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

Chapter 145 Going Home
However, after Legolas had stayed in the territory of the Golden Tree for some time, he said that he came to the territory of the Golden Tree because of the advice given by his father Thranduil.

Thranduil was in Riverdale that day and had a brief exchange with Legolas.

Although Legolas was still somewhat dissatisfied with Thranduil, his father's act of bringing the Woodland Kingdom to support him made him realize that his father still loved him in essence.

It's just that Legolas needs some time to adjust his attitude towards Thranduil.

Therefore, Thranduil, who saw what Legolas was thinking, showed him a way, which was to go to the Golden Tree Territory where Tanes was.

Of course, Tanis now didn't know that there was such a reason why Legolas wanted to go to the Golden Tree Territory. He just thought that the other party was simply interested in his territory.

Moreover, Tanes' attention was attracted by what Latan and Bud were going to say.

After Tanes heard what Bard said, he asked in surprise: "Are you serious, Bard? Are you asking me to send an army to station in Long Lake Town?"

Bard nodded seriously. "This is the result of my careful consideration. I also asked others for their opinions, and they all agreed that the Golden Tree Territory's troops should be stationed here."

Then he sighed helplessly, "I have a strange feeling in my heart, Tanes. As the dwarves retake the Lonely Mountain, Riverdale will certainly gradually regain its former prosperity. But Riverdale is too weak now. In the eyes of other human kingdoms, we are the closest to the Lonely Mountain and have no power, just fat sheep to be slaughtered at will."

Bard shrugged. "I'm not saying that the human kingdoms that learned of the Lonely Mountain's recapture will necessarily try to take Riverdale into their own hands, but as the townspeople's trusted mayor, I have to prepare for the worst. Rather than asking a kingdom I don't know or understand to cooperate, why not choose someone I know well? That's you and your Golden Tree Territory."

He then raised his head, glanced at the giant-like Latarn, and jokingly said, "Although, as far as I know, your Golden Tree Territory is also in its early stages of development, after the Battle of Lonely Mountain, General Latarn's heroic feat of single-handedly slaying a dragon will spread throughout Middle-earth. Whether it's elves, humans, or dwarves, anyone thinking of taking advantage of your territory will have to think carefully."

Tanes also glanced at Latan, whose shoulders and waist were bandaged, and then said to Bard, "Then I have no objection. However, regarding which legion to station, Latan and I will discuss it with the others in the territory after we return."

Besides the Storm Legion and the Red Lion Legion, does the Golden Tree have other legions?
Bud secretly memorized this information and readily agreed, "Of course, no problem. I'll hand over the specific details of the military deployment to you when we're both ready for a formal meeting."

Then he winked deliberately and said, "After all, you are a wizard. You have a way to go back quickly, right?"

It seems that Bard also guessed what happened when the Storm Legion and the Red Lion Legion suddenly appeared in Changhu Town.

Tanes smiled and nodded, keeping the matter in mind, and prepared to let Kenneth Hyde handle the matter when he returned.

After Bard left, Tanes looked at Latarn and asked, "Is Bard's change of attitude the reason why you challenged Smaug?"

Latarn nodded calmly: "This is just one of the reasons."

Tanes asked curiously, "What other reasons are there?"

Latarn admitted, "That is, I do want to challenge the dragons of this world. As far as the fighting process is concerned, Smaug is indeed an opponent worth remembering."

Tanes complained slightly dissatisfiedly: "Hearing what you said, it makes me want to fight Smaug even more."

Latarn shook his head slightly. "Even if you could easily defeat Smaug, I will do my best to dissuade you from fighting him. I believe both [Quasi-King] Bernard and the swordswoman who strikes me as having a connection to the Valkyrie would agree with me on this point."

Tanes was visibly taken aback and asked, "Why?"

Latarn replied, "Because you are the only one who can call the people and things in the borderland to this world. In other words, you are our only hope and miracle to make up for our regrets."

After listening to this, Tanes remained silent for a long time.

After a while, he pointed at the blood-stained bandages on Latan's body and said, "Your injuries aren't serious enough to require bandages, are they? If the blessing potion in the Red Dew Drop Holy Grail isn't enough to heal you, I can still help you recover through prayer."

Latarn smiled faintly and slightly untied the bandage on his arm, revealing the intact skin underneath.

Tanes asked in surprise, "You're okay? Then why are you bandaging it?"

Latan turned his head to look in the direction Bard had left and said, "To prevent these people from feeling scared. I believe the nations of this world can certainly accept a story where a hero successfully challenges a dragon but is seriously injured, but they absolutely cannot accept a person defeating a dragon without paying any price. Otherwise, they will go from admiring and fearing this hero to fearing him. When people are afraid, they lose their normal reason and judgment, and this is not the result I want to see."

"My victory over Smaug showed the world that the Golden Tree possessed a sword as sharp as mine. And my pretending to be seriously injured showed the world that this sword would also wear out and need to be sharpened. Otherwise, being too sharp could, in a sense, be interpreted as making enemies everywhere."

Tanes nodded thoughtfully, then sighed and said with a headache, "I can understand what you're saying, but when I really think about it... I always feel like there are too many things to consider, and it's too troublesome."

Latarn said calmly, "I wish everyone in the world were as pure as you. That would be a much better place. But unfortunately, reality isn't like that. To achieve our goals, this requires careful consideration. However, I only barely scratch the surface. If you truly wish to learn how to be a worthy King of Elden, besides possessing the powerful force that compels our submission, I strongly recommend learning a thing or two from my brother, [Justice Officer] Larcade."

Tanes frowned slightly. "Raccard? You should know that the Raccard I know is a demigod Law Judge named Blasphemous King, not some Justice."

Latan nodded. "I also know the crimes my brother committed. But just as I fell into madness due to the influence of the Scarlet Corruption, Larcade may have also embarked on the wrong path due to the bewitching influence of the great snake. Of course, I don't mean to excuse him. I agree with any punishment Larcade receives. I just want to express that perhaps Larcade, like me, can be freed from the bewitching influence he has suffered."

Tanes could hear that Latan's implicit meaning was to recommend that Tanes should summon Lakkad as the next demigod.

So he said, "I will consider the matter of Lakkad myself." Latan nodded silently and said no more, because he knew that if he said more, it would arouse Tanes's disgust.

The only thing that happened in River Valley was what Bard said, so after a preliminary assessment, Latan was asked to stay in River Valley with Freya, Oga and Jellian.

After all, in the eyes of Thorin of Lonely Mountain and Bard of Riverdale, Latarn is still in a "seriously injured" state, and it is convenient for him to perform a "recuperation" drama in Riverdale.

As for why they didn't stay in Lake Town, it was because the previous attack by the Ringwraiths had damaged most of the wooden houses in Lake Town. Now the number of intact houses in Lake Town was probably less than that in Riverdale.

Meanwhile, Bernal, Egon, and Millicent, along with the Storm Legion, were preparing to return to the Golden Tree Territory with Tanes.

Bilbo and Legolas also went back through the portal with Tanis.

After delivering the necklace to Thranduil, Gandalf hugged Tanis and Bilbo respectively, said goodbye to them, and hurried to the Kingdom of Gondor.

Thorin also arrived as promised, and brought the dwarves of the Lonely Mountain Fellowship to the town of Vale to say goodbye to Tanis and Bilbo.

Bilbo looked at these dwarves with whom he had only spent a short thirteen months, but which seemed longer than a lifetime. Every detail of the journey to the Lonely Mountain with them flashed through his mind, and his eyes became moist at the time of parting.

After calming himself down, Bilbo said with a smile to Thorin, Fili, Kili, and the other dwarves, "If any of you happen to pass by Hobbiton on your way back to the Blue Mountains... Afternoon tea will be at four o'clock. There's plenty of tea and snacks. You're always welcome to come."

Then he paused, winked, and added to the dwarves, "Of course, I still hope you can send me a letter in advance to let me know so that I can restock my cellar with your favorite food."

Thorin nodded silently and said to Bilbo, "You are always welcome to come to Lonely Mountain, Bilbo Baggins. It will be your second home."

Tanes interrupted the conversation between the two and jokingly said, "Well, it's not a life-and-death separation, so there's no need to be so sentimental. As for the guest matter, let me handle that. After all, I'm a wizard."

Tanes plans to set up a stone portal between the Golden Tree Territory and Lonely Mountain, so that he can communicate with Thorin and others more conveniently.

However, the placement of the stone portal must also take into account the dwarves' military defense of the outskirts of Lonely Mountain, so where to place it is also something that needs to be discussed carefully with Thorin and others.

"Is this what it feels like to enter a portal? I didn't seem to feel anything special. In the blink of an eye, the surroundings changed... Oh, is this glowing tree that seems to reach the sky the golden tree you keep talking about, Tanes?"

After passing through the portal, Bilbo looked around curiously at everything around him and asked questions excitedly.

Not long after the Storm Legion returned, Nepheli Lu, who had noticed something was happening, came here.

Tanis first comforted Bilbo and dealt with the issue of the Storm Legion's return before he had a chance to take a breath and take Bilbo and Legolas, who had always remained polite and quiet, to visit the city of Stonewell.

After the initial excitement wore off, Bilbo gradually calmed down and looked at everything in Stonevale. On the contrary, Legolas, who had hardly spoken along the way, showed a look of shock when he saw the elves from Rivendell.

He looked at the elves of the valley who had become accustomed to living in the Golden Tree territory and asked Tanes, "Are there still elves living in your territory?"

Tanes looked at the elves who smiled and nodded at him, and smiled back at Legolas as he said, "You can't say they live here. They are helpers sent by Elrond to help me rebuild my home. It's just that after helping, they were curious about the golden tree, and Elrond didn't urge them to return. Plus, there are many places to live in my territory, so they stayed."

Then he shrugged: "As for how long we stay, that depends on the mood of these elves."

After Tanis said this, Legolas finally understood.

At this time, Bilbo asked, "By the way, are Mr. Roger and Mr. D in the territory now? I haven't seen them for a long time. Mr. Roger has told me many adventure stories. I want to visit him and tell him about my experiences in the past few months."

Tanes replied, "As for Roger, he often leaves the Golden Tree's territory and travels to places he has never been to. It is difficult for me to determine his whereabouts. Why don't I take you to his resting place now? Legolas, do you want to come with us?"

Legolas said, "I am more curious about the lives of the elves of Rivendell. Please allow me to leave you two for now. I want to visit them alone."

Tanes nodded and said, "Okay, let's meet in the city lord's hall during dinner."

Not long after, Tanis, who had temporarily parted with Legolas, brought Bilbo to Roger's residence in the city.

Unfortunately, after Tanes knocked on the door several times, there was no response from inside.

Tanis said to Bilbo regretfully, "It seems Roger is not here."

At this moment, someone in the house next door poked their head out in response to Tanes' knock on the door. After recognizing Tanes, they immediately saluted with surprise and respect: "Lord Tanes, are you looking for Roger?"

Tanes nodded and asked Roger's neighbor, "Do you know where Roger went?"

The neighbor replied respectfully, "Mr. Roger went out with Mr. Darien about a week ago, but I don't know where exactly they went. I'm sorry, Lord Tanes."

(End of this chapter)