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

Chapter 51 The Last of the Seven Dwarven Rings

Thorin looked at Gandalf and nodded slightly. "I know your name. Tanis has also told me about you. So what do you mean by the side door?"

Gandalf did not rush to take out the map and key, but said: "I have seen your father, Thrain, and he entrusted me with two things that can help you find the side gate of Lonely Mountain and enter it."

However, Thorin stood up from his seat when he heard Gandalf's words.

But he didn't care about what Gandalf said, but asked anxiously: "My father? Where did you see him? Many people say that my father is dead, but I don't believe it. He just disappeared."

Gandalf pursed his lips and said, "I'm sorry, Thorin. When I met Thráin, he hadn't been reported missing yet, so I don't know where he went after giving me the things. The last time I saw Thráin was south of the gates of Moria, near Dunland. He was accompanied by a group of loyal Dwarf warriors."

Thorin sat down again in frustration: "This is the same news my father sent me last time. It doesn't help me find my father."

Tanis coughed lightly at this time and said, "Thorin, since your father entrusted the important things to enter the Lonely Mountain to Gandalf, it means that he has not forgotten to reclaim the Lonely Mountain just like you."

Gandalf also spoke in a low voice: "Yes, Thorin. It has been too long since we heard anything about Thráin. All that has been said about him has been nothing but rumors. Do not think of despair."

Thorin gently closed his eyes, took a deep breath and exhaled, and when he opened his eyes again, he had regained his usual majestic appearance.

"Then let's talk about what my father left behind," said Thorin.

Gandalf smiled. "That is a map and a key to the Lonely Mountain, Thorin. You can now search for and gather your men and wait for my news. When the time is right, I will tell you when to go to the Lonely Mountain."

Thorin asked, "The right time. Why? Why not now?"

Gandalf narrowed his eyes. "For the time foretold, 'When the birds return to Erebor, the reign of the beasts will end,' has not yet come. Therefore you must wait, and I must find time to find a thief. This is the request of the wizard, Thorin Oakenshield."

After listening to Gandalf's words, Thorin fell into silence.

But Tanis asked at this time: "Gandalf, I have wanted to ask you since the beginning, why do you keep emphasizing the 'snitch'?"

Gandalf smiled and replied, "Yes, the thief. I naturally want this nimble thief to find the door to the Lonely Mountain and steal the Arkenstone from the dragon. I think no one likes to face a dragon head-on, so it is best to let the thief steal what we need."

Tanes rubbed his chin. “If it’s just stealing, I think I can do it.”

Isn't it just about taking something without disturbing the enemy? And even if you are discovered, it's okay. Tanes said that he is very good at running away.

Gandalf looked over and sized up Tanis in surprise: "You have this ability? This is not like you."

Even Thorin looked incredulous.

Tanes asked curiously, "So what do you think my style should be?"

Thorin replied without hesitation: "A warrior who is worth a thousand and a very generous and warm friend."

Gandalf thought carefully and said, "I think you are a calm and upright knight. Stealing is something you can hardly associate with."

Tanes felt a little embarrassed by the two people's disguised praise, and quickly said: "Well, I'm not a professional thief. I just happen to have a prop that can help me accomplish similar things."

As he spoke, a talisman made of a dark cloth with a shiny surface suddenly appeared in his hand.

[Invisibility Veil], this was obtained by Tanes from a black knife assassin after he defeated him.

Thorin didn't react, but Gandalf felt the magic of the veil.

"What can this veil do? I can sense a peculiar power attached to it," Gandalf asked.

Tanes explained as he stepped out of his seat and slowly squatted down. "This is called the [Invisibility Veil]. Just by squatting down, you can completely hide your figure, like this."

As soon as he finished speaking, his figure suddenly disappeared in front of Thorin and Gandalf.

Thorin's eyes widened, and Gandalf praised in surprise, "What a brilliant skill of hiding! It's as if you have completely disappeared from this world. Tanis, where are you now?"

Tanes' voice sounded from behind the two of them: "I'm here."

He stood up and removed the invisibility effect. He held the veil in his hand and smiled, "Well, with this thing, I should be able to steal the Arken Gem smoothly, right?"

Thorin nodded, he thought it was nothing.

But Gandalf had a strange look on his face, and he seemed to be hesitant to speak.

Tanis asked directly, "What's the matter, Gandalf? Is there something wrong with the Veil of Invisibility?"

Gandalf couldn't help but look at Tanis a few more times, and said, "There's nothing wrong with the Veil of Invisibility. The problem lies with the Lonely Mountain."

Thorin looked puzzled. "What could possibly be wrong with the Lonely Mountain? I can guarantee there's no treasure there that could penetrate Taneth's invisibility. If the dragon is asleep, it won't even know anyone has come."

Gandalf shook his head. "No, that's not the question. I mean, you are a dwarf, Thorin. So the side door your father knew about must also be used by dwarves. It certainly wouldn't be as tall and wide as the main gate."

Oh, grass.

Tanes reacted, "Are you saying that with my size, I can't squeeze into the dwarf's secret door...even if I crouch down?"

Gandalf said, "Well, I'm not sure about that. You can try to crouch down. Maybe you can get in, maybe not. But in order to ensure that we don't waste time in vain, it's better to bring a thief who is about the same size as the dwarves." Thorin searched his mind for the warriors he knew, but found that they were not cut out to be thieves.

Gandalf saw what Thorin was thinking from his face and said with a smile, "Don't worry about the selection of the thief, Thorin. I promise to recommend a trustworthy thief to you as your companion on this expedition."

Thorin could only nod.

Then Gandalf looked carefully at Thorin's hands on the table, as if he was thinking about something, and his old face became serious again.

Thorin noticed Gandalf's gaze and spread his hands and said, "What's wrong with my hands? You looked at me just now as if you were looking for something."

Gandalf subconsciously wanted to smoke, but when he thought that he was indoors, he had to put it down in disappointment and fumbled with his pipe uncomfortably.

"If you want to smoke, please feel free to do so. I wanted to tell you last time that I don't have so many rules here." Tanes noticed this and said that he had long discovered that Gandalf had a bit of a smoking addiction.

Gandalf showed a relieved expression, first nodded to Tanis with a smile, then skillfully took out a pipe from somewhere and took out some tobacco with a strange fragrance.

Tanes was familiar with the smell of the tobacco and asked, "I've smelled this kind of tobacco in Hobbiton before."

Gandalf put the tobacco into his pipe, lit it with a snap of his fingers, took a comfortable drag, and exhaled before saying, "Yes, that's right, this is the finest tobacco from the Shire. If you want, I can save some for you."

Tanes shook his head. "Let's put the tobacco issue aside. If you don't answer Thorin's question, I'm afraid you won't be able to smoke in peace."

Gandalf coughed lightly, flicked his cigarette holder, looked at Thorin and said, "I want to find a ring in your palm."

"The ring?" Thorin's face changed, and it was obvious that he understood which ring Gandalf was referring to.

Gandalf nodded. "Yes, that ring your grandfather wore, one of the seven rings given to the dwarven lords in ancient times. Where is it now?"

Thorin straightened up in his seat, opened his mouth slightly, and finally shook his head and said, "My grandfather... gave it to my father before he went to the battlefield of Moria."

Gandalf exhaled a puff of smoke, which curled around his face, making his expression unpredictable. "So, Thrain disappeared with the dwarf ring?"

Thorin nodded silently.

Gandalf said nothing, but took a few more puffs of his cigarette, puffing out clouds of smoke.

Soon, Gandalf finished the tobacco in his pipe, stood up, patted himself and said, "It seems that I can't stay for lunch today, Tanis."

Tanes asked, "What's wrong? Why are you so anxious all of a sudden?"

Gandalf said, "I wasn't careful enough. I should have told Thrain to protect the Dwarf Ring when I last saw him. Four of the Seven Rings were devoured by dragons, and two were taken away before the Battle of Mordor. The Last Ring has also vanished along with its master, leaving no trace. This is a serious problem. I must go to the place where I last saw Thrain and look for any trace of him."

Thorin immediately stood up and said eagerly, "Then please let me go with you. Thrain is my father. I want to see him alive or dead."

Gandalf paused, looking at the other with wise blue eyes and pleading, "I understand how you feel, Thorin. But your mission now is to gather warriors willing to go to Lonely Mountain with you, while I search for your father. I will inform you immediately when I find him. Please trust a wizard's promise; they never break their word. When you have enough men, take them to Hobbiton, and I will draw a rune mark like an 'F' on the door of the house of the thief I am looking for."

Thorin clenched his fist tightly, then quickly loosened it, saying, "Okay, I'll listen to the wizard just once."

Gandalf didn't have much luggage. After taking some limited dry food and a water bag, he said goodbye to Tanis and Thorin at the main gate of Stonewell.

Tanis looked at Gandalf riding the white horse he had come with, and when he was out of sight, he looked down at Thorin beside him: "It seems that each of you is in such a hurry. You just came, and Gandalf left in a hurry."

Thorin's mind was still on what Gandalf said about his father. He looked towards the distance where Gandalf disappeared, and his handsome face showed an emotion that was not sure whether it was longing or some other emotion. He did not hear clearly what Tanis said.

Seeing this, Tanes patted Thorin's shoulder and said, "You came too hastily this time. I haven't had time to inform Fili and Kili. Do you want to go and take a look at them? I guarantee that they are definitely different now."

Thorin came back to his senses and thought of Fili and Kili. His expression softened and he smiled at Tanes. "Well, I saw the letter they sent me. They said you found them an excellent teacher. I came here not only to tell you that the dwarven kingdoms don't support me, but also to bring Fili and Kili's tuition. I have it with me. Shall I give it to you now?"

After he finished speaking, he reached into his arms.

Tanes shook his head to stop him. "Don't pay the tuition to me. Give it to Fili and Kili's teacher. He's also from my hometown, and his strength is about the same as mine. To be honest, he's quite fond of Fili and Kili these days. He tells me every day that they're determined to persevere through that terrifying training, even if it means gritting their teeth."

Thorin smiled proudly at the praise for Fili and Kili, then said with some worry, "Can their bodies handle it?"

Tanes smiled and said, "I can't guarantee anything else, but as for your health, I can say that apart from the Golden Tree's territory, there's no other place like here where you can maintain your health, even without any hidden injuries."

Thorin thought of the first time he met Tanes, who healed his injured compatriot in a few strokes, and relaxed.

Just as Gandalf said goodbye to Tanis and the others and set out to look for Thráin's whereabouts, Roger and D, who had set out earlier, also arrived near the Shire.

D pointed up the river where he could faintly hear the sounds of people bustling about and asked, "Is that Hobbiton?"

Roger took out a map from his pocket, consulted it, nodded, and said, "If we follow the river without getting lost, that's indeed Hobbiton."

D glanced at Roger with disapproval, then pulled the reins of the packhorse pulling the heavy load and walked forward, saying, "When will you stop spouting meaningless nonsense? You always say yes and no, and you always repeat other people's questions."

Roger put the map back in his arms and followed with a smile: "Because I'm really not sure."

(End of this chapter)