Chapter 134: Meeting Bombadil Again

From Bree westward, Kael hadn't yet established the Floo Network, so they couldn't travel by fireplace anymore. But they didn't need to walk either. Kael and Gandalf each had a flying broomstick. Kael took Bilbo, Gandalf took Legolas, and they flew directly toward the Old Forest. Midway, the four flew over the Barrow-downs. After the last sweep and purification, the evil forces on the Barrow-downs had greatly diminished. Though still eerily atmospheric, the Barrow-wights had all fallen into slumber. As long as no one awakened them, there would be no need to worry about wight threats for decades. Though Kael quite wanted to clear out all the wights completely, as long as the Witch-king of Angmar wasn't dead, the wights would be endlessly reborn. And as long as Sauron hadn't completely lost his power, the Witch-king of Angmar simply couldn't be killed. The Witch-king of Angmar was a Nazgûl, a human corrupted by a Ring of Power. His ability to exist long-term in wraith form depended on the One Ring's power and Sauron's dark magic. In the Battle of Dol Guldur, Kael had killed Nazgûl before, but they were revived by Sauron. The reason the Witch-king of Angmar could be killed by Princess Éowyn of Rohan and the hobbit Merry in the War of the Ring without being revived was because the One Ring was simultaneously destroyed, causing Sauron to completely lose his power and no longer be able to maintain the Nazgûl's existence through the Ring's power. So everything came back to the One Ring. And this journey was precisely to deal with the One Ring. The four rode their broomsticks over the Old Forest, finally arriving above Tom Bombadil's house. Tom below had already seen them and was happily waving at them with enthusiastic gestures. Just as they landed on the hillside, Tom came bouncing over to them, gesticulating with obvious joy. "Oh, my friends, welcome to Tom Bombadil's house!" Kael took the initiative to greet him warmly. "Hi, Tom, long time no see!" "Ah, Kael, my friend! The mountain wind from the east brought news of your victory. I've been very much looking forward to you telling me about the scenery of your journey!" Tom cheerfully gave Kael a bear hug, laughing heartily with genuine pleasure. "If you're interested, I can do so anytime," Kael said readily. Kael had always been full of gratitude toward Tom. His first wand core came from Tom and Goldberry, and he had taught him the musical magic that could be used for meditation cultivation, a tremendous help. He had always wanted to repay them somehow, but Tom lacked nothing. "Tom, this is a gift I prepared. I hope you like it." Kael took out a hollow ring set with a blue gem and handed it to him. Tom took the ring, his eyes immediately lighting up as he put it on his right index finger. Then he touched the ring with his hand, and an elegant golden-brown staff appeared in Tom's grasp. The staff head was set with a large ruby, the shaft was carved with grapevine patterns. The whole thing is naturally flowing, revealing elven style. The staff's length was perfectly suited to Tom's height. "This is a gift for me?" Tom played with the staff, quite pleased with it. Kael smiled and nodded. "This is a staff I had the Elves make, crafted from mallorn heartwood growing in Lórien. Try tapping the ground with it." Hearing this, Tom curiously tapped the ground with the staff. Where the staff touched the ground, flowers and grass instantly sprouted. Tom immediately widened his eyes, showing delighted surprise. He was like someone who had found something fun to play with, tapping and touching everywhere with the staff, watching flowers bloom all around, and laughing cheerfully with joy. Seeing this, Kael's smile deepened. This staff was his alchemical trial work. After obtaining the Book of Abraham, he had never forgotten to study the alchemical knowledge within. While in Lórien, he had used a section of mallorn heartwood left over from making his staff, plus a ruby selected from the treasure he'd received from the Lonely Mountain, and had the elven craftsmen forge this staff. Kael had used alchemical techniques to fix a "Flower Blooming" spell into the staff. Just by tapping surfaces with the staff, flowers would bloom. Aside from looking good, this alchemical staff had no other use. But clearly Tom was very fond of this staff. Besides that, the ring was also one of Kael's gifts. Kael had cast an Extension Charm on the ring's hollow section. Given the originally small space, even after expansion it was only limited to the size of a small room. Gandalf and the others also looked with surprise at the staff in Tom's hands. They knew no more than Tom had beforehand. Though they knew that while in Lórien, Kael always liked to visit the elven craftsmen. But they hadn't expected he would create such a magical staff. Tom played for a while, then excitedly led everyone back home. "Wow!" Bilbo and Legolas opened their mouths slightly, looking at the house filled with blooming flowers, as if they had entered a flower fairy's chamber. Gandalf also showed a surprised expression. "Tom, it's been a long time since I visited. I didn't expect you'd changed your style?" "This is Kael's doing," beautiful Goldberry came walking from among basins full of water lilies, smiling gently at everyone. "He used magic to add some decorations to our house. Tom and I both love it very much." Goldberry wore a silver robe covered with crystal-like scattered diamonds, with a golden belt around her waist. She was as gentle as the Withywindle River, her eyes sparkling as she looked at everyone. "Welcome. Since Kael left last time, we haven't had any visitors here." Tom was like a child who liked showing off in front of people he cared about, holding the staff up to Goldberry and happily boasting. "Goldberry, look at my new gift, a beautiful staff that can make flowers bloom!" Goldberry looked at Tom with gentle, loving eyes, then thanked Kael. "Thank you for the gift to Tom. He hasn't been this happy in a long time." "I'm glad Tom likes it." Naturally Kael was also happy that his gift was appreciated. Then he took out another hollow ring set with a green gem and handed it to Goldberry. "Lady Goldberry, this is a gift for you. I hope you like it." This ring matched Tom's ring. Goldberry was surprised for a moment, then her eyes smiled like overflowing water. "Oh, thank you. I love your gift very much." Goldberry accepted the gift and put it on her finger. Tom saw that Kael had given a similar ring and immediately leaned his head over, very curiously saying, "Goldberry, quickly look at the gift inside the ring." Goldberry gently touched the ring's hollow section with her other hand, and a golden floral crown immediately appeared in her hand. "This is a crown woven from mallorn flowers of Lórien, made by elven craft. It will never wither," Kael explained. Goldberry looked at the golden floral crown in her hands with wonder, carefully placing it on her head, her eyes curved with laughter. "Thank you for your gift, Kael. This is the best gift I've ever received!" "I'm glad you like it." The three behind watched Kael's actions. Gandalf quietly complained to Legolas and Bilbo beside him. "Honestly, if Kael had shown even half this attentiveness when we were in Lórien and Rivendell, he wouldn't still have made no progress with Evenstar." Legolas and Bilbo both nodded in complete agreement. Lucky for Kael, he didn't hear Gandalf's words, or he would have called Gandalf an improper old man. Not to mention that he was now single-mindedly focused on improving his strength and had no mind for other matters. And even if he had such thoughts, would he dare show attentiveness in Lórien and Rivendell? In Lórien, there were Celeborn and Galadriel, who treasured Arwen. In Rivendell, there was Elrond as her father, plus two protective brothers, Elladan and Elrohir. Showing attentiveness to someone's granddaughter, daughter, or sister right in front of the family. Was he afraid they couldn't lift their swords? In Tom's living room, Tom and Goldberry entertained the four guests: Kael, Gandalf, Bilbo, and Legolas. Everyone enjoyed a table full of sumptuous food. During this, Gandalf finally stated the purpose of their visit. "Tom, we've come here because we have an extremely dangerous item that none of us can avoid being influenced by. We want to entrust you to keep it safe until we find a way to destroy it." "What is it?" Tom asked curiously. "It's, it's..." Gandalf opened his mouth but couldn't say a word. Having no choice, he could only turn to Kael. "You'd better say it. I can't speak anyway." Kael didn't refuse. With the Fidelius Charm's constraints, he was already surprised Gandalf could say that much. So he said to Tom, "It's the One Ring. We want you to keep the Ring for us." As the Secret-Keeper, once Kael revealed the secret, Tom and Goldberry automatically became among those who knew the secret. An invisible constraint instantly fell upon them, restricting them from telling others. However, given Tom's power, Kael suspected this secrecy charm probably couldn't constrain him. Then Bilbo also took the treasure box containing the Ring from his space bag and placed it on the table. Kael tapped the box with his wand. The box opened automatically, revealing the One Ring placed inside. "Let me see this precious ring!" Tom looked curiously at the gold ring in the treasure box and suddenly reached out to take it directly. Bilbo and Legolas were both frightened by his action. Gandalf's hand holding his pipe also tightened. Though he believed the most ancient Tom Bombadil could resist the Ring's power, he was still somewhat worried. Only Kael remained very calm, full of confidence in Tom. When the ring was placed in those brown, large hands of his, it seemed to suddenly grow much larger, becoming a ring suitable for him to wear. Tom suddenly raised the ring to his eyes and began laughing heartily. What made Gandalf, Legolas, and Bilbo even more tense was that Tom actually slipped the ring onto his little finger. Bilbo gasped, looking at Tom in shock, because Tom hadn't become invisible! It was as if the ring on his finger was just an ordinary ring. Then Tom laughed again and tossed the ring up. It disappeared in a flash of light, and then, like a magic trick, he made it reappear. Bilbo felt somewhat uneasy, wondering in his heart whether it had been switched? Just as Tom put the ring back in the box, Bilbo immediately picked up the ring and, under Gandalf's worried and Kael's disapproving gazes, put the ring on his finger. The moment he put it on, Bilbo suddenly disappeared from everyone's sight. Everyone immediately widened their eyes, carefully searching Bilbo's chair, trying to find his figure. Only Tom still looked at Bilbo's empty seat, his eyes flashing with piercing light. "Hey! Come, Bilbo! Tom Bombadil's eyes are not yet so dim that they can't see you! Take off your golden ring. Your hand will be prettier without it." Bilbo seemed to be observing whether Tom could really see him, causing Tom's eyes to follow his movements. Finally, he removed the ring again and reappeared.