Chapter 34: The Invitation

Just as Kael found himself tempted by the idea of a staff, Gandalf made a request. "Kael, please do me a favor and make me a magic wand?" Kael was a little surprised. "Gandalf, you already have a staff; why do you need a magic wand?" "A Wizard always needs to be prepared, doesn't he?" Gandalf winked mischievously. "If my staff ever gets lost, having a magic wand on hand will always be safer." "Of course, as a reward, I will also make a staff for you. How does that sound?" "That would be great!" Kael exclaimed inwardly. He agreed without hesitation; after all, he was still getting the better deal. Compared to the relatively straightforward process of making a magic wand, a staff required a very precious magical gem as its core. So Gandalf also prepared Kael mentally. "Magical gems are hard to find. They are typically collected by ancient Elves or Dwarf royalty, so I probably won't be able to make a staff for you in a short time. I hope you can understand." Kael certainly had no objections. "I know that making a staff is not easy, and I'm not in a hurry to have one for now. So Gandalf, please don't worry too much about it." In the time that followed, Gandalf regaled Bilbo and Kael with tales of the various landscapes and cultures he had seen on his travels through Middle-earth. He spoke of the beautiful Rivendell, the mysterious Golden Wood of Lothlórien, the deep Mirkwood, the dangerous Misty Mountains, and also the Elves, Dwarves, and Men he had encountered. Bilbo and Kael were both fascinated, and in Gandalf's vivid descriptions, they felt as if they had witnessed those sights with their own eyes. However, unlike Bilbo, Kael was silently calculating what kind of rewards he would get from signing in at each of these famous locations. Seeing the longing expressions on Bilbo's and Kael's faces, a smile flickered in Gandalf's eyes. He then extended an invitation once more. "Kael, Bilbo, besides delivering Thráin II's relics to his son, I also plan to organize a company to go to the Lonely Mountain to investigate the situation of the dragon Smaug. I want to invite you to join us on this adventure!" "Adventure? No, I'm not going on an adventure!" Bilbo instantly recoiled, shaking his head with a look of fierce resistance. "Adventure has nothing to do with a Hobbit like me, Gandalf. Find someone else. I just want to stay in Bag End and enjoy a peaceful life every day." Gandalf did not give up. "Bilbo," he persisted, "put aside your resistance for a moment and think about what your heart truly desires. Aren't you curious about the world outside? Whenever you read those adventure books, haven't you ever thought about experiencing them yourself? Don't forget that the adventurous blood of the Took family flows in your veins. Your ancestors had legendary adventures. Don't you want to inherit their spirit?" Bilbo seemed swayed, a flush rising in his cheeks, and a surge of adventurous courage swelled within him. Kael, standing by, also seemed to sense something. His gaze inadvertently swept over Gandalf's hand, though he saw nothing. He guessed that Gandalf had just used the power of the Ring of Fire, Narya. According to his limited understanding, this Elven Ring, besides being able to control the fire element, also possessed the ability to inspire courage in people, making it a very precious and powerful artifact. To rule Middle-earth, the Dark Lord Sauron had once disguised himself as "Annatar, Lord of Gifts." With his beautiful appearance and exquisite craftsmanship, he had deceived the trust of the Elves, guiding them to forge the Rings of Power—specifically, the Seven Rings for the Dwarves and the Nine Rings for Men—secretly injecting dark, corrupting power into them. Then, he had secretly forged the One Ring in Mount Doom to control all the other Rings of Power. However, unbeknownst to him, the Elven smith Celebrimbor, using the knowledge Sauron imparted, independently forged the Three Elven Rings: Narya, the Ring of Fire; Nenya, the Ring of Water; and Vilya, the Ring of Air. These rings ultimately fell into the hands of Galadriel, the Lady of Lothlórien in the Golden Wood; Elrond, the Lord of Rivendell; and Gandalf. Because the forging process of the Three Elven Rings did not involve Sauron's direct touch, they were not contaminated by his dark power. However, because their craftsmanship ultimately stemmed from Sauron, they were inherently controlled by the One Ring. Unaware of the full extent of Sauron's influence, the owners of the Three Elven Rings mostly restrained themselves from using their full power, thereby avoiding attracting Sauron's attention. But even so, the Three Elven Rings were still formidable artifacts. Galadriel, the owner of Nenya, used its power to erect a magical barrier around Lothlórien, making it perpetually spring-like and protecting it from external dark forces. Elrond, the owner of Vilya, used its power to create the last refuge for the Elves—Rivendell—and became the best healer in Middle-earth. As for Gandalf, he used Narya to inspire the people of Middle-earth to fight against the darkness, guiding them to victory over the Dark Lord Sauron and his minions. If these rings didn't already have masters, and if those masters weren't extremely powerful, Kael would have been tempted to acquire them. If he had the chance, he would truly like to see the Three Elven Rings up close. Speaking of Narya, the Ring of Fire, it could indeed inspire courage. But when it came to Bilbo, a fellow who could hold the One Ring for decades without being corrupted, the power of Narya seemed greatly diminished. Bilbo's desire for peace ultimately overcame the courage that had been stirred within him. He shook his head, refusing with a look of firm rejection. "That adventurous experience was from my great-great-great-great-granduncle's time; it was a very long time ago. I am just an ordinary Baggins now, living a peaceful life, and I have no interest in adventure!" Seeing that Bilbo was largely unaffected by the power of Narya, Gandalf was a little surprised. Seeing Bilbo's strong resistance, he temporarily gave up on persuading him further and turned to Kael. "Kael, what's your opinion? Are you willing to join the adventure company?" Kael hadn't expected to be invited so smoothly. Although he was happy, he didn't immediately agree. Instead, he asked, "Gandalf, if you invite me to join the company, what do you want me to do?" Gandalf saw that Kael was somewhat swayed and immediately explained seriously, "This expedition will pass through many dangerous areas. I would like to ask you to protect the company and ensure their safe arrival at the Lonely Mountain when I am not present." "When you are not present? Gandalf, are you not planning to accompany the company?" Kael looked at Gandalf in surprise. Gandalf shook his head, his expression becoming somewhat solemn. "When I returned this time, I stayed in the Misty Mountains for several months. I found that the number of Orcs there suddenly increased dramatically, and they were well-organized, clearly indicating the birth of a new king. Moreover, there are rumors of frequent Necromancer activity around Dol Guldur. I suspect that a powerful evil force is secretly growing and orchestrating all of this." "To prevent the Orcs and the evil dragon of the Lonely Mountain from uniting and causing a greater threat, I decided to organize an expedition to the Lonely Mountain to investigate the dragon's whereabouts. Once this company is organized, I may need to go to the Misty Mountains and the Dol Guldur area to investigate the situation. At that time, I will need you to protect the company." Hearing Gandalf's words, Kael's expression also became serious. "Alright, I am willing to join the company!" Gandalf immediately smiled. "Welcome to the Lonely Mountain Expedition!" (End of Chapter) *** [Check Out My Patreon For More Chapters On All Of My Fanfics!!] [www. [email protected]/meowthtl] [+300 Power Stones = +1 Bonus Chapter] [+500 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter] [Thank You For Your Support!]