Tanis, he has other things to do."

When Bard slammed the disguised fishing net into the wooden box and looked up again, Gandalf was already walking towards the abandoned dock of Long Lake Town. The hem of his gray robe swept across the icy road, leaving footprints of varying depths on the thin frost.

At the same time, Tanes and Thorin had arrived at the west gate of Long Lake Town, waiting for the guards to check all procedures and certificates before entering Long Lake Town.

The iron fence of the sentry post at the town entrance was covered with icicles, and two guards were poking the frozen corpse of a raven with spears.

"The fruit comes from the Golden Tree Territory. And this mead is a specialty of the Woodland Kingdom." The scarred guard spat on the forged parchment document Thorin took out, his eyes filled with greed. "You're charging a 30% tax on each box of goods."

Thorin raised an eyebrow: "30% tax?"

"Yes, 30% tax. I think you should have heard that Changhu Town was attacked by a giant dragon from Lonely Mountain before, and now it is in a time of reconstruction. Our great and benevolent mayor is always worried about the townspeople whose houses were destroyed, but unfortunately his financial resources are limited, so he can only impose tariffs." The scarred guard talked eloquently, completely ignoring the fact that what he said was completely illogical.

Thorin was silent for a moment, although he had originally intended to feign dissatisfaction to make the guards think they were really a caravan.

But the scarred guard's words still choked Thorin. He had never seen such a blatant and shameless reason for detaining goods.

Thorin shook his head. "A 30% tax is still a bit too much. Even if we sell it, we won't make much money by the time we reach the Iron Hills. Forget it, let's not enter Long Lake Town."

"Is this a place you can come and go as you please? Leave all the goods here. I suspect you're smuggling something that violates the laws of Changhu Town. Let us conduct a thorough inspection."

The scarred guard sneered when he heard this. Just as he was about to order the guards around him to seize all of Thorin and his men's goods, he saw a dwarf with a long white beard walking out with a smile.

Balin approached Thorin with a kind and gentle smile. "Wait a moment, brave guard. Could you please be flexible? It's not easy for us to come here from such a long distance."

As he spoke, he shook a sapphire from his sleeve, which quietly rolled into the puddle at the feet of the scarred guard, reflecting an eerie glow on the edge of the guard's boots.

The scarred guard's expression remained unchanged, but he expertly pressed the sapphire against the sole of his shoe with a hook and a step. At the same time, his attitude towards Balin became more enthusiastic. "I think so too. It's rare for you to come so far from the Blue Mountains. The journey must have been difficult."

Then he shouted to the guard who was recording, "Everything is clear, open the gate and let them in!"

"Wait, maybe I should ask Mr. Alfred to take a look first."

The other guard had just raised his crossbow, his tone hesitant, when Balin had already inserted another gem into the crack of his wrist guard.

Then the guard didn't say anything else, but waved his hand and asked someone to open the city gate.

The moment the iron gate creaked up, some snow fell and floated into the frozen sewage ditch like dead butterflies.

"Welcome to Long Lake Town. I hope you have a pleasant experience." The scarred guard shouted pretentiously behind Thorin and the others.

Thorin and his companions walked along the cold and damp road and found an inn open to the public, where they stayed.

"It seems that the ruler of Long Lake Town is not confident that we will stay here honestly. We are already under surveillance." Dwalin leaned against the window of the guest room on the second floor and saw several sneaky figures outside through the small gap.

Tanes said, "That's normal. We just need to make sure our conversation isn't overheard by anyone with ulterior motives. Bernal and Millicent are already outside, preventing anyone with poor hearing from getting close."

Thorin also walked slowly to the window. At this time, the bell rang from the mayor's gilded watchtower. He pretended to be curious and pushed open the window. The dwarf's eyesight saw the fat figure swaying behind the stained glass window of the mayor's house.

Then Thorin slammed the wooden window shut, causing the snow on the window frame to slide down.

He looked at the dwarves inside and said, "The mayor is up. Someone must have told him that a dwarven caravan has arrived in Lake-town. Ori, Nori, Dori, you, along with Kili and Fili, the five of you will go to the market and pretend to be vendors. The mayor's rats should be smelling the honey."

The dwarves who were named exchanged glances in tacit understanding and agreed.

Tanes also said, "In that case, we must act like normal mercenaries. Bernard and Egon would be the best to pretend to be drunks in the tavern downstairs, while Millicent and I will follow Qili and the others to the market and act as escorts for the goods. This will make it easier for us to gather intelligence while also preventing others from becoming suspicious of our identities."

Hearing this, Qili played with the silver-plated spoon on the dining table in the guest room, threw it into the air, and caught it accurately, saying, "Then you should learn from us, Teacher Tanes."

Then he deliberately raised his voice to imitate the mercenary's gruff voice: "When we get to the market later, if anyone dares to stare at my wine barrel—!"

Philip took over the conversation tacitly and pounded his chest, making the tin cup on the table clink.

But before Tanes could speak, Thorin's silent gaze made Fili and Kili sit up straight and not dare to move.

Thorin nodded: "Very good, then it's settled."

Bilbo raised his hand curiously and asked, "What about me? Is there anything I need to do?"

Thorin glanced at Bilbo and said calmly, "Don't worry, I haven't forgotten you. I was just about to tell you what you should do, and it's a very important task."

Bilbo shrank his head subconsciously and asked nervously, "What important mission?"

"Of course, you should use your stealth talent to find the place where Bard's two daughters are imprisoned in Lake-town," Thorin said. At this time, a familiar voice came from outside the guest room: "After not seeing you for so many days, is Bilbo able to face difficulties on his own?"

Millicent pushed the door open, revealing Gandalf outside.

Bernard's voice was clearly heard from outside the room: "Don't worry, he must have used some kind of witchcraft. No one noticed Gandalf walking into the inn."

The moment Tanis saw Gandalf, he felt relieved. The first thing that came to his mind was that he finally didn't have to lead these stubborn dwarves alone.

Thorin also showed an excited expression and stepped forward: "Oh, Gandalf! When did you catch up with us?"

Gandalf's eyes looked a little strange, because he remembered what Bard had said about him, and seeing Thorin's happy face, he didn't know what to say.

But he quickly put these thoughts aside and walked into the guest room that was packed with people (mostly dwarves).

Tanes' arm paused in mid-air, and finally wrapped its arm around the gray-robed wizard's thin shoulders.

The aroma of burning pine wood and tobacco instantly filled Tanes's nostrils, reminding him of the day he parted with Gandalf a few months ago.

He smiled and said, "You finally showed up with your pipe?"

However, the smile lines at the corners of Gandalf's eyes gradually disappeared as the smoke from his pipe rose. Sparks flickered between the tobacco, reflecting a dark red surging in the depths of his pupils.

Gandalf looked at Tanis and then at Thorin with a serious expression: "This is why I have come to you in such a hurry, Tanis and Thorin. The situation we are facing now is far more dangerous than we imagined."

Tanes also showed a serious expression: "Tell me in detail."

Gandalf took a drag on his cigarette, his old face hidden in the smoke. "In Dol Guldur, Lady Galadriel, Lord Elrond, Saruman and I discovered that the Ringwraiths, who were supposed to be buried deep, had awakened. Although we haven't discovered the true master of Dol Guldur, I am certain that he is definitely not an ordinary necromancer. Therefore, Smaug's awakening is no accident."

Then he looked at Tanes and said with some fear, "If I hadn't called Lady Galadriel and the other three ahead of time and entered Dol Guldur directly, I would have been imprisoned there, unknown to anyone, until I died or fell. Because I can confirm that the master of Dol Guldur is exactly who I think he is."

Tanes heard the name "Ringwraith" for the first time and frowned, asking, "What kind of creature is this [Ringwraith]?"

Gandalf explained simply, "They are also known as the Nazgûl. They are a group of human kings who have been corrupted by power and authority and now serve the Dark Lord."

Tanes nodded to show that he understood.

Thorin said, "But what does this have to do with us?"

Gandalf glared at Thorin. "Of course it is related. Not to mention that the four of us discovered in Dol Guldur that they were secretly forging standard weapons and armor for Orcs to use. You will not only face an awakened dragon, but also an entire army of Orcs ready for battle. We also found someone who is very important to you in that abandoned fortress. Your father, Thrain! It is because of him that we know the true master of Dol Guldur."

Thorin's eyes widened, his mouth slightly opened, and after a brief moment of daze, he became excited: "You found my father?? Where is he now?? Is he injured?"

Gandalf soothed him, "Don't get excited, Thorin. Your father is very safe now. Although he has some injuries, they have healed completely."

He glanced at Tanes and said with a smile, "This is all thanks to Tanes."

Tanes looked confused: "Ah? Me?"

Gandalf's holly pipe twirled slowly between his fingers, the rising smoke outlining his memory. "When we found Thrain, his pulse was weaker than a spider's thread in the wind, and his condition was dire. Although Lady Galadriel cast spells to protect his heart, she couldn't stop his life force from collapsing, like trying to contain a waterfall with a spider's web. So we decided that Lady Galadriel and the others would pursue the true master of Dol Guldur. I would call upon the giant eagles for help and take Thrain to your Golden Tree territory to seek aid. Lady Neferi Lu received us and provided treatment for Thrain. By the next day, Thrain was able to drink a whole pot of mutton stew."

It turned out to be the case.

Tanes nodded.

When Thorin heard that his father was receiving treatment in the territory of the Golden Tree, his originally anxious mood instantly calmed down.

Because he had complete confidence in Tanes and everything about him, as if all problems would be solved as long as they were related to him.

Thorin relaxed, raised his palm and gently hit Tanes on the back. His rough laughter startled the crows perched outside the window and said, "I owe you so much that I can no longer count it."

"Friends shouldn't always think about what you owe each other. You help me and I help you, that's normal. You can't always care about it, otherwise life will be too tiring." Tanes smiled.

But his teasing was interrupted by Gandalf's sudden solemn expression. The gray-robed wizard stroked the newly cracked pipe and sighed, "It's a pity that the Dwarf King's Ring, one of the Seven Rings... was taken away by the Shadow of Dol Guldur."

Thorin took a deep breath, then said to Gandalf seriously, "As long as my father can still drink mead and scold me for being reckless, and can still wield his battle axe and teach Fili and Kili martial arts, that is worth all the mithril and gems in Middle-earth."

Tanes asked, "So why did you come to me?"

Gandalf replied, "For the coming war, I beg you to gather an army capable of resisting the enemy's attack."

Tanes was confused and shook his head in refusal. "Let's not talk about why I'm suddenly gathering an army. Even if I agree, the Golden Tree's territory is far away in Minsilias, and it will take at least half a year for them to arrive. Even if I send a message back to the territory now, by the time the army crosses the Misty Mountains and arrives here, Smaug's dragon flames will have already burned Lake Town to ashes. I think you should seek help from Thranduil in the Woodland Kingdom. After all, distant water cannot quench immediate thirst."

Gandalf explained helplessly, "I've already asked Thranduil for help, but he disagrees. The spiders in Mirkwood have consumed too much of his people's energy and time. I've also been seeking help from Gondor and Rohan, but they both refused to send troops. The only ones who could possibly send troops and reach the Lonely Mountain the fastest are the Dwarves of the Iron Hills."

Thorin asked in confusion, "Dain? Why would he send an army? I haven't obtained the Arkenstone yet."

Gandalf looked at Thorin. "Because your father, Thrain, wrote letters in the king's name to the Seven Dwarf Kingdoms and the Dwarves of the Iron Hills, detailing the emergency situation at the Lonely Mountain. Although Dain didn't swear fealty to you, he did swear it to Thrain. Plus, given Dain's close relationship with you and your son, the probability of him sending troops is very high. As for the Seven Dwarf Kingdoms, I'm not sure whether these Dwarf lords still owe him allegiance after Thrain's disappearance for so many years."

　PS: Welcome the God of Wealth on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year! I wish all readers great fortune! !

　　Originally, Thorin died without ever hearing his father say that he loved him (of course, because his father died earlier), so I have always wanted to make up for this regret.

　　Please recommend and reward me with monthly tickets! (The tough guy kneels down)

　　Guess what method Tanes will use to transport troops (not the blessing teleport in the game, but it has appeared in the game.)
　　
　
(End of this chapter)