Luke and the others stayed in the Woodland Realm for two days.
Then, they officially bid farewell to Thranduil.
However, before leaving, Luke, with Thranduil's permission, set up a fireplace as a node for the Floo Network.
He also gifted Thranduil some Floo Powder.
Thranduil was very interested in the Floo Network, although the dusty method of transportation via Floo Powder made him a bit disdainful,
he immediately recognized the strategic importance of the Floo Network.
This would tightly connect various forces across the entire Middle-earth; any news could be conveyed, or even transported, through the Floo Network instantly.
And such a powerful tool was in Luke's hands alone.
This significantly increased Thranduil's regard for Luke.
After bidding farewell to Thranduil, Luke's team gained another member.
The four rode on Smaug's back, continuing their journey west.
Legolas, riding a dragon for the first time, was incredibly excited and thrilled; though his reserved nature prevented him from showing too much emotion, his flushed pointed ears revealed it all.
While passing through Mirkwood to the west, they encountered Giant Spiders startled by the dragon.
Legolas immediately drew his bow and arrow, hitting one in the head with each shot.
As he prepared to shoot the remaining two Giant Spiders, Luke reached out and stopped him.
Facing Legolas's questioning gaze, Luke said with a smile,
"Don't kill them all, leave two alive for me."
With a wave of his wand, he petrified the two Giant Spiders fleeing in panic, then used a Levitation Charm to bring them over, and directly stored them in his spatial bag.
Witnessing Luke's actions, not only Legolas but also Bilbo and Gandalf looked surprised.
"Luke, what are you going to do with two Giant Spiders?" Gandalf asked curiously.
Luke explained with a chuckle, "Don't you think the Giant Spiders' silk is incredibly tough? I happen to have a magic for weaving clothes, which can use spider silk to weave fabric. The defense power would definitely be stronger than most armors, and it would certainly be valuable."
Upon hearing this, the three were speechless.
Gandalf looked at Luke, full of confusion: "The treasure you received from the Lonely Mountain is enough to make you one of the richest people in Middle-earth. Why are you still thinking about making money?"
Luke immediately gave Smaug a kick with annoyance,
"Because I'm raising a dragon now, no amount of money is enough!"
Thinking of how the Wood Elves struggled to suppress their smiles when he left, and even Thranduil secretly breathed a sigh of relief, Luke felt a pang of toothache.
He never expected that one day he would become an unwelcome guest.
All because Smaug ate over a hundred sheep and pigs within two days and drank all the wine stored in the cellar.
The Elves even had to go hunting in the forest with bows and arrows to supplement the meat shortage.
Luke had no idea that a dragon that didn't sleep had such a huge appetite.
After witnessing the dragon's monstrous appetite, Luke wished he could immediately find a place to make this fellow sleep again,
that way he wouldn't have to worry about not feeding him enough.
But the headache was that Smaug demanded to sleep only on a bed covered with gold.
And he was very firm, with an attitude of rather die than compromise, even when Luke threatened him with the Crucio.
According to Smaug, their dragons' sole and lifelong ideal was to sleep on countless treasures.
To compete for treasure, dragons would not only attack Dwarves, but even fight each other for treasure, just to plunder the treasures in each other's caves.
This is also the reason why dragons are becoming fewer and fewer, and why now only Smaug is the only known dragon remaining.
Luke promised Smaug that once they returned to Weathertop, the treasure he received from the Lonely Mountain would be his bed,
only then did Smaug reluctantly stop his incessant complaints in his ear.
But Smaug still felt that this amount of treasure was too simple for a bed, after all, it only accounted for one-tenth of the Lonely Mountain's treasure, and couldn't even cover him.
He remembered how he once lay on the Lonely Mountain's treasure, possessing the world's greatest wealth.
But now he was following a poor master,
the difference in treatment was a direct cliff dive.
Luke listened, grinding his teeth, wishing he could Avada this stupid dragon immediately.
Was he subduing a mount? No, he had invited a lord, and a gold-devouring lord at that!
Hearing Luke's grumbling complaints, Gandalf and Bilbo chuckled endlessly.
Even Legolas couldn't help but curl his lips into a smile.
They had originally thought Smaug would be a ferocious dragon, but they never expected him to be like this.
Of course, regarding the talk of making money, they all knew Luke was joking.
However, they all thought the idea of utilizing spider silk was a good one.
They had all witnessed the power of Giant Spiders' silk; even sharp Elven swords couldn't easily cut it.
If protective clothing could truly be woven from spider silk, its quality would definitely be superior to most armors, and it would be lighter and softer.
Moreover, the material source was simple and inexhaustible.
Thinking this way, Legolas even felt that the Giant Spiders in Mirkwood were not entirely useless.
He might be able to send a message to his father, Thranduil, to capture some Giant Spiders and keep them, then have the skilled craftsmen of the Elf race use the silk to weave tough armor.
The group rode the dragon through Mirkwood, then had afternoon tea at Beorn's house, before bidding farewell and continuing their journey.
However, this time they did not continue west towards the Misty Mountains, but instead headed south along the Anduin River.
Before crossing the Misty Mountains to Rivendell, Luke needed to visit Lothlórien first.
Not only had Luke promised to make wands for Elrohir, Elladan, and Arwen, but now Legolas's wand was added to the list.
And there was also the staff that Gandalf had promised to make for him.
For all these reasons, he needed to make a trip to Lórien.
Lórien is located east of the Misty Mountains and west of the Anduin River, separated from Dol Guldur at the southernmost tip of Mirkwood only by the Anduin River.
Here, the Celebrant River and the Nimrodel stream, originating from the Misty Mountains, merge into the Anduin River, forming a beautiful delta region.
Lórien is enveloped and protected by the power of Narya, the Ring of Water; even time can barely erode it. The valley is eternally sacred and beautiful, the last pure land in Middle-earth.
As Luke and his companions arrived at the outskirts of Lórien, they felt an invisible magical barrier. Without permission from those within, it would be difficult to find the correct path to enter.
However, they had Gandalf, a frequent visitor to Lórien, among them.
At Gandalf's suggestion, Smaug was left outside Lórien.
Then the three followed Gandalf, walking upstream along the river. The trees along the way were evergreen, and the grass was lush, as if it were early spring in ancient times, forever green and unfading, bearing the marks of time.
Golden leaves occasionally drifted down the river from upstream; these leaves were incredibly brilliant and beautiful, as if they were truly made of gold,
enough to make even dragons covet them.
The four walked deeper into the forest, where the surrounding green faded, transforming into a golden realm.
In the heart of the forest grew countless tall and massive Mallorn trees. The bark of the Mallorn trees was silvery-grey, while their leaves were golden-yellow, as if made of gold.
The golden leaves fell, covering the ground, as if spreading a golden carpet over the earth.
Lórien's name as the Golden Wood originated from this.
Here they met three Elves.
"Ah, Haldir, it's been a long time!" Gandalf greeted the leading Elf.
The Elf named Haldir smiled and nodded:
"Mithrandir."
"The Lady knows you have arrived and sent us to welcome you. Please follow us."
Upon hearing this, Gandalf smiled and sighed, "The Lady of Lórien's foresight is always so profound. I suppose she discovered us as soon as we entered Lórien's borders."
The company followed the guiding Elves towards Caras Galadhon, the capital of Lórien.
Caras Galadhon is situated on a green hill, its summit covered with towering Mallorn trees, while the hill itself is encircled by green walls and a moat.
The Elves of Lórien do not live on the ground, but rather in platforms or dwellings built high up in the tall Mallorn trees.
The entire city of Caras Galadhon is a city built in the trees.
Countless lights hung from the trees, like myriad stars adorning the forest, and the entire hill seemed to be submerged in a sea of stars.
Among the countless tall Mallorn trees, the largest one housed the palace of the Lord and Lady of Lórien.
Beneath this largest and oldest Mallorn tree, a central fountain was built on the emerald green lawn.
The water first fell into a silver basin nearby, then overflowed to form a lake, and the lake water flowed down the hill to form a stream, named the Nimrodel.
This spring is said to be able to wash away fatigue and possess extraordinary magic.
And where the Nimrodel passed, there was a beautiful garden, Lady Galadriel's private garden, where various exotic flowers and plants were cultivated, blooming in all seasons, never withering.
The group ascended the spiral wooden staircase from the foot of the giant tree, climbing higher and higher until they reached a vast platform.
The Lord and Lady's palace was situated on this platform, built in an elliptical shape around the tree, consisting of several platforms and a great hall.
Looking up from below, it seemed to float in the air, perfectly blending with the surrounding natural environment.
And from the platform on the tree, one could overlook the entire Lórien forest, taking in all the beautiful scenery.
They entered the great hall.
Inside the great hall, at the forefront, the thrones of the Lord and Lady were placed side by side, without distinction of rank.
On the other side of the thrones was a simple yet elegant spiral staircase, extending upwards from the great hall, disappearing into a higher platform.
That was the resting place of the Lord and Lady.
Gandalf was already very familiar with the environment here.
But Luke, Bilbo, and Legolas, who were visiting for the first time, gazed around in awe while waiting.
Soon, two Elven couples, hand in hand, descended from the end of the staircase.
With their appearance, the entire hall seemed to brighten.
Everyone's gaze involuntarily converged on the two, like a creature's instinctive pursuit of light.
They were none other than Celeborn and Galadriel, the masters of Lórien.
"Mithrandir, the autumn leaves of Lórien have fallen dozens of times, covering your former footsteps. What storms outside have delayed your coming?"
Celeborn greeted him.
His voice was like the new thunder of spring, deep and refreshing.
He was tall and stately, with silver hair, dressed in naturally luxurious and exquisite robes, exuding both majesty and grace.
If Elrond was like the spring breeze, carrying a sense of compassion and tolerance, a benevolent king.
And Thranduil was like the very forest of Mirkwood, mysterious and unapproachable, an aloof and stern king.
Then Celeborn before them carried an ancient stillness and composure, as if he had undergone the baptism of ages, with a nearly eternal serenity in his demeanor, unhurried, as if the worldly tumult could barely shake his composure.
He was more like an elder silently guarding his home, a king tempered by the world, with sharpened edges concealed, profound and steady.
"No matter how fierce the storms outside, they cannot shake your composure, Lord Celeborn."
Gandalf nodded slightly, complimenting with a smile.
"Of course, except for your beautiful Lady Galadriel."
Upon hearing this, Celeborn smiled.
Meanwhile, Galadriel, hand in hand with her husband, shifted her gaze to the remaining few.
"Young Wizard, we meet again."
Galadriel's smiling eyes met Luke's.
A voice echoed in Luke's mind.