"Gandalf! Gandalf! It's me, Radagast!"
While still some distance from Tarnes and his group, the old man wearing brown wizard robes and a felt hat called out loudly.
Though his voice was aged, it didn't sound like the volume an elderly person could produce. More like a vigorous young man giving his all.
Tarnes' group and Thorin's company stopped, with Gandalf taking the opportunity to ride forward to greet him, while Bernahl watched Radagast with interested eyes.
He pulled his reins, urging his horse forward a few steps to Tarnes' side, saying quietly: "That old man, like Gandalf, only looks like an old man on the outside but isn't one inside."
Tarnes nodded: "Of course I can see that too. What's your point in bringing this up?"
Bernahl shrugged: "Nothing much, just marveling that this world has quite a few powerful figures. I just don't understand why both Gandalf and this so-called Brown fellow seem to intentionally hide... no, suppress their true strength. I'm curious why they do this. Like that Orc warg rider army we encountered at Davy's village, Gandalf alone could have easily dealt with them."
Tarnes pondered: "Maybe they have concerns we don't understand. I can sense that Gandalf's concealment of his strength isn't intentional, and he even warned me not to use overly powerful spells. Forget it, there's no point in us speculating alone. Let's ask Gandalf privately later."
Bernahl nodded: "I had the same thought. There's still too much about this world we're unfamiliar with. I won't feel at ease without clarity. As someone skilled in fighting Tarnished, you should especially understand the importance of intelligence. When you know your opponent's information, you can formulate tactics based on their fighting habits."
Then Tarnes' expression became somewhat interesting, because Bernahl's words reminded him of Sir Gideon Ofnir.
Seeing Tarnes' expression, Bernahl obviously thought of Sir Gideon too and fell into silence.
After a moment, Bernahl covered his face and explained: "No, I don't think it was about intelligence. He was just too talkative..."
Bilbo looked at the two who had suddenly fallen silent and asked curiously: "What are you talking about?"
Tarnes smiled faintly: "Chatting about an interesting old friend. Perhaps you'll have a chance to meet him someday."
Bilbo pursed his lips: "Alright."
Gandalf had now met up with Radagast and was calling Tarnes' name, asking him to come over too.
"Oh, Radagast the Brown, I want to introduce you to a new wizard, Tarnes."
When Tarnes rode Torrent to the sledge pulled by Radagast's rabbits, Gandalf said with a chuckle.
Tarnes dismounted and politely nodded to the brown wizard, then observed him: hair that hadn't been washed or groomed in ages mixed with long eyebrows and a beard so you couldn't tell them apart, revealing endearingly naive features, with his right hair seemingly stained with something white that had dried and hardened.
He looked rather grubby overall, his clothing all frayed with dust and mud spots everywhere, as if he'd been placed in a forest for ages.
As soon as Tarnes approached Radagast, he smelled bird droppings.
Well, it was obvious what that dried substance in his hair was.
Your brown robes are probably brown because they were soaked in mud, Tarnes thought to himself. He really didn't know how to describe Radagast's appearance.
Gandalf could tell what Tarnes was thinking. He knew his colleague liked staying in forests and thus paid little attention to personal hygiene.
So he coughed lightly and said: "Radagast, this is Tarnes, rebuilder of the lands of Minas Tirith, Lord of the Twin Golden Trees."
"Oh, hello, I remember you. You're the one who fell from the sky. I'm very glad to have another wizard here. No wait, Gandalf, I'm not here for him. Though I'm happy, I'm really not here for him. I'm here for you. Something's wrong, quite wrong."
Radagast first smiled and extended his hand to Tarnes. Before Tarnes could decide whether to endure the smell and shake hands, the wizard suddenly moved nervously close to Gandalf, excitedly saying a whole string of words.
Gandalf also quietly stepped back half a pace while taking out his pipe, wiping the mouthpiece before lighting the tobacco.
He offered the mouthpiece to Radagast's lips, saying: "No need to rush, my old friend. Take a puff first to calm yourself. This is fine tobacco from the Shire."
Radagast suddenly smiled again, about to open his mouth, then frowned.
"I was trying to say something. It was right on the tip of my tongue, but I just can't remember."
Radagast repeated this action three or four times, looking quite anxious.
Tarnes was about to ask what was wrong when Gandalf expressionlessly stopped him.
Then, to Tarnes' shocked expression, he watched Radagast pull a wriggling stick insect from his own tongue, placing it in his palm with a satisfied smile.
Gandalf looked sideways at Radagast's actions and offered the pipe again. This time Radagast took a comfortable deep puff, showing a transcendent expression with his eyes nearly rolling back.
Tarnes couldn't help whispering to Gandalf: "Other wizards aren't like this too, are they..."
Gandalf immediately replied righteously: "Don't misunderstand. Only he is like this. Saruman the White is quite proper. As for those two Blue wizards..."
He blinked, thinking: "I don't know much about those two Blues. After they went to the distant east and south, no news came back."
At this moment, Radagast exhaled the smoke from his lungs, and his previously neurotic eyes became normal.
Gandalf gestured to Tarnes. The Brown wizard could now communicate normally.
"Now, tell me what's happening," Gandalf said.
Radagast said: "Mirkwood is sick, Gandalf."
Then he glanced at the Dwarves behind Gandalf and Tarnes, who were listening with perked ears, grabbing Gandalf's sleeve to get away from them.
After a few steps, Radagast remembered something, pulling Gandalf to Tarnes' side and grabbing Tarnes' armor with his other hand, bringing them to where the Dwarves couldn't hear their conversation.
"Some darkness shrouds Mirkwood. Nothing grows, at least nothing good grows. The air is also corrupt and foul, and there are those terrible webs," Radagast said.
Gandalf frowned: "Webs? What are you talking about?"
Radagast replied very quickly: "Spiders, Gandalf. Giant spiders. I'm certain they must be spawn of Ungoliant, or I'm no wizard."
Ungoliant?
Tarnes heard this name for the first time, but obviously it wasn't a good name, because Gandalf's frown deepened upon hearing it, and he even began smoking.
The reason for mentioning Gandalf smoking was that he put the pipe in his mouth without even wiping the mouthpiece.
Tarnes could see how much this name troubled Gandalf.
He asked: "Gandalf, what does the name Ungoliant represent?"
Before Gandalf could answer, Radagast said first: "That was a terrifyingly huge spider. Legend says she appeared from the darkness outside, quite possibly a hatched and corrupted divine being."
Tarnes nodded in understanding, then asked: "So those giant spiders are descendants of this spider from who knows how many generations ago. What does their appearance mean?"
"Darkness, Tarnes," Gandalf exhaled smoke and said.
Radagast nodded like a pecking bird, adding: "I followed these giant spiders, trailing them all the way to Dol Guldur."
Gandalf turned, looking at Radagast with confused eyes: "Dol Guldur? But that fortress has been abandoned for ages."
Radagast showed a grave expression with a hint of horror, gently shaking his head: "No, Gandalf, that fortress hasn't been abandoned. I secretly infiltrated the fortress and immediately felt a dark power entrenched there. The strength was unlike anything I'd ever felt. Its shadows were like ancient terrors."
The fear in the Brown wizard's eyes became increasingly obvious, even his voice trembling: "I saw him, Gandalf. A necromancer wrapped in heavy darkness."
Then Radagast suddenly grabbed Gandalf's gray robes, saying forcefully: "Darkness must have returned, Gandalf. When he called out my name, my heart felt tremendous fear, and then I fled Dol Guldur and have been searching for your location ever since."
Gandalf placed his other hand on Radagast's, gently comforting: "Calm down, Radagast. A necromancer, are you certain?"
Radagast withdrew his hand and pulled out a sword wrapped in plant fiber and sealed with wizardry from his dirty brown robes, solemnly indicating for Gandalf to take it.
When Tarnes saw this sword, he also frowned.
"This sword gives me a bad feeling, Gandalf. It doesn't seem like a weapon the living could use. Even touching it would cause normal people to fall ill," Tarnes warned concernedly.
Seeing that Tarnes believed his words, Radagast quickly nodded, saying quietly: "Exactly. This sword is definitely not from the world of the living."
Gandalf nodded to show he understood, then unwrapped it, revealing the sword's appearance.
It was a seemingly plain straight sword, but the blade was covered in rust, as if just taken from a graveyard.
And the moment the black hilt was revealed, both Tarnes and Gandalf seemed to hear the sharp roar of the sword's owner.
A sword separated from its owner still wants to intimidate us?
Tarnes raised an eyebrow, a sacred seal appearing in his hand, golden light growing brighter.
But Gandalf quickly closed it, rewrapping the sword.
While tying the rope tight, he said to Tarnes: "My dear Tarnes, this sword cannot withstand your power. It cannot be purified by you yet. I need to take it to Rivendell for Lord Elrond to examine."
Tarnes glanced at the Dwarves waiting for their conversation in the distance, especially looking at Thorin: "I think we should tell Thorin directly that we must go to Rivendell."
Gandalf sighed, feeling a headache coming on.
Radagast then showed a relieved expression and climbed back onto his rabbit-pulled sledge.
Gandalf looked at Radagast: "You're leaving already? Won't you come to Rivendell with me?"
Radagast smiled and shook his head: "Though Rivendell's trees also bring me joy, I still prefer the little animals of Mirkwood. They're waiting for me to return. Without me, it would be terrible if those giant spiders came back. Farewell, Gandalf!"
With that, the rabbits kicked their powerful hind legs and sped away with Radagast as swiftly and nimbly as when they'd arrived.
Watching the departing figure, Tarnes said to Gandalf: "Your colleague's personality is really... unique."
Gandalf's mouth twitched as he put away the sword: "You can directly say his personality is quite eccentric. No need for such diplomatic descriptions, my dear Tarnes."
After Tarnes and Gandalf returned to the group, they tried to persuade Thorin to go to Rivendell.
However, as Tarnes expected, Thorin still refused to go to Rivendell seeking Elven help. The Dwarf's stubbornness truly opened Tarnes' eyes.
Gandalf was naturally quite angry. Tarnes felt his beard was curling with rage, and he even wanted to impulsively abandon the Dwarves and go to Rivendell alone.
Tarnes had tried persuading Thorin too, but unlike with Gandalf, Thorin didn't argue with Tarnes at all. But he didn't agree either.
He was even willing to return the Icerind Hatchet to Tarnes rather than go to Rivendell.
This Dwarf leader was completely unmoveable, immune to both hard and soft approaches.
In the following journey, though the weather didn't get colder, Tarnes and Thorin's group began suffering Orc attacks.
Whether day or night, Orcs riding wargs could attack at any moment.
But the numbers weren't large, only seven or eight each time, fewer than the expedition members.
This small number didn't require Tarnes' intervention. The Dwarves alone were sufficient.
Thorin pulled the Icerind Hatchet from a warg corpse, looking puzzledly at these Orcs: "What are they trying to achieve? Do they think this number can reduce our numbers?"
Tarnes put the soul collector back in his chest, hearing Thorin's words: "These Orcs are obviously delaying our progress, Thorin. Haven't you noticed that because of their attacks, our advance speed has slowed these past days? Journeys that used to take one day now take three."
Then he sighed, glancing at Bilbo, who showed dark circles under his eyes: "Thorin, Bilbo is nearly at his limit. Because of the Orcs' nightly harassment, Bilbo hasn't rested well in ages."
After a moment of silence, Thorin said: "So you're going to persuade me to go to Rivendell again, Tarnes."
Tarnes said: "Exactly. Whether for Bilbo's sake or to shake off those Orc tails following us, going to Rivendell is an excellent choice."
Thorin fell silent again.
Tarnes continued: "The Rivendell Elves and Mirkwood Elves aren't the same group at all. The Elves you say betrayed you are the latter, while Elrond has done nothing to you. Moreover, the Orcs are now using their lives to delay your journey to the Lonely Mountain, which means they're plotting something regarding it. Thorin, the more the enemy wants something, the more we shouldn't let them succeed."
"Oh, Bilbo! Watch out!"
Bofur's cry came from behind, followed by the sound of both Bilbo and Bofur falling.
Thorin looked over. Bilbo and Bofur's bodies were blocked by horse legs.
Soon Fili approached with troubling news: "Bilbo collapsed from exhaustion and fell from his horse. His body isn't used to long journeys, and the bitter wind was too much for him. Bofur managed to catch him before he hit the ground, so he's not injured, but..."
Thorin's eyes sharpened as he demanded quietly: "But what?"
Fili hesitated, clearly dreading his uncle's reaction, before swallowing hard and continuing: "Bofur says he's burning with fever. We have no medicines with us... If we force him to continue through this wilderness in the cold, he might not..."
Thorin instinctively looked at Tarnes, who was also frowning with worry about Bilbo's condition.
He waved Tarnes away, starting to leave: "Incantations don't cure diseases. I need to check on Bilbo first to prevent his condition from worsening."
"Go to Rivendell..."
Unexpected words came from Thorin's mouth, making Tarnes spin around, thinking he'd misheard.
Seeing Tarnes' surprised expression, Thorin, somewhat agitated by his own change of mind, said quickly in a low voice: "I said go to Rivendell. Since you say those Rivendell Elves have nothing to do with the Elves who betrayed me, and I don't want our burglar to lose his life over this. If word got out, the name Thorin Oakenshield would forever bear a stain."
After speaking, he turned away, facing away from Tarnes without another word.
Tarnes didn't waste time but quickly ran to Bilbo's side, where Gandalf was already trying to stabilize Bilbo's temperature.
"Fili, you go check on Bilbo's condition too," Thorin said without turning, but his voice reached Fili's ears.
With their destination clear, Tarnes and Thorin's group reached the edge of Rivendell's territory just two days later.