Chapter 159: Confession

Hearing that Gandalf would also join them, Kael's confidence instantly soared. In the original timeline, Gandalf had been able to kill the Balrog. There was no reason it wouldn't work this time. Moreover, this time Gandalf wouldn't be fighting alone. With him and Smaug joining forces, Gandalf wouldn't have to pay the price of his life again. However, this might cut off Gandalf's chance to become the White Wizard. The phoenix matter was temporarily set aside. At least until they obtained imperishable fire from the Balrog could they continue creating the phoenix. During this time, Kael also learned why Gandalf had come to Fangorn Forest. Fangorn Forest was very close to Isengard, where Saruman resided, separated only by a mountain range to the south. Since confirming Saruman's fall and secret dealings with Sauron, Gandalf had been very vigilant. To prevent Saruman and Sauron from joining forces and threatening the southern kingdoms of Gondor and Rohan, Gandalf had specifically traveled south to warn Gondor's Steward and Rohan's King, attempting to secretly find ways to restrain Saruman. For this purpose, he came to Fangorn Forest seeking Treebeard's help, using the Ents' ability to communicate with plants to monitor Saruman's every move. Though Treebeard and Saruman were neighbors, their relationship was cold. Instead, Treebeard was friends with Gandalf. They trusted each other and helped one another. So naturally, Treebeard agreed to Gandalf's request without hesitation. The large trees around Orthanc Tower, where Saruman lived, served as the Ents' eyes and ears, an inconspicuous surveillance tool. Even if Saruman had a palantír to monitor his surroundings, he would hardly notice these motionless trees. Thus, everything happening around Isengard and Orthanc Tower was recorded by the surrounding trees and known to the Ents. Soon, Treebeard brought news: Saruman was secretly contacting Orcs in the Misty Mountains and recruiting Dunlendings. Moreover, the Orcs Saruman contacted were precisely those occupying Moria! What a coincidence! Receiving this news, Kael and Gandalf exchanged glances, both surprised. They had just been preparing to join with dwarves to deal with Moria's Orcs and Balrog. Now Saruman was also contacting Moria's Orcs? Whether to obtain Balrog fire or cut off Saruman's support, they had to take Moria's situation more seriously. Otherwise, once Saruman allied with the Orcs, his power would skyrocket, becoming no less threatening than Mordor. After all, as a Maia of Aulë the Smith, Saruman not only mastered powerful magic and sorcery but also excelled at industrial production, able to create various engineering machinery, forge weapons, and quickly arm armies. Saruman's engineering and forging abilities were unmatched in Middle-earth, capable of tremendous military applications. Receiving this news made Gandalf feel urgent. To prevent Saruman from gaining Orc forces, he prepared to travel north to the Lonely Mountain to organize another expedition to Moria. Then, using dwarven strength to clear out and eliminate Moria's Orcs, cutting off Saruman's power. Simultaneously, he would join with Kael and the dragon Smaug to deal with the Balrog lurking in Moria's mines, preventing it from allying with Sauron and threatening Middle-earth's safety. So after entrusting the Ents to continue monitoring Saruman and Isengard's movements, Gandalf, Kael, and Arwen left Fangorn Forest together, heading north to visit Lórien first. In Lórien, Gandalf explained the situation to Galadriel and Celeborn. Both took this matter very seriously, agreeing with Gandalf's idea of helping dwarves reclaim Moria. They expressed willingness to lend assistance, having Lórien Elves block Moria's back door at the Dimrill Dale side, eliminating Orc forces. As the birthplace of Durin's Folk, Moria had been completely tunneled through the Misty Mountains by dwarves. Its main gate was on the western side of the Misty Mountains, while the eastern back door was at Dimrill Dale, an important passage connecting Middle-earth's eastern and western regions. Long before the dwarves delved too deep and awoke the sleeping Balrog, Moria, then called Khazad-dûm, served as a vital passageway for many races journeying between east and west. Even Lórien Elves used Moria's passage to cross the Misty Mountains to reach Rivendell or the western Grey Havens. But since the Balrog destroyed the Khazad-dûm kingdom and occupied Moria, this passage was completely cut off. To cross the Misty Mountains, one had to use the more dangerous High Pass to the north or go around the southernmost Rohan Gap. Such detours were extremely time-consuming, requiring several times longer travel. With support from Galadriel and Celeborn, Gandalf didn't stay long in Lórien, riding a flying broomstick north to visit the Lonely Mountain. Kael stayed several more days in Lórien. Arwen led him on walks through the Golden Wood, treading on golden, soft mallorn leaves while she vividly described each mallorn tree's age and those she had personally planted. Or they lay on Cerin Amroth hill, on grass covered with blooming elanor and niphredil flowers, quietly gazing at the blue sky. Sometimes they followed the Nimrodel stream to waterfalls, listening to spring water that sounded like Elven maidens singing. At times they visited the most populated Elven area of Egladil, discussing poetry with Elves and listening to ancient stories and legends. On Cerin Amroth's peak grew two circles of trees. The outer circle with white trunks, the inner circle golden-leafed mallorn, with a tall tree in the center whose branches supported a high white platform overlooking the entire Golden Wood. Kael and Arwen sat on the platform, feeling the gentle breeze, gazing at distant scenery. Wind stirred Arwen's smooth black hair while the setting sun's afterglow illuminated her, radiating holy, beautiful light. The evening star in the sky corresponded with the Evenstar pendant at her chest, as if she were a star's earthly incarnation. Such a scene held Kael's gaze for a long time. Arwen looked at Kael, her eyes full of gentle starlight. She said, "Kael, perhaps you've heard the story of my ancestor Lúthien's love with the human hero Beren?" Kael shook his head slightly, his gaze tender. "Not very clearly. Could you tell me?" Arwen's gaze turned to the western sunset, her perfect face serene and gentle as she slowly recounted the ancient tale. "Lúthien was the daughter of the Elven king Thingol and Maia Melian, the most beautiful of all Elves. Her song could dim stars, her dance like moonlight falling. She met and fell in love with the human hero Beren. Together they retrieved a Silmaril from Morgoth's crown, but on the return journey were attacked by the great wolf Carcharoth. Beren fought Carcharoth to protect the Silmaril. Though he ultimately killed it, he was fatally wounded and died in Lúthien's arms." "Lúthien was heartbroken, unwilling to accept eternal separation from Beren. She sacrificed her Elven immortality to enter Mandos's Halls, the land of the dead, moving the Lord of Death Mandos with her song. The Valar pitied her deep love, allowing Beren's resurrection, but on the condition that Lúthien must abandon Elven immortality and live as mortal humans together, sharing mortal fate." Arwen's gaze was distant, as if personally witnessing that scene, her ethereal, beautiful voice carrying incomprehensible weight. "And Lúthien agreed without hesitation." "She chose to become mortal, spending brief time with resurrected Beren, then accepting human death's fate, permanently departing the world." Arwen's gaze turned to Kael. "Kael, if you were Beren, would you accept Lúthien abandoning immortality to choose a brief but happy life with him?" Looking at Arwen's gaze, Kael firmly shook his head. "No, I wouldn't accept someone abandoning eternal life for me, merely for that brief moment of happiness." Arwen froze, starlight in her eyes instantly dimming. "Because I'm very greedy. I hope to live with my beloved forever until the world's end, witnessing all sun, moon, and stars, through drought and flood, until everything ends!" Kael reached out to grasp Arwen's hand, smiling brilliantly. He said, "So I wouldn't want my beloved to pay the price of immortality for me. It would make me guilty for life, never peaceful." "So Arwen, would you spend every future day with me forever, until the world's end?" Hearing Kael's confession, Arwen was both surprised and delighted, starlike eyes shimmering with tears. But she hesitated and asked puzzledly, "Though I too desire eternal companionship, Kael, I can sense you're different from Gandalf. You have human fate. How can you exist eternally?" Kael confidently winked at her. "Did you forget I'm also a wizard? Mortals cannot resist death, but wizards can." "Really?" Arwen's eyes filled with hope. "Of course it's true. So being with me doesn't require you to abandon eternal life," Kael assured confidently, holding her jade hand, reluctant to let go. Kael wasn't worried about achieving immortality. Besides the phoenix Animagus method, he also hadn't abandoned the Philosopher's Stone. If all else failed, he could learn from Voldemort and create a Horcrux to avoid death. Though Horcruxes had flaws, they were indeed effective methods of evading death. As long as he didn't go insane like Voldemort, splitting himself into pieces and creating one Horcrux and keeping it safe wouldn't drive him mad. Of course, this was a last resort. Unless absolutely necessary, he definitely wouldn't create Horcruxes. Sensing Kael's confidence, though Arwen didn't know what methods he had, she chose to believe him. Just looking at her held hand, the realization made her blush slightly, but she didn't pull away. They sat like this on Cerin Amroth's highest platform, quietly watching the distant sunset, the atmosphere peaceful and warm. Upon returning to Caras Galadhon, seeing the change in atmosphere between Kael and Arwen, Galadriel and Celeborn immediately noticed. Galadriel looked at Kael, who was acting as usual, with a half-smile, saying nothing. But Celeborn frowned, giving Kael an unfriendly glance before asking Arwen with concern. "Arwen, have you really thought this through?" Arwen nodded, her expression firm and serious. "Grandfather, I've thought it through. Kael is my only and unchanging choice!"