Luke and the two others arrived outside Mirkwood. As soon as they got there, the elves of the Woodland Realm were already waiting.
Luke was surprised to see who had come to meet them.
"Your Highness Legolas, why did you come personally?"
"When you first arrived near Lake-town, the patrolling guards spotted the dragon from afar. My father knew it was you, so he specifically sent me to welcome you," Legolas said with a warm smile.
His gaze then involuntarily fell upon the giant dragon behind the three of them.
Although he had seen Smaug on the battlefield of the Lonely Mountain before, seeing him again still sent a shiver down his spine.
"Please follow me, everyone. My father has already prepared a banquet awaiting your arrival."
To prevent Smaug's appearance from causing unrest among the elves, Luke had Smaug stay outside the forest. Then, the three of them followed Legolas back into the Woodland Realm.
Thranduil sat high on his throne, dressed in luxurious robes, wearing a crown woven from fiery red maple leaves and blueberries, exuding a noble, majestic, and elegant aura.
He was clearly an Elven King ruling an endless forest.
Unlike their previous meeting, Thranduil this time actively descended from his throne, his demeanor reserved yet friendly.
"Welcome, welcome, the three of you, once again! I have prepared a lavish feast with fine wine and delicious food. This time, you must honor us with your presence!"
Gandalf, who was responsible for diplomacy among the three, leaned on his staff, bowed slightly in greeting, and said with a smile, "It is our great honor to have the privilege of attending Your Majesty's banquet!"
Thranduil asked Luke, "Why is the dragon Smaug not present?"
"Smaug is too large and would crush the trees in the forest, so he can only wait outside the forest," Luke explained.
Thranduil nodded. "Even so, we cannot neglect the dragon. I will immediately arrange another banquet table specifically for him outside the forest."
Luke hadn't expected Thranduil to consider such details and thanked him, "Then many thanks, Your Majesty!"
Subsequently, led by Thranduil and accompanied by Legolas, everyone entered the banquet hall to partake in the feast.
Unlike the Rivendell elves, whose diet leaned towards vegetarian and light fare, the Mirkwood elves' diet included both meat and vegetables.
And perhaps because of their proximity to the Lonely Mountain Dwarves, the Wood Elves also enjoyed drinking, even to the point of heavy drinking. While graceful in their movements, they were also more open and uninhibited.
During the banquet, melodious music played, elven maidens sang ancient elven epics, and elven attendants gracefully moved among the tables, pouring wine for everyone.
Thranduil and Gandalf discussed the situation in Middle-earth.
Meanwhile, Luke and Bilbo listened as Legolas translated the elven epics sung by the elven maidens for them.
During their conversation, the Wood Elf Tauriel, who chose to be with the Dwarf Kili, was inadvertently mentioned.
Legolas was somewhat downcast, saddened by the impending loss of a friend.
Although he didn't understand why Tauriel would give up eternal life for love, only to die of a broken heart after a mere few hundred years when her beloved passed away.
But in the end, he still chose to offer his blessings.
As the banquet atmosphere was pleasant, Thranduil looked at Luke and delivered a surprising piece of news to everyone.
Thranduil intended to send Legolas out for training.
He also entrusted Luke to let Legolas accompany them when they left this time.
Legolas was also startled by this sudden announcement; clearly, his father had not informed him beforehand.
Luke was surprised by Thranduil's request, but not entirely unexpectedly.
For the sake of one's children, one must think far ahead.
Thranduil wanted Legolas to go out and see the world, so he could quickly mature and become independent.
If Luke had not appeared, Thranduil would have sent Legolas out for training not long after, even having him join the future Fellowship of the Ring, becoming the only elf in the company.
But this time, with Luke's presence, and after witnessing Luke's abilities, Thranduil clearly had the idea of training his son earlier.
"Your Highness Legolas is an excellent archer and Elven warrior. It is our honor to have him join us."
Luke naturally wouldn't refuse Thranduil's request. He had a good impression of Legolas and didn't mind having such a companion.
And upon hearing Luke readily agree, Thranduil was also very pleased.
At his signal, an elf holding a golden tray placed it in front of Luke.
Luke looked at a small box inlaid with various jewels and jade on the tray, showing a puzzled expression.
He looked at Thranduil: "Your Majesty, what does this mean?"
"This is a token of gratitude."
Thranduil said sincerely.
"Gratitude that the elves were not annihilated in the Battle of Five Armies!"
"Of course, there's also an additional request within this."
"What request?"
"I would like to ask you to craft a magic staff for Legolas, one that belongs to him."
Hearing this request, Luke was not too surprised.
He still owed magic staffs to the three siblings, Elrohir, Elladan, and Arwen. With the thought that it's just as easy to herd two sheep as one, he agreed to Thranduil's condition.
However, it also made him curious about what was inside the treasure box.
The value of the treasure box itself was extraordinary.
What kind of treasure could Thranduil store so carefully inside?
He curiously opened the treasure box, then paused.
Inside the box, nestled on silk, lay a silver-white fruit.
Being so carefully preserved, Luke naturally didn't think it was an ordinary fruit.
"This is--?"
"It's the fruit of the White Tree!" Gandalf's surprised voice rang out first.
"Your Majesty Thranduil, where did you obtain the fruit of the White Tree?"
Seeing that Gandalf recognized it, Thranduil's lips curled into a slight smile as he casually explained:
"This is a seed of the White Tree Nimloth. In the Second Age, I once visited Númenor. At that time, Nimloth had not yet been cut down. I picked a fruit from her and brought it back."
"However, I have tried to plant it, but unfortunately, Mirkwood is not suitable for its growth, and it has never taken root or sprouted."
Hearing that it was a seed from Nimloth, the White Tree on Númenor, Gandalf was even more surprised.
Even Luke was startled, looking at the fruit in the box, suddenly feeling it was heavy.
As far as Luke knew, after the two trees were destroyed by the evil spirit Ungoliant and Morgoth working together, Yavanna, one of the Valar, the goddess of plants, created the White Tree Galathilion for the Vanyar and Noldor elves, in the likeness of the Silver Tree.
This White Tree was similar to Telperion, one of the two trees, the only difference being that it did not glow.
Later, elves planted a descendant of Galathilion on the island of Tol Eressëa, named Celeborn.
The elves of Tol Eressëa were friendly with the Númenóreans, so they gifted a seed of Celeborn to the Númenóreans.
The Númenóreans planted the seed in the royal court of Númenor, where it grew into a White Tree, named Nimloth.
The White Tree thus became the symbol of the Númenóreans.
Later, Sauron seduced and corrupted the king and a part of the Númenórean nobility, cutting down and burning the White Tree Nimloth.
Only Isildur of the Faithful, at great risk, secretly rescued a fruit the night before Nimloth was cut down.
After the sinking of Númenor, Isildur planted it in Minas Ithil in Gondor, becoming Gondor's first White Tree.
But the fate of the White Tree seemed to always be plagued by hardship.
Later, this White Tree of Gondor was burned by Sauron after he captured Minas Ithil.
Before Minas Ithil was captured, Isildur rescued a seed and planted it in Minas Anor, which became Gondor's second White Tree.
However, this White Tree withered during the Great Plague in the Third Age, 1636.
In the Third Age, 1640, King Tarondor of Gondor replanted a new sapling in Minas Tirith.
But in the Third Age, 2872, with the extinction of the royal bloodline of Gondor, this White Tree gradually withered, and no new White Tree has appeared to this day.
The White Tree fruit that Thranduil presented was a seed of the third-generation White Tree, Nimloth.
It could be said to be a fourth-generation White Tree, from the same lineage as Gondor's first White Tree.
If the Dúnedain or the people of the Kingdom of Gondor knew about this seed, they would likely spare no expense to acquire it.
"Your Majesty Thranduil, this is truly too precious!"
Luke found it difficult to accept.
Thranduil shook his head.
"You needn't refuse, Luke. Although this fruit has historical value, its planting conditions are too harsh. If I couldn't still feel vitality within it, I would have thought it was a bad fruit."
"So don't hold too much hope. I even suspect that, apart from sacred places like Valinor, there is no environment left that could allow it to break its shell and sprout."
Seeing Thranduil's firm attitude, Luke had no choice but to accept this precious fruit.
And he decided to make the best possible magic staff for Legolas.
Otherwise, he felt a bit uneasy accepting such a gift.
The atmosphere at Luke's banquet was good, and the dragon Smaug's side was also very lively.
The Wood Elves nervously pushed carts of delicious food, placing them in front of Smaug to entertain him.
There were whole roasted lambs, roasted pigs, and barrels of wine.
Smaug enjoyed the elves' service like a lord, devouring a whole roasted lamb in one bite, and a barrel of wine in one gulp, squinting his eyes with satisfaction.
He could only sigh in his heart, thinking, 'This is true enjoyment!'
Why hadn't he thought of capturing some servants to attend to him before?
Smaug, with his enormous appetite, ate dozens of pigs and lambs and drank over a dozen barrels of wine before finally letting out a burp that sparked.
This scene made the elves who were serving him turn pale with anger.
Especially the elven chefs responsible for roasting the meat; their roasting speed simply couldn't keep up with the dragon's eating speed, and they were so exhausted they just wanted to go on strike.
They no longer cared about being afraid of the dragon; they just wanted to quickly send this glutton away.
If he kept eating, their Woodland Realm would face a famine!