"Gandalf, that fellow, sometimes it feels like you can find him anywhere. Like, one day you order an ale in a tavern, lift your mug up and set it down, and the next moment, he might just be sitting across from you."
"But other times, no matter how hard you look, you can't find him anywhere."
"Ah... wizards, wizards..."
Clink.
As he was grumbling, a freshly brewed cup of tea was gently placed before Balin.
"Thank you."
Balin lifted it for a taste, then returned to the matter at hand:
"As for the abnormalities in Erebor, we believe they've gone beyond common understanding. There's a strong chance they involve some mysterious occurrence, and perhaps only with a wizard's help can we uncover the truth."
Hearing this, Garrett's expression showed genuine interest.
"So what kind of 'mysterious' event has you all this concerned? Tell me in detail."
Balin gathered his thoughts before replying, "It all started showing signs more than ten years ago. To be precise, in the year 2949, right after the Battle of Dale. When I returned to Erebor, Thorin told me the miners underground were experiencing something strange, they said they felt uncomfortably hot."
"Garrett, you're not a Dwarf, so you might not know this, but while we are highly sensitive to heat, we are not easily troubled by it. Take your armor, for example. A Man or an Elf might find it scorching to the touch, but I'd think it perfect for warming my hands."
"At first, we thought perhaps there was a magma vein nearby, or maybe the weather was simply too hot and stifling."
"But when the weather cooled, and the survey team confirmed there was no major heat source in the area, we realized it wasn't so simple."
"The miners would feel an intense heat as soon as they went down, yet it would vanish once they came back up. Very strange."
"And even as time passed, the sensation didn't fade. It has lasted for years, and has already begun to affect our normal work."
"What do you think, Garrett?"
"In my view..." Garrett paused to consider.
Could they have uncovered something dangerous, perhaps some ancient mechanism or artifact?
That would be concerning indeed.
Suppressing that thought for now, he said: "I'd better see it for myself. Just listening, I can't make much of it."
If it really was something hazardous that could harm those nearby, his status indicators would show it. This was what you might call direct observation. Like how an experienced smith could tell the temperature of metal just by looking at its color.
The difference was that Garrett had more reliable methods.
"You're right."
Balin nodded, finishing the rest of his tea.
The two set out immediately.
Still, aside from dangerous materials, there were other possibilities.
Like Balin had said, the timing of the anomalies was right after the great battle, perhaps it was the work of some troublesome force... Spurring their horses, a few days later Garrett and Balin arrived at the Lonely Mountain.
But before entering the mountain, in Dale, he unexpectedly encountered two familiar faces together.
"Bard, Bain."
"What a surprise. What are you two up to?"
Near the archery range, Garrett greeted the father and son.
Bard lifted the bow in his hand and gestured toward Garrett.
"I'm having an archery contest with Bain. So far, the score is tied."
"Oh?"
Garrett immediately gave Bain an approving nod.
"Well done."
Hearing Garrett's praise, Bain, already in his thirties, grinned like a boy and patted the Outstanding Ranger badge on his shoulder.
"Living up to the name of an Outstanding Ranger."
Bard clapped his son on the shoulder in encouragement, but at the same time gave him a reminder:
"Don't celebrate too soon, Bain. The contest isn't over yet."
"Next round, I'm raising the difficulty."
Bard stretched his muscles.
He was still the same spirited master archer.
In terms of strength, precision, control of detail, and awareness of his surroundings, even the legion champions of the Rhovanion forces fell just a little short compared to him.
As for Garrett himself, he was much further behind.
Purely in archery, he was only at the average level of an Outstanding Ranger, and compared to those truly skilled with the bow, he couldn't be considered remarkable.
Accurate, yes, but not refined.
"Well then, keep at it. I've got business at the Lonely Mountain."
Hearing this, it was Bard's turn to be curious.
So he paused his contest with Bain and chatted with Garrett for a while.
"Oh, so that's what it's about."
After listening, Bard nodded in understanding.
"I've heard of that as well. It is indeed strange."
"Perhaps only people like you or Gandalf could solve it."
Though, both of them were rather difficult to locate when needed.
As for other wizards...
Radagast the Brown, who lived in Mirkwood, was in the wrong line of expertise, hardly the right person for the task.
Saruman the White was formidable, a great power. Whether he'd even agree to come was questionable, and even if he did, the price would be steep.
Nominally, though, he was the advisor to Rohan. With the King of Rohan's request, perhaps he could be persuaded, but only as a last resort.
Their brief conversation came to an end, and Garrett stood up. Seeing the arrows at the range, something suddenly came to mind.
"Speaking of arrows, perfect timing."
He drew out a dragonbone arrow and handed it to Bard.
"Dragonbone arrows. Similar to the Black Arrow, they carry a measure of magical power and have tremendous penetrating force."
"But keep in mind, if you lose it, it won't return to you on its own. And you know, dragonbone isn't exactly common."
"Of course, when the time comes, don't hesitate to use it."
As Garrett explained, Bard couldn't resist pulling one arrow free and examining it closely.
But as soon as he tested its weight, his brow furrowed.
"This bow won't be able to bring out its full potential. I'll need a larger, stronger bow, or a crossbow..."
His experience told him immediately the mismatch between weapon and arrow.
"Well... if I remember right, there should be one in the armory. Even my old bow might do."
When it came to something new that touched his field of expertise, Bard was immediately energized. He bid Garrett farewell on the spot and headed straight for the warehouse.
Before leaving, he told Bain to stay put and wait there. He'd return shortly.
"That fellow..."
Garrett chuckled quietly.
"All right then, I won't disturb your family time any longer."
With that, he too departed.
Only Bain was left behind at the range.
He looked left, then right, scratched his head, and for a moment wasn't quite sure what to do.
From Dale to the Lonely Mountain was just one street away.
Not long after, Garrett was already in the council hall of Erebor, meeting Thorin.
At the sight of Garrett, Thorin let out a breath of relief.
"It's good to see you. The strange conditions underground have plagued us for years, and we've been helpless against them."
Garrett gave a reassuring reply, "Don't worry. That's exactly why I'm here. Lead the way, let's take a look firsthand."
"Very well."
Thorin nodded and went to make preparations.
When he reappeared moments later, the king's formal cloak was gone, replaced with clothes suited for movement.
The two set off directly, descending on a lift platform deep into the underground.
The light faded before their eyes, the world gradually dimming.
After passing through another layer of rock, a warm golden glow flared up, catching their attention.
As the platform continued to sink, Garrett couldn't help but look around.
What spread before him was a vast, open underground cavern. Lanterns, glowing with warm yellow light, hung from the rocky walls and guardrails in every direction, glittering like stars. The ringing of pickaxes striking stone echoed all around, filling the entire space.